what will remain? [dandelion, tigerfrost]

[Coldsnap]

IM SCARED TO GET CLOSE AND I HATE BEING ALONE
I LONG FOR THE FEELING TO NOT FEEL AT ALL
THE HIGHER I GET, THE LOWER I SINK
I CAN'T DROWN MY DEMONS, THEY KNOW HOW TO SWIM

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It had taken a single night for everything to fall apart, and wouldn't it just be Coldsnaps luck that he missed it all.

Months ago, he may not have cared. Wouldn't have have been bothered by more exile because what business did he have with any of them? Time had soften the jagged edges of his persona, and the more he'd let the cats around him get close, the more he came to realize just where his values lay. In the beginning, betrayal and loss still fresh in his system, it had been easy to say 'follow Sootstar or get the fuck out', because Coldsnap hadn't had any intention of getting close to any of them anyways. If a cat wasn't ready to give themselves over completely to their leader, then why should he bother seeing them as trustworthy or loyal when they'd probbaly defect or get themselves exiled?

But he could see now that there were reasons so many cats were hesitant to hand themselves over to her fully, and he didn't blame them. Sootstar was fiercely ambitious and would no doubt make her clan powerful and disciplined, a force to be reckoned with among the groups, but the loyalty and perfection she demanded from her cats was a one-way street, and soon the rogues would realize that Sootstar had no loyalty to them, only herself and the future she envisioned.

Which was why, when Coldsnap returned to camp hours after everything had settled, he was livid. Not only had Windclan been overcome by the combined forces of Sky and River, but after they'd returned Dandelionwish had seemed to hit a breaking point. He wished he'd been there, felt talons as sharp as any hawks dig into his chest as guilt mixed with his anger and fear; fear for the healers safety, for the lives of Yewberry and Gailforce. It had taken every ounce of his self control not to jump at Juniperfrost or Lynxtooth, to not stalk into Sootstars den and take the rest of her fucking lives from her.

Probably the only thing that had stopped him was the news that the three exiled cats were all still alive and breathing.

As he made his way toward the medicine cats den, he tried to hold tight to his freying self control, telling himself that he couldn't act irrationally. Hyacinths kids were still here, as was Coalfoot and -for the time being- Dandelionwish as well. As much as a part of him longed to extract some sort of retribution for those already exiled, he still had a purpose in Windclan that he could abandon just yet.

His steps were swift and purposeful as he moved, slipping into the den with broad shoulders squared and the fur along his neck spiked in warning. He knew that Sootstar had assigned a guard to keep an eye on the other tom and depending on who it was he knew his presence there might be met with resistence, and he had no intention of clearing out until he'd seen his friend with his own eyes, unscathed and alive.

"Dandelionwish!" he called into the darkened space, voice clear and cutting through the quiet, sharp and edged with worry.

@Dandelionwish @TIGERFROST

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windclan warrior - male - 12 months - a large, dark grey tabby with yellow eyes​

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[TIGERFROST]

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The brute doesn't mind it, the solemn guardianship over the former medicine cat. The air is still wintry and bitter, but so long as he has a purpose, Tigerfrost can remain content. He awaits just outside the den, where he occasionally slips inside to check on the wounded, and on poor Dandelionwish. Of course, the chimera had no sympathy for the former healer, he believed that StarClan would not have sent that warning if they had not meant it. Who was he to question the spirits? They granted Sootstar nine lives, and now they granted her visions of a traitor in their midst. Tigerfrost has no intentions of disbelieving any of it. He's a loyal WindClan warrior, and thus, he does as he is meant to. In this case, that purpose was to watch the former medicine cat, and insure that he was doing as Sootstar had commanded.

When he sights another storming toward the den, Tigerfrost merely flicks an ear, levels his flaming eyes upon Coldsnap. The tabby says nothing, simply regards the other warrior with a frosty vision. Did he need Dandelionwish for something? Clearly. But Coldsnap had never given Tigerfrost a reason to be suspicious of him, so the brute would not turn him away. If he needed the former healer, then so be it. Tigerfrost does rise from where he had been sitting, silently stalking after Coldsnap and into the shadows of the medicine den. After all, he preferred to be thorough, and though he did not yet distrust Coldsnap, that did not mean that he would not observe the conversation. With all the recent chaos and strife, it was only right for Tigerfrost to be thorough about his duties. WindClan had suffered enough. The last thing they needed was more traitors.​

 

[Dandelionwish]

He's tired. It's not the usual weight of exhaustion from sleepless nights fretting over his clanmates nor the burden of having so limited knowledge to help them but something entirely new. There is a knot that had formed in his chest since that day of Sootstar's blatant refusal to see anything outside her own warped perspective, if he had the energy or care he might have argued with her that she'd not been sent a warning about him but a warning to listen. She was her own worst enemy, she'd fall harder than any leader did before and when death came swiftly to take her in the end he knew in his heart he had no need to fear her being in StarClan when his own end came. What reasonable heavens would allow what she'd done, named him to push him to help guide her and desperately try to aid him in swaying her path only for it to come crashing down. Dandelionwish was afraid, he wasn't even twelve moons yet-the age most cats outside of WindClan became warriors apparently to no one's surprise. He was going to die unfullfilled. At least he'd see Rosepaw again, it was his only solace and he wished he could venture to the moonstone now to seek guidance but it would hardly be allowed. No. He was 'corrupt' to her. He wouldn't be allowed to leave.
The sound of his name is sharp, splintering like the cold, and he lifts his head from his nest slowly to peer out to the entrance as Coldsnap barges in past Tigerfrost and calls for him. The sight of the dark striped tom fretting so blatantly and seemingly so harried over him was enough to rise him to stand and he stiffly padded over to push his head into silver fur of the other cat's chest in both a greeting and an almost childish display of unease.
"Coldsnap, she's going to kill me.." The words bubble up in a hushed and panicked whisper before he can stop them, thankfully too quiet for the brown tabby guard to hear and he keeps himself just as muffled and soft toned as he can as the fear clips into sides like claws. "....she's not going to just let me leave..."
Anyone who knew Sootstar. The real Sootstar. Would know the ex-medicine cat would not be joining his mentor in exile to the loner lands; he was going to be slaughtered, maybe even in front of his clanmates to serve a point. A warning. He was an example to be made.

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[Coldsnap]

IM SCARED TO GET CLOSE AND I HATE BEING ALONE
I LONG FOR THE FEELING TO NOT FEEL AT ALL
THE HIGHER I GET, THE LOWER I SINK
I CAN'T DROWN MY DEMONS, THEY KNOW HOW TO SWIM

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"Thank the fucking stars." he sighed, the words leaving his mouth before he could stop them as he crossed the distance to meet them halfway. Coldsnap had never been the strongest believer in the undead cats that walked the night skys, but the relief he felt in that moment was overpowering, enough so that he was willing to thank anything- deity, spirit, or mortal- that his friend was still alive and breathing, still well enough to rise to their paws and greet him.

He was caught off guard when the other pressed against him though, hiding their face away against his broad chest as if the pale fur could hide them from the trouble they found themselves in. Coldsnap almost wished it could.

He tensed but he didn't step away, mentally steeling himself as he waited for his body to get over it. He didn't care if it was the first time Dandelion had ever been this close to him, didn't care that his body was so unaccustomed to the feeling of being touched that it always took him a few seconds to get over it. He just wanted to comfort his friend.

It was their words that finally spurred a reaction from the tabby, doing nothing to chase the tension from his shoulders but spurring a protective reaction that had him leaning down to press his muzzle to the top of his friends head. Panic was flooding his veins at the sound of Dandelions tone, muffled but desperate, fearful in a way the warrior had never seen. Cold didn't bother doubting the other- if Dandelion was certain of it, Coldsnap trusted him to be right.

No- No I won't let that happen." he assured them, voice low, the words barely above a whisper. He didn't care if the words turned out to be nothing more than empty promises, his mind was already reeling, digging up any potential way out for the sepia point. Death was not an option for Dandelionwish, it just.. it just wasn't.

He wanted to say more, wanted to go over all the options his frantic mind was supplying; Cold could cause a distraction in camp that would allow Dandelion to bolt, or he could go to River or Sky and offer them the chance to ambush his clan so that Dandelion could get away in the chaos. Hell, Hyacinth would gladly tresspass and navigate the tunnels like old times. All Cold had to do was keep Tigerfrost busy long enough for Dandelion to reach one...

"You've got friends on the outside, and we're not going to leave you here to die, you understand me? I won't leave you to do this alone." he muttered, an ear swiveled toward Tigerfrost to keep track of where they were in case they came close enough to eavesdrop.

How could he not at least try to protect the other? Dandelion had been the one to show him that there were still things worth fighting for. Had been the first one to make Coldsnap want to actually try. He'd seen their determination to protect their friends burn with the intensity of a thousand suns, stubbornly clinging to a life they hated simply because they'd wanted the chance to look after the cats they cared about and the place they'd called home.

And now, Sootstar was going to kill him for it.

No, leaving him to his fait wasn't an option, even if it ended up getting Coldsnap killed along side him.

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windclan warrior - male - 12 months - a large, dark grey tabby with yellow eyes​

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[TIGERFROST]

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He slides deeper into the den, a tiger striped guardian than looms ever closer as the long legged guard follows Coldsnap into the den. Their hushed whispers are too quiet to make out, and it makes the tom's eyes flicker with a fiery suspicion. He steps closer, closer, closer. He is mere inches away now, hovering with his blistering eyes. If they wanted to whisper secrets into each other's ears, then he would insure he was close enough to listen should they decide to continue. The suspicion is obvious, a shadow across his face with pupils that glow within wrathful fire. He hadn't had any reason to distrust Coldsnap before, but in an instant, it seemed that trust had been shattered, akin to thin glass struck with a large stone.

"One does not whisper unless they've something to hide." A cold observation that slips like bitter poison from his mouth. Whatever happened here, he would be happy to report to Sootstar. Provided of course, he survived. Tigerfrost is all too aware that if both Coldsnap and Dandelionwish attack at once, he'd surely be in quite the difficult position. Would the former medicine cat truly be so bold? Eyes narrow, daggers of volcanic flame that flicker between the faces of both the other warrior, and the healer.​

 

[Dandelionwish]

He didn't want to be so vulnerable, to lament his miseries and fears to any cat but he could not help but let them out to at least Coldsnap who he trusted. He couldn't tell his family, they would fight for him and be hurt. Vulturemask had younger siblings to guard and protect and it would put him in a terrible place to have to pick such a battle. Coldsnap, Coalfoot, Daisypaw, Echolight, Mallowlark...cats he trusted but feared for more than anything and only Coldsnap among them was capable of holding his own if it all came to blows. He could only imagine sweet Daisypaw raising her voice in his defense only to be struck down and the image of it shook him to his core.
Tigerfrost dips his head in, hisses vitriol and accusations and his mismatched eyes narrow as he peers from around the dark striped tom to the white-masked warrior there looming.
"Your leader may put my body in a cage but my heart and thoughts are my own and nothing I care to share with you." It would be easy to just team up and put the brown tabby down right then, run out across the moorland as quick as he can, but he can't. Dandelionwish would never be able to live with himself if he abandoned the cats of WindClan over pettiness. To leave them with an untrained healer as Honeytwist had selfishless done to him...
He would not repeat his mentor's mistake, Vulturemask would know all of the knowledge he had and then he would have to face what may very well be his death unless he thought of something else.
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