I Can Find the Silver Lining (Closed)

Leopardclaw sighed with relief as he padded away from the base of the Highrock; he had just finished sending out all the daily patrols and arranging next day's as well, and was ready for a break, failing to stifle a loud yawn. Usually the large golden tom wasn't this feeble; ever since the theft of his eldest kits though he had been kept up at night, the sound of their last scared cries forever ringing in his brain. He didn't allow himself much time to dwell though; he knew that if he allowed it, depression could easily take him like it had when he was young, but he would not allow his pain to influence his duties as deputy. The clan needed strong leadership from all ranks now more than ever, and Leopardclaw was always glad to keep himself busy. Focusing on sniffing out prey or enemy warriors was an easy distraction from the present.

On the way to the warrior's den though, he saw his mate Lichenfang lying in the sunshine, the familiar glazed look of grief apparent on her face. He knew that she too was being haunted by memories as well; he often watched over her as she fidgeted in their nest beside him. Hazel eyes rounding sympathetically, Leopardclaw walked over to her and lay down beside her, nuzzling her cheek comfortingly. He didn't feel like speaking; at the moment the feeling of their fur touching and the sound of her breathing calmed the tom more than words ever could.

The dilute calico she cat laid outside in the sunlight having been eating a little bit more since her talk with Blizzardstar though the former queen still battled the depression that took her as well as the grief that still lingered. She would often help around camp but always refused to leave camp. So she laid down for a moment partial enjoying the sun but the grief still glazed her features. She heard someone coming but didn't react at first til they laid beside her their fur touching. That was when she saw Leopardclaw and she forced a small smile despite how she felt.  She stayed quiet for a moment before she broke the silence."hey"She mewed quietly.

The corners of Leopardclaw's mouth twisted upward in a loving smile as he gazed deeply into his mate's beautiful moss-green eyes, remembering fondly the days when they would hunt in the forest for hours as apprentices, and the bright light of happiness never left their faces.  Seeing her now, that seemingly-eternal light now dimmed, struck his heart with some of the worst sadness he had ever felt, as he meowed a quiet "Hey" back to her.  All at once a strong wave of guilt overtook the deputy, and he realized that by avoiding the grief he knew remembering his kits would cause, he had also been avoiding Lichenfang.  Not intentionally; but accidentally, subconsciously.  By making himself more and more busy, the less time he had to spend with his beloved one; and the thought of her suffering alone almost made his eyes water.

Drawing a comforting lick across her cheek, he tried to find words to make up for what he had done, but none came to him.  He wasn't a very great communicator; he preferred to show his feelings through actions more than short-lived words, and that's when an idea came to him.  He knew about her fears, but it was worth a shot.  He wanted to help re-ignite that eternal light.

"Lichenfang, why don't we go hunting, like old times?  It's a beautiful afternoon, the prey will be running well."

Lichenfang watched as a loving smile came to his mouth and it somewhat cheered her up. Though if only for a moment.  She had laid her head down close to him for a moment wanting for a moment for it to stay like this not with sadness but them together like they had done before. Though when she had thought about it her thoughts went to her oldest kits somewhere out there and it bothered her. Saddened her more then She wanted. She had thought she had been through enough. She had been through the being held captive by Bear,then getting the scars through her pelt,that still showed even though her fur tried to cover the scars,then her losing Cherrykit. Oh how that had really taken a toll on the gentle she cat. It was only then when her eldest kits were taken right before her eyes that everything spiraled from under her. She felt the comforting lick on her cheek and that was when she came back to the present her gaze looking up to her mate. She listened as he spoke and she thought it was a good idea but then She was also afraid as well. Her tail curled around her tightly"i....i....i'd love to b..but what about.....the mist"She said quietly she had to force the fear in her voice away as she said it but ultimately it was the main reason she tried not to leave camp.

Leopardclaw's hazel eyes hardened at the mention of that StarClan-forsaken Mist, and the spotted tabby scraped the earth with his claws as he replied, a hint of a growl edging his voice.  "Yes Lichenfang, it is a risk, but if we just cower in our camp and try to hide from the problem we'll never fix it!  The quicker we learn the Mist's weakness the better, so we can get back the missing cats, but right now we don't have any leads....and that's alright."  With a gentle smile, the young tom-cat stared deep into his mate's green gaze, passion and hope alight in his eyes, as it had once been in her own.  "We shouldn't have to live in fear.  There's nothing wrong with being careful,  but if the Mist could see that we're not scared, it would be running for the hills, tail between it's legs!  When the clans band together, fearless, there is nothing that can stand in our way."

Jumping to his paws, Leopardclaw seemed to have gained back a little bit of youthful energy, enthusiasm glowing in his bright eyes.  "Screw the Mist!  It can't stop us, and it's not going to stop the prey!"  Turning slightly, he tilted his head a bit, an affectionate grin on his maw.  "I could sure go for a juicy water vole right now...and I'm sure the magpies are probably out and about."

Lichenfang blinked as she heard the hint of a growl to his voice. She flatten her ears and cringed a bit for a moment before relaxing. His words made sense but didn't register at first. She could see the old enthusiasm he held when they were first together in their youth and that seemed to spark in her slowly but surely. "Yeah"She said unsheathing her claws slowly digging them into the earth beneath her before shearing them."Maybe....i don't know but...it doesn't hurt to check"She mewed quietly slowly pulling herself to her paws.

Leopardclaw smiled gentle, with a tinge of pride, as Lichenfang stood up and agreed to go out into the forest yet again.  Resting his long tail across her back for a moment as he thought, he began to lead the way out of the newly-rebuild camp and towards the direction of the river; it would be the best place to find both of their aforementioned quarries.  Despite his brave speech and calm, confident manner, Leopardclaw couldn't help glancing around attentively as they walked, checking the forest floor and foliage for anything unusual; but there was nothing.  Only leaf matter, grass, and soil.  With a smile, he turned his attention back to Lichenfang as the river's shining waters came into sight, taking a deep breath to smell the clean scent of the waterway.  "I've always loved the river, it's incredible to watch."

Lichenfang padded out of camp with him ever so hesitant with each pawstep. Her gaze flirted about around her for a moment til she felt Leopardclaw's gaze on her and she looked to him seeing the smile and she forced herself to relax. After all she looked as if she were about to jump out of her fur. She let her moss green eyes look to the river"yeah it definitely is"She mewed quietly.

Leopardclaw smiled, glad to see that little by little she seemed to be growing more relaxed, returning to their old haunts.  Crouching down at the edge of the waterway, he lapped up a few mouthfuls of the cold, fresh liquid before getting an idea, hazel eyes sparkling mischievously.  Standing back up, Leopardclaw dipped a paw into the river, shuddering at the chilly temperature, and quickly drug it upward, splashing his mate playfully.  Laughing light-heartedly, the young tom prepared to dodge any 'attack' the vivacious she-cat most likely was about to throw at him, enjoying this happy feeling he hadn't felt for such a long time, at least not this purely.

Lichenfang blinked recouping back a bit as drops of water hit her face and she shook her head grinning she launched at her mate. She smiled she had never had a problem with water and she liked to believe that she may have gotten that from her father whom she will never know who he is.

(occ: short and bad, will probably edit later)

Leopardclaw laughed as his mate jumped at him, allowing himself to caught and tackled to the ground. Hazel eyes narrowed mirthfully, he batted playfully at his mate's ears with a paw, his heart much lighter than it had been in a long time.