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Post by Roxie ! on Aug 13, 2007 18:21:06 GMT -5
The sheltered ShadowClan clearing was beginning to darken. The setting sun glaring from the west was the cause of the long, ominous shadows that the surrounding trees were now casting. It seemed that the clearing, perhaps the whole world, was mourning for the loss of the beloved elder that had once been a great WindClan warrior and leader, and had retired to his mate's old Clan in his senior days. But no cat mourned more than the lithe bengal who had entered the clearing, pushing her way from the Elder's den and giving no thought to the occasional thorns that snagged at her dappled pelt. Her dark emerald eyes, which usually sparkled with such vigor, were now downcast and dull. Sandstorm, the daughter of the recently deceased Windsong, had taken to ignoring everything and everyone around her. Nothing mattered now, except for perhaps the world that existed in her mind. She hadn't the faintest idea of where she was going, and hadn't even noticed that her paws were taking in circles around the ShadowClan camp. Sandstorm had layed with her father long after his spirit had left for StarClan. The exact amount of time? She couldn't guess at it, but it had felt like an eternity. And right now, she didn't want to talk to anyone. She didn't even want to see anyone. She didn't want to be consoled and comforted, she didn't want to talk about it, she couldn't even bring herself to alert Mistystar so that the leader could arrange a burial. All that Sandstorm wanted was to find the deepest, darkest corner of ShadowClan territory and curl up there. Alone.
But then, as the fleeting thought of telling Mistystar was dismissed, another terrible thought entered Sandstorm's mind. There was someone who she'd have to tell. She had no excuse to put it off. Dustfall would have to know. But her brother had been so quiet and depressed lately that Sandstorm didn't know if she had the heart to break the news of his father's death to him. In fact, with the way her spotted body was dull and aching, she found herself wishing that she didn't have any heart. Of course, this was foolish, but Sandstorm hardly cared. Let her be foolish, then. Either way, life went on around her. Nobody had time to listen, to realize what had just happened. Summer would keep dying, the leaves would keep browning, the rain would keep falling and the streams would keep running...but time, for Sandstorm, had stopped. And no one could afford to care. But of course, despite this, they would. Everyone had loved the old tom. Everyone would be devastated. Everyone would grieve. She...couldn't...take... it.
"I'm lost." Sandstorm said, making no effort to soften her voice as it rang through the camp, shattering the former silence. The she-cat was shaking violently, as if the full impact had just set in. Windsong was gone. Dead. She'd never see him again. It's funny, in that horrible, ironic kind of way. When one thinks of death, they always tell themselves. "But death isn't the end. Your loved ones will always watch over you, and you'll see them again someday." And then, one will tell their grieving companions this as well. But you know, somehow, that just isn't nearly as comforting when you actually lose a loved one. If death isn't the end, it's just an extension of life's cruel little game. I hate it. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it. Sandstorm thought bitterly. It was her fault. All her fault. Windsong hadn't fought death, he had just let himself slip away. And she had been right there, and she hadn't even stopped him. Her few attempts, those few pleads, were feeble. If she had only been stronger--if Windsong only could have known that his daughter still needed him, then maybe he would have fought it. Maybe things would have been different. But they weren't. And she couldn't change the past. Sandstorm had no control over such things, and it scared her. She had been powerless to do anything except sit there like a fool and watch her father die. She spoke aloud again, her voice faltering as she choked on a sob. "I'm lost. I'm so lost. I'm...I'm...limited."
Sandstorm knew that right now, she should be looking for her brother, but she didn't have the faintest idea of where he would be right now. Besides that, she couldn't bring herself to move. She could only stare at the sky, still trembling uncontrollably, gritting her teeth as she repeated that last word.
"Limited, limited, limited."
OOC//Woooow that got angstier than I had intended it to be.
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Post by le Dawnz on Sept 2, 2007 14:48:32 GMT -5
IAmSheddingLightWhereDarknessLies...
Today the camp was a bustle, warriors running here and there, apprentices tending to chores, and yet, the clearing seemed eerily... well, not quiet exactly... sad, maybe? Something must have happened. But if it had, then why was everyone going about their business as usual? Was it possible they didn't know? Or perhaps Gorsetail was finally loosing his sanity. Yes, that must be it. He'd known it would happen someday. Still... something about the air didn't feel right, and he wanted to know why.
Stepping away from the entrance and trotting briskly toward the fresh-kill pile, he observed his clan-mates closer. Kits playing by the nursery, apprentices placing their catches with the rest of the clan's prey, warriors were reporting to the deputy and the deputy was orginizing the evening patrol, and the leader was sitting outside her den giving herself a good wash. Everything seemed normal. No one looked like they were having a bad day. That's when he noticed Sandstorm standing near the Elders den. She had a distraught look on her face, and something in her eyes. What was it? Tilting his head curiously, he watched her. Her face twisted for a moment, as if realizing something. Perhaps remembering something she had to do though she didn't want to. Had she been asked to check the elders for ticks?
Then he remembered that the only elder in ShadowClan was Windsong, Sandstorm's own father. She wouldn't mind that. Wait... Windsong... was it possible that something had happened to the old tom to make Sandstorm so pained? That must be it. That must have been what he'd felt when he'd walked into ShadowClan's clearing.
Realizing that he still had fresh-kill in his mouth, he placed it on top of the pile, picked up a mouse, and padded toward Sandstorm quietly. She hadn't noticed him yet. He slowed his pace and approached cautiously. "I'm lost." she suddenly meowed, startling the warrior. "I'm lost. I'm so lost. I'm... I'm... limited. Limited, limited, limited." Slightly embaressed that he had heard her say something she probably hadn't wanted anyone to hear, he cleared his throat and stepped toward her. "Sandstorm?" he said softly, dropping the mouse at her feet and trying to get her attention. "Sandstorm? What's wrong?" He felt like he was prying, but that's what he did. He pryed. It was the way all those 'do-gooders' worked. All he could think was 'when did this become a full time thing?' |
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Post by Roxie ! on Sept 3, 2007 8:43:37 GMT -5
She hadn't even noticed the other warrior's approach. Claws were still dug deep into the ground as if she were attempting to brace against some strong wind. Her ears flattened when someone called her name, her dark eyes flashing slightly. There was a long moment when Sandstorm did not move further, almost holding her breath. Had the tom heard her? Most likely--he wasn't asking her what was wrong for no reason at all. Slowly, she turned her head to stare into the newcomer's eyes. Vaguely, she recognized her clan-mate and searched her muddled mind to assign the face with a name...Gorsetail, she was pretty sure. And yet, she seemed to stare right though him, as if not seeing the tom before her. Sandstorm didn't acknowledge his question, didn't seem to notice anything going on around her. The femme seemed to have slipped from her previously anguished state of yowling to the sky to a much quieter, more subtle one. Her expression was blank, or else very vague, and she was avoiding Gorsetail's eyes now.
Sandstorm couldn't handle this. She couldn't talk to anyone...much less some tom she hardly knew. Why couldn't she just leave, why couldn't she just disappear? That would've been nice. Maybe she wouldn't have to ever come back...but she shook these thoughts from her mind, or perhaps more accurately, she was shaken out of them by the sudden pain that was pricking her paws. Shivering slightly, she pulled her claws out of the ground, trying to ignore the slightly sore feeling that was now present. The warrior stared at them, examining them as if suddenly very interested in her paws. A soft sigh escaped her slightly parted jaw, the sound melting into the soft breeze that blew through the camp. Windsong...dead. The realization crashed over her again and again, as if she were standing at the water line of the sea, showing no resistance to the waves that crashed against her. A sharp intake of breath, and she looked up, eyes narrowed suddenly.
She had just realized, fully realized, that Gorsetail was still standing beside her. Expecting an answer, no doubt. Why did he care? He didn't care. I can't do this... The thought ran through Sandstorm's mind for the umpteenth time that day, but she did not speak it aloud. In fact, the silence seemed to wear on for hours, though it had only been a few moments. At last, she turned away, gazing coldly out into the dark undergrowth of ShadowClan territory. Her irregular breathing began to soften as she fought desperately to calm herself down until she was brave enough to attempt an answer.
"Nothing." Sandstorm's voice seemed to belong to someone else--it was oddly calm...no, blank. Almost monotone, as if the previous pain she had felt had been numbed out. "Nothings wrong. Why do you think..." The femme didn't finish, and she still hadn't turned back to meet Gorsetail's gaze. "You haven't seen Dustfall, have you? I think I'll go speak to him." The attempt at a cheerful tone seemed odd, almost twisted and totally out of place as she spoke. Not that Sandstorm cared much.
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Post by le Dawnz on Sept 23, 2007 12:11:42 GMT -5
Love is never boastful or conceded...
Gorsetail flicked his ears curiously. Sandstorm was either ignoring him, or hadn't heard him. She retreated into herself, forgetting he was their. His jaw parted and he was about to say her name again when she replied, deliberately avoiding his eyes. "Nothing. Nothing's wrong." she said, forcing herself to sound 'cheerful'. Well, it's a little obvious that that's not true. he restrained himself from saying. "Why do you think... You haven't seen Dustfall, have you? I think I'll go speak to him." Was that just an excuse to get away from him? Or did she really want to find her brother?
His eyebrows furrowed and he tipped his head to the side. He hadn't seen the two siblings talk in a long while other then the occasional greeting and small talk. It was hard to believe these two were once so close it was as if they were one cat split into two bodies. But they hit a rough patch sometime after their mother Coyotesong had died. From then on, everything had spiraled downhill. But after a moment, he decided it wasn't his business, or in his place to lie to her. "Yes..." he said, speaking a little slowly at first, as if still unsure if he should answer. "He's out hunting."
It is never rude or selfish...
((OCC: Gah! I could have sworn I had more muse than this when I started typing. Now its just short, museless, and sucky. -kicks self-)) |
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Post by le Dawnz on Oct 21, 2007 22:08:46 GMT -5
OOC// Uhhhh.... bump? I'm bored... finally. FREE TIME!! WOOOOO!! xD, but tomarrow I have to work again. -rolls eyes- Then do homework. I haven't actually talked to you guys on msn for like, EVER. Just once and all I said was hi.
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Post by Roxie ! on Oct 27, 2007 11:31:09 GMT -5
OOC//Yeahyeah. The school year is so unthrillifying xD.
IC//Sandstorm's eyes wandered in the direction of the camp's exit. Well, that narrowed it down. Dustfall could be anywhere in ShadowClan territory right now! Still, going out to find him--or doing anything, really, seemed better than staying here. Alone, with her dreaded thoughts, or else explaining them to Gorsetail. Perhaps he only wished to help her, but Sandstorm couldn't talk about this. Not now. Rather nervously, she reluctantly trailed her eyes to meet his, tail flicking at the ground in some sort of repressed form of agitation or distress. Probably both. The more time that passed, the more muddled Sandstorm's emotions seemed to become until they burned at her fur and throbbed at her head. It was unbearable, unacceptable. She couldn't break down, not here in front of her clan-mate.
Although she could no longer bring herself to force a smile, the bengal tried to look relatively relaxed. Once again, she averted her gaze, this time to hide the steely, solemn glint of determination. She'd have to tell Dustfall. Whatever pain it caused them both, he deserved to know. So what was she waiting for?
"Thanks," Sandstorm mewed, her emerald eyes still glued to the mossy earth of the ShadowClan camp. "I guess I'll go...g-go look for him, then." Was she really so incapable of hiding her emotions that she was reduced to this? Praying that Gorsetail had not heard the falter in her voice, she gave a quick, shaky nod that would pass as a farewell(even if a distracted one), Sandstorm whipped around a bit too quickly to be considered casual. She paused for a moment, swaying slightly. Or perhaps that was just a trick of her mind, one that made her vision swim until she felt sick. But then, wishing to depart before Gorsetail or anyone else could say something to distract her further, Sandstorm shook herself briefly and padded toward to camp exit. But where to begin to look?
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Post by le Dawnz on Nov 4, 2007 10:32:08 GMT -5
Her prayer was in vein. Perhaps it was only because Gorsetail was so focused on her that he heard her staggered speech. It didn't really matter because he'd heard it, and now he was even more determined to find out what had happened to put the warrior in such a state. Or at least comfort her. Sandstorm left him standing near the brambles of the Elder's Den as she padded toward the camp's entrance to search for Dustfall. Curiously, he flicked an ear back and watched her go. Then for a reason he wasn't sure of, he turned and wiggled himself into the Elder's Den.
The sight was blindingly sad, but not at all unexpected. After all, Sandstorm had been standing outside this den when he'd found her so anxious and torn. And Windsong had been old, but he'd always been so strong. Gorsetail had almost been naive enough to believe he'd live forever. But here the old leader was, lying so still it seemed he were sleeping. Gorsetail touched Windsong's side gently with his nose to find he was still warm. It couldn't have been too long ago that this tragety struck, and he was sure that the tom's daughter must of stayed with him for some time after he passed, filled with grief. Turning, he rushed out of the den to tell the leader, but stopped. Sandstorm hadn't told the rest of ShadowClan yet. Perhaps that was why she was looking for Dustfall, to tell him first. He deserved to learn it from his sister, not from another warrior who heard about it first.
Gorsetail looked toward the entrance where Sandstorm's tail had disappeared. Then, bounding after her, he called out her name in hopes that she would stop so he could catch up. She didn't have to though, for Gorsetail's long legs made him incredibly agile and fast. He caught up in no time at all. "I'll help you look." he said softly, his eyes apologetic and caring. The warrior didn't want her to be alone at a time like this, and with how big ShadowClan was, she might need some help finding her brother. "I think he said something about Pine Creek."
OOC// Ain't he sweet? |
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Post by Roxie ! on Nov 4, 2007 11:11:17 GMT -5
OOC//Awwww! -huggles Gorsetail- IC// Sandstorm scented the air, hoping to catch any sign of Dustfall that would lead her to her brother. It seemed hopeless though, either is scent had faded by now, or she was too preoccupied to concentrate. Still, she couldn't be discouraged. She had to find him, however hard it might be to actually tell him that Windsong was dead when she actually did. So, with a heavy heart, she glanced around briefly and chose one of the patrol paths at random. It was something of an interior struggle as she walked along the ShadowClan paths, one that involved keeping her thoughts at bay and keeping her senses focused on finding any sign of her brother. This wasn't exactly working, it seemed that her paws were just propelling her forward in an attempt to get away from the camp. If she were going to find Dustfall, she needed to slow down.
With a sigh, Sandstorm forced herself to a stop, panting slightly. She had not realized how fast she had been running. Shaking her speckled pelt as if to rid it of some invisible water droplets in a dog-like fashion, she growled angrily at herself. Tragedy struck, and she couldn't even pull herself together long enough to do something as simple as this? Where had all her tracking skills gone? Miserably, she looked around in vain. What was the point of continuing now? She'd have to start all over.
But before Sandstorm could decide what to do, the light sound of running paw-steps drew her attention. She bristled slightly, more out of surprise than anything. Reluctantly, she whipped around, eying the direction it was coming from. Within moments, the tom emerged from the shadowy ferns, and in an instant Sandstorm recognized him to be Gorsetail. Had he followed her all the way out here? But why? Perhaps he'd heard the catch in her voice when she had just spoken to him? It wouldn't be surprising, Sandstorm thought bitterly. You can't get much more transparent than what I was being. But would this be cause enough for Gorsetail to come running after her? She tilted her head slightly as she surveyed her clan-mate thoughtfully with narrowed eyes. What if...what if he had seen her coming out of the Elders' den? Could he know that Windsong was dead? No, that was just being paranoid. Maybe Gorsetail was just worried about her. Sandstorm flattened her ears against her head and stared at the ground wordlessly, waiting for the inevitable questioning that was bound to come.
But it didn't. To her surprise, the tom merely offered to help her look for Dustfall. Sandstorm blinked, glancing up at Gorsetail in stunned curiosity. But her gaze was met with something that looked like compassion or concern. She frowned slightly, eyes still narrowed, but this time, in confusion. Before she could say anything else, Gorsetail mentioned the Pine Creek, and Sandstorm's ears pricked. She shot him a glance and nodded silently. Words seemed to fail her at the moment, until finally, she gave a soft "Thank you."
Whatever Gorsetail's reasoning behind his sudden actions, he seemed to understand what she needed right now.
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Post by le Dawnz on Feb 9, 2008 17:37:10 GMT -5
OOC// UhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhIIIIIII can't really see anything I can use to reply to that without it being like, two sentences, so I think I'll just start a thread in Pine Creek with Dustfall. |
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Post by Roxie ! on Feb 9, 2008 21:48:57 GMT -5
Kay. No time to reply to our other threads, I will tomorrow. Um, by the way, I realized I forgot about one of my characters. Nightheart. Do you still want her to be Dusty's mate? |
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Post by le Dawnz on Feb 9, 2008 23:20:49 GMT -5
Ah darnskies. -erases what I was bout to say- I have no idea why, but all day I keep having to remind myself it's Saturday, NOT Sunday. I think I'll be on sometime in the afternoon tomorrow after I work, and then after we go look at a puppy! Squee!! If we get him, my mom and sis want to name him Pickle! -giggles- That'd be a cute name! We were tryin' to think of names, and it ended up coming down to Pickle or Donkey Kong, lol. Sure! Dusty could use a little cheering up right about now. Specially since he's gonna soon find out that his daddy just died. -tear- Poor Dusty. Poor Sandy! I was rereading that thread and was like Awwwwww!! Cheesy! xD
-starts singing Wicked-
See that tragically beautiful girl?
The one-- in the chair?
It seems so unfair
We should go on a spree
And not she.
Gee I know someone would be my hero
If that someone were
To go invite her!
Okay sing-along done now. Anywayz. Yeah, if you still wanna keep her, then sure we can still do that. We need go more in depth with that sort of plot though. Maybe this is the one we need! By the way, I forgot, how does the one with Sandy and Gorsey end? I mean, I remember... -cuts off to sing to Wicked again-
It's really uh... sharp!
Don't ya think?
You know black,
Is this year's pink!
You deserve each other
This hat and you!
You're both so... smart!
You deserve each other
So here!
Out of the goodness of my heart!
Okay, what was I saying? Oh yeah, I remember that Gorsey tells Sandy she has to kill him cause he gets rabies or something, but what happens after Sandy does that? I can't remember if she goes on living or if she dies soon after. Wow that was kinda sad to say. And I will say yet again for the millionth time, we are so very cruel to our characters. -shakes head- Dude if your mom ever saw our plot, we'd be sent to solitary confinement before we can say "Huh?" They'd probably think we're gonna be the next Virgina Tech-ies. Dude that story was creepy. But poor you! You are SO under the radar! I think my family has finally come to terms with my random twistedness. |
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Post by Roxie ! on Feb 10, 2008 19:02:27 GMT -5
WICKED LYRICS!! YAY!! Ahem... and OMG I love the name Donkey Kong -giggles. Wooow. But That is soo cute! What kind of dog is he? And otay! And I know. -huggles Sandy-
yesh, this plot'll be sooo tragic. I forgot what happened to Sandy. I think she like, killed herself. Well, if you had to kill the person you loved...NO, SANDY! That is a coward's way out!
Tehe, I know. She already freaked out on me multiple times after reading those Hypergirl and Blondie stories. Cause we wrote like, five xD |
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