Camp RiverClan What the Current Carried Back // adder

[Wavesong]

And that's why we share all we have with you
Though there's little to be found
When all you've got is nothing
There's a lot to go around

.

She had arrived at the tail end of the meeting, herbs clutched tightly between her jaws. So many had stormed off... Frustration, disappointment, and bitterness thick in the air. She remembered how proud she'd been just moments before, returning with herbs she'd worked so hard to find. A small victory in the aftermath of ShadowClan's cruelty. She had been determined to help rebuild what they had lost. But now… She'd joined Peachtrot first, helping sort the herbs and offering a quiet presence. Adderfang had been left in Pineheart's care for a little while, but eventually, her paws itched to be near him. Her heart did, too.

With a soft breath, she finally padded toward where her mate sat, battered but upright. This wasn't how things were supposed to be. This shadow that hung over RiverClan, why had they let ShadowClan stain everything they'd stood for? The river healed. The river gave. Yes, sometimes the river took, but it was patient. Gentle. Powerful. She fluffed her fur, trying to gather that same calm within herself before stepping forward.

Without a word, she pressed a wad of wet moss to one of the deeper wounds on his shoulder, cleaning it carefully but firmly. " Stay still. " she said with a frown, voice clipped in that way it only was when she was truly worried. And upset. Silence stretched between them for a few heartbeats, her attention fixed on his wounds, searching for signs of infection, for signs of anything worse. Then finally, she broke it.

" …Heard you lost your temper at the council meeting. " she murmured, not accusing, just... tired. " Heard you said quite a bit. But I'd rather hear it from your own mouth. " Her ocean-blue eyes flicked up to meet his, catching his gaze and holding it for a long, quiet moment.

" …Adder… "

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

37 MOONS

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RIVERCLANNER

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SONG

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bio

 

[Adderfang]

His head doesn't lift when he hears her approach. Adderfang knows instantly—he could pick out her steps in a crowd of a thousand—but he can't look at her. Can't bring himself to meet her eyes. Something in him coils tight when her scent hits his nose.

He was relieved to see her again, especially after how desperately he'd fought to be back at her side. Wavesong—his love, his entire world. But as her breath brushes his fur, shame burns hot on his cheeks. The moss presses cold and clean against his wounds. He grimaces, head turned the other way, tired eyes fixed on the ripple of the nearby stream.

He hates it—how tired she sounds. How much weight has settled on her shoulders, and how little he's done to ease it. The toms tattered ears flick when she brings up the council meeting, and his eyes close for a beat longer than a blink.

Sure, he hadn't exactly been quiet voicing his disapproval. None of them were. That whole meeting had been a damn joke. More of a spitting match than a discussion. Their whole situation was a joke right now. Things had gotten so bad, even he didn't know what to do anymore.

Adderfang turns, weathered eyes meeting hers. The sharpness in his gaze softens and his throat tightens. "I said a lot, but so did everyone else hun."

He sighs, wincing slightly as it pulls across his ribs. "Besides, ain't nothin' from that meeting worth repeating." That answer won't suffice. He knows that. Adder loves her to the sea and back, but he meant every word of what was said at the meeting. He won't yield on it, not when her and their kits' safety is concerned. After what ShadowClan did... After what Pikestar said and what he was letting happen to their clan. Adderfang couldn't let that slide.

"I know how it probably looked—like some fool throwin' a tantrum. Even I'll admit that there were some things said that would've been better left out." He lowers his eyes to his paws, nose wrinkling.

Pike, the bastard. Least now he got to hear the truth right from the silverfish's mouth—what he thought of him, of the whole council. Why even keep them around if he just wanted puppets to nod along to every word? He clearly did want the 'council', he thought he did. Chose him for his harshness, did he? Well then, he shouldn't be surprised when he gets what he paid for.

Then there was Jinglemoon. Adderfang still didn't like the way Pikestar had favored him and alienated the rest of them. There were some things that maybe he could admit Jinglemoon was right about. Adderfang knew he'd gone too far involving Rainpaw. The tom was only being a good friend to Wavesong, but for the life of him, he couldn't let it go. Yes, Jingemoon was doing his job, but scolding him like a kit in front of the whole council? Threatening to chaperone him for patrols when he hardly had any business bein' there himself? Much of what Jinglemoon did was owed respect, but he had no right to be tellin' anyone, least of all him, what he could and could not do.

He would do damn well whatever he had to, that's what he'd do.

"Maybe… I was a bit harsh about some of it." He sighs loudly, "But I said what needed bein' said and I won't apologize for speaking my mind."

___________________ There wasn't a wrong or a right he could choose 𓆟 He did what he had to do ________________

• "speech" - thoughts
  
  

• 

• Adderfang he/him & riverclan
  𓆟 Chocolate ticked tabby w/ amber eyes. Peppered with scars. Deep gash across the right side of his face exposing one canine slightly. Missing left ear.
  𓆟 Deep gravelly voice that might unsettle others.
  𓆟 Would and will kill a man.
  𓆟 Peaceful and healing powerplay permitted. For other powerplays, DM.
  𓆟 Fur smells faintly of river reeds and damp earth.
  
  
  penned by Scarlet​

 

[Wavesong]

And that's why we share all we have with you
Though there's little to be found
When all you've got is nothing
There's a lot to go around

.

Wavesong remained quiet, letting the silence fall from her as she listened to her mate speak. She watched him with eyes that listened, with ears that were perked forward to catch every syllable tossed her way. Drinking in his words and trying to gave them a place, to understand what had transpired and how she could help with this. She knew him, knew the way he refused to look to her... Like he was ready to get scolded, or felt ashamed. His body language always told her all she needed to know.

Her paw, damp from the moss, gently lingered against the wound she was tending. Then, just as gently, she pressed her forehead to his, closing her eyes for a breath. " I didn't hear everythin'... " she said finally, voice quiet and low, like water trickling through reeds. " Just caught th' tail end… th' echoes of it, when every cat was leavin'. Angry voices. Raised tails. I'd gone to fetch herbs, y'see. Thought I'd restock th' den fer poor Jinglebells... Make m'self useful, since everyone seemed ready to shred each other's ears off. "

She drew back, just enough to look at him properly. Her eyes were soft, but the sea in them didn't waver. " I know ye, Adderfang. Know what burns in that chest o' yers. Ye speak with yer heart first and yer head after. Sometimes it helps… sometimes it hurts. " She paused, letting her paw slide down from his cheek to his shoulder. " I ain't here ta scold ye, love. Or t'coddle ye... I just... " her voice caught slightly, a furrow creasing her brow. " I just worry. Not just 'cause o' how things looked, but what it does t' ye, t'carry all that fire all th' time. I know ye don't mean t' burn me with it, or others... But I feel th' smoke when ye come back like this. Bloodied and tired and lookin' like th' river itself gave up tryin' t'hold ye together. "

She glanced toward the entrance of the den, then back to him. " I don't need ye t' apologize t'me fer speakin' yer truth. But... maybe next time, just leave some room for someone else to speak theirs too. The river don't rage t'be heard, it flows, and cats listen. " She leaned in again, pressing her nose to his cheek. " I would like t'believe ye mean well. Ye always have with me... That's why I love ye. But not all things that need doin' require teeth and thunder. Sometimes a whisper will do. "

Her lips quirked into a small, tired smile. " Still not happy about ye stormin' off like that, but I'm here, ain't I? Patchin' ye up again. " she meowed, giving a quick wink before a beat passed between them. " I reckon Pike was just tryin' t' hold things steady in his own way, too. Like ye were. Doesn't mean either of ye were right... or wrong. Just means we're all sinkin' in th' same river right now, tryin' to find which way is forward. " She gently tucked the last of the moss in place, brushing his fur flat around it with her paw.

" Just don't push me away, love. Not when I'm tryin' t'wade through it beside ye. "

Speech, thoughts/emphasis

37 MOONS

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RIVERCLANNER

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bio