Open Territory LIKE I BELONG IN MY OWN SKIN — Icy River

[Frostmoth]

It is no secret that Frostmoth often finds himself alone on RiverClan territory once patrols are assigned and tasks have begun for the day. Of course, he is always tactful with his slipping away. He always makes sure he's on one of the earliest patrols, and by the time he returns his clanmates have either seen he's already been out of camp or are too busy to pay him any mind. This way, he isn't bombarded with meaningless questions or pulled into organizing beyond what the bulk of what he decides at dawn.

Today, he manages to get away from camp before sunhigh. It's still morning. The sun is in its strange limbo between dawn and afternoon, hanging lazily in the sky as if it doesn't really want its rays to warm the air at all. And they don't. Frostmoth's pace is quicker than usual, trying to get his blood to course quicker and warm his extremities. His breath clouds ahead of him, but he swiftly breaks through it and moves toward the river. Prey has already begun to run thin for RiverClan. A natural expectation of leaf-bare, but Frostmoth still finds himself trying to look for ways to make up the dividends. Perhaps he can bring home a fish or two.

However, when he comes upon the riverbank he finds that his paws crackle in the mud, and he comes to an abrupt stop. Frostmoth finds his pelt prickling with dismay as he realizes that the edges of the river have become crisp with ice. The bicolor reaches forward with one paw to place pressure on the solid edge, letting it crackle away and float downstream. The river, he realizes, seems to be flowing slower too. He grimaces. Hopefully this doesn't mean the river will be freezing as snow begins to fall and the temperatures begin to drop...

OH, MY GOD ★ MAKE ME IN YOUR IMAGE

• "SPEECH"
• ★ FROST — he/him, riverclan deputy, 25 moons
  — penned by carat, feel free to ping or dm for plots!
  — longhair black and white bicolor with blue eyes
  — peaceful powerplay ok! all interactions ok!
  
• penned by carat!

 

[Silverspirit Silverspirit]

A preoccupation with keeping RiverClan fed had brought more than just the deputy to the water's edge. Silverspirit was perched above the thin sheen of ice, his body curved like a crescent moon, blue-silver in the reluctant light, breath spilling from his half-open mouth. The hope of catching at least a kit's bellyful of fish had lured the tabby out once his time had become his own: the state of the river had been an unwelcome surprise to Silverspirit, just as it was to Frostmoth. His leaf-green eyes flicked up as, some paces away, Frostmoth appeared. The two-toned tom didn't seem to have noticed him yet, or else had deemed acknowledging him less important than contemplating the ice forming on the river. Silverspirit understood: it was more than a little troubling. A bit of ice edging the river's flanks wasn't too much trouble, but if it spread...

"Leaf-bare's delights never seem to end." Silverspirit spoke quietly, rising and taking a few steps to stand alongside the deputy. He watched the water which defined and sustained them as it drifted silently past, his eyes narrowing slightly. "It seems to be slowing down." Having survived a few leaf-bares at this point, he knew what to expect from the coldest months of the year, but it brought him little comfort in the moment. Of course, it wouldn't do to jump to conclusions, but it made him feel even more certain that trying to squeeze in a few extra hunts here and there was the right call. After all, he had more time on his hands now that Damselflyfrost had earned his warrior name; adjusting to a new, apprentice-less schedule had been among his priorities of the last few weeks. "Any business in particular bringing you here this morning?" Silverspirit inquired of Frostmoth after another moment's silence: implicit in the question was the offer of assistance or company, should the bicolor desire it.