[odessa]

alderstep
he/him
thunderclan
russet tabby w/ white paws, green eyes

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Yeah. Creamcloud was truly, officially missing. Alderstep spared a glance at the nest that used to be hers. If he concentrated hard enough, her scent, though rather stale, lingered there. Soon it'd be washed away by the presence of all the other warriors, maybe even a new warrior would take her nest.

It shouldn't hurt him. He knew this, it was clear as day. This was why he didn't get all vulnerable with other cats. Big mistake on his part. It was also a mistake that he kept making, no matter how hard Alderstep tried not to. It was just that the lonely feeling (ew, he hated that thought so much) always got to him in the end. He'd say something, tolerate someone else's company, maybe even seek them out...and then something like this would happen.

Alderstep grimaced, sick of wallowing in a sense of loss. His eyes flicked to where he knew Rabbit slept most of the time. His scent, unlike Creamcloud's, was fresh. It was almost reassuring to know that one of his clanmates hadn't disappeared like the stars at the first hint of sunlight.

Oh, ok, fine. He'd admit it. Alderstep had come close to accidentally thinking it at times, anyways. Maybe he did...see...Rabbit...as a friend? Oh, hell no. Alderstep hadn't had one of those in ages. Maybe, just maybe, he was touch-starved and jumping way too far ahead. "Damn you Rabbit, your kindness almost had me fooled." Alderstep scrunched his nose at the words he'd muttered not purposely. He'd have to figure this all out later. Or never. Never was good. Too bad his heart apparently wasn't giving him that choice, given the way it'd thrust these annoying sentiments onto his mind.

Tensing up, Alderstep turned tail and left the den to go do something. He'd no need to stay in the den any longer. He'd found what he needed to find out. Creamcloud was gone. The prey, however? That wasn't. So, Alderstep had a feeling he could make up for wasted time looking for somebody by hunting. And maybe he'd avoid a certain oak tree. And cove. And falls. And...great cats, there were so many memories everywhere. There really was no way to escape his thoughts, especially the complicated ones about other cats.

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@wren oh, but did you expect this sneaky little prank hidden under the guise of me needing to write some alder content? (:<