Right There With You {open}

Arcayus sat near the nursery, watching the clan members together. It was something to behold. More than ever, through the depths of tragedy they had endured, their bond with each other was on display. With each passing sunset, he was reminded of the place he hailed from so many seasons ago. Instead of a discomfort wriggling in his stomach at the scene, there was warmth. His claws kneaded the earth silently as remembered. So many times where the massive, white pelts of Oasis cats were shadows against the dying sun. His kin had been such ferocious and brave creatures in battle, with an uncrushable spirit that this clan seemed to also possess. He often found himself wondering where that had gone and why he was so different. Artemis had always been the strong one, the brave one, and the obvious leader. When he chose to be an adventurer, well... Arc swallowed and glanced away from the place in the earth where his gaze had been fixated without him realizing it.

When he looked there, he saw the frame of Elmskip coming towards him. The other elder tom dropped a mouse at his paws and spoke. Their interaction not long before had been interrupted by clan events, including one of the seemingly lost warriors awakening from a long slumber. He felt bad for his earlier admission, letting the tom know that he wasn't sure exactly why here of all placed, but he hoped that the warrior understood the raw honesty from which is had come. Dipping his head slightly, he took a small bite from the mouse before he looked at the other tom and spoke, "I think I want to stay here. Forever, if Finchstar will let me. I don't know why. Most of my life I've spent running from things that have always been at my heels. But since I've been here, since I've been with you, I think I'm finally ready to stop moving. I want to be around other cats and, well, I want to be with you." It was perhaps the most forward he had been since arriving here. Subconsciously, his tail had lain over the other cat's back. For the short while he had been with Windclan, both he and Elmskip being in each other's presence was a constant. But they both had stumbled over their words and held back truths. If he was going to stop fleeing from things, he had to start here.

Elmskip took a bite of their shared mouse before raising his head, listening to the other's words closely. He was unable to hide the surprise on his face, nearly choking on his mouse. Patrick...liked him too? If he was really honest with himself, he found it hard to believe anyone liked him, let alone Patrick. The gray and orange tom laid his fluffy tail across the warrior's back and Elmskip stiffened instinctively before intertwining his long tail with the other. He could feel his face heating up underneath his fur.

"Do...do you really feel that way?" he squeaked out, his green eyes wide as he stared back at Patrick. He was struggling to find the right words. "To be honest, I...Ever since you've been here, you've...made my life brighter. I always, always have a horrible black cloud in my head, shrouding everything. I almost always feel so awful about everything...You helped me. You are helping me. That battle, the last one, I...I was fighting for you. I was so worried about you..." He ducked his head, looking down at his paws. "I'm sorry, Patrick, I...I've never really told anyone that before. A-And, I'm sure Finchstar would love to have you. You're wonderful." Elmskip smiled to himself, the soft expression gracing his scarred features, a ray of light beaming aross his dark face. He suddenly felt as if he could tell Patrick anything...Maybe they were hiding things from each other, but now was just a good of a time as any to share their secrets.