{this is the story of a girl}open

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i41.tinypic.com/10xwx76.jpg] SHE couldn't take it. Not another minute. Not another word. Without thinking, Leafshadow lashed out, front paw connecting soundly with the side of another cat's head. A snarl of discontent followed her as the golden lioness whirled around and fled. Past her clanmates. Past staring apprentices and surprised warriors. Past her brothers. Out of camp and into the open plains. Muscles slid soundlessly along her strong bones as she ran without paying a single thought to the cat she'd just struck. He deserved it. Deserved that and more for all the things he said. He was almost as bad as Darkmane had been about hounding Leafshadow and her family about their loner roots. Who cared if they were born outside of the clan? She and her siblings hadn't even known until they'd almost been warriors! THE frustration burned in Leafshadow's veins and made her want to scream until someone in StarClan finally told her if they really belonged here. Maybe StarClan ignored them and would never answer? She'd never know. She was just a warrior. StarClan only bothered with leaders and medicine cats, sometimes special deputies. So she couldn't do anything but run. Thankfully it was something Leafshadow was good at. Running. She'd done it a lot once the truth came out, once Icestar confessed why Darkmane hated her and her family. That had been the worst day of Leafshadow's life and it hadn't ever gotten much better. Not really. Darkmane was gone but there were others like him, others that shared his view, that she and her brothers didn't belong and never would, saying StarClan frowned on them for existing in the clan territories. HER brothers, StarClan bless them, solved their problems with sharp tongues and claws, defensive on all fronts but Leafshadow couldn't be like that. She got hurt by their words, felt the sting of them as if they were claws digging into her fur. It hurt, more than the others possibly knew and sometimes she just got so tired of it she could do nothing but run away. So, that's what she did now. The ground was swallowed under her long strides until she reached the fringe of LionClan territory where plains gave way to rough scrubland with shaggy trees. Without really looking at which one she was about to jump into, she jumped. Her claws dug into the bark and she hauled herself up onto a branch. Leaves left odd dark patterns across her pelt as she laid herself on a branch. Crossing her front paws over one another, Leafshadow laid her head on them and stared at the territory she'd always called home through troubled amber eyes. She wanted her brothers to comfort her but knew they didn't know how. More than anything really, Leafshadow wanted one clanmate to come and tell her it was okay, that she belonged. She wanted that rock to lean on but as long as cats hounded her for her blood and badgered her brothers about their loyalties and reminded them time and time again of Dapplepaw, it would never happen. SOMETHING hard lodged itself in the back of Leafshadow's throat and stayed there, throbbing and aching as if she'd tried to swallow a rock. Burying her muzzle between her front paws, Leafshadow closed her eyes and tried to let the wind and sun soothe her sorrows. Over her, the branches of the tree waved placidly, her namesake dancing across her pelt. A crooked voice in her heart whispered that it would never be okay. Leafshadow tried her hardest to ignore it but it was nearly impossible after hearing it so many times over so many moons. They'd never be accepted. Dapplepaw had been proof of how far some cats would go to get rid of the loner-born in clans. Killed by her own mentor. Nobody but Icestar had believed Leafshadow's suspicion. Then again, Icestar had been wonderful, a true father to kits that had none. Of course he had believed. Now if anything happened to her or one of her brothers, Leafshadow was sure no one would raise a fuss. They'd say loners did it, that they ran away or that someone from another clan must have done it. Just because Darkmane was gone didn't mean anything. Others came to replace him, rearing their heads like cobras ready to strike. Leafshadow hated it. Hated the insecurity. She should be safe among her clanmates, not wondering which one would be her murderer or if they would come to help her in the heat of battle. TURNING her head to the side and opening her gold eyes, she looked out at the open plains. Misery swam in the depths of her eyes, misery and loneliness. "Somebody help me," Leafshadow whispered, hoping the wind would take her request to someone that cared. "Somebody...just tell me it's okay for me to be here. Even if it's a lie." HER eyes slid closed again and she was still on the branch, the wind caressing her pelt as if trying to apologize for her sorrows. Tagged;; open Word Count;; 876 Background Song;; "Absolutely" by Nine Days Notes;; NA

[Mara]

The day was perfect. The sun was high and shining down on LionClan with comfortable warmth. Suddenly, a roar broke the peace and Swiftstep, who was lounging on a large rock sunning himself, jerked awake from his shallow sleep. He was instantly alert, his amber eyes flaring with alarm as he struggled to work out the cause of the roar. Then he saw Leafshadow. She was fuming! He leaped off his rock and padded over to her quickly. "Leafshadow, wha-" It happened. She lashed out at him, claws out. Her claws tore across his face, leaving deep gashes from his right ear to his left upper lip. Four gashes. He roared with surprise as he stumbled from the blow. Regaining his balance, he shook his head, sending blood droplets flying. He raced after the lioness. He wasn't angry with her, though he knew he should have been. Finally, however, Swiftstep found her. She was in the plains looking utterly miserable. Swiftstep's heart squeezed with sympathy. He padded closer to her silently. 'Somebody help me,' She said. 'Somebody...just tell me it's okay for me to be here. Even if it's a lie.' He blinked in surprise and he wanted to comfort her, to lick her ear, or brush his muzzle against hers, anything to cheer her up. She belonged in LionClan, no matter what anyone said. He would fight the entire world for her to be happy. He would do it for anyone in his clan. But right now, it was just for her. "You do belong here, Leafshadow, in LionClan. And it is no lie. You were born in LionClan, you were meant to be here, or StarClan would've let you be kitted elsewhere." He padded up beside her, his right eye blinded by blood from her claws. It stung like a thousand angry bees stinging in him one spot, but he didn't care. His clan mate was troubled, and it killed him to see any one of LionClan like this. He waited for a response as the warm blood continued to trickle down his face.

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355 WORDS | COMPLETE | Leafshadow
LYRICS BY WILLY DEVILLE | TEMPLATE BY ARRO
Let the plot begin!

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[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i41.tinypic.com/10xwx76.jpg] LEAFSHADOW very nearly fell out of the tree in surprise when a voice rumbled from down below. 'You do belong here, Leafshadow, in LionClan. And it is no lie. You were born in LionClan, you were meant to be here, or StarClan would've let you be kitted elsewhere.' Head snapping up, light gold eyes open in surprise, the sleek lioness looked down. Standing under the tree was Swiftstep, the clan deputy. It took a moment for that little fact to register, such was her surprise, but it took another moment for her to really see what she was seeing. Swiftstep was looking up at her, his gaze open and honest...out of one eye. Leafshadow blinked in surprise. One of his eyes had a gash across it, three others slashed across his face. LIKE someone had... REALIZATION struck Leafshadow as if she'd been hit by lightning. Standing up on the branch, balancing perfectly, the lioness spared barley a glance down before leaping. His paws hit the ground, limbs coiling to absorb the shock of landing. Of all the cats in the clan, Leafshadow was one of the finest climbers and an excellent jumper no matter what anyone said about her loner blood. Whirling around to face the deputy, Leafshadow stepped up to him, leaning forward, brow furrowed as she examined the scratches on his face. "SWIFTSTEP! What happened to you?!" IN an instant her own woes and her bickering with the clan was forgotten. Someone else was hurt and bleeding, physically hurt, and in Leafshadow's mind that registered as more important. Especially since it was the clan deputy of all cats. Who would attack the deputy, in LionClan territory of all places? Hadn't he just been in camp a few minutes...Leafshadow's mouth dropped open and she gasped. "OH StarClan! I did that didn't I?" Leafshadow practically wailed in distress, mentally berating herself for not watching who she swung her claws at. "Oh Swiftstep I'm so sorry! I...I was just...there's no excuse! I can't believe I did that!" EMBARRASSMENT burned through the loner-born lioness as if someone had set her blood on fire. She'd attacked the deputy! Palestar would have her pelt when he found out! Another reason for the warriors to gossip! They already picked on her enough for being born a loner, she'd just given them more to talk about by hitting the deputy! StarClan someone must be out to get her! Leafshadow didn't quite know what to do with herself and she was far from a medicine cat. Leaning forward, the young lioness rasped her tongue over Swiftstep's cheek in an apology, trying to ignore the metallic tang of blood on her tongue. Lion blood. Clanmate blood. Her stomach twisted into painful knots. Was he angry? Probably. She wouldn't blame him. GAH! She was just such a mess today... PRESSING her nose against his muzzle, Leafshadow mentally flailed for some apology that would make this all go away. All of it, the fight in camp, hitting Swiftstep...There wasn't one that she knew of so, she settled for the basics. "I'm so sorry..." LEAFSHADOW hated injuries. Hated having them, hated inflicting them unless necessary and hated seeing them. Injuries meant pain and hate and violence. Now Swiftstep had a nick in his ear and blood in his eye because of her. Because of her pain, her violence. Because of the clan's hate. Her heart sank low as she drew back from the tom, half waiting for his own massive claws to rake against her fur in retaliation. Her reasonable brain knew he wouldn't. Swiftstep was known for his kindness and compassion. That was why he was here...even though she'd struck him. Made him bleed. Leafshadow hoped he'd let what she said slide but knew he probably wouldn't. That alone was embarrassing, not to mention finding out she'd hit the deputy and left marks. Maybe she was no better than a loner, lashing out at everybody like she did when she was upset. That's what they did wasn't it? Get cornered by things they didn't like and then lash out against it? NORMALLY Leafshadow was a quiet she-cat, not reclusive but not in everybody's face. She'd stick to her brothers or sometimes with Foxclaw when the older she-cat was around. There were cats in the clan that she called friend but she spent most of her days dodging cats like the one in camp that had gotten her so riled up in the first place. She tried to keep from being alone with them or near them, tried to run from someone she was forced to live with. You'd think, after so many moons, they'd accept that yes she and her brothers were loner born but they were totally loyal to LionClan. Some days it felt impossible to be loyal to a place that didn't want you but they did it anyway, even when it hurt. Tagged;; Swiftstep Word Count;; 854 Background Song;; "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter Notes;; Swiftstep is such a sweetheart <3

[Mara]

"Hear me talk." "Hear my think."

Swiftstep gasped with alarm and took a pace forward when she nearly fell out of the tree. When she hit the ground, Swiftstep saw her legs tremble for a heartbeat. Alarmed and afraid she would fall over, Swiftstep ran over and let her lean against his shoulder as long as she needed. What happened to him, she asks? "Yeah. You kind of struck me down."

[/b] He chuckled with a shrug of his powerful shoulders. He let her rant, allowed her to get her feelings under control, before speaking. "Not to worry, Leafshadow. You were angry, and you have every right to be. A cat's loyalty isn't decided on where they come from, it is decided on what they do when they are there. I don't care where you come from, Leafshadow. You are my warrior and my friend. I treat my friends with respect and kindness and compassion. When we return to camp, I will make sure that everyone apologizes to you, and that whoever riled you up will not only tend to the elders alone for a moon, but they will not be allowed to go to Gatherings until they learn to respect their clan mates. How does that sound?"[/b] He smiled. "Now, will you kindly tell me what happened so I can deal justice where it is due?"[/b] He sat down and looked at her kindly. He wanted to know who had angered Leafshadow to the point where she had lashed out blindly and ran off. He didn't want warriors like that in his camp and he sure as hell didn't want apprentices learning to be so disrespectful. As he waited for her to start, he listened to the land around him. Birds sang joyfully in the trees around him, the breeze whistled through the grass that stretched to his shoulders, and the sky was clear with the sun shining proudly at Swiftstep and Leafshadow. This was his territory. And it was beautiful.[/color][/blockquote][/justify] [/size]

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342 WORDS | COMPLETE | Leafshadow
LYRICS BY WILLY DEVILLE | TEMPLATE BY ARRO
I know. He will be the softest leader ever. xD

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[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i41.tinypic.com/10xwx76.jpg] EMBARRASSMENT didn't even cover what Leafshadow felt anymore. It bled smoothly into shame when Swiftstep confirmed what she'd feared, that she'd struck him. Struck him! Her own deputy! StarClan have mercy...Palestar would definitely not be happy. It was more likely than not that Leafshadow would be the one tending the elders for a moon, not the warriors that had antagonized her in the first place. She didn't mean that to be that Palestar was a cruel or bias leader, that simply wasn't true. The truth of it was though, that she had drawn blood from her own clanmate. All the others had done was talk and gossip. Technically that wasn't a crime. It was all her fault anyway. Littleclaw and Loudheart always said she was too emotional. SHE just couldn't help it. When Leafshadow felt something, she expressed it. When she hurt, she cried. When she was happy, she laughed. When she was angry, she lashed out at the closest target. This time it had just so happened to be Swiftstep. As if her day couldn't get any worse. HEAVING a sigh, Leafshadow reclined on her haunches and studied the sun-baked ground under her paws. A breeze coasted through the branches of the tree making her namesake dance over the pair. She watched the dance of light and shadow as they slid across her paws and front legs. Her foster mother, Foxclaw, used to say Leafshadow was very pretty, slender and just the right shade of gold. Icestar would always say Leafshadow looked her best when she was in the shadow of a tree or up high in the branches. Her mentor would explain it as she looked peaceful when she watched the leaves cast their shadows and then watch the shadows dance when the wind blew. It made a smile tug at her lips to watch it now and think fondly of her mentor and foster mother when she couldn't bring herself to look up at Swiftstep. "IT'S nothing, really. Just me being...sensitive I guess. They didn't do anything wrong, really," Leafshadow assured, peeking up at Swiftstep before looking down again. Raising a paw, claws sheathed, she watched as leaf shadows danced over it before letting it rest again on the hard packed earth. "It just hurts sometimes. They know my brothers and I are loner born but they also know we're loyal. They always bring up Dapplepaw and say she ran away and got what she deserved. It's just...not fair sometimes, that they can say those things just because their parents were clan-born." Leafshadow again glanced at Swiftstep before looking away and letting her gaze sweep the plains. "My brothers handle it better than I do...it just gets under my skin I guess." LEAFSHADOW sorely wanted to leap back into the tree and hide among the branches where heavy-bodied males and their ilk couldn't find her. Not many lions climbed trees as often as Leafshadow did. She hid in them when she felt lonely or sad. Sometimes even when she was happy. It just helped her focus when she had a bird's eye view of the world around her. It put things into perspective so to speak. Nobody would bother her because more often than not, no one could find her. Littleclaw and Loudheart could, when they put their minds to it, but they often chose to just let her be. They knew she'd always come back when she was done moping or absorbing and processing whatever she needed to. They'd greet her with twin indulgent smiles and sleep on either side of her that night, as if afraid she'd run away like Dapplepaw had. TOO bad Leafshadow knew better. Dapplepaw had met a cruel end, hunted by her own mentor like an antelope. Then that mentor had brought her back to camp, torn and bloody, barely recognizable, and claimed hyenas had gotten her. Just thinking about it, even after all these moons, made Leafshadow's stomach turn and twist uncomfortably. To avoid such thoughts, Leafshadow turned her gaze back to Swiftstep and his torn face, guilt zapping through her like an electrical shock. "WE should get you to Thunderstrike for those scratches and your ear," Leafshadow suggested, hoping he'd drop the subject of her aggressors in camp. Hopefully he'd let it go like everyone else did and Leafshadow could move on from feeling so ashamed of herself for striking him. Maybe if Thunderstrike got to the cuts soon enough, they wouldn't scar? Oh, she sorely hoped they wouldn't. At least she hadn't gouged his eye out...Just thinking about that particular unpleasant mental image made Leafshadow want to vomit but she kept her cool on the outside, pushing the image away. His eye was fine. Even the cuts were clotting now, leaving just streaks of drying blood in rivulets down one side of his face. WITHOUT thinking, the young lioness leaned forward and carefully rasped her tongue over the tender wounds to clean the blood away. She left the young scabs over the actual wounds but brushed away the blood crusting on the unhurt golden fur of his face. When she finally leaned back from the cleaning, Leafshadow realized what she'd done and gave a shy squeak of surprise, eyes wide. Usually facial grooming was left between mates or very close friends. Not...Her skin flushed hotly under her fur as if the sun had exploded under her skin. She was just so screwed up today... "I..um..right, we need to get you to Thunderstrike," Leafshadow chirped, trying to cover up her embarrassment by popping to her feet. "Come on or he'll have my hide." Tagged;; Swiftstep Word Count;; 971 Background Song;; "Stereo Hearts" by Gym Class Heroes ft. Adam Levine Notes;; <3

[Mara]

Dec 28, 2011 13:30:14 GMT -5 Mara said:

"Hear me talk." "Hear my think."

He listened patiently as she spoke, and he took his turn when she was silent. "You don't seem to realize the extent of what has been done today. You were harassed because of where you come from. Those warriors who taunted you today, they act as though it is a choice. Fact is, where you come from, who your parents are, it is not a choice." He let his head drop, his eyes closing with the secret he had carried for all the moons he lived in LionClan. "I... I didn't have a choice." He looked at her, his eyes blazing with emotion. "You are not clan born. And..." He hesitated as he gathered his thoughts and chose his words carefully. "Neither am I." He sighed as he spoke of his past. "My parents, Leafshadow, were rogues. Both of them. My mother's name was Uri, my father's name was Fynn. My parents protected me until I was five moons old. I went to sleep one night, just me, my brother, and my sister.

But when I woke up, my siblings were dead. They died in the cold of the night, and my parents had disappeared without a trace. I couldn't track them, I couldn't smell them and I couldn't find their paw prints. I wandered through the savanna for days, and then finally I was found by a patrol headed by the deputy before me. His name was Reedfeather and he was kind to me. He was merciful. He asked me who I was, and I told him. 'My name is Sam.' I told him. 'My siblings, they are dead. My parents, they abandoned me. I have no where to go, and I cannot hunt.' I said. I didn't know how. As I looked at Reedfeather's confused face, I wished with all my heart that he would take me away to wherever he came from. I didn't want to walk in fear every day, knowing that night could bring a pack of hyenas to kill me. But as I looked at Reedfeather, I saw understanding and sympathy. I finished the patrol with them and they took to me to camp. The leader accepted me into clan. And life went on. But what hurt the most was that I was teased and taunted, just like you are.

The only difference is that when I learned to hunt, I had the courage to stay. I had the courage to stay with LionClan to prove to them that it doesn't matter where you come from, all that matters is what's inside, and I want you to prove to me that you have to what it takes to impress me, and return back to camp with me, I want you to prove to me that you can take the taunts and teasing and the insults and let it just roll off your back. Can you do that for me?" He asked, his eyes sincere and longing for her. He wanted her to be happy in Lion... A tongue rasped over his cheek, jerking him away from his thoughts. She was cleaning the blood from his face and the strokes relaxed him. His shoulders sagged and his ears went down with pleasure. He realized to late what he was doing, and flicked some dirt off her face and shoulders. He stepped back and touched his nose to hers. He realized what he had done and cleared his throat. "Um... Thunderstrike, right. Don't want, to, um... Get infected, 'cuz that would be bad..." He tried to smooth over his actions, but realized that instead he only sounded like an idiot.

The walk back to camp was awkward, at least for Swiftstep it was, but as camp came into sight, his shoulders stiffened and he stopped in his tracks. His eyes clouded over with a decision he had to make. He closed his eyes and gathered his thoughts. A heartbeat passed and Swiftstep led the way into camp. As soon as he was in, he broke into a quick trot and threw himself onto the perch where Palestar addressed the clan. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here to hear what I have to say!" He called to the clan and watched as they gathered. Shocked mutterings sounded as they realized it was Swiftstep, not Palestar. Listen up and listen good! There are certain things that have gone down today that I am not proud of. Many of you know that the code does not allow loners and rogues to be part of clan life. I disagree! Every cat in LionClan is the descendant of a rogue or a loner. Where do you think you come from? The sky!? LionClan was built from the ground up because of a loner or a rogue! The code also demands loyalty to your clan. Loyalty should be respect and kindness toward clan mates! Swiftstep snarled angrily.

The queens huddled the kits into the nursery, but Swiftstep hardly noticed. What he did notice was Whitestorm smirking as if she found something funny. He bared his teeth. "There are cats in this clan that are not clanborn. Myself included!" His voice boomed over the clearing like thunder. Gasps of shock and surprise rippled over the gathered cats like a drop of water in a lake. It rippled like a wave. "Yes, it's true. I was not clanborn. In fact, both my parents were rogues. LionClan took me in because they were kind and they weren't afraid to show compassion. I expect nothing less of you! You should treat your clan with respect and compassion. Anybody who doesn't will tend to the elders by themselves and will not attend Gatherings until they learn to respect others! Now disperse and carry on your duties for the day." Swiftstep didn't hesitate. He leaped to the ground and walked toward Leafshadow. "I got your back." He winked with a chuckle and disappeared into Thunderstrike's den. The day sailed past and he finally reappeared. Cobwebs plastered the right side of his face the strong scent of horsetail and stinging nettle clung to his face. He grumbled as he padded across the clearing to the fresh kill pile. "Why does he use stuff that eases pain but causes pain at the same time." He growled to himself and snatched a rabbit delicately from the pile before going to a shady spot to eat.

1,143 WORDS | COMPLETE | Leafshadow
LYRICS BY WILLY DEVILLE | TEMPLATE BY ARRO
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[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i41.tinypic.com/10xwx76.jpg] LEAFSHADOW listened quietly as Swiftstep told his tale, about how he too was loner-born. Something in her heart stirred uneasily. Most of the clan, they didn't know. Swiftstep's secret...it had been much better kept than Leafshadow's. She had come into the clan with three siblings and taken the place of someone else's lost litter. Foxclaw had loved them unconditionally but her mate had been furious and jealous and grieving his lost young. Darkmane...that name would forever draw a shudder from Leafshadow and her siblings. Dapplepaw's mentor, Foxclaw's former mate and in the end, Dapplepaw's murderer. The tom had tormented Leafshadow and her siblings and told their tale. There had been no secrecy for Leafshadow and her brothers and sister. They'd found out their heritage as apprentices when it became harder for Foxclaw and Icestar to protect them from the scorn of the clan. Littleclaw and Loudheart, to this day, would tell Leafshadow of their own mentors whom had been impatient with them and often snapped at them for not doing something right the first time, purely because they weren't clan born. SWIFTSTEP was truly blessed. He could let their hurtful words and verbal jabs roll off his back like water from a duck's wing. For Leafshadow it was harder because she'd grown up hearing it. Grown up with whispers in her ears and stares on her back, as if there was something wrong with her. She said nothing as she followed the deputy back to camp, keeping her head low and golden gaze on the ground under her paws. As they walked, she tried to digest Swiftstep's story and figure out how she was going to face the clan after her outburst. Whitestorm...she'd get her jabs in while the wounds were fresh and open. The white lioness was about as poisonous as Darkmane had been, at least in Leafshadow's opinion. SO lost in thought was the young she-warrior, that she didn't even notice they were back in camp until she realized Swiftstep was no longer beside her or just ahead of her. Looking up, her ears rose when she heard him give a call traditionally reserved for Palestar, calling a clan meeting. Unconsciously she tensed. Flattening her ears to her head, Leafshadow slunk around the edge of the gathering cats, sliding into place beside Littleclaw just before Loudheart trotted over to them looking curiously up at Swiftstep on his perch. Leafshadow looked anywhere but at the deputy as he gave his speech, faintly noting Palestar's absence. AS the tom spoke however, Leafshadow felt her skin burn with embarrassment. He was making a fuss over her and Leafshadow had never been fond of being fussed over. Honestly, loner born cats would always be picked on. It was a fact of life she'd learned to accept, he didn't have to expose himself like this, open himself up to their scorn when his secret had been so safely kept and guarded closely. Her rounded ears pressed back against her head as she pressed her belly to the ground, practically cowering between her brothers. They subconsciously moved closer to her, their warmth and firm presence like a soothing salve. Leafshadow squeezed her eyes shut and tried to pretend she wasn't here, pretending she didn't feel eyes flicking to her and her siblings before going back to Swiftstep. SHE kept her eyes stubbornly shut until she heard Swiftstep's rumbling voice, making her open her eyes and look up shyly. 'I got your back.' AS the deputy walked away, Littleclaw and Loudheart were quick to pounce their sister, pelting her with questions and gentle jibes that only they could get away with. What was going on with her and Swiftstep? Did they have to chase him off? When would they be uncles? It went on and on in such a manner that Leafshadow didn't realize they'd herded her back out of camp until it was too late to double back. With burning ears and constantly having to dodge her brothers and their questions, Leafshadow led the way out onto the plains a bit ahead of the two males for the sole purpose of space to avoid their teasing questions. They wiled away the afternoon hunting, though with little success because they kept pranking one another. In the end it ended in the three of them sparring out in the open and generally acting like kits. It lightened Leafshadow's heart and her embarrassing encounter with Swiftstep slid away like water on a duck wing. BY the time Loudheart and Littleclaw let her escape their clutches, it was dusk. The pair had gone off on patrol and Leafshadow returned to camp. She was dusty from wrestling with her brothers and her fur was ruffled since Loudheart tended to forget his own strength. There was a shallow cut across the bridge of her nose but Leafshadowi ignored it as she strode into camp, dusk shadows following her. Her steps were light, a smile on her face and a glow of happiness in her eyes. She was tired but in a good way after an afternoon of nothing but her goofy brothers. Her improved mood was practically a physical thing around Leafshadow, like a bubble no one could pop. Approaching the freshkill pile, Leafshadow snatched up a hawk someone had caught and leaped onto a low flat rock still warm from the sun's rays. Sprawling across it in a comfortable, luxurious manner, Leafshadow tore into her meal, content for the first time in what felt like moons. SHE was so wrapped up in her ease that Leafshadow failed to notice Swiftstep lounging in the shade not too far away. Tagged;; Swiftstep Word Count;; 969 Background Song;; "Good Life" by OneRepublic Notes;; this'll be better since she's more in her normal mood now