Nothing Bad Can Happen [Swiftspirit]

Bearspirit was honestly still reeling at the death of Dewlight. He had never had any negative feelings about her and while she hadn't been his heart's true desire, he felt her absence like a thorn in his chest. He approached the Gorge, his tail low, head low and ears slightly droopy. He crossed over it, his emotions making him reckless. He hoped he'd see Swiftspirit and not anyone else, but the Gorge was Windclan territory. The marbled tom sat down and waited, hoping to see a familiar face come by soon. He didn't want to talk to anyone in Riverclan about it. It was always a "sorry for your loss" and "you'll be okay". Which was great and all, but it did nothing to dull the ache.

There was a familiar weight of guilt too, that he never even told her about his feelings for Swiftspirit. Maybe it was better that way. He still felt selfish for coming to the border so soon after she had passed, but she was gone now, and moping around the territory uselessly missing prey wasn't doing any good for anyone. It was Swiftspirit that he needed to see and talk to. This should be one of the last patrols of the day, as the sun had already left the highest point in the sky but was not quite full on sunset yet.

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

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'Invasion Dice' :

Batsong made her way along the border, the wind was strong as usual, it wipped over the land without mercy. She fluffed her fur out for warmth as she trudged along the harsh environment. Prey was so scarce right now and she sighed not having any luck of late.

But the strong wind brought a smell to her nose... RIVERCLAN!!?? what were they doing here!? She nervously glanced around the open terrain and almost immediately spotted a lone warrior sitting near the borders edge. Her nerves were on complete edge... it looked that he was still on his side so nothing was out of place but... what was he doing just sitting there?? was this a trap? The recent attack on her clan made her very leery and over cautious. She slowly stalked forward keeping very aware of her surroundings, the shy she cat was even more jumpy right now than her usual. She smelled the air carefully ... hmm no blood so he was not hurt... that was good. As cautious as she was Batsong was a very compationet cat and if he were to have been hurt she likely would have helped him best she could.

Her eyes shifted back and forth looking for any others that may be lying in wait to ambush her, her imagination running quite free. She took a couple deep breaths in case she needed to run, which she did assume she could outrun the much bulkier tom if need be if this were a trap... being from windclan and all.

Being extra sure to keep to her side she approached still on a very high alert. She hoped to starclan her stutter would not come out too much right now... knowing her luck that was unlikely.

She approached him standing up fully so as not to creep up on him.

Staying clearly on her side she called out to him . "R---R.... R... Riverclan!"
she sighed to herself so much for no stutter.

"Wha-What brings you h-here?" she asked curiosuly tilting her head.

"Is e-e...everyone alright? Are you in n-n.... need of help?" she asked

Swiftspirit had caught the familiar scent of Riverclan on the wind and turned toward it. Her hunting hadn't been successful at all today, and truthfully Swiftspirit knew it was because she was distracted more than it was leafbare being leafbare.

The scent of Riverclan, of Bearspirit, definitely wasn't helping to keep her focused on hunting. Quick strides meant she was able to catch up with Batsong as she neared the gorge, and she slowed, ears pricked and eyes sweeping the area for any other signs of Riverclan that wasn't Bearspirit.

"It's alright, Batsong." Swiftspirit mewed. There was no other scent of Riverclan here except for Bearspirit, and he didn't look like he was spoiling for a fight this time. Far from it, really. "Bearspirit? What's wrong?" The drooping ears and tail said a lot on their own, though Swiftspirit wouldn't assume specifics of what had him so clearly upset. The expression on his face was more concerning to her than it should've been for someone who wasn't her clanmate.

The first cat to greet him wasn't who he was hoping it was, but he was polite nonetheless. The stuttering caught him off guard and for a moment he wondered if he had frightened the other warrior. Was he still so threatening, given his current state? He appreciated that he didn't get immediate claws and teeth to the face... so he had that going for him he supposed. Before he could answer, Swiftspirit came into view. His mood lightened a bit, but it was short lived. Just as quickly as it flashed across his face, it was gone again.

"I don't need help I just..." He stared at his paws, searching for the right words. "Dewlight now walks with Starclan." He nearly choked out the last word. Even as he said it to himself he felt a crushing blow to his chest. He blinked away tears, or tried to, as a single one escaped. He swiped it away quickly with a forelimb.

"I'm at a loss of what to do now." About us. He didn't add it, not with Batsong present. He had a feeling he wouldn't need to. Swiftspirit was one she-cat that was able to just... understand him. He liked Jaystar, he liked Turtlefur, he liked a lot of the cats in his clan. However, with Ivystar and Dewlight gone... he felt less and less connected with Riverclan.

Batsong was relived that swiftspirit arrived, and stood up straighter now that her clanmate was here. hmm she seemed to know him relatively well as she introduced the two. She didn't really think much of it though, Swiftspirit was a far senior warrior compared to her and they likely could have met at a gathering before she was even born.

She listened to Bearspirit talk the sadness in his voice was heavy. Oh how awful... she knew what it was like to lose someone like that, someone you cared about. She didn't have the faintest clue who Dewlight was but Batsong had a large amount of sympathy for the tom who now stood crying at her border. hmm perhaps she was his mother or maybe a sister. Had Dewlight also know Swiftspirit?

Hmm she was not exactly sure how to respond to this, she was a quite cat by nature who was not used to talking aton, when she did... the speech impediment ever since she was a kit made it difficult at best to do so anyways.

She gave a sorrowful look to Bearspirit and managed a quiet "I--I...I'm s-sorry for your l....l-...loss" with a stutter.  She knew that these words wouldn't really help all that much,

She gave Swiftspirit a quick glance hoping that she might have better insight on how to handle this ... unique situation. She had always looked up to Swiftspirit as a "parental figure" of sorts with her actual parents dying when she was so young, she would listen to her. She never really told her that though... she had accidently to Mistysky it was actually under very similar circumstances as they were in now come to think of it... but her mind was already quite a ways off on a rabbit trail already to start thinking of that...

Refocusing she looked back to Bearspirit with a small soft smile, she knew all too well there was not much she could really do or say to soften this kind of pain, but she figured being as kind and gentle as possible was not a bad place to start.

hmm he was at a loss of what to do now??? She got that ...Starclan knows she was a complete train wreck when this happened to her.... uhh but why was he sitting here on their border? She was understanding of his situation just slightly confused was all.

Dewlight was dead... Well, foxdung. Swiftspirit's ears flattened briefly, a low sigh escaping her. She hadn't known Dewlight except for seeing her across the battlefield and seeing Bearspirit sit with her at a gathering. "I'm sorry." She said quietly. She and Timbersun were hardly together at this point, but were he to die Swiftspirit would've felt terrible. Bearspirit had cared for Dewlight and she was a clanmate to him as well as the mother of his kits, just as Timbersun was for her.

"Batsong... Can we have a moment?" Batsong was familiar with death and would be empathetic, Swiftspirit was sure, but she'd noted the way Bearspirit's voice had trailed off after he said he was at a loss of what to do. He needed a shoulder to lean on, and Swiftspirit figured a stranger wasn't the best fit for that. She hoped Batsong would get the hint. She didn't believe this would turn into a violent confrontation, and truthfully, she simply didn't think it was the younger she-cat's business. She loved Batsong like one of her own kits, but there was little reason for her to participate here.

Bearspirit nodded gratefully once at Batsong. He'd heard it a lot when Dewlight first passed and he knew that everyone who said it meant well. He betrayed nothing of it on his face, but he was tired of hearing it. It was all anyone could do for him given the circumstances and he understood that, but it didn't dull the ache at all. "Thank you." It was all he had managed to say to anyone who said it, but it was polite enough. He was glad that Swiftspirit asked Batsong to give them some space. He had nothing against the young warrior, but this wasn't something that could be discussed in front of strangers. At least, not until Swiftspirit was ready to. "I'm not here to cause trouble I promise. She'll return to camp safely." He gave Batsong a reassuring smile. Hopefully only Batsong would be the one to discover them. Other warriors might not be so patient and understanding.

Batsong shuffled back and forth on her paws uneasy at Swiftspirit's request but nodded, she would listen to anything she said practically. She got that this was not really her business but leaving her clanmate with a Riverclan cat she barely knew felt a bit odd. Before agreeing she smelled the air again for any signs of other RC warriors lurking nearby... Smelling nothing she hesitantly agreed. The recent attack of the FO had left her very leery of strangers, she was still very empathetic for him just cautious.

"Alright" she said nodding
"I understand" she gave Swiftspirit an uneasy glance but with a grin as well.

Swiftspirit outranked her by quite a bit as a senior warrior... and Swiftspirit on the council... surely she knew what she was doing right? reasoned Batsong.

She turned to Bearspirit still lots of sympathy in her voice and overall kindness. "I h-h-h...hope you find the direction you are looking for" she meowed grinning.


Her tone shifted suddenly and she narrowed her eyes stepping closer to him... looking him directly in the eyes unblinking

"but if you harm a single hair on Swiftspirit's pelt I will reunite you with Dewlight myself" she said dead serious, all sympathy out of her tone for now. She flicked her tail "Swiftspirit trusts you... so that's enough for me... don't make me regret it or you will not need to worry about what you will be doing next" she quoted him.

with her warning over she returned to her usual demeaner just as quickly as it had left and she gave both warriors a friendly nod with a happy smile.

"It was g-good to meet you Bearspirit" she meowed in goodbye as she slowly walked away to leave them to their selves

"Thanks, Batsong." Her whiskers twitched as she fought not to laugh at the threats. Turns out that was all it took to get her over that stutter... Though Swiftspirit also understood the concern. "We'll be fine. Really." She added. Dawnhawk and his rogues had been defeated, and she didn't think they would be bold enough to come into Windclan territory so soon after being chased off with injuries.

She watched as Batsong turned and left, glancing back toward Bearspirit. Once she was sure Batsong was out of sight, she stepped closer and sat. "Are you alright? I know you cared for her." Mother of his kits, how could he not be affected by losing her? For all that she and Timbersun weren't exactly together, Swiftspirit knew that losing him would hurt all the same. It seemed as though her and Bearspirit were bound to this messy... relationship... but she would've never wished the other she-cat harm. And she cared about Bearspirit far more than as just a friend.

Bearspirit hadn't been expecting Batsong's... reaction. Still, he did his best to just look intimidated and nod and... try very hard not to laugh. Once she left, he couldn't help but chuckle. He needed that laugh. Swiftspirit brought him back to the situation at paw and he nodded once. "I'll be okay I just... I need to get used to it I guess. I hate this. I hate being alone and I hate being away from you." His children had turned out to be fiercely independent and had wanted little to nothing to do with him. They were warriors now anyway... what did they need him for?

He had a hard time believing that Swiftspirit wouldn't turn out pregnant as well, though it was still too early to be sure. That said, even if she wasn't now, he wasn't closed off to the idea of trying again in the future. Riverclan was a great place and he had been willing to stay for as long as Ivystar needed him, but she was gone now.

"How hard would it be to get into Windclan, is what I am trying to ask. Would you even want me there? It's okay and I understand if not..."

Batsong's reaction got a chuckle out of Bearspirit, and Swiftspirit felt guilty for bringing him back to the less pleasant reality. Still, if she hadn't asked, she would've felt just as guilty. "I understand." He'd come to her rather than his own clanmates, and Swiftspirit understood not wanting to be alone.

The question of joining Windclan was surprising given previous conversations they had had, but Swiftspirit definitely wasn't opposed to the idea. And things had changed since those previous discussions. Maybe she was biased, but she enjoyed Bearspirit's company and if they were in the same clan, that would make things easier. "Goldenstar learned from Lilacstar's mistakes. She won't let anyone in without making sure the clan is absolutely safe first. You'd be questioned at least, and she'd probably want to talk with Jaystar too." She responded, "You're not anything. If she feels you would be loyal and aren't a threat, I don't see why she wouldn't let you in if we're honest." Goldenstar was a reasonable cat and Swiftspirit trusted her.

He shifted his weight nervously on his feet. It sounded easy enough to get into Windclan... but now that it was a very real possibility he felt a sudden wave of guilt that he hadn't been expecting. Riverclan had been his home... but so had the moor for a little while. No... he had to commit to this if he decided to do it. He couldn't afford to be hesitant. With a final, assured breath, he made his decision.

"I will join Windclan then, if Goldenstar will accept me. I will speak to Jaystar too, but I think I want to wait until after the gathering. I want to make sure I know what I am going to say and how to say it before I pitch my decision to him. I want to be sure of what I say to Goldenstar too. I can't sound weak or hesitant, so... I'd like to give this plenty of thought."

It was a bittersweet decision, but he had high hopes that it would be the right one. He'd finally be with the one he'd loved for so long. He would finally feel free...

Swiftspirit offered him a small smile, lightly bumping his shoulder with hers. "I'll vouch for you when you figure out what to say." She was biased, sure, but did that really matter? The gathering was only a few days away. "I don't know how Jaystar might react at all, but I know Goldenstar is reasonable." It would be nice to no longer have to hide this, she and Bearspirit could finally be together if he came to Windclan. She could be with someone she loved and cared for.