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Firefalcon- SkyClan Warrior

Firefalcon’s whiskers twitched, watching the empty camp with boredom. She had quickly exited the warrior’s den when sleep did not find her, briefly checking on Honeyheart and Bluefeather. She stood outside the den rather briefly before she retreated. Her hazel eyes were focused on the light above them only for a moment as she expertly weaved through the wide area, taking as little form as possible. She never laid in the middle of camp when she couldn’t sleep – instead she found herself hiding in the shadows of the trees. The birches always supplied light, but under their trunks, a cold shadow would always envelop her.

The blue-grey warrior didn’t find the dark to be lonely, only a part of her life as is. She didn’t have anyone to confess to- nor could she open her mouth to say such things. She didn’t need them thinking she was a kittypet who couldn’t show that much weakness. She would be thrown out with her tail between her legs. It was how it was and how it always would be. So as she curled up in the normal spot- where she ate quite often too, it was a familiar feeling that she felt pleased with. It wasn’t a feeling of comfort, but one of normalcy that Firefalcon pushed herself to enjoy.

So as she sat there, her eyes falling shut- she wrapped her paws under her and curled her fluffy tail around herself as normal. Her breaths- were normal. She dug her claws in and out exactly in four repetitions- before she became still. It wasn’t more than an hour or two- the feline felt someone join her in the clearing. It wasn’t a noise she heard, just a feeling. It was one she felt many times before- only to find no one there. However, none the less, she opened her eyes to quickly scan the clearing. It wasn’t too long before hazel eyes focused on the medicine cat apprentice – Tigerpaw. She tilted her head a little, flicking her ear in confusion. Was there a meeting tonight that she wasn’t aware of?

She didn’t have to look up at the moon to know it wasn’t a half-moon- so as the younger cat looked around, part of her felt obligated- purely because it was the medicine cat apprentice. If she was that young, she would want someone to follow her obvious clues. Standing to her paws fluidly- she walked closer out of the shadows. Firefalcon barely took a moment- already assessing what would have been a correct answer- to speak. “Is there something wrong Tigerpaw?” It was a question of curiosity, selfish curiosity- but she would have wanted her question answered. “Do I need to find someone for you?” She asked almost immediately after- not waiting for an answer until afterwards.

@tikker ♪ ♫ - hope you didn't mind if I joined?

Firefalcon- SkyClan Warrior

Firefalcon felt her head tilt slightly at the strange noise Tigerpaw made. She wanted to apologize for scaring her, but she didn’t know if that would be offensive. Either way, it should be said. “I did not mean to scare you.” She said quietly, her normal bland tone offering little sympathy, but Firefalcon did in fact feel sympathetic to the young apprentice. At the first statement the other cat shared, Firefalcon had no apt answer. The she-cat had insomnia herself, the idea of another cat being able to sleep was just something she expected others to simply deal with. Her ear flicked, in a show she was listening.

The blue-gray she cat only dipped her head to show she was listening, not sure what to say to that. Were medicine cats supposed to talk in such riddles? She was unsure. She wasn’t sure if clan-cats had ‘dreams’ unlike hers. She was going to comment- but Tigerpaw spoke again and she blinked calmly. “Your assumption is correct; I do not sleep well some nights.” She commented flatly, her eyes flicking to where the warrior den was almost in thought. “It would not be trouble.” The blue-grey she-cat nodded, dipping her head respectfully. If she made nice with the medicine cats, they hopefully would continue to help her grandmother as she grew old. That would be beneficial to her- so lack of sleep would not bother her.

“Please, lead the way.” She dipped her head respectfully as she rose to her paws, her hazel eyes scanning the area in front of her. She supposed it would be beneficial to let the apprentice guide the conversation – more so than her herself. She never had anything interesting to say to clan-born anyways. At least that’s what she personally felt like, though she wasn’t ever sure if that was true. “Do you wish to talk?” She felt her voice saying as she followed beside the other cat. “I might not be good at responding, but I will do my best.” It was a rather honest reply from the sedate cat- as she was hardly a social butterfly.

- tikker ♪ ♫

Firefalcon- SkyClan Warrior

The air was not tense but she couldn’t note it at being relaxed either. There wasn’t a feeling she could assign to such things. It wasn’t peaceful, though the night air was. Was the air she felt purely subjective? If it was, she hoped Tigerpaw felt better than she did. The conversation was stilted on her end, as she always felt she was the worst cat to converse with, but Tigerpaw spoke anyways. It was true, they didn’t really have anything in common but it wasn’t that hard to pick a subject in her opinion. Most cats were so wrapped up in their own drama that the blue-gray she-cat had a hard time truly emphasizing or sympathizing with them.

However, the fact is they both lacked sleep and that could be a connection. Though with the lack of description of why, it left her with nothing else. At the mention of the elders, she let her tail flick gently- thinking of her grandmother’s kind face. “Bluefeather, yes. She is very dear to me.” For once, her voice turned slightly more wistful- as if she was remembering a fond memory. “I thank you for taking such good care of her. She speaks fondly of you and your mentor.” The warrior murmured, her voice hardly unkind or bland, but didn’t have as much emotion in it. It was a feeling that she had lived with- the ‘grateful’ nature of them taking such good care of her. It was probably the only reason she stuck to the clan, was purely because of her grandmother. She noticed that clan cats didn’t always care for their kin- she wondered if that was her kittypet trait.

“My grandmother said she enjoys telling you stories, you listen well.” She wasn’t sure of her personal relationship with Tigerpaw, but Firefalcon did respect the young apprentice’s relationship with the elders. Elders were always more important to her than kits or fellow warriors. It was probably why she was not gifted with an apprentice yet. This was fine by her, as she had no idea how to train something like that. Apprentices were not…something she fully understood.

However, medicine cat apprentices made sense to her, purely because of all the things they had to learn. “Is everyone doing okay in the Elder’s den? I try to fetch them moss and soft things to sleep in but the warriors tell me that is an apprentice’s job. I find it unfair just to give to my grandmother.” Firefalcon admitted rather bluntly- not seeing their point of view and not above making it clear she did not.

tikker ♪ ♫

Firefalcon- SkyClan Warrior

Firefalcon let her eyes drag over the scenery- making sure everything was normal. She wouldn’t be the one to let a medicine cat apprentice be hurt. She would never do such a thing. Hazel eyes gave a small look at the ginger and white she-cat. It was good to hear that she didn’t mind it. Her tail went rigid when she heard the mention of her kittypet roots and she felt shame burn through her fur. She knew that her grandmother had nothing to be ashamed of, but hearing the voices following her like a pack of dogs at her heels would never stop. Guarded, Firefalcon kept her eyes ahead and she made sure she picked appropriate wording.

“She is fond of that story. She knows clan-cats however don’t welcome kittypets but she likes talking about her past. Not all cats enjoy the story of kittypets, as we must prove ourselves to the clan. If you wish to hear that story though, asking her would make her happy.” It was careful- but she still slipped up using ‘we’ and ‘our’ instead of more ambiguous terms. It was pure habit to think like this, she was sure the apprentice would agree no doubt. She was not special; she was not a warrior.

The blue-grey warrior felt herself feel ants prick at her paws as she heard Badgertail’s vicious voice shouting at her from behind her. Her eyes however kept focus as she imagined that beast being pushed off the gorge by her and her alone. She would not let him tell her she couldn’t keep her grandmother safe, no more. Yes- she may be a dirty, filthy, and unworthy warrior- but she would be capable to protect Bluefeather until her last breath. The warrior wasn’t a kit any longer. She knew how to use her claws and if she had to fight for SkyClan to make it happen, she would. Her eyes narrowed slightly in determination before they went back to their previous state, blinking softly when Tigerpaw spoke again.

“I suppose. My mentor didn’t train me in such a way.” She could remember everything about her mentor, not once was it to help other cats. It was to help his image and help his control over her. “I don’t see the harm in doing it either. They are happy to have such things…I am happy to help.” It was truth, her voice softer as she spoke. It was true the elders didn’t inspire any such harm from her- most were perfectly fine with Bluefeather and her blood from what she could tell- so she was pleased to help out those who respected her. It was the only time she wasn’t selfish, she supposed. “Do the other apprentices help you gathering herbs? I see many on my walks but I know nothing about how to harvest them.” It was a random thought- but it was one that floated through her brain before.

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