Camp RiverClan bridge over troubled water // torrentpaw

[pineheart]

✦Pineheart has been pacing back and forth along the west shoreline of the island their camp is on, periodically stopping to groan or pin his ears back. That damn brat… twice now Torrentpaw has left the camp unaccompanied. Going to do who knows what with who knows who. One of the times he'd come back smelling strange, like the cats that called themselves Thunderclan. Fool. Was he trying to get himself killed?

He stops again, looking out over the water, trying to find some solace in it like he had with the ocean. It's not quite the same. Too quiet, too narrow. He sighs. No point in seeking comfort in something you cannot reach. No point in putting off a conversation you'll have to have at some point. Sooner rather than later, if Torrentpaw was to survive for long enough to gain a warrior name. Pineheart weaves back into the camp through the reeds, and spots Torrentpaw at the freshkill pile.

"Torrentpaw," he calls out, voice low but booming, as he approaches him. "A word," he says as he brushes past with a nod of his head, indicating for the young apprentice to follow him. Out of the camp again, to the shore. He sits down, and the tallness of him looms as he watches Torrentpaw. "Is there something you want to tell me?"

haven't had a dream in a long time

see, the life i've had could make a good man go bad

• ooc: @Torrentpaw
• 

  PINE, - 49 moons / riverclan + warrior
  large brown tabby town
  adopted guardian of Torrentpaw and Squidpaw / future mentor to Torrentpaw
  healing and peaceful powerplay allowed

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENTPAW -

Not some average bones, I believe in love!

.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡ Torrentpaw's ears swiveled backward at the sound of Pineheart's meow, one that had grown quite familiar to him now. Spinning around to face the large tabby, he parted his jaws to respond, but was quickly cut off as Pineheart brushed past him towards the camp exit.

Twitching his whiskers in confusion, Torrentpaw bounded after him, keeping up with the larger tom with quick and short strides. He searched Pineheart's gaze as they walked, trying to decipher his expression and tone of voice--was something serious going on?

Slowing to a halt as Pineheart sat, Torrentpaw copied, rearing himself back onto his haunches in front of the tom. His tail thumped against the ground, as he worked his claws into the earth in anticipation.

"Is there something you want to tell me?"

He blinked, genuine confusion filling his gaze as every possible action he had done the past few days flew through his head. If Pineheart was upset with him, it could be anything.

Suddenly, the memories of the older tom insisting he stay put or in his sight time and time again flashed in his mind, and understanding washed over him. I bet he saw me and Sharkpaw leave camp in the middle of the night. Torrentpaw thought to himself, clenching his jaw as he met Pineheart's gaze.

"Did you see me leave camp last night?" Torrentpaw asked, tilting his head slightly. "I swear we didn't get into any trouble, Sharkpaw and I just wanted to stretch our legs." He explained, his tone brimming with confidence. "We even brought back a big fish for the prey pile!" Torrentpaw added, his gaze brightening as the possibility of Pineheart being cross with him seemed to leave his memory. "I showed Sharkpaw the fishing technique you taught me." He went on, expression full of admiration.

"I think it brought us closer. Sharkpaw hadn't really spoken to me before then." He finished, pride swelling in his chest.

Torrentpaw left out the part about Sharkpaw wanting to cross and explore the Sunningrocks on Thunderclan territory. He had decided otherwise, and that was all that mattered.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Throw me in the sky ⟡ you would swear the sun shining‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• ⟡ OOC -
  
  
•  
• Torrentpaw
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | Riverclan Apprentice
  
  ⟡
  "speech" - text - thoughts
  
  ⟡
  To be mentored by Pine
  
  ⟡
  A rosetted charcoal Bengal.
  
  ⟡
  Has a sturdy build with a large head and paws, and short thick fur.
  
  ⟡
  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
  ⟡
  Usually seen with Squid

 

[pineheart]

✦ He watches Torrentpaw as he speaks, his words coming quickly and seemingly without much forethought. The young tom continues on, brazen, confessing so easily, and by the end of it even seeming proud of himself for it. Pineheart feels his gaze harden, so he looks away, clenching his jaw. For the love of… this kit was going to be the death of him. He's sure of it.

"And what would you have done if a badger had showed up?" he says at length. He turns back to look at Torrentpaw, eyes full of equal parts anger and worry. "Or a fox? A dog?" His ears lie back as he shakes his head with frustration. "And what about the time you came back smelling like Thunderclan?" He asks. "Were you ever going to tell me about that? They could've killed you! You could've drowned in that river, and I wouldn't have had a clue!" his tail lashes like a whip behind him, sending dirt and gravel flying. "You're just the same as you were that day on the beach, hauling around a fish, making yourself vulnerable for no reason. You really are still a kit…"

haven't had a dream in a long time

see, the life i've had could make a good man go bad

• ooc: -
• 

  PINE, - 49 moons / riverclan + warrior
  large brown tabby town
  adopted guardian of Torrentpaw and Squidpaw / future mentor to Torrentpaw
  healing and peaceful powerplay allowed

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENTPAW -

Not some average bones, I believe in love!

.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡ Torrentpaw blinked in thought as Pineheart had began to speak, looking away for a moment to consider his words. He was right--anything could have shown up during his and Sharkpaw's outing, but what if Sharkpaw had gone alone, and hadn't come back because of it?

Torrentpaw swung his head back to Pineheart as he continued on, alarmed by the rising anger that quickly began to lace his tone. He felt the thump of his heart suddenly bang against his chest, his expression hardening as the older tom berated him.

He hadn't told anyone about how he met Sunpaw, because he simply didn't think he had done anything wrong. To Torrentpaw, making allies in other clans seemed important. Surely Pineheart understood?

Torrentpaw flinched as he watched Pineheart lash his tail in anger, struggling to think of words to even begin. Despite this, his last comment struck Torrentpaw as hard as a monster on the thunderpath the moment it left his throat.

"You really are still a kit…"

Screwing up his maw in frustration as his body stiffened, Torrentpaw met Pineheart's gaze, hurt flashing in his eyes that was quickly followed by anger. For what felt like countless moons, Torrentpaw had pushed himself in the image of Pineheart--his strength, his skill, his capability. The admiration he held for the tom was immense. So why was it that, no matter how hard he pushed himself to be the best he could be, Pineheart overlooked his resolve for what could have been?

"I am not still a kit." Torrentpaw snapped at once, the fur along his shoulders bristling as he no longer needed to search for words. "I dragged that fish around and found Squidpaw. I would never take that back." He stated, outraged that Pineheart would even mention that day in a negative light. "I followed Sharkpaw and made sure he didn't cross over into Thunderclan territory like a fool, and we even brought prey back for the clan. I saw Sunpaw at the Thunderclan border and spoke to him and made an ally within Thunderclan all without even crossing into their territory!" He fumed, lashing his tail in defiance. "All of which I did with the wellbeing of Riverclan in mind."

Torrentpaw's chest rose and fell rapidly, catching his breath as his anger remained in the pit of his stomach. His gaze dropped to his paws, his thoughts spiraling with all the other words he wanted to scream at Pineheart.

Raising his head once more as his anger slowly subsided into distress, Torrentpaw parted his jaws. "What is it going to take for you to be proud of me?" He meowed, his gaze a pool of dismay and confusion.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Throw me in the sky ⟡ you would swear the sun shining‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• ⟡ OOC -
  
  
•  
• Torrentpaw
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | Riverclan Apprentice
  
  ⟡
  "speech" - text - thoughts
  
  ⟡
  To be mentored by Pine
  
  ⟡
  A rosetted charcoal Bengal.
  
  ⟡
  Has a sturdy build with a large head and paws, and short thick fur.
  
  ⟡
  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
  ⟡
  Usually seen with Squid

 

[pineheart]

✦ Torrentpaw continues on, defensive and clearly taken aback at Pineheart's anger. He didn't understand, but how could he? He hasn't lived the life Pineheart has. Hasn't lost, and lost, and lost– lost everything, again and again. Images flash in Pineheart's mind, death, so much death. He even sees Torrentpaw, body broken and bloodied at his feet, never getting to grow up. His own kits didn't get to grow up– they'd been just a few moons old when he'd lost them. He will not lose anyone else, won't lose Torrentpaw, or Squidpaw, or Brook and Lilac…

"What is it going to take for you to be proud of me?"

The question cuts through the noise of his head, and he looks down at Torrentpaw, his little face full of distress and confusion. He softens at this, his anger replaced by grief that is many moons old. Letting out a deep sigh, he stoops down to look at Torrentpaw closer, on his level.

"Live, Torrent," he meows softly. "You have to live."

He sighs again, getting back on four paws and walking closer to the water's edge before sitting down once more. He waves his tail, this time a much gentler motion, to beckon Torrentpaw to join him.

"I've never told you about my family, have I?" He says, more a statement than a question. He hasn't. The only cat who knew much about his past was Brook. "I had a mate, many moons ago. Her name was Lily, and I was the love of her life, but… She was gone too soon to be the love of mine." He clenches his jaw and dips his head. "We had kits together… three beautiful kits. I lost all of them in one night, my kits, her... The kits were barely two moons old," his voice breaks around the words, but he does not cry– perhaps he has no tears left. "I'd gone out to hunt," he continues, "with the best of intentions, with their wellbeing in mind– I came back to… to slaughter. A dog had killed every single one of them. It was still there, with one of my kits in its jaws, and I… if I had just stayed, if I'd come back sooner, if we'd been more careful…" his claws dig into the dirt, anger and grief making a mess of his head.

He shakes it, as if trying to clear it off the cobwebs and the dust. Then he looks over at Torrentpaw again. He doesn't apologize, though the younger cat probably does deserve it. He'd been too harsh, he sees that; but if that was what he had to be to keep Torrentpaw alive, he'd do it again.

"So live, Torrent," Pineheart says again. "That's all you have to do– just stay alive. Don't... don't make me bury another kit."

haven't had a dream in a long time

see, the life i've had could make a good man go bad

• ooc: -
• 

  PINE, - 49 moons / riverclan + warrior
  large brown tabby town
  adopted guardian of Torrentpaw and Squidpaw / future mentor to Torrentpaw
  healing and peaceful powerplay allowed

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENTPAW -

Not some average bones, I believe in love!

.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡ Live? Torrentpaw echoed in his mind as Pineheart drew nearer, as his words didn't quite dissemble his confusion. He had been living, he had lived enough to make the journey to the island and earn 'paw' in his name. He had lived enough to gain a found family he would never trade for anything. To Torrentpaw, these were his accomplishments that made life worth living--it was proof.

He blinked as Pineheart made his way towards the water's edge, beckoning for him to follow. Any of the anger left lingering in his chest seemed to dissolve, as it was replaced by curiosity.

His smaller frame settled down next to Pineheart's as he began to speak, his fur brushing against the other in an absent-minded gesture of comfort. Torrentpaw listened thoughtfully, and watched the warrior's face as he spoke, his own gaze full of surprise as his heart tugged with empathy for Pineheart. Understanding flooded his senses as the scene of every time Pine had urged him to stay put or tucked in a den filled his memory.

Maybe he did see me and Squidpaw as incapable, but I never thought it was because he was afraid of losing us.

Torrentpaw's body tensed as Pineheart suddenly returned his gaze, his eyes searching the other's as he spoke.

He blinked, taking a moment to feel the grief and sorrow Pineheart must have gone through, losing those so precious to him, who had so much life ahead of them.

"I understand now." Torrentpaw meowed after a moment, his mew thoughtful. "I promise--I won't die anytime soon." He continued, giving Pineheart a soft shake of his head. "There's too much I want to do... Watching you lead patrols, and be chosen as a council member. Our clanmates trust you, and I want to be like that too." He admitted, before pausing in thought.

"I promise I wont do anything careless." Torrentpaw meowed, his usual determined spirit filling his gaze. "But you have to trust me, too."

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Throw me in the sky ⟡ you would swear the sun shining‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• ⟡ OOC -
  
  
•  
• Torrentpaw
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | Riverclan Apprentice
  
  ⟡
  "speech" - text - thoughts
  
  ⟡
  To be mentored by Pine
  
  ⟡
  A rosetted charcoal Bengal.
  
  ⟡
  Has a sturdy build with a large head and paws, and short thick fur.
  
  ⟡
  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
  ⟡
  Usually seen with Squid

 

[pineheart]

✦ A barely perceptible smile crosses over Pineheart's face, gone too soon for anyone but those who knew him best to catch. Torrentpaw's words are full of the idealistic mindset of youth; every dark corner is just another unexplored frontier, promising great things.

"I do trust you, kid," Pineheart replies. He looks out over the water again, into the half dark on the other side of the river, the tight knit canopy blocking out nearly all the light. "But I don't trust what's out there." A sigh. He shakes his head. "Go back to camp and get yourself something to eat," he says, tone lighter now. He looks down at Torrentpaw one last time. "I'm glad you made a friend."

haven't had a dream in a long time

see, the life i've had could make a good man go bad

• ooc: -
• 

  PINE, - 49 moons / riverclan + warrior
  large brown tabby town
  adopted guardian of Torrentpaw and Squidpaw / future mentor to Torrentpaw
  healing and peaceful powerplay allowed