part of who i am. is you. {dawn}

[Wolfy]

Islandsplash[/size]

You don't know how it feels, to be outside the crowd.
And you don't know what it's like to feel left out.
And you don't know how it feels to be your best friend.
On the outside looking in.[/b]

Don't you wanna stay here a little while?

Settling herself in a comfortable position the friendly face of the she-cat engaged in pleasant greetings from passing clanmates. The air was very chilly as leaf-bare groaned on and on. It seemed like the season would never change. But the cats certainly did. The beautiful orange she-cat stood out from the frost laid snow that covered the band of territory of TempestClan. Her ocean eyes blinked back to a few moons ago when she was training her beloved apprentice in the ways of stalking, fighting, and playing. She could remember clearly when the leaves had fallen from the trees. She had pleasant memoirs of hiding in the piles and scaring her apprentice out of her small body. She missed those times of fun excitement. She missed the clear resemblance her apprentice had of herself when she was a kit. She missed everything about being a mentor. She missed Splashpaw. Now that her little apprentice was a warrior, she never had time to see her. Splashmist was what she was called now. She always believed in Splashmist. She really did, now they weren't connected by that band of relevance. It was just Splashmist and Islandsplash. Islandsplash was very proud of her apprentice's warrior ceremony, but now she hardly saw Splashmist enough. In fact, at this very moment, Islandsplash had no idea where the newly refurbished warrior was. Not that she should be checking up on her of course, but it was hard not to fall into those habits again. Frowning, Islandsplash retreated from where she lay to escape those depressing memories.

Don't you wanna hold each other tight?

[/center]
Pawing up from the ground, Islandsplash gave one more look around the camp and set her ocean-blue eyes forward as she began thinking about her past experiences. She laughed a little out loud when she remembered the time she had fallen into the bog and her very close friend Dreamfeather had to rescue her. She was given a stern warning, but all the same it was pretty funny. Islandsplash was such a klutz. What could she do to make that better? Probably nothing. Smiling, Islandsplash found herself being taken out of the camp and into the forest. Maybe she wanted to hunt? Islandsplash was pretty laid back when it came to clan life. She had really matured from being the half-clan kit she was to begin her life with. As she was padding delicately about, she scented something familiar. Or at least, someone. Looking over her shoulder to her right, she caught a glimpse of a silver grey pelt pressed down towards the frost. She thought she recognized the pelt of Dreamfeather, TempestClan's deputy, but she couldn't be sure, she crept around the trunk of an old tree, but couldn't see the pelt anymore. Wha-who was that? And where did they go? Islandsplash looked around, she was sure that was Dreamfeather, at least maybe that's who she had been wishing for all along.

J'taime.

[/font]

[Dawn]

It's dragging me down and I can't pull away {dreamfeather}

She hadn't wandered all moon. In fact, last night, Dreamfeather had even managed to get the full benefit of her sleep. Rather than tossing and turning, clawing at the branch she so often curled up on, she had... slept pleasantly, all through the night, 'till dawn. She had awoken, feeling even more motivated than was natural. The sun was just creeping up from behind the hills then, and most cats were still sleeping, including the cat she had come to think of as her best (and only) friend, Islandsplash. The sky was clear and cold above the forest, but on the edge of the horizon, dark gray clouds were building, threatening to overwhelm the rising ball of fire. Anxious that they were in for snow, or even hail, thought Dreamfeather with a quivering tail tip, she headed out early to hunt. It had taken but a moment to inspect how pitiful the fresh kill pile was, and feel slightly bitter about it all. Then, as always, she was off into the forest. The bengal vanished without a word to any, only nodding politely to the few awake around the base of the great tree. She was slowly opening up, occasionally poking her head out of the cold mist usually surrounding her; but she wasn't yet as personable and friendly as the apricot female, Islandsplash, and she doubted she ever would be. It just wasn't in her to let herself be exposed. Dreamfeather was terrified of letting someone get to close; she had an irrational, constant fear of being hurt. Likely, it would always linger, no matter what bonds she made with others.

Out into the territory, and soon she was trotting along, not bothered by the cold stinging in her paws from the snow. Somewhere far off, she heard a bird screech clearly; just above, honks greeted her, and she looked up. Through a parting in the tree branches, she could see geese flying along in a lopsided, odd formation, their cries carrying out over the woodland and fen. Taking in all of this, Dreamfeather smiled faintly to herself and began to head in the opposite direction of the bird call; she wanted to catch something to bring back, and was hopeful that the sound would've scared prey in that area toward her. It was likely that most would take to hiding in their burrows, but since the sun was trying fervently to warm things up, Dreamfeather was sure a squirrel or two would be out looking for food of its own. She tasted the air, then began to follow the nearest trail, scenting around a tall cottonwood tree. She was about to climb up into its branches when she heard a quiet sound quite close by. There was an old, dead pine towering above to the right of the cottonwood, but a fallen tree blocked her view of much else at ground level. Holding her breath, she slipped around the edge of the old tree, then sank her claws into the wet trunk of the fallen cottonwood, and hauled herself silently up. What she saw on the other side made her whiskers twitch. A she-cat with a fluffy, pale cream pelt and darker, burnt orange markings was just creeping around to the other side of the old tree. The deputy could imagine her dark, cold water blue eyes, straining for a flash of fur that would mean prey. Her back was turned, and Dreamfeather was certain that meant that Islandsplash was her prey.

Shifting her weight ever so carefully, she moved to the edge of the slippy trunk and tensed. The younger female remained where she was, as though looking for something. She considered a battle cry, but decided that would only manage to scare the rest of the prey in the area. Thus she leaped, tail flying behind her; for a half second, Dreamfeather hung in midair, eyes amusingly focused on the prey she intended to land on. Then she fell, harder than she had expected, upon Islandsplash. The force of her pounce sent them both rolling apart, and Dreamfeather landed quite ungracefully. Her light gray-white belly fur was wet with mud from the trek there, visible as she lay on her side, stifling a slight wince. She quickly turned her gaze on Islandsplash, and her mood lightened again to see the state her friend was in.

WORD COUNT: 727 TAGGED: Islandsplash (wolfy) NOTES: I decided to go through with the pounce after all, so I'd have something to write about. (: I hope this is satisfactory with you.

ANCK SU NAMUN OF CAUTION!

[Wolfy]

Islandsplash[/size]

You don't know how it feels, to be outside the crowd.
And you don't know what it's like to feel left out.
And you don't know how it feels to be your best friend.
On the outside looking in.[/b]

Don't you wanna stay here a little while?

The wind blew around and up into the orange she-cats glossy pelt. It chilled her to the bone and she shivered visibly. She had been hunting after something, or someone. She didn’t even know. The orange she-cat blinked her icy blue gaze out on the leaf-bare background. A scent lingered into her mouth, one that she recognized and knew fairly well. Her best friend Dreamfeather was somewhere near her. Islandsplash looked back and forth, but still couldn’t see her. She thought back to the last time she had hung out with her. It had been a while ago to be honest. Late in the night, Islandsplash slept next to the silver deputy in her nest, but lately the orange feline felt a sudden chill and she’d wake up. Her silver she-cat would be gone. Dreamfeather probably didn’t think Islandsplash had noticed and she wouldn’t ask her friend, but all the same it made her wonder where she was sneaking off to in the night. She couldn’t help feeling jealous that the time Dreamfeather spent in the night could have been spent with Islandsplash in the day. It wasn’t her fault that she was lonesome, right?

Don't you wanna hold each other tight?

[/center]
Swallowing, Islandsplash crept around the base of a tree and looked out into the snowfall. Dreamfeather was nowhere in sight. ”Where the-“ Just as the words left her mouth, a superior weight fell onto her back and she let out a caterwauling “Oof!” as she fell away from the ‘attacker.’ The weight from the cat above her sent her into a tripping fit with her paws. She landed painfully on her side and she let in a sharp intake of breath when she hit the stones and leaves, dappling her fur with the dirt. Looking up with sharp, icy eyes, she saw a silver, mud-bellied she-cat, eyes glimmering back at her. Speak of the mouse-brain. Islandsplash’s gaze softened when she recognized her best friend. ”Mouse-brain!”[/color] she hissed playfully, but it did hurt to stand up for a second, her joints were ill to the bone. ”I was just looking for you!” Purring loud enough for the deputy to hear her, Islandsplash put weight onto her paws, even though one leg felt sprained and stood up to greet her friend. Reaching over with her nose to Dreamfeather’s nose.

J'taime.

[/font]

[Dawn]

It's dragging me down and I can't pull away {dreamfeather}

Dreamfeather grunted, heaving herself roughly to her paws. That may have been the stupidest thing she'd done all day. Both she and Islandsplash seemed to be in painful conditions, but neither was willing to complain. If the orange female felt the way she did, they were both too glad to see each other. Dreamfeather wasn't aware of her friend's feelings of jealousy and loneliness; she was, after all, quite used to being alone. Just the few times she had spent with Islandsplash had been more conversation than she often had with others in moons; so she was taking the friendly advances of the other female slowly. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy spending time with her- though she was entirely bewildered by this- it was just that she needed a lot more 'me time' than the average cat. Then again, all of her time alone could've been what was making her continue to overthink things. Maybe she should just give in, and let herself be close with Longshadow and Islandsplash- be more open with her clanmates... talk more frequently with her cousins and siblings. She wanted to, but it took time. After all, friendship didn't happen overnight. One that had locked all of their emotions tight inside, buried them deep, for most of their life didn't just bare their soul within a few moons. Little by little though, it was happening. Even Dreamfeather had noticed it. And she seemed to be oblivious to a lot of things, lately.

I was just looking for you! The silver bengal touched noses with Islandsplash, then flattened her ears slightly, looking apologetic. "Sorry, Islandsplash. It was a bit harder than I'd meant, I suppose." Taking in the titian tinted warrior's battered appearance, she did feel sincerely sorry for pouncing on her. Dreamfeather couldn't help but think that she looked smaller, despite her fluffy pelt- and was reminded that she was, after all, part Zephyrclan. Generally, this would've meant she cringed a bit, becoming so close to a half-clan warrior- but indeed it was the opposite. She was slowly overcoming this also, but only in this particular circumstance. Instead of her usual reaction, the silvery female frowned with worry; was her friend getting enough to eat, now that leafbare was here? Licking her shoulder briefly, flattening down a patch of black dappled fur, the deputy then straightened and smiled again. The look of gladness was radiant on a face that seemed to rarely smile. "What're you doing out here, other than setting yourself up to be pounced upon?"

WORD COUNT: 423 TAGGED: Islandsplash (wolfy) NOTES: Shorter replies, so I can reply more often and more quickly to all of my threads like Minty is doing.

ANCK SU NAMUN OF CAUTION!

[Wolfy]

Islandsplash[/size]

You don't know how it feels, to be outside the crowd.
And you don't know what it's like to feel left out.
And you don't know how it feels to be your best friend.
On the outside looking in.[/b]

Don't you wanna stay here a little while?

Islandsplash purred when Dreamfeather looked delighted to see her. Islandsplash's fluffy orange tail waved in the air excitedly, almost like a kit. Her silver friend apologized for landing too rough on her back. She wouldn't admit that it was her leg that hurt though, instead she just twitched her whiskers with amusement. "A bit? Dreamfeather, I'd say the weight of StarClan fell with you." she snickered. Reaching down, she quickly lapped at her mud-stained fur. She cringed when she tasted the mud. Dirt was never a pleasant taste, no matter dry or wet. Hissing low with disgust, she finished up as much cleaning she could, faintly aware of the mud on top of her head, she could feel it seeping into her warmth. It was so uncomfortable, but she'd give herself a proper bath when she went home.

Don't you wanna hold each other tight?

[/center]
"It's like I said," she answered the deputy's question, "I was looking for you! I haven't seen you much lately and I wondered what you were up to now?"[/color] Islandsplash was carefully walking around the subject of Dreamfeather sneaking off at night, she didn't want to offend her friend. She'd tell Islandsplash when she was ready. But the thing that really bothered the orange she-cat, when would she be ready to listen? "Oh and by the way," with some of her fire back in her throat, "I don't set myself up to get pounced on! I strategically managed to catch some good prey back there. What were you doing? Waiting for me to show up?" she taunted good-humordly. She really missed Dreamfeather being around. Now that she was getting attached to Flamestripe, it seemed odd not to have her best friend with her.

J'taime.

[/font]

OOC: Sorry it took so long!

[Dawn]

It's dragging me down and I can't pull away {dreamfeather}

"A bit? Dreamfeather, I'd say the weight of StarClan fell with you." The silver bengal puffed up, and shot a glare that was everything but angry at her friend. If a warrior in battle had seen that glare, they'd probably have keeled over from laughing. Dreamfeather wasn't exactly being threatening. "Hey! It wasn't that hard." She growled, feeling a twinge of pain in her shoulder as she crouched. "And if you're not careful, I'll pounce on you again!" She was half tempted to, but the second and third twinges changed her mind. Like Islandsplash, she settled and gave herself a quick, impatient grooming. The mud tasted terrible, but she made no comment, wrinkling her nose as she pulled a burr away with her teeth. She couldn't see much the point in washing herself now- she was just going to get dirty again, trotting around the forest with Islandsplash. The snow was belly high in places, and it wouldn't do anything to return the silvery white color to her fur. This was why her strokes were rough and without tolerance; she wanted to be moving again. The deputy was hopeful that with a bit of exercise, she could work out the ache that had materialized in her muscles. She wasn't intolerant enough to stop her friend from washing, however, so she tried to force herself to sit still and wait, taking in the trees around them once more. Usually Dreamfeather was a more enduring warrior, but at this point she was, to say, wound up. It was a crisp morning, she had finished what duties she had and had time to hunt freely. Even better yet, she had tracked down a friend to do so with; and when she was with the orange she-cat, hunting was less of a chore and more of a game. A competition of sorts, which she was quick to set between herself and Islandsplash, whether the half-clan warrior wanted to compete or not. I'm starting to see why Splashmist enjoyed her training so much more than Flareheart's, anyway. There was a slightly bitter taste on her tongue at the thought of Flareheart. Voidstar fancied her... Of course, she was quick to remind herself that the reason she didn't like the other female was because she had been a poor mentor to her cousin. It has nothing at all to do with the dumb leader, anyway...!

After a little silence, Islandsplash spoke again. "I was looking for you! I haven't seen you much lately and I wondered what you were up to now?" She felt as though her friend were carefully skirting the issues, but she couldn't figure what exactly she was avoiding. Following her lead, however, the pretty bengal kept her voice carefully neutral. "Oh, nothing much. I've got Martenpaw to train now, you know." She smiled, attempting to appear fond. "She's more of a handful than my last apprentice, but she's willing to learn." Dreamfeather felt a tiny sting in her heart as she meowed, "But what about you? I've seen you spending a lot of time with Flamestripe." She said this in the most irritatingly casual voice, even managing to sound as if she were curious about her friend's attraction to the 'handsome' ginger tom. What she was really thinking was, What can she possibly see in that annoying fool? He's a coward and a failure at that! Her heart beat quickened slightly, but she remained cool and calm outwardly. "What were you doing? Waiting for me to show up?" She shrugged, then swept her tail out toward the ivory landscape. "Just enjoying the snow, Islandsplash." The deputy laughed softly, and said teasingly, "Don't be so suspicious! You know I can't tell you about my ultra secret deputy missions." She couldn't help but think that she really didn't have any particular deputy duties at this point. Voidstar rarely spoke to her, and she was busy training Martenpaw. Gone were the days when the leader and deputy spoke together in Voidstar's den, his asking for her opinion and her giving it cautiously. She would never admit that she missed them, and that she felt disconnected from the clan when she wasn't speaking to the leader.


WORD COUNT: 699 TAGGED: Islandsplash (wolfy) NOTES: Yay, tons of dialogue. Plenty for you to reply to. :3

ANCK SU NAMUN OF CAUTION!

[Wolfy]

Islandsplash

You don't know how it feels, to be outside the crowd.
And you don't know what it's like to feel left out.
And you don't know how it feels to be your best friend.
On the outside looking in.[/b]

Don't you wanna stay here a little while?

As the two fond friends started washing, Islandsplash kept flicking her ice gaze around the forest. Snow was EVERYWHERE. Too much snow for her likings. It was cold, wet, and just an inconvenience. How was she supposed to hunt with the bright orange pelt she possessed. Although, with Dreamfeather here now, hopefully her hunting expedition wouldn't be such a bore. Flicking her fluffy tail out of the snow that it was trampled into, she whisked her head up at the sound of Dreamfeather's voice. "But what about you? I've seen you spending a lot of time with Flamestripe."[/i]

Don't you wanna hold each other tight?

[/i]

A little hint of nervousness flooded through Islandsplash, though it really shouldn't. Quietly, as though unsure of herself, the ginger she-cat spoke up, "He's a great cat. And I like talking to him." Her pelt felt warm when she imagined the handsome vermillion tom and how much he stood out to her from a distance. Up close, he was very nice, but he made her feel awkward. A growing crush was forming for him, but she'd like to make his acquaintance more before anything serious came about with them. "Anyways, he's great company, even if some cats in the Clan don't think so." she defended him easily and then flicked her nervous gaze away from the deputy's.

Don't you wanna fall asleep with me tonight?

[/i]

"Don't be so suspicious! You know I can't tell you about my ultra secret deputy missions."[/i] Dreamfeather teased at her. Islandsplash ignored the growing thought of Flamestripe and swept her tail around to her paws as she sat straight up again. "Me suspicious? I hardly think that's a logical term for me. I think you're the sneaky one. Running around on secret deputy missions, pah, what are you doing? Claiming all the lands to be rightfully yours. 'I, Dreamfeather, make myself known to all of you in this land. I am now your ruler. Do as I say! Bow to me.'" Islandsplash imitated Dreamfeather's voice as she stood up with her chest puffed out. "But wait, what's this? My enemy, the dreaded Islandsplash is here to put an end to me? Noooo!" Islandsplash purred as she imagined a fake falling and plopped her head down into the snow. Then she looked up with excitement glittering in her eyes. Dreamfeather would probably be wanting to go hunt now, but Islandsplash couldn't resist a chance to make ease between the two of them at least.

J'taime.

[/font]

[Dawn]

It's dragging me down and I can't pull away {dreamfeather}

"He's a great cat. And I like talking to him." Dreamfeather felt an immediate and surprisingly sharp flood of jealousy and bitterness. It's because it feels like I'm losing a friend. She's my only friend, and now she's so busy with stupid Flamestripe... She probably doesn't want to hang out with me much anymore. This reassurance only made her feel colder, though it helped to resolve her inner conflict a bit. She hated to feel so strongly about the thought of her best friend taking a mate and settling with kits, as if she wanted her all to herself. Dreamfeather was certain that wasn't it; she just didn't want to be the only loner in the clan, she supposed, the only one without a mate or kits. But it was unfair to expect Islandsplash not to want a family; she was completely alone, and she didn't have the duties of a deputy distracting her. But she has me, and shouldn't that be enough? She doesn't need to seek other companions. "Of course," she murmured in a smooth, calm tone, betraying nothing of her true feelings. "He does seem to be a fine young tom, and a fitting mate." She wanted to wink, or grin, or do something that would seem teasing, after this. But all she could feel was a tightness in her jaw, as she grit her teeth. Quickly, the deputy turned away, pretending she was listening to a squirrel in the trees. With it, she gave a tinkling laugh, which didn't sound at all like her own, but felt more real with her face hidden from the orange female's sight.

The silver bengal whipped around when she heard Islandsplash's mocking tone, and a smile fell easily on her features, loosening her fangs. "Put an end to me? That's what you think, my nemesis!" She flicked her tail, sending snow flying toward the she-cat. A tiny growl was present in her tone when she mewed, "Now do as I say, and let's hunt! We can rule together, but we can't let the clan starve, now can we?"

WORD COUNT: 347 TAGGED: Islandsplash (wolfy) NOTES: Shorter posts are upcoming, but it's a reply all the same! Finally, some all out jealousy from Dreamy. I love it. <3

ANCK SU NAMUN OF CAUTION!