Sunhigh Patrol

[Seafeather]

Seastar

I walk along the FrostClan and CloudClan border, checking for the scent markers, and scents of those who would steal. CloudClan isn't normally one to steal though, they can hardly hunt in this dense forest. I thought to myself. It had been a couple days since my visit with Smokleaf. I was pregnant, but not that pregnant to not be able to leave the camp. That wouldn't be for a while. My jaws parted, letting in the warm, clean scent of the new-leaf forest spread through my mouth and into my nose. No trespassers here. I confirmed myself. I walked on with the rest of my patrol following. Maybe we could be back at camp quicker if we divided our group, but still have done the same amount of territory.

"Two of you go far ahead of me, one of you stay with me." I ordered. It was immediately followed and the two that would go ahead skirted off into the green forest. Taking the advantage of being alone with one of my clan-mates, I talked.

"So how're you?"

[//Sunneh// is FuMiNg]

DARKWHISPER

"i walk this empty street, on the boulevard of broken dreams..."

Boulevard of Broken Dreams (c) Green Day

Sunhigh patrol.

Get out of bed, grab something to eat, follow the leader, do what she says; piece of cake, they say. Easy as pie, they say. Right?

Right. When you aren't recovering from your best friend's horrifying death, that is. His clanmates, the apathetic mousebrains-- they just didn't understand. Had they ever lost a close friend before? No; if they had, they wouldn't be giving him such idiotic advice, now would they? And if they had, and still felt compelled to do so-- well, they musn't of loved their friend as much as he had loved - and still did love - his dear Rainpaw.
He held nothing against them, of course. It wasn't their fault that they didn't understand. But still, would it kill them to be a bit more empathetic?

And he had to put up with them. Every single day, mind you, not just during the week or on the weekends; there was absolutely no escaping from your own clan. There was no hiding from them, either - they practically lived in one anothers' pockets. No, it was impossible to keep a secret 'round here, even if you weren't particularly close to anyone like he was. In fact, keeping his distance had only made it worse - it impaired their ability to understand him. Towards each other, they were so sympathetic, but when it came to him... it was as if he was an entirely different breed, meant to be observed and pitied, but never comforted.
And the rumors, not to mention the whispering behind his back... StarClan forbid! Even now, as he trotted behind Seastar along the CloudClan border, he could hear their whining, simpering voices: 'Poor, dear Darkwhisper, he never was a social cat, now look where he is now - a complete wreck. Now if I were him, I'd just buck up and move on. You can't cling to the past forever--'

Oh, yes, he knew he couldn't. But he could try - and he had always been a persistent one. He knew that much...

At least, for once, dragging his sorry carcass out of the cramped, exceedingly stuffy warrior's den hadn't proved to be as challenging as usual. Improvement? Maybe so. Actual recovery? Doubtful. He was just having a good day; the next, he'd probably experience a rebound, and end up confining himself to the den for hours.

Maybe he was better off that way...

"Two of you go far ahead of me, one of you stay with me." Darkwhisper flinched at his leader's command, but before he could scurry away as he usually did, the other two had disappeared. He was stuck with Seastar. Fine, then - at least she wouldn't heckle him. Or so he thought... "So," the she-cat said, seizing the opportunity to speak in a casual manner, "how're you?"

How was he? Unsure of how to answer that query, the warrior simply stared. Wrinkling up his nose thoughtfully, those calculating amber eyes took on a baffled appearance, as if the very aspect of socialization puzzled him. That was the strange thing about this dark-furred tom - he could fight like a demon, stalk like a tiger, and hunt like there was no tomorrow. But when it came to making conversation, his skills and tact were about that of a badger. He had to say something, though. It was a rather simple question - why not reply to it?
"I'm well," he finally risked, eying her with something like apprehension; not suspicion, just... nervousness. As if he was afraid of messing up. "Pessimistic, but well."

[notes;; wow, this is different. O.o ]

[Seafeather]

Seastar

"I'm well, pessimistic, but well." Seastar gave a sidelong glance at the dark warrior. She arched an eyebrow making a face, but he hadn't seen it. Seastar understood at once though, why he was pessimistic. He misses Rainpaw. He loved her and she died. But that's not reason to mope around for over twelve moons...

Seastar looked up into the sky, parting her jaws and scenting the air. Nothing. She trotted on with Darkwhisper at her side. "At least you're well. You're living, you have a loving Clan, you leader appreciates you," She winked at him. "You can walk! Why so pessimistic?" She asked. She was genuinely concerned for him. She was concerned for all of her Clan-mates, just as most of the warriors were for her. If you give love, you will also receive it. The forest, with its green life, was teeming with prey and herbs and just plain ol' greenery. But, it was in balance with one another. If a plant died, most of the time, one will grow right back in it's spot. If it's not the same, it won't have the same use, but it could be made to do something different. Maybe even something better. Everything has a balance that must, and will be kept.

Turning her tortoiseshell ears to the north, she heard the scuttle of a mouse searching the peat for nuts. She lowered into the hunter's crouch, wriggled her haunches, and pounced! To late, the mouse tried to scurry from her right paw, only to turn around and run into her left. No where to run. She made the killing bite and gave thanks to StarClan for the life of the mouse. She buried the body and continued onward, still expecting a response from Darkwhisper.

OOC: Yeah...I went from 1st person to 3rd...3rd person is easier to write with in this circumstance. XD

[//Sunneh// is FuMiNg]

Despite his wayward stance, Darkwhisper caught the dubious sidelong glance the she-cat sent his way; but the face she made, as obvious as it was, just happened to evade his line of sight. Even if he hadn't missed it, the look would have been completely lost on him - interpreting his clanmates' actions had never been the dusky tom's strong suit. It would have simply furthered his confusion, and that was no good.

They both set off, side-by-side, but not exactly in harmony. Usually, when two cats were on patrol, there was a sense of comradery about them. But not this time. The air seemed to have fallen stagnant with the tom's misery, and although his features were calm, there was no sign of it lessening - his heart was far too heavy for him to fall in sync with anyone, least of all his leader. At least you're well, Seastar reminded him, but her words fell upon reluctant ears.

'Well'? How did this she-cat define 'well'? You're living, you have a loving Clan, you leader appreciates you." The tortoiseshell graced him with a warm gaze, then winked. Clearly rankled, Darkwhisper watched as a single sea-blue eye closed, briefly hidden beneath a patchy eyelid, then, seeming to twinkle, opened once again to drink in the surrounding forest. He appreciated the thought, as well as her concern, but the carefree gesture was like a claw in his side: unneeded, unwanted, and unbearably painful. "You can walk! Why so pessimistic?"

The dark tom waited patiently as the she-cat turned her attention away from him in order to snatch up an unsuspecting mouse, bury it, and pad onward, all the while regarding him expectantly.

Who did that?

Shaking his head, Darkwhisper muttered, "Physical well-being isn't everything, Seastar. I'm as fit as warriors come, but that cannot lessen my pain." His voice lowered considerably. "Have you ever lost someone close to you, Seastar? If not, you can't possibly know how I feel."

[ this is horrible and suckish and rushed and I gotta go! D8 ]

[Seafeather]

Seastar

"Physical well-being isn't everything, Seastar." Seastar jerked her head toward the dusky warrior. He was talking to her as if she were a kit! Frankly, Seastar didn't appreciate it. But, if he was as sad as he looked, he probably would talk to anyone like that. She shrugged it off. "I'm as fit as warriors come, but that cannot lessen my pain." He lowered his tone as if to give the pain he felt within, a voice of its own. "Have you ever lost someone close to you, Seastar? If not, you can't possibly know how I feel." Seastar narrowed her eyes at the tom. Such self pity...Feeling as if you're the only one who could ever feel that pain. Seastar stopped dead in her tracks. Looking him straight in the eye with a leader's ferocity.

"I know that pain well." Her voice was cold like ice. Why was she so angry? Was it the careless tom's last sentence that brought on this anger? Or was it that he brought memories back to the surface of her mind that she had once vowed to no longer think about? Probably the latter. "Apparently you don't know your leader's history...or her future." She sat down, preparing herself to give a history lesson to this young tom.

"Pinepaw...that was his name. The IvyClan apprentice that I befriended moons ago when I was just Seapaw." Seastar's eyes glittered in the sunlight. Her voice grave and hollow as if visiting the nest of a dead friend. "We became such good friends that we visited one another in the night. It wasn't romance that brought me to him every night. It was our friendship. Myself, being the daughter of two rogues, was always subjected to the other apprentices making fun of my heritage. I never had a friend to call my own, except for Pinepaw. Then one evening, he didn't come. I had thought that maybe he'd become to tired to come tonight. I was weak that night too from many days of sleepless nights. But it wasn't until the next Gathering that I heard the news he'd died in a border patrol that was attacked by a band of rogues. He was the only one dead." Seastar lowered her head and pointed it to the side. For a minute, loneliness overwhelmed her. But then she thought of her kits, and her mate, and her Clan. Her happiness...

"I never befriended another Clan cat like that again. I refused to feel that pain once more. Until I was force to be subjected to a premature death...I will use my time wisely now. I am granted maybe twelve moons of life. Then Cedarwing will be your leader. Life is like a vapor, Darkwhisper. Don't let it disappear without truly living."

OOC: Hehe...you got Seastar to delve pretty deep didn't you, Darkwhisper? XD I love Seastar. ^^ So sad that she's going to die. : (