Territory I'll never go I just want to be invited 》》Willowburn

[Russetfall]

FALLING FOR THE PROMISE OF THE

EMPTINESS MACHINE

.

It was not often that Russetfall found herself relaxing, much less in the company of another. But Willowburn had suggested they go on a walk and perhaps she had been in a good mood for once as she found herself agreeing. That was what they were doing now, two pelts carefully weaving through the last stubborn remnants of the late summer blooms of the meadow.

"...It's still weird not hearing the ocean all the time," Russetfall confesses suddenly, uncomfortable with the extended silence. "I wasn't even living at the shipyard half as long as you were and I got so used to it." Of course, there was the river but it wasn't the same. Would never be the same. She found it strange to think that water could sound so different. The ocean, rain, and the river were all just water at the end of the day but each had its own distinct sound and effect on her.

Green eyes meet her friend, head tilted slightly in thought. Curious. Vulnerable. "You and Smoke, you grew up by the ocean didn't you? Do you miss it?"

Having grown up in twolegplace, Russetfall couldn't imagine being raised so close to the sea-or stars forbid- on one of the twoleg water monsters. It sounded like a disaster waiting to happen with kits, if she was honest.

22 moons

◆

Life Guard of Riverclan

◆

she/her

◆

tags

it's 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

ooc:

 

[willowburn]

(⏾) willowburn has maintained a fondness for the chocolate furred life guard ever since she'd helped patch up russetfall during the storm. as the clan has settled into their new life, that memory of their first concrete interaction has flared into an odd friendship. russetfall is sharp, calculating, unafraid and yet wary of others. willowburn has noted all of this, and wormed her way into the woman's life anyway, gently tapping away at her walls until the other welcomes her in. as the two she-cats pad along the winding meadow path, bees buzz overhead, busily gathering the last dusting of pollen for the long leaf-bare ahead. silence has stretched between the two, something willowburn will never truly mind, but discomfort prickles at her friend's pelt. the life guard turns, whisking her tail.

the ocean - ah, the faraway mistress of willowburn's heart. many cats of the river-dwelling clan hail from its sweeping shores. sometimes she wonders if adder had journeyed back there upon his exile, if he had been welcomed by frothy tides and sandy beaches. the ocean is, and will always be, a lost love to the smoke woman. her friend meets her gaze, seaglass finding similar fern hues, and vulnerability shines within them. willowburn tips her head. "aye," she replies, whisking her tail to flick against russetfall's flank. "raised on a twoleg water-den with our sister," she swallows, eyes misty with memory. "night. she an' smoke got kicked off when each of their kits were almost due, an' i followed them." of course she had - how could she have done anything else.

they'd been tossed ashore, landing on the sand of the beach they had then called their home for moons. she can remember finding the fishing shack, ushering her shivering siblings inside. night had kitted not long after, and smoke soon after that. the warrior breathes sharply, forcing the memory of that evening from her mind, the stillness of her sister's flank, the fear scent... the blood. "i do miss it sometimes," she will confess, halting in her tracks to flit her gaze about as a breeze flutters through the meadow. the late afternoon sun shines warmly down on the duo, illuminating the rusty hues of russetfall's chocolate coat. "i don't know if i regret leaving, though," it's possibly the first time she's said it out loud. "after the storm... and what with the fish bein' scarce and all..." she meets her friend's gaze again. "i'll always miss it, but i like what we have here." there's a real chance at life in the forest, even if leaf-bares might be harsh and territory squabbles seem to pop up daily.

WITH THE ECHOING HYMN ⏾ OF MY FELLOW PASSERINE

• // " #87874b"
• 
• 
  WILLOWBURN ⏾ tags / toyhouse
  
  ⏾ genderfluid (she / they) / lesbian, mate of none
  ⏾ 35 moons old, ages realistically
  ⏾ warrior of riverclan
  ⏾ sibling to SMOKEWREATH
  ⏾ adoptive mother to BLOOMKIT, RUMBLEKIT, CLOUDKIT, BUCKKIT
  ⏾ mentoring CRESCENTPAW, BEEPAW / mentored by none
  ⏾ penned by LAVS / message lavendes on discord for plots!
  
  a lithe black smoke feline with ghost striping and leaf green eyes. long smoky fur dashed through with grey and white adorns her frame, sliced across by darker stripes that frame her face and legs. eyes like sage, brilliantly green, gaze with an intelligent look. she is scarred across the bridge of her angular nose.

​

 

[Russetfall]

FALLING FOR THE PROMISE OF THE

EMPTINESS MACHINE

.

"A water-den." Russet repeats, some mix of incredulousness and wariness in her tone. She had never trusted twolegs, really. Any interaction she'd had when she'd lived in twolegplace had been negative. Either trying to kick her away with clumsy paws or twoleg things being thrown in her direction. And then there were their monsters, of course. "I can't even try to imagine what that was like," She admits with a shake of her head. "Where I grew up in twolegplace, all the twolegs I ever met seemed to hate cats. Meeting kittypets for the first time was a shock, I remember." How funny was it now that she took orders from a former kittypet.

As Willowburn explains how she and Smoke had come to the shipyard, she can't help but feel as if she shouldn't have asked. It's clear that it was a painful memory for the other and she frowns for a moment before stepping forward to lightly bump her forehead to Willow's shoulder. "Well, I'm glad you're both here now." She finds that she genuinely means it. It's not a feeling she dislikes, per se but it still feels strange and foreign. "I would have liked to meet Night, I think."

"...I regretted it for the first moon or so," She confesses softly. The shipyard, despite its hardships, had been the first place she hadn't felt as if she was under the shadow of her old gang. "It was the first place I felt safe...ish all my life, until Pike led us all here. I like this a lot better, too."

The sun is warm on her coat and the chocolate molly finds herself sitting with her tail curled around her paws to soak it all in. Eyes half-closed. Content. Truly relaxed and safe feeling for the first time in moons.

22 moons

◆

Life Guard of Riverclan

◆

she/her

◆

tags

it's 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