Private Backwritten Leader's Den Go On Then Icarus, Take Your Turn || PIKESTAR

[Russetfall]

FALLING FOR THE PROMISE OF THE

EMPTINESS MACHINE

The council meeting had been a disaster, and the clan meeting shortly after had been just as bad. Emotions were still understandably high but none of them had the luxury of allowing things to settle. Despite her predisposition to snap, Russetfall held her silence tight, so tight she felt she might choke on it. If no one else on the council would be reasonable then she'd step up. Everyone else was too busy nursing their wounded pride to realize that the biggest enemy in all of this was their own vitriol directed at each other. Riverclan would destroy itself from the inside out before their enemies could.

She had told Pikestar she wanted to speak with him but he had immediately retreated into his den the moment the clan meeting ended. "Pikestar," The Life Guard pushes into the den unceremoniously, taking in the state of her leader's living space. Nest shredded, trinkets normally aligned so neatly scattered every which way...and in the center of it all sat Pikestar. Whether its defeat in his posture or grief, she can't tell. They often look the same from a distance.

"I wanted to speak with you." She pauses, waiting for him to turn to face her. Braces herself for his response to her words though she gives nothing away in her posture instead with head held high. "...Now more than ever you need to hold yourself together. You had some good points back in the meeting, but you let your emotions get the better of you and said some things that pushed away your council rather than brought us together."

Granted, she had also been the one to jumpstart it in a way with her all-too-helpful observation that Adderfang was in no position to be on patrols or the like. Neither was Pine but compared to the other he seemed hardly scratched. Just how strong were those Shadowclan warriors to leave those two in such a state..? It made her blood boil.

"...I've seen similar things like this happen before... Before I drifted into the shipyard. A leader can't form a council just to dismiss their advice because of pride of whatever. ...I've seen cats speak of other's freedom the way you did to Adder and the others wake up to their throat torn out and never wake again." Her tail lashes behind her, a red flag of warning. "I've put my trust in you so far despite my misgivings, and I want to see this Clan survive. But for it to do that you need to actually listen to us when we give our opinions and advice."

She stares at him, eyes sharp and critical. "Tell me you understand, really understand, and I will stand with you on this. I will share my experience with you, all you have to do is ask."

ITS BEEN DECIDED HOW WE LOSE

RUSSETFALL

— Life Guard of Riverclan
— She/Her
"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
— A Green-eyed Chocolate Mackerel Tabby With Low White
#8a2c55

 

[PIKESTAR PIKESTAR]

It did not surprise him that Russetfall would see him so soon, he had a feeling that she would seek him after the meeting. He barely had the time to fix the remains of his nest at the very least when she walked in. Despite being exhausted and wanting nothing more than to sleep for a moon, he turned to face her. He did promise her that they'd speak. As soon as he faces her, she proceeds to give him some... Nice? Words. Well, she sort of gave him advice and complemented him vaguely before telling him where he went wrong. If he was in a better mood he would've made a joke about how she couldn't make up her mind about whether or not he did a good or bad job like some sort of kit seeking approval from their parents.

"...I've seen similar things like this happen before... Before I drifted into the shipyard."

Intriguing. While Russetfall was purposely vague about her experiences, he could hazard a guess that they were far from pleasant. Perhaps what she experienced was even worse then what transpired in the council meeting. That would explain why she was much more level headed than the others during the meeting. If she didn't have experience with such things, she very well may have left like the others. The twisted selfish part of him is grateful she experienced terrors. After all, she was here with him now because of that. It made him sick, and yet he couldn't stop feeling a glimmer of happiness. Ugh. I can't be seriously be happy about this! This is bad Pike! BAD! B. A. D.

Pikestar barely registers her demand. She wants an answer. He has no choice, but to give her one.

"I'm... I'm not sure if I am understanding the way you want me to."

It sounds like rejection, but with everything else that happened today... He's not sure if he can trust himself to make a correct decision.

"Don't get me wrong, I do understand the fact that you want this clan to survive. That's why you came here to talk to me, right? You wouldn't risk making yourself an enemy to the others if you didn't think this was worth it."

He can't say with certainty that she trusts in him right now. However, if she alone wanted to speak with him and offer her wisdom... She might sense something will go wrong in the future. The image of his own torn throat comes to mind and he can't help but shiver. It's not like I won't come back to life if that happens, but I really don't want to die.

"We... I don't think like you. I won't be able to give you the right answer if you don't tell me, but... I understand that I messed up. I'm lucky I'm not dead for saying the things I said. I also get that things between the council aren't great and won't be for some time."

A massive understatement. They both knew that they'd be lucky if the council could make amends or at the very least learn to tolerate each other in under a moon. Peachtrot may be the sun, but she was not a miracle worker. There was no way she could gather them all and suddenly everyone made peace. If that happened... No I don't even want to imagine that. He forces himself to perish the thought by adding on,

"All I want to do is make sure the clan survives. I would be grateful if you share your experiences, so I can get a different perspective to help m- us figure out what to do. Though, I'm not sure I really understand the way you want me to."

If she left he wouldn't be surprised. It's not like he said anything awe inspiring or began sobbing, asking for her forgiveness. The only thing he did do was listen and not throw a tantrum, which... Wasn't much in the grand scheme of things. In any case, his goals wouldn't change. He was going to figure something out. Even if it meant having to do it all alone.