Backwritten Territory ShadowClan fallen leaves still belong to the tree // possumgrin

[Marbleshine]

MARBLE OF SHADOWCLAN

Marbleshine had heard the whispers, the demotion. But hearing and understanding were different things. Her brother could be lazy, yes, a little too carefree at times… but did he really deserve that? And in front of the whole Clan? She wasn't certain, she felt like she was missing parts of the story... Perhaps that was on her, perhaps she had been so busy with everything that she hadn't seen... everything. Maybe she had missed crucial things, like with Sealpaw...

Her chest ached with unease.

Wide, worried eyes swept across the territory, searching. She didn't stop until she spotted him, thank StarClan, and she exhaled a soft breath of relief. Without hesitation, she trotted over, her paws quick and light. " Possumgrin? " she called gently, her voice like a breeze on warm stone. She had hoped she would have found him here... It was after all, one of his favourite spots... The moment she reached him, she bumped against his side, soft but firm and then pressed her cheek to his with a comforting nuzzle before pulling back, her eyes warm and full of concern.

" Possum… " The word trembled slightly in her throat. " Are you okay? I… I heard about the demotion. " She searched his face, frowning, her gaze gentle but filled with quiet urgency. " What happened? " she asked, voice soft as moss. " Was it because of Fleapaw? I know she's… well, a bit of a whirlwind, and not exactly easy to manage. But I know you, and I know you care. I just… I can't imagine it was just that. " Her ears flicked back for a moment, uncertain.

" Or… maybe it's more than I realized... " she admitted quietly. Then she looked at him again, stepping just a bit closer, her expression open and full of care. " Do you want to talk about it? " she asked, voice full of invitation, not pressure. " You don't have to, not if you're not ready… But I'm here. Always. "

GO ON AND TRY TO TEAR ME DOWN ——･ﾟ✦​

･ﾟ✦ —— I WILL BE RISING FROM THE GROUND

 

[possumgrin]

He didn't need some stupid title to feel important, but nothing would wash him of being a failure.

Possumgrin felt her before he saw her, but still, his body jolted at the sound of his name. Here we go. Inhaling sharply, then holding his breath as Marbleshine's pale frame pressed against his own. Finding him holed away at the deepest part of his nest. A familiar gesture, one he couldn't summon the energy to reciprocate. The tufted warrior sat stiff as stone while his sister meowed softly, voice so gentle it nearly choked him, hearing his old name. Giving in, he tilted his face toward her, meeting concerned blues with the intensity of a thousand suns. Possumgrin did his best to stay still as she mentioned Fleapaw, smothering the sadness that dared to claw its way up his throat. "No!" Instinctively, he blurted aloud. The shame hit a breath later, spreading like fever across his face.

Then she asked, 'do you want to talk about it?' and said she was 'always here.'

The former Night Guard's fangs ground together so hard he could hear a ringing in his ears. Damnit. I don't want to talk about it! Yet, his chest tightened all over again. Swayed by her gentleness like a flimsy branch in the wind. It felt like she had infected him with some kind of flea that made his heart soften under the slightest stare. "I am astounded by how you just... Do that." He muttered, voice low, then louder as he glanced at her. Eyes heavy with baggage, shoulders akin to stones. Neck creaking between tense muscle and bone as he turned fully to face her. "How can you be so calm about everything?" He knew it was childish, but couldn't a cat feel like a kit sometimes?

Lifting a blue shaded paw, he flicked a pebble away with unnecessary force, frustration bubbling in his low baritone. "All this clan bullshit, Coalstrike, and ugh. I just hate it here. I want to go home." The admission was blunt and harsh, spat out like it burned his tongue. He pouted, orange sclera half-hidden beneath a storm of indignation. It did not mask the ache yawning wide in his chest.

There was no home. Their parents had left them in the care of the colony, and now that colony had twisted into some snarling beast with new names, new rules, and no way out.​

 

[Marbleshine]

MARBLE OF SHADOWCLAN

Soft, kind eyes lifted to Possumgrin as the word "no" tumbled from his mouth so fast it left her stunned for a heartbeat. So… it wasn't Fleapaw, then. Her ears flicked gently as she remained quiet, simply watching her brother. Trying to read the shift in his shoulders, the distance in his gaze. She had known he'd been struggling, adjusting wasn't easy. But she had hoped, deep down, that like her… he'd come to see the beauty here too.

It wasn't a bad place, truly. Not all the cats were harsh and sharp-edged. There was kindness here, Stoatpaw's gentle heart, Sealpaw's hidden softness, Flamerunner's steady strength. Even Sablestar, in his own quiet way. Cicadabuzz, with his careful paws and wise words. There was goodness here. Her brother's voice broke through her thoughts again. Astounded by me, huh? She gave a soft, airy chirrup in return, the tiniest smile curling her muzzle. " You always do leave me a little speechless. " she teased, lighthearted but fond. He called her calm but she wasn't always. She remembered Jadethorn, the rage she hadn't known she carried bursting out when she learned of what Sealpaw had endured. She remembered Fleapaw, too, how her claws had come out, her voice raised in defense. She wasn't made of nothing but softness. She just chose peace when she could.


And then his next words reached her. Clan bullshit... Coalstrike... Hate it here... I want to go home. Oh. Her smile faltered, her eyes widening slightly in realization. That… that was it. He didn't feel like he belonged. She blinked slowly, the weight of it settling into her bones. Her mouth opened, but no words came yet. Instead, she leaned in, curling her small frame against him with unwavering tenderness. She pressed her cheek to his, gave a slow, gentle rasp of her tongue across his fur. " Possumgrin… " she murmured. Her heart hurt with the memory of the home he meant, their home. She could hear Flint's laughter in the wind, Cinder's sharp teasing, Copper's ever-watchful eyes. Thistle's warm voice that wrapped around you like moss in the cold. And… Coalstrike. Stern, cold, unreadable. The father whose approval always seemed one step too far.

But those cats were scattered now. Flint was… gone. Cinder? Lost. Copper had gone to ThunderClan. Thistle had vanished with the breeze. What home was left? She still had Possumgrin. " I think… " she whispered softly, pulling back just enough to look up into his face, her voice full of fragile honesty. " I think my home is here now. " Her gaze shone, earnest and unwavering. " Because you're here. " There was a pause, a quiet beat in which the wind stirred the camp around them.

" Do you… do you really hate it here? " she asked gently. " Or have you not given it the chance to become something else? " A swallow, the barest quiver in her voice. " Do you want to leave, Possum? " Her ears drooped slightly, but she didn't look away. She needed to understand. Not to judge, not to fix, but just to know.

Because no matter what… she'd still be by his side.

GO ON AND TRY TO TEAR ME DOWN ——･ﾟ✦​

･ﾟ✦ —— I WILL BE RISING FROM THE GROUND