Camp CHILLIN' ON A DIRT ROAD = [ dustystar ]

[GOLDENROAR]

Nerves still buzzed in his paws, even after he asked to meet with her after the meeting. Deputy. A step above the rest, right paw to Dustystar. Really, he had already been doing this, but being recognized for it? To have an actual title to stand against, not just social garnering about how he acted and responded to things? It was different then just existing, for sure. It brought on quite a few big feelings, but knowing how Dustystar was more cut and clear then emotional, he was doing his best to reign it back so it wasn't awkward for the pair of them.

Goldenroar ducks into the nest underneath of Tallrock, clearing his throat to announce himself. "Comin' in." He calls inside, voice at a neutral level. There was no need to shout, but he wasn't going to be soft-voiced. That was a little more tender then he cared to lean towards. He waits a moment for his eyes to adjust before settling down off to a side, expectant vision turning towards her. "I just- well. Let me back up." He says. "Thank y' for pickin' me. Means a lot, especially what you said back there." He says, ears twitching. Goldenroar inhales quietly, then clears his throat. "Come a long way since we really first met, hm?" He muses, trying to bring amusement back to this conversation over more heart-felt words.

_______________________ I KEEP RUNNIN' BUT ☼ I'M STANDING STILL _______________________

• "speech"
  // @Dustystar
  

• 

• GOLDENROAR he/him, windclan deputy, thirty six moons.
  ☆ a lh golden red marbled tabby with low white and glimmering aqua eyes. often seen with a smirk, confidence oozing from him in heaps, but always the ever-helpful guy.
  ☆ mentored by who / mentoring no one
  ☆ older brother to merry
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ☆ penned by dallas ↛ dallasofnines on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[Dustystar]

✪ Align my Heart, my Body, my Mind​

indentDustystar picks her head backup from where it lay on her paws, turning to regard Goldenroar. "It was just the obvious choice. Why get someone else for the job when you've proven you can do it, and do it well?" Despite her matter-of-fact words, her ears are lightly brushed with a pink blush.

indent"We sure have." Dustystar nods, thinking back to their first meeting. She knows she has a tendency to make quick judgements about other cats, sometimes unfairly. It's serves her well, before, but clearly it's not as reliable as she would like to think. "When I think back on how I treated you, I'll admit, I get a little embarrassed. I was tired, and hurting, and I let my worst tendencies come out." She averts her gaze, directing it towards her own paws. "I'm glad you're not the cat I thought you were, Goldy. I'm not sure I coulda' done it without you."

Dustystar - 26 moons - Windclan Leader

 

[GOLDENROAR]

Goldenroar peered at her for a long moment, but he slowly nods in conviction. Her words make sense, after all- him standing up between the fight between Sassafrass and Merrystalk, the border with Skyclan's leader, shouting at cats to get out of the barn; they were all examples of leadership. Or at least, responsibility. He pretends to not see the light pink brushing the insides of her ears, instead latching onto her next statement.

"No, no- no need t' apologize, Dusty." Goldenroar speaks more freely here, using her shortened name. Like friends. Because that's what they were, right? He pauses to consider this briefly, sitting with his back against her den, eyes shaded against any light intruding. He listens to her words and decides that they definitely were. He lets a smile find his face, tail twitching behind him. "Y' were injured. I can't really blame you for actin' like that. Most of us would, sides-" Goldenroar's head tilts. "... I'm glad you n' I are getting along well, really." He says, voice softer in the wake of her eyes dropping away from his.

But I am that cat. A voice whispered, and he shrugs the tiny bead of doubt away. There was no point in trying to go back to that easy-going life he had in the barn. The older he got, it felt like the more responsibility caged him down. A breath leaves him. "How is your eye, anyways? Still seein' okay?" Goldenroar questions, trying to give her an out from the more touchy subject.

_______________________ I KEEP RUNNIN' BUT ☼ I'M STANDING STILL _______________________

• "speech"
  

• 

• GOLDENROAR he/him, windclan deputy, thirty six moons.
  ☆ a lh golden red marbled tabby with low white and glimmering aqua eyes. often seen with a smirk, confidence oozing from him in heaps, but always the ever-helpful guy.
  ☆ mentored by who / mentoring no one
  ☆ older brother to merry
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ☆ penned by dallas ↛ dallasofnines on discord, feel free to dm for plots.

 

[Dustystar]

✪ Align my Heart, my Body, my Mind​

indentDustystar's gaze softens.
"Same here. I'm glad I have a friend in you." In her previous life, Dusty wasn't the most personable of cats. Hell, even now, she wasn't a great speaker. She had cats she considered 'friends', cats she trusted, but she had always kept them at a tails' length, only truly confiding in her Meemaw and Peepaw. But, her Meemaw wasn't around anymore, and she doesn't want to burden Cowboy any more than she already has. In that sense, she's very lucky to have found Goldy.

indentWhen Goldenroar mentions her eye, the soft smile disappears from her face, replaced by the stern, stony face that she seems to be wearing more and more often lately. "Don't patronize me." Despite her sharp words, her voice sounds tired, rather than truly upset. She can't look Goldenroar in the eye as she scolds him. "Take a look and tell me, do you think I'm seein' 'okay'. Although the swelling had gone down, and fur had begun to grow back, her right eye is still clouded and unfocused. A keen eye would notice that it often failed to move in tandem with her left, lagging behind or remaining still.

indentDustystar never thought she cared much about how she looked, but she's realizing now how proud she had been on the handsome, piercing gaze. That was gone, now, as far as she was concerned. It shouldn't bother her, really, but it's another blow to her ego of the many she suffered in the direct aftermath of the fire. 'Some of them hardly respect me on a good day, how can I ask for their respect when I can't even hunt my own prey, or look them in the eye? It's pathetic.'

Dustystar - 26 moons - Windclan Leader

 

[GOLDENROAR]

It's almost frightening how fast she changes, but Goldenroar's face doesn't reflect that. He's come to almost expect it from her- on a dime, she's more likely to end up... not apathetic, but more akin to a boulder then a ray of sunshine. Goldenroar didn't mind, all that much. It worked better that way- good cop bad cop type thing. He was obviously the good cop, all sweet words and smiles, and she was the spine of Windclan. Strong, worthy of carrying those lives. It doesn't occur to him until just then, that if he is to outsurvive Dustystar, he would be the one to have to carry those instead.

His stomach drops at the thought.

Instead of rearing back and fighting fire with fire, he frowns gently. "Dusty, it ain't about tha'." He says. His voice isn't necessarily soft, but his tone is lowered. "I want t' make sure you can defend yourself. Hunt on your own, and stuff. I'm sorry- didn't meant to come off that way." Goldenroar speaks, genuinely apologetic. He hasn't lost an eye himself, obviously, but he's seen what it does to some cats. Losing an eye meant, well, losing your life ability. That was only if you didn't train to correct it. His head tilts slowly as he observes her- the reason he has asked, too, was to ensure he wasn't assuming. To give her the opportunity to speak at her mind on her own. No pity for the clan leader, just... empathy.

"Should see if we can get somethin' put together to hone your skills. A kind of... training." A pause, then- "Sorry. Maybe I am being patronizing without realizing." He says, tilting his eyes away to frown at that thought too.

_______________________ I KEEP RUNNIN' BUT ☼ I'M STANDING STILL _______________________

• "speech"
  

• 

• GOLDENROAR he/him, windclan deputy, thirty six moons.
  ☆ a lh golden red marbled tabby with low white and glimmering aqua eyes. often seen with a smirk, confidence oozing from him in heaps, but always the ever-helpful guy.
  ☆ mentored by who / mentoring no one
  ☆ older brother to merry
  ☆ peaceful and healing powerplay permitted / / underline and tag when attacking
  ☆ penned by dallas ↛ dallasofnines on discord, feel free to dm for plots.
  
  ☆ mini by tasmagoric, ref image by dallas (yours truly!)

 

[Dustystar]

✪ Align my Heart, my Body, my Mind​

indentDustystar sighs, rough and haggard. She knows Goldenroar wouldn't be like that, but it still bothers her. Even the mention of her eye feels like a thin cord tightening around her ribcage, making every breath hurt. She had thought she'd come to accept it, after mulling it over in her mind so many times, but hearing it said outloud is another thing entirely, it seems.

indent "You're right. I've been thinking of asking Sweetnose about it but..." Getting help overcoming it would mean she's accepted that she really has lost the use of her eye, and won't be getting it back. It stings - the reminder of one more thing she'd lost in the fire. She's frustrated that she's allowed her emotions to impact her better judgement for this long. It reflects poorly on her.

indent "I'll talk to him. I've been able to get away with bossing other cats around for this long, but eventually I'll need to start pitching in. The sooner I start getting used to it, the sooner I can get back on my paws." She looks Goldenroar in the eyes, again. "It's not as if sitting around moping about it will fix anything."

indent"How about you, though?" Dustystar asks. "I know I'm asking a lot of you. I hope this role doesn't keep you from lookin' after yourself." Him helping out of his own volition is one thing, but being appointed to a role of authority is another entirely. She knows that Goldenroar is a strong cat, but even he must still be reeling after the loss of their home. She doesn't want to dump all of her problems on him without also taking care to learn about what's ailing him.

Dustystar - 26 moons - Windclan Leader