Acornflash seemed like such a lovely cat. Greystep felt bad, making him deal with the tom who wasn't exactly desirable company... the tom wasn't exactly what might be called a cat who would fit in places. He definitely didn't feel like he belonged here most of the time. And sure, he had the sweet feline who was like his daughter, Splotchfeather... he had Owlwing... and maybe someday he would have Acornflash as a friend as well. He wasn't quite sure about it. The tom didn't really know whether or not the tom would want to be around him for a long, long time. He shifted his weight again, looking at the younger cat before him almost nervously. To be honest, embarassment was one of the things that was most strong in Greystep's life. He was constantly being embarassed, whether it was by himself or someone else's actions. Sometimes he would watch things going on in the clearing and cringe at the uncomfortableness of them. How was it that there were so many things going wrong with the Clan at this time?
　
Or, honestly...Clans. As he had found out not too long ago. There were other Clans...there were cats living there in the same lifestyle as SkyClan, with a leader and deputy and medicine cat... how was that possible? He couldn't quite wrap his mind around it no matter how hard he tried. What did Acornflash think of it? There being other Clans? He already knew that the other tom didn't like the Dusk Syndicate. And frankly? Greystep didn't blame him at all. Those cats were the scariest he had ever had the misfortune to encounter, and he hoped to never see them again. If he were to live for another forty moons and never see a Dusk Syndicate cat, he would be absolutely thrilled. How big was the age difference between the two toms? Greystep guessed it wasn't too bad, not more then ten moons or so-- that wasn't horrible. He and Splotchfeather were twenty moons apart, and perhaps if he were younger, things would be different. But as it was, she was more like a daughter to him then anything else.
　
The daughter he had never had-- nor would get to have. Maybe she and Acornflash would meet someday, they seemed like the two of them would be perfectly good friends. The tom's ears picked up as he heard the younger one's more confident sounding voice again. To be honest, he wasn't sure whether he believed the words coming from the chestnut cat's maw or not. Everyone's weird in their own way? What does that mean? He thought, cocking his head to the side. At least he was being a decent cat still. Greystep was half terrified that, given a chance, he would end up with a broken heart...not in the sense that he was in love with Acornflash, but more in the sense that he would run off and leave, making Greystep feel alone once more. Even Splotchfeather had other things to do so he couldn't be around her all the time. Nor could he be around Owlwing a lot of the time either, considering she was busy as well. "W-what if t-th-they do?" He asked in a low voice, almost a whisper when he heard Acornflash's question.
　
Maybe they did know what they were talking about. Maybe he really was just a weird cat, a cat who didn't know what he was doing. The comfort that he felt around the tom was growing, not only because he was being so incredibly friendly but because his nervousness faded over time anyways. Something that he was both grateful for and cursed at the same time. "I mean...wh-what if they're r-ru-right? Wh-what if I-I-I re-real-really am j-just w-wuh-weird, an-and a n-nu-nobody..." Greystep's voice trailed off. He'd been hearing those words for most of his life. But saying them out loud? That really hurt. A nobody. He was a nobody, really. Most of the cats in the Clan were. They were just loyal warriors, doing their job. Nobody important. They were all nobodies, and Greystep? Well, he was just one of them. The most invisible nobody of all. Acornflash's story made Greystep's ears pick up and he listened intently. That would be really scary. Had the tom before him really been through that?
　

Originally Posted by Nighty (Post 220218) @Marble Cliffheart exited the medicine cats den, after taking a last dose of herbs to soothe the lasting pain in his hind leg. He was so sick and tired of his leg right now, he was ready to cut it off and be done with it. What with the rout urea ligament, the permanently twisted lower section, he was done. His Starclan forsaken leg was causing him so much trouble, trouble that kept him from serving his Clan, from being around his mate, from going on long relaxing hunts in the territory, from running care free. It was a hindrance to him, even if his mate said its what made him, him. He knew it weighed him down, and half the problem was was that he let himself weigh him down. He had always beat himself up over it, and he doubted he would ever stop. Why had Atarclan given him these two, strongly contrasted things? They had given him one, a passion to serve, to love, and to care for his Clan above all else. And two, a dumb, twisted paw who only slowed him down and held him back. Seriously? Did they Ike playing curl jokes or something? He was over it, ready to be done.

Lynxtuft's little stubby tail gave a teeny flick as he padded in through the gorse tunnel leading to the Heart of skyclan. Broken and disturbed thicket covered most of his body while grass was embedded deep within the Japanese bobtails fur. Holding nothing but a forlorn look plastered on his bi coloured face. He almost seemed distraught, which in all truth seemed like an under statement at this point. Taking catious steps the Tom made his way into the clearing, avoiding the heavy looks from warriros and apprentices around him. If I didn't have this useless stump on the end of my rear I wouldn't be like this, I wouldn't trip, I could climb, I could run. I could hunt, I could do everything the warrior code tells me to do if it wasn't for this. he thought bluntly kicking a pebble with his front left paw in utter frustration. The feline hung his head as he passed by the fresh kill pile, he didn't deserve to eat. Hence the looks he received so very often. Just as he was about to slink into the warriors den to settle his mind when a feline caught his eye. Cliffheart. Lynxtuft never formally met him nor cared to do so until about a few sunrise ago, though he wasn't the particular Tom lynxtuft would be found socializing with all the time which was why lynxtuft was staring blankly you could tell there where multiple emotions. He was obviously envious of the Tom and his talents. Though he had heard of that twisted paw of his he knew the spirit of starclan seemed to rest on his shoulders every waking moment, showering him with pride and the eagerness to please. It was envy that forced Lynxtuft to gawk over him, to make him wish he had that much faith when it really wasn't there. It was time he actually introduced himself perhaps. Just to get over it... Just to make sure cliffheart wasn't better than him. Mid step lynxtuft turned toward cliffheart. Wearing a loose smile. It was all he could process as of now, guilt, envy and anger where still clear in his mind preventing any sociable productivity. Now it was obvious lynxtuft was heading for cliffheart and there was no Turing back now, "Hello. Fine evening isn't it?" suddnely lynxtuft felt like digging a claw into his right forearm. What was that? Talking about the wether that's not why I'm here?! Ugh. I'm so stupid. He thought with exhaustion aimed directly at himself as the source.

@ItsATryp