Starry Night

[Deleted]

The stillness of the evening was broken by the chirps of a few birds and cicada in the forest. It had recently rained so the air held the heavy humidity from the aftermath of the showers the forest had recieved. This was what Tawnypelt had the forest like as she made her way through the undergrowth. The sun was sinking further and further down making the world around the calico darker as the minutes ticked by. The world around her seemed peaceful with the nature hushed and quite as if the animals were getting ready for sleep.

The long furred calico of Thunderclan inhaled a lungful of the humid air. Scenting the many things around her. The fresh smell of rain, the squishy earth beneath her paws and the faint traces of prey that was not masked by the early showers they had recieved. Tawnypelt was not out hunting, though. Not this time at least. This time she was taking a walk through the forest. Granted it was wet and it was humid; the air tense with the electrify of storm past. She did not mind getting wet. Which was good because her thick long fur was soaking up the raindrops off the plants like a sponge as she pushed her way through the foliage.

Tawnypelt took this walk through the wet world for one thing. One thing she enjoyed most of all was star gazing. The Calico loved watching for the first star of the night to appear; soon followed by it's brothers and sisters. When she was younger Tawnypelt believed that each star in the sky; even the tiniest you could barely see, were the ancestors of the clans. And as she was so young; she wondered if there was anyone up their watching out for her. There must have been if she had gone from such a terrible kit hood to a wonderful warrior hood. It may have been unimportant now since she has long accepted her past and moved on. But when a cat had so much time on their paws one could not but help and think about their journey that led them to where they are today.

Tawnypelt soon found herself at her desired location: the Sunset Hills which had a gorgeous view in the evenings but it was even more beautiful at night. A nice clear spot to see the vast landscape of the sky. The sun by now was merely a glare of fading light on the horizon and the sky bled from there to a light blue to a midnight blue where the moon was out and the stars sparkling in the backdrop. It was truly peaceful now and Tawnypelt allowed herself to fully unwind from the day's events and stare up at the stars. A small smile gracing her features as she watched. Her amber orbs tracing every twinkling they could find like a kit in awe of something utterly magnificent. She did not know how long she sat there and staring but it must have been quite some time; or at least it very well felt like it. Her neck was starting to get sore from craning it up so much for a long period of time so she allowed herself a break and tucked her paws beneath herself and curled up. Eyes now scanning the horizon and the dark shapes of the trees in the distance.

A rustle caught the calico's attention. There was no breeze so there was three options. Prey, clan mates, or unwanted company. She hoped for either the first two. She didn't quite feel like bring forced into a fight. She would be very cross indeed if her quite time was disturbed by an enemy or threat. The rustling of the foliage made her go on a full alert. Tawnypelt had risen to her paws and tensed; ready to confront her unexpected company.

Tags/// Open
Word Count/// 656
Notes/// None

[Sandstar]

It wasn't often Sandstar found himself unable to sleep. Usually it only happened in leafbare, when the needs of the Clan and worry about their future kept him awake. And while the nights were starting to get cooler, it wasn't nearly the worrying chill of leaf-fall.

The leader of ThunderClan tossed and turned in his nest, growing more and more annoyed at himself. He was messing up the moss and throwing it all over the place. Anyone who'd peek in would think he'd had a nightmare and was thrashing about in his sleep.

Finally, as the sun was moon was rising, he gave up and rose. Perhaps a walk through the forest would tire him out. Sandstar left his den and padded toward the entrance, nodding his head at the warrior on duty. And while the guard's eyes were full of curiosity, they didn't care ask where he was going so late.

He allowed his paws to guide him, enjoying the scents that lingered post-rain. Perhaps he would do a bit of late night hunting, though he doubted there was more prey about at this time of night.

A particular scent suddenly hit him, and Sandstar leaned closer to a bush to make sure it was right. Tawnypelt was out again, not that it was all that surprising. Perhaps his former mentor wouldn't be against allowing him to keep her company.

He followed his Clanmate's trail, noting that she wasn't trying to hide it. If he'd been a fox or anything on the prowl, she'd be fresh-kill. At realizing where they were going, however, Sandstar huffed in amusement. Sunset Hills was the perfect place to view both the stars and your surroundings; an experienced warrior like Tawnypelt wouldn't allow herself to be caught off guard.

Sandstar broke through the foliage and searched among the hills. Tawnypelt was on one of the tallest ones, and was already bristling and ready for a fight. He chuckled and called out, "As much as I appreciate your confidence in my fighting skills, I'd really rather go back to camp without any fresh scars. StarClan knows I have enough of them."

He padded forward to stand a respectable distance away. "May I join you? Sleep eludes me tonight and I find myself restless."

Words: 378
Tagged: @tawnypelt
Notes: I know I said I'd do it later, but I need Tawnythorn fluff.

[Deleted]

She had not waited long for the unexpected visited to show him or herself and was relieved to see that it was Sandstar. She was not needing to fight after all, good. A soft look came across her eyes as she studied the Thunderclan's leader. She could still remember the day they had officially met. He was so young back then with big dreams. And look at him now, fulfilling that very same dream he had when he was only but a kit. And she was proud of the tom had become but missed the times they had together as mentor and apprentice. It makes herself seem so old once she thinks about it.

She allowed her fur to settle down and her body to relax. She dipped her head in formal greeting and settled back down once more now that she knew there was no threat. "Good, i'm glad becauseI really dont want to give any to add on to them either." the calico replied in greetings back.

Being the sarcastic and teasing self that she was Tawnypelt couldn't help but add on to that reply back to his question with a "I wouldn't have pegged you to be the asking type Sandstar. Usually you just do as you please, has the role of leadership knocked some sense into that overly active mind of yours?" she spoke in a teasing tone as she sat with her chin held high in a princess like manor.

Moments later she relaxed her posture with a giggle and crouched back down in a more comfortable position. "Of course you can keep me company Little Sandkit. She admonished by using his nickname. After all he'll always be her little Sandkit from when they first met. "You don't have to ask, we've known each other long enough. I figure we're long past formality." Tawnypelt added with a fond smile on her maw.

Her gaze turned back to the fading starry sky as it bled into dusk as it made way for the coming sunrise to peek over the hills. Had she been out here all night? Shame on her. She'd need to catch up on some sleep tonight then instead of taking another walk. Forcing down a yawn that threatened to let loose the calico turned bac to her former apprentice with a curious look. "Why couldn't you sleep Sandstar?" she frowned concerned. He needed more sleep them she need with running a clan and all.

Tags ///: Sandstar
Word Count ///: 437
Notes ///: That's not a problem! Always happy to do a Tawnythorne thread!

[Sandstar]

Tawnypelt's fur smoothed over when she realized it was him, but she didn't answer at first. Instead she looked at him with glazed over eyes, as if lost in thought or looking back on memories.

Sandstar didn't mind though and let her take a few moments. He had been her first apprentice, after all, and now he was leader. She was probably remembering the times she could cuff him upset the head without getting in trouble.

Finally she moved, and it was to dip her head in formal respect before retorting to his first sentence, "Good, I'm glad because I really don't want to give any to add on to them either."

He chuckled in agreement and she went on to tease, "I wouldn't have pegged you to be the asking type Sandstar. Usually you just do as you please, has the role of leadership knocked some sense into that overly active mind of yours?"

She sat straight with her chin high, looking at him from the side of her eye. It was such an out of character reaction that Sandstar had to stifle a laugh, moments later Tawnypelt relaxed and scolded, "Of course you can keep me company Little Sandkit."

As always, the nickname she'd bestowed on him from a young age made his face scrunch up in distaste. He'd never actually order her to stop using it, he respected her too much for that, but he still wished she'd drop it. "You don't have to ask, we've known each other long enough. I figure we're long past formality."

Sandstar snorted at her and, taking the invitation, padded closer until he was sitting right next to her, close enough that taking a particularly deep breath would cause their pelts to brush. "And yet you insist on doing things like dipping your head or other such nonsense." His softened his brisk tone to something a little friendlier. "I'm your friend first and your leader second. If you want to be alone, you are completely welcome to tell me to bug off."

He followed her gaze to the lightening sky and frowned a bit before shrugging. It wouldn't be the first sleepless night he'd had. The two of them were sitting close enough that Sandstar could feel her yawn, even though she suppressed it. He glanced at her and felt the tiniest bit guilty. She should have already gone to sleep but here she was, keeping him company instead.

Tawnypelt didn't seem bothered by it, for she turned to him with a concerned frown. "Why couldn't you sleep Sandstar?" He shrugged once again and meowed, "You know, I'm not even sure."

Words: 440
Tagged: @tawnypelt
Notes: Jfc that's a lot...

[Deleted]

Of course he got her on that point. Force of habit for the calico. She wasnt always a respectful cat but after she got to know Bramblestar she had grown respect for him as well as hope for the next leader of Thunderclan. I guess having been around a cat like Bramblestar the idea of respect gets screwed into your brain.

Tawnypelt smiled with a soundless laugh as she turned her head to look at him slightly as Sandstar came to sit beside her. "Yes I guess I do." She murmured looking back down with a small smile as she reminisced.

She looked up surprised thought at his next statement. She want sure if she should use the obedient text book answer of 'your will always be leader first because that's what you are.' Answer. Or the other side that agrees with him. Shaking her head and heaving a sigh; their fur brushing against each other at the large exhale. "Whatever you say Sandstar. And really your fine staying here I don't mind the company. It reminds me of the old days." she chuckled and leaned against his shoulder lightly.

"Guess I can't really call you little anymore huh? Your bigger then me now." she shook her head as she sized him up and compared his size to hers. Yup, he's definitely bigger. She had liked watching him grow as the moons past.

Bringing her attention back to the present the calico's amber gaze flickered from the lighting sky and the ginger tom beside her. Her frown deepening slightly at his answer. What made him it be able to sleep? Bad dreams? Restlessness? Her motherly side came out even more wanting to fix his sleep deprivation but instead forced herself to stay calm and answer logically instead of storing him away like when he was younger. He was no longer the cat she could boss around.

"Perhaps you should go see the med cat? Maybe you'll be able to get something to help you sleep? I don't like knowing you are lacking sleep." she stated softly but with a firm tone letting him know she was serious; it wasn't a friendly suggestion.

True their relationship was beyond leader and clanmate. They'd known each other since Sandstar was very young so they where familiar with the way each other worked and Sandstar very well knew when Tawnypelt put her paw down and could be stubborn as a mule. Specially concerning his health. She was more protective of Sandstar that she cared to admit. It had been awhile since she last had someone this close and special to her to care for. Not since her adopted brother.

Sandstar