Together We Walk This Forgotten Path [C]

Nightstalker was eating his own meal, a frog, when Iceheart approached him of her own merit. He quirked a brow warily for a moment before his doubts cleared, "Hello, Iceheart." Nightstalker mewed, making sure to talk without his mouth full because he wasn't a heathen. "What brings you over?" He inquired gently, trying to pitch his tone so that it wasn't so monotone, but he wasn't too sure if it succeeded at all.

"That's awfully nice of you, Iceheart." Nightstalker mewed, taking another bite of his frog. "I've been as well as any other cat, I suppose. I'm trying to focus on paying attention to the living, it's a bit hard right now, but I'm sure it'll be better soon." The young tom mewed, seemingly a bit reserved as he spoke. He did want to say more but, Iceheart didn't need to hear, nor know how heavy his heart weighed right now. He'd lost not just his mother, but Ratrunner and Loudnose too... a brother, and a friend he'd consider a brother as well. "How about yourself? You grew up in all that, now things have gone and changed for you, even if those cats were bad. I'm sure you had attachments to them, and that's okay." He mewed, quick to try to reassure despite his biases and grievances. His new shoulder scar stung at the thought. Perhaps if he had not rushed so readily into battle, perhaps if he had done better as a fighter, Swiftheart would not have had to fight Fawnpatch, risking her kits. Swiftheart should not be performing any warrior duties at all now, but he knew she still was, foolish sister of his.

"Ah, I see. My apologies for my mistake. I spent my entire time detaching myself from everything. I don't let cats walk all over me, even if it was to save my own life, so I kept my silence and to myself to protect myself and my clan..." Nightstalker mewed, falling silent himself for a few heartbeats. "I agree." He mewed, half-consciously touching his fresh shoulder wound, still red and sore but no longer at any risk of breaking open and bleeding at any move.

Nightstalker wanted to deny her statement. He did not protect his clan, he may have been the first to bloody his claws, but he did nothing when his father was being starved and when those who defied the Dark Forest were struggling, when Frostgaze nearly died for the briefest moment of respite for their ancestors. His tail slapped the ground a few times, telling of his frustration with himself. "And I hope you gain confidence for yourself. You remind me of my best friend, Ratrunner, when he was still an apprentice." Nightstalker mewed, quick and eager to change the direction of the conversation.

"Hmm? Yeah we were, it's something one would have a hard time telling with the way I was. He'd kill for me, and I the same." And I am sure he had said he was in love with me but who is to say where you were passed out in a bush bleeding your guts out? He wasn't going to tell Iceheart though, and his sister had never told him... and she was carrying HIS kits? How much did Ratrunner love Nightstalker if he was to become mates with his sister so shortly after? Surely, it must've been a fault of his mind.

"I've known him since I was just a brand new 'paw. I had ideas, and dreams, influenced by my mentor at the time, Burningwing. Foolish I was, but Ratrunner was still intrigued and we became friends." Nightstalker explained, reveling in the memory as this seemed to be the first proper time he had taken the time to reflect and think of him since his cruel passing at the gathering. His eyes got misty before he stubbornly closed them and took a deep, steadying breath, the memories painful.

"As was I. I'll be very happy to watch over his kits, assign them their mentors and watch them grow. I'm also glad that you had been able to know him, as well." Nightstalker mewed, looking at Iceheart with a brief fondness, before he turned his gaze to the stars above them, perhaps looking for the star that his dear friend would have had left there.