Silence settled on the shady section of wood Oceanstorm was hunting in. Further muffled by the wooden walls of the hollowed log that curved overhead and pulled on her white belly fur when she shimmied forward. In the damn gloom, her eyes adjusted to find all manner of colorful lichen and fungi. She could not see to the end, though she knew that the latter half of the log was caved in, so the prey she had chased in here would only be able to run into her claws.
Or so she hoped.
The sound of crackling reached her ears and she stopped, holding absolutely still. But the noise pressed on. Dirt fell onto her face, making her sneeze. She blinked her eyes rapidly but the onslaught of debris was picking up as was the sound of breaking wood. Oh crap! Too late she realized what was going on as she made to back out with all the grace of a day-old hare. But she’d hardly made it a few paces back before something large came down on her skull. Her jaws snapped shut, cutting her tongue, before it all went dark. But just before she fully succumbed, she felt something pulling her, and tasted what she swore was fresh air….
A cat awoke in a strange herb-scented den. Wh…where am I? She lifted her head slightly, but stilled when a shot of pain ran down her temple. She groaned, turning to see the face of a worried russet-furred tomcat gazing down at her with rounded eyes. Of course! He must have been the one to save her, he was…Who was he? More importantly, who was she?
Her heart glowed warmly. She wasn’t as worried about it as she ought to be, strangely enough. His presence was a balm to her worries. Which could only mean….
“Oh, my love, there you are.” She purred sweetly. “Do you…what happened to me? I can’t remember anything, where we are, my name…” She shook her head.
“But I know you’re my mate. I feel safe around you, and you saved me.”
Briarstep
"I'm incredibly angry," he mewed in acknowledgement. "But, that doesn't change the fact they're my family. Hollystar is my mother, even if she didn't really 'parent' me. I suppose I have a sister out there somewhere as well, if she survived." He felt lighter after sharing the truth. Oceanstorm was so easy to trust in this state, but he felt guilty for spending such intimate moments with her when she wasn't truly herself. He looked at her, cracking a nervous smile. "You're awfully optimistic about me. I appreciate it, but I promise I'm not the 'radiant light' you believe I am. I have my own sins, my own apathetic inaction that has left me just as guilty as the others." He turned about, looking towards camp. "We should head home, I imagine your father has arrived by now." He chuckled wrly, "In contrast to Hollystar, he probably parents a little too much. Your father is great, I admire him, though we could never be alike. Perhaps he'll be able to jog your memories and clear this amnesia." He walked beside her, gently guiding her back towards camp. "You know, when you are yourself, you're actually a bit like your dad. You have incredible resolve, talent, and your temper is just as fiery, " he chortled.
Oceanstorm blinked evenly at the now heady quality of his voice. It told her that what he was about to share was no small morsel of trust. Her love-addled heart swelled up in size at the realization that the tom she adored trusted her so. Maybe I’ve got a shot after all!
“Sure sure, cross my heart, hope to die, stick a pine needle in my eye.” She recited nonchalantly. “Unless I bump my noggin again and forget what you’re about to tell me.” She added with a playful wink.
“No idea who Hollystar is but I’m guessing she’s a big deal?” Oceanstorm cocked her head. A memory from long ago probed her subconscious, but darted away like the shadow of a fish beneath the water upon closer inspection.
“Gods, Briarstep. I can’t imagine how that would feel.” She breathed after his confession. “I’d…I’d be angry at her if it were me. You didn’t do anything wrong. Yet you bore the brunt of your birth’s circumstance.” Her lips slowly curled back over white teeth as she uncovered the layers of unfairness that surrounded his past. He was such a sweet soul, he didn’t deserve any of that scrutiny or suffering.
“But I guess hating your parents isn’t that simple.” She admitted. “Thanks for trusting me.”
“For what it’s worth,” She went on. “I trusted, and loved you, before I even knew who you were. I’m sure my gut remembers what my head doesn’t. It means you’re a good tom, beyond any of that crap about where you came from or mistakes your parents made. Your goodness is like….it’s like sunlight. The snow just melts away. It can’t touch you.”
Briarstep
"Oh, I'm not sure about that," he mewed, feeling his ears redden with embarrassment. "Though, I appreciate your confidence in me. I try to do what's right, but I'm not one to shake the nest." "W-well ... it's sort of a long story," he mewed. He and Hollystar had never fully revealed his origins to the clan. The timing never seemed appropriate. But, perhaps it was time to confess in the quiet fall woods with a she-cat he trusted. "I'd need you to keep it a secret, for my mother's sake. But, Hollystar is actually my parent." He paused for a moment, letting Oceanstorm process. He peered at her with green eyes, quite similar to Hollystar's own. "She and my father bore us at the start of her leadership. Their relationship wasn't a healthy one, and my father resented the clans." He paused, frowning at the memory as they continued their walk through the woods. "He stole my sister and I away from camp, planning to start a new life outside the clans. He wasn't prepared for surviving leaf-bare with two kits, and each of us fell ill with green-cough. Desperate to save us, he left use between the Thunderclan and Shadowclan border. Obviously, I was found by Thunderclan. If my sister survived I suspect she must've been taken by Shadowclan." He paused midstep, turning to Oceanstorm. "Hollystar didn't vouch for me, and I had lost my clanborne scent. So, the clan labeled me the abandoned kit of a loner or rogue. It wasn't until some moons ago that Hollystar finally confessed her parenthood. Needless to say, it was quite the shock," He kneaded the ground with stress, claws churning mud. "I still harbor some resentment. But, I also love her. These emotions are pretty confusing."
“It still took bravery. You’re good at that. A Leader is nothing with no one to stand behind him.” she gave an impish shrug, moving to drop the subject as it was clear to her that open praise disturbed Briarstep. It was difficult for her to imagine how or why that was, but an explanation wouldn’t change her treatment of the matter.
“They ‘think’ you’re rogue-born?” She cocked her head at his wording. “So you mean to tell that you are not?” Curiosity lit in her gaze. Why on earth would a cat pretend to be of such abhorred heritage? It made no difference to Oceanstorm, who thanks to her clanmates was aware that she had rogue blood not too far up the line. It was clear to her that this was a somewhat xenophobic society, however. So it marked trouble for those who did.
Briarstep
"O-oh Starclan, your father is going to kill me," he mewed, chuckling nervously. "Alright, let's go. His bark is worse than his bite." He stuck beside her as they left camp, ready to lend a paw if she needed.
They walked in silence for some time, and his sensitive hearing made him jump when Oceanstorm finally spoke. "Of course I helped," he mewed in surprise. "Honestly, there was little danger to myself. I acted quickly because I was couldn't tell what was happening beneath the cave-in, or how seriously you were injured. Reacting within those precious moments is critical-" he paused, realizing he was about to begin rambling.
"I ... well, I'm glad you're safe." Her intense stare was making his ears turn red, his pelt prickling with anxiety. He didn't deserve her praise, or admiration. His claws instinctively dug into the cool soil below, rooting himself to the earth. "Doing something like that is easy, for me. It's a physical thing, and I'm good at that." He looked away, swallowing with some nervous difficulty. "Speaking up, taking charge, or anything like that ... it's a lot harder. I prefer staying quiet and following the others." He frowned, reminiscing for a moment as he continued. "The clan thinks I'm rogue-born, so I wasn't really treated well as an apprentice. It was easier to fade into the background, rather than standing tall. Facing acknowledgement like this a bit uncomfortable, Oceanstorm."
At this, Oceanstorm smiled but shook her head sadly.
“Don’t force yourself, I wouldn't want that.” She mrrowed, as she rose to her feet with only the faintest trace of tremor in her limbs. Dizziness pulled on the corners of her mind, but she was able to stand firm against it. Though the pain in her skull persisted.
“M-maybe we could go for a walk? That sounds like a lot of cats, all at once…..Maybe you can tell me about my life. Then I can pretend I know what everyone’s talking about.” She ducked her head, feeling suddenly self-conscious. How was she supposed to be? She felt like an actor without a script, but everyone else knew their lines. She could rely only on her gut feelings, a novice ad-lib of her own life.
The two of them made their way out of the medicine cat den, and with permission, into the dark tangle of forest that shielded the settlement on all sides. Oceanstorm drank it all in. It was comforting, but not familiar. Any hopes she might have had that it would trigger a memory were dashed. She tried not to let the disappointment show on her face.
“You stood out today, when you saved me. I see nothing meek or quiet about rushing into danger for someone else.” She pinned him with an intense stare, a look that in no uncertain terms communicated how much she meant those words.
Briarstep
'Oh stupid, mouse-brained tom. Look what you've done.' Briarstep scolded himself as Oceanstorm's expression clouded with pain. She was so vulnerable. Although wrong, her supposed 'love' for him was one of the few things she could cling to. "I'm sorry," he mewed. "I'll be whatever you need me to be, Oceanstorm." His ears reddened as he continued, "I know your feelings are real, at this moment. But, I don't want you to do or say something you may feel embarrassed for later. Genuinely, I don't think you harbored feelings for me. I'm the quiet, meek type. I don't really stand out," he chuckled tensely. "I'd be lucky to have a she-cat like you love me." Briarstep glanced away, unable to meet her gaze due to his own embarrassment. "Y-Yes, your father is Hawkbite and your mother is Chanterellefrost. You have some siblings, and I think you were particularly close with Amberhawk. I could fetch them, if you'd like."
Oceanstorm listened to him patiently, though her heart began to sink as he went on.
“Oh….” Her gaze moistened. “I guess…I must be in love with you, but you don’t…” She gave a small, wounded laugh and averted her eyes. “What a terrible way for you to find out. Well, I guess it’s something off my chest so when I get my memories back it won’t be hanging over me at least…”
She sat up, this time much more slowly. Her head throbbed a tad, but it was more of a grumbling than a cry of distress. She bent down to nose the watery moss, hoping that if she was actually crying it would be disguised in the action.
“My father….do I have family here?” She tilted her head, completely serious.
Briarstep
"Oceanstorm!" Briarstep exclaimed, taking a few pawsteps closer. "How do you feel? Peachblossom is out right now, but she should return soon." He couched down to meet her gaze, so she wouldn't strain her neck. There was an unfamiliar level of affection in her eyes. His pelt prickled with alarm. "U-um, Oceanstorm, I'm Briarstep. I may have pulled you out from the cave-in, but I'm not your mate," he mewed. If her injuries had impacted her memory, the she-cat may be more seriously injured than expected. He wished desperately that Peachblossom or Figpaw were present to explain things.
"You got trapped beneath a mound of rotten log and earth while hunting. You were really stuck in there, and I wasn't sure if I had time to call the rest of the patrol. So, I lifted the rotten log using a branch and a stone for leverage. We all brought you back here, to the medicine den. Although your injuries didn't seem too severe, Peachblossom said it's possible you may have some head trauma. It should heal, with time ..." he trailed off, transfixed by Oceanstorm's amorous eyes. How what he supposed to act in this situation? Denying her affections would likely result in more distress. But, lying to her felt so very wrong. He turned, grabbing a water-soaked glob of moss. He nosed it towards her gently. "In the meantime, I guess you should get a drink and rest. I should let your father know you're awake, he was worried sick." His ears flattened to his head, feeling guilt and worry for the injured she-cat. "Um ... and maybe don't call me your mate, for now. At least, not until you feel better." He wanted to spare some of her dignity, at least. Whenever she regained her wits, the proud warrior would be terribly embarrassed by these actions.