Private Territory scary monsters and nice sprites [FLAMERUNNER]

[WOLFPACK]

AND I AM SORRY MY CONSCIENCE CALLED IN SICK AGAIN

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It was nearing the end of their first day working together, and while Cloudberrypaw had been excused earlier to eat and enjoy her downtime– a right she'd earned after putting in her time– Wolfpack had not granted the same courtesy to Flamerunner. Not because he truly expected them to work from sun-up to sun-down, but because he was hoping that by running them ragged with Deputy level work, they'd realize how easy it was to just do the damn work he was given.. Warriors didn't have it that bad. Attend a few patrols. Teach your apprentice some stuff. Do a chore here and there.

The deputy had done all of that and more– assigned patrols, convened with Sablestar, discussed border patrols with whatever Nightguard was chosen to assign them while he went on to work out and assign specialty patrols. He was in charge of the Trappers training, and overseeing that mentors were properly training their charges. He picked up extra patrols when Timber or Cicada stated their need for extra paws. Not to mention the solo hunting he did for Jadethorn and the kits to help ease the caregivers burdens.

Flamerunner had hardly had time to like his fur flat throughout the day.

And that was without the added requests and obligations– a day when his leader didn't ask him to take one of their lives for the sake of putting anxieties to rest, for example. He wondered, with no shortage of amusement, how Flamerunner would have enjoyed that scenario.

Now, the pair of them were heading toward the Monster Tree out by the Thunderpath they shared with Windclan on what Wolfpack liked to call a 'predator check'. Certain spots were prime real estate for hawks, owls, badgers, foxes, and so on, and the mottled tom liked to make sure they were regularly checked, scent marked, and cleared out of any visitors that might have chosen to settle. He didn't check to see if Flamerunner was keeping up– he could hear the others lighter pawsteps dragging behind him easily enough.

Their arrival at the tree didn't give way to any signs of something to be wary of, though. Just the sharp tang of peaty earth and stagnant water that only a Shadowclan cat seemed capable of getting used to.

"You been up there before?" he asked, tone not as sharp as it might have elsewise been throughout the day. Almost conversational as they reached the base and mismatched eyes turned upward to land on the mangle body of the monster trapped within it's limbs.

---

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OOC NOTES . ◭ . CHARACTER INFO

• ooc : — @Flamerunner​
• shadowclan deputy - male - a large, black & blue chimera with moderate white splashing, mismatched eyes, and several scars.

 

[Flamerunner Flamerunner]

Run boy run! The sun will be guiding you
Run boy run! They're dying to stop you
Run boy run! This race is a prophecy
Run boy run! Break out from society

.

When Wolfpack had told him he'd be shadowing the deputy all day, he'd meant it. Every word. At first, Flamerunner had thought it was a joke, a test of patience, maybe. Surely, at some point, the deputy would turn his attention elsewhere and he could slip away for a well-deserved nap. But no. Not even close. The moment he'd tried to wander after Cloudberrypaw, tail high and ready to vanish into the trees, Wolfpack's voice had cracked through the air like thunder. And that had been that.

So here he was.

With a drooping tail and a sour grin, Flamerunner had found his place back beside the handsome devil who'd caught him in his snares, or claws, depending on how you looked at it. Not that Wolfpack was bad company. He had that brooding, dark sort of charm going for him... All muscles and mystery and a stare that could freeze the marsh. Shame, though, that he was tangled up in that mess with Jadethorn and late Coalstrike. Not that there was romance there, at least not that Flamerunner could see. The whole situation was still a tangle he didn't care to pick apart. Coalstrike's death had been enough drama for a lifetime... At least that brute wasn't around to snarl at him anymore. Now, it was Wolfpack breathing down his neck instead.

At least he was handsome.

The day had been relentless, hunting, border checks, herb runs, helping trappers, fetching mentors, watching patrols form and reform. Every time Flamerunner thought the deputy might finally pause to breathe, he was proven dead wrong. By the time they reached the monster tree, his fur was sticking out in every direction, and for once it wasn't from lounging. He exhaled, a short huff that almost became a laugh, blue eyes scanning the empty clearing. No sharp scents, no traces of danger. Finally... Maybe, maybe... A moment to breathe.

" Mmhm... No, not really... " he drawled, answering the other's question as he cast a glance toward Wolfpack. A sharp-fanged grin curved his lips. " But I bet with some good company, the view's lovely up there. " He puffed out his chest and flicked his tail, doing his best to look lively despite the weariness tugging at his limbs. Wolfpack wanted him to keep up? Fine. He'd keep up. Even if his paws ached like they were ready to fall off.

" Come on, Wolfy. " he purred, the nickname rolling off his tongue with easy mischief. " It's obvious there's no predators around, not a whiff of trouble. We could check the Monster Tree if you want, maybe even take a minute to get to know each other, yeah? " His grin softened slightly, eyes narrowing with something almost genuine. " Even a deputy needs his rest. Work yourself to the bone, and you'll be useless to the clan too. " For once, the teasing edge in his tone gentled into concern, fleeting but real.

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

33 MOONS

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SHADOWCLANNER

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SONG

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bio

 

[WOLFPACK]

AND I AM SORRY MY CONSCIENCE CALLED IN SICK AGAIN

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Wolfpack let the nickname hang there for a beat, his ear twitching as if debating whether to swat or smirk. He was tempted to keep up the hard-ass deputy persona, to run the other ragged until they were limping back to camp on paws too sore to hold their own weight, but the truth was that Flamerunner hadn't really pissed him off enough throughout the day to bother with it. Sure, that mouth of theirs never seemed to stop, but they hadn't shied away from any of the work. In fact, the stubborn thing had kept up at almost every turn, proving Wolfpacks theory that there was competence beneath that immaturity.

So he let his shoulders relax just a bit instead of snapping a warning at them, mismatched gaze shifting sideways with a considering look. As a deputy, he wanted every cog in the machine doing it's job. As a cat, he was selfish in his indulgences. And Flamerunner was temptation if he'd ever met it, nothing but mischief on his tongue while saying things like get to know each other.

He recognized the switch in tone toward the end, but he'd never known what to do with the concerns of others. Didn't understand why he mattered. If he dropped dead tomorrow there'd be someone else to fill his spot and keep the clan going, just like there'd be someone to fill Sablestars role once he was stripped of his remaining lives. The idea that he mattered to others beyond the realm of keeping them fed and safe was difficult to manifest.

"I know my limits, bright eyes. If you want to make life easier for me, I can think of more effective ways than worrying about how much rest I'm getting." he replied, voice still maintaining a lack of sharpness, seemingly not longer interested in truly reprimanding them for their behavior.

Fuck it. He was off the clock anyways.

When it came to getting Wolf to 'relax', it didn't really exist outside of sleep and the brief moments of waiting that existed in between patrols, training, and deputy obligations. Marbleshine and Jadethorn had the right idea though, despite they're very different approaches. Marbleshine made life easier through simple but effective gestures that Wolf didn't have to do himself, like making him nests or grooming his fur after a long day. And Jadethorn– well, she was currently in the nursery with his kits so it was pretty obvious what they'd gotten up to.

""Fine," he relented. "Since you managed to keep up pretty well today, if you can make it up there without slipping, we'll call it a day. Maybe I'll even let you call me 'Wolfy' again." The smirk and challenging glint that accompanied the words was as much of an opening as the warrior could hope to get from him.

Because at the end of the day, he could think of worse ways to ends his day other than lounging in a dead monster with Flamerunner.

---

​

OOC NOTES . ◭ . CHARACTER INFO

• ooc : —​
• shadowclan deputy - male - a large, black & blue chimera with moderate white splashing, mismatched eyes, and several scars.

 

[Flamerunner Flamerunner]

Run boy run! The sun will be guiding you
Run boy run! They're dying to stop you
Run boy run! This race is a prophecy
Run boy run! Break out from society

.

" Bright eyes, huh? Aww, did they captivate you? Are they shinin', Wolfy? " he purred, a wide, fanged grin curling his muzzle as he puffed out his chest in mock pride. His tone was light and teasing, though his blue eyes glimmered with genuine warmth. He was pretty sure Wolfpack was right about one thing, the deputy knew his own limits. And it wasn't like Flamerunner was going to start coddling the massive tom, Wolfpack had proven more than once that he could handle himself. A force to be reckoned with, through and through.

He wondered, briefly, what ShadowClan would look like with him leading it. Now that was a thought for another day.

" Yes sir, mister deputy, sir. " he drawled, his voice thick with mischief. He bounded forward a few paces, brushing lightly against Wolfpack's shoulder as his grin widened. " You can tell me a bit more about yourself, you know. All I've learned so far is that you're fierce, no-nonsense, and have some very fine looks. " His laugh was low, rumbling like distant thunder as he flicked his tail beneath the tom's chin in a teasing gesture. " Maybe, just maybe, we'll even get to know each other a bit. Almost scary, innit? " he joked, flashing a wink before dashing toward the tree and leaping up--

Only to immediately regret it.

He'd misjudged his jump, badly. Whether it was from exhaustion or distraction ( and stars knew which was more likely ), his paws slipped against the bark and he dropped back down with a graceless thud. His tail fluffed up, and for a brief second he looked genuinely startled, before that easy grin snapped right back into place. " You know what... " he said, tone smooth as ever despite the mishap. " How about you go first, huh? I could definitely learn a few tricks from ya. " His grin sharpened as he flicked an ear. " And, y'know, it'd give me something real nice to look at while I learn. "

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

33 MOONS

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SHADOWCLANNER

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SONG

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bio

 

[WOLFPACK]

AND I AM SORRY MY CONSCIENCE CALLED IN SICK AGAIN

______________________________________________________________________​

"It takes more than pretty eyes to captivate a cat like me, Flame." he replied, amusement threaded through his words while he watched the flame points performance– the puffed chest, sharp grin, and emboldened confidence that quickly turned into eager obedience as they brushed past him to bound toward the tree.

Wolfpack listened to them chatter as they went, asking again– more earnestly this time– about the two of them getting to know each other, stating they only knew the basics about him. Which, honestly, was more than the deputy could say in return. He knew the warriors name and that they'd been a colony cat, and that was about it.

The answer sitting on his tongue was nearly forgotten though when the other cat botched the jump right in front of him, Wolfpack didn't bother to silence the quiet snort that escaped him, or the genuine chuckle that followed. "Graceful." he called, the word rich with dry humor as he stepped forward to take the others place. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood, otherwise I'd make you try that again until you figured it out."

Instead, he let the other 'enjoy their view' as he began the climb.

"And if you wanted to know more about me, you could have asked moons ago. It's not a secret or anything." he made his way up– not as smoothly or quickly as a Skyclan cat might have, but with enough ease to suggest it wasn't his first time climbing this particular tree. He didn't even hesitate when sipping into the monster caught within its gnarled branches, making himself comfortable.

It was only when Flamerunner managed to get themselves up after him, that Wolfpack decided to reward him with some answers. " I was born in one of these. My mother found an entire field of them, just empty husks like this that were left there to rot. I didn't even realize they were living things that could wake up and move around– not until she started bringing me around with her when I was a bit older and I saw a thunderpath for the first time."

---

​

OOC NOTES . ◭ . CHARACTER INFO

• ooc : —​
• shadowclan deputy - male - a large, black & blue chimera with moderate white splashing, mismatched eyes, and several scars.