Fallpaw & Duskpaw
Brothers meet again!
Trespass Point, Windclan border
3
Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
The day was dying. Spilled gold and bruised purple across the moor’s edge, washing the tall grasses in fading warmth as the sun dipped low behind the horizon. The air held a bite - cold for newleaf. He hadn’t told anyone he was coming.
The slope gave way to the stony path that overlooked the three-clan border. Duskpaw paused beside the path, the light pooling in his fur and turning the blue of his coat dusky and soft. He sat with his back to the wind, his eyes watching the treeline with a stillness that barely resembled patience. They had all agreed to see each other again, but between them it was hard to designate a time. If he was lucky enough to see them again, he'd suggest just that.
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Senior Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Senior Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherpaw, ♀ Sincere Apprentice
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Fallpaw's fur was fluffed up in the cold. Trekking across the moors in the chill hadn't been exactly pleasant, but it was for his siblings. The only blood kin he had that he knew how to find. As he ducked into the brush of where the moorlands ended, he shook his pelt out, and opened his maw to scent the air.
A vaguely familiar scent hit him. He spotted his brother's dark pelt in the low light a few moments later. "Duskpaw!" He greeted, stepping forward toward his sibling.
Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
Duskpaw’s ears twitched at the sound of his name, the voice pulling him sharply from his thoughts. He rose to his paws in one smooth motion, tail flicking as he turned toward the sound. It took only a heartbeat to recognize the pale shape cutting through the shadows - taller now, fluffed against the cold wind, but unmistakable. Fallpaw.
Something loosened in his chest. "Fallpaw..." He meowed, a little rough, like the name had been waiting too long on his tongue. He stepped forward to meet him tail up, eyes flicking briefly over the other tom as if checking to make sure he was whole. Alive.
"You came." His voice was quieter now, the edge in it dulled. "I wasn’t sure if anyone would." He looked down the slope for a moment, scanning for another silhouette, another scent...Coyotepaw, maybe.
He turned his gaze back to Fallpaw, something unreadable passing through his eyes. "You look taller." There was a faint curl of amusement at the corner of his mouth. It was a smile - a small one, but a smile nonetheless. He was happy to see his brother again.
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Senior Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Senior Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherpaw, ♀ Sincere Apprentice
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Fallpaw trotted over to his littermate, happy to stretch his long legs. “So do you,” he replied. “It’s good to see you again.”
Something about Duskpaw seemed distant, though Fallpaw could easily credit it to having spent moons apart. He himself had spent the time exploring and getting to know the moorlands. He knew the clans had their rivalries, but hopefully it was nothing that could keep apart kin. “I hope the others are okay…maybe Mistypaw and Coyotepaw just weren’t able to sneak out.” He glanced toward the forest, as if either of them would appear from the foliage.
“Well…” he mewed, “how has your training been going over in Shadowclan?”
Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
Duskpaw’s gaze followed Fallpaw’s toward the trees, the faint glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes. "Probably running late, anyway." His whiskers twitched faintly with the old memory of it, the ghost of a shared rhythm from their kithood. He shifted his weight slightly, letting his shoulders relax now that they stood beside each other again. The wind ruffled his fur, but he didn’t seem to notice it anymore.
When Fallpaw asked about training, Duskpaw hesitated but only for a moment. Then, he spoke, quieter than before, but with something more honest beneath the surface. "It’s been... a lot. I like sparring a lot. Keeps my head clear. Heronsong’s been good to me." His tail swept the ground once. "But lately, everything’s been tense. With that rogue..."
His ears tilted back slightly, but he kept his voice even. He looked at Fallpaw again then, eyes sharper, not in anger but in alertness. "So we’ve all been on edge. Watching everything, everyone. Training feels different now...less about skill and more about survival."
He let out a slow breath before he smiled at his brother. "But I’m still standing. Still learning. Guess that counts for something. How about you? How’s it been… being in WindClan?"
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Senior Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Senior Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherpaw, ♀ Sincere Apprentice
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Fallpaw took a seat, reflecting his brother's relaxed posture. Still, he nodded as he listened. "I get what you mean… I’ve been focusing on hunting more than anything else."
He mindlessly pricked a claw at the grass. "Windclan's been similar, still on edge and all. My original mentor is having kits though, so, I get a completely new one now." He shrugged. “But I guess not everyone’s on edge.”
Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
Duskpaw let out a quiet huff of breath, this time closer to a real laugh. "Kits are pretty exciting, though, isn't it? And a different perspective between your mentors."
He glanced sideways at Fallpaw, his whiskers twitching faintly with a hint of mischief. "ShadowClan’s about what you’d expect. Been better hunting now that the frost is done." His tail flicked once. "I think I'm getting pretty good at pretending it doesn't bother me."
He gave Fallpaw a more honest look then, and the edge of sarcasm slipped away just enough to let the real weight behind his voice show. "Truth is... it’s been hard. The murders have made it hard to enjoy things too much before it potentially gets ripped away."
But instead of dwelling on it, stepped closer before settling on his haunches. "So yeah. Real uplifting stuff. Bet your hunting practice feels downright relaxing compared to that. Still...it’s good to talk to you, Fallpaw. I didn’t realize how much I missed it."
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Senior Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Senior Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherpaw, ♀ Sincere Apprentice
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Fallpaw balked at his brother's dark words. He supposed he couldn't blame him--Fallpaw himself felt a nagging sense of bitterness most days. He flicked his dark tail in the grass. "I mean, if you want to talk to someone who knows what it's like to have so much ripped away, I think I'd have a pretty good understanding, brother."
The retort had been quick, a bit sharper than he'd meant to. He kept his fur flat, giving an apologetic glance to his sibling. "I miss you and our other siblings. Did I ever tell you...I saw our sire? It was moons ago, almost right after we got adopted by the clans, but it was that orange tom with the missing tail. The one who sometimes visited us and Mother."
Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
Duskpaw blinked at Fallpaw’s sharp reply, but he didn’t flinch. If anything, he looked... relieved. Like hearing someone else say it out loud...how much they'd lose. It made the weight in his own chest feel a little less isolating.
"Yeah...I know you do. I didn’t mean to make it sound like I forgot that." But then Fallpaw said the next part and Duskpaw stilled. He turned fully toward his brother, cornflower blue eyes sharp with sudden focus. "You saw him?" He asked, ears angling forward.
The blurred, old memory flickering shape of a flame colored tom with half a tail - surfaced in the back of his mind. He’d barely remembered him until now, a presence on the fringe of their life with Belladonna, someone who never stayed long enough to leave anything but questions behind.
"Did he talk to you? Did he know who you were?"His claws kneaded the earth below as his tail twitched once, then stilled. "As a kit I tried sneaking out to try and find him. I still want to find him - to ask him..."He trailed off, jaw tightening briefly.
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Senior Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Senior Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherpaw, ♀ Sincere Apprentice
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Fallpaw’s hackles relaxed for only a moment before he went through his memories again. “No, he didn’t even notice me. Or if he did, he didn’t say a word. All he came to do was tell Fawnstar that our last leader was dead.”
He completely understood his brother’s reaction. His own frustration kept building inside him over periods of time until he distracted himself with training or something. Now he finally felt free to let some of it out. He nodded as Duskpaw trailed off. “I want to ask him things, too. Like…even if he might not have been able to watch over us in place of Belladonna, why were we all separated? And why did he stop visiting?”
