Settling Like Snow [closed]

It was a beautiful day, but a few snowflakes fluttered down from the sky, and approaching dark clouds threatened a new snowstorm by the end of the night unless StarClan intervened. The forest itself had a blanket already from the storm a few days before; however, the white powder had settled and compacted, growing a bit more solid in some places and even having melted to the ground in others.

Sun-high had passed a short while ago, but the sun-high patrol had not yet returned from their orders. Dacedream still marveled at the fact that Houndheart, her first friend in ThunderClan and one of the dearest cats to her, had given those orders as the new deputy of ThunderClan. Since the day she'd met him, Dacedream had always known he was destined to be a powerful cat; with his confidence and charisma, how could he not? The newly named warrior was delighted for her friend and proud of him beyond words. Already he had glided with ease through challenges such as Gatherings and ceremonies, and he had made the patrol that was out in the forest now. Whether it was the truth or not, Dacedream was absolutely convinced that Houndheart wore leadership well.

The brown tabby tom himself was still in camp as Dacedream made her way over to him, her wispy mottled tail high in the air in happiness and hello. A few small flakes of snow swirled around her. "Hi, Houndheart!" the she-cat greeted warmly, stopping a tail-length in front of him. "I saw Coniferpaw's ceremony today - you sounded really good. You're a natural. And the patrol too! Oakstar made a good choice." She looked at him with bright eyes, hoping he would be as pleased as she thought.

Deputy came with a new amount of responsibilities. While Houndheart was mildly annoyed to have something more to be doing constantly, he found great pleasure in cats having to ask him for direction. They all seemed hesitant. If it weren't an order from Oakstar himself, he wouldn't have believed it, and neither would his clanmates. There was the nagging feeling that they were constantly comparing him to Beartooth which was something he tried to shrug away. Everyone was better off without Beartooth. Even the kits that Ferretnose was to bear would be better off without one of their fathers. He knew; Houndheart had suffered the fate of being born Beartooth's son himself. Pulling him away from such dampening thoughts, the new deputy turned to look at Dacedream. His eyes narrowed at the mild annoyance of being interrupted by any cat but there was a flicker of a smile as he looked at her. Had it been any other warrior, there would not have been the same reaction. But this was Dacedream.

Of the few cats he had build relationships with in his youth, the Riverclan-born she-cat was one. Even with his constantly prickly persona and unpleasant disposition, there was a positive quality underneath: he would do anything for the few cats he cared for. It was different than he felt for Mossbloom, the sensation in his chest when he saw her, but there was definitely some feeling there. It was a feeling he had come to not hate. When their coats had brushed as they slept in nests next to each other, Duskpaw always nearby, he had found a sense of peace that had only come upon him several times in life. The fact that once again the three of them would now share a den was something that he would not admit he craved. Although, every time he looked at Duskpaw now, he was also filled with a sense of dream, remembering what they had bother witnessed out in the forest. The fear of her claws nearly matched his desire to not lose her in any sense of the word.

"I knew he would make me deputy, it only makes sense. As I promised, I will be the best deputy this clan has ever seen so I'll show them all." He'd coughed before answering, pushing away the things that swirled around in his mind. Perhaps something to clear his mind would be good. Besides, with all the patrols out and set, he could decide what he did, "Would you like to go hunting with me? The clan needs prey. Besides, since I am one of the best hunters, it only makes sense for me to go out. You're not that bad either." Houndheart glanced over his shoulder to avoid meeting her expression at the light praise and looked towards the entrance. At this time, no cats were filtering in and out. Even in the snowy cold, it seemed like a pleasant day for traversing the territory. While he would not tell her, the spindly warrior longed for her to come with him and to soothe his mind and his worries. Dacedream's enthusiasm, while once an annoyance, had become a comfort to him. And he liked her warmth as well. Without waiting for an answer, the tom turned to the tunnel and headed on his way. There was no doubt that she would be at his heels, and that too was a comfort to him. Something certain.

When the tom's gaze settled on her, all that Dacedream really saw was the hint of a smile that crossed his lips and not the mild irritation in his gaze. Houndheart was not a happy tom, and he often wore a sour expression across his tabby face; whenever there was happiness, therefore, it was bright and welcome, and she made a point to be aware of his happiness. After coughing, clearing the cold air out of his lungs, the deputy spoke with certainty about the inevitability of his appointment. As he declared he would prove himself to the Clan, Dacedream nodded her mottled head with enthusiastic support. Of course he would! He was Houndheart, bold and brave and strong and defiant of others' expectations. He wanted to be the best ThunderClan cat, warrior, deputy that the forest had seen, and whatever the others thought Dacedream knew he would achieve it - even if the memory of Beartooth's absence in the role did sting a bit.

Dacedream immediately perked up as Houndheart asked her to go hunting alongside him. While the deputy didn't give her any time to respond, it was unnecessary; he knew she would say yes, and yes was exactly what she would say if given the chance. Instead, she beamed at his confidence and quietly tucked his subtle praise into her joyful heart. Houndheart quickly turned and began to exit the camp, and without needing any other prompting Dacedream was close behind, starry-eyed as she watched him lead. She was happy to be nestmates with him again. She had missed being so close to him and his radiating energy of certainty and indestructibility.

When they left the camp, his pace quickened. There was a suffocating sensation there, something that prickled his pelt, ever since Beartooth's boydy had lain in the center. He was glad there was a moment for him and Dacedream. If only Duskpaw and Mossbloom were here. The deputy had tried not to let the instance sour his thoughts of Duskpaw but it was proving unavoidable. What a strange thing, that the very action he had taken to protect her had the potential to further hurt her? Houndheart knew he wouldn't pull away from his friend, he couldn't. But he feared it would make him more distasteful, and as generally unpleasant as he was, the tabby didn't want to do anything to lose what he had gained over the moons. Unintentionally, he drew closer to the young warrior as they padded along. His paws lead them towards snake rock. Often it kept cats away, which meant more prey in the are. Perhaps there would be something here.

"If any of the adders pop up, I'll kill them for you Dacedream. I'm sure Mossbloom doesn't want to deal with curing anyone of poison." As he thought of the medicine cat, there was a flicker of a smile, but he turned his gaze to the she-cat with him. There was a brief moment where he forced a grin onto his maw. It was rare for a genuine smile to sit there, beyond the prideful grin, or the smirk after insulting some cat. The sensation was foreign and he wasn't sure he could muster it up after so many moons. But pleasant cats smiled right? And he didn't want Dacedream to ever leave. There was a pause and the awkwardness of the moment hit him, so with a soft exhalation of air, the tom turned away to set his sights after some prey.

A daring squirrel had descended from the treetops, searching for something at the base of the snakerocks. A perfect target. He pushed away previous thoughts and set after his prey. It was an easy catch. The creature was started at the last moment and sufficiently ran into the base of the rocks. He finished it off with a swift bite to the neck, "Gotcha! Already Dacedream. I'll have to teach all the apprentices to hunt. And in leafbare of all times too." Houndheart stood straighter as he trotted towards the other warrior with the skinny squirrel now between his jaws.

The member 'Ripped' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 1

Dacedream was happy beyond words to be out of camp with Houndheart. He picked up his pace, and the tortoiseshell she-cat was more than happy to do the same, her broad tufted RiverClan paws crunching in the powdery snow and sending up sparkling clumps behind herself. As they moved through the underbrush that had long since become her true and familiar home, she was surprised by the pleasant sensation of his sleek brown pelt brushing against hers. It wasn't often that Houndheart sought physical contact and comfort from her; lately his advances had been a bit more noticeable, or perhaps she was thinking too wishfully about the tom she adored, but she was always happy to provide that support. She was fulfilled by his more frequent contact, careful to say nothing that might result in him pulling away again. In fact, she made no notice that she ever recognized it at all other than to always welcome him at her side.

The pair of warriors had walked quietly for a while when Dacedream recognized the Great Sycamore looming in the distance. "Are we going to Snakerocks?" the tortoiseshell asked curiously, feeling no trepidation. All of her time with the bravery of Duskpaw and Houndheart had left her naive and untouchable by such dangers. In fact, the deputy's voice spoke up confidently just then, promising to take down any snakes or adders that dared slither towards her. She felt her pelt flush at his sweetness, melted by the rare radiance of a smile on his pale muzzle. Dacedreamed mewed, "You're always so thoughtful, Houndheart. I'll watch for you too just in case, okay?" Whatever awkwardness the tom seemed to feel was lost entirely on Dacedream. The deputy turned away towards some prey, and Dacedream was happy to do the same.

While the tabby wandered off one way, Dacedream contentedly padded in another, her plume of a tail low and swaying gently behind her. Her green-hazel eyes scanned the underbrush for signs of movement. The flick of a wiry gray tail made her immediately freeze, assessing her surroundings before she dropped carefully into a crouch. A vole caught her eye, still fat from its leaf-bare stores of food that hadn't begun to dwindle. As soon as the tortoiseshell took a step forward, however, she felt her paws brush the top of a stick that had been hidden in a clump of snow. Dacedream winced as she pushed it forward, rustling notably. Immediately the vole was alert, and then it was gone, darting beneath some bushes. Dacedream stood and huffed, scuffing her paw. She glanced back over her shoulder at Houndheart, and when she saw him with his catch she grinned. "You got the first catch! That means you get first pick of fresh-kill when we get back," she praised.

Dacedream attempted to catch a vole and failed, using 5 stamina.

Dacedream
40/40 HP
115/120 SP

The member 'sumashira' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 9