Private Thread At Dusk Fall

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
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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.

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
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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?"

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
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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." 

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
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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.

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
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Duskpaw's ears twitched at Fallpaw’s words, and something hard settled behind his eyes. He looked away, toward the distant trees as if trying to catch a glimpse of the past in the dusky light, but all he saw were shadows.

"So he just came and left. Like nothing ever happened." His voice was low, flat. Not cold, but dulled in that dangerous way anger sometimes sounded when it had nowhere to go. He dug his claws into the earth, letting the silence hang between them a moment. Then he glanced back at Fallpaw, the wind tugging at his fur.

"I don’t even know what I’d say to him now. Part of me wants answers... but the other part...The other part wants to make him feel what it’s like to be left behind. But...I still want to know if he's still alive."

There was honesty in his voice. "I’m glad you told me. I thought maybe I was the only one who still thought about him. Do you think our sisters think the same?"

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
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Duskpaw’s expression shifted as Fallpaw spoke somewhere between relief and something more fragile. It was good, hearing that he wasn’t alone in carrying this. Maybe none of them were. He gave a small snort, not quite a laugh, but close enough that it cut through the tension. "If I hear anything… You’ll be the first to know."

His gaze drifted back to the trees, but this time there was a faint gleam behind his eyes, like a coal catching fire. "When I become a warrior, I’m going to look for him. Not just wonder. Not just wait." His voice was firmer.

The wind shifted again, tugging at his fur and carrying away the silence. We’ll figure it out. Even if it takes moons.

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
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Duskpaw’s ear flicked, the corner of his mouth tugging upward at Fallpaw’s words. "Yeah. All four of us." The idea settled in his chest like something solid, something worth holding onto.

His gaze lingered on his brother, and for once, there wasn’t a wall of guardedness between them just a faint warmth beneath the cool surface. "And maybe by the time we’re warriors, the answers won’t feel so far away."

He drew in a slow breath, the wind stirring the trees above them, and let it out with a small, sure nod. "Until then… Gatherings might just have to do. Or maybe...every half moon, we could visit here."

With that, his eyes glinted faintly in the dimming light, carrying just enough hope to bridge the distance between them.