SHE'S NOT BREATHING - - - - HALLOW

[Dawn]

"Has no one told you she's not breathing?"

[/color]

"Hello I am the lie living for you so you can hide."[/color]

Reassured by the knowledge that she had someone by her side now, Fatesong padded through the forest, back toward camp. As she did, she watched the shadows dancing and waving, flickering as she padded through their dark webs. The moon shone a bright half disc, and though there was more than enough to see by, she still felt the creeping sensation of being watched from time to time. It would prickle, cool, up her neck and cause her to snap her head around, staring wildly at nothing at all. She was more at ease than usual, having just spoken to Garnetbone, but that didn't mean she could simply escape her paranoia. All it really meant was that it wasn't as intense, gripping at her every motion. As she reached camp, knowing this for the increasing steepness of the path and the familiar glow of moonstones, Fatesong restrained the urge to race toward it. No one was about to attack her in her own territory, especially when she was so near to her clanmates. Still, her heart hammered in her chest. Wicked things shrouded the evening hours, and this was why she hated so much to be placed on later patrols. It wasn't the same in the morning, with the forest waking and the certain promise of light. In evening, all that was ahead were hours of pitch black, spent lost and wandering, if she wasn't careful. Still, her nervous manner embarrassed her, and she hadn't yet been able to request to Hallowstar that she not be placed on evening patrols, even though it was within her means. Fatesong didn't want the leader to think she was a frightened, weak little cat, unfit to be a warrior. She would be surprised if her patrol mates hadn't noticed her odd behavior though, as she was constantly looking over her shoulder and around each obstacle, insisting on bringing up the rear every time.

By the time she had reached the thick meadow, and the waving fern fronds at the base of twin saplings guarding the camp entrance, her breath was hitching in her throat. The thin trees weren't the clan's only protectors; a couple of warriors were also there, talking quietly together, while standing guard. Trying not to let her yellow eyes flash with fear, Fatesong dipped her head to both of them, instinctively moving to allow her entrance. Just as one was opening his jaws, likely about to ask why she was so jumpy, she hurried in between them and was spared their puzzled looks. Within the camp, brushing past clanmates, she made her way to the far, sandstone wall. Comforted by its presence, and by being near her adopted clan, she sank against its cool side. It was only when she was finally at ease that she realized she'd been holding her breath and softly let it out, her tunnel vision fading as she took in the camp. For a moment, Fatesong's head swam, dark spots everywhere, but then it cleared and she noted the rustling of fronds as her son, Veilpaw, crawled into the apprentice den. That was one less worry on her mind; at least he wasn't off fighting with another tom or wandering as he seemed apt to do. She worried equally for Jasperpaw and Dewpaw, however, Dewpaw in particular because of her disability with hearing. They're fine, the black female reassured herself, pressing out images of all the things that could happen to young delirium-blood apprentices in the woods.

notes. whoo spiffy new fatesong table word count. 583 words tags. open
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[Wolfy]

~Hallowstar~

As night had haunted his dreams and cornered him into a frightened existence, a shadow lurked around the den in which a great Siamese slept. Flickering his bright, icy gaze to the ferns of which he resided in, he saw a black shape pass by his entrance. Quick paws swiftly danced by and away from his vision. He'd been a restless mess ever since a few moons ago when he began having strange dreams. Dreams and visions he'd rather not speak about. Dreams and visions that haunted him into his soul. He hadn't really spoken to anyone for a while now, he probably looked like a fearful old brute rather than the strong leader he knew he was: Hallowstar. No mouse would cringe if they saw his pathetic shape now. He didn't even talk to Fatesong hardly anymore. He was rousing up courage to ask her, but it took time. Too much time maybe.

Hallowstar looked around in his deep dark nest and noted that his vanilla coat was sticking up from many different angles. So much for a leader. You can't even keep your pelt clean. He hissed back the urge to fall back into sleep. He needed to speak with his medicine cat of the ongoing appearances of danger, but he just felt like he wanted to tuck into his den and never be heard from again. No nonsense of that nature anymore. He got up and stretched his shorter legs before bending over to wash and groom himself. It's been a long time since he'd breathe the air of moonshine.

He had seen her pass by, Fatesong, he knew she was out there, waiting for someone possibly. He hadn't really been there for her to check on her or anything. Who am I? Am I a nobody too? Can't I even watch over her? And what kind of mentor am I, ignoring Veilpaw. I need a fresh start. Hallowstar growled, but stood up from his disgusting nest and padded out of the tunnel of his den and towards the camp. He was probably getting some strange looks right now from his clanmates. He was a hermit. A stranger. A faux leader. He needed to regain his strength. Even now, his legs felt shaky. He looked at where he imagined Fatesong running to, but before he started towards her, he walked or should he say stumbled, over to the apprentices' den. He poked his head in and found a sleeping Veilpaw. He walked softly on his paws over to where he slept and leaned down to look at his young, healthy apprentice. Silently, he rasped his tongue over Veilpaw's ear and murmured a good night. He may not know it was him now, but Hallowstar wanted Veilpaw to know that he loved him like a son, but also as a good friend. And he missed training him.

Hallowstar backed out of the den and made his way, slowly but surely, towards the direction Fatesong had gone. He stumbled a bit over his weak legs and went to the wall where sure enough, he found a black shape residing beside. Hallowstar tried to walk just as if he were a new born kit towards the beautiful ebony she-cat. "Mind if I join you?" He smiled politely as he entered the she-cat's gaze. He felt as though he were dancing on air again at the sight of his beautiful friend. Allured by her presence, he bent his head respectfully to her before moving any closer.

[Dawn]

"Has no one told you she's not breathing?"

[/color]

"Hello I am the lie living for you so you can hide."[/color]

It seemed ages since she'd last spoken with Hallowstar. She wondered if she'd imagined what they had, that night after her apprentice was made a warrior. Was it pure whimsy, she wondered? She wanted to ask someone else's opinion on it, but there was no one she trusted quite so intimately. Fatesong had definitely become closer to all of her clan mates, in particular Garnetbone and Hallowstar, but she felt she couldn't yet ask the crimson-eyed tom, though they'd certainly spoken in depth. It just seemed to silly to bother someone else with, especially when they'd hardly talked recently. What if he was simply very friendly with all of his clan mates? Maybe he felt sorry for her, and, as the mentor of her son, felt obliged to try and befriend her. There were endless possibilities, she just couldn't be sure of it. Fatesong shivered as a small wind sprung up, pressing against the sandstone wall. Her fur flattened inward and cushioned her so that her bare skin didn't touch the cool rock, a fact for which she was ever grateful. Tipping her head back, rested against the stone, she looked up into the sky and watched it grow darker, admiring the twinkling stars.

"Mind if I join you?" The camp was a soft buzz of activity, but it was leveling out as apprentices and older warriors alike retired to their nests. From out of the hum, a quiet, polite voice emanated, and her honeysuckle eyes snapped to meet those of the speaker. Fatesong found herself gazing at Hallowstar, taking in his familiar wide, dark face. The occasion felt slightly sad, but she didn't wish to be unhappy, and as he was smiling, she smiled too, very softly. Where any other cat would have casually sidled up to her, he seemed to be waiting for approval to step nearer, and she hoped that her expression was enough, eyes glowing. "Hallowstar,"[/color] she breathed in greeting, noting his appearance with a twinge in her ribs. "Of course not."[/color] She felt truly calmed, now that he was here. A warm sensation came over her as the breeze tickled her chin, playing with her fur. Fatesong felt he must have come to say something specific, so she remained quiet. Even if he hadn't though, it would be nice just to spend time with him in silence. They were both still young, though Fatesong considerably more so than the leader, she knew, but lately it seemed as if they were running out of time. It had just been that tight, painful feeling in her chest, all of the time, of impending doom or sheer panic.

notes. haha I just realized there's like twenty moons in age difference but it has no effect with them also baww so cute. <3 word count. 440 words tags. Hallowstar (Wolfy)
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[Wolfy]

~Hallowstar~

Hallowstar probably looked like a ghost from a different memory to Fatesong. It felt as though they haven't talked in days. It robbed his heart to think that way, but he did. Hallowstar looked back over to her and smiled when she spoke his name. "Of course not."[/u] Hallowstar let out a small purr as he padded slowly over to Fatesong and sat down opposite of her and leaned against the chilly wall. His eyes were heavy with sleep and they kept pressing down together in an urge to curl up and drift off. It almost felt like death.

Hallowstar had been very dejected lately and whilst the feelings overlapped his brain, he had a place that enriched his very soul where he kept his feelings for Fatesong in. Would she, like many others, see him as weak? And would she consider him in her favor? He felt the same about her as he always did, maybe more so this time for he'd have limited time with her. However, with sleepy eyes and unsettling legs, Hallowstar gleamed into the eyes of Fatesong, realizing how much he had truly missed her. For a few uncomfortable moments, he realized he had just been staring at her and to that he coughed awkwardly and cleared his throat. How embarrassing.

"Um, well, I-we, I just," he sighed as he tripped over his tongue, "hello." He ended up saying. He shook his head. He was such a weird cat. He rolled his eyes again at himself, "How-how are you? The weather, it's a bit chilly. I myself, well, my den is extremely warm. The night patrol are just out I saw. And Veilpaw, he looks well. I-I haven't been a good mentor to him. I haven't even been a good leader to my Clan. I haven't meant anything by it. I just feel lost right now. I can't even keep up to myself. I've been fooling everyone I think. Perhaps I'll join a patrol tomorrow. Oh, I'm rambling. I'm sorry, I just haven't been around cats for so long. It seems like forever, but it's only been a couple of moons since everything started happening. And I haven't even been fair to you. Or to myself. But it's so good to see you Fatesong. I missed you ever so dearly. I'm so sorry I'm telling you this all at once, but it has to come out somehow and I've been worrying about this for ages now. But all in all, I missed you." It all poured out before he could stop and blink. Really, it was almost like a wind-gusted sentence. Maybe he had been 'asleep' for a very long time. He had forgotten what it was like to live.

NOTES: lol, I've been reading a lot of Shakespeare today, I'm tired, and I just poured out everything to Fatesong. Oh well. <3

[Dawn]

"Has no one told you she's not breathing?"

[/color]

"Hello I am the lie living for you so you can hide."[/color]

She watched him draw nearer, sitting down beside her. He, too, leaned against the wall, looking at her. Fatesong thought he would say something then, but he just kept gazing at her, so she returned his look, tired but on edge. Then Hallowstar coughed, seemingly to dispel the look, and Fatesong's eyes returned to the camp, gazing off at the far wall of ferns. She listened to the sounds of evening, and his scrambling to speak, but couldn't yet make anything of what he was going to say. "Hi,"[/color] Fatesong replied in a soft tone, looking at him briefly with an inquiring look. It was silent for a moment longer, and then he seemed to jump into speech, a rambling, jaunty pattern of it. "I'm okay, but I'm more interested in how you are,"[/color] she mewed, her response a trickle of calm in the overwhelming speech. She heard as it shifted from trivial to personal, but still listened without expression, yellow eyes on something far away. How things had changed, in the past year. Her quality of life had certainly risen drastically, though she remained ever thin. She was used to dealing now, and she hoped that she could deal with whatever was to happen between them. It wouldn't do to shame Hallowstar.

A crow cawed, landing inside the camp to peck around at the ground, likely scenting old prey smell, and seeking scraps of meat. She wondered just how foolish a bird would have to be, to land right in a territory full of both dozing and alert felines. It was a crow, however, so not as much of a death wish, as no one cared for the faint essence of carrion their feathers seemed to emanate. Blinking, as her thoughts had gone in two different ways, Fatesong angled her body so that her shoulder pressed the wall but she was slightly turned toward him. "But all in all, I missed you." It was true, he had been a poor mentor, and she'd even suspected that was the reason Veilpaw got into such trouble. Still, she couldn't hardly blame or forgive him, she was too close to the subject to want to do anything other than be with him now that he had volunteered himself. Pressing her head against his shoulder briefly, in a way that she hoped could be interpreted as friendly/sisterly if needed, Fatesong inclined her head slightly once she'd drawn away. "I've missed you a lot too, the clan has been in low spirits."[/color] She restrained the urge to shush him, and assure him that it was fine, everything was fine. "But I know we can pull through, with you as our leader. I'm not afraid of that."[/color] Her lithe black pelt seemed to add to the gathering darkness, a deep shadow pressing against stone, as her eyes closed for a moment. "I... I've been so worried about you."[/color]

notes. aww come back to life anarchy D:< word count. 483 words tags. Hallowstar
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