Open Territory RC my sweet little lilac bird // lilacbird

[Littlebrook Littlebrook]

There's so much more
You can reclaim your crown
You're in control
Rid of the monsters inside your head

.

The soft crunch of leaves beneath their paws filled the silence between mother and daughter, not uncomfortable, just thoughtful. The sun was low, painting the world in a golden hue that shimmered over the water's surface like scattered stars. Littlebrook walked at an even pace beside Lilacbird, her plume-like tail brushing occasionally against her daughter's flank, a small comfort, a silent I'm here. She had always loved the water, its rhythm and voice a kind of heartbeat to her. But for Lilacbird, that same song carried fear... Deep, old, and sharp as cold stone. Littlebrook's heart ached every time she saw her daughter's paws stiffen at the river's edge.

" You know... " she began softly, her voice as warm as the sunlight filtering through the reeds. " I was thinking... Perhaps we could make a little spot for you, somewhere just beyond camp. Somewhere close enough that I can still see you from the entrance, but far enough that you don't have to feel the water breathing so close. " she uttered softly, her heart aching at the thought of her daughter living the way she did. She glanced sideways at her daughter, eyes soft and knowing. " We could line it with moss, maybe even tuck some lavender in there. You've always liked that scent. " A small smile curved her mouth, fleeting but fond.

The breeze stirred her fur, carrying the faint, familiar scent of the river. Her gaze flicked to it, the water that wrapped around their camp like a guardian and a threat all at once. The season was shifting; she could feel it in her bones, in the weight of the air. Soon, the river would rise. And when it did... Her voice softened further, touched by worry she couldn't quite hide. " I know it frightens you, love. The water. I won't ever push you before you're ready. But I don't want you out there alone either. Not when the nights grow colder... I wish to have you in the den with me, curled close... " She paused, eyes tracing the fading light. " Maybe we can find a way together, something that feels safe, both for you and for me. "

Littlebrook brushed her muzzle briefly against her daughter's shoulder, a quiet, grounding gesture. " You're my little bird... " she murmured, a gentle smile returning. " And even if you never take to the water again... I'll make sure your wings stay dry. "

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

MOONS

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RIVERCLANNER

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SONG

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bio

 

[lilacbird]

Her mothers presence always did plenty to help her anxiety. Her stumbles and stutter was far less with Littlebrook- she wasn't scared of messing up, or wording things wrongly. Her mom always proved time and time again that no anger ever could drown out how much she endeared her daughter. Lilacbird felt safe with Littlebrook that no one could ever replace. Anywhere could be home as long as Littlebrook was there- it was something she had decided a long time ago when coming here scared her so bad she couldn't find words. But after losing rain .... Nothing was the same.

"I.. do love lavender. The softness of its scent reminds me of you, mama." She said softly. She wasn't sure, but she was right. At this point they could make something for Lilac to sleep in. Something that could keep her warmer and safer. Maybe... But that was too much. She was about to speak again when she continued.

A shudder pulled at her fur as her mother spoke, but it was the dreaded cold she spoke of. Short ears pressed against her skull as she tucked her head a bit. Then the smile and nudge relaxed her and she pressed her head into her mothers, a soft rumble of a purr escaping her. "It would um.. it would be great to be able to curl up with you every night without worrying you. I'm.. really trying mama. I got a little further today," she tried to assure as they continued. If two steps deeper even counted before a fish brushed against her paw sending her racing back and unfortunately scaring it away. But she couldn't help it. Rain had died from being stuck- and the idea of something wrapping around her paw was terrifying. As they approached the river, she noted something and a small breath caught in her throat.

"The tide seems high again," she said softly, her maw tugging in a frown. "Are you going to jump with me or swim?" Lilacbird asked, her ears flattening back a bit again. It wasn't the leap she was worried about, she was getting further with her jumps, and only once had she landed in the water. They laughed that shed jumped so high thunderclan could see her from their camp. But her muscles were building with it, so there was one advantage of having to do this every day.
​

 

[Littlebrook Littlebrook]

There's so much more
You can reclaim your crown
You're in control
Rid of the monsters inside your head

.

Littlebrook's whiskers twitched as she padded beside Lilacbird, her tail flicking lightly with amusement. Her daughter had grown so much since the days at the shipyard, each small stride forward a reminder of resilience and quiet strength. Still, the shadow of fear lingered, and Littlebrook thought she knew that it wasn't the water itself her daughter feared, but the helplessness of that moment. The memory of Rain, of the way he had saved her only to be trapped himself... It was a wound that refused to fade. The thought of being trapped underneath the water with no hope of reaching the surface.

" See. " she whispered, leaning down to nuzzle Lilacbird softly, her purr warm against her daughter's fur. " I can find some lavender... I'll scavenge high and low for you, my Lilacbird. " She let out a small, soft laugh as her daughter remarked that the scent reminded her of Littlebrook herself. " Really? And here I thought my sleek fur was prominent for the scent of fish. " she teased lightly, eyes glinting with mirth before drifting toward the river.

A pang of worry still tugged at her heart. Her daughter sleeping outside camp, the changing tide, the thought of predators... Littlebrook swallowed the tension in her chest and pressed a gentle nuzzle against Lilacbird. " I know you are, sweetling... I know you are. I am so very proud of you for taking steps forward. " Her voice softened, though a shadow of concern lingered, especially as Lilacbird pointed out the higher water.

" So it seems... " she murmured, tilting her head thoughtfully. Then, a faint smile curved her lips. " You know what. I think I will try that jump. I don't feel like washing my fur dry today. " She stretched luxuriously, the sunlight glinting off her longer fur. " My old bones could do with some training too! " Her turquoise eyes sparkled as she padded closer to the river's edge, ready to show her daughter that fear could be faced, step by cautious step.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

MOONS

𖧧

RIVERCLANNER

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SONG

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bio

 

[lilacbird]

Littlebrook purrs and press against Lilacs head did enough to quell her pacing heart, beating against the prison of ribs. "Lavender was the first flower you gave me mama," she responded softly, pressing to rub her cheek against her mothers head and neck. She didn't know it was because of her night terrors, or her bad dreams, or lack of sleep- but she just remembered the flowers lining the nest and nuzzling into it. "I buried some lavender and forget-me-nots with... Rain. So he wouldn't feel so alone."

Granted, she was younger- but the thought was still sweet. It still meant something, even now. She likes to think rain walked beside them, curled up with them- she liked to think rain talked to her.... But where he actually was- it was a mystery. Perhaps this starclan- but... She was unsure. She didn't know. She couldn't know.

She purred a low rumble as Littlebrook encouraged her with pride, but she didn't understand it. Her anxiety was loud- telling her she was wrong for being so scared, that she was holding herself and her mother back - that she shouldnt be so scared. "I would've helped clean you up mama, but yes. Just... be careful," she said, a nervous look on her face before stepping to the waters edge.

It was moments like these, when she looked at the water, she didn't see a calming clear liquid, the bubbling of the creek was loud in her ears. The water that lapped toward her toes was hungry, and it craved to eat her alive. Her fur bristled, her muscles stretched- a step, two back before soaring over the water. She smiled, triumphant, her head lifting a bit with her tail as she landed almost perfectly on the other side.

And as her head turned, her stomach dropped. "No!" She bellowed, "MOM!"
​

 

[Littlebrook Littlebrook]

There's so much more
You can reclaim your crown
You're in control
Rid of the monsters inside your head

.

A soft purr escaped her as she touched her nose to her daughter's cheek, warmth swelling in her chest. " Lavender and forget-me-nots. " she meowed softly, voice a quiet hum. " My gentlest little heart. " she whispered softly, her chest tight with love. Memories tugged at her, Rain's laughter, his stubborn determination, the way he had always looked after Lilacbird, the way he had saved his little sister from the water's grip. Even if it had meant that he would be facing it alone...

Shaking her head, she turned her focus back to Lilacbird, a smile softening her face as she watched her daughter make the leap. Strong. Powerful. Alive. Present. Littlebrooks chest swelled with pride. " That's it, my bird. I'm proud of you. " she meowed before charging forward herself, ready to make the jump.

But moons had stiffened her joints, and the stones beneath her paws were slick with moss. Her takeoff wavered, her hind legs slipping just as she sprang. For a heartbeat, she prayed she would make it, then the cold, crushing water swallowed her whole, icy tendrils wrapping around her chest as she gasped. Her daughter's voice crying out. Lungs filled with the taste of the river. She twisted, kicked, she could swim, she had always been able to, but the current was relentless, dragging her away from the bank, away from her daughter's terrified cries.

She might have pushed through, made it to shore, were it not for a hard shove against her body that slammed her into rocks. Pain exploded across her skull, bright and searing before fading to a dull warmth. The world blurred, sound and light twisting together until there was only the rush of the current, the cold pressing closer and deeper. She fought, stars, she fought... But her limbs grew heavy, her breath ragged. One last glimpse of sunlight glinting on the water's surface, a reminder of everything she loved.. Then the world dimmed. The current whispered in her ears.

Everything went black.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

MOONS

𖧧

RIVERCLANNER

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SONG

𖧧

bio

 

[lilacbird]

☁︎ all our tears turned to dust

Lilacbird was not a brave cat. It showed in the way she stumbled over her words, the way she took each step like it might be her last. It was suffocating to be this scared every day. She tried, but she was not prepared for this. She was not prepared to watch her mother plummet.

Her voice left her throat as soon as paws collided into water, and the small girl ran alongside the shore, paws slipping on slick rocks, hitting her shoulder and chin hard against the sandy ground. Her mind spun as she stood again, and her gaze was wide- collecting the scene.

For a moment- she was reminded of Rain. She was unable to do anything. But scream- and yell. She didn't really want to be scared anymore. She didn't want to be fighting with a constricting breath as if her own feathers may be choking her. But she was. Her heart fluttered, as if a bird itself was in her chest, rapidly beating its wings against its cage.

She moved before her mind could process. Before the fear could keep taking over. This wasn't just about her. She could yell for camp- but her mother hadn't come up, and there wasnt time. Time was important. Time was ticking, and suddenly she became hyper aware. It slowed. Her paws hit the water as she dove in without thought. It was cold- gripping, and for a moment, the tide took her small frame too.

Something took over in Lilacbird. It was not fear, despite it still thrashing around. There was something she held onto, something that made her eyes open as she slowed her paws and began like she was running. Running to the light... It glimmered and shined off the surface, almost glittering. She broke the surface with a gasp, and her eyes searched before spotting and locking on to her mothers form.

Her swimming was not trained, it was almost erratic. Desperate, but her mind was focused. Letting the tides take her, it pushed her closer to her mother faster than swimming, she just had to stay above water. She didn't have the lungs of a riverclanner. She didn't have the mind of a riverclanner- but she was having the courage and strength of one in this moment.

Her arms managed to wrap around her mother, her jaws wrapping into scruff, her legs kicking... Kicking....

Pain bolted through her leg. Something in the churning water pierced through soft skin and fur, making her freeze and hit reality. Like scraping a knee for the first time, the childish realization that suddenly everything hurt. Her muscles, her limbs, the very lungs she breathed from...

She kept her teeth in her mom's scruff as their bodies tumbled through the rushing water. The impact against her side with her mother landing with her was enough to knock the little breath she was holding out of her lungs. Bubbles slid from her mouth and her paws scrambled as she used the bottom of the river to regrip into her mothers form, to push off.

Her paws found the shore, and she pulled. Littlebrook was not easy to carry once the water was no longer a factor. She managed to pull them both free from the water- but just barely. Still, she felt it lapping at her soaked body, gasping for breath she lost. "Mom," she begun, her voice a worn croak. Her vision spun, and her body was tired. Her paws moved to try to press into her form, to try to shake her as she pulled closer.

"Jingle...moon..." She tried to call. Shed never been that loud before. But pushing herself back onto shaky paws was the hardest thing she ever had to fight. Pushing against the exhaustion was the bravest thing she could've done.

She was tired of being scared.

Her mind raced, before finally taking a breath-

"I NEED-... HELP!" Clear as day; loudest she'd ever been- her voice cracked under the pressure.

☁︎ OOC: n/a