RUN AWAY FROM EVERYTHING // intruder

[VULTUREPAW]

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He was running as far away he possible could until he was out of breath and was forced to stop. On shaking legs that could give in at any moment Leech breathed out heavily, his lungs feeling like they could explode any moment. Tears burned in this burning orange orbs, hateful tears of shame and regret. How could he have run away like that leaving Rose to....drown. She is dead because of you. Mother hissed in his ear, standing like a ghost behind while having her claws wrapped around him. That was the truth, his truth. He had just killed his one and only friend in the entier world who had always stood by him and now she was gone because of him.

I'm sorry, i'm so sorry Rose!.

Leech dug his claws into the dirt knowing he couldn't return back there now, not after what he had done. With hot tears running down his cheeks the black kit continued to move across to leave the tall grass behind to head into what looked to be the start of a forest. Leech stopped when he came across what looked to be black dried up dirt laying across the road with no life growing on top of it. After drying his tears with a paw Leech stept on the unfamilliar material and only then did he noticed it felt more like walking on stone than actually dirt. Strange.

Unbothered the kit contunied to march forward to not look back and soon crossed the other side and entered a strange forest. It all looked dead, like a wasteland almost. Even then he kept on walking, and walking not caring where the paws took them as long it was as far away from the lake as possible. He didn't care where this path lead as long it didn't took them back. All that was waiting for him back there was death and he wanted to run away from it all although the memories would haunt him forever. They would never let him forget.

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I REMEMBER EVERYTHING!

 

[Tickpaw]

TICK

So what if you can see the darkest side of me?

" Take another step, and you might find yourself missing an ear. " The words were lazy, almost indifferent, but the sharp glint in Tick's orange eyes made it clear he wasn't joking. He stood just some ways outside the camp, his thin frame outlined in the dim light, a slight breeze ruffling his mangy fur. " Not by me. " he added with a slow flick of his tail. " But there are plenty of others in there who won't take kindly to an intruder… even if you're young. " he continued, trying to figure out how to react in a situation such as this... He knew for a fact that the other was not part of ShadowClan. There was a different scent about him. Fishy. Watery.

But he was also not blind to the way the other had been walking, almost as if he was haunted by things. And boy, did he know a thing or two about being haunted... He tilted his head slightly, studying the stranger with a measured look. They moved like they weren't fully aware of where they were going, like their paws had carried them here on their own. That, more than anything, set him on edge. Wait, was this one of the hauntings that had been going on in camp? Man, the last thing he needed... Finding a ghost.

" So... " he drawled, his voice steady but laced with curiosity. " What brought you here? "

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[Joseph]

Joseph was growing confident.
It was slow, but it was reasonably apparent to those familiar with the kittypet's initial venture into Shadow Clan territory. He was learning his surroundings and he was pushing out more without feeling the need to, as though by script, ask Sablestar if he can do this, or if he can do that. He was tolerated, if not accepted. He was still a very quiet, modest cat. No degree of arrogance led his paws onward. He remained level headed, but woefully good willed, and it peaked its head often.

He winded through the outskirts of the camp slowly and without direction until the rustling of something…relatively speaking: large, came running through the leaves. Too big for prey, too quiet for predators. The remaining choice in Joseph's mind was just 'well, that's probably a cat.' And so he made his way over. Not as the first, but not too late to get in the way of a potential conflict with what now appeared to be a kit.

"Thankfully, neither of us are that sort." Joseph chirped, perched off to the side with a curious look over the exhausted kit. He held still, for a moment, before stepping forward to examine Leech more closely. While Joseph wouldn't get into his personal bubble, he did get close enough before laying on the ground- his paws disappearing under his frame in an effort to come off unimposing. His nose and eyes were taking in the faintest of details he could obtain. Eventually Joseph looked back up at Tick.
He'd seen Tick around. Troubled. Brooding. It sounded familiar, though he had to give the tom credit, he fit in here in spite of it. More than himself, at least.
"All the more reason to assess this now." If Joseph could find the kit on his own, then others were already honing in. He looked back down at Leech with a frown. He was alone, he was absolutely exhausted, and he smelled… strange. Nothing like the scents here.

 

[VULTUREPAW]

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Instantly the kit got alarmed when hearing a voice up ahead. Leech had been too much into his own head to pay attention to anything apperantly and perhaps the exhaustion that hanged heavily like a fog inside his head were partly to blame for that as well. Leech narrowed his eyes when he set them on another kit. You're young. Leech huffed. You're the same age as me, the two being pretty much at the same age so why was this kit speaking like he was younger for?. It annoyed him. Usually, he was ready to snap back but after everything he just had endured felt completely drained.

" I don't care, so just....move. "

was his honest answer, not caring what would happen if taking another step forward from here. They could take both his ears if they wanted too. The fight inside of him had gone out like flames defeated by water. At this point he was just giving empty barks with no bite to back it up with.

This kit had more questions to load on him, questions that he did not really wish to answer. He bit the inside of his cheek.

" Where else am i suppose to go?."

It was a half baked answer, Leech mumbling over his own words as reality cut his chest as the truth was heavy in his words. Nowhere, he had nowhere to go. I don't belong anywhere. Leech looked away with sadness once more reminded of Rose.

Another showed up, an adult this time and although Leech cast a cautious side-eyed look their way his eyes were left gloomed with no spirit left inside of them. It was disappointing almost that this adult wouldn't live up to the other kits threat. Leech didn't took it lightly when he got approached, instinct took over as he turned his head around to face them properly with ears flattering back and gaze locked at them with distrust. Unsure what would happen next was prepared for anything but still didn't expect for the adult to lay down in front of them. Leech took a step back at this unused to odd behaviors that currently was being presented by this adult. What did he want?. Was he waiting for them to make the first move or what?!.

Narrowed orbs turned sharper.

" So what're your deal. Are your plan to stare me to death or what?."

he muttered, tail giving a slight flink as his distrusting gaze remained on the tom. Whatever his plan was here Leech would be ready. He convince himself that anyway but in truth his legs was so tired that they had started to shake. At this point Leech would probably not even have the strenght left to run away if anything did happend.

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I REMEMBER EVERYTHING!

 

[Tickpaw]

TICK

woooohow paint the town blue, riots all around you

Tickpaw's torn ear flicked as he spotted Joseph, his gaze lingering on the former kittypet for a long, somewhat cautious moment before turning his attention back to the exhausted, panicked cat before them. His expression remained neutral, unreadable. " He's right. Neither of us are. " His voice was calm but firm, tail lashing briefly before he exhaled, considering the situation. This… needed to be brought to Sablestar, right? That was how things worked in ShadowClan, changes, outsiders, anything unusual, it all went through the leader.

His gaze sharpened when the kit snapped out, his eyes narrowing slightly. " Don't feel like moving. " he mused, his tone almost absent-minded before tilting his head slightly. " If you've got nowhere to go… you could come with us. We're from ShadowClan. I could take you to our leader, see what he thinks. You're young, he won't just turn you away. " A thin smile flickered at the snappy retort.

" I wish I had that kind of power, but as it stands? I don't. So no, I'm not gonna stare you to death, kid. " His voice was casual, edged with dry amusement, before his tail flicked toward camp.

" Joseph. Should we get Sablestar? "

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[Joseph]

Joseph smiled softly as his eyes closed and his tail flicked. "I'm wondering how much fight you have in you, is all. Better to find out now than to risk you swiping at somebody far less forgiving." Joseph had enough faith that if he were to get mauled by a kitten, Tickpaw would react. He also had enough faith to believe that Tickpaw wouldn't move to kill if Joseph insisted not to... Though at their ages, they'd probably just tussle. Maybe. He didn't know, he wasn't a fighter.
Lots of Joseph's actions really were hanging on a prayer, but if Leech was no less desperate than he himself was once upon a time, the extra mile to ensure he'd flourish mattered.
No outbursts, no risks. If Leech was going to act volatile due to whatever experiences clung to his fur, now was the time to get them out.

At the question of getting Sablestar involved, his focus lifted back to Tickpaw with the flick of his ears. Joseph never made calls like this before... Should they pull Sablestar from whatever he was handling? Or... "Well… if our new companion doesn't mind, we can lead them back to camp." His attention returned to Leech once more, back to his usual, reassuring smile. A hanging 'right? No trouble?' in his gaze. "No need to worry. Lots of us stumbled over ourselves to get here. There's no reason you'd be treated any different. You say your piece, we can vouch for you, and all will be well." His smile faltered, still lying comfortably on the soft, cool ground. "...Though, we would all benefit from knowing what brought you here. You're running from something, but it doesn't look like it's following you." The likelihood of an approaching threat grew lower and lower as time went on, and yet Leech fled here like his life depended on being free from it. He was stubborn. Or exhausted. Joseph wasn't sure which but any answer would suffice. Another question came to mind, though. "Do you know your name? I'd like to have something to call you by."