[InfernoFlicker]

Originally Posted by Lonestar23

Coming out into the territory, Obsidiansky felt odd taking the lead. He was normally walking alongside someone, or if he was in front, it was in a race. He wasn’t really guiding other cats around most of the time. There was a certain amount of discomfort involved in his guiding, but he supposed it would all be worth it later. He’d volunteered, right? That meant that he was doing the right thing now. ”I don’t think too much has changed since you’ve last been here… I mean… everything’s a little different, but that’s just day-to-day stuff. It’s still recovering a little bit from the fire, but it’ll be the same in no time.” Obsidiansky was trying to find something to talk about, because he felt nervous. At the moment he had been addressing Infernosky, while he tried to think of something else to say.

He glanced back momentarily at the cats behind him before turning back to the front. The territory in front of him didn’t feel quite as friendly now, and he felt like he should be saying something else to guide them along. ”Uh… Jitter, or - or Russel, do either of you want to come walk up here with me?” He asked, glancing back at the two of them again and giving a small smile to make his invitation try and seem more genuine. It just didn’t feel right for him to be walking in more of a line - he was used to being in a group, and it seemed safer that way, too. ”Infernosky, what about you? Do you want to come walk up here with me?”

By now, he was just grasping at straws to try and find a way for this to be more comfortable. Obsidiansky was social by nature - the former deputy might scare him a little bit, but her friends definitely didn’t, and he had enjoyed the conversations they’d had before. It was nice to talk to someone who was more reserved every once in a while. To him, there was something about Infernosky that he couldn’t quite figure out - but he really wanted to. Whatever it was, soon the dark furred warrior would know, and he would probably feel a lot more satisfied when he did. He liked talking to her. She was different from Sagewhisker and Canineheart and Fawnskip… the three of them were pretty much the closest she-cat friends he had, but they were all friendly and open and he had had a crush on/was crushing on one of them.

Or all of them. He wasn’t actually quite sure, which was what made this much nicer. Infernosky seemed like the type of cat he could learn something from, and he wouldn’t have to worry about feelings or anything like that. Had she ever been in love? Maybe. Maybe he would find out at some point. He wanted to know everything… what it had been like with the rogues who had pretty much kidnapped her, what Dapplestar had been like (since she’d been close to the leader), what it had been like in the city, what her favorite time of day was… what her favorite activity was… Obsidiansky loved learning things about other cats. He would, of course, have to learn all of these things about Russel and Jitter too. All three of them. They were new here, and for a cat who had never been outside of the Clan - who had no idea what it was like to be on his own - whatever they told him was bound to be fascinating.

@InfernoFlicker

The fire. Russel was reminded of the previous disaster that occurred before their coming to Windclan. He had forgotten about that fact. He wondered if Obsidiansky was right--did Windclan look pretty much the same to Infernosky? I mean, the cats were obviously new and young, not familiar with the former deputy, but, was the atmosphere the same? The scent? The greenery? The tall, thick-pelted chartreaux glanced backward to look at Infernosky, who was quietly taking up the rear, eyes somewhat distant and focused on nothing, brows furrowed. He wondered if it ever got tiring, making that intense face all day. Perhaps her face muscles have just grown so used to it that it felt as natural as your face would in it's most relaxed state. He let out a small sigh to himself, concerned for his strong, but troubled friend.

Meanwhile, Jitterpaw was already heading off course. She had stayed directly beside Russel for a few moments, until the lovely view of the moorlands came into view. Even though she had been traveling through endless moorlands just a day before, a youthful excitement welled up inside her. This was her land now. Her territory. Her turf. And she would spend the rest of her days exploring it, familiarizing herself with it, and defending it. Just like a home. With that thought, she gleefully veered off to the left in an airy leap and bounded about aimlessly in the tall grass, stirring up the pollen, dried underbrush and frightening all the insects into flight. She turned back to the traveling group and cut to the right of them, leaping across the path just in front of Obsidiansky, yelling, "Woohoooo!" And continued to bound in circles, all the while ignoring the loud and angry voices of the insects, making known their displeasure at having their little homes and resting places destroyed.

Infernosky watched the giddy little fae frolic about, at first displeased with her careless behavior. Then, before she opened her mouth to scorn the poor creature once again, she paused. Jitterpaw rarely seemed THIS happy, and sure, she could be charismatic all the time. There was something about seeing the pure joy in this young, brain-sick feline, who had been abused and rejected by her family in the monster and twoleg city. She was celebrating her home, and Infernosky was willing to give her that. Perspective changed, she put up with Jitterpaw's hollering, expression softening just a tad.

As a result, Jitterpaw totally missed Obsidiansky's invitation to walk up front. However, Obsidiansky's invitation made Infernosky realize just what she had done---put them all in a line. That wasn't usually how patrols went, was it? Some small details like that must have slipped her mind during her long journey back. She had, however, always organized Russelfur and Jitterpaw into a line as they traveled, with Russel or Infernosky alternating the front and back, always watching out for danger to protect Jitterpaw. The red tabby fae realized this was no longer a dangerous journey for survival, but a peaceful territory, filled only with prey and other friendly clan cats. Well, for the most part, anyway.

Now realizing how strange that instruction might have sounded to Obsidiansky. Russel had kindly rejected the offer, explaining that since he had no idea where they were going, he shouldn't be anywhere near the front. Plus, he had to keep an eye on Jitterpaw to make sure she didn't get herself lost or fall into a ditch. That then left Infernosky to respond with, "Er, yes, I believe I remember this particular pathway." With a few quick and steady strides, she came up to Obsidiansky's flank, matching his pace. Unfortunately, now that they were side by side, she felt the need to make conversation---something she had wanted to avoid. She was never good at making small talk, especially on patrols. She remembered, with some amusement, that many of the patrols she led would be dead quiet among the other cats, afraid to make a sound that might disturb the former deputy's focus. Some apprentices would complain that she would take things too seriously, and she would just frighten them back into silence. The only words that would be spoken sometimes would be orders, observations about the weather, prey, or scents. Now, things were much more lighthearted, and she wasn't sure how to react. So she kept quiet, avoiding Obsidiansky's eyes, and stiffly looked off into the forest somewhere.

Russelfur then decided to help the situation, "So, where are we off to first? A border? A training ground?"

The large grey tom was silently proud of himself for remembering such terms; only yesterday and earlier this morning had he learned some of clan cat terminology, and he was surely determined to be a quick study.