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Post by le Dawnz on Apr 9, 2007 22:34:15 GMT -5
>> Feels like randomly (even though you're in Florida) bumping!! -bump-
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Post by Roxie ! on Apr 15, 2007 13:01:02 GMT -5
Massie's eyes searched his face, widening slightly as Mikkikko spoke. He started out slowly, as if hesitating before speaking.
"I think...I think it was guilt."
She felt her anxiety rise along with her confusion, one of her erect orange-and-black ears tilting back to swivel against her head, as if to emphasize these feelings. But this didn't last for long, as slowly and steady, her mate continued. Massie listened in stunned silence to his words, her head reeling. When Mikkikko had finished, Massie was silent, her eyes narrowed in thought, although her expression was soft. Mikkikko had done this to protect her. Under any other circumstances, the loner would have scoffed that she didn't need anyone's protection, but right now, she didn't know whether to feel touched or worried. Presently, worry was winning her over. And anyway, she had known about Leafwhisper's death, and how much it had effected Mikkikko. After all, the grey ThunderClanner had been how they had met, when Massie had reluctantly saved the she-cat with Tigerstar and Mikkikko anxiously watching. But perhaps she hadn't realized how much it had effected him. Massie bowed her head.
"I should have seen how much her death was effecting you. But...I didn't." Her meow was edged with guilt as shes poke, for once not meeting her mate's eyes. Silence fell as her own words sank in. What kind of mate was she? Had she honestly thought that Mikkikko could have just gotten over Leafwhisper's death like that? No, her own thoughts answered. I knew he wasn't going to give his emotions away. But I was such a mouse-brain! All this time I have been worrying and wondering why he was acting so strangely, and his own sister only died a few moons ago! Massie cursed herself with a lash of her tail. Still, right now, there was no time for guilt. Returning her gaze to Mikkikko, Massie let out a soft sigh.
"That wasn't your fault.You know it wasn't. Leafwhisper knew that going into BloodClan to look for you would be risking her life, dog or no. And she made that decision by herself because she was willing to take that risk . She cared about you, and she'd want you to be happy."
Massie mewed at last, her voice growing slightly firmer than it had been as she spoke, hoping to re-assure Mikkikko. |
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Post by le Dawnz on Apr 15, 2007 13:24:36 GMT -5
Massie was quiet while he spoke. And after a few minutes, she finally seemed to know what she wanted to say. "I should have seen how much her death was effecting you. But... I didn't." Mikkikko was taken back by this. Massie lowered her head and directed her eyes away from his. She was feeling guilty. How could she feel guilty? He was the one who had almost destroyed her by leaping over the cliff a moment ago. It was him who should feel guilty. It was then that he realized that he did. He opened his mouth to tell her that she was wrong, that she shouldn't blame herself for anything. But she beat her to the punch.
"That wasn't your fault.You know it wasn't. Leafwhisper knew that going into BloodClan to look for you would be risking her life, dog or no. And she made that decision by herself because she was willing to take that risk . She cared about you, and she'd want you to be happy." Mikkikko closed his mouth, not knowing what to say to that. He knew she was right. In his head he knew it wasn't his fault that Leafwhisper was killed. But in his heart he still believed it was. He closed his eyes half way, almost as if he were tired, and lowered his head. That feeling will never go away. he realized, thinking to himself. It would always be there, but that didn't mean he had to let it rule his life, or try to ruin it. No. He would have to accept it. He picked his head up again and his jaw dropped, about to reply, when something from behind Massie padded out of the forest.
It was Gentleheart! Mikkikko's eyes widened in surprise. He knew her vaugly as one of Leafwhisper's friends from ThunderClan, but what was she doing here so far away from her home? He didn't have to wonder for long. Spotting them, the gray-and-white tabby bounded toward them stopping in a possition that faced both of them. She had a worried, almost tired look on her face. Mikkikko glanced at his mate as if she had an answer for the she-cat's strange appearance. Then let his gaze rest on Gentleheart.
"Mikkikko? And you must be... Massie, right? I'm Gentleheart." she introduced herself while catching her breath. Obviously she hadn't walked the whole way there. "I wanted to talk to you, about..." She hesitated, unsure if she really wanted to bring up something she was sure that was still raw in Mikkikko's mind. But since she had come all that way she mineaswell. "About Leafwhisper." |
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Post by Roxie ! on Apr 15, 2007 13:46:01 GMT -5
When she had finished speaking, Massie waited in silence for Mikkikko to speak. She held her gaze with his steadily now, and began to realize: perhaps words weren't always needed. Still, she merely blinked, and gave him a small, sad smile as he seemed to slip into the haunts of his own mind. Mikkikko was going to be okay...they both were. She was going to make sure of it. However, the silence of the moment was interrupted by the paw-steps of another cat, who obviously wasn't trying to sneak up on them. Now both of Massie's ears swiveled back, but this time in an alarmed attempt to listen to the sound. She watched as Mikkikko's eyes widened in surprise, and with a soft hiss, the loner whipped around and stepped back. Now, she was standing beside her mate instead of in front of him, her leaf-green gaze fixed on the scene before her.
The newcomer was a slender grey-and-white she-cat, and she regarded each of them with a certain urgency. Massie felt the fur on her back raise, and her claws unsheathe instinctively. This cat bore Clan-scent, and ThunderClan at that. But before anything else could happen, the Clanner had began to speak. She called each of them by their correct names, although asking Massie to confirm hers. But the loner did not respond, too surprised and wary of the cat's sudden appearance.
The loner watched incredulously as the cat, who called herself Gentleheart, introduced herself quickly, and asked to talk to Mikkikko. Before she could stop herself, Massie let out a low growl. Who did this she-cat think she was? Did they come bursting into ThunderClan territory to start casual conversation like this?! Her eyes narrowed with undisguised mistrust, Massie waited stiffly.And then...Gentleheart mentioned Leafwhisper, and Massie blinked in surprise.
What could this cat know about Leafwhisper?! Well, wait, that was obvious. This was a ThunderClanner, she must have known Leafwhisper. But why would she have come all the way out here moons after the cat's death?
"Must be more important than your Clan's boundaries, then." Massie growled with sharp hostility. She never much fancied Clan-cats. |
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Post by le Dawnz on Apr 15, 2007 14:11:47 GMT -5
Mikkikko blinked slowly, his expression blank for a moment, as if he didn't understand what she was saying. He seemed to be thinking, or remembering. Gentleheart waited patiently for his reply, understanding. Massie growled, snapping at her about the boundries between clans and loners. Gentleheart's grey ears drew back against her head fearfully, her eyes filled with a sort of hurt or shame, it was hard to tell. Mikkikko came to her rescue by gently tapping Massie's shoulder with his tail to let her know that it was alright and that he was okay to talk about his sister.
He turned his amber gaze back to Gentleheart's green eyes directly, his ruddy pelt rippling with a sudden chill that passed over him. "Alright." he replied quietly. Gentleheart relaxed a little, feeling slightly comforted. "I..." she began, the stopped, unsure what it was she was exactly going to say. She knew she wanted to talk to him about his sister's death, but she hadn't practiced what it was she was going to say when she found him. "I... I was a friend of Leafwhisper's... I'm really sorry... about what happened. I know it must have been... difficult."
The words became flowing in like a river's rapids nearing the waterfall. The she-cat picked them out carefully, hoping to phrase them in the right way. "Before she died..." No, that wasn't right. "I recently found out something that I thought you might like to know. I think it explains why she came looking for you when she did. Mikkikko," she said, hoping that this wouldn't add to the pair's hurt. "Leafwhisper was going to have kits." |
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Post by Roxie ! on Apr 16, 2007 14:42:03 GMT -5
When she felt the brush of Mikkikko's sleek ruddy tail against her shoulder, Massie sighed softly and hesitated for a moment, before reluctantly sheathing her claws. She tried to flatten her pelt, but wasn't doing too good of a job at it seeing as her muscles were still tensed with distrust and dislike. Why should they trust a ThunderClanner whom they had never met before? Eying Gentleheart with uncertainty still, Massie narrowed her eyes further but said nothing else. Still, though, if Mikkikko was willing to hear what this she-cat had to say, they might as well get on with it. In anticipation of a complicated conversation, Massie sat herself down in the cool green grass, wrapping her tail tightly around her paws. The loner sat with stiff tension, and although her gaze was still somewhat of a glare, she contended herself to listen.
First, Gentleheart began to offer her sympathies, and at these words, impatience pricked the loner. Out of respect for Leafwhisper and Mikkikko, Massie bit back an exasperated comment. But had Gentleheart really come all of this way to give her late condolences? Massie sniffed softly at this, for besides, even if the she-cat had something else to say, why was she stalling? The calico suspected that Mikkikko had heard these words many times already. Still, for once, Massie remained silent, because now Gentleheart was speaking again.
As the ThunderClan cat spoke, ending her words with that final statement, Massie could only sit there in utter, shocked, silence. Leafwhisper had been pregnant?! With who? Of course, that wasn't her business, but the shock of all of this was causing her to not think properly. Still, Gentleheart made it sound as if Leafwhisper had died before she could give birth. And if this was so...why was she telling them this now? It would only make Mikkikko feel worse. As stunned as she was by the news, Massie knew that she would have to pull herself together to straighten this out. There'd be time to think later, and Mikkikko still hadn't said anything...so it looked like she would have to. With a quick, worried glance at her mate, Massie then fixed Gentleheart with a stunned green gaze.
"Wait," She meowed, not so much impatient anymore as surprised and confused. "" 'She was going to'? Did she give birth or not?" As she spoke, Massie pressed her flank re-assuringly against Mikkikko's. It was hard to read is emotions, but she could only guessed that he would be even more stunned then she had been. |
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Post by le Dawnz on Apr 16, 2007 17:45:36 GMT -5
Gentleheart's words seemed to take effect even on the defiant loner beside Mikkikko. She felt strongly for Mikkikko, seeing his stunned silence. She knew this must hurt him more then she could imagine, but it needed to be said. He deserved to know. Besides, she had to be open with every aspect if she was going to get the help she was hoping to get.
Mikkikko stared at Gentleheart, her words sinking in. He felt his mate's pelt press against him, trying to comfort him. She always knew what he was feeling, even if he didn't show it. He blinked and looked at the ground, his eyes skimming the dirt as if searching for something. An answer perhaps, for why this information came to him now. Massie spoke, shock and curiousity in her voice now instead of spite. "Wait, 'she was going to'?" she quoted the warrior. "Did she give birth or not?" This made Mikkikko looked up and lock his gaze with Gentleheart's intense green eyes once more. He seemed to be asking her the same thing. Did she? he hissed quietly inside his thoughts.
Gentleheart lowered her eyes for a moment, gathering her thoughts again. "We... we aren't really sure. She never said anything if she did. But there was always the possibility that she might have." At this Mikkikko let out a soft sigh, his sides deflating with losing the breath he hadn't known he'd been holding. It didn't seem to matter anymore, wheither he knew this or not. It just meant more pain not only for him, but for whomever Leafwhiper's mate was. But wait, he knew who the tom was, didn't he? It was the very same who had attacked him in blind rage when he'd brought Leafwhisper's body back home, Destinystep he recalled a she-cat calling him.
"But..." Again the she-cat seemed to hesitate. She wasn't possitive with her theory, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to put everyone through the torture of trying it. But then again, if she was right, wouldn't that hurt them all, even the little bundles that could be living somewhere in the forest? Gentleheart was at a loss for words, still unsure. She wanted to tell them, but it was still so hard. She knew how much pain they were going though. She'd felt the same way. At the she-cats pause, Mikkikko tilted his ear questioningly. Was there more? |
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Post by Roxie ! on Apr 16, 2007 18:55:25 GMT -5
The tension in the air seemed to build as the two awaited Gentleheart's answer. Behind her, Massie subconsciously began to flick her tail to and fro in anxiety. She stared at the ThunderClan she-cat, as if pleading with her and whatever forces controlled such things if StarClan didn't exist. Gentleheart lowered her eyes, hesitating for a moment, and Massie unsheathed her claws and gripped the grass, kneading it slightly in anticipation. Mikkikko said nothing still, and Massie guessed that the tom's heart had nearly stopped. Finally, Gentleheart spoke.
But what kind of answer was this?! Massie wanted to yowl to the skies in frustration. How could life be so unfair? Hadn't Mikkikko already been through enough? And now, Leafwhisper's own Clan didn't even know if her kits were alive or not! And if they were, even if Leafwhisper had given birth, who knew what had happened to the poor little things by now? A sharp intake of breath was all that Massie allowed her emotions to display of themselves. After all, she didn't know quite what to say to this. How did one respond to this kind of thing? And Mikkikko....at this, Massie glanced desperately toward the BloodClan tom. He was still extremely silent, his eyes still fixed on Gentleheart as he took all of this in, and the loner was beginning to grow worried. They had to stay strong, at least in front of this cat, but after all they had been through, it was going to be hard.
Then...Gentleheart spoke again, causing Massie's heart to skip a beat.
"But..."
But what? Was there something else? A faint glimmer of hope began to burn in Massie's light green eyes, as she quickly glanced from Mikkikko back to Gentleheart again. Still, her expression remained calm, aggrieved.
"But?" She prompted, her voice slightly more gentle now. "Please, even the smallest detail could help us!" |
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Post by le Dawnz on Apr 16, 2007 19:09:01 GMT -5
Gentleheart was reassure by the loner's words. She knew that she would being doing the right thing if she told them. So she relaxed and spoke of her inner thoughts. "Well, when we... sat vigil with Leafwhipser," she said, glancing at Mikkikko as if appologizing. "I realized that her stomach wasn't hard. I hadn't noticed at the time, because I was grieving, and had forgotten all about her kits to come." She looked at Massie, inquiring if she knew where Gentleheart was going with this, after all, Massie was a she-cat. And even if she'd never had kits of her own, she was sure to know what it meant if a pregnant cat's belly was soft.
On the other hand, Mikkikko was clueless, being a tom. He stared at her intently, waiting for her to continue. He parted his jaw and finally said something, his voice a little raspy because he hadn't spoken for so long. "What does that mean?" he asked, genuinly interested now. |
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Post by Roxie ! on Apr 17, 2007 18:29:45 GMT -5
Massie waited anxiously for Gentleheart to speak again, but there was a moment's pause. She could feel her own heart pounding in her chest, the anticipation building as the tension of the news crackled in the air. There was a moment of doubt in which the loner wondered if Gentleheart was going to speak at all. Luckily, however, her previous words seemed to have restored confidence to the ThunderClan cat, who began to speak at last. Massie listened intently, as if straining for any sign that would suggest that Leafwhisper had given birth.
Perhaps it was the speed at which all of this was unraveling: Mikkikko's near-death, their afterward relief and closure, the memories of Leafwhisper brought up, and now this, but Massie's mind was clouded. At first, she did not comprehend what Gentleheart had said, and weary confusion shown in Massie's gaze as the loner and the ThunderClanner's eyes met. Gentleheart seemed to be suggesting something...but what? Her eyes narrowed, head reeling as she tried to put the pieces together.
And then, although it had taken a moment, it clicked. Of course! She was a loner, not a medicine cat, but Maisie had various knowledge of a few useful herbs. She'd even saved a few cats lives with these, including Leafwhisper's...a date that now seemed so long ago after all that had happened. But once, Massie had helped a friend deliver kits, and even despite this she could have used her former knowledge to conclude...
Green eyes widening in stunned shock, Massie could only stare, no, gape at Gentleheart, unsure of exactly what to say. Swaying slightly, Massie fought to keep steady as she pressed closer against Mikkikko as if to secure this tiny hope between them. Obviously, he hadn't caught on as he inquired Gentleheart what she meant... and although she had thought she was too stunned for words, Massie found herself replying.
"What it means..." She meowed slowly. "Is that Leafwhisper had already given birth! Mikkikko, a she-cat's stomach is hard when she's pregnant!"
Excitement slowly grew in her words, but Massie tried to stifle it. Even if Leafwhisper had birthed her kits, how could they have survived up to this point? |
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Post by le Dawnz on Apr 17, 2007 19:05:15 GMT -5
"So that... so that means that they could be out there somewhere?" Mikkikko asked retorically. Of course it wasn't a question, but it was something needed to be said aloud. Gentleheart felt a tug at her heart, sorry for both Mikkikko as well as Destinystep, remembering that he was the kit's father. "I suppose it's possible." she said, wanting to hope for the best but knowing it was dangerous to get ahead of herself. If they had been born, wouldn't ThunderClan have found them by now? But Gentleheart remembered when a patrol came back saying they had scented a strange cat, perhaps a loner or a kittypet. But they hadn't seen any signs of it again.
Mikkikko felt Massie's weight on him as she was struggling to stop the swaying movement that had come over her at this news. He knew how she felt, he was beginning to get a bit light-headed himself. But he stood his ground. He needed details. He just had to let his hopes run high. It was one of the only things he had left. "We need to look for them. If there is any chance that they're alive, then we have to find them." he said, determination creeping into his voice. "They're the only thing left of Leafwhisper." Gentleheart nodded, but she seemed to have more to say.
"Mikkikko, I want to believe they're alive too. And I want to find them. But that's not the only reason I came to talk to you." the grey tabby said. "I'm worried, about Destinystep. He was Leafwhisper's mate. You... you probably remember him from when you came last." Mikkikko nodded, remember how the fiery young tom attacked Mikkikko, thinking he had killed Leafwhisper. |
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Post by Roxie ! on Apr 22, 2007 11:15:49 GMT -5
Taking all of this in silently, Massie's eyes narrowed. She could feel her own tail twitch, sending a tense run of anticipation through her spine. If they were to find the kits, then what were they still doing here, talking? It had been over a moon already, and there was no way the kits were still alive. How could they fend against the creatures of the forest, let alone do so without warmth and milk from their mother? It was downright impossible...unless another cat had found them. At this thought, one of Massie's ears twitched questioningly.
"Have you scented anything? A loner, kittypet, maybe even a cat from another Clan?" She inquired, before Gentleheart went on to speak of Destinystep. Massie felt her claws unsheathe again. Of course, that dim-witted mouse-brain who had attacked Mikkikko! Anger glinted briefly in her eyes as she let out a cold snort. Destinystep was a clan-cat, so why did Gentleheart think that they, a BloodClanner and a loner, could help him? Why did she think they would even care? In frustration, Massie turned away, but held her tongue seeing as Gentleheart was talking to Mikkikko right now.
OOC//Sorry, no muse for animals right now. |
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