Private Thread Not You Again...

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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  Kosmo watched Aspenberry from a distance, his mismatched eyes catching the pale shape as she moved gracefully through the field. He hadn’t planned on being near Windclan territory today, but fate had a habit of throwing unexpected meetings his way. The crisp wind tugged at his pelt, but his attention was solely on her. There was something about the way she moved - intentional yet unhurried - that stirred a sense of familiarity in him.

He remembered the hawk, the fierce battle they had fought together, and the farmhouse where he'd shared catnip with her. The memory brought a faint, almost fond smile to his lips. Aspenberry was different, and he couldn’t help but admire the way she balanced her sense of duty with a quiet curiosity. They had crossed paths more than once now, and while Kosmo kept most of his life a mystery, he found himself wanting to learn more about hers.

As she slowed her steps, watching a butterfly flit by with gentle inquiry, Kosmo saw an opportunity to make his presence known. He padded forward, deliberately letting his paws fall softer than usual. The wind carried his scent toward her, and he could tell the moment she caught it.

"Fancy seeing you out here." Kosmo said, his voice warm as he closed the distance between them, stopping a few paces away. His eyes lingered on her, taking in the familiar outline of the cat who had, in some way, begun to grow on him. "I prefer seeing you chase after butterflies instead of hawks."

There was a softness in his tone, an easy familiarity that hadn’t been there before. Kosmo wasn’t one to let his guard down, but around Aspenberry, it felt less like a choice and more like a natural occurrence. Or perhaps that was what he just wanted her to believe.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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Immersed in watching the flitting wings of the small creature, the familiar scent of Kosmo was late to her her nose, the same instance his gentle steps touched her ears. With a head tilt, she let the butterfly continue on, surprised to see Kosmo once again. 'How is it that each moon we happen to stumble across each other?' A faint smile creased her face. It was odd, greeting Kosmo like this. It was the first time both cats were in completely neutral setting, injury and danger free. 'I guess you could say today's circumstances are a little more desirable then what we've experienced before.' she added in response to Kosmo's statement of him preferring her to chase butterflies. She took a few steps closer, returning his greeting with a gentle head bump on his shoulder, which wasn't too hard to reach considering his size. 

Compared to other times, Kosmo seemed to be more relaxed, his manner sweeter, something Aspenberry could appreciate in the moment. 'What brings you over to this area? I mean you could say the same for myself, but you seem like a cat that could be anywhere, at anytime.' She gazed at him curiously. He seemed much the same other than his warmer demeanor. She turned back, disappointed that her butterfly was now long gone, before taking a few steps and burshing past Kosmo. While a more odd way to make an indication, it was an indication to follow her nonetheless. She wouldn't pick one thing over the other. If she wanted to talk to Kosmo, then he would have to come with her on her adventures too. Not that they would be overly interesting, for all she could see ahead was more field land. 'How has life been fairing? I hope the barn cats are well. Ghost, was it? She seemed nice. I don't really understand all the hostility against those from outside the clans. We are not that different, merely more than living things within a wider world.' It was, perhaps, an odd thing for a deputy of a clan too say, but Aspenberry knew where she stood, influenced by only herself, and perhaps the outsider she walked beside. As she walked, she turned to look at him once more, not really for any particular reason, maybe just so she could try figure him out a little more, for she knew this can held many layers. She could see it within his gaze, and sense it in the air around him. Sometimes Aspenberry just knew these things, but it was never enough, she wanted to know it all.

Or, perhaps it was just an excuse to look, for the way the patterns and features of his build combined together was certainly something she didn't mind. 

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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  Kosmo felt the warmth of Aspenberry’s head bump against his shoulder, but he didn’t let himself relax into the moment fully. His mismatched eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of something deeper crossing his gaze. He was growing used to her presence - maybe a bit too used to it. For a cat who kept secrets close, letting someone in, even just a little, came with its risks. But here she was again, unknowingly pulling him along, and against his better judgment, he followed.

"Exciting, maybe." He murmured, his voice quieter now, as though weighing the memory of the hawk against something else. "But not everything dangerous is worth chasing."

As she brushed past him, signaling him to follow, he hesitated for a heartbeat before padding after her, his pawsteps cautious. This felt different. No battle, no injuries, just... conversation. And that’s what put him on edge. Still, Aspenberry's easy curiosity tugged at something inside him, something that reminded him of what a group of close knit cats might feel like. Of what he was missing.

When she brought up Ghost and the hostility between clan and outsider, his eyes darkened, and his voice took on a smooth, deep tone. "You’re right. We’re not so different. But you know how it goes. Traditions are just rules passed down by dead cats. And grudges? They get passed down with them, like fleas you never asked for." He let the words settle in the air, his gaze briefly locking with hers, the sharpness momentarily softening around the edges.

Kosmo wasn’t in the mood to delve too deeply into that side of himself, not yet, but maybe he could be persuaded. "Life moves forward." He said after a pause, deflecting. "The barn cats are... managing. Leaf-bare is in the air. I've made sure they won't be wanting when it comes to herbs. I suspect it will be enough, but I feel this season will be a cold one."

He followed the ghostly shape of their spotted pelt, his own toasted cinnamon frame lurking slightly behind, allowing her to take the lead this time. His maw touched on a smile. "I'm where I need to be, even if every step is a mystery. There's probably some purpose to it, right? I've been getting in touch with my roots. I've been closer to Riverclan as of late." He gave a shrug, as if dismissing his own admission, and his mismatched eyes flicked back to Aspenberry, unblinking.

"And you?" His voice lightened, but the an accusing lit remained. Why would the deputy of Windclan be so far from home?

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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'Maybe not worth chasing.. but at least worth an investigation. By my standards at least. I want to experience everything this world has to offer, the good and the bad.' She trailed on forward, her steps chosen an precise, despite having no direct destination in mind. Her attention was now back on her surroundings, Kosmo merely a breathing object beside her. She wanted to take it all in; the smells, the sights. It wasn't much, but the further she went, the less familiar the sights became. Her path followed along a safe distance from the gorge, its water much calmer compared to the perilous chasm beside RiverClan. 

Grudges and traditions. Aspenberry hated how conservative the clans were sometimes, but she could understand why they lived so tightly bound to the code. There was a reason these four groups had lasted for so many moons, and many fear that change may send them burning to the ground. Aspenberry didn't believe that. While simple traditions were nice, like the ceremony of an apprentice, or the naming of newborns, the clans lasted because of the cats themselves, the life they contained and their spirit to keep living. 'You know, you are lucky you live closer to WindClan rather than some of the others. Fawnstar leads us in our ancestor's pawsteps, but I have seen the way my clanmates act. We have a deeper understanding, or perhaps respect for those who live outside out clans. Maybe not everyone thinks the same way, but I know I hope to slowly guide my loved ones down the path I follow, to a time where we see each other as the same, rather than the enemy.' 

It was clear to her that Kosmo had more he could say on the topic, something in which she knew she could push for if she tried hard enough, but she didn't. While Aspenberry's curiosity always remained strong, she didn't like to push. Things were to be said when the time was right, and that was that. She held her gaze with Kosmo's though, keeping her glance steady. She knew there was more to him, and she wanted to make sure Kosmo knew that. It was good to hear that the barn cats were going well, and she nodded in acknowledgement, but what caught her attention was Kosmo talking about his own roots, and RiverClan. RiverClan would be an easier topic to tackle then that of Kosmo's own history, so she spoke up about that first. 'RiverClan? What has drawn you over there?' Your past? She wanted to ask, but that was for another time. Her pale gaze was trained on the tom, calculated and focused. There were a few things she could ask, a few paths she could go down with this conversation, but she ended up choosing to let Kosmo continue to speak. How much would he say with little to no input from herself? She was curious to see. 

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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  Kosmo walked beside Aspenberry, his gaze flickering over the unfamiliar landscape. A vast, open field that seemed to stretch on for miles, and they likely did. Her words echoed in his mind - experience everything this world has to offer - but there was a part of him that remained a bit uncertain. His mismatched eyes shifted to her, watching the way she moved with purpose, even without a clear destination.

Her words about traditions and grudges lingered, sparking a bitter, knowing smile. He wasn't here to debate the virtues of clan life, but he couldn't deny the truth of what he felt. Cats clung to old wounds and customs, and that kind of thinking had a way of shaping everything.

As they walked, the conversation turned to Windclan’s openness compared to the other clans. Kosmo’s ears flicked, absorbing her observations, which seemed to him a bit unfounded, but he said nothing. He could sense her optimism, the hope she had for change within her clan. It was admirable, in a way, but Kosmo wasn’t so sure things were that simple. Change, in his experience, always came at a cost.

Kosmo padded evenly beside her, tail at half length even with his muscular frame. He had expected her to probe deeper into his comment about his roots, but she allowed him to lead the conversation. He could appreciate that - she didn’t push, didn’t pry. Still, he wasn’t sure how much to reveal.

"I was born south of the Riverclan lands." He said, his tone neutral. "So that place is most familiar to me. The farmhouse may be a place for some cats, and no doubt I've been welcome there, but its not my homeland. Feels odd, though, being a wanderer for so long to finally have a home worth returning to." His words were carefully chosen, and while he offered a glimpse into his thoughts, he kept the full picture hidden. His old stomping grounds had drawn him for reasons he wasn’t ready to share - at least not yet.

Kosmo’s pace slowed slightly as he glanced at Aspenberry. Her pale gaze was focused, almost calculating, as if she were trying to read between the lines of what he wasn’t saying. It made him uneasy, but at the same time, there was a part of him that appreciated her curiosity. He turned away from her there with an air of evenness, sighing as he inhaled the briskness of the afternoon.

"You’re quiet." He smirked, his voice softer now, almost teasing. "Planning your next question?" There was a flicker of amusement in his eyes, though it quickly tempered into a fine edge.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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So, he was born near RiverClan, likely familiar with the clans since birth. It told her... nothing really. Nothing more than that these lands were in fact, where he came from and not something foreign and new. Aspenberry had little interaction with WindClan, especially past their borders, but the thought brought her back to her times in the nursery, and the tales that Rooknose told her and her sister to keep them entertained. 'You know, my father used to tell me stories of a group of dangerous rogues living to the south of RiverClan, led by a large tom akin to a silvery tiger. Piercing blue odd eyes, which perhaps unearthed a hint of insanity. I don't remember much, but perhaps you are a descendant.' A humourous twinkle sparkled in her eyes, as to her, it was merely more than a story her father had told her. 

'Maybe. I'm not one to pry, but I want to pry. My own nature and curiosity conflict each other everyday, but I respect others, unless they are willing to share of course.' Her voice contained a distinct lilt, and she searched for some sort of giveaway in Kosmo's gaze, finding nothing.

The field land seemed to last on forever, a vast ocean of green lacking the natural variety the moors back home contained. There would have to be an end at some point, surely, but before she could even consider what else was up ahead, a glint caught her eye. Peering upwards and ahead where a large monster rested. Large wasn't even a good word to use, for this creature was bigger than anything Aspenberry had seen before. She could tell just from is looming presence, despite still being a fair distance away from it. She inhaled sharply, eyes narrowing too thin slits. What if it woke up? Would it be able to scent them? Would it come after them? Despite her doubts, her gaze never wavered, as she continued on her path, approaching the monster with only the slightest hint of fear. 

It smelt rancid, tangy and old, and as her vision cleared Aspenberry could see that the creature was aged, looking similar to how two-legs treated their old dens. It seemed... dead, but Aspenberry couldn't be sure. She stopped a safe distance away, glaring at the machine with a fierce gaze as her ears pinned to the back of her head. Was this what had robbed WindClan of their leader?

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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Kosmo’s ears twitched as Aspenberry shared the tale of the rogue leader, her words painting a vivid picture of a silvery tom with blue odd eyes - a hint of insanity, she had said. The name Caligula echoed in his mind, though he remained outwardly unaffected. His mismatched eyes betrayed nothing, but internally, the mention of his grandsire stirred something cold and distant. The Cabal, the chaos of his youth, and the heavy legacy that lingered like a shadow behind him. Aspenberry had no idea how close her story hit to the truth.

"Maybe..." he replied, his tone playful but with an underlying tension. "A descendant of a silvery tiger? Sounds like quite the legacy. But I'm afraid I don't share any of the madness - just the odd eyes." He winked, deflecting the conversation away from anything too revealing, but the humor in his voice didn’t quite reach his gaze.

He matched Aspenberry's pace as they pressed onward through the endless green, the flat landscape unfamiliar to him compared to the dense forests and winding rivers of his past. There was something soothing about the open space, the sky stretched out above them without interruption. But when Aspenberry stopped abruptly, her posture shifting into something cautious and tense, Kosmo followed her gaze and his eyes narrowed at the sight ahead.

The ‘monster’ loomed large in the distance, its bulky frame casting a long shadow. Even from where they stood, he could smell the rust, the decay that clung to the air. It was a twoleg machine, abandoned and left to rot in the field. But Kosmo knew better than to underestimate these creatures. He had seen what they could do to the land and to cats who strayed too close.

"It’s just a monster." he said, though he kept his voice low. He had encountered them before in his wanderings, though he always gave them a wide berth. "Old, dead... I’ve seen cats crushed under wheels just like those." His eyes flickered toward Aspenberry, gauging her reaction. She seemed determined, perhaps a little reckless, but he admired her bravery nonetheless.

Kosmo approached the tractor cautiously, his paws light on the earth as he circled the rusty frame before he leaped up onto a rusty red wheel frame, testing its weight under his own. "Sometimes Two-Legs abandon them. Sometimes they die on their own." He could sense that there was something more to this encounter, something connected to WindClan’s past. "Sometimes they can be killed." Kosmo dipped behind the other side, before his cinnamon pelt could be seen under one of the large wheels where his half tail flicked in invitation to come look.

To come see what he had smelled and had smelled before. A tang of old oil had darkened the ground and vein like wires had broken apart, leading to a vessel. Perhaps Monsters weren't so different from cats. "It must have bled out. You can smell whats left from the ground there to - there. " He indicated with his nose, although his muzzle was crinkled with distaste.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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Aspenberry could see within his gaze that there was something that could be unearthed, something she could push towards and something that she wasn't being told. What exactly it was though, Aspenberry was very much in the dark. 'Well, you have the size too. I wouldn't exactly call you a normal size y'know. My head is at your shoulders, normal cats aren't built like that.' she added with a wink before ultimately dropping the topic. She would surely bring it up again at some point though.

'I know it's just a monster' she spat, flashing Kosmo an irritated look, before softening her gaze slightly. She knew he was just trying to ease her obvious discomfort, but she wasn't stupid and Kosmo needed to know that. She murmured an embarrassed sorry, turning her pale eyes away before looking back at her enemy. Crushed... such a horrible way to die, within the paws of a two-leg monster. She frowned, not reply to Kosmo's comment. She didn't need to dwell on what could happen. She was here, very much alive an uncrushed, and she would remain alive an uncrushed. 

The monster's blood had been one of the first things to catch her attention, its smell something impossible to ignore. Making her way over to it with a rounded path, she carefully bent her neck over so she could inspect the blood. Her nose twitched a little, and once the scent hit her nose she reeled back instantly with a snarl on her face. It was absolutely disgusting. 'With that smell anyone could tell this thing was dead.'

The spotted she-cat watched curiously as Kosmo leapt onto the paw of the monster. It was clearly dead, but that didn't mean she had to go near it. But it also meant she could go near it. With just a brief moment of hesitation, she leapt up after Kosmo, unsure of what surface she would be greeted with. Hard, springing and smoother than the ground, Aspenberry dug her claws deep into the paw of the monster, he ears flattening back a little. She didn't like this. But she loved it at the same time. She cautiously took a few more steps, her pelt prickling and raised. The monster's belly was open. How intriguing. She peered into its belly before taking a small leap, landing on an even softer ground. This time it was extra smooth on her paw pads, harder to get a grip on and extremely unfamiliar. The inside the tractor was completely foreign to the WindClan deputy, and she gazed at a few of the machine's buttons with wide eyes before reaching out a tentative paw to touch the wheel. 

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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  Kosmo’s ear flicked at Aspenberry's comment about his size, a smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth. Her lighthearted jab about his stature didn’t bother him; in fact, he appreciated the shift in the tone. It steered them away from the heavier topics that lingered unspoken between them. He had always been larger than most, and while it set him apart, it also came with a certain expectation.

When she snapped back at him, irritated by his comment about the ‘monster,’ Kosmo's expression remained neutral. He knew she wasn't stupid, and while he had intended to offer some reassurance, he also recognized the fire in her eyes - a determination not to be belittled. Her quick apology softened the moment, though, and he offered her a slight nod in return.

When she joined him on the rusted monster, her curiosity overcoming her initial hesitation. Her reaction was both cautious and excited - a balance of wariness and thrill that Kosmo could relate to. He crouched down on the metallic surface, his mismatched eyes observing her as she explored the unfamiliar machine, poking at its parts like a kit discovering something new for the first time.

"The inside of these things is strange, isn’t it?" Kosmo said, his voice low as he moved closer, stepping around the tangled mess of wires. "Once they’re broken, they’re nothing more than hollow shells." He tapped the side of the tractor with his paw, the hollow clang echoing through the open space.

His gaze lingered on Aspenberry, watching her reactions carefully. "It’s not so different from what we face out here - things or even concepts that seem impossible to beat, but nothing lasts forever."

Kosmo’s half-tail flicked as he turned his attention back to the tractor. There was something about the scene that stirred a deeper thought within him - a comparison between this rusted machine and the burdens he carried. Both were relics of the past, once powerful but now left to pick up the pieces, left to rot in an open field.

"I've kept an eye high for your stolen leader. The white monster hasn't returned... At least that's what I've been told." From the sky was a shadow, gliding barely in view. A pair of dark eyes trailed the two cats, Kosmo in particular. He was being followed, feathers peeking and disappearing behind cloud cover. "How has WindClan been faring?"

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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Unlike Aspenberry, it was clear that Kosmo had had experience with these creatures before, or perhaps he just didn't feel fear. Either way, it was nice to have someone who had some sort of level of experience beside her as she poked and nosed her way around. 'So strange.. even if I come across something unfamiliar at home, most of the time it still fits in, has a purpose or doesn't feel like it's not meant to be there. These things irk me. They aren't meant to be here.' From her spot, she could see some of the ground behind the monster, churned and marked. Monsters trampled and destroyed the ground, and even moons upon moons later, the damage is still clear as ever. 

The clang from Kosmo's claw against the hollow skeleton of the tractor rung through her ears, an ominous sound, yet again reminding her of a million reasons why she should not be up here, and instead safely on the ground, away from here and back at home where she belonged. Where her bloodline lay and the place she had sworn to protect. Her attention had diverted from the tractor now, and she gazed out at the open sea of fields, caught up in her own thoughts. Not once had she felt like she didn't belong in WindClan, but never had she felt completely satisfied with her life either. There would forever be voices calling her away from her home, all while calling her back, tearing her into two. Aspenberry almost ran away as an apprentice, but since earning her name, Aspenberry had made the choice to stay, to honour her family and grow up with her friends. To protect what she loves. Not once has she regretted this choice, but she always wonders what things would be liked if she chose different, perhaps living a life similar to her cinnamon companion. 

'Badgerstar is not coming back. I've been forced to accepted that, although I still look up to the stars and wonder 'why'. We were doing perfectly well underneath his guidance, but I guess they had other plans... but, WindClan has been doing very well. We had a litter born not too long ago, and one of my closest friends announced they are expecting too. There is this little tom our clan adopted too, Fallkit. I've been talking about taking him on as an apprentice once he's old enough. He has a good future ahead of him, one that I hope to be apart of.' Thinking of the seal point kit made Aspenberry smile softly. Fawnstar was yet to confirm if she would mentor him, but either way she would watch him with pride. Almost, in just the smallest way, he reminded her of Kosmo too. 

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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  Her words resonated with him, a sentiment he understood all too well. These "monsters," left behind by twolegs, always seemed out of place - unnatural intrusions in a world of balance. He glanced toward the ground where Aspenberry had noticed the scars left by the machine’s passage, the deep marks in the earth. It was a visual reminder of how easily something could be destroyed.

"You’re right..." Came his thoughtful murmur. "They don’t belong here." His eyes flickered toward the distance, the weight of her words hanging between them. Kosmo understood a bit of what she may have been feeling - the call of duty clashing with a deep, unspoken yearning for something more. He had felt that pull before, the tug of a life beyond the clan's forest and the expectations of his legacy.

When Aspenberry mentioned Badgerstar, Kosmo’s ears tilted forward with quiet interest. It was clear that Aspenberry felt that absence keenly. He remained silent for a moment as she spoke of the clan's future, the new kits, and the promising young Fallkit. The idea of her mentoring the tom brought a subtle warmth to her tone, and Kosmo found himself intrigued, especially because he had a feeling about whom she was referring to.

"Sounds like WindClan has some strong ties holding it together," Kosmo remarked, his voice softer now. "It’s good that there’s new life coming into the clan."

Kosmo fell silent, his gaze following Aspenberry’s out toward the open fields. The wind tugged at his cinnamon fur as he considered the direction his life had taken compared to hers. Both had made choices—But there was a bond forming between them now, one forged through shared experience and quiet understanding.

"Life outside the clans can be... freeing." Kosmo finally said, his voice carrying a hint of wistfulness. "But it’s not always better. Sometimes, it’s just a different kind of cage." His mismatched eyes flickered back to Aspenberry, gauging her reaction to his words. "WindClan is lucky to have you, Aspenberry."

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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She nodded, WindClan definitely contained strong ties that she greatly appreciated. There was her own inner circle of friends, litters of kits, pairs of siblings and honourable leadership. She didn't need to ask for anything more, she had all that she needed. Yet... something always seemed to be missing. 

She gazed at Kosmo again, her eyes seemingly calculating something again, though this time a little softer. She started at him quizzically, what did he mean by 'a different kind of cage'. Living as a loner couldn't be freer, you are able to choose the path you wish to go down, explore as you desire, talk to whoever without guilt and not feel restrained by any sense of duty. Unless, of course, you weren't a loner and belonged to something other than a clan. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, a small indication that she had sort of understood what was hinted behind his words.

'Are they lucky to have me though? I haven't been completely honest with you, Kosmo. I am WindClan's deputy, Fawnstar's first appointed deputy and the one next in line to lead. Instead of guiding my clan, here I am dreaming of another life. How can a Clan by lucky to have someone so divided?' She turned her face away from him, ear twitching as she looked to the floor. 'I graduated late, killed my mother, nearly left the clan during my training, haven't provided the clan any kits and spend my free time outside the clans territory.' She was worked up now, refusing to look at Kosmo as she dug her claws into the seat of the tractor. Aspenberry always had these feelings, but she always buried them. Perhaps that was why she presented herself as so put together in front of her clan, but here with Kosmo, she decided to unbury a few. Why? Maybe from pent up anxiety, or maybe she just felt comfortable, hoping to confide in one who has nothing to do with the clans. It was embarrasing, the way she acted, but for all she knew she could never see Kosmo again, so what he thought of her wouldn't matter. 

With a pause she closed her eyes for a brief moment before locking her pale green gaze to Kosmo's odd one. A new fire burning in her eyes. 'But, I know who I am, and what choices I have made. WindClan is my home, it is what I protect and it is what I love. Whatever I may think, I serve my clan well and my loyalty will forever remain there. Fawnstar picked me for a reason, and I have to accept that.'

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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Kosmo listened intently, his mismatched eyes never leaving Aspenberry as she confessed her deepest fears. Her words revealed a heavy burden, one he hadn’t expected her to carry- being WindClan’s deputy, the next in line to lead. The weight of her position made the struggle inside her all the more clear. It wasn’t just a fleeting feeling of wanderlust; it was a genuine conflict between the life she was bound to and the one she sometimes longed for.

Her confession hung in the air, and for a moment, Kosmo didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t often that someone shared such vulnerability with him, and he felt a pang of empathy for the she-cat before him. She had clearly been holding onto this for a long time, and now, sitting atop a rusting twoleg machine with him of all cats, she had chosen to unburden herself. It was something he couldn't take lightly.

"You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for." Kosmo said quietly, his voice soft yet firm. "It’s not easy to carry that kind of responsibility, especially when torn between two worlds." He flicked his half-tail, considering his next words carefully, almost wistfully as he edged a bit closer to her. " But remember, even when your heart drifts to distant dreams, it doesn't diminish the bond you share with your clan. 'It’s the way of all souls to gaze upon the untrodden paths, drawn by the whispers of what might have been.'"

He looked away for a moment, scanning the horizon as if gathering his own thoughts. "I've spent my life in a flux of constant chaos. With lingering obligations, with real ties, but ties can fray and duty can become blurred and distant. I was born among family and community, the leader's litter, but as third born, my obligations were light. I was not meant to inherit my family's legacy." His eyes flashed towards hers, momentarily sheepish as he compared this to clan life."We did things a bit differently than the clans. Starclan did not ordain leadership; it was passed on through bloodline and inheritance of the strongest. But one by one, my siblings passed. I never once expected that I would be the one to carry that legacy, and I honestly didn't want it. I didn't have a choice then."

With a haunted sigh that shuddered his chest, he leaned into the she-cat, maybe to seek comfort, maybe some relief of her pelt against his bringing his thoughts back to the present. "No one’s perfect. We all carry our regrets, our mistakes, but that doesn’t define who you are. You said it yourself - you know who you are, and you know where your loyalty lies. And as for the life you didn't choose? It’s okay to wonder, but don’t let it take away from what you’ve already built. "  

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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Keeping her gaze trained to his, she listened to his words carefully, hoping to be met with anything but scorn. To her relief, but not to her surprise, Kosmo's voice was soft, a quite reassurance that Aspenberry needed in a moment like this. She never really shared what she felt, not much at least. She sort of opened up to Cloudflare once, but not to the extent she had done today. Even now, there was probably more still buried that Aspenberry herself didn't even know. 

Kosmo was right though, whatever came her way, her bond with WindClan would be infinitely strong, in both blood and personal ties. For a clanless, Kosmo seemed to understand her on a deeper level. It was both intriguing and a nice thing to realise. Kosmo and Aspenberry likely had a lot more in common that either of them realised. 'Before all else shall clan be your life...' she quoted softly. The code she will follow.

It seemed as though Aspenberry's own words had struck something within Kosmo, and she gave him time to speak, his words quite unexpected to the spotted cat beside him. What he shared was new, not too revealing, but enough to give Aspenberry a deep insight into his upbringing, clearly not an easy topic. In whatever place he was born, it was clear they held some sort of fierce pride towards bloodline, in which it warranted who would lead and what was expected of a cat. While different, it wasn't all to foreign to a clan cat. Aspenberry and Kosmo both had the pressure of leadership pressing down on them, and while in different ways, this moment was shared and intimate, something Aspenberry never would have expected to come from Kosmo. 

She placed her tail on his shoulder, though was surprised to be greeted with Kosmo leaning into her. Their fur brushed, and for a moment she froze, completely caught off guard. Then, after a moment she relaxed, her tail draping down to rest against his flank before she let her head lay against his shoulder. A peaceful moment, silent moment between the two that spoke a thousand words. 'I won't, I promise. I've worked hard enough to get where I am today, there's no need to throw it away now, but the same could apply to you, Kosmo, though perhaps now is the time to start building something new. Don't let yourself dwell on the past, what those around you wished for you to do. Think of what you have now, are you truly satisfied with the path you are going down? You only live once, do what you want. If I am to make the right choices in life, I hope that you will too.'

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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  Kosmo felt the warmth of Aspenberry’s fur against his, and for a moment, he allowed himself to sink into the stillness of their shared peace. Her gentle words of reassurance rang in his ears, and though they were comforting, they stirred something deeper in him. Aspenberry, with all her strength and vulnerability, was a reminder of everything Kosmo had left behind - and everything he was trying to build again, out in the shadows where the clans could not see.

But could he ever truly escape his past?

With a quiet sigh, Kosmo pulled away slightly, his mismatched eyes drifting upward as if searching for something far among the cloud cover. A drifting shadow that dipped between sights and invisibility. It was a connection that reminded him of his duality - a foot in the world of the earthbound, but his heart constantly yearning for the freedom of the skies.

"I... want you to introduce you to someone." Kosmo rose to his paws and leapt gracefully to the top of the rusting twoleg machine. From his new vantage point, he felt the wind whip through his cinnamon fur as he let out a deep, throaty caw, calling out into the air. His voice rang through the open space, searching for the shadow that had always been by his side, yet remained unseen by Aspenberry. He wanted to show her the part of him that no clan cat knew, a piece of his soul that soared in the skies with wings.

But the sky remained silent.

He maw moved, and more, strange sounds erupted forth, eyes scanning the endless blue for the dark silhouette of the raven. But she gave no indication that she'd heed his suggestion. She lingered in the distance, perhaps not yet ready to meet the she-cat beside him. But she could be seen - a magnificent ebon crested raven flying in the sky. His chest tightened as the weight of what that meant settled in - even now, there were pieces of his life he couldn’t share. Not with Aspenberry, not yet.

Kosmo looked back down at her, his expression momentarily guarded, but softened by the intimate connection they had just shared. He hopped down beside her again, the air between them heavy with unspoken thoughts.

"She’ll come when she’s ready" He murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips, though his eyes held a hint of sadness. "Some things... they need more time, which means we'll have to cross paths again." Fur brushing against fine strands, electrifying to the subtle like Kosmo as his voice dipped low, thoughtful. "The future is ours to shape, and perhaps now is the time to build something new... just like you said. What about you, Aspenberry? Can you make the choices that will set you free, even if it means walking a path no one else expects you to?"

The question hung between them, the wind picking up again, ruffling their fur as if to carry their words into the wide, open sky.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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Aspenberry didn't mind as Kosmo pulled away. It was a symbol of, despite what they shared, a level of divide they would always have. Aspenberry, a pure blooded deputy of WindClan, and Kosmo, an heir to something great and unknown. Oil and water, that, despite trying their hardest to mix, likely never will...

Aspenberry followed closely behind, quite confused as to who Kosmo would be able to introduce to her out here in the middle of nowhere. With a graceful leap, she rose up and bounced towards the roof, paws hardly making a sound as they hit the rusting metal above. Her eyes followed where Kosmo was looking, which was up to the sky, until Kosmo decided to speak again, but instead of words, what she heard was something akin to the call of a bird. She glanced at him, confused but gaze full of wonder. After the echoes of his voice faded, the air was left with a gentle silence, and Aspenberry was greeted by no one. Instead, a pair of night coloured wings flickered through the clouds, circling but never lowering. She gazed up at the raven, her eyes flickering with pure fascination. Aspenberry felt as though something small had clicked inside her, but she wasn't exactly sure what had. 

'How...' She didn't really know where to start, still gazing at the sky, 'Does she have a name?' She asked, limiting her usual string of questions to just one. This felt like a moment she needed to take slower, to gain a deep understanding and connection. 'I guess we might have to cross paths again... fate seems to always bring as back together. I won't be surprised if I see you again.' She paused, considering her next words, not entirely sure of her own answer. 'I already walk a path I think little expected of me, it even surprised my self. In what world would any typical deputy sit up here and talk to you like this. I know I'm different than most. My choices.. I have never regretted them, so whatever I do in the future, I'll be free, one way or another.'

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
⋆｡°✩ ⭒ ──● 𓄿 ●── ⭒ ⋆｡°✩ Aspenberry was unlike any clan cat he had ever met - fiercely independent, yet so deeply connected to her home. It was a rare thing to see someone so at peace with their choices, despite the burden of leadership that weighed on her. He could sense her wonder at the raven above, that brief flicker of connection between them, but also the hesitation. Aspenberry had her own mysteries, her own inner world, just as Kosmo did, and yet here they were, sharing this moment.

"She does have a name, although it's rather hard for a cat to pronounce." He said softly, answering her question at last. His voice held a note of fondness as he spoke of the raven.

Kosmo’s eyes flicked back to Aspenberry. "It seems that you and I... we both walk paths that aren’t expected of us. Maybe that’s why fate keeps pulling us together. There’s something about the unknown, the untrodden paths, that calls to us."

He stepped closer, his fur brushing against hers once more. The wind carried the scent of open fields and distant horizons, a reminder of the freedom both of them craved in their own ways. "I hope you never lose that freedom, Aspenberry. Whether you lead WindClan or follow your heart somewhere else, I think you’ll find your way."

The silence that followed was not uncomfortable, but rather filled with unspoken understanding. Kosmo glanced at the raven once more before turning his full attention back to Aspenberry. "I'm sure she will come to trust you in time. She's a bit hard to impress." His eyes glittered with a mix of challenge and encouragement. "I think you’re more than capable of it." Their closeness was palpable.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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'You can try tell me, though I don't think I'll try and repeat it' her laugh was soft, the whole situation still weirdly foreign to her, but it fueled her desires, feeding her curiosity just as she had wanted to. 'How exactly do you just... befriend a bird? Surely the fear of become prey overcomes at some point. A fox could treat me like it was my mother and I would still always contain some sort of underlying, irking fear that I've trusted the wrong thing, though I guess you can't know until you've experienced it.'

With white and cinnamon side by side, the breeze rustled the duo's fur with a gentle flicker. Atop this abandoned monster, outside her home and away from her friends Aspenberry felt at peace as she inhaled whatever the wind carried from afar. 'I hope that too, and... I hope you find yours, whether its down by your birthplace, or perhaps somewhere you have even yet to discover. I'll be rooting for you' she added with a wink, eyes following the wispy, snakelike grass as it rustled.

'I don't mind that she doesn't want to, I haven't done anything to earn her trust yet. I watch beauty from afar, I don't have to be apart of it. Though, there's no harm in trying.' A challenge was something she wouldn't refuse, but she wouldn't force it either. Only time would tell, but she felt like she was already halfway, perhaps even further with a certain odd eyed rouge. 

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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  Kosmo let out a soft chuckle at Aspenberry’s words, his mismatched eyes gleaming with amusement. “Yes. I could say it for you as long as you don't think I'm... weird or anything." He winked before he steadied his paws and took a deep breath. Whiskers twitched as a throaty rumble escaped him, puncuated by a half screech that warbled smoothly at the end. "That is what she is known among the other Skyborne." His gaze lingered on the raven for a moment before returning to Aspenberry, considering her question.

"My mentor planted the seeds for my success. It's difficult to explain, as it started with a shared dream." Akin to the gathering of medicine cats around the Moonstone, perhaps, but between mentor and apprentice. "Then came understanding and trust. Not all creatures are as bound by instinct as we think they are. Take cats, for example. We trust things that others would fear."

He paused, letting the breeze tug gently at his fur, feeling the weight of their closeness - sugar and cinnamon blending together against the open sky. Her presence beside him, so calm and accepting. "You’re right, though. Fear is always there, lurking in the back of your mind. Maybe that’s what keeps us sharp. But sometimes, when you take a risk, you find something worth holding onto."

He smiled softly at her wink, appreciating the lightheartedness she brought even in moments like this. "Thank you." He murmured, his tone sincere. "For rooting for me." The air between them felt almost charged with unspoken connection, as if they were tethered by something neither of them could quite name.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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She looked a little taken aback at first, but it wasn't something she hadn't heard before. While still sounding catlike, the call had a certain edge and accent that Aspenberry would never be able to replicate. She wasn't sure if anyone could really. 'During my first moon as an apprentice I would try talk to the birds, a little differently though, and with perhaps a slightly different intention in mind.' With her mouth slightly parted, she let out a chattering, chirpy sound as her whiskers switched and jaw vibrated. It was a mimicking sort of sound, similar to that of the chatter and rustle of small birds.

A shared dream was definitely interesting, something she had never heard from the clans own medicine cats. With a focused frown, she considered Kosmo's words before thinking of Rowanglade. She didn't visit the medicine cat all that often, and the spirituality of StarClan had always made her wonder, so perhaps it was time to go see her again. For her own queries, and to perhaps just gain some wisdom from one she respected so much.

Feeling a little more confident than usual, she wanted to gauge just how invested Kosmo really was, in them both. Though she felt by now she already knew the answer. 'What about us? Is this a risk you will hold onto?' Standing up, she let her tail brush under Kosmo's chin for a moment before she leapt of the roof, landing with nothing more than a nearly inaudible thump. 'Walk me home, will you?'

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
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  Kosmo’s eyes widened in mock horror as Aspenberry let out her chattering bird call, his fur fluffing up dramatically. “Oh no!” ,He gasped, taking a step back. “What did you just say?” His expression was a perfect blend of alarm and disbelief, as if expecting a flock of furious birds to descend upon them at any moment.

For a heartbeat, the tension hung thick in the air, and then Kosmo’s composure broke. A grin spread across his face, and he let out a hearty laugh, the sound rich and warm. “Just kidding!” His whiskers twitched with amusement, the edges of his smile lined with teeth. “It’s a good imitation. Maybe you’re already closer to speaking their language than you think."

But her next words brought him back to the present, their weight settling over him like the first hint of rain before a storm. Kosmo's gaze met hers, steady and unflinching, as she asked the question that hung in the air between them like an invisible thread. There was no hesitance.

"Yes, I believe it is." His voice was gentle but firm, each word carrying the sincerity of his conviction. "I don’t know what the future holds, for either of us. But this - whatever this is between us - it’s worth exploring. I’m not going to let it slip away easily."

Her tail brushed under his chin, a fleeting touch that sent a shiver down his spine, and then she was leaping off the roof with a grace that left him momentarily breathless. He watched her land, his heart thrumming with a mix of emotions he couldn’t quite name. With a swift, agile movement, Kosmo followed, landing lightly beside her, his paws barely making a sound on the ground.

"Of course." He murmured, falling into step beside her. "I’ll walk you home." There was a smile in his voice as they walked together, side by side, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of them.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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While not overly surprised, it was still nice to hear the words come from Kosmo's mouth. That he, just like she was, was ready to push boundaries to continue whatever this was. 'I'm glad to hear that' Her voice was soft, and it trailed along with the breeze, almost being washed away by it. Looking back at Kosmo she saw the mixture of emotions strewn across his face, and she held in a satisfied smirk. 

Glad that she would have company on her way back, Aspenberry trotted beside Kosmo this time, no longer feeling the need to take the lead. She glanced back at the rotten monster one last time, taking in the look of it's empty, ghost like shell before turning away, never really wanting to see it again. She wasn't in too much of a hurry to get home, so she let her pace be slow, walking in content silence beside Kosmo. Her thoughts in this moment had been narrowed, WindClan seemed so far away, the future seemed so far away. It was just her, Kosmo and the gentle sway of the fields and she couldn't wish for anything else. 

Not too far from the border, she slowed her pace to a stop, 'Here is where we shall part ways. I don't want your scent any closer to the border, I'm sure you know why' She didn't say goodbye all too often, and wasn't really sure how to do so. She hesitated before briefly pressing her nose into his shoulder, a fleeting moment of contact. 'Until we meet again' she meowed, turning off and leaping over to her own lands. Today had been nice, better than she expected. No injuries, no catmint. Just Aspenberry and Kosmo.