Territory ShadowClan my head's spinnin' i've been sippin' lately // flea

[Tickpaw Tickpaw]

When you're lost in the universe, lost in the universe, don't lose faith
My mother says, "Your whole life's in the paws of the Stars"

.

It was closing in on him, reaching with hungry claws. His breath hitched, ears pinning back as he walked, heart pounding like a war drum in his chest. Fear pressed down on him, thick and familiar. It was stupid. He knew it was stupid. He had to get used to this. The dark wasn't hunting him. The dark didn't mean death. It was just night. Just shadows. Shadows... What ShadowClan thrived in. What he had to conquer. His fears couldn't pull him under. Couldn't drown him in old nightmares. They were just that... Fears.

He exhaled slowly, a puff of warm breath into the cool air, and leaned against a tree. Grounding. Centering. The shadows weren't monsters. They weren't claws or blood or screams. Just trees. Just the forest. Just… home. ShadowClan territory. And his sister. Tired orange eyes lifted, scanning until they found her figure a little ways ahead. Fleapaw. His anchor, even when she didn't know it. Something was off, he'd noticed. He always noticed. He just didn't always know how to ask.

She worked too hard. Always had. Like she needed to prove something, over and over again. To herself. To everyone else. To some invisible enemy. This looked the same… but it felt different. He swallowed and stepped forward. " Flea... " he called, voice quiet in the hush of the trees. He pushed away from the bark and trotted after her, shoulder bumping hers, not gently but not rough either. Familiar. Solid. He was taller now. Bigger. Not by much, but enough to notice. Enough to make him pause, even for a heartbeat.

" Hey, hard worker. " he mewed with a slight smirk, though his eyes stayed sharp on her. " You still got time for fun, yeah? Been checking out the good spots lately, or what? " There was a tilt to his head as he asked, but his gaze never wavered, carefully scanning her like he was trying to find a wound she hadn't told him about. Because he always noticed.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

10 MOONS

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SHADOWCLANNER

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SONG

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bio

 

[FLEAFIRE]

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Fleapaw paused when she heard him, paws stilling in the muck. Her ears flicked, worn eyes softening as his shoulder bumped hers. She leaned into it for a heartbeat, letting herself feel the steady weight of him before pulling back.

"Hey Tick. Whatcha doin out here?" She echoed, warmth blooming under the exhaustion in her chest. The restless energy that had been driving her eased, just a smidge.

His smirk tugged a tired grin from her, though something in her gut twisted. She couldn't place it, but she could read that look on him—he was worrying about her, like always. She fully expected him to tell her to go rest. "Yeah, yeah… fun." Her chuckle fizzled. Fun wasn't something she had much of lately. Between scavenging herbs to patch herself up and training with Froststorm every night, there wasn't much room for it. Jadethorn hadn't been pushing her as hard lately, she'd been sick with something but Froststorm still kept herself busy enough. No time to rest now, not with her ceremony coming up.

She wondered if he could see it in her eyes or the sharpness of her cheekbones. Because she felt it, grinding her down to a stub. But it would be worth it—it would all be worth it in the end.

She shifted, her hind leg dragging slightly before she caught herself, trying to keep her grin steady for him. But his eyes were sharp, as always, knowing her in that annoying way only he could.

"Been real busy with my assessment comin' up, but I'm managing." Her smirk returned. She bumped her head lightly against his shoulder.

Then she looked up at him fully, her amber eyes warm in the flickering shadows. "You, uh… you doin' alright?" She matched him, giving him a once over. Something was definitely up. "Even if I'm busy, you know I always got time for you, right?" Aside from that, she noticed he'd gotten taller, but that was no surprise. Most were and as she hated to acknowledge it, Fleapaw didn't think she was gonna be doing anymore growin'. Still, she held out just a little, hoping there was some freak growth spurt on the horizon.

Wings, hearts, some things are meant to be torn apart

FLEAPAW

10 MOONS
SHE/HER
- Undersized cinnamon solid with folded ears. She's thin but stubby with very messy fur.
"SPEECH" - crimson | 'THOUGHTS/EMPHASIS' - crimson

Fleapaw values family the most with survival at a close second. In conversations, she is blunt, fun-loving, and clever. She is guided by her desires which often leads her astray. Despite her abrasive personality, she cares deeply for those she loves and will do anything to protect them. Due to her experiences, Fleapaw is corrupt and has minimalistic, if any, morals. She does not care for the warrior code and its restraints. Neither does she believe in StarClan. Growing up in a kitten mill, being separated from her mother, and ending up on the streets have deeply affected her view of the world.

Faith, hope, some things are meant to be gone broke