Napping 'round the Stone [Private]

[nocturnal]

 

Originally Posted by Arie

-- @bmkmb --
[transitioned to after the warrior ceremony, im tired but i wanted to write this post lmao]

Doep,- no Doetuft, had been escorted back to her temporary nest soon after the meeting. It was... better than nothing and now, now she could get the rest she needed. Maybe? Hopefully? Settling back into the comfortable nest where the moss felt softer than it had before she contemplated moving. Getting a piece of prey to eat would most likely help her with her hunger and lying in her nest while hungry wasn't the best thing either. Shaking her head she tried to clear it of thoughts but the single thought that remained in her head was the... memories of the last time she'd gotten a name change. Doelight... the name no longer was a shadow over her. It'd been erased with the new one... this new one that encompassed who and what she was. She'd passed all her requirements, she'd fought in a battle and trained along with the deputy... and she'd survived. Proved everyone wrong. Her fear of light was something she'd yet to overcome, the clan of shadows not exactly being optimal for working for a fear of bright bright light... but here she was. A warrior. A warrior of all things. Second time she'd been one in truth but nevertheless this time it was real. There was no going back now, and she... she still didn't know how to feel about in truth. It was like every time she felt someone was going to tell her that she'd been demoted back to apprentice again. Like... she just couldn't accept the reality of being that; for being real. It was true. She had earned her name. Doetuft. Determination... resilience. Both words she wouldn't have thought to describe herself with but she'd... overcome a lot hadn't she? Adding blindness into the mix, although it wasn't an excuse and would never be, just made it a bit more... complex. So resting her head on her paws she flickered her ears steadily as she tried to settle in. Waiting... for what she didn't know.

Frostpaw - er, Talonstone - grumbled quietly to himself as he slunk back towards his nonexistent nest. He had been ordered to rest. Literally ordered to rest by a high rank, which was quite disappointing, in his perspective at least. It proved that he was worthless, new warrior or not. What type of warrior passed out right after their ceremony? He wouldn't even be able to stay up until moonhigh to complete the customary vigil, seeing that he was being forced to rest immediately. Mark his words, Frost - Talonstone - would be completing that star-cursed vigil. Tomorrow, hopefully, since today was out of the question. Because Fr- Talonstone had never been awake enough to make himself a nest, he currently didn't have one. Not that he minded; he could care less about whether he wanted to sleep directly on the earth or not. Nests hadn't been a part of his life until his apprenticehood, anyway. If the floor beside a nest was good enough for a kit, then the soft earth shouldn't be a problem for a tired warrior. With a mental sigh, Fr - Talonstone, guardians; why was remembering his own name so difficult? Talonstone lied down beside Doetuft's nest and curled up into a rather large ball, resting his head on his paws and covering all that with his fluffy tail. He wondered how easily sleep would come in broad daylight. This would no doubt mess up his sleep schedule, although he supposed that it was slightly better than not having one at all.

[Arie]

-- @bmkmb --

When she heard a small thud beside her, Doetuft lifted her head carefully, eyes blinking slowly as she became more aware of her surroundings after having briefly and unintentionally dozed off. The scent clearly told her who it was but so did the simple fact that he was lying right next to her, outside of the nest. It was so damned typical. From what she had gathered after Fro-, Talonstone, had passed out he was strictly on nest rest and sleep and she couldn't help the small snicker. It was so classical, and it fit with her stubborn... friend? close friend? that he would have to be FORCED to rest himself. Although lifting a paw, despite the action being at least a tiny bit painful, she patted the ground outside her nest and frowned. How the hell was he lying on this and expecting to get a peaceful rest? Shaking her head and a frown making its way onto her face she lifted herself a bit more, before kicking out with her hind legs, widening the nest she was curled up in just a teeny bit. It wasn't much, the nest that was. She missed her own back in Shadowclan with the moss worn from moons of curling up in it and the feathers she'd weaved into it but that one was destroyed. This one would have to do and when you were still struggling with moving around properly it was rather just nice to have a nest to feel comfortable in. "Frosty," she muttered under her breath as she dragged herself up into her nest further and then, stabilizing herself with her tail she reached over for the tom and using her front paw felt around a bit until she reached his scruff. Taking in a deep breath she reached down and pulled, not realizing how heavy her friend was when he wanted to be but pulling again she managed to eventually heave him into the nest. "Heavy.. grump," she mumbled under her breath once again. This task had drained more of her than she wanted to admit, but with injured shoulders and not able to use her front legs by much she would have to work with this. With Frost,- Talonstone, in the nest she moved around a bit, knowing the tom had to be awake while she had dragged him, he was a light sleeper after all and then proceeded to curl up in the small corner of their nest, feeling strangely awkward about herself. This was normal right? Friends offered their nest all the time didn't they?

[nocturnal]

@Arie

At first the darkness was somewhat relaxing. He had to ignore the chirping of birds, the padding and chattering of his clanmates. Out of all the things that Fro- Talonstone had learned, how to sleep in plain sight in broad daylight hadn't been one of them. It went against most of his survival lessons, actually. The large tom internally sighed. He was exhausted and his eyes could droop, body could curl up, but it was too loud, too bright for him to rest. How irritating. He supposed that he was bound to get some sleep sometime soon, but it was likely to be from a tired succumbing more than an actual accepting rest. Frost- Talonstone heard his name whispered and a rebellious ear twitched at the call. Then a paw hooked around his scruff and slowly dragged him into a nest. Doepaw... tuft, his mind provided, because no one else would drag him into a nest like that. She was still injured, wasn't she? He hoped that the tabby wasn't straining herself. Talonstone cracked an eye open, internally wincing at the bright sunlight when his eyes had just become accustomed to darkness. He craned his neck around to see Doepaw... tuft curling up in a smaller, opposite section of the nest and the tom frowned into his tail. This nest wasn't large. It was slightly comfier than the earth and it smelled vaguely of Doep- tuft. For the first time, Frost- Talonstone realized that he missed that little corner of the apprentices' den. He missed his own nest and it was strange, but he felt the smallest pang of sadness for the now-nonexistent structures. Now, back to the present. Gaze resting on Doep- tuft, Frost- Talonstone wondered. They were warriors now, so... anything was legal? Finding the energy to stand, Talonstone took a few steps towards Doetuft and curled back up beside the molly. This wasn't too different than what had happened that one night, Talonstone mentally told himself. The only thing was that they were actually sharing a nest for now... right?

[Arie]

-- @bmkmb --

Feeling the brush of fur against her own, she lifted her face once again. Why did things keep brushing her in the face or landing directly in front of her? Twitching her ears she felt the scent waft over her and how... how had she forgotten already? She'd pretty much dragged Frostp,- No. Not again. She'd pretty much dragged Talonstone into the nest. Not pretty much. She had done it. Lifting her head though she shifted slightly, once again feeling his fur brush against her shorter fur. It was such a strange predicament that she had put them in and she didn't know if she regretted it or not. Fro,- there she went ahead and did it AGAIN. Talonstone took up a lot of space in the small nest. It wasn't small per say but when two cats were in the space of where one should be it, it was sure to be cramped. Feeling his fur brush against her own did bring back memories of that horrid night though, or has it truly been horrible? Doetuft came to the realization that she didn't know. In many ways, the events and memories would surely be classified as horrible but there was so many things that had also improved after that. Nightmares were easier to handle when you were woken up from them by your friend. She was debating moving but didn't know if it would be such a great idea. Talonstone was told to rest... but was he told to sleep? Doetuft herself had been told to rest - which she'd already begun to break the rules off by dragging her companion into the nest - and wasn't particularly successful at that. Sighing she gave up on the pitiful rest she would get from lying cramped up on the edge. Shifting a bit she couldn't help the awkward feeling when she turned. Based on where she could hear his breath she knew she was facing Talonstone now, and it was just... embarrassing? Awkward? She couldn't help it! These feelings she weren't used to them. Well she was, but she was just so used to suppressing everything as an apprentice. It wasn't like you just started feeling everything as soon as you became a warrior. However, settling down a bit closer so that she was now resting with her shoulders and front legs against his paws. "Frosty," she couldn't help but murmur. He wasn't asleep, the uneven breathing suggested that and she didn't find it likely he would just pass out after moving. Although that had happened. What else should she say? Moving a bit closer, simple shuffling by her paws so her head now brushed his cheek, she just rested her head on her paws for now. What did you say to your long time friend... "You feeling... okay?" the simple question. However this time it held many different meanings. Could be interpreted differently.

[nocturnal]

@Arie

Even in a nest - a small, cramped nest with two cats being in it at once, but still a nest - Talonstone found that he was having trouble sleeping. He kept brushing against Doetuft by accident, and her scent kept wafting over him - it was her nest, after all - but it was quite distracting. Not in a bad way, he supposed. He was simply unfamiliar with this certain situation. That was a good thing? Being put on mandatory nest-rest shouldn't be something that a cat should be familiar with. It was what, slightly past sunhigh now? The later part of noon, meaning that he still had more than half a day to go before his usual resting time. His mind was rebelling against his tired body. Resting and sleeping weren't the same, right? So was it legal for him to stay awake as long as he didn't move around too much? It wasn't like he could fall asleep anyway; his body would succumb whenever it felt like it, regardless of Talonstone's personal preferences. The recently promoted warrior was a bit too exhausted to feel awkward about being in a nest with Doetuft. Sure, it was strange, but not awkward? He couldn't find the energy to really care. A head brushed against his cheek and Talonstone cracked an eye back open to see Doetuft much closer to him than before. He didn't want to answer her question, but she would no doubt worry if he didn't. "I'm fine," the tom responded in a mutter. If she had been expecting something else, then this wasn't really the time. He was tired, but fine. Also hungry... guardians, he had forgotten to get something to eat earlier. Whatever. He could find something later, whenever that would be.

[Arie]

-- @bmkmb --

Why was she even trying? Doetuft let out a huff of air once again and just was tempted to turn her head. What was this feeling...embarrassment? Why was she feeling so out of wack just because of her one action. He was too tired to even care! Sighing she turned around a bit, feeling somewhat strange once again. She didn't like this feeling! Couldn't it just go away. Shaking her head once again, she just... she didn't know what to do. It wasn't even like she could do that much with her shoulders and injuries. However, she had to get rid of this feeling one way or another. Having put off confronting these thoughts and feelings when they came up as an apprentice still left her unsure how to work all of it out and she still didn't like it. Standing up, albeit shakily she took a few steps, grateful that the freshkill pile wasn't all too far out of reach. She could do this... for herself and to give her a small break from the constant brushing of fur to collect herself if only a little bit. Small steps, with a few pauses in between and she was picking up what smelled like a dove. It was such a strange prey to have made its way onto the pile but she guessed... that was what was there at the moment. Once again carefully making her way back to the nest, she shuffled her paws carefully. It had hurt to move up there... despite the constant pauses and breaks that had made a short trip, double if not triple in time taken. Shoulders burning she slowly shuffled herself back into the nest. Maybe that could make Snowflake happy. Now where did the anger come from? She didn't know! and it was this strange feeling of feeling... she didn't know! Frosty rarely spoke normally and she didn't know why it bothered her so much this one time around. Was she worried about him? Possibly... but that didn't explain the anger! Padding the nest with her paw, she settled back into it, making sure to keep a little bit of space between her fur and Snowflake's. With her mood and feelings so... out it, she wasn't sure if being constantly able to feel his fur against hers was that good of an idea. It would most likely just result in more embarrassment for her. So settling down once again, shifting to make herself a bit more comfortable she pushed the dove towards Snowflake. "Heard... your stomach... rumble. Thought... you might like it." If he was going to eat the entire thing she didn't mind. At this point she didn't know where she stood... and nothing had even changed! No words, no actions outside of the normal little response from Talonstone nothing had changed so why was she feeling like this? Turning her head away she struggled still to process all of it. It wasn't something you could just start talking about either and she knew he was on rest, so she probably shouldn't bother him with all her thoughts anyway.

[doe's feeling feelings and dont know how to process said feelings]

[nocturnal]

@Arie

Another huff coming from his left, then the sounds of a cat leaving their nest. Was Doetuft irritated with him? It had sounded slightly huffier than her usual, exasperated huffs, which brought up the question: what had he done? The nest was cramped and they kept brushing together... which he supposed was even more awkward than the sharing a nest part. It wasn't his fault, though! Doetuft had been the one to drag him into the nest. He had been perfectly comfortable sleeping beside the nest, with all the room in the world for him to spread out. How was he expected to sleep with all his thoughts running rampant? This was all so distracting and he wasn't enjoying it. With a quiet grumble, Talonstone stood in the nest and walked around. Why? Why was he restless and thoughts running rampant when his eyes refused to stay open? This was... not right. He was exhausted but his body refused to cooperate. He wanted to run, he wanted to stretch, he wanted and seriously needed to sleep. Guardians. Could this day get any more irritating? The large tom cracked an eye open once again as Doetuft resettled herself into the nest. The scent of bird muffled his nose as a white bird was pushed towards him. Was that a dove? Why on earth would a dove be in the fresh-kill pile? It was probably a star-cursed omen of some sort. Luckily, Talonstone wasn't a medicine cat and could care less about the stars. Shifting into a position where his legs were tucked beneath his belly, the white warrior nosed the dove. It was plump. And white. Should he thank Doetuft for bringing it to him? The molly was still littered with scratches. Had she walked all the way to the fresh-kill pile and back on her own? His stomach had grumbled? He hadn't noticed. He probably wouldn't have noticed if a kit sat on him with how he was feeling at the moment. Talonstone held the dove down with a paw before tearing off a good-sized chunk of it and swallowing the flesh whole. It wasn't until then that he hsd noticed how absurdly hungry he'd been. How about Doetuft? Curiously, the white tom pushed the rest of the dove towards her in a... peace offering? A strange peace offering, but it was a dove... maybe that meant something? He was still hungry, yes, but hopefully one chunk would be enough to stop his stomach from grumbling like a traitor. Talonstone laid his head back onto his paws and covered his eyes with his fluffy tail. Maybe, if he was lucky, he would get some rest this time. Very likely, he wouldn't.

[Arie]

-- @bmkmb --

How was she supposed to feel normal? She didn't know and this mess that was in her head was not proving it easier by any means to figure out anything. Shaking her head in frustration she kept her face turned away for a moment, still trying to process anything and everything. If she could just figure out this anger... then the chances for her figuring out the rest would be an easy path right? Why was she angry? She... didn't know. Doetuft was completely clueless as to where the anger and frustration came from, and couldn't keep her tail from lashing back and forth as she tried to figure all of this out... and would likely not succeed but that wasn't the right attitude for anything. Anger, yeah anger. Taking in a deep breath and trying to sort all of it out, she came to the conclusion that it had to be... some frustration of a sort; but what? She was only coming up with more and more question and not making it easier for herself! But... there was a root to it, and it had to do with the white tom literally lying less than a mouse length away from her. Was it due to his lack of speech? It couldn't be... he rarely spoke anyway. And usually it didn't matter, and it most certainly shouldn't matter right in this moment, he was still recovering from his heavy fall to the ground, his exhaustion and apparent lack of food, so it would be unreasonable of her to expect him to talk with her despite them literally being like sardines in a barrel. What was the main reason though? No clue. She had no clue and that agitated her even more. Finally releasing her breath in more of a frustrated huff she hadn't paid any attention to the remainder of the dove that was pushed her way, too caught up in the thoughts of trying to work this out. Not realizing she'd been glaring at Talonstone for a good hard moment there she averted her gaze to where she was quite sure a half eaten dove was lying. Deep breaths. Stay calm. But that was once again one of those things that were easier said than done. He was feeling 'fine.' There was no need to ask him that question once again... but she wanted to. Pushing the bird back to Snowflake though and ignoring her own hunger for now - not that she felt like she could eat with these emotions eating up her hunger - and she voiced quietly, "You can... have the... entire thing. I do... not mind." She truly didn't. And pulling herself up so she at least was sitting up and her shoulders weren't brushing against his, despite the fact that her hind legs still did, she began to groom a paw, aiming to rub it over her face before remembering that even there wounds rested. Nevertheless gritting her teeth she rubbed her paw over her face to clean off any grime and dirt that was leftover there, before directing her blind gaze once again back to Snowflake. "You... feeling... any better?" if she didn't know better she would've complained to herself about the fact that she was fretting over him.

[nocturnal]

@Arie

For a few seconds, they were back to silence. Realize, they were back to silence. It was still early afternoon and the temporary camp was bustling with activity. Apprentices and kits called after their parents and mentors, fully ignorant of the extreme volumes of their voices. Warriors hunted, chatted, and sparred with one another. That's right... he was a warrior, too, now. Had been one for a couple of hours. So even if he and Doetuft were being quiet, it was still close to impossible to sleep. His eyes were shut, but his mind wandered and his ears twitched curiously. Why... wasn't Doetuft making any noise? The dove was in front of her, was it not? Then again, the molly wouldn't be able to see it. With a internal sigh, the tom shifted his tail and blinked his eyes open. And... Doetuft was staring... glaring at him? Was it possible or a blind cat to glare? Apparently so. For what reason? He was sure that he had done something wrong now, only he had no idea what. What could he have done? He hadn't done anything since the meeting. Was she irritated with his lack of energy? Guardians. Just another reason to be exasperated with his own body, huh. The stars were having fun even when he was incapable of being physically tortured at the moment. Why, weren't they getting creative? Almost rolling his eyes but deciding against it at the last moment - he was too tired to waste his energy on such a useless action, anyway - Talonstone rested his tail back onto his maw. Mollies could be strange at times. Then again, toms were strange, also. All cats were strange in a way; only prey-animals were capable of being straightforward. The white warrior only heard Doetuft's words because his ears had been subconsciously waiting for the tabby to speak her mind. He made no response, not pushing the dove away but not reaching to eat it. Sure, his hunger hadn't gone completely away, but he didn't feel like eating at the moment. Half a dove was should be to keep him going for another day, right? Frankly, the tomcat was a bit vexed that his offering had been declined. Not that Doetuft would've known that that's what it had been meant to be. It was just a lowly, half-eaten dove, after all; not something very important. Was he doing any better? That was what, the third time that Doetuft had asked that in the last few hours? Not that Talonstone was counting or anything. He was tempted to keep his maw clamped down and not respond, but if Doetuft wouldn't keep quiet about it, then she must be worried, right? Pointlessly worried, since she was in a worse shape than he was, or so he thought. " 's too loud to sleep," was the large warrior's muffled response as he burried his maw deeper into the fur of his paws. He probably looked like a talking pile of white fluff at the moment, not that Doetuft would know.

[Arie]

-- @bmkmb --

Was she doing something wrong? She wasn't entirely sure and Doetuft twitched her ears once again this time more or less with exhaustion. Despite it all, despite not being too tired at the start of it all, all these emotions had been tearing her consciousness and tiring her out. Exhaustion it seemed, were common in both of them. However, not hearing any sound of the bird getting eaten she was almost tempted to let out a small huff of annoyance. He was meant to eat it... but was he too tired to do that too? It shouldn't bother her that he was tired... because she knew that. She even understood it quite well... but what was the reason he didn't eat the dove? Was it... an offering to keep her happy? Had he felt her irritation? It hit her and she hoped he hadn't... but if he did; she'd quite literally just refused it. Sighing, feeling a small bit of guilt wash over her she shifted in the nest once again so that she could reach for the remainder of the bird. Not fully hungry, her emotions still out of wack for the time being an affecting her mood she did force herself to eat the remainder of the thing and pointing her ears towards Snowflake...Talonstone. Whatever he wanted to be called and let out a small whisper she wasn't sure he would hear, "Thank...you." It had to mean something didn't it? That he wanted her to have that other half too. Or was it because he wasn't hungry? She wasn't sure and if she begun over thinking it it would only turn out sour once again and that was something she held no interest in. Sighing she debated on what she should do but Snowflake saved her from that her and her mood returned to its usually... grumpier? cheerier? attitude at the comment about it being loud. Unable to resist a snicker she shifted herself once again so she was back to lying on her stomach in her nest. their nest? her nest? Not bothering with that dilemma she folded her legs up underneath her unable to resist teasing, "Loud... for you? Have your... ears gotten more... sensitive?" In truth that could be a possibility. Not that she knew why or how but like... it was a chance right? Sighing, not knowing exactly what to do, she made herself comfortable in the nest. That was all. She was just going to sleep... and hopefully without nightmares? Doetuft wasn't that lucky and as she laid there, unable to make herself comfortable as the thoughts once again raced through her mind. What was she supposed to do? Acknowledge these feelings? Feel them? She didn't know and it frustrated her. Twitching her ears once again she tried to just... stare out into the nothingness that was the sight she had. Well it had a small tinge of greyish light as it always did but nothing... nothing like sight or what she knew of sight. Letting out a breath, she closed her eyes and unconsciously shifted so she was now lying with her back pressed up against Talonstone's and her head had moved to once again rest on his shoulder.

[the next day, past nap time]

Waking up slowly, Doetuft wasn't prepared to bump her head into something. And most certainly not expecting that something was not... a thing but rather someone's head. Not just any someone either... Fros,- Talonstone's head. She wanted to pull away but rather than that she just... rested her head back on his paws taking in deep breaths. No need to move. It would only disturb Talonstone further than she'd already done by accidentally bumping her head into his chin. So keeping her eyes closed she just rested there for now as she waited to wake up more. And that was when the emotions started to flow back in and she was almost tempted to pull back out of of embarrassment. It had been so damned awkward and strange yesterday... Had anything happened? Oh... oh yeah she'd been pissed off and annoyed. For what? Oh... yep. Frosty's lack of interest in anything, which in truth had her being at fault. Flickering her ears slowly she couldn't help the small smirk on her face as she realized the tufts managed to tickle him underneath his chin. That of course had not been her intention but... it was kind of funny. But she had to be serious and sort through her thoughts, hopefully before Snowflake woke up.. that would be preferable. As she slept... she had come to a conclusion, but... how the hell did you voice it. That was her main problem now. Being socially awkward and talking to someone wasn't exactly... a good combination. Sighing she rubbed her head against her paws that was still lying on top of Frosty's. This was hard... and a wreckage. She was a wreckage. How the living lights did you voice to your friend, your friend for Starclan's sake, that you... kinda liked them? Enjoyed spending time in their company? Enjoyed just... existing next to him? Nope nope... Call her a coward all you wanted, she was absolutely terrified of voicing that. Nope. Nope. She wouldn't.