[vellichor]

@The Cannibal

He waited awhile outside. Too long, if you ask him. Something had to be up, or maybe the SkyClan leader was simply... ignoring him. Windystar hoped that wasn't the case. He had seen the bad shape that Grousestar was in at the last Gathering. StarClan only knew what was going on, how the leader he had seen as unwavering and kind had broken. It was up to him to pick up the pieces and help this cat in need. It's what he did, no matter the outcome for him. Whether Grousestar would accept him or, more realistically, snap at him and tell him to leave, Windystar would stay until he thought he had made a difference.

The sandy feline's heart pounded in his chest as he heard shuffling. And then, he saw the SkyClan leader. His ears flattened against his skull as he looked the frail cat up and down. This was bad. And here he was, snapping at the ShadowClan leader but he could definitely see signs of underlying sadness. This hurt his heart. He listened to what the leader said without interruption; this needed to go well or else he could run the risk of endangering his own Clan. When he was finished, Windystar shook his head. "Grousestar, I'm not like Blazingstar or Fallenstar. I'm not going to come in here, use your Clan, and leave like nothing happened." Bold words? Maybe. But would they work? "I don't want an allegiance. I want to talk to you. Not as leaders, but as... cats." Hmm, kind of an awkward ending, yes. But he was okay with that.

He wouldn't move, enter, exit, without Grousestar's command. He didn't want to threaten the vulnerable tom. Instead, Windystar nonchalantly took a paw and drew it over his ears, trying to kill time while he figured out what to say next. "I just want to talk is all. Forget petty alliances." the large cat nearly snarled at the word "alliances". That stupid word had killed too many cats, broken too many hearts, and hurt too many leaders. In his eyes, war was stupid and a coward's way out of a situation. He was the kind of tom who would rather fight with words than claws.