{losing my faith today}dragonstar

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] He heard the paws scurrying after him, a clear sign she'd dropped the deer for now, so he stopped, turning halfway to face her. He was silent for a moment as she spoke, taking no offense to her words. She had no reason to expect his help at all, and he knew she theoretically didn't need it. But it wasn't her he was looking at for long. For all his relaxed postures back with the deer and the tree, he was on high alert. He knew better than to let his guard down, particularly here. After a quick glance, he then looked back to her as she finished and he sighed softly. Rogues are dangerous on a good day. These are far worse. So just grab your deer and lets go. He grumbled, eyes not meeting hers as he began to speak. He feared they'd give away too much. He didn't want the questions. Even if he wanted to answer, which he didn't, he wasn't sure he'd be able to speak if asked. He'd been silent about it so long. He glanced back to the deer, waiting for a moment, then turned back around to continue clearing the path, whether she wanted him to or not. This time, however, his mind was distracted by the memories again. It was only the thought that she was still around that kept him from growling and batting at the leaves and ferns with claws out. He even managed to hide the cold, haunted look from his eyes, though it left them empty; guarded but empty. His right ear, the one with the chunk missing, began twitching as it often did with the phantom pain. Nothing more than a memory, but it always seemed like so much more. He shook his head, pushing the thoughts away as best he could. It was one thing for his clan to see him in that mood; it need not be known to the other clans. It was a weakness of sorts, something that served as a recurring distraction to him. He reminded himself he had to focus, for her sake. At least until she was near her border, then he could lose himself in the seething hate, take it out on whatever plants happened to be around him at that time, as he did when he could. [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2qxq1kk.png] IT took a lot to offend Willowleaf. Growing up in a clan that constantly teased her sort of helped her build up a tolerance to the whole nasty business. She knew how to keep her cool and smile even when she wasn't exactly happy. After all, it wasn't like a frown or anger could fix things that were wrong. She had to fix those things, plain and simple. Right now though, when he started lecturing about rogues, Willowleaf felt her pride perk up in her mind and her hackles rise. Muscles tensed in her limbs and her jaw clenched as she glared blue daggers at the TigerClan leader. She'd put up with being treated like an apprentice through the hunt but this tiger had no right, no right at all, to treat her like an apprentice and lecture her about the danger of rogues. Loosing a short growl, the white lioness sprang forward. Slipping past the larger striped male, she whirled around and glared at the TigerClan leader, tail lashing in irritation. "I am a LionClan warrior, not a helpless kit," Willowleaf spat. "Thank you for your concern but I don't need your protection." WHIRLING around, blood hot in her veins and thumping in her ears, Willowleaf stalked away. He was just like all the others after all. The information shouldn't surprise her, but it kind of did. He thought she was weak, just like the rest of LionClan. Well, she didn't earn her warrior name for no reason. She worked hard for it. She wasn't a good huntress but she knew how to take care of herself. Willowleaf knew how to fight, knew how to track. She'd followed him for company, hoping to find a kindred spirit. This tiger was just pushy and patronizing. There was something he wasn't telling her but now Willowleaf simply assumed it was his opinion of her, that she didn't deserve her name, that she should still be a helpless apprentice. Well, she wouldn't stand for it. NOT even bothering to go back for the deer, Willowleaf stalked through the undergrowth. Ferns, bushes and trees pressed in on all sides, an uncomfortable sensation but one temporarily ignored. She'd been dumb to hunt with a tiger, dumber to let him lead her deeper into the woodland. Not anymore. Willowleaf glanced at the sky. It was well past sunhigh, nearing dusk. With any luck she could dodge the evening patrol and make it to camp before anyone got too suspicious. She'd have to wade through a creek and make sure she didn't stink like a tiger, but she would manage it. This whole day was a waste of time, a waste of hope. He was just as patronizing and cruel as the rest, just in a different way. HUFFING indignintly, Willowleaf approached a fast-flowing mountain born river that ran through a steep ravine. A small tree had fallen some time ago and was angled down into the streem, rather than creating a bridge. Leaping onto the end of the half-bridge, Willowleaf began walking as far along it as she could before coiling her muscles and preparing to leap across. Just as Willowleaf was about to spring away from the tree, her weight caused the log to shift. It began to slide further into the stream, roaring white waters rushing up to meet the lioness. Hissing in surprise, Willowleaf tried to leap back the way she had come, hind paw catching and claws sliding on the tree as it slid with a loud splash into the water, shortly followed by another loud splash as Willowleaf went under as well. THE world turned upside down and sunlight disappeared, swallowed by darkness and a loud roaring sound. Water flooded Willowleaf's nose and mouth as she floudered in the strong current, hauling herself in the direction she thought would lead to sky and open air. Her flailing paws tangled in something, river debris and she ended up turning around, losing sight of which way was up again as she was swept downstream. Her head broke the surface for a moment before she was sucked down again. Just as darkness began to cloud her eyes, Willowleaf felt herself impact with something solid and smooth. The air was forced from her and she inhaled more water, dimly aware that she'd struck stone, a boulder in the river. CLAWS scraping the stone, water shoving her against the stone with merciless force, Willowleaf pushed her head above water, gasting and gurgling strangely. Her claws left scratches on the stone as she stried to find a grip, unable to draw a full breath. Tagged;; Dragonstar Word Count;; 768 Background Song;; "Stupid Girls" by Pink Notes;;....DRAMA!!! -evil cackle-

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] Well, clearly he hadn't said the right thing. He wasn't surprised. He'd never been good with word choice, or conversations in general. He didn't look shocked, offended or even hurt by her exclamation. He took it in stride. Words could only do so much, after all. It was actions that hurt more, usually. He let her leave, let her get far enough ahead she'd assume he'd left her be, and then he followed. If she wouldn't accept his help outright, he'd still give it. He'd just stalk her like he stalked prey, and far enough back she wouldn't see him even if she looked. He followed quietly, cautiously, using her scent more than the relative ruckus she made. By starclan, she'd be lucky if she didn't attract the rogues, never mind simply avoiding them! That thought ceased existence as soon as he heard the splash. His head shot up, screw hiding, and he listened carefully, heard a second splash. Leaving caution to the wind, he took off at a mad sprint, leaping and bounding through the foliage and skidding to a stop at the river's edge. She wasn't on the other side. His eyes scanned the water and spotted something white flowing with the water. Normally he wouldn't worry, but she was a lion, not a tiger. She probably had no idea how to swim, and when thrown into a river like this in that circumstance... well, she'd be lucky to get her head above. His paws moved quickly, carrying him down the edge of the river. There was a moment of thanks as she hit the builder and scrambled to keep a hold of it, dragging her head above. He bundled his haunches underneath himself and launched in, getting near with a few powerful strides. He grabbed a hold of her scruff, yanking his head back to drag her head above water, paw still treading enough to keep them both above. It was a powerful current within the water, and with the added weight he struggled more than he would have liked. But, there was a fire in his eyes. He'd promised himself she would not die on his watch, and this kind of death was included. That determination from when he was a bumbling, half-dead kit shone through as he pushed off the boulder, forcing her away. He couldn't get them to shore if she kept a hold on it. To make it easier, he swam with the current, just at an angle enough that he slowly made his way to the edge. As his paws touched ground, he beat against it, claws digging in and helping to drag him to the shore. Once she was solidly on ground, he let go and took a few steps away, panting and soaked to the bone. That's... that's not what I meant.... He got the words out, although they were soft due to lack of breath. His eyes closed a moment as he flopped to the ground. He opened his eyes again to look around, sorting out where they were and listening, scenting, making sure it was safe. His eyes paused on a small alcove, one that was all too familiar. But he tore his eyes away. She'd just about drowned. Her life, the life of others, that was more important than his silly thoughts of revenge. He dragged himself to his paws again, partially to be ready just in case, and partially to take a few steps closer, eying her, but not going close enough that he invaded her space. You alright? [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2qxq1kk.png] SOMETHING strong dug into the scruff on the back of Willowleaf's scruff making her yowl in surprise as she was pushed harder against the boulder by a heavy weight. Flaily and spitting, trying to not swallow more water, Willowleaf tried to see what had hit her. It was...Dragonstar! Shock flooded the soaked lioness but before she could call out, protest, screech, anything, he was trying to drag her away from the boulder. Hissing again and trying to stop him, didn't he know they'd drown?!, she couldn't stop him. Willowleaf lost her grip on the smooth wet stone and felt the current pulling her downstream again, this time held firmly by Dragonstar's powerful jaws. Water surged into her mouth a moment before he dragged her head higher making her splutter and weakly flail again. She couldn't stop him and at this point was barely aware of what he was going to do, if he had a plan at all for getting out. Her body felt heavy and waterlogged and the current was so strong she couldn't imagine getting out alive. So, Willowleaf simply closed her baby blues. TigerClan would hate her because she killed their leader...LionClan would be happy for it though, killing two birds with one stone and all that. THE feeling of shifting ground under her feet brought Willowleaf back to a level of semi-consciousness. Feeling the ground under her feet, she pushed against it, clumsily trying to help Dragonstar haul her onto solid ground. When he released her scruff at last, she didn't even try to stay standing. Gravity didn't even have to fight to haul her downward. Collapsing on the bank with a wet splat, Willowleaf groaned low in her throat and closed her eyes. She felt heavy with water, like her insides were sloshing around from all the water she'd swallowed and every muscle was exhausted from the river's battering current. Her side and shoulder on her left side felt especially achy after colliding with the boulder. FOR a moment, she simply laid there until her body seemed to realize it wasn't being tossed around anymore. At that moment, by no conscious power of her own, Willowleaf rose up on her front paws and heaved. Water surged out of her maw as she coughed and vomitted up all the water she'd swallowed. Groaning again, the white lioness pushed herself barely a few inches from the spot and collapsed again. She looked vulnerable, shivering from the wet and effort of vomitting up all that water. In addition, her fur was completely flattened to her body making her look tiny compared to a big male tiger like Dragonstar. "ARE you alright?" THE words were soft and barely permiated the blackness that had come to cacoon Willowleaf. For a moment she had to fight to pry her eyelids apart before peering blearily at the blob of white and black that was Dragonstar. After a moment, her vision cleared and she began to move again. Rather than verbally answering his question, she pushed herself to sitting up on shaky limbs and then to standing She looked like a newborn fawn, wobbly on its legs and bleary eyed. She took three or four steps toward Dragonstar before wearily sinking to the ground again. Without saying a word, she began to rasp her tongue over his black-striped pelt, chasing away the water. It was a comforting mechanism amongst all big cats, especially amongst lions, that grooming forged bonds and reassured family of wellbeing. Now, though she did it on autopilot more than anything, Willowleaf did know what she was doing. "I'LL live. Thank you." Her words were soft, spoken between long slow licks. The fight and indignance was gone from the white lioness, chased away by the fear of death and swept off by the river's current like so much mud or dirt. Tagged;; Dragonstar Word Count;; 642 Background Song;; "It's Tough to be a God" from The Road to El Dorado Notes;; <3

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] He nearly leaped forward when she stumbled, but he held himself back. She was independent, her outburst had shown that. She collapsed again next to him, and he actually flinched at the contact of her tongue against his fur. He'd seen a great many cats in his clan clean each other, "sharing tongues" as they called it. But none had ever dared come close enough to even think about about sharing tongues with him, and he'd never bothered to participate in the bonding ritual of sorts. He stayed tense as he lowered himself back to the ground, but he didn't pull away. He just watched, thoroughly confused. He hesitated a moment, watching her as she licked the water away, not that he minded the water quite honestly. He was a tiger, swimming was almost second nature to him, and water was meant to be weighing him down. But, he didn't continue to watch. Instead, he cautiously reached out and began grooming her coat in return. It was calming, really. He found his attention on their surroundings drifting, but never enough to forget. His worst memories were from this very shoreline. He didn't say "you're welcome", just kept licking for a moment. Then, like when they'd first met, the words spouted out before he could even think. Earlier, I just... These rogues... I mean... He growled softly, not sure how to word it, but knowing he couldn't stop now. She hadn't asked yet, but he had no doubt she would now. She was polite, but he knew no one who's curiosity wouldn't override that in this situation. He paused in his licking, ears flattening back in something that could only be described as shame. And, indeed, in his mind, it was a shaming truth. They raised me. They're worse than normal, they... He'd begun cleaning her coat again, mostly to give him a reason to stop talking. Then, he caught himself. It was cowardice, this avoidance. He stopped again, head laying down on his paws, eyes watching the cave, now empty. Then, his eyelids slid shut so the pain couldn't be seen and he finished the sentence softly, so softly that he thought - and hoped - she might not hear. After all, it wouldn't take much to read between the lines. They torture cubs. [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2qxq1kk.png] SURPRISE shot through Willowleaf when Dragonstar stiffly began to lower himself to the ground and then began returning the grooming. She had expected him to flinch back and step out of her reach, knowing she probably wouldn't have energy enough to get up again. He didn't and she didn't let herself tense up in surprise. She simply closed her eyes and kept bringing her tongue over his striped pelt in long rhythmic strokes. It was calming, automatic, easy. It didn't require tons of brain power and, the lion in her came out, it comforted her, grounded her to the only cat she knew in this unfamiliar terrain. Many would tell her she was stupid, grooming the TigerClan leader, but Willowleaf figured it was okay after what they'd just gone through. So, she relaxed against him and simply continued her grooming motions. WHEN he began speaking, her ears perked but otherwise she showed little sign of absorbing what he was saying. She heard and understand him, don't mistake it, but she could sense the tension in him that had nothing to do with her near drowning. So, she kept herself calm and relaxed, listening and absorbing his words. "EARLIER, I just... These rogues... I mean...They raised me. They're worse than normal, they...They torture cubs." THE only sign that gave Willowleaf aware to her awareness of his words was the momentary pause in her licking and the opening of her baby blue eyes. Rasping her tongue once more along the leader's shoulder, the lioness sat back a bit. She turned her head left, looking downstream, then right looking upstream. She peered over his body to the cave and then cast a look around at the trees growing along the bank of the river. To the normal eye, she was looking for something, peering hard at the shadows and looking up into the tree branches before returning her gaze to the striped leader laying beside her. Leaning forward again, she continued her earlier ministrations, dragging her tongue along his side at a steady pace. "FUNNY but, unless I'm mistaken, I see no cubs here for them to hurt," Willowleaf told him lightly between licks. "I see a klutzy lioness and a capable tiger that has proved he can bend but not be broken." NOW, don't think that Willowleaf hadn't understood what Dragonstar implied. He had been one of the cubs, tortured and abused. Willowleaf couldn't imagine such a thing, having such a soft spot for cubs herself, but it's significance wasn't lost on her. Chances were, he'd never spoken those words to anyone, that sort of admission took a lot and she dind't underestimate its value. She simply wasn't going to give him pity because of it. Everyone had their ghosts and, as much as they sucked, Willowleaf could only offer comfort in the only way she knew how: a calm steady presence. "IF they rule your mind, they still rule you, whether that be through pain or rage," Willowleaf murmured, pausing in her grooming to look at the TigerClan leader. She remembered his agitation and guarded looks, and wondered to herself if this was the cause, if these cats had crafted what she saw now. In part, she was sad about it because she wondered who he would have been without them in his past. The other part of her was content. He had been crafted by cruelty and it still held a shadow of him, but the whole of him was good. Not just any tiger would leap into a river to save a lion, just like not every tiger would hunt with one or even leave one unscathed in a meeting. So far, he'd given her more respect than a majority of her clanmates. Tagged;; Word Count;; 624 Background Song;; "I Have a Dream" from Tangled Notes;; i smell a promising friendship ^^

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] There was a grumble in his chest at her words, something that could be mistaken for a growl, though it certainly wasn't. It was a pained chuckle, him trying to fight through the pain as he always did and laugh at her interpretation of herself but not succeeding. For all the anger and the fits and the growls and grumbles that everyone saw, he could be much worse and he wasn't. He wasn't worse than he was because he fought to keep control over his emotions, something he'd never been could had. He had finite control over each and every muscle in his body, but when it came to his mind it was difficult. Control of his thoughts had always proved wavering at best. Feeling the eyes on him, his eyes peeked open and his head tilted so he could see her, watching him, putting all those little puzzle pieces together and figuring him out. More than anyone else ever had. He had always been a mystery, an enigma, and he had let it stay that way. It was easier. He was already an outcast among his clanmates, he did not need another thing to separate him from them. Being born a rogue already kept that barrier strong enough. It's one thing to just let it rule me, another to fight each time and lose more often than not. He murmured softly, glancing away again and back to the cave. For a moment, he wondered if his blood still stained the rocks there, or if it had been rubbed away and left no trace that anything had ever happened. His mind never wandered to his real mother. He didn't let it. He had no way of recognizing her, or finding her, so he left that road alone. It would just lead to heartbreak, and he didn't need that. Anyway, his clan needed him, and in some way, he need them as well. Still, he knew it wouldn't take much for the rage to boil up, not while the memories were being discussed out loud. So he resorted to his classic conversation tactic; a jump in topic, something that may not be truly necessary even though he thought it was. Even then, the topic didn't switch entirely. Some might call you a hypocrite for saying that, mind you, assuming you stopped going to gatherings because of what others thought. Oh, yes, he hadn't forgotten that little discussion. Maybe he shouldn't have brought it up, but it was too late now. There was no malice in his voice, just a soft, gentle tone. A quiet, indirect plea to stop talking about it. He disliked talking about himself; he disliked talking about his past even more. [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2qxq1kk.png] WILLOWLEAF knew Dragonstar was hurting, even if he didn't show it. Now all the stories apprentices and warriors told about him made sense. He was gruff, unusual, mean-looking and rough because he had to keep the world at a tail's length. She'd seen the ghosts of anger flicker in his eyes and in his persona but Willowleaf knew that no one, or a very select few, had ever seen the true rage that could come from this powerful tiger. Willowleaf wasn't one to admit her own weaknesses more often than necessary, but she knew she'd never be able to stand a chance if Dragonstar took it into his mind to go into a true rage. Contemplating that thought, Willowleaf curled her tail close to her damp body and continued absentmindedly grooming the striped pelt of the tom next to her. It was something to do now, a distraction while she contemplated the puzzle laid out before her. She could see in his domeaner that he'd never told anyone these things before and because of that, she knew she'd never share the secrets. They would go to her grave, simply because of the look in his eyes when he spoke. "SOME might call you a hypocrite for saying that, mind you, assuming you stopped going to gatherings because of what others thought." HIS words, rough and quiet, stung. Willowleaf flinched as if he'd physically struck her, her eyes darkening slightly as she withdrew a bit from him. Walls that she'd almost forgotten existed around him, slammed closed in her mind. For a moment, she glared at him until she realized, he was right. This was a hypocrite's behavior. Willowleaf chided herself, knowing she shouldn't be ashamed of what others thought but knowing, even if she acted like she didn't, it still hurt sometimes. The reputation, more than anything, hurt. She could still remember the teasing words of other cats at the gathering. Other apprentices from other clans poked her and asked if she was really a lion, asked why she didn't look anything like her mother and why she and her siblings were freaks. One warrior had snidely said that her mother had probably bedded a lone white tiger, producing white kits. That comment, more than anything, been what kept Willowleaf from returning to gatherings. "IF I went to one now, things wouldn't change. Cats would gossip and murmur about the white lioness and wonder what's wrong with me," Willowleaf informed Dragonstar coolly, her eyes icy even as she tried to make it stop. Sadly, she lacked Dragonstar's inate control. "I don't care about their chatter, so long as I don't have to hear it. If I don't go, they forget and stop talking." AND then all she had to live with was the chatter within her own clan. It wasn't as bad as it had once been, the novelty of picking on her worn off on most warriors that had grown up with her. Older ones still picked at the scars from time to time and elders never paused in making odd remarks about how odd her kits would look, or even making snide remarks about how no tom would seek out a mate that was so unnatural. She didn't let them see the sting of it though. She would simply smile, nod or laugh along. She'd sometimes even start the jokes, just to make the worst parts end quicker. Willowleaf encouraged their laughing at her abysmal hunting skills and simply smiled through their laughter even when she wanted to run. It wasn't easy but it was better than her apprenticeship when no one would look at her for long or when her siblings died and they gave her false sympathy and poorly concealed pity. LOOKING the TigerClan leader dead in the eye, Willowleaf spoke softly and calmly. "I let them forget me and am content. You hold your anger in until someday, it will hurt you or someone you love." Tagged;; Dragonstar Word Count;; 661 Background Song;; "Everything You Want" by Vertical Horizon Notes;; -pets plushie of dragonstar-

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] He listened, head turned still to watch her, ears flattening a bit at her reaction to his words. Not the right choice again, it would seem. Except this time he actually looked apologetic for his poor word choice. He would never say it out loud - or, he would begrudgingly - but he wasn't good at this stuff. In an attempt to try and calm the anger at his painful accusation, though it had not been meant to be one, he returned to grooming her coat, though his eyes stayed fixed on her. She avoided gatherings for the same sort of reasons he avoided his own clan members. When she calmed, looked him dead in the eye, he stopped, glancing up to meet her eyes better. Though, he shook his head at her. Not at what she said about him, but about herself. One should never settle for less than they deserve. I was just as ridiculed when I became an apprentice - I was a rogue cub, I truly did not belong there. So I worked twice as hard, hardly slept some moons, and I proved them wrong. I earned an early warrior ceremony, became a deputy at a young age. They may not accept me, but they respect me enough that my clan, at the very least, has fallen silent with the gossip whirlwinds. Gatherings become bearable when you only get gawked at once a moon. There's nothing wrong with being different. The different ones, we know that, but it is a matter of showing them. If you simply back down, you are letting them win, letting them control who you are. It is never easy, but it does get easier. He got up part way through his speech, raising to his feet in order to turn and face her fully, with his whole body and not just his head. He watched her a moment, then nudged her shoulder gently, lightly. Come, though. You should get home. You need food and rest. If nearly bleeding to death is anything like nearly drowning, that is. [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2qxq1kk.png] DRAGONSTAR didn't seem one for speaking unless given the proper things to speak about. Apparently telling Willowleaf all the reasons she was wrong, was one of those things to speak about. Regarding him coolly, the pale lioness curled her tail around herself. She knew it was kit-ish behavior to avoid gatherings simply because of the opinions of others, Sunstreak and her other siblings had never stopped reminding her of that. Still, unlike them, she had always been sensitive toward remarks about her unusual coloration. It had taken moons and moons to build up a tolerance for it when it came from her own clan but she'd decided not to even try facing the other clans about it. Among the tigers, white was normal. Among cheetahs it was unheard of and among leopards, silver was as close as they came to white. None of them missed the novelty of a white lion, something few ever saw even once a generation. BLUE eyes watched the tiger rise, Willowleaf keeping her silence as he moved. He was just as big of a hypocrite as she was, holding everything in so that others would stay away when really, even if he didn't know it, he wanted to tell someone. It was just like how, as an apprentice, she'd wanted to tell someone how much it hurt to be singled out and picked on but had found no one to tell. He held it in just the same way. She'd gotten over it, or at least gotten over the idea of someone to tell, because it was irrelavant anymore. Her coat was something she had to live with and if she couldn't, she would never be able to walk amongst her clanmates. Dragonstar, on the other paw, used his reputation for a temper to keep everyone away, even those interested in listening to his tale and lightening the load. Well, if that was how he chose to live his life, Willowleaf couldn't change his mind. RISING to her feet, Willowleaf braced her limbs and shook, just for the sake of something to do more than actually needing to get extra water out of her fur. She still looked skinny, pelt still clinging to her in its light dampness, but otherwise she looked alright. Exhaustion dragged at her limbs as soon as she began to rise, but she was a warrior of LionClan so she ignored it. Dragonstar had already seen too many of her weaknesses, no need to feed the fire. ARCHING her neck, Willowleaf rasped her tongue over the fur on her chest and began to move up the bank. Her pawsteps were slow and careful oweing to a strange stiffness she felt in her limbs, more likely exhaustion than anything. She didn't bother holding her head up high, focusing instead on where she put her paws as she climbed the rocky bank, passing the cave Dragonstar had kept staring at, and moving toward the trees. Her ears swerved from time to time when a bird called or the wind rustled the foliage of the woodland but otherwise she just focused on putting one paw in front of the other. REACHING a steep rise in the bank, Willowleaf looked up the pile of boulders and saw soild land above. Muscles bunched under her pale coat and without hesitation she sprang. Claws scraped stone as she pushed herself upward with a series of powerful leaps until she reached grass and solid ground. Once at the top, Willowleaf pretended she wasn't breathing a touch harder than she should have been. Instead, she turned to look back down the bank and see if Dragonstar was going to follow. She didn't particularly feel like talking to him now, stung by his comments but also frustrated that she even cared about the thoughts or feelings of a tiger from a rival clan. Tagged;; Dragonstar Word Count;; 661 Background Song;; "Don't Laught at Me" by Mark Wills Notes;; -pets plushie of dragonstar-

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] He didn't even notice the potential reason for the silence; he simply accepted it. He was accustomed to silence, so he didn't give it a second thought. He padded after her quietly, sticking as close to the river as he could, even though the cave couldn't do anything to him. He didn't even do it consciously. He followed, leaping up the rise and continuing on. He basked in the silence, in the lack of conversation regarding his past or hers. Even if hers was different, it was close enough that it brought about that same feeling of unease. It had been silent for some time before he began to even think that perhaps he might have screwed up again. It wasn't like they'd known each other long, and he was from a different clan. It really wasn't his place to give her any advice, let alone advice that would make her change her entire life if she tried to follow it. He had no idea how to fix it, though, so instead he left it be. It wasn't like she'd snapped at him, so it couldn't have been that bad of a screw up... right? He pushed the thoughts away. He couldn't change what he'd said. Finally, he spotted a spot to cross the river, where it was slow. Sow enough it shouldn't even knock her off her paws, though he had a feeling she was far more exhausted than she was letting on. So, he paused at the edge, looking back at her and motioning that they could cross there. He leaped in, this section far more shallow as well which would help. He waited, though, intending to stay approximately next to her, downstream, so that in case she did stumble and get swept away, she'd just hit him. She didn't need to nearly drown twice in one day, he didn't think. [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2qxq1kk.png] TREKKING along after the TigerClan leader, Willowleaf did what she did around her clan, fell into a rut of silence. She could find nothing to speak about, nor could she really find the energy to speak. The sting of Dragonstar's remarks was starting to wear off but was not easily forgotten. It brought of memories of others, her siblings begging her to come to the gathering with them, her mother gently chiding her for being rude and declining an invitation, her father always shaking his head in dismay. Each memory made Willowleaf's pawsteps slower and slower, each effort heavier and heavier. She kept her eyes on the ground before her, not bothering to look up and see if Dragonstar was leading them in the right direction. THE sound of rushing water brought the she-cat's head up, blue eyes catching sight of the ribbon of water they'd just been thrown around in. In this part, the current flowed slower and the waters were far shallower than farther upstream. Dragonstar waded in without a fear, moving the confidence that she'd heard all tigers had in or around the water. It amazed her, and for a moment she simply stood and watched the white tiger with an unreadable expression in her pale eyes. When he looked back to see if she was following, Willowleaf looked away and approached the water. Dropping into a crouch, the lioness lapped up some of the cool water, letting its chill shock her mind back into some sort of real awareness. JUST as she was moving to stand and step into the water a falcon swept through the sky overhead letting out its shrieking cry. Tipping her head back, Willowleaf spotted the bird of prey just in time to see it flap its wings and wheel off to the south. Huh. Shaking her head, remembering her father's constant disapproval of her self-consciousness, Willowleaf glanced at Dragonstar for barely a heartbeat before moving into the water. SIMILAR to when she'd taken her drink, the coldness of the water was a shock to Willowleaf's senses and brought her a bit more awareness as she waded through it. She was cautious of her steps, making sure the riverbed stones she stepped on were sturdy and sure unlike the log she'd leaped on that had started this whole mess. ON the other side, Willowleaf shook off her paws one by one as she stepped out of the icy water. She didn't look to see what Dragonstar was doing this time. She wasn't even all that intent on following him anymore, she just wanted to go home. She accepted his opinion of her as he had voiced it, knew she would never face him again and now just wanted out of his presence. His gaze, once seeming guarded and hollow, now seemed damning. Really, Willowleaf told herself, she should be used to these opinions. She was never enough. Never brave enough, smart enough, strong enough or witty enough. Why would it be any different through the eyes of a tiger? She'd called his weakness and he'd called hers. The only difference was, she was still smarting from his comment. He didn't seem to notice hers or really care. Just another day in the life of Willowleaf of LionClan. HUFFING softly, Willowleaf gave herself a shake and started to run. She didn't care that she was tired or that she ached. She needed to run. Into the foliage, past the trees, crossing scent paths and leaving her own. She didn't care if Dragonstar followed, he had no reason to, but he did a lot of things more or less because he wanted to. If he did, so be it, he'd just end up at the LionClan border, Willowleaf didn't care. She wanted to be home on the open plains with its familiar sky, its burning sun, the normal deer and the familiar routine of being in everyone's peripheral vision but never in the spotlight. Most of all though, she wanted away from accusing eyes, eyes that saw right through her just like she saw through him. Tagged;; Dragonstar Word Count;; 682 Background Song;; "Pretty Rave Girl" by DJ S3RL Notes;; ^_^

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] He had stuck next to her, though a foot downstream, as they crossed. She didn't slip, though, she he leaped out of the water after her, not bothering to shake himself off. The water was a calming thing, a constant that was always there, in some way. He'd been about to continue their stroll back when she took off at a run. He was shocked into surprise at first, just blinking, then realizing something. She thought she knew where she was going, but she didn't. That, alone, wouldn't be a problem. But she was also going the wrong way. He growled softly to himself. Stupid lioness. He grumbled, ears flattening back and, for a moment, he debated leaving her alone. But he had no friends, not in his clan and not in others. She was perhaps the closest thing he had to that. The closest thing he'd ever had. With a muttered "Aw, hell," he shook his head and took off after her, speeding along as best he could. When she came into sight, he called out as loud as he could and hoped she heard. Willowleaf! Wait! You're going the wrong way! He growled as he ran, not sure what he was annoyed at more; himself for being an idiot and letting himself get caught up in this, at her for just taking off like she did, or at the world for even deciding they should run into each other in the first place. [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2qxq1kk.png] WHEN Willowleaf heard the sound of paws thudding along behind her, she felt herself start growling. Why wouldn't he leave her alone? He was a tiger, she was a lion, not meant to even hunt together! This whole day had turned upside down and Willowleaf wished for nothing more than to go back to the dawn when she'd woken up, comfortable in the warrior's den. It felt like ages ago since she woke up and life was normal. She hadn't known anything about the angry Dragonstar or the craziness that would ensue with knowing him. She hadn't known anythign about what it felt like to drown. She wanted to go back to being normal. And now the TigerClan leader was chasing her down through some StarClan foresaken forest. Coming into a small clearing, smaller than the one she'd met Dragonstar in, Willowleaf stopped and whirled around. Claws unsheathed she hissed at the pursuing tiger, drawing her lips back to show her fangs. "GO home Dragonstar!" Willowleaf spat. "Leave me alone. I'll find my own way back home without your help. There are no rogues here, their scents are old or gone and I am a warrior of LionClan. I do not need your protection! I am not a kit that needs guarding and what's more, I'm not yours to protect." THAT had to be the sharpest Willowleaf had ever gotten with anyone. Normally she was sweet, patient and quiet but something about Dragonstar just made her blood boil. It was probably the fact that he looked right through her, and not in the same sense that her clan did. Her clan looked at her and didn't see her. He looked at her and he saw everything. Well, she would go back to her life and not know him. She would make herself forget his face and his guarded gaze. She would act as though she'd never met a cat named Dragon anything. There would be no memory of a white tiger for her. He would just be a nightmare forgotten upon waking. This whole day was a nightmare, the meeting, the drowning, the accusations. Willowleaf just wanted it to go away. Confrontation wasn't her kind of thing, not with anyone and especially not with herself. "JUST. Go. Away," Willowleaf growled firmly, tail lashing as she stood, braced to spring if she had to. The clearing wasn't much but it was freer than most of the woodland. Still, if he didn't believe she wouldn't fight him off, she would prove him wrong. Tagged;; Dragonstar Word Count;; 421 Background Song;; "Here Comes Goodbye" by Rascal Flatts Notes;; ooooooo unhappy willow

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] He slid to a stop as soon as she spun, not looking offended, but not quite looking as uncaring with her anger as he had before. He shifted his weight between his two forepaws, letting her rant for a moment, tail resting on the ground for the first time. His head dipped down, looking rather sorry despite the fact he had no idea what he had to be sorry for, at least not until she'd finished. He'd known she wasn't used to this terrain, he'd just been trying to help because he knew that. I didn't... He cut himself off. He shouldn't have to explain himself, so he didn't bother. Instead, he fell silent for a moment, flinching with the last three words though he had no real reason to. She didn't look like she'd attack unless he pushed things, and he didn't plan on putting even one paw closer to her. Not while she was like this. He wouldn't be asked if he came home with scratches, but he wouldn't hesitate to defend himself and she'd probably end up with some too. He doubted she'd be as fortunate as him. Instead, he shifted his eyes a bit, motioning a direction with his nose. Lionclan is that way, Willowleaf. Then, with that quiet statement, he turned. His path would take him past her, but he stuck to the edge of the clearing, making it clear that he didn't intend to go anywhere near her. He paused at the treeline, glancing back over his shoulder with that same off-put look. His ears flattened slightly as he began to realize she had no reason to keep his secret, considering he'd clearly insulted her. But he said nothing about it. Instead, he just murmured a few more words. Goodbye, then. Good luck with being content. Then, his face turned back to where he was headed and he began padding away through the forest. He shouldn't have expected any more than he'd gotten. He'd never had friends before, why should this be any different? Anyway, she wasn't from his clan. Nothing could come of it. [/scrolly]