Territory RC that which is now hath already been ✦ torrent

[Galepaw Galepaw]

{$title} gale and torrent have some fun hanging out (warning for potential drowning mentions!!)

—————————————————— Rocked by an endless motion ✦

He was alone, as he ought to be. Gale never often sought out the company of others, though not out of any particular dislike of other cats. It simply didn't think about it, didn't consider that other cats existed outside of his own narrow scape whenever he was alone. And he was happy, more than content to exist alone—the world was interesting enough on its own to keep him occupied. The fluffy tom laid easily beside the rushing water of the river, but his blue eyes were trained not on the river, but on the fish between his front paws.

By all accounts, it was an unremarkable catch. A small herring, good for a meal but not much else. Gale was little focused on the value of the catch as a food item, rather instead on the pale, vaguely iridescent scales peppering the sides of the fish. With gentle surgical precision, the tom carefully shimmied a thin claw under a scale, severing the little connective tissue that held it on. Then, he carefully brushed the scale to the side, instead focusing on popping another scale off the flesh. And another. And another.

By now, his fur was all but entirely dried from his earlier lone fishing expedition, and a small pile of shimmering scales was slowly collecting beside him. He still worked tirelessly, and the fish was pristine and free from any marring from an uncareful claw.

—————Whether truth or just a story

It's not up to you—————

• @Torrentpaw come. get your boy
• 
  Galepaw
  ✦—Riverclan Apprentice | 8 Moons
  ✦—He/They/It
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A fluffy high white lynx point with curled ears and deep blue eyes
  #87878E #BAB2AC

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENTPAW -

Not some average bones, I believe in love!

.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡

Breaking away from his hunting patrol as they split up to cover more ground, Torrentpaw's gaze was suddenly pulled towards a bright shape that sat along the river's edge. Ears perking, he instantly recognized the pelt of his friend, Galepaw. It wasn't unusual for the tom to be alone in the territory, so the sight was far from concerning. Paws carrying him quicker across the ground, he leaped into the open against the riverbank where the other apprentice was settled.

"Hi Galepaw!" He meowed, expression bright as his gaze fell on the other. "Mind if I fish with you?" He asked, padding closer but not yet seeing the bare fish between his paws. "Littlebrook has been teaching me to dive, and–" He cut off, body halting as his eyes had finally travelled to Galepaw's catch.

Torrentpaw's gaze flashed towards the pile of scales, then back to Galepaw's fish as his whiskers twitched in curiosity and a bit of confusion. He watched as the tom ever so carefully and delicately slid his claw under another scale, before prying it out and laying it down on top of the others.

Interest fully piqued, Torrentpaw crept as close as he could to get the best look, lowering his head and body next to Galepaw's. He gently sniffed the pile of scales, blinking as one had blown and tumbled from the wind of his exhale.

"Sorry!" Torrentpaw meowed, instantly drawing his body up to a sitting position. Whatever this was, he didn't want to mess it up.

"Does that make the fish taste better or something?" He asked after a moment, tilting his head to the side as his eyes flickered with wonder at the other apprentice's work.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ You can't change me ⟡ You can't hide me‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• ⟡ OOC -
  
  
•  
• Torrentpaw
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | Riverclan Apprentice
  
  ⟡
  "speech" - text - thoughts
  
  ⟡
  Mentored by Pineheart
  
  ⟡
  A rosetted charcoal Bengal.
  
  ⟡
  Has a sturdy build with a large head and paws, and short thick fur.
  
  ⟡
  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
  ⟡
  Usually seen with Squid

 

[Galepaw Galepaw]

—————————————————— Rocked by an endless motion ✦

The only indication of surprise Gale let out at the sudden appearance of his friend was the light raising of his eyebrows as his gaze momentarily flicked up. "Hello, Torrent." It hummed in response, blue eyes returning to the repetitive task at paw. The tom didn't look up again as the familiar bengal drew closer, though the speed at which he was descaling the fish slowed considerably. He did enjoy Torrent's company, to be sure—well, as much as he could enjoy someone's company. The fellow apprentice was cheery, bright, a welcome unpredictability to his life where he otherwise would have repeated the same things over and over. Gale couldn't help but enjoy the way the tom derailed his days, a stubborn rock in the usual flow of his hours.

"I don't see why not." Gale chimed in, brushing another glittering scale to the side, not caring to wait and see if it made its way into the pile or not. The tom listened with slightly perked ears as Torrent rambled, tilting his head slightly in curiosity, though his eyes never left the fish. "Learning to Dive, now, that sounds fun." He responded quietly, with not much emotion inflected into his voice—but the corners of his mouth perked up all the same.

At the apprentice's sudden pausing, though, the tom cast a sideways look at him in interest. Gale watched as Torrent drew closer to the accumulated pile of shimmering scales, and closer, and closer, until a single fragile scale tumbled from the gathered pile. "Hm." The tom hummed, setting the nearly entirely scaleless herring down gently. With a gentle paw, Galepaw carefully reached over the pile and retrieved the wayward scale—but instead of replacing it in it's rightful spot, the lynx point reached further, depositing it gently on one of Torrent's massive paws. "You know I don't mind." The tom assured him softly, returning his vibrant blue gaze back to the forgotten herring at his paws.

He had to pause at Torrent's final question, though. "...Well, I can't say I can tell a difference." Gale mused, turning the long-dead thing over in his paw curiously. It didn't look all that different, though the particular sort of sheen he was after had definitely dulled. The kaleidoscope of colors that still remained glinted at him dully, as though enticing him to continue picking until there was nothing but fragile skin left. "No, I'm much more interested in the scales." The tom gestured gently at the pile, careful to not make a gust of air with his movements. "Pretty little things, aren't they?"

—————Whether truth or just a story

It's not up to you—————

• @Torrentpaw
• 
  Galepaw
  ✦—Riverclan Apprentice | 8 Moons
  ✦—He/They/It
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A fluffy high white lynx point with curled ears and deep blue eyes
  #87878E #BAB2AC

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENTPAW -

Not some average bones, I believe in love!

.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡

Torrentpaw turned the scale over in his paw, hooking it with a claw before drawing it to his face to inspect it closer. He was delighted at Galepaw's gesture–and he was right–it was pretty, glimmering as the sun washed over its surface. Torrentpaw's gaze travelled back towards Galepaw, watching him as he turned the fish over between his paws. He let out a soft purr, a smile still plastered across his muzzle. He admired his friend's keen eye for detail, and especially that he shared that part of himself with him.

"Very!" He agreed, giving his friend an enthusiastic nod. Torrentpaw then leaped to his paws, a sudden burst of energy as he hopped over Galepaw before creeping closer to the river's edge. His eyes scanned the surface as it flowed calmly with the breeze, seeking to test out his new diving technique. Torrentpaw knew Galepaw would be honest about his progress, as Pineheart was, so it would be good to practice in front of him.

"Watch this." He meowed, eyes burning brightly as they locked onto a fish that swam around the shallow part of the river. Torrentpaw readied his body, balancing his weight on his paws as his tail flicked back and forth in excitement.

Before his paws could leave the bank, a sudden thrashing tore his attention away from his prey, eyes travelling up the water as they fell onto a bundle of soaked fur. Rising out of a crouch, Torrentpaw quickly stepped forward, paws nearly slipping into the water as he tried to get a better look at whatever had fallen into the river. It pawed at the water wildly, as if it was trying to grip onto something that just wasn't there. The water that splashed around the creature made it hard to make out what exactly it was, but it was obvious that it had no experience swimming.

"Galepaw, look--Is that a kit?" He took a pawstep into the water, voice quickened with urgency as his body tensed to jump into the river at any second.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ You can't change me ⟡ You can't hide me‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• ⟡ OOC -
  
  
•  
• Torrentpaw
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | Riverclan Apprentice
  
  ⟡
  "speech" - text - thoughts
  
  ⟡
  Mentored by Pineheart
  
  ⟡
  A rosetted charcoal Bengal.
  
  ⟡
  Has a sturdy build with a large head and paws, and short thick fur.
  
  ⟡
  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
  ⟡
  Usually seen with Squid

 

[Galepaw Galepaw]

—————————————————— Rocked by an endless motion ✦

Ah, there was that happy grin the tom had hoped for. Gale watched as Torrent inspected the little scale carefully, the iridescence sparkling in his companion's golden eyes. It was charming seeing how the little thing delighted him so... perhaps it'd collect the rest of the scales, tuck them into the other's nest instead—

Galepaw let out a gentle Mrrph! of surprise as there was a sudden blur of charcoal fur, the cat that had been sitting next to him instead flying to his feet and sailing overhead. Gale raised a little brow in curiosity, studying the form of the other as he stalked the glints in the water below. 'Perhaps he could catch another fish... would be nice to make a day of collecting scales...' He hardly paid attention to the dead creature in his paws anymore, claws sheathed back in gentle paws. He'd much rather observe life than do anything, and thankfully Torrentpaw was an interesting enough source of entertainment. It was more than happy to just watch him.

Galepaw's eyes were drawn to the thrashing just mere seconds before the other's, and for a moment the cruel fate of the creature flashed in his mind. "Mm... as the river does...' Gale mused to himself quietly, returning his eyes to—TORRENTPAW NO!

With a flurry of movement, the tom burst to his feet. Gale simply just reacted, the sudden adrenaline carrying him straight at the poised-to-strike tom. The scales scattered beneath his paws, glittering in an unseen display of beauty as he crashed into the other. The impact knocked his breath out of him, and for a dizzying moment they found themselves winded.

"Don't—" The apprentice gasped, a strange whine to his voice that was just short of begging. "The water- The water's strong." As though it were some poor bird trapped in a cat's claws, its heart hammered against his ribs with anxiety. His mind swirled like the rapids ahead of them, painting pictures of long ago. Images of death, of the tide pulling his sister under, pulling his mother—and never letting go, throwing the poor body around like some dog with its prey. The tom pressed his blue eyes tightly shut, trying to dispel such thoughts... particularly when the body was no longer of those he had long since forgotten, but instead of the tom beneath his paws. The thought of seeing his ... seeing Torrent's dark fur become strewn about the shallows further down the way ... Galepaw swallowed heavily, forcing down something wretched that burned the back of his throat.

"It's strong." He echoed miserably, eyes still closed intently. It couldn't see the water, not now. "Stronger than you."

—————Whether truth or just a story

It's not up to you—————

• 
  Galepaw
  ✦—Riverclan Apprentice | 8 Moons
  ✦—He/They/It
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A fluffy high white lynx point with curled ears and deep blue eyes
  #87878E #BAB2AC

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENTPAW -

Not some average bones, I believe in love!

.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡

Just before he could jump into the river ahead of them, his body staggered to the side as weight crashed into him, gripping earth beneath his paws as he steadied himself from toppling into the water. Torrentpaw whipped his head around, wondering what could have stopped him with such a force at a time like this.

He blinked in surprise, eyes darting over Galepaw's face as he stood in front of him, his expression holding fear that he had never once seen displayed by the tom. He parted his jaws to protest, but was quickly left jaw-dropped as the other apprentice practically begged him to stay put. Torrentpaw's eyes continued to search Galepaw's, bewilderment causing his brow to lift with concern. Did Galepaw realize what he was saying? To condemn another cat to die? To just sit back and watch?

Impatience caused his fur to prickle with unease, his eyes darting back to the bundle of fur that continued to thrash its small paws against the water as it threatened to pull its body down. He gritted his teeth, there just wasn't time for this.

Torrentpaw gazed back at his friend, an apologetic look flashing in his eyes.

"You have to trust me." Was all he managed to blurt out, before crashing hastily into the river ahead of him.

Water swirled around his body as he submerged, flowing through his fur and filling his ears as his head went under. Opening his eyes with jaws fur of air, Torrentpaw's eyes darted across the surface, freezing as they locked onto the kit. Torrentpaw had hardly realized that despite what he had originally believed, the creature didn't look like a kitten at all. Its hind paws were long, and they displayed tiny claws that had the inability to be sheathed.

Kicking strongly against the river as it tugged against his body, Torrentpaw's head breached the surface, violently shaking the water away from his eyes as his paws treaded rapidly. He struggled to keep his balance, finding it difficult to keep his body upright in place to grasp the "kit" between his jaws.

With one last desperate kick of his hind legs, Torrentpaw lunged forward, plucking the creature from its struggle as he lifted its scruff into the air. His eyes flashed with relief as he felt its fur between his teeth, moving it around to get a stronger grip before turning back towards the direction of the riverbank. His muscles screamed, growing tired from swimming in place with no place to stand and rest his limbs.

Without another moment's hesitation, Torrentpaw started towards the edge of the river where galepaw stood, his head held high in an attempt to not dip the creature's own head into the water. The bundle of fur remained still in his grasp, exhausted from its fight against the river. Though it's chest still heaved rapidly against Torrentpaw's.

By the time Torrentpaw reached the pebbly shore of the riverbank, his speed had slowed significantly, body exhausted from combatting the strength of the water. He pulled himself onto the rocks, water dripping from his pelt as it painted the stones. He stood, catching his breath with the kit between his jaws, not daring to let go.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ You can't change me ⟡ You can't hide me‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• ⟡ OOC -
  
  
•  
• Torrentpaw
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | Riverclan Apprentice
  
  ⟡
  "speech" - text - thoughts
  
  ⟡
  Mentored by Pineheart
  
  ⟡
  A rosetted charcoal Bengal.
  
  ⟡
  Has a sturdy build with a large head and paws, and short thick fur.
  
  ⟡
  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
  ⟡
  Usually seen with Squid

 

[Galepaw Galepaw]

—————————————————— Rocked by an endless motion ✦

The tom didn't even get the chance to reply to the other, to assure him that yes, of course he trusted him. It trusted him far too much, far too easily—and it knew that trust was a fickle thing. As much as he trusted Torrentpaw, he equally trusted the rushing river beside them to be violent, unforgiving, and an impartial judge. Gale knew it far too well, had experienced it for himself, and yet he was powerless to stop it. They could almost feel themselves lost in the torrent, water pulling at his fur hungrily, tearing breaths from a weak mouth. He was powerless to stop Torrentpaw as he watched him look away, bright eyes flashing with lively determination. He was powerless to look away as he disappeared beneath the waves, seeming to take Galepaw's pounding heart with him.

He had nothing to do but watch, sick with the anxiety that hammered in his chest, head spinning as he watched with wide blue eyes and listened with pinned ears. By all means, the little rescue mission went well—but of course, Gale would have rathered it had not happened in the first place. His joints felt stiff, as he had frozen in place while he watched Torrent battle the tides, grabbing the slimy little thing with far too much care for the situation, and fought his way back to shore. Galepaw was entirely still for a moment, as though it barely believed that his fellow apprentice had crossed the rapids without losing. The water hadn't taken him, hadn't taken the sopping wet little thing clutched in his jaws, and couldn't possibly take him now. So why, why did his chest still scream with the effort of moving? Why did it cry with something hot, something desperate, something of a cat far smaller than he was now? A shuddered breath fell from his maw as he blinked away something hot brimming at the corners of his eyes, and finally the tom moved forth.

Galepaw started forward just as Torrent reached the land, hurrying to his friend's side and guiding him with gentle pressure, pressing his shoulder into the others until he was clear from the shallows. Gale drew away as the darker tom stumbled, uneasy and tired from the battle against nature itself. He studied his body closely, eyes falling on the chest that still rose and fell. Thank the stars, it still rose and fell. The lynxpoint swallowed uneasily, fighting for a calmer breath. He had at least saved the thing, saved the—Gale stiffened as his blue eyes fell upon the ragged thing, with a body that was far shorter than any cats he had seen, beady little awful eyes and lips parted as it gasped for air, showing off long, blunt teeth.

"Torrent..." The tom whispered, his own exhaustion clear on his face. He stood in silence for a few beats of his heart, still fighting for control of his lungs. Finally, he squeaked something out. "A squirrel." Gale said weakly. "You risked death for a squirrel." So it goes.

—————Whether truth or just a story

It's not up to you—————

• 
  Galepaw
  ✦—Riverclan Apprentice | 8 Moons
  ✦—He/They/It
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A fluffy high white lynx point with curled ears and deep blue eyes
  #87878E #BAB2AC

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENTPAW -

Not some average bones, I believe in love!

.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡

Torrentpaw closed his eyes momentarily, a smile forming across the sides of his muzzle as his friend supported his weight. "Thank you, Galepaw." He mumbled around the brown fur between his jaws. Torrentpaw's gaze followed Galepaw's frame as the pointed tom moved in front of him, water dripping from his whiskers.

"Is it okay?" Torrentpaw meowed, an edge to his tone as he watched Galepaw stiffen. He knew it couldn't be dead; he could feel its tiny body breathing and wriggling against his own. So what was that look on Galepaw's face? What was wrong? Torrentpaw lifted a paw, an attempt to step forward towards his friend, with urgency to spit out whatever it was. Then he froze.

"What?" Torrentpaw meowed, surprise in his mew. He quickly lowered his head, setting the wet scrap of fur onto the earth. Quickly padding around to face it beside Galepaw, he blinked in surprise, crouching forward to sniff the small creature, drops of water falling onto the stones in front of it.

For a moment, he was speechless, adrenaline beginning to ebb from his body. The young squirrel didn't attempt to run, despite the two predators that stared down at it. It was obvious that the squirrel was far too exhausted, regardless of the fear that glinted in its eyes. Torrentpaw swallowed before exchanging a worrisome glance with Galepaw.

"We can't kill it." He meowed at once, before Galepaw had the chance to suggest anything at all. "It's too small to fill any cat's belly, we should tuck it away somewhere safe–or set it into a tree?" Torrentpaw suggested, eyes scanning the territory around them as to look for more ideas of where to set the near-drowned creature.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ You can't change me ⟡ You can't hide me‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• ⟡ OOC -
  
  
•  
• Torrentpaw
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | Riverclan Apprentice
  
  ⟡
  "speech" - text - thoughts
  
  ⟡
  Mentored by Pineheart
  
  ⟡
  A rosetted charcoal Bengal.
  
  ⟡
  Has a sturdy build with a large head and paws, and short thick fur.
  
  ⟡
  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
  ⟡
  Usually seen with Squid

 

[Galepaw Galepaw]

—————————————————— Rocked by an endless motion ✦

It couldn't deny the sopping weight of his friend comforted him, comforted that awful, flitting thing in his chest. He was alive, and so was Gale, and they were together—nothing had gone wrong, nothing had happened... he could almost forget what went down, the roaring waters, the... The tom swallowed, closing his deep blue eyes tightly in response to the vision flashing by in his mind. Of the possibilities, of him seeing Torrent for the last time before losing him as he were, losing the heart that now beat alongside his. The absurdity of the situation... while it wasn't exactly a comfort, it was a distraction, and the tom latched to it greedily.

At Torrent's inquiry of the health of the little thing, Gale answered with a little shrug. "Hard to say...." It muttered, squinting in silent judgement at the raggedy squirrel that had now been set on the floor. It didn't even look particularly appealing, more disease-ridden than anything... though he supposed that it was hard to look healthy after being tossed about the river. Silence hung heavy in the air, a stunned, bewildered quiet. Torrent was the first to break it, and Gale looked at him in curiosity. Of course, the damned fool had a bleeding heart for the little things, so Gale never expected much else from him... but he couldn't in good conscience say he disliked it. Rather, it was one of the intimately humanizing things about his friend, and Gale wouldn't trade it for the world.

Still, it was hard to disregard the squirrel with nothing more than abject, uneasy curiosity, considering the danger that had been risked for the life. "...Can't be somewhere in a tree." He muttered after a moment, meeting the other's warm eyes. "It would not fare well against birds, much less be able to grasp to the branches... Perhaps some brush?" In all honesty, the tom was never much experienced with the happenings of these strange rat-like creatures, as the prey he often sought after were far more... scaled, and he hardly came upon them on the land. For all they knew, abandoning it within the shrubbery could be a death sentence. So it goes.

"If the little thing does survive, there is sure to be some beast that will happen upon it later... though I suppose that may be the kindest fate." It tried to not picture Torrent falling to the same fate once more, but his mind often wandered down paths such as those. All the same, he tried to shake off the thought with a wince.

—————Whether truth or just a story

It's not up to you—————

• 
  Galepaw
  ✦—Riverclan Apprentice | 8 Moons
  ✦—He/They/It
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A fluffy high white lynx point with curled ears and deep blue eyes
  #87878E #BAB2AC

 

[Torrentpaw]

- TORRENTPAW -

Not some average bones, I believe in love!

.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⟡

Torrentpaw's gaze travelled back to Galepaw as he spoke, his body seeming to deflate slightly in ease at his friend's levelheadedness. "Good idea," He began, nodding softly. He chose not to comment on Galepaw's following statement, appreciating his friend's attempt to comfort him nonetheless.

"What bush do you think is best?" Torrentpaw continued, as he leaned forward to scoop up the tiny creature in his jaws once more. Though before he could reach it, the sudden stillness of its body made the young tom freeze. Torrentpaw blinked, his tail falling against the earth as a sad realization crept into his gaze.

"Galepaw, it's…" He stammered, outstretching a careful, gentle paw to lift the squirrel's head that had slumped onto its side. "It's not breathing anymore." Torrentpaw meowed, drawing his paw away slowly to let it rest back onto the stones. He stared at it for a moment, his initial sadness turning to grief as it surged through his chest.

What if it had truly been a kit? Or even a clanmate?

The sudden thought sent a jolt of guilt from inside his heart, making it thump louder against his ribcage.

"I didn't save it." Torrentpaw breathed, his gaze never drawing from the creature that lay still at his paws.

Why couldn't I save it?

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ You can't change me ⟡ You can't hide me‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

• ⟡ OOC -
  
  
•  
• Torrentpaw
  ‎ ‎ He/Him | Riverclan Apprentice
  
  ⟡
  "speech" - text - thoughts
  
  ⟡
  Mentored by Pineheart
  
  ⟡
  A rosetted charcoal Bengal.
  
  ⟡
  Has a sturdy build with a large head and paws, and short thick fur.
  
  ⟡
  Holds a zealous and determined demeanor.
  
  ⟡
  Usually seen with Squid

 

[Galepaw Galepaw]

—————————————————— Rocked by an endless motion ✦

The tension calming soothed Gale, and he found his fluffed fur falling in kind with Torrent's. "Someplace dry... somewhere hidden and dark." He mused, thinking to himself in silence. Wherever it would lay, there was certainly a risk of death, but it could surely be mitigated... that is, until he noticed the falling expression on Torrent's face, and his eyes followed his silent movements as he nudged the squirrel. What life that had been there had extinguished, drawn away with its final breath. It had died, and there was nothing the two could do to prevent it. So it goes.

A mournful silence hung in the air as Gale watched Torrent carefully, the expression on the poor cat's face twisting something inside of him. The apprentice cared about the squirrel in the same way he cared about the birds around him, the grass under his feet—an ambivalent appreciation, but nothing more... but Torrent needed more than that now, and Gale was never one to disregard his call. "There is nothing beautiful about death." The tom said gently, with a solemn, far-too-knowing tone to his voice. "There is nothing bold, nothing incredible, nothing but a simple end of things... but that can't be said about the act." Gale, ever aware of his own body, sidled up beside the familiar warmth of his friend. Gently, ever so gently, he pressed his head against the other, long legs lining up with the others in an utterly inseparable way. "This death was not written by fear, but of safety. A rest that follows such a fight..." It hummed gently, musing over the circumstances with as much kindness as he could muster. The young cat was well versed in death, but could never say he was adapted to it. There was no adapting to the end of things, just a stepping back and moving on. It is what he did, anyway, but it did not stop the ache in his chest then, and it would not stop the ache in Torrentpaw's chest now.

"I would say that is a kindness, to die in the comforting gaze of another." Galepaw bumped his head gently against Torrent's chin as he crouched, reaching out a small paw to brush against the little body with surprising gentleness. The lynxpoint caressed it, the cold of the water touching his pawpads with a shock, and he hummed to himself gently. It was dead, that much could be seen, but it had far from rotted. The flesh was still fresh despite the gloss in the eyes, but there was no primalistic hunger that called him to regard it with such reverence. No, it was simply the demonstration at play, the sacrifice, the love his friend had bestowed upon something so small... "Do not regret this profession of love for the little things. Death had it's eyes on the poor thing, but you have made it a comfort, not a terror."

"The sorrow is real." Galepaw muttered gently, though his eyes did not pull away from the squirrel as he scooped a gentle paw underneath it. It was a pitiful thing, slumped in his paw, and he regarded it with a sort of muted curiosity. "...And it will continue, but do not let it fester unwelcomed. Greet it as a friend, Torrentpaw." Finally, he took the body and pushed it further towards the charcoal-colored tom, his movements smooth and devoid of shaking. His eyes looked up, blue eyes meeting gold ones. There was no pity there, but understanding. "This is your grief to bear, and I cannot understand it, but I will hold it for you." His head tilted, his gaze inquisitive but not demanding. "It trusted its life with you, and thus it trusts its death with you. Wherever you decide it shall rest, I will assist in the endeavor."

—————Whether truth or just a story

It's not up to you—————

• 
  Galepaw
  ✦—Riverclan Apprentice | 8 Moons
  ✦—He/They/It
  ✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
  ✦—A fluffy high white lynx point with curled ears and deep blue eyes
  #87878E #BAB2AC