Private Thread Plot Thread [Sticky] Returning Home (7 RP '21)

Healing is a matter of time,
but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

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Rowanglade kept walking side by side with her apprentice. They’d only just crossed the Thunderpath and made it into the East Treeline and the damp that had followed the thunderstorm earlier in the day wet her paws and underside, but it hardly crossed her mind as they walked.

”I know you don’t want to talk about it,”

First we make our choices. Then our choices make us

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Pipertuft cut Rowanglade off. ”It’s not anything that matters,” The words came out in a harsh whisper. ”It’s not something that’s going to happen!”

The stars are but cold fire, unfeeling and distant
. · ˚ ✧ · ˚ · ✧ ˚ · .

The Thunderpath was damp with the storm and home to more paws than the two would realize. Gemini had been trailing them since their paws left the black path, her smoke ruffled coat blending with the wet shadows of the treeline. Unblinking eyes fixed on the pair, she moved like a ripple of darkness through the ferns, breath catching on the damp hush of the forest. Their voices carried to her, low and hushed, but she only heard fragments.

Not anything that matters... not going to happen… The words buzzed against the whispers already clawing through her head.

Her whiskers quivered, a tremor running down her spine as the voices shrieked and hissed to press her forward.

Without warning, Gemini erupted from the bracken, a blur of smoke tortie fur and flashing teeth. Her snarl tore through the damp air as she barreled straight for Rowanglade, all her weight behind the lunge claws reaching to hook deep into the medicine cat’s shoulders before she could even turn.

Healing is a matter of time,
but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

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Rowanglade couldn’t silence the sudden scream as the tortoiseshell cat came at her in a fury of claws and fur. Her frame was small compared to the big she-cat and she nearly went down under the attack.

First we make our choices. Then our choices make us

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The young she-cat’s spine prickled as her mentor screamed from under the longhaired rogue. They were going to die and Laughingfox had known!

Fury rose in her at the long dead tom. He should have warned them properly! Since she couldn’t vent the rising rage at the one who was already dead she launched herself into the fray.

She clawed frantically in an attempt to free Rowanglade from the rogue.

The stars are but cold fire, unfeeling and distant
. · ˚ ✧ · ˚ · ✧ ˚ · .

Gemini’s weight crushed Rowanglade down, claws sinking deep into the soft flesh of her shoulders. The metallic tang of blood filled her mouth before her fangs even found skin, and she drew in a shuddering breath like it was life itself. 

She barely noticed the apprentice’s claws at first. The frantic scrabbling on her flanks, the tug at her fur. It was background noise, nothing compared to the heat of blood blooming against her gums. Her golden eyes rolled wild, her muzzle pressing down. Then Pipertuft’s strike caught her nose.

Pain flared sharp that tore a screech from her chest. Gemini recoiled with a snarl, head jerking back as blood streamed from the torn flesh of her muzzle. The momentary distraction loosened her hold, her claws slipping in the mud, and in that sliver of space Rowanglade had her chance to wriggle free.

Healing is a matter of time,
but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

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Rowanglade scrambled back to her paws and out from under the rogue. She slashed with inexperienced claws as she went, blood flowing freely from the wounds in her shoulders.

The searing pain of the further bite of claws along her back as she made her way to freedom were ignored in favor of getting clear.

Four long bounds to be clear, and then she skidded to a stop in the mud. She turned, fully intending to dive into the fray to protect Pipertuft.

First we make our choices. Then our choices make us

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At all costs

Pipertuft bit and clawed and yowled as she went, diving towards the rogue’s face as she went.

”ROWANGLADE RUN!” She snarled the words like some hero out of the legends. Like Bloodstar when he fought the little monster and lost. Like Talise who went paw to paw with a monster for TigerClan.

This cat was a monster out of legend.

She had to be a Hero!

Walk towards StarClan

The stars are but cold fire, unfeeling and distant
. · ˚ ✧ · ˚ · ✧ ˚ · .

Gemini’s snarl tore ragged from her throat as Rowanglade slipped from her grasp. Her gaze snapped to the younger she-cat instead. The apprentice’s cry split the air, but Gemini heard nothing but the shrieking chorus inside her head. Pipertuft’s claws raked across her flank, hot lines of fire that only seemed to stoke her frenzy. 

Gemini reeled forward, her weight slamming into the apprentice with a ferocity that shook the sodden earth. Her teeth snapped for the smaller she-cat, breath rasping with a fevered laugh as she tried to pin her down.

Her paws pressed harder, claws scraping for purchase against Pipertuft’s thrashing form, each strike of the apprentice feeding her wild unhinged momentum. Rowanglade might have escaped her claws for now, but Gemini was locked fast on the one who dared to stand her ground.

Healing is a matter of time,
but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.

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Gasped for breath despite freezing at her apprentice’s snarl. The words rang with power and Rowanglade swore she could feel the backing of StarClan. Not far away came the echoing thump of a rabbit giving warning.

Rowanglade fled!

Her paws had never carried her away from any place so fast. And even while she sped away the hollow ache of guilt filled her chest.

Around her as she went the sounds of battle faded away, leaving only the sounds of her ragged breathing and rushing wind as she took flight.