Wildstorm
WindClan Warrior
Wildstorm stepped onto the moorland on soft footing, his one sighted eye scanning the scene before him. There was a stillness in the air, almost ghostly and dreary if it weren’t for the relaxing plain of green before him. Where the wind would gallop over the tan grasses speckled with bushes of heather that were just beginning to bud with the delicate purple flowers. Cloud-filtered light shone upon those grassy waves and a smile formed on Wildstorm’s lips as he let the serene vision calm his stressed soul. Being surrounded by trees like the other Clan's seemed so restricting to him. Who wouldn't want to be out in the open where one could feel the wind at their fur and StarClan's gaze during the night? However, he wasn’t here to be relaxed by the moors that WindClan resided in, but he was here to follow the scent trail of his beloved best friend, Nightfire.
Her scent was so ingrained in his mind that it wasn’t an issue to find the dark marbled she-cat, padding over a small hill and seeing her down the other side, only hesitating for a moment as he got closer to her, looking into her amber eyes when they turned to him. He cleared his throat and nodded to her, his side brushing against hers lightly in a greeting. “It’s nice to see you out of the medicine den today,” he commented slightly. Ever since she had brought Lark to the Clan to be seen by their medicine cat after a mountain lion attack, she seemed to have an interest in the other tom. Which meant spending less time with him, and that was getting on his nerves. He pressed his nose to her shoulder and breathed her in for a moment before he huffed. “You smell like leaves.” Flicking his tail over her ears as he padded forward, Wildstorm’s teasing smile turned into a small frown for just a moment before he paused and looked back at her.
It was difficult to explain exactly why he was so annoyed with her attention being somewhere else, but he was getting closer and closer to realizing the true reason. And it almost… scared him. The thought of losing Nightfire in any way was one of the most frightening things he could think of, and that included becoming a mate and it possibly not working. Would she even want him as a mate anyways? They had only been best friends ever since she had been around him constantly while healing from his fall when he had become a new apprentice. Wildstorm sighed softly and gave her a small smile. “Do you have time to hang out with me for a bit? Maybe we could hunt together. Or just walk and talk like we always do? Or used to do.” He clicked his tongue, knowing he was being a little bit of a brat, his usual cheery attitude being dulled by this jealousy inside of him.
Nightfire
Warrior of Windclan
As Wildstorm spoke, Nightfire's ears twitched, her gaze shifting from the caterpillar to meet his eyes. There was a myriad of emotions swirling beneath her amber gaze, and a small, bittersweet smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Though it was unintentional, his words had reopened an old wound, exposing its rawness once again. "Thank you, Wildstorm," she replied softly, trying not to sound as hurt as she felt. "I understand the drive to be the best warrior you can be. We all have our own paths to follow, and sometimes they take us on different journeys— However,” she paused, a feeling of dread settling in the pit of her stomach as she hesitated to tell him how she really felt, “I can’t deny that it hurt when you prioritized being a warrior over our friendship.”
A tinge of sadness filled Nightfire's eyes as she turned to face Wildstorm, her usual warmth overshadowed by a sense of hurt. "When we were attacked by the mountain lion, I never left your side, not even when my own wounds had healed. I remained in the medicine cat den, tending to your injuries and helping you regain your strength," she told him, her eyes searching his, "I understand that you had your own goals and dreams as a warrior, but it felt like our bond was pushed aside," she admitted, her gaze now fixed on a distant point. "It left me feeling abandoned and questioning our friendship,” her voice was a mere whisper, and her jaws parted slightly as if she were on the verge of saying something else, but instead she sighed heavily, swallowing her unspoken words and choosing to preserve what they had.
Nightfire straightened her spine, her gaze drifting towards the horizon, and though she managed to muster a small smile, it didn't quite reach her eyes. The setting sun cast a warm glow on the moorland, painting the landscape in hues of gold and orange. Memories of their adventures as apprentices flooded her mind, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of nostalgia. "But that doesn't mean we have to lose sight of what truly matters," she continued, turning her attention back to Wildstorm with a more hopeful look. As the caterpillar continued its slow journey, Nightfire took a deep breath and started walking again, this time side-by-side with Wildstorm. She knew that, much like the caterpillar, rebuilding their bond would be a slow, tedious journey. "We may have grown apart, but our bond is still there, and just like before, we can find ways to support and look out for each other just like we did back then," she nudged Wildstorm's shoulder, her eyes softening before she suggested, "We can make new memories, Wildstorm. I miss those simpler days too, but together, we can forge a new chapter."