Private PLEASE UNDERSTAND + juniperstar and serpentberry

[OWLBARK]

Owlbark had not slept after the gathering. It was imperative that he stayed vigil in front of his leader's den and insure no hawks or vultures swooped in to steal another life from his leader. He was only 50 or so moons (he had lost count), but he felt old. His bones hurt and his paws were so heavy. Perhaps it was the stress he felt or maybe it really was the moons he had lived finally collecting their payment. Or perhaps it was the sin everyone said he committed slowly poisoning him.

The tabby tom sat outside the leader's den and watched as the sun crept over the horizon, as if shy to see what had transpired the night before. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back. Every movement felt incredibly tiring. A quiet groan escaped him as he shifted his head to stretch out his neck muscles. StarClan, have mercy on his weary bones. Owlbark rose to his paws and stretched on his back slowly, feeling every vertebrae shift with the movement.

He turned to move into the den, looking over the spotted tabby and tortoiseshell closer than he felt he should be able to observe. He cleared his throat and moved in further to sit near the pair. "I'd like to explain myself, if you'll permit, Juniperstar," he whispered. He didn't care if Serpentberry was present. Nearly the whole clan was witness to his confession at the gathering. They all saw he was the reason their gentle and kind leader was slain in front of her child and clanmates.

i turned 'round and there you go *ੈ✩‧₊˚

• ooc: @juniperstar and @serpentberry
  
• 

  ☾ OWLBARK
  ☾ THUNDERCLAN DEPUTY
  ☾ 51 moons, ages every 1st of the month
  ☾ open to peaceful interactions
  ☾ "SPEECH #687A63"
  ☾ penned by muddly

• toyhouse
  playlist
  pinterest

 

[serpentberry serpentberry]

She had to have fallen asleep. There's no other explaination for how the sun eventually streams over her eyelids, and she must force them to open, rouse herself awake. Serpentberry feels a roil of disgust in the pits of her stomach, knowing that at some point her body gave in to exhaustion. She lifts her crown to peer towards Juniperstar, entangled in her limbs. Her gaze flutters over the soft underfur of the other's throat, as if she can see the stars that have sewn the scars shut.

Before she can say much, do much - a shadow blocks out the sun that disturbed her rest. Venom green eyes turn towards Owlbark, first with disdain, then with faux delight. "Owl," she greets him, her throat hoarse from just one night without it, "You almost look like a kicked puppy; all you need is your tail between your legs ~" A taunt, spilled with sharp teeth and half lidded eyes. "We would've let you sleep inside if you asked," she lies. His mess, quite literally, cost them Juniperstar's life. Serpentberry could not care less of the lost SkyClanner, more that Owlbark did a horrid job of executioner when he acted upon it. She would've sooner send him to stand amidst a monsoon with nothing to keep him rooted to the ground.

He implores their leader to listen, and Serpentberry takes that as a sign to quiet down. Where the echoes of her snarky tone came the whispers of his pleading one. She reclined against Juniperstar, her cheek pressed to the other's side, listening for her breath, feeling for her pulse, but all the more staying out of the discussion for a moment. She can afford them brevity and space, but since it seems neither are keen on her disappearance yet, she doesn't act on making it real.