the aftermath [closed - ended]

[spade]

➳ Splitstorm

The run from Sunkissed Creek to the Thunderpath had been a rather long one, and by the time she reached it Splitstorm was fighting to catch a breath. The frosty leaf-bare wind buffeted her fur as her green eyes blinked tears from her eyes. Stinging from the cold as well as the emotions that swirled about her was almost too much to bear.

Still though, it was a better option than going back to camp. At some point, she knew her return was inevitable, but for the time being she needed a place to clear her head. The Gathering just so happened to be the perfect cover for her.

Her paws dragged underneath her as she trailed the Thunderpath, eyes fixated on the ground in front of her. Ears and tail both drooping, she could only hope that no one from her Clan had caught her scent and decided to follow her.

She needed time to think, away from the watchful eyes of her Clanmates. After all, they had no idea that her world had just turned completely upside down.

How long did she have to live with this secret?


[open to anyone regardless of residence! if clan, they can't already be at the Gathering as this is taking place during the Gathering ^^]

[Willowfern]

@spade

Theodore
______________________
(Hope ya don’t mind smooth tongued man hoppin’ in)

Spotting she she-cat, Theodore slipped out of the shadows, he had felt like a walk, and it had turned out alright, since he’d found someone to chat with,
“Why do you run?” He meowed, the ginger and white fur around his green collar fluffed out, his green eyes narrowed a bit, “You smell unusual, where do you come from, and what is your name?”

[spade]

➳ Splitstorm

She had been so lost in thought that when the scent of an outsider drifted to her nose Splitstorm's hackles raised, prepared for a surprise attack. But no claws or teeth came flying out - instead, the figure of an unknown ginger and white face just ahead of her. Stupid shadows. She hated not knowing who or what was around her. "If I recall, I have legs that move fast, and that cause them to... oh yes! Run." Her snappy retort came with flattened ears and narrowed eyes. She wasn't in the mood to chase off an outsider.

Not that she even could. Was she still on ThunderClan territory? Or had she passed the scent markers? With the cloud of confusion settled over her mind, she hadn't the faintest clue where she was, save from the rotten smelling Thunderpath that flanked her.

Curiosity getting the better of her at his question, she continued walking, not looking over to see if the tom was following or not. "I'm a Clan cat; surely you've heard of us lest you've been seeking shelter under a rock for your entire life, which," a quick glance back at his annoying ringing kitty-pet collar bell confirmed it, "might be true." A lash of her tail and an attempt to still the roll of her eyes. "My name isn't important to you, outsider. You're lucky you came across me and not another one of my Clanmates-" specifically Hareflood, who seems rather... "eager", as of late, to drive outsiders out, "-otherwise you would be torn to shreds."

As the moonlight continued to shine down on them both, Splitstorm halted her gaze and looked up, considering her next move. Should she drive this outsider away from her? He wasn't ThunderClan, so he couldn't possibly understand half-Clan heritage and the issues it would cause. Maybe he would be a good cat to ask for advice? No. Absolutely not.


// @Willowfern

[Willowfern]

@spade

Theodore
______________________

He snorted when she mentioned ripping him to shreds,
“You’re lucky I’m not angry, Clan cat, or it would be I, not you, ripping someone to shreds or such remarks,” Theodore flanked her, Looking her over, “You smell of the forest, I take that your ‘clan’ lives there, yes? You are... let me see if I say this correctly... StormClan? Correct me if I’m wrong, of course. I’ve met a few of you clannies before, and I know who lives where, You stormy cats live in the forest, Those shadow cats live in the pine-y area, those rabbit chasers live on the moor, and those weird fish cats live near rivers.”

[spade]

➳ Splitstorm

The sheer arrogance in his voice was enough to stop Splitstorm in her tracks. How bold was he to figure that he'd be the one to do the clawing and biting. If she was in a better mood, she might've had the idea to show him a thing or two. Nothing irritated her more than snobby dimwits that acted like big, tough warriors. She had half a mind to fix that thinking right here and now...

"Oh, you big ball of fluff, I'd love to see you try to take on a trained warrior," she spat already disgusted with this interaction. What was worse at this point - pretending to indulge this outsider with small talk, or turning back home to face her liar of a mother.

She'd take the dull conversation and over esteemed company for now. There were worse fates that could befall her, she was sure.

"It's ThunderClan, idiot," the cold response came with a swipe of her paw at a pebble in her path. She watched it scatter across the black asphalt, end up in the middle of the wide pathway. A monster would most likely come soon to demolish it, though Splitstorm didn't plan on sticking around to watch. Glancing back at Theodore, she quipped, "While you're... correct about everything else, they do have names. And I hate to burst your self-absorbed bubble, but none of them are StormClan." Resuming her stride, she turned her attention ahead. "The shadow cats are ShadowClan. The bunnies reside in WindClan, and the "weird fish cats" are RiverClan."

Casting a look his way, the russet-furred molly kinked a brow. "You're obviously not a Clan cat though, so who are you?"


// @Willowfern

[Willowfern]

@spade

Theodore
______________________

“I, am Theodore of Fisher’s Point!” Theodore meowed, “Nice to meet you, though I doubt it goes both ways, yes?” He growled slightly, “I’ll tell you more if you answer my original questions: What is your name, and why were you running?”

[spade]

➳ Splitstorm

Oh joy. Overzealous, was he? This time she didn't bother to hide the annoyance from her expression. No need to protect this toms feelings - his ego would do that for him, big as it was. "Well, Theo-bore of Fisher's Point, I hope your bite is bigger than your pitiful growl," she laughed, not feeling threatened in the least by his deepened tone. She'd faced scarier situations than a boastful outsider who was all too proud of where they hailed from.

Tail twitching as she considered it, Splitstorm offered a grin. "It's not like I asked for more information than that, but sure by all means, tell me your life story," the molly purred, the sarcastic pitch of her voice increasing with each word spoken. "I'm known as Splitstorm. Ironically, my name is the reason I'm running." It wasn't a lie. Split, for split Clan heritage. She found it stupidly hilarious now - all this time thinking her name came from the split in her ear while her mother covered the truth with a thick, thorny veil.

Her gaze darting around as she approached a division in the roadway, she found it wandering over to her companion. Expression quizzical, the molly took another step as she got closer to him. There didn't appear to be any fear scent coming off him, which only made her laugh in her mind. He did a good job at hiding it - or maybe he really was that dumb to not be terrified of being alone with a highly skilled warrior. "Tell me something, Theo-bore. When's the last time you were in a fight?"

After all, she had been searching for some way to release the anger she felt aside from running her paws ragged. Maybe this tom was provided to her for just that - and, of course, amusement.


// @Willowfern

[Willowfern]

@spade

Theodore
______________________

He narrowed his eyes,
“I know you think me a fool, but believe me, I’m no Kittypet,” Theodore flexed his long claws, “And for your information, I fight more than you’d know, Clan cat! How do you think I survive in that place?! I have to hold my own day after day! You may have skill, but I have far more experience than you!” He snarled, his green eyes glimmering dangerously as he drew himself to his full height, “And if we’re using nicknames now, I’ll be calling you Splittie.”

[spade]

➳ Splitstorm

A sadistic laughter bubbled from her chest as the russet-furred molly watched his pelt get all ruffled up. Survival in a place like Fisher's Point, compared to the Clan survival, was nothing in her mind. Dismal at best. They were all savages, fighting with no real motive other than themselves. While she disliked a majority of ThunderClan, at least when she brought her claws into issues it was backed up by something stronger than just self-preservation.

"I'd love to see you put your claws where your overtalkative mouth is, outsider," she hissed through a smirk, a dangerous glint dancing through her eyes. Slinking down into a crouch, she began to circle Theodore, her movements slow and calculated. Sure, he might have had a bit of size on her, but most underestimated her speed and skill off the bat - two advantages she used to win a majority of the sparing matches she involved herself in.

Her patience for this arrogant tom had not been much to begin with, but the nickname was the final thorn in her pelt. Without warning and displaying next to invisible speed, Splitstorm lunged from behind Theodore, aiming her claws at his flank in an attempt to bowl him over. If she succeeded, she'd bring up her hind legs to pummel his exposed underbelly - why drag on a fight that could easily be ended in one swift move?


// @Willowfern

[Willowfern]

@spade

Theodore
______________________

Sensing her movements, Theodore snarled and sidestepped her attack,
“You’re going to have to do better than that to beat me, Splittie.”
He twisted around to face her, “I swear, you’re more annoying than a kit with all your clan hoo-ha! You don’t know what it’s like to fight for every scrap of food, every lap of water, and practically every breath you take! You may think your clans may have it hard, but you don’t have to fight for your life every time you want some non-crowfood prey!”
He launched himself at her, claws unsheathed, hoping to slam into her side and knock her off balance, leaving room for him to sweep her paws out from under her.