Ask to Join Feast on a Clear Day

I’m still a Warrior no matter what you say!
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Boldclaw glanced up at the sun and growled lightly to himself. It wasn’t too warm today but he didn’t trust the weather to allow him to stay awake. Feeling restless and wishing he could leave camp for once, the cream tom began to pace around the camp, walking aimlessly but noticeably avoiding other cats and the warriors den. Every time he looked to his old den, his heart clench and a miserable sigh left him before he continued his pacing.

Annoyingly enough, other cats seemed to be enjoying themselves. Boldclaw paused in his trotting and glared at Basilflame. Why she was allowed to go out and be a warrior when he wasn’t infuriated him. She was just as old as he was. Boldclaw shook his head and sat down, trying to ignore the she-cat. How often had he been so eager to be better than her when they had been apprentices? Even after they had been given warrior names he still had taken pride in being more skilled, in his own opinion, than any of his other age-mates. But now, glancing at Basilflame, he couldn’t deny how far from that peak that he had sunk. She was a warrior, and a good one at that, while he was just a stinking elder wasting clan food and space.

Misery crept over Boldclaw and he sunk to the ground, resting his head on his paws, finally stilling completely. It hurt to see how everyone else continued their lives while he was expected to act like he had earned this early retirement. Lately, a part of the thick-set tom had been wondering if he should just leave Windclan altogether. Maybe another clan would take him in like Windclan had with Sunbear. Or he could just be a loner too. Yet in his heart of hearts, Boldclaw knew he belonged to Windclan alone and it pained him to even be considering leaving. He just wished he could do more for his clan like the other warriors. Once more the tom’s blue gaze was brought back to staring at his former long-time den-mate.

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

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Basilflame perked her ears as she heard the pawsteps of her former denmate and her current agemate, Boldclaw pacing around camp restlessly and then lowered her ears. It pained her to see Boldclaw so upset about his situation, but what was there to do? If Gemini would catch Boldclaw sleeping, there would be nothing no cat could do to stop her, Basilflame dreaded the idea of finding another body on their territory.

When the pawsteps came to a pause, Basilflame turned her head to Boldclaw and met his blue eyes with her own hazel-green ones and met him with a welcoming smile. "Boldclaw!" She chirped, waving her tail in greeting and placing it on the ground next to her an invitation but not a command for company, if Boldclaw wished to stay by himself he was more than welcome to, but Basilflame wouldn't pass off the opportunity if it was right in front of her nose.

"You don't have to share the prey, but if you'd like, we could sit an chat, like old times." The flame-point she-cat offered, welcoming him with a nod of her head as she dipped into her rabbit, ripping out a fairly sizable chunk of flesh and breaking it down with her teeth. With the offer made, Basilflame said something more, simply licked the rabbit blood from her whiskers and leaned down for another bite.

I’m still a Warrior no matter what you say!
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Boldclaw blinked in shock and looked around as though there were some other entity that shared a name with him. Never in the tom’s wildest dreams had he considered that someone other than an elder would actually summon him to spend time with him. Tentatively the youthful elder rose to his paws and, glancing around once more as if another Boldclaw would appear, padded slowly to join Basilflame.

For once the creamy tom didn’t seem so bold or courageous as he settled about two tail-lengths away from the she-cat. He looked ready to bolt or attack at any moment. Boldclaw simply had no idea how to react to this interaction. Memories of bragging about his accomplishments to Basilflame as apprentices flitted through his mind. There was no way she could still admire him with all that had happened since those days when he was by far the superior apprentice and even warrior. Now he was a husk of who he had been, who he thought he was destined to be. Truly, the chocolate pointed tom expected to be shunned by the majority of his clanmates for being so seemingly useless, although he knew he was still more than capable even if a little more tired than others.

Quietly the Windclan tom watched Basilflame eat her rabbit and sadness stole over his heart once more. He ought to have caught that for her. Only moments had passed since the she-cat had offered conversation but it felt like moons of awkward silence for Boldclaw. ”What even is there to talk about?” the tom meowed bitterly. ”How the prey is running? Border patrols? Clan news?” Boldclaw snorted derisively and stared intensely at Basilflame. ”You ought to know just as well as the rest of the clan that I am not allowed to be a part of that life anymore. Forbidden from serving my clan sufficiently simply because Starclan calls me to sleep when they do not call most.”

Boldclaw shook his head and growled quietly to himself, clearly frustrated. He had decided that the best way to handle this encounter was to be angry. It was easier to be angry but it was also becoming wearying. It had been moons of anger at this point and Fawnstar still ignored him and his desire to serve his clan. Desperation was leaking into his heart and there were times were Boldclaw felt mad, insane, with all the emotion. Sometimes he wanted to cry, sometimes he wanted to tear something to shreds. Some days he just wished to lay in his nest and never get up. Yet he couldn’t do any of it without completely losing what little respect he still held from his clan. He couldn’t even talk it out, having made no close friends in his life. Boldclaw wasn’t even sure if he had friends. Certainly no one had made the effort to check on him since he was reranked as an elder.

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

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The ginger pointed she-cat's head turned to follow Boldclaw as he approached, letting a smile curl her features sweetly, though it faltered slightly as he met her with the usual snappy attitude he had been displaying recently. He had been like that for moons now, Basilflame could recall it to the day he was being sent to the Elders' den. He had a right to his anger, his frustration, deep down she felt terrible for him, but she also knew he didn't want to be pitied like some kit, so she didn't approach him with sympathy.

"Whatever you feel like. I've got the rest of my day free." She replied, she wanted to add 'until dusk patrols come around' but she didn't wish to worsen his mood, especially now that he had seemed to have changed so much since she knew him as a boastful apprentice, she indulged him then, cheered him on. Perhaps that was part of the reason he was so frustrated with his situation.

For a moment, she took another fleshy bite of the rabbit, savoring the chunk like it meant everything to her, and for that moment, it did. She had no idea if this would be her last rabbit, her last conversation. With the Mad Rogue plaguing the clans... she didn't know what day would be her last, so she lived every day happy. Best die happy then unfulfilled.

Basilflame turned her hazel eyes back to Boldclaw, studying his expression, but didn't show much of anything that could be considered pity, just a sound understanding. "You can tell me whatever you'd like me to know, Boldclaw. I'll meet you halfway." she thought that Boldclaw would appreciate the gesture to speak to her like his own cat instead of just 'one of the elders' but she didn't feel confidence in it. However, her soft, kind gaze didn't falter, not for anyone.

I’m still a Warrior no matter what you say!
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Boldclaw blinked in surprise at Basilflame’s reply. He had honestly expected the she-cat to decide he wasn’t worth talking to given his attitude. Mentally thrown off, all the creamy tom found himself able to do was sit down properly and watch as his clanmate enjoyed more of her meal. A part of him felt irritated that she had mentioned that she had the rest of the day free when he would love to be busy.

The Windclan tom was just debating voicing his displeasure on Basilflame’s choice of words when she spoke again, leaving him more confused. She wanted him to vent? Every other cat had been annoyed by his complaints. Boldclaw narrowed his eyes and studied Basilflame for a moment. He couldn’t work out if she was being genuine or simply pitying him. The tom flicked his tail and half debated simply leaving this mockery. He just might have left too if it weren’t for the idea that if she actually cared she might be able to get things changed for him. He had no clue what sway or influence Basilflame had within the clan. He might have grown up with her but the creamy tom was often so self-absorbed that he had truthfully paid little attention to his clanmates.

“You really want to hear what I have to say?” he asked, the suspicion noticeable in his tone. “You really want to hear about how unfair our clan leader and deputy have been? Because why should cats like you be allowed to still protect and defend our clan while I have been forced to remain in camp like a kit? I did nothing but put my all in all my life! I have always done everything that was asked of me and it’s not my fault that Starclan calls to me, making me sleep!” At first Boldclaw had intended his words to simply be prodding tests of Basilflame’s actual intentions but with how frustrated he was he began to vent.

The seal pointed tom stared at the she-cat intently. “You have no idea how infuriating it is to watch your clanmates be injured and killed by some stinking rogue and then to be told to stay in the camp like a good boy! It’s not fair!” Boldclaw couldn’t help but stamp his paw like a whiney kit. With as worked up as he was getting, he also couldn’t help but have to fight a yawn that eventually broke its way out of his chest, leaving the tom glaring furiously across the camp as he dared not meet Basilflame’s gaze. “I didn’t ask to be like this, and yet I’m punished for it,” he added lamely as he became acutely aware of how his sudden onset of sleepiness proved the point of others, thus undermining his own points.

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

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Basilflame didn't move her gaze as Boldclaw spat our his woes like they had been pressing on him for moons, from word of mouth, he had heard that he had been like this for moons, mostly complaints from some warriors she couldn't really recall right now, but she didn't really see this as something worth a complaint, he was angry, and it was justifiable. Basilflame didn't see an elder, she saw a warrior hit with the code's injustice. She assumed that is what Boldclaw saw in himself as well.

"I most certainly do." she confirmed honestly, her attention moving from her prey to the WindClan tom. "It's injustice. You never asked to be born the way you are, you didn't dictate that. You had no paw in this." She added, her fur ruffling slightly. While she wasn't pleased that Boldclaw had been placed in the Elders' den without a second thought, she did understand the idea that her milk-sister and Fawnstar had behind putting him, there, though it seemed Boldclaw didn't want to hear what she thought their side was.

However, he was angry at the situation he was forced into, rightfully. "You're right, I don't know, and you're right to think it's unjust. Your Sleepswoon shouldn't define who you are. Especially is something as important as your whole life's purpose as a warrior." Basilflame's voice wasn't harsh or snappy, but she held conviction, her own conviction that she supported wholly and assumed matched Boldclaw's, at least a small amount.

"I can't offer you solutions." Basilflame admitted, as much as she wished she could demand he be let out of the elders' den and be put back to his warrior duties, it wasn't as easy as that, and she lowered her ears at the fact. "But, I am here with you to listen. You can say whatever it is that you need to make me understand further if I haven't got it all." Her words came out genuine and kind-hearted. She wanted to make him feel heard, not less angry. "I'm here to listen."