lost in yesterday [C]

Rowanpaw

The last cat Rowanpaw had wanted to patrol with was his brother. To say he did not hold any affection for his brother would be a lie; at the end of every day, they were still family, tied together by blood. Rowanpaw could acknowledge that, even when he did not particularly wanted to. Still, their relation did not make him fond of Sprucebark at all. They had butted heads for as long as he could remember. Though he usually delighted in causing problems and digging under other's skin, Rowanpaw found himself in no mood for it. His frayed temper warned him that even the hint of argument might lead to him attempting to throw Sprucebark into the river.

There was no river nearby, though. Not near enough to throw to, at least. Only the shallow pools of water pocketing the fields. Even if they had been standing right on the current's bank, the tension that usually simmered between them seemed to be absent today. Rowanpaw lifted his head from gazing at the thin puddle he had taken to splashing a single paw into to search for his brothers There had been an additional pair of warriors accompanying them, but they had wandered a ways off in favor of hunting. Even Rowanpaw would have taken to that over just standing, staring. At least it would have given him something to do with his paws. While he hated the mundanity of it, it would have kept his mind and body busy. It didn't take long to find Sprucebark-- it wasn't hard to spot him, and he wasn't one to go far, especially when there were unruly apprentices about to keep a dutiful eye on.

Shaking the water from his paw, Rowanpaw stepped between the shallow pools to stand at Sprucebark's side. He'd been there, hunched over their mother, tears streaking down his cheeks. He'd been hurt; he'd been scared. It was one of the few things they had ever agreed on; maybe, the only thing. Clearing his throat, he muttered, "You seem to be doing... well in your warrior duties, brother." An attempt at civility, an olive branch extended. Almost, he'd broached the subject directly, but found himself biting his tongue at the last possible second. Hopefully that would be sufficient enough for the both of them.