Camp Territory WindClan Reaching Out ~ Hollowmumble

[Hollowmumble]

Hollowmumble, -- 35 Moons / Barn Cat -- Ages on the 14th
Black spotted ghost tabby with bright amber eyes.
She is friendly, yet quiet, and always willing to help.

Tagging @Meadowpaw

---

Nerves bit at Hollow as she glanced across the 'camp' clearing a couple times.

Staring back down at her paws, she pondered, stuck in her own thoughts. She had been keeping an eye on the younger cat across the clearing for a while, making sure she was alright from afar. The tortoiseshell had been horribly injured in the fire, as many other cats had been. Hollow could only imagine how hard it is, dealing with something like that and trying to heal from it. She was concerned about Meadow, and her concern only grew over time. She felt like she had to... offer something. Do something. Anything, really, to try and help or cheer her up. She was just having a hard time working up to it.

She had never even spoken to her before! Though Hollow shared the barn with many cats, she never interacted with most of them and usually went about her business on her own. The thought of approaching out of the blue and Meadow looking at her weird made her nervous, and she wondered if she should even do it at all.

Another glance across the clearing at the younger cat, however, made her feel so guilty that she couldn't not go over and try to- do something to help. Her eyes flicked around, landing on the pitiful pile that was supposed to be everyone's dinner for tonight, and she suddenly made up her mind. She heaved herself up from where she was sitting, and slowly approached, looking at the grass as she walked.

Working herself up, she stopped in front of Meadow. After a couple second, she cleared her throat and quietly spoke. "Uh... I was wondering if, uh, you might want to come hunting with me...?"

 

[Meadowpaw]

Sitting in the dark waiting on the stars
Thinking through all the places that you've been

.

Meadow sat with her paws tucked beneath her thinning frame, staring out across the moor. The sunlight painted her green eyes gold, casting soft shadows on her face. If things were different, she might have been delighted by their new home. So many beautiful flowers surrounded them. Once upon a time, she would've rushed to gather them, hanging them to dry or weaving them into crowns to share with everyone.

But now… it was hard to find the motivation. Some days were harder than others—and today was no exception.

After recovering, she spent most of her time trying to keep busy—just as she imagined most of WindClan were. It made things easier, having something to focus on. Nests needed tending, and Owl occasionally needed someone to help watch the kits. Meadow was content with that work, even if it felt insignificant compared to hunting or patrolling. She didn't want to burden anyone more than she already had, and this way, she could at least pretend she was doing her part. But there was only so much to do.

It was when the nests were tidy and the kits were with their mother that her thoughts became the loudest. Sometimes they were so loud she couldn't think, couldn't dream, couldn't breathe anything but the fear and grief that weighed on her chest. It felt as real as the day it happened. Lately, even sleep was a struggle, her nights filled with restless tossing and horrible dreams. She carried the exhaustion with her—heavy-eyed, heavy-hearted—forcing smiles when she had to, doing her best not to worry those around her. It was harder to keep up the act around Meggie and Pea, but luckily, they'd been busy too.

She almost didn't hear the pawsteps approach. The tortoiseshell tilted her head, blinking up at the warrior who stepped into view. "Hollow?" She murmured, not so much bothered as surprised that the molly had sought her out. Out of all the barncats, Hollow was one Meadow didn't know very well. Still, she mustered a warm smile, even as it slowly shifted into confusion at the other molly's words.

"Go… hunting?" She can't quite hide the surprise in her voice. Did Hollw mean to ask someone else? Or… did she not know?

"U-um I guess I don't mind keeping you company but…" Meadow frowned, gaze flickering past Hollow as she tried to find the right words. "I'm not sure I'll be much help. Are you sure you want me to come?" The tortie asks softly and glances toward her scarred flank. She could hardly keep her balance some days, let alone move like she used to. Wouldn't it be more of a hindrance to take her along? Wouldn't she just slow Hollow down?


Speech, thoughts/emphasis

8 MOONS

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WINDCLAN

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bio

 

[Hollowmumble]

Hollowmumble, -- 35 Moons / Barn Cat -- Ages on the 14th
Black spotted ghost tabby with bright amber eyes.
She is friendly, yet quiet, and always willing to help.

Tagging @Meadowpaw

---

Hollow's gaze flicked up to the calico, nodding her head firmly after a moment despite internally cringing at that overslight. She had been so quick to go up to Meadow and offer, that she didn't even think of how Meadow's wounds would actually effect hunting. That was stupid. she thought to herself, before scrambling to come up with a proper reply.

"Yes- yes I'm sure! Uh," she stumbled over her words for a moment, before something popped into her head and she continued, "You know how different it is out here-" Does she? Has she even been hunting since the barn fire? Dammit! "-The prey is, well, a lot harder to find. I figured that we could use all the noses we could get!" That sounded awful, Hollow. She refrained from sighing, and finally looked away again, glancing up at the horizon and the sky, hoping that Meadow didn't take offense to her unthoughtful words.

 

[Meadowpaw]

Sitting in the dark waiting on the stars
Thinking through all the places that you've been

.

Meadow listened patiently as the warrior spoke. Was Hollow always this nervous? Meadow couldn't say she knew what the molly was like before, but Meadow hoped she wasn't the one making things awkward between them.

The molly seemed to want her to go, but she still wasn't so sure about it. What if she ended up making things harder for Hollow—or slowed them down so much they didn't catch anything? Surely any other cat would be a better choice for the job. Honestly, she wasn't even sure how good her nose was anymore. Everything smelled and tasted blander than she remembered—was that because of the fire?

Still, she couldn't quite bring herself to turn Hollow down. She didn't want to be rude or seem ungrateful. After all, Hollow had gone out of her way to include her. She just hoped it wasn't out of pity… The tortie managed a soft smile. "Okay, if you truly don't mind then I'll go."

At the very least, it was a good chance to get out and see more of the territory. Since putting up the memorials for Hoot, Alder, and Chicken, she hadn't left camp, and even then, she hadn't gone far. The apprentice slowly rose to her paws. "I'll do my best not to slow us down, so please lead on."

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

8 MOONS

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WINDCLAN

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SONG

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bio

 

[Hollowmumble]

Hollowmumble, -- 35 Moons / Barn Cat -- Ages on the 14th
Black spotted ghost tabby with bright amber eyes.
She is friendly, yet quiet, and always willing to help.

Tagging @Meadowpaw

---

Hollow glanced up at her and smiled a little, "Ah, don't worry, we have so many hours left in the day. I'm not in a hurry." she stretched a little, shaking a bit of nervous energy out of her paws before turning and making her way to the camp entrance, looking back to make sure Meadow was following before she continued.

They came upon the great moor, standing atop a hill as the wide grasslands stretched out before them. Grass fluttered and danced in the wind like ocean waves, colour dotted the horison as the flowers of spring were in full bloom. The scent of it all was overwhelming for a moment, hiding any smell of prey or predator until one adjusted to it. Bees were buzzing around happily, spreading pollen and rejuvinating the lifeblood of the prairie. The sun was out and there was hardly a cloud in the sky.

The grass parted around them as they walked, common paths not yet well worn. Hollow was sure to match Meadow's pace, not walking ahead to guide, but walking beside her instead as they travelled in silence. It was only after a little while of walking that Hollow finally spoke up, "Have you caught the scent of anything?"

 

[Meadowpaw]

Sitting in the dark waiting on the stars
Thinking through all the places that you've been

.

Meadow stepped forward in a soft, uneven rhythm—frame dipping subtly with the effort it took to stay balanced. The absence of her leg slowed her, but as far as she noticed, Hollow didn't seem irritated by it. Rather than taking the lead, they walked together. Eventually it felt like the tension subsided, giving way to a more laid-back atmosphere. She hadn't taken the time to look around when she'd left camp before, too caught up in her grief to care. But now with that weight off her shoulders, under the clear sky with the sun warming her back, she was able to take everything in.

She tilted her head back slightly, letting the breeze brush through her fur. Many scents hit her all at once—bright flowers, lush grass, scents that she recognized and many others that she didn't. When she tasted the air what reached her was muted. Even so, there were also so many scents that for a moment it was difficult to focus on anything else. Some were familiar, but just as many were like nothing she could put a whisker to.

The tortie tilted her head, nose twitching as she once again tried to pick up on something they could use. A small, nervous frown appeared on her face as she reluctantly turned to answer. "W-well—Yes—but there's so much. I'm having a hard time gettin' anything specific. It's just all mushed together!" Was it supposed to be so muddled? Meadow didn't remember it being so hard before… "I know thats not much help, sorry..."[/b] Hopefully, Hollow didn't think it was a lack of effort that prevented her from picking up a trail for them. She was trying! Really…

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

8 MOONS

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WINDCLAN

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SONG

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bio

 

[Hollowmumble]

Hollowmumble, -- 35 Moons / Barn Cat -- Ages on the 14th
Black spotted ghost tabby with bright amber eyes.
She is friendly, yet quiet, and always willing to help.

Tagging @Meadowpaw

---

Hollow relaxed a little, and stopped walking, settling to sit in the grass. It was soft under their paws, new and green and maliable. She glanced around the field for a second, before quietly speaking. "Don't worry, I think every cat is still getting used to it all. It- it's the flowers, I think. Spring brought a lot of new growth," she turned to look at Meadow for just a second as she said, "Why do you think I brought an extra nose?"

Trying to keep it lighthearted and calm Meadow's clear anxiety (As well as her own...) she found herself continuing without thinking through her words first. "I- I mean, there's so many new creatures here, too. You wouldn't find half of these close to the barn. So I wouldn't- you know, expect you to pick out their scent first thing." she cleared her throat, looking away and staring at a bright yellow flower beside her.

 

[Meadowpaw]

Sitting in the dark waiting on the stars
Thinking through all the places that you've been

.

"Oh…" She breathed, a tinge of relief settling throughout her chest. "I guess that makes sense."

So it wasn't just her struggling to adjust to their new home? But could it really just be the flowers mucking up her sense of smell? Her eyes drifted over the open fields, following the sway of tall grass as it danced in the breeze. Everything here was so... different. Beautiful, maybe—but it wasn't like their old home. She still couldn't tell where she fit into it all. Or if there was even a space for her here at all. Would they ever really get back even a sliver of what they lost?

She was grateful Hollow didn't seem disappointed with her. Even more so that nothing was expected of her attempt to scent prey. Meadow couldn't tell if the warrior was simply being kind for her sake—but even so, it helped ease the weight she'd been carrying. Still, after moons of healing, it was hard not to feel frustrated with herself—at how something so simple could feel like it took so much more effort...

"Yeah, I have seen cats come back with some pretty odd lookin' critters. I hope it gets easier to pick through them..." Back at the barn, it was mostly mice and rats, sometimes a bird, but these fields seemed full of all sorts of strange, unfamiliar things.

She looked up, head tilting slightly as her eyes followed Hollow's, settling on the flower swaying near her paws. It stood out among the green with a dense, round center and sparsely spaced hopeful looking yellow petals. One of the barncats told her it was called Ragwort. Meadow thought it had a funny name despite being so pretty. If she were going to name a flower, ragwort wouldn't be her first choice, but not everything needed to fit.

Wildflowers came in all kinds of shapes and colors, blooming in clusters and by themselves through rain and even snow... Ragwort especially stuck around in all sorts of places. One time, she even found a whole bunch in the pasture after a really bad dry spell swept through and killed everything else.

Meadow blinked softly. Did Hollow think it was pretty? She could agree, even if the sight of such a beautiful thing didn't make her heart swell like it once might've. "That flower is called Ragwort." She hobbled forward, spreading her paws slightly to keep her balance as she dipped down and carefully plucked the flower by its stem. "Could you lean down a little?" Meadow asked timidly, hoping that Hollow wouldn't question it too much.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

8 MOONS

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WINDCLAN

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SONG

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bio

 

[Hollowmumble]

Hollowmumble, -- 35 Moons / Barn Cat -- Ages on the 14th
Black spotted ghost tabby with bright amber eyes.
She is friendly, yet quiet, and always willing to help.

Tagging @Meadowpaw

---

Hollow's ears perked up and she glanced at Meadow for a second before looking away. "Yeah," she answered, along with a quiet "sorry," mumbled under her breath, even if she didn't know what she was apologizing for. Hollow figured her height next to the younger one might be getting in the way. She didn't want to loom over her or seem intimidating.

She lowered her head and shuffled her paws in the grass, trying to make it comfortable before she decided to loaf, since the two were just sitting here anyway. The tall grasses around them provided I nice spot hidden away, a little pocket in the prairie to hide. It was nice.

 

[Meadowpaw]

Sitting in the dark waiting on the stars
Thinking through all the places that you've been

.

She took the opportunity to lean forward and tuck the flower into Hollow's fur between her ear and cheek. "There we go!" Once it was fastened there, she reclined back, a smile blooming on her face. The ragwort held a soft yellow that paired nicely with the amber of her eyes. "Oooh, it looks really pretty on you!" She hummed thoughtfully. There was a hint of a crackle in her throat, betraying the soft raspiness.

Meadow tilted her head and then looked back to where the flower had been. "There has to be more... It usually never blooms alone." She mutters to herself before hobbling a few paces to gently part the grass. As she expected, there was a cluster of them huddled together, unbothered by the wind or the way the grass towered over them, stealing their sunlight. If there were a more resilient flower, she'd never heard of it.

One didn't seem like enough, so she learned forward to grasp another by the stem—and then another—turning back only to find another place in Hollow's pelt to place it. Before long, she was lost in the repetition. Before the fire, she did the same many times for Meggie, the other barn cats, and even just once...for her Mama. The times before made her sad now. She tried not to remember if she could help it, because all the wonderful memories that she used to cherish were back there, buried in ash.

She sighed softly, shaking herself free of that passing memory. Meadow hoped they could all make new memories someday. Good ones. "Hollow, do you have a favorite flower?" It was a question that she'd asked just about everyone she knew at one point. But she and Hollow hadn't spoken much before today.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

8 MOONS

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WINDCLAN

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SONG

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bio

 

[Hollowmumble]

Hollowmumble, -- 35 Moons / Barn Cat -- Ages on the 14th
Black spotted ghost tabby with bright amber eyes.
She is friendly, yet quiet, and always willing to help.

Tagging @Meadowpaw

---

Hollow couldn't help the small smile on her face, as she watched Meadow move back and forth, collecting flowers to decorate her pelt with. Something felt like it settled, just a little inside her, at the mundanity and peacefulness of it. They had all been through a lot, since the fire, especially the cats who had lost loved ones of just barely made it out themselves with wounds to show for it. Adjusting to their new home, the environment, the changes, the hole that the missing people seemed to leave in many cat's lives...

To be sitting around picking flowers was a privilege she would enjoy. She settled her head down in the soft grass while she allowed Meadow free reign to decorate her with as many flowers as she pleased, happy to see the young cat doing something. A soft breeze passed overhead, fluttering the grass towering over them back and forth, allowing the warm sun to shine through onto them. Hollow closed her eyes for a moment, relishing in the peacefulness of it.

At Meadow's question, she opened her eyes again and pondered, before opening her mouth to try and figure out a response. "The one with... red petals, that go up all over the place. I don't know it's name. It reminds me of-..." ...a fire... "...a cardinal, and it's wings." she paused. "That's probably not much help, there are a lot of red flowers."

 

[Meadowpaw]

Sitting in the dark waiting on the stars
Thinking through all the places that you've been

.

The breeze whispered softly through Meadow's fur, brushing through her pelt with tender, invisible paws. It carried with it loose petals—sun-touched and weightless—as they drifted across the grass without a care in the world.

She moved slowly through the grass, working diligently. Her claws gently hooked beneath the stems of ragwort, craning it toward her mouth before plucking them. She found empty spaces against Hollow's dark pelt to bury them. Before long, the dark molly was speckled with dozens of them, small bits of sunshine against a starless night sky.

Even she couldn't help but get swept up in the moment. How long had it been since any of them stopped to just… breathe? Lately it seemed like every task and gesture was an attempt to push back the silence that loss had left behind.

She glanced over as Hollow spoke. Red petals… that go up. A fire… and a cardinal. Meadow tilted her head thoughtfully. "Cardinals are a very red bird, aren't they?" She mused, combing through her memory for blooms that fit. Poppies. Carnelias. Roses… even some peonies came in that color.

"Hmm…" She hummed in thought. "That's true, but identifying flowers isn't as easy as you'd think either. They come in lots of different shapes and colors, and even the leaves are an important part of what they are. Few are ever exactly the same, just like cats. It could even be one I've never seen before." Her gaze drifted back to the patch of ragwort, then flicked back to Hollow.

"Do you like that one for any specific reason?" She asked gently. Not just out of curiosity but because she thought it would help her get to know Hollow. Everyone had their flower. Something that mirrored a piece of who they were.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

8 MOONS

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WINDCLAN

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bio