An Icy Hello [C]

Iceheart

Iceheart hesitated in her words and eventually just sighed. Yes—she did understand what might be going on with Vixenpaw now that she said something. Iceheart was never quite so sarcastic or disrespectful, but she understood the desire to express those poor emotions.

She sat down, silently telling Vixenpaw to stop with her. “I understand that you must be going through a lot, Vixenpaw. But you are not so alone as you may believe. Deerleap was a fantastic warrior, as was Sootwhisker—I of course am pained by their loss too. There is no one that can replace them for you. But there are many warriors who are still here to look after you—myself included. Deerleap was one of my closest friends. It would be unbecoming to not help look after her kin.” After a moment, she added, “And while she may not be your sister by blood, Leopardsun is still here to guide you as well. Life does not turn into sunshine and rainbows, as you said—but it is also not quite so hopeless. I promise you that.”

Iceheart

Iceheart listened patiently, holding her tongue from arguing with Vixenpaw’s downtrodden thoughts. She took a moment to clear her mind of those pesky emotional response and instead meowed, “Do you ever wonder why there are so few elders compared to warriors? The warrior life is a dangerous one. That means that being orphaned is not a curse that runs in your family; it doesn’t say anything about your skills, or the skills of those in your family. It is simply the way that it is.” In a softer voice, she continued, “All we can do is move forward. The memories of those we lost will always be carried with us, but with time, the ache will hurt less; even if it seems impossible, I promise that it will.”

She cleared her throat and raised her head a bit higher again, so as to shake off the emotional vulnerability she just displayed. “In regards to your skills, you simply must work hard to hone them. All warriors started as kits, who didn’t know anything. With hard work, you can be as skilled as any ShadowClan leader.”

Iceheart

Iceheart’s ears flattened as her chest swelled with disappointment. It seemed that her words didn’t really matter to Vixenpaw. She couldn’t blame the apprentice. Iceheart was not a very inspirational cat, and the words she said rang hollow even in her own ears. Things did get better…but not by much. Iceheart had been dragging her feet through her own life. How hypocritical was it to tell Vixenpaw not to do the same?

She held in her sigh and walked after Vixenpaw, letting the heavy air hold between them. Whatever other words she may have had to say died out before they were spoken, and they walked in silence back to camp.

[OOC: Pfft Vixenpaw nooo! Ice is not a very comforting person :(]