H.O.P.E - Hold On, Pain Ends [closed for Thinny Thin-Thin]

It was like the day they met, only cooler.

The breeze was so cold. Mothstrike's death had made Blacktwig edgier by every passing day. Sure, there had been a few bright lights, but he could only remember the moments he had spent with her when she was a mere kit - his kit, his daughter. He trudged on lowly, his head hanging. The aroma of the Thunderpath was sickening and overwhelming, and he placed a paw on its rugged, black surface. He felt the asphalt beneath his paw. His pads were now where so many other cats' were - and they didn't survive. He moved forwards, breathing in the sharp scent willingly. The leaves rustled with the chilly wind, and he felt his fear ebb away.

But then, he looked up. He stepped away, and he felt a jolt of fright run through his nerves. He gasped. He had been in a state of serenity, and, well, it just broke. Shattered haplessly, like a vase on the ground. He looked up, seeing a she-cat grow nearer. It was not until he saw her eyes, until he recognized her.

Emberfall.

His heart leaped. He wanted to rush forwards, without defending his life, but no. He couldn't. "Hey," he hummed quietly yet coolly, but he was certain that the WindClan warrior couldn't hear him. The constant roaring of monsters was deafening. He thought it was her, anyways - he thought with a sheepish smile. If it wasn't, he couldn't imagine the amount of trouble that he'd be in, getting all chummy with foreign warriors.

Emberfall stopped as she had noticed a black cat's image. She hissed and pulled back her ears, she slowly came closer until she realized it was Blacktwig. She ran forwards "Blacktwig!" she purred, her eyes began to shine, just like when she first realized that Blacktwig was the right one for her. She leaped up, pinning him down until jumping off of him and standing behind the back of him. Her whiskers twitched, she was happy to see Blacktwig again. These moons had been so rough without him. She had felt like a blizzard that got harder and harder came everyday, soon making her weak. During the time she hadn't seen him she felt like they were disconnecting every single day.

Blacktwig licked Emberfall's cheek affectionately and vigorously, his tail waving with joy. "Oh, Emberfall!" Blacktwig purred loudly, rubbing up his pelt against hers. His cheeks lit up a bright red - he hadn't shown such a show of adoration with anyone in such a long time. He touched noses with her, purring. His eyes glowed with love.

Emberfall purred, excitement and happiness ran through. She probably couldn't even explain the amount of it. She smiled "Blacktwig, I've you missed so, so much!" she mewed. Her looked at the ground "Has it seriously been this long since last time we met?" she asked as she looked over the white blanket that covered the Thunderpath's sides.

Blacktwig chuckled with memories of when they last met, flooding his senses. However, it made him feel fuzzy, instead of overwhelmed. His eyes met with Emberfall's. They rounded, like tiny suns in a moor of wheat and dark soil. In fact, they melded so well, that he could imagine Emberfall's white chest as clouds displayed over the top of the area, or perhaps snow blanketing the rims. He was absolutely entranced by Emberfall's undying beauty, that he nearly forgot to respond. "Oh-" he said quietly, followed by a sheepish laugh. "It may have been, but it felt like forever." Blacktwig let out an exaggerated groan, then giggled, nose meeting with Emberfall's.

Emberfall laughed. She nodded as her mate spoke "Tell me about it" she mewed "I feel like I just...I feel like I was just in the same spot this whole time. Stuck. Unwanted." she explained "But I went out today and look! I finally got out of the cage I have been stuck in." she mewed happily.

Blacktwig nuzzled her. "You're not unwanted with me," he comforted gently, wrapping his tail lightly around the calico she-cat's waist. He looked into her eyes. "How is WindClan otherwise?" asked Blacktwig curiously.

The she-cat looked at Blacktwig and smiled "Well...I guess it's this and that." she mewed "Just same old stuff" she mewed "Anything new with your Clan? ThunderClan?" she asked. She purred "Because not everything is about me you know" she smiled as she pawed at Blacktwig playfully.

"Well..." he started, taking a deep breath. "Blizzardshine is the new deputy, Mossfoot joined your clan, Driftpaw returned, Stormstrike's mate, Dapplecloud, is having more kits, I found an abandoned rogue kit and named it Leopardkit..." he paused. "Leopardkit is now owned by our daughter, Mottledwing, and his name is Leopardpaw now. He's an apprentice." Blacktwig pondered this for a moment. He now had grandkits that were truly kin, and Leopardpaw, who was adopted. "Sheepnose and Pinewhisker are no longer together," he continued, "and he is with Emberheart. They had kits named Cypresskit, Markedkit, and Amberkit." Blacktwig finished this, with a brief nod. He caught his breath afterwards his short... speech, if you will.

Emberfall nodded "I see" she mewed "Too much happens, don't you think?" she asked as she looked at both sides of the Thunderpath "I just..." she didn't continue "Never mind..." she murmured. She looked at Blacktwig and nuzzled him "So, what else to talk about?" she asked with a laugh, she had already talked about Clan Life...what else?