T U M B L E
tumblestride -- warrior of windclan
Give them no reason to stare
No slipping up if you slip away
So I got nothing to share
No, I got nothing to say
Insomnia haunted his night, and exhaustion trailed each of his waking moments. However, standing here, embracing the last winds of winter as the promise of spring wafted toward his nose, Tumblestride felt calm, his rough edges smoothed by the serenity of the surrounding area. He shouldn't be outside alone, he knows, not with Sandadder and his gang who-knows-where, but his paws had itched for freedom-- before Tumble knew it, he had snuck past the activity of camp into the silence of the moors.
"Everything's a mess," Tumblestride murmured wearily, golden gaze eyeing the thick trees crowding the other side of the river. "I'd love to blame all of you, but I can't-- that wouldn't be fair, hm?" The rosette tabby tilted his head to look behind him and, seeing the area clear, approached the Thunderclan-Windclan border, unsure of what he was seeking. "My family is cracking under the pressure of keeping this mess together-- or maybe it's just me," he spat out, bitterness staining each word. "I know Papa blames you, even if he'll never say it to Mom," the young warrior adds softly, thinking of Quiethawk's twisted scowl as he visibly restrains himself from speaking at the gathering where it all began to unravel. "Pop loves everyone, and he doesn't seem bothered by this. He's as supportive and calm as ever," he chokes out while sweeping his gaze downward. The river churns sluggishly, reflecting his face in shaky parts.
It's a very unremarkable face, Tumble thinks, not as pretty as Mom's, not as kind as Pop's. I don't have Papa's sharp jaw or Mom's brilliant eyes. Unremarkable. Beyond the river, he hears a snap of twigs and rustle of grass and reacts with a jerk of his head and an aborted step back.
Silverfeather
Thunderclan Warrior
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to scare you...!" Silverfeather gasps, having to stop herself from rushing to the tom's side and trying to comfort him- she was worried she had offended him somehow. But her ears flattened upon hearing that he had actually seen her miss the mouse.
"Ughhh..." She mumbled, "Seriously embarrassing! It was such an easy catch too!" Quiet for a couple of moments, she paused... was it really that bad if he had seen? I mean, he clearly wasn't going to mock her for it... every cat missed prey now and again. It wasn't something to be so stressed about... but...
A little part of her was anxious. She had to be a good motivator, a good role model to Alderpaw. He relied on her for support and saw her as his hero, she couldn't show him how bad of a hunter she was sometimes...!
Then, she realised that Tumblestride was speaking again. Flicking her ears up, she tilted her head. "Tumblestride... that's a cute name." She couldn't resist letting out a soft giggle. "I'm Silverfeather." She glanced away a little bashfully, "Oh, I definitely am...but maybe today isn't my day."
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