Backwritten Camp RiverClan he ain't heavy, he's my brother // adderfang

[pineheart]

✦ The look of betrayal after Pineheart had heeded Jinglemoon's advice and in his own way tried to encourage Adderfang to do the same was not lost on him. But before he could explain it, Adderfang had left. So now Pineheart was left feeling like a score had not been settled– Adderfang had had his back, afterall, during the fight with Shadowclan. He'd protected Littlebrook. But during the council meeting, Pineheart had not had his back– at least, that was what it looked like to Adderfang. And Pineheart understands that well enough. Adderfang was angry and scared, and so could not see much farther than his own nose. Pineheart was the same once. He's still like that sometimes, in some matters– but he's trying to be better. For Brook. For Torrent and Squid and Lilac.

He sighs, pulling himself onto his paws and deciding to seek out Adderfang to settle this.

"Adder," he says gruffly. "I think… An apology is in order. Or an explanation at least." His ears flick, and he looks away. "You had my back during the fight. You protected Brook while I fought that bastard from Shadowclan. But… I did not have yours at the council meeting." A beat. "Like my decision to take on Coalstrike instead of you, and my decision to wade into that river and pull you out… I was not thinking about you. I was thinking about Wavesong. Your kits. I know what it is like to lose your family. To lose everything. I did not want Wave to go through that, just as you do not want her to, and how you don't want to lose her or your kits either. And so… I wished you'd listen to Jinglemoon's advice…" he levels Adder with an even look, not of anger, but understanding. "What if you go on a patrol and open a wound? What if the wound gets infected? What if exertion catches up to you in another scuffle, or when you're alone, and no one is there? There are endless possibilities. Many of them end with your kits never seeing their father. I do not want that."

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
  mentor to Torrentpaw
  healing and peaceful powerplay allowed

 

[Adderfang]

A tattered ear flicks at the sound of approaching pawsteps, but he doesn't lift his head. He lies sprawled out on the shaded side of a sun-warmed stone, wounds scabbed thick, limbs tucked close to his body. Adderfang has kept to himself since, enduring the scolding he received like a petulant child—that's what he felt he was being—but his pride is unyielding. The anger he felt then is still fresh, crashing over him with every incoming tide.

Slowly, his amber eyes slide open, narrowing beneath furrowed brows. He does not interrupt, listening to what the other lifeguard has to say.

When the words finish, he exhales sharply through his nose—a breath that might've been a laugh if he didn't think it'd split the seams in his side. "I was surprised, didn't think you'd be so agreeable at that meeting. Won't lie and say there wasn't just a moment I thought I ought to have let you drown in my stead." The tom's voice is raspy, bitten at the ends. "But those were the idle thoughts of a pissy kit throwin' a tantrum."

He finally lifts his head and pins Pineheart with a tired stare. He didn't hold it against Pineheart for not backing him. Sure, it had stung not to have his support when he'd given nothin' less—but he was doin' what he thought was right, and he'd heard Pikestar had gotten a lashing too, so that made him feel better.

"But you ought know I was thinkin' of my family too. I was thinkin' about how those thieving bastards were gonna take from us—and how they weren't likely to stop there if we let 'em. Cats like that don't care if you got a family, Pine. They'll kill and steal just for the hell of it." He shifts, pushing himself upright with effort, leaning back with a heavy sigh. "When the current carried me off, all I could think about was her smile. All the things to think about when I'm meeting my end and its that... Then come back and I find out she's pregnant? Pregnant! I'm happy I am, but it had to be right after those..." He grinds his molars, a nasty word caught on his tongue. He sighs slowly through his nose. "If Wavesong or my kits die because we don't have herbs for the birth? Ain't no stars in the sky gonna save them from I'll do then."

The tension ripples off his muscles, fur prickling, but he forces them to relax. "I get you're all worried for me—and that's mighty sweet—but this ain't the time to sit idle." His tail lashes through the dirt, words hissing through his teeth. The fire behind his eyes flares before he pulls his gaze away. His voice drops, quieter but no less cutting. I'd rather die out there doing somethin' to protect my family than sittin' on my ass lettin' leavin' it all to that jackass just cause he's got some stupid star at the end of his name." Their lack of backbone was gonna cost them more than just some herbs—couldn't he see that? Adderfang was getting tired of givin' Pikestar extra chances to fix his screwups just for him to blow them.

___________________ There wasn't a wrong or a right he could choose 𓆟 He did what he had to do ________________

• "speech" - thoughts
  
  

• 

• Adderfang he/him & riverclan
  𓆟 Chocolate ticked tabby w/ amber eyes. Peppered with scars. Deep gash across the right side of his face exposing one canine slightly. Missing left ear.
  𓆟 Deep gravelly voice that might unsettle others.
  𓆟 Would and will kill a man.
  𓆟 Peaceful and healing powerplay permitted. For other powerplays, DM.
  𓆟 Fur smells faintly of river reeds and damp earth.
  
  
  penned by Scarlet​

 

[pineheart]

✦ "Agreeable?" Pineheart scoffs, settling down a bit now that he knows Adderfang isn't going to try and bite his ankles. "I guess I deserve that for tryin' to set a good example. It'll be the last fucking time too, by the looks of things. I didn't think lashing out was gonna do any good, not right then and there. But then Pike had to go and say that bullshit… and, well, trust that I gave him a few choice words of my own before leaving."

He sighs, weary, still feeling the pain of his own wounds. But he is restless too. Restless, bored, angry. A bad combination of things to be. Volatile.

"I know you were thinking about your family too," Pineheart says. "I was thinking about the fact that your family is thinking about you. You want to die out there, by all means, go ahead. But it'll be the rest of us having to explain to Wavesong and your kits that you died because you were too stubborn to see that you aren't fighting this battle alone."

Pineheart looks over his shoulder at the shuffling camp, the struggle to get back to normal after having your home invaded. Some nights he couldn't sleep, afraid that he'd miss the sound of another group of cats coming in.

"In a way, I think I prefer being stuck here. I'm restless, sure, but… in control. I know that as long as I'm here nobody will lay a finger on the cats I care about. I… when I lost my family, before the shipyard, it was because I wasn't there." He looks at Adderfang steadily. "My family died because of my stubbornness. Because I couldn't stay still. I've learnt my lesson, and I hope you won't have to learn it the hard way, as I did."

Then, with a lighter but somewhat annoyed tone, he continues on a completely different note. "Pike is being a jackass alright. But I think if Shadowclan was going to hit us again, they'd have done it by now. They'd have done it the next day when we were at our weakest– that's the most cowardly move, and they've missed their shot. So I seriously doubt there's any threat looming over us right now. And didn't we send them running, Adder? Both that bi color cat and the big son of a bitch? Our border policy may have appeared lax, but we were certainly able to defend it anyway. If anything, it would appear to others now that we've been putting on a front of softness and mercy to trick them, only to later send cats running with their tail between their legs and having threatened to kill children–" he adds the last part with a heavy amount of sarcasm and distaste.

"I don't like it anymore than you do. But we can't go starting wars before we at least have the herb stores restored– if we do, there really will be no herbs for Wavesong when she gives birth. And it's like I said– you're not fighting this alone. It's not you against Pike either. I'm on your side, Adder. So are Frostmoth and Pigeonpearl. There are plenty of cats who disagree with him. He can't hide from this. He can't hide behind the star; it's not nearly big enough. He'll do better– he'll change– or he'll be shunned."

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

  
  

 

[Adderfang]

A dry snort leaves him. Out of all of them, he supposed Pineheart was the oldest. Made sense he'd be the one trying to set a good example. The whole disappointed father act probably hurt worse than straight yellin' did. [color=]"Bet he didn't expect to get it from you."[/color] There's a twitch of amusement on his muzzle. He almost wished he'd stayed long enough to see it.

He shifts, muscles flaring in protest as he rolls from one bruised rib to another. Adderfang side-eyes the tom briefly before dragging his gaze down to his paws. The worst part was that he knew—knew he was being a stubborn bastard, knew he was putting more stress on Wavesong, makin' her worry and fret when he should've been there, supporting her. Maybe that's what stung the most. ShadowClan hadn't just stolen herbs—they'd taken his ability to protect his family too.

His eyes narrow with thought. The anger in his chest deflates a little more. "I uh, didn't know about your family. I'm sorry." He swallows, the texture is rough like sand. A weight settles in his chest like a stone. If something like that happened to his family… Stars above, he wouldn't survive it. Pineheart was a stronger tom than him in more ways than one.

Maybe Pineheart... and Jinglemoon by proxy (even thought it pisses him off to admit that) is right about some things. If it were Wavesong in his place, he supposed he'd have put his paw down too. Goodness knows she wouldn't be throwin' a fit like he had.

What he says about ShadowClan makes sense. If they wanted to finish the job, they could've by now. Maybe he's known too, but hearing that out loud unsettles him—it'll only add to his restless nights. "Suppose you're right, though. We gave 'em more than I'd bet they bargained for." His claw scrapes the ground, a scowl twisting his face. "Still, I'd have felt better if the one I took for a swim was feedin' the fish about now." The edge in his voice is dull, worn down by exhaustion, but he means it. He would've killed that warrior and not thought twice about it.

Finally, he lifts his eyes, tilting his head toward Pineheart. "Shunned?" A short bark of laughter leaves him. "I'm sure you've figured it out by now, but his decisions ain't just pebbles in the pond. Whether he knows it or not, every choice he makes affects all of us. You—me—Littlebrook—Wavesong—my kits. I don't give a rat's ass about him bein' 'shunned' for makin' bad choices. He ain't some kit playin' house. There's real consequences for every slip up—what happened with ShadowClan is just a taste of what could happen."

His tail thrashes, striking at anything within reach. "If you're with me, then why ain't we doin' something about him? Something needs to happen now." His amber eyes flick around them, voice lowering but no less sharp. "Before he's gonna get folks killed, dammit!" He shakes his head, frustration rolling off him in waves. "Look, I was willin' to give him the benefit of the doubt, but we're past that. How many moons has it been? All he's done is screw up and berry-pick what council of ours he cares to listen to."

Adderfang's voice sharpens. "If he was gonna change for the better, he'd best do it quick cause. He's a good tom. I thought that back when he took up the mantle, and I still think it now—but just 'cause he's well-meanin' doesn't mean everyone else is. He let them walk all over us—shit, he was gonna give 'em the herbs! Herbs they STOLE—from—us!" He emphasizes each word with a slap of his paw against stone. It feels like his head is gonna pop. The world spins just slightly, reminding him he's been talking too fast, forgetting to breathe between words. He grits his teeth and leans forward, rubbing a paw over his brow.

Infection wouldn't kill him. He'd have a damn stroke first.

___________________ There wasn't a wrong or a right he could choose 𓆟 He did what he had to do ________________

• "speech" - thoughts
  
  

• 

• Adderfang he/him & riverclan
  𓆟 Chocolate ticked tabby w/ amber eyes. Peppered with scars. Deep gash across the right side of his face exposing one canine slightly. Missing left ear.
  𓆟 Deep gravelly voice that might unsettle others.
  𓆟 Would and will kill a man.
  𓆟 Peaceful and healing powerplay permitted. For other powerplays, DM.
  𓆟 Fur smells faintly of river reeds and damp earth.
  
  
  penned by Scarlet​

 

[pineheart]

✦ Pineheart flicks an ear and waves the tip of his tail dismissively. "How could you have? I'm not exactly open about it. The only two cats who know the story in full are Torrent and Brook."

Adderfang's reaction is about what Pineheart had expected. His anger is as volatile as his own, a spark looking for a fuse to light. Only, Pineheart has the experience to not let it show unless he wants it to. Talk of consequences, complaints, accusations. Pineheart knows that deep down Adder wants what's best for the clan, but he's hopped up on adrenaline from nearly dying and anger from his family being hurt. He lets him finish, lets the words hang in the air, heavy as they are.

"And what do you suppose we do about it, Adder?" Pineheart asks steadily. "You want to rough him up? Kill him? Chase him out of the territory? We'd become enemies of everyone here. They'd kick us out– they'd kick you out. And you know Wavesong would go with you, and then you really would be fighting alone, and there'd be no herbs and no medicine cat when Wavesong gives birth. There'd just be you and your anger."

He speaks softer still, though his eyes are sharp under his furrowed brow. "Yes, I know damn well his decision ain't just pebbles. The only cat who doesn't seem to realize that is Pike himself. But after this? Over half his council turnin' on him, deputy included? Either he'll realize he's got to get his act together, or I'll make him realize it myself– not by violence, mind you. You're about as bad as I am when it comes to wanting to solve problems with your paws, but this is not the time. I'll talk to him myself, try and make him see sense. If that doesn't work… if he doesn't change…" he lets out a low whistle. "Well, let's cross that stream when we get to it."

His ears flick again, and he sighs. "As for folks getting killed, you know damn well we ain't gonna let that happen. Not you, not me, and not anyone else here. Even Pike himself isn't trying to get cats killed, he's trying to lead, he just… right now he's going down the wrong path, and we gotta try and steer him right. That's what the council was supposed to be there for in the first place, ain't it?"

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