solidarity in life; rare moments [closed]

Though the early afternoon sky was awash with the chilly light of the cool season sun, the prickling presence of dampness slunk beneath the bones and curled low in the gut, a frigid chill seeping deep and fierce under the skin; the nervous system was left perpetually alight, quick and hard shivers and trembles blossoming through muscle and skin in a futile attempt to ward off the worst of the chill. Heaps of old, well-trodden snow weighed down heavily upon the freezing earth, once alabaster expanses of untouched riversides made all the more dark and dingy by the gentle entrapment of long-lingering steps.

Perhaps, if fortune turned a more forgiving eye upon the steadily wilting forestland, a bought of warm winds would chase the worst of the freezing weather away in a temporary respite.

Huddled in the outskirts of the wilting reed barrier, Jaystar's sharp shoulders remained hunched forward in a physical display of his discomfort and sour mood as he impatiently awaited for his peers to gather, residual irritation buzzing about like a stubborn fly during the warm seasons. Though he preferred to handle the tedium of hunting by his lonesome, the reality of doing such in his current position was exactly none- especially when the weather was harsh enough to require more coordinated efforts. Ideally, his Clanmates would be more entertained with the requiem of hunting and one-another's presence then anything else, so that he could continually ghost by the in shade of his own poor temperament.

It was with a strange assortment of cats that Perchfall had ended up going on this next patrol. Normally she would have picked some that went together better, but after a few thorns in paws and someone getting attacked by a weasel, this was the best that she and Jaystar could come up with. She was not good at dealing with the leader, let alone multiple cats at once. Mallowmist seemed nice enough, from the little she knew of her, and Ashflight was her best friend. But the leader himself was far more enigmatic and strange than any of her other Clanmates-- not that she had the right to judge.

Either way, as the deputy strode out of her den, abandoning for a while her attempts to patch up the persistent holes in the wall, she felt a sense of resignation tightening her jaw. She would do her best to hunt well, patrol well, and maybe even make adequate conversation. It wouldn't be easy... but it would be doable. And hopefully, with their luck, they wouldn't run into any more predators. Settling next to the entrance, she offered a silent nod to Jaystar, who was already there. He looked even worse than usual, hunched forward, not really trying to hide the tight set to his teeth. What a pair they were; two anti-social loners, strange in their own ways, in charge of the Clan by luck or fate or circumstance. One would think that with what they had in common, they would get along well. Instead, their relationship seemed to be strictly professional, and barely even that. Turning her gaze from the sour disposition of her leader, Perchfall idly scanned the camp for the other two members of their patrol.

With the exhaustion of the vigil no longer nagging at her bones, Mallowmist once more had returned to her former state of energy. Each day seemed to bring about it a new joy and curiosity, the freedom that now rested in front of her paws exhillerating. Even if it meant that she would find herself on patrols or other various tasks, it meant her dedication had paid off. Time was ever-passing, but reflecting upon it left rather confusing feelings within her mind. She could remember her ceremony as clear as if it had just happened, yet it also felt as if it had happened moons ago. Her transition had gone rather smoothly, which seemed to only aid in this dichotomy of her perception of time.

Presently, the snow-kissed warrior had been summoned for a hunting patrol with three other members. Both cats in leadership, as well as Ashflight. Perchfall and Ashflight were cats that she seldom had interacted with, but nevertheless respected and was enthusiastic to meet. Jaystar, on the other paw... her ever-constant struggle to impress him in one way or style only continued. It made a gentle tinge of nervousness nag at her belly, but not enough to entirely stop her from appearing. Upon approaching the duo already present, their quiet demeanors seemed rather peculiar to the new warrior. In her mind, the deputy and leader would have been getting along like old friends. But considering Jaystar... there was very little shock eminent within her mind.

Dipping her head respectfully to the two other cats, she opted for silence instead of her typical questioning. Mallowmist had yet to interact with the duo together, and she had begun to appreciate the act of observing before speaking.

(occ: very short and late post)

Ashflight was the last to join the patrol, purring and dipping his head apologetically as he greeted his brother, best friend, and one of RiverClan's newest warriors. "Sorry I'm late, I had to help Otterpaw with something. Shall we head out?" Falling in to stand beside Perchfall like usual, the stocky gray tom shifted his paws, looking forward to getting out into the territory. He'd been itching to do something productive for most of the day, and in the company of friends, his enthusiasm was at its peak.