Comrades of Old | tag: Willow (Nightbreeze)

[willow]

[atrb=width,455,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, padding: 10px; background-image: url(http://i.imgur.com/Hlcpz.png);] WORD COUNT: ### TAGGED: Duskfire NOTES: LYRICS: GHOST OF ME, DAUGHTRY DON'T LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER, 'CAUSE THAT'S JUST THE GHOST OF ME YOU'RE SEEING IN YOUR DREAMS Nightbreeze could hardly contain his laughter when the she-cat made her own humorous retort, shaking his head and rolling his eyes like he couldn't believe a young warrior like herself could actually know the aches of being an elder. Not that he did, of course, all that ailed him was his back. Then again, that was all it had taken to send him into the Elder's den in the first place. "Hmmm, yes if only I was as old and wise as you, great Duskfire." The black tom agreed in a jokingly sarcastic tone, eyes twinkling as they looked from the tortoiseshell to the camp outside. He was relieved to see that Duskfire was in fact enjoying her time with him instead of appearing to do so out of duty. He sincerely hoped they could be around each other more often. Once Duskfire was beside him, Nightbreeze managed to gently cuff the warriors ear with a sheathed paw, a purr rumbling in his throat. "Alright, come along. I'll make sure to keep a slow pace so those ancient bones of yours don't get upset." The tom began to walk out of the den without hobbling, a limp at the most portraying he was feeling the pressure where his injury was but thankfully no pain. "The last thing we need is a grumpy old Duskfire." He murmured loud enough for the she-cat to hear, a sly smile breaking out on his maw as he continued out. The wind wound through his fur with a leaf-bare chill but the sun overhead was balancing out the weather so it was not only bearable, but comfortable. Nightbreeze's ears pricked and swiveled towards the sound of the river and immediately set out to reach it beyond the reeds. Along the way, he tried not to meet the stares of his clan-mates while checking to make sure Duskfire was still with him. The very thought of seeing the emotions in their eyes already began to weigh in on his heart but he wasn't going to allow it to bring him down today. No, today he had a companion and was going to go to the river to perform a duty to his clan. He was no longer going to worry about what Riverclan thought of him. CODED BY ACRYLIK ON BTN!

[Lo]

DUSKFIRE

Duskfire wasn't used to making other cats laugh. Well, Oakspirit, perhaps, but not just her average clanmates. Even if she had been trying to make him laugh, it was still an unusual, almost to the point of being unexpected, response. She was used to being opinionated, not being amusing. She was usually quite a serious and moody cat, all of her clanmates said so, she knew that, even if they didn't say it to her face.

But then, what reason did she have to be so joyous? Two of her littermates and one of her best friends had been killed by conditions that were not yet solved. The conditions that still plagued them all. Her parents were getting up there in age, they'd only just joined the elders den themselves, and both had been quite reluctant to do so. Her mother had insisted that she was needed by the clan, that she still needed to help with hunting parties so no more queens would lose their kits like she had. And Duskfire's father had sung much the same tune when it had come time for him to join his mate in the elder's den.

The clans were usually tense, but the tension that she'd grown up knowing was higher than it had ever been. Everyone was out for blood. Everyone was craving battle that never came. Because when it came, it would not be a border skirmish like they'd all known - when this all came to a head, the effect was likely going to be near-cataclysmic. The tension was there, all they needed was the catalyst.

Nightbreeze cuffed her ears gently as she matched pace with him, and told her to come along, still playing along with her joke about her "advanced" age. “Might be too late for that.” She said with a smirk in response to his comment about having a grumpy old Duskfire. The she-cat sensed a change in Nightbreeze's attitude almost immediately when they stepped outside and saw their clanmates watching.

Or maybe it was her.

She could see them watching too. She could see the sorrow in their eyes. The she-cat could also see Nightbreeze was avoiding all of it as he focused on going to the river. The she-cat held her head high and fell in step beside the older tom. Let them see. What was there to talk about anyway? Poor Duskfire - so desperate for a mate that she had to find a cat who simply could not escape her! Perhaps that would be what they said, but it was preposterous. Duskfire had no need for a mate. And no desire to bring kits into a world not capable of supporting them. Let them talk, she didn't care.

But for some reason, she wasn't sure that Nightbreeze wanted to hold his head as high as she held hers. Was he ashamed? Duskfire, being the blunt-tongued cat she was, asked him. “What's the matter?”

[willow]

[atrb=width,455,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, padding: 10px; background-image: url(http://i.imgur.com/Hlcpz.png);] WORD COUNT: ### TAGGED: Duskfire NOTES: LYRICS: GHOST OF ME, DAUGHTRY DON'T LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER, 'CAUSE THAT'S JUST THE GHOST OF ME YOU'RE SEEING IN YOUR DREAMS To the river. Get to the river, Nightbreeze, just get to the river. The same words kept repeating over and over again in his head as he told himself to ignore what was going on around him and keep his senses focused on the sights and sounds of the rushing water. What else was there for him to do? He couldn't outrun the stares of his clan-mates, he couldn't deafen himself to their whispers, who couldn't become blind to their emotions. It was the same routine as always whenever he went out, and each time he felt a little bit more defeated than he already did before. Perhaps that was why it was confusing for him to notice how Duskfire still held her own, despite the attention. She's a tough one, that girl. Keeping her head up high and defiance in her eyes, she seemed intent on getting across that what she was doing with who she was walking with wasn't something disgraceful or something she had to put up with. The look in her fiery hazel eyes warned the others to say a word. It was admirable what she was doing, but Nightbreeze could and wouldn't ever do that himself. He had too much history and emotion weighing on his heart to be like the young warrior. But then again, so did she. Duskfire had lost her kin early on in life to the terrible Greencough and now had but Oakspirit to rely on, besides her newly retired parents...Was it possible...he could ever meet his own clan-mates eyes again without feeling ashamed? They were almost to the river, the sound of the water was closer and the black tom was eager to be alone with his new companion and 'hunt' for the clan. But Duskfire seemed to have picked up on his emotions and finally asked, "What's the matter?" A audible sigh passed his lips and Nightbreeze tried to ignore the annoyance at hearing her question. Did she really have to ask, considering even she had to know what he had been through? "It's nothing you need to worry yourself about...Not like you'd understand anyway." the black tom murmured, keeping his yellow eyes on the reeds. It was a relief to finally get to through the water plants, to feel them smooth over his pelt and squish the soft, moist earth beneath his paws, but it didn't calm the unrest in his heart. Stopping his walk at the edge of the freezing river, Nightbreeze waited for the tortoiseshell to join him, looking over the water and tail twitching once or twice before settling still once more. CODED BY ACRYLIK ON BTN!

[Lo]

DUSKFIRE

The she-cat observed the older Tom carefully as he made his way to the river. He seemed almost afraid of his clanmates, as though their looks were burning into his pelt. Well, perhaps that was a bit of an exaggeration. Or perhaps not. Either way, Nightbreeze seemed to have one goal in mind - keep his head down and live his life. But to Duskfire, that was no way to live one's life. It was almost as bad as being a kittypet, imprisoned in a twoleg nest. No, Duskfire rebelled against all social shackles, or at least she liked to think she did.

And her respect for the older tom was quickly transforming into contempt as she observed this new behaviour.

So, she confronted him about it, which seemed to irritate him quite a bit. Surely she had not transformed so suddenly into a creature so irritating that even Nightbreeze, who only moments before had seemed thrilled by her companionship, to sigh at the ire caused by her presence? But then, look how quickly Nightbreeze's personality had changed in such a short time, perhaps she had done the same without realizing it. Or perhaps this new side of Nightbreeze simply found the regular Duskfire to be a bother.

No, it was her question. That's what had evoked such a strong response of ire from the older cat. And did he had to answer it in such a condescending way? What, did he think she was a little kit, too naive to fathom why her clanmate might be a little grumpy-tail? Dark Forest no! She was a grown and mature cat and she deserved a proper answer, although apparently Nightbreeze disagreed.

“Pray tell wise elder, exactly what is it that this poor, stupid young warrior's obviously inadequate brain would not be able to comprehend?” Duskfire challenged as she halted by the edge of the river, turning to face the top with her green-brown eyes blazing. It seemed that Nightbreeze had not heard of this she-cat's fiery temper, or had chosen to ignore any warnings he may have received.

[willow]

[atrb=width,455,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, padding: 10px; background-image: url(http://i.imgur.com/Hlcpz.png);] WORD COUNT: ### TAGGED: Duskfire NOTES: LYRICS: GHOST OF ME, DAUGHTRY DON'T LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER, 'CAUSE THAT'S JUST THE GHOST OF ME YOU'RE SEEING IN YOUR DREAMS Nightbreeze could practically feel the anger coming off Duskfire as she joined him at the river. He had heard about her temper, he even had witnessed it himself, but he had never been at the receiving end of it. What had he said to upset her so much? He had merely stated a fact. She couldn't and wouldn't ever understand what he went through every day of his life, the pain he felt on a daily basis. She was a young, strong, stubborn warrior and had so much to look forward to. All he had to face in the future was rotting in a den with other impaired elders. The very thought was infuriating and Duskfire's contempt was contagious. Facing the warrior, his yellow eyes hardened to meet hers, fur bristling in defense. "I never said you were 'stupid'! But one thing is for certain, that you are too incapable to understand!"

[/color] he spat, tail lashing behind him in his rising fury. "Until you have your back broken and live in the elders den, you will never understand. You will never know what it feels like to get up in the morning and having to take herbs to block the pain.

To know what you were capable of doing before but struggle to or can't even do now, to have to pray to Starclan to give you the strength to get up and face your clanmates, to know that your clan looks at you like a dead branch tied to their tails and the only emotion you receive from them is pity."[/color] The black tom had to breathe deeply now to control himself, lips curled up in a snarl. "No, Duskfire, you will NEVER comprehend what I go through every day of my life."[/color]

Nightbreeze felt unbelievable angry, but he also felt...strangely relieved. A relief that comes after having a good cry, after telling a friend a long kept secret, like having a great weight lifted off your chest and you can finally breathe. Though he was certain the tortoiseshell was going to bite back with fire, it felt good to let his anger out on someone who could take it. [/div]

CODED BY ACRYLIK ON BTN!

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[Lo]

DUSKFIRE

Nightbreeze wasn't the only one who was bristling. Her amber-green eyes were bright with her temper, which was a full-on blaze at this point. Of course, when he bit back and started lecturing her on the pain he endured on a daily basis, she almost felt as though she'd stepped out of line with what she'd said, and how fired up she'd become. But then the elder added another reason for his misery to the list and it made all the fur stand up on her shoulders again. “Pity?!” She snarled at him, her temper twice as hot as it had been only a moment before.

“That's what bothers you? The opinions of others?!” If the she-cat's temper was hot before, it was on fire now. “If you always listen to others' opinions of you and adopt them as your own, then you're always going to think you're mousedung. Who cares if someone thinks you're a burden? I'd like to see them give up their legs for the clan and see if they still think that!”

She sat down t the side of the river, her tail still fluffed out with her temper as she wrapped it around her forepaws, which had her claws sliding in and out of their sheaths. She'd never raise a claw against a loyal clanmate - especially not a kit or an elder, but usually when she got this riled up, there was another clan involved and she'd be able to use her teeth and claws to knock some sense into them. “Besides, I'm pretty sure you're the only one who thinks you're a burden to the clan.”

“Perhaps you should talk to Mudfur about trying different herbs for your pain, because it seems the ones you're on at the moment are making you hallucinate.” And she blew a huffy breath through her nose, indicating her contempt for the situation.

[willow]

[atrb=width,455,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, padding: 10px; background-image: url(http://i.imgur.com/Hlcpz.png);] WORD COUNT: ### TAGGED: Duskfire NOTES: LYRICS: GHOST OF ME, DAUGHTRY DON'T LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER, 'CAUSE THAT'S JUST THE GHOST OF ME YOU'RE SEEING IN YOUR DREAMS Duskfire was as hot as he was. As she went on, snarling and shooting back at him, he only felt the anger in him kindled by her mutual fury at his explosive explanation of why she was far from understanding him and what he went through day by day. He may have thought she would tell him to clamp his maw and take what life had give him, what serving his clan had done to him, but she was more focused on the part about pity, the one emotion everyone felt when they looked at him. "Oh please,"

[/color] Nightbreeze half-snorted, half-growled, rolling his narrowed yellow eyes and looking at the river rather than the clan-mate next to him who seemed like she wanted to slap him across the muzzle with a clawed paw. "don't pretend that you don't see me the same way, Duskfire. Telling me to ignore what my clan-mates say won't change anything."[/color] What was she thinking? Just say to not listen to everyone and poof it will happen?

Her ending words, even though they stung and prompted a growl in his throat, made him think on her, though. She was trying so desperately to make him see that it didn't matter what everyone else said, he wasn't a burden to the clan. His temper rather quickly toned down to only a flicking tail. Taking a seat by the river and looking over it with still hard eyes, he switched his gaze over to the she-cat and looked her over with more interest than anything.

"Alright, Duskfire, tell me. When you look at me, what do you see? I want to know how you really view me, don't give me any mouse-dung."[/color][/div]

CODED BY ACRYLIK ON BTN!

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[Lo]

DUSKFIRE

The she-cat dug her claws into the riverbank to keep herself from raking them across her clanmate’s muzzle. She couldn’t believe the impudence of this cat! Sure, she was younger than he was, but evidently age did not indicate experience or wisdom because Nightbreeze was being an absolute mouse-brain! Did he like wallowing in his self-pity? Because he sure seemed like it. And if anything, that wasn’t making Duskfire feel sorry for the crippled tom. No, instead it was further fuelling the inferno that was her temper. She was respecting the elder tom less and less, and her growing contempt for him was only fanning the blaze within her.

And he wasn’t doing himself any favours. Sure, Duskfire liked to debate but this was a bit much. She could hardly remember the last time she’d flown so far over the handles as to end up in such a fiery rage as Nightbreeze had sent her spiraling into that day. There was no chance that she was going to get the fur on her shoulders to lay flat while she was still in the tom’s presence, and her lips were pulled back in a snarl so full of contempt that her words almost seemed to be dripping in it. “Or maybe it’s not the herbs muddling your brain - maybe you’ve just been wallowing in self-pity for too long. You must really enjoy feeling sorry for yourself.” She spat in response to his accusations that she saw him the same way that he saw her.

“What do I see?” The she-cat asked with a snort of contempt. It seemed she was losing the ability to feel anything for the tom but anger - he’d lost her respect. “I see a cat that pledged his loyalty to his clan but the clan took his independence instead. A cat who refuses to give up and spend the rest of his life as a fat, lazy kittypet despite his injuries. A cat who continues to live for the sole reason of contemplating his own misery and supposed lack of worth!” Duskfire’s claws tore at the riverbank as she rose to her paws in fury and spun around. She didn’t have to stick around and be insulted by a bad tempered old tom who seemed to think he’d have been better off dead. She didn’t have to stay here and take this - she owed him nothing. Turning her back on the elder cat, she took a few steps away before turning back to him with a glare. “The only pitiful thing about you is your attitude.”

OOC: Sorry about her running off. I figured it’d be all dramatic and stuff, and we could have another thread with them being all awkward and tense.

[willow]

[atrb=width,455,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, padding: 10px; background-image: url(http://i.imgur.com/Hlcpz.png);] WORD COUNT: ### TAGGED: Duskfire NOTES: Oh it's all good! I think it's a good place to leave it off ;] Let's have them meet again! ONWARD WITH AWKWARD! xD LYRICS: GHOST OF ME, DAUGHTRY DON'T LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER, 'CAUSE THAT'S JUST THE GHOST OF ME YOU'RE SEEING IN YOUR DREAMS The thick-haired tom would do little more than hiss at her response, saying that he enjoyed his self-pitying, because there was nothing he could say to prove her wrong. In a way, Nightbreeze did like feeling sorry for himself. After all the rest of the clan was doing it. The only difference between his pity and his clan-mates was that he knew the full extend of what had been done to him. Others just looked upon him and thought of his legs, his injury. He seemed to be the only one who knew the suffering and pain, the grief of losing his entire family, to be sent to live the life of an elder when he should be at the prime of his life. he had always told himself he was deserving of sympathy, but for more than just the obvious. He had held out hope Duskfire might understand that, but apparently he had been very wrong. He wouldn't make that mistake again. He continued to listen to her, his anger still there pulsing continuously like hot coals. While she was losing respect in him, he was gaining some in her. Up until her parting words, he had wanted to call her back and apologize but instead remained in stubborn silence. It wouldn't do good for either of them to speak for awhile after this. They were obviously incompatible, maybe that's how it was supposed to be rather than them being friends. But even as he watched her leave in a fury, flinching as she glared back at him with contempt, he couldn't help but think about one thing. Duskfire, however young she was, had already figured out that what he had done for his clan shouldn't have been repaid the way it had been, that he could have given up completely on life in the forest, and that the only thing that seemed to keep him going was the pity he held for himself greater than that of the clan. He had waited since the day he became disabled for a cat to know and comprehend at least some of what he felt and went through. And as he was left sitting on the riverbank, still staring out with hot questioning eyes, he realized that the she-cat he had just driven off did. CODED BY ACRYLIK ON BTN!