Open to Join Follow the River

Kindness goes a long way, but don't mistake it for weakness.

✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧༄🦋༄✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧

The black-and-white pelted she-cat had decided to follow her heart on her explorations today, which eventually lead her to RiverClan's territory, the south-west river in particular. She marveled at the soft murmuring of the river eased her the sounds of the territory brought a purr out from her throat as she perched herself on a stone that hung just above the river, dipping her paw into the flowing water.

Duchess watched as the shadows of fish drifted past, until one drew closer, just close enough...

She swiped her paw upwards, claws unsheathed to snag the fish into the air, she lurched forward, catching the minnow in her jaws before it could back into the river and bit down hard, only until the thrashing stopped, then dipped her paw into the water once more after placing the fish beside her.

It wasn't much of a strategy and more of feeling where the fish would flick past next, but if another drew closer, Duchess wouldn't hesitate to reach that opportunity with an open... wet, paw. She shut her eyes, feeling the current argue with the stillness of her paw and a smile pulled her lips upward, it was calm here, as it was where she lived, now that there wasn't any snow coating the ground. Nothing could ruin this moment now.

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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A scent broke through the hum of summer carrying with it the unmistakable musk of another cat. Tangleloon’s lashes parted, pale green eyes flicking toward the river with the tiniest spark of curiosity. For a heartbeat, the memory of whispered fears stirred... rogues, blood, and shadows in the reeds. He drew in another breath, slow and steady, and let his tail flick once against the grass. No...it couldn't be.

Intrigued the curly tom rose from his patch of sun and padded with the leisure of one who had all the time in the world. He let the grass brush his sides, unhurried, until the tucked earth gave way to the open bend of river.

There she was. Black and white against the shimmer, paw dipping into the current. For a moment he only watched, noting the minnows flashing silver, the delicate ripple of water breaking around her paw.

Relief tugged at his chest in an indulgent sigh. Not the killer. The killer was a smokey, dark tortie...With a michevious swish of his tail, Tangleloon padded closer, letting his paws press into the riverbank so his arrival was no secret. His voice, when it came, was warm and lilting as though he were welcoming her instead of howling her off.

"Well now, I thought the minnows were gossiping a bit too excitedly today...'Oh! My death - my death has arrived!' " His whiskers twitched, eyes bright with amusement, one pupil obviously different in size. "And here I find the source of their chatter...not a rogue but a fisher with grace in her paws." He dipped his head in a sweeping, almost theatrical bow, curls catching the sunlight as he straightened.

"Tangleloon." He offered eloquent as ever though his grin softened it. Warriors could huff and pomp all they liked towards a stranger, but Tangleloon liked to believe he was wiser than that. "Elder of RiverClan, Stone-Building...Sun-Soaker...Storyteller to Kits. And who, may I ask, has the river seen fit to introduce me to this fine greenleaf day?"

Kindness goes a long way, but don't mistake it for weakness.

✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧༄🦋༄✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧

Duchess' eyes cracked open to meet a curly haired tom, eyes unusually asymmetrical. She purred out a greeting to the warrior- no elder? He was young for an elder, but she shrugged of the implication that something would have happened to stop him from being a warrior and focused more on the theatrical words he spoke with an innate amusement in the twitching of her whiskers.

"Ah yes, the minnows chatterin' bout their own demise" She chuckled, light, as if the words tickled coming out of her throat before turning to Tangleloon and raising a brow "Tangleloon." she repeated, a fondness in her tone. "Well now, a cat carryin' so many titles must be worth the company" she added playful an intrigued, almost flirty if her voice didn't sound so friendly. 

As Tangleloon continued the theatrics, part of her felt that the words belonged to him alone, something that he carried with pride and something that was his, fascinating. "Them silvery, flickin' fish met their maker. Right at the paws and teeth of the lovely, Duchess" she replied, smooth and amused, almost painting a picture with her words.

She gave an approving nod, glancing at the fish she had caught and lifted her paw, licking the water from the white fur until it was as dry as a damp paw could be. "Got a story or two have ya?" She teased softly, cocking her head to the side "Well c'mon then, care to join a she-cat on a fine day like this? I lend you a fish and you cast a line and fish me up a tale." she invited, pushing the minnow she had caught towards the curly-pelted tom.

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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Tangleloon’s pale eyes, one wide and the other narrowed, fixed on the minnow nudged toward him. For a long beat of silence he only twitched an ear, gaze flicking from the silver fish to the black and white she-cat.

He straightened a bit, falling selectively on his back feet in a half crouch. "Strangers are curious things, Duchess. And strangers are not kits!" He exclaimed matter of factly.

He bent his head sniffing the catch. His voice dropped to a low hum, rich and river smooth. If Duchess had meant to be tantalizing, Tangleloon was very much oblivious - but kind! "Very well. A trade is fair. A tale for a fish. Duchess-Not-A-Kit."

"Long ago RippleClan was nearly torn apart by a thief, a shining beetle who stole the clan’s fish under the cover of stars. Warriors sharpened their claws, apprentices spat for blood. But two small leaders kits no higher than a queen’s nest stopped the battle before it began. Galestar the Unshakable, and Skyglide the Merciful...But - once peace was established between RippleClan and the newly formed BeetleClan, RippleClan's next trial would be from within!" He began, forming the story on the fly while his eyes seemed distracted by a buzzing dragonfly above.

Kindness goes a long way, but don't mistake it for weakness.

✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧༄🦋༄✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧

"Now, ya don't gotta be a kit to take joy in a good story. Sometimes a stranger'll appreciate it more'n you reckon" Duchess replied, the words came easy to her, as if she was passing down some simple knowledge instead of giving some grand lecture, she was just there enjoying the company. And hopefully Tangleloon was too. 

Soon, her tone grew warmer, like it was dipped and soaked in honey before she had even spoke. "A stranger could be anybody, but we're on a name-to-name basis now, so I'd say that counts for somethin'" The tone was friendly, and felt like warm, sweet syrup on her tongue, like this was something she did all the time, the friendly allure was who Duchess was, and she'd like to see a cat try and change that.

Duchess' ears perked at the story, about RippleClan, its leaders, the crafty beetle, and the formation of BeetleClan, no detail was lost on her and an intrigue sparked in her hazel eyes as they met Tangleloon's uneven teal eyes. "That’s a fine start." she cheered, a fond lilt in her tone, playful but respectful. "Galestar, Skyglide… sounds like RippleClan’s got themselves some mighty fine leaders, if they could inspire a mischievous beetle to build its own clan instead o’ just stealin’ from theirs."

Tangleloon stopped, a suspenseful one, Duchess raised a brow but chose not to say much. Instead, curling her tail over her paws and tilting her head in curiosity. "Well, what happens next, story-teller?"

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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Tangleloon cleared his throat, ducking his head mildly at her encouragement. "Ah, but don’t you see?" He mewed, voice carrying like an elder weaving wisdom into the wind. "It wasn't long after that Skyglide faced down Galestar, when the two quarreled over whose whiskers were the longer! Skyglide swore by Silverpelt that her whiskers caught the sunlight better, while Galestar claimed his could measure the very depth of the river!”

He rose partway, puffing his chest with mock grandeur, and tapped a paw toward the trickling water. "Right here... Galestar plunged his face into the stream to prove it, only to come up sputtering with weeds in his teeth! And Skyglide - Oh, clever Skyglide - she simply bowed, whiskers dripping with dew, and declared victory before all of RiverClan. StarClan themselves must have laughed."

With a shake of his head, he wondered if the she-cat fancied his tale. If she would laugh. Probably more at his proposterous display as the curl coated elder finished. "And yet, cats still fret about rogues and shadows. Hah! The only danger here is if the sun decides to melt me into the grass."

Kindness goes a long way, but don't mistake it for weakness.

✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧༄🦋༄✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧

Duchess' whiskers twitched, her laughter bubbling up light and warm, like the trickling of the river itself. "Oh, stars above, Tangleloon, you spin it like I was sittin’ right there myself, watchin’ Galestar chew on pondweed instead o’ swallowin’ his pride." Her tail tip flicked, eyes shining with amusement as she leaned a little closer, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial purr. "Though, between you an’ me, sugar, I reckon Skyglide had the right of it. Sunlight’s always been a mite partial to the she-cats."

She gave him a playful glance, her tone slipping into a gentle tease. "But if you up an’ melt into that grass, dear elder, who’s gonna keep us grinnin’ with them tall tales o’ yours? I’d have to scrape your whiskers off the wind an’ stitch ‘em back together just to hear you sass StarClan ‘bout their shiny coats." Her ears twitched, a grin tugging at her muzzle.

Then, softer, the sweetness that laced her sharp humor slipped through as she added "It’s a blessin’ you keep us laughin’ Tangleloon. World’s already got shadows thick as molasses, and a touch o’ sunshine, especially when it’s caught on whiskers, does a heart more good than a warm fire come winter." Her voice hummed with warmth, playful and kind in equal measure, before she gave a mock stern flick of her paw towards him. "So no meltin’ today, y’hear? That’s an order."

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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Tangleloon’s ears pricked, and for a long breath he simply watched her, green eyes gleaming brighter than the minnows below. "Stars above, Duchess." He purred, letting the syllables roll like a bard tasting fine honey. "you talk like the river itself slipping silver over stone. If I’m a teller of tales, then you are their music."

His whiskers curled with delight as she teased him with her mock order, and with a sudden, overly dramatic groan, he sprawled flat onto his side in the grass, paws flung wide. "Too late! The decree has come too late, my fate sealed!" He gasped, curling his tail over his chest as though clutching his last breath. "The sun - merciless, golden tyrant! - has claimed me for its own."

He wriggled once, then sagged limply, half buried in the long blades of greenleaf grass and curled strands of his tail, only his mismatched pupils peeking up at her, glinting with mischief. "See now, I am already halfway to StarClan." He intoned solemnly, though the twitch of his whiskers gave him away. "And yet, I will haunt this riverbank, waiting for a voice sweet as yours to coax me back."

With a sigh bordering on a purr, he let his head sink into the earth, eyelids drooping as the sun baked into his curls. "I suspect my end shall be one so fitting. Everything will fall away and I'll lose sense of myself..."

Kindness goes a long way, but don't mistake it for weakness.

✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧༄🦋༄✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧

Duchess' eyes followed Tangleloon as he dramatically fell onto his side, letting a few breaths out of her nose, not a chuckle, but close.

She then hopped down from the overhanging rock and sat down beside the chocolaty colored tom before curling her paws beneath herself, now laying beside him with a soft amusement that glazed her eyes into something glimmering with warmth. "Aw, come on now, reckon I didn’t think you’d be fixin’ to melt away so soon. I still got my favorite tale tucked under my whiskers, and you ain’t heard the half of it yet." she purred, more amused than upset by the ordeal.

Then, a fond twitch in her whiskers gave way to a quiet reverence in her eyes for the RiverClan elder. She gave her paws a few licks before turning her gaze back to him, sticking there for what felt like moons. "Heh, you’re a fun cat, darlin’, not like any warrior or clan cat I’ve come across in a rat’s age. Got more spirit in ya than a June bug dancin’ on a porch light." she stated, a compliment, no matter how nonsense it might sound to them. 

"Most o’ your clanmates, now, they’re all puffed-up tails and bristlin’ whiskers, hollerin’ ‘Git outta our territory, rogue, or we’ll tan your hide!'" She announced, waving one of her front paws in a soft slashing motion, akin to a clan warrior aiming a strike at a trespasser. A laugh broke from her belly, hearty and loud "bless their hearts, funny bunch they are."

"But you, Tangleloon, you're some good company"

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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Tangleloon gave a faint, rattling sigh as though each breath might truly be his last. He went perfectly limp in the grass, curls spilling around him like he was being swallowed whole. Only one eye cracked open, glimmering sly and pale green as it fixed on Duchess beside him.

"Mm. A pity, isn’t it?" He murmured with the gravity of a dying sage, though his whiskers twitched at the corners. "Company. That’s probably my only trade worth keeping. That… and stacking stones. And stones, Duchess-Not-A-Kit aren’t half so warm as you." His tail gave a half hearted flop like a flag signaling surrender.

But then - suddenly - he lurched upright with a jolt of life, puffing his chest out, his entire posture snapping sharp as he drew his voice down into a mock stern thunder. His expression hardened, whiskers bristled, and his ears pinned back as he dropped into the role of RiverClan’s oh so serious warriors.

"ROGUE!" He barked, lowering his tone to mimic the gravel and grit of Briarfang's voice. His paw slashed the air with a stiff arc. "You dare set paw on RiverClan soil? By Silverpelt, I’ll gut you where you stand! One more whisker over this border and - " He gave a comically vicious snarl, curling his lip in an overblown facsimile of the senior warrior's snarl - or maybe he was channeling Bloomfire...

Then as if the whole performance had sapped what little life he had left, Tangleloon collapsed back into the grass with a groan. "Terrifying. Truly. And yet…" His eyes gleamed as he peeked at her once more through lashes lowered in play. "I’ve a feeling my ghosts would rather haunt in laughter than fury."

Kindness goes a long way, but don't mistake it for weakness.

✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧༄🦋༄✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧

Duchess let out a bright peal of laughter, the sound rolling as warm as a summer breeze. Her hazel eyes danced, and she gave her tail a teasing flick towards the elder's flank.

"Well now, sugar, if this here's your dyin' act, I recon you've missed your callin'. StarClan oughta set up a stage just for you." She leaned down, her voice dripping to a honeyed drawl, playful as a mockingbird's song. "Though I'll tell ya straight, if I find ya hauntin', you best come back with all that sass an' dramatics. I won't take no grumpy, mopey ghost trailin' after me."

Her whisker's twitched as she tilted her head, mock thoughtful "You've got those warrior's act down to a point don't ya. Bless those warriors poor souls. I'd bet if they knew you were runnin' around soundin' like them, they'd puff up so big we'd have to roll em down the river." She gave him a wicked little grin, though her tone softened again, fondness curling in like sunlight through leaves.

"Company suits you just fine, Tangleloon. Stones may stack, but they don't sass back. And I ain't about to let you melt into the grass when we've got tales left to tell." She nudged him lightly with a paw, the gentleness behind the gesture plain despite the teasing. "So you keep breathin', pal. I ain't ready to lose my favorite clan cat just yet."

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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Tangleloon gave a long, wheezing chuckle, the sound like wind rattling in dry reeds. One eye slid open again, pale green catching the gleam of her grin.

"Mm… careful now. You’ve never stacked stones, Duchess. Sometimes they do sass back." He lifted a paw and dragged a few small ones over, hoarding them like precious morsels. "- I pay them no mind. Voices, stones, warriors puffed up like frogs… all the same in the end."

He lifted his head just enough to peer at her, the corners of his maw twitching with sly amusement. "And as for being your favorite… I’ll wager that’s only ‘cause I’m one of the only clan cats you’ve bothered to jaw with long enough to get fond." His tail gave a slow, lazy sweep.

His chest hitched on another rattling sigh though there was a sparkle behind it this time. "So I’ll keep breathing, if only to defend the title." He paused then, slowly slinking back onto his paws from his furry haunches and peered over towards the twoleg house in the distance as if he were fixated on something.

"You belong anywhere? Or do you let the wind take you wherever you please?"

Kindness goes a long way, but don't mistake it for weakness.

✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧༄🦋༄✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧

Duchess let out a soft laugh, warm and honey-smooth, her whiskers twitching as she gave him a playful swat with her tail. "Well now, sugar, if them stones are talkin' back, you best believe I'll sass 'em right harder. Aint no pile o' pebbles got the last word over me." Her eyes sparkled with mirth, though the kindness never left her tone.

She tilted her head, ear flicking toward his sly grin "Mm, maybe you got a point 'bout bein' my favorite, but don't go gettin' all puffed up thinkin' it's just cause you're the only one I struck 'round for. You're mite peculiar, Tangleloon, but I recon that's what makes you worth sittin' with. Ain't every day a she-cat meets a tom who can make her laugh 'bout rocks and frogs in the same breath."

Her gaze followed his, softening as it rested on the farmhouse by the river, it's roof just peeking above the trees. "Belong? Why, darlin', I surely do. Got a playce right yonder, big place with twolegs sweeter'n summer peaches. River runs round a hikin' track, cool as a breeze on a July mornin'. That's my home." She gave him a fond smile. tail curling neatly around her paws.

"But," she added with a little smirk, "don't go thinkin' that means the wind don't take me where it pleases. I may have roots, honey, but I still got wings. You won't catch me lettin' either one tie me down too tight."

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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Tangleloon’s whiskers twitched at her words, but before anything soft could surface he stretched himself long, curling into the grass with a dramatic groan. "Twoleg's being sweet - what are peaches? I don't believe a word of it!" He clutched his chest with one paw as though stricken. "Certainly Tangleloon himself is sweeter than Twolegs, or else my poor, fragile ego will shatter like a leaf under a kit's paw."

He heaved a heavy sigh, the edges tinged with a throaty purr all the same. "Roots and wings, hm? Hah! What’ve I got then? Curls and complaints. Doesn’t quite sing the same, does it?" His grin widened anyway, quick and bright, his tone lilting as if he hadn’t just grazed the edge of something heavier.

He squinted at her with feigned suspicion. "Mm. Do these sweet Twolegs of yours feed you river minnows in bowls?" He had seen domestic cats feed in those small basins himself from Whitehart and wondered if she did the same. Certainly she caught her own prey, right?

His tail flicked once, teasing, before he sprawled out again with a huff. "RiverClan would never permit it even if it was tempting... They’d mourn their one and only stone-stacker, their grand word-weaver their… well..." His tongue swiped over the mane of curly chest fur once, twice. "Their entertainment."

Kindness goes a long way, but don't mistake it for weakness.

✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧༄🦋༄✧･ﾟ: ✿ :ﾟﾟ･✧

The theatrics earned a hearty laugh from Duchess, shaking her head at the display. "Tangleloon, you playin' at dyin' on me over peaches? Why, they're little round fruits, soft as a kit's belly and sweet as honey on a summer mornin'. If you thin you're sweeter, well sugar, I might just have to line ya up next to one and take a bite to find out" Her whiskers quivered, her grin sly, but not mean.

She gave a slow shake of her head at his self deprecating remark. "Curls and complaints? Now don't you sell yourself short, darlin. You got with sharp enough to cut reed and a way of makin' stones sound like court jesters. Roots and wings might sing pretty, but curls and complaints? Well that's a tune all your own, and don't think I ain't noticed how fun you are hummin' it."

Her eyes gleamed with mischief when he mentioned minnows. "River minnows in bowls? Oh, heavens no. My twolegs may spoil me rotten with scraps off their plates, but I ain't never stooped to fish in a dish. I still got claws enough to snatch my own supper, thank you kindly. Though I'll admit..." she leaned closer with a wink "I wouldn't turn down another good river minnow if you were the one servin' it up."

Settling back with a hum, she flicked her tail across the grass. "As for RiverClan missin' their entertainer, why, they'd cry themselves hoarse without your tall tales and fancy stone stackin'." She replied, rising to a stretch "It's been real nice, darlin, but I best make my leave. Them fresh mice ain't gonna hunt themselves"

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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Tangleloon’s ears flicked, the grin he wore still perched on his muzzle but dimmer at the edges. "So soon?" His tone was playful and lilting, though his paw pressed idly at the earth as though pinning something down that threatened to slip away.

He sat up with a wheeze of effort, pale eyes following her like a kit reluctant to leave the nursery. "Mice, you say… do you hear them whispering first? Oh, they’re dreadful gossips. Squeaking and squealing about their end long before teeth or claw comes for them. If you’ve the ears to catch it, it’ll make your tail curl."

The last words trailed softer almost to himself before he gave his mane of curls a vigorous shake, as if scattering away the thought. His smile returned, bent and bright. "But ah, what am I sayin’? Of course your ears are better tuned for sweeter songs. You’ve fields and peaches and scraps sweeter than honey to fill your hours. Who’d trade that for elder-yapping with a scraggly tom like me?"

He lifted his paw in an exaggerated wave, curling it as though he were bidding off a queen. "Go on, Duchess."