clouded vigil [semi-open]

Bushy tail curled tightly around his paws, Driftcloud sat staring out the entrance of camp, his mind racing. His warrior ceremony was mere hours earlier, and now he was on his silent vigil, guarding the camp all night. The flurry of emotions from earlier left him exhausted and he longed to curl up in his nest and sleep it off, but he had a duty to the Clan to uphold.

The newly-named warrior sighed, watching his breath escape his maw in a puff of cloud. He couldn't stop thinking about his ceremony, about his StarClan visit with Fernpetal. A heavy paw lifted to prod at his own stomach, feeling the layer of fat there. Driftcloud frowned, his ears falling back against his head. A plump, fish-fed RiverClanner, Fernpetal had said.

No cat had ever commented on his weight like that. It really rubbed his fur the wrong way. Did everyone think that when they looked at him? His tailtip twitched uncomfortably. Perhaps he would ask Newtspring later, or Hailfall. They would tell him the truth.

A cold breeze blew through the opening in the camp entrance, leaving the long-furred cat shivering. Moon and stars, it was cold. How long had it been, even? Green eyes craned to try and spot the moon in the sky, wherever it was. Eventually giving up, unable to find the glowing orb through the trees, Driftcloud shrugged to himself. He'd figure out what time it was when the sun rose, he decided.

A wide yawn escaped his muzzle, and he blinked fiercely. He had half a mind to bury his face in the snow for a moment to wake himself up a little more. He paused, then flopped over onto the ground, rolling around to coat his fur and face in snow. Once he was thoroughly covered, he climbed back up to his paws and shook himself hard to rid himself of any lingering snow.

There, that did the trick. Wide awake now, Driftcloud panted, curling his tail tighter around his paws. Just a few more hours of thinking, then he could sleep.

A shudder ran down his spine, cold wetness seeping down to his skin. Maybe rolling in the snow wasn't a good idea after all. Grimacing, he shook himself again. There was another thought on his mind, one that had been there for a while. When he looked around at camp, he felt...seperate. There were the toms, the mollies, and...him. He wasn't...either. He didn't actually feel like anything, save for perhaps a single, white cloud floating in the sky. Yes, that was a good explanation of how he felt. Not that he had ever mentioned this to anyone...Perhaps he should. Another thing to mention to Newtspring and Hailfall.

Shoulders hunched, Driftcloud sunk in on themself. Maybe someone would come join him so he wouldn't have to be alone.

Hailfall's voice greeted his ears, and Driftcloud turned to see his dearest friend sit down next to him. He gave him a warm smile and the faintest purr in greeting, not daring to make any more sound than that. Hailfall's tail curled around his flank and he curled his own around Hailfall's in return, shuffling ever-so closer to the warmth of the white tom. It was just the distraction and companionship he needed.

Driftcloud wished he could respond to the other, but gestures and body language would have to do for the night. He leaned over, bumping the white warrior gently with his head, then laid his paw over the other's. It was a "thank you" for the company, an "I'm glad you're here", and an "I want to be close to you". There was just something about Hailfall that made his heart flutter in a way that he hadn't experienced with other cats before. He couldn't quite place it, and it confused him. Deciding to push those thoughts away for another time, Driftcloud shrugged inwardly and focused his gaze once more on the glaring entrance to camp, out into the territory beyond. It was what he was actually supposed to be focusing on, so if Bloodstar asked, he could say he was watching and standing guard.