Resurrected and Reacquainted [c]

It was good to be back in the clans, but everything was so... different. He was no longer hunting in the thick, wet marshes in search of frogs and newts. Instead, he had to go on shared land, making sure not to get too close to where Skyclan had made their camp. He missed that freedom of being able to go where he wished without knocking into another cat from a different clan. Not even their temporary camp was their own, but he could live with it. It would only be a matter of time before they went back to normal.

Until then, he'd have to get used to the Skyclan scent clogging his nose instead of the comforting marshy scent Shadowclan used to hold.

He kept on the outskirts of neutral territory, his large paws carrying him across the cold ground without much of a goal. He should be hunting, he was tasting the air like he was, but he wasn't. Bird scent clung thickly to a patch of old leaves to his right, yet he ignored it. Deep down he knew he was just on a walk to think and spend a little time alone. He'd catch something on his way back, but highstones was overwhelming when he had gotten so used to silence. Locust just needed some quiet.

Life was… good.

Dawnfeather took a deep breath, relishing in the fresh air. Life was good, wasn’t it? She had Foxpaw and Beetle, and Wolfblossom and Mistpaw and all the other faces she’d come to know. It felt as if, finally, after so many moons of havoc, everything was settling down. The golden she-cat strolled through the woods, full of trees she didn’t know. Nothing much was happening, today. She was simply out on a walk, appreciating the silence. Everything didn’t always have to be exciting to be fulfilling, at least not for her. She knew some cats she loved dearly who would disagree.

Idly following the faint trace of bird scent, Dawnfeather stepped out into something of a clearing, on the very edge of neutral territory. There- some sort of calico silhouette, covered with scars and almost as tall as she was, smelling of ShadowClan and rogue. Hopefully this was just a lost ShadowClanner, not an aggressive loner. She wasn’t in the mood to fight, not a cat as scarred as this one. Calico- ShadowClan- tom- Maybe her memory shouldn’t have failed her- but it did.

“Hello? ShadowClanner?”

Locust paused, his ears flicking as the soft steps of paws. Letting someone come up behind him had cost him an ear, even if it brought him a friend at the same moment, so the tom was much more aware of his surroundings. Locust lifted his head, turning towards the sound of a terribly familiar voice calling to him.

His amber eyes landed on the golden she-cat, his eyes narrowing for a moment in thought before they flashed in recognition. He knew her, spoken to her a few times in his youth and... yelled at her for something that was not her fault. His mouth opened, but words caught in the back of his throat, halted by his thoughts that churned within his head like a murky whirlpool. She didn't recognize him yet; should he even mention who he was? Should he apologize? It was so long ago, did she even remember their spat?

"Dawnfeather?" he croaked. "I-" His words failed him once more. He hated this newfound awkwardness he generated, how long until he stopped fumbling like a new apprentice? "It's Cicadashriek... though I go by Locust now until Nightstar gives me a proper name..."

He turned towards her- stars, this cat had been in a spat or ten, hadn’t he? Dawnfeather’s eyes traced the deep scar on his muzzle, exposing a fang. Like Bloodstrike. When was the last time she’d talked to Bloodstrike? This tom wasn’t nearly as scarred as her mentor, though- although certainly enough to look experienced and scrappy. Amber eyes narrowed as they landed on her… stars. She didn’t want to fight. But if she had to- well- she’d survived Twolegplace three times without any lasting scars. She could take this cat, if she needed to. Yet it didn’t seem like she needed to- his eyes seemed to widen for a moment- did she know him? Did he know her? Her name escaped his maw- a fumbling croak of surprise- she tilted her head to the side, confusion evident in clear blue eyes. Who-

Cicadashriek?

Not stopping to think (since when did she ever?) the golden SkyClanner bounded forwards, just barely restraining herself from bowling him over- instead stopping just in front of him. “Cicadapaw! Er- sorry- Where have you been? I looked for you- I got lost in Twolegplace then when I came back you were gone too and none of my Clanmates really knew who you were and I- well. He said you were dead, Cicadashriek. Not missing, dead. I’m so glad to see you’re alright-“ then, once the flood of words had had time to register in his brain, so he’d see she wasn’t angry or violent- Dawnfeather laid her head on his shoulder for a second, purring. “I’m so glad to see you’re alright,” she continued, pulling away. “Where have you been? It doesn’t look like life’s been easy… I’m sorry.”

Locust bristled in shock when the she-cat suddenly flew toward him, his claws unsheathing to latch into the ground. A paw twitched, so ready to pull up and push the cat back, but there was no need. Instead of an attack, he was saddled with a verbal barrage. Locust didn't have the time or mind to fix his face, his eyes wide with shock and confusion. She was this happy to see him? She was looking for him when he disappeared?

The battered calico let out a shaky breath he didn't realize he was holding when she rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm... happy to see you too." It was difficult for him to voice it, but he was. She was a kind cat and so many terrible things had happened while he was away, he was glad she was alright. His fur laid down flat once more, though he aided it with a few quick licks over his chest fur.

"I was beyond highstones and kept to a twoleg place there. I didn't come out of hiding very much. I suppose Shadowclan instincts took over." He gave a soft chuckle. "But, uh, my neighbors and I didn't get along very well when I did come out to hunt." He hated that he was surrounded by rogues and loners. He was considered one of them when he was truly a proud warrior by blood. He despised being with them; it was only a matter of time before fights broke out. However, if he went into the forest, there was no one, and for some reason that unnerved him more than battle. He didn't travel out there very often unless he craved a good wild-caught meal.

"But I'm here now and the past is in the past. How are you? Is Skyclan doing alright? You said you got lost in twoleg place too?" He tried to shove the questions off of himself and onto Dawnfeather instead.

There was genuine happiness trilling in her soul at his words, a symphony of joy and elation instead of rage and battle-fury. She listened intently, head tilted slightly to the side. She knew what he spoke of. The unrequited viscousness of every other cat out there, the way a shared meal would be stolen and carried off instead. “I was kitnapped last… leaf-fall, maybe, ages and ages ago. Returned last leaf-bare to… well… my mom was- she’d disappeared. Looking for me. Her and my older brother both. So- I set out looking for them last leaf-bare… just came back a few moons ago. I- she’s still gone,” she admitted, voice strained. “Her and my older brother both.” Sparrowda was gone, too, and Bloodstrike and Beechaunt and even Dandelion and Olive…

“Now- all that’s left are my cousins, Birdchaser and Wolfblossom and Plumleaf. They weren’t even born when I was here-” Some pride colored her words, joyful at the prospect of her cousins in charge of the Clan at the same time that her soul keened in anguish for all those she’d lost. They’d- her cousins- do wonderfully, she was sure. “I- I don’t know why I’m telling you all this- well- you are, almost, the only cat I know from back then… stars, we are getting old, aren’t we?” She huffed in amusement. She wasn’t young anymore- though grey hadn’t yet started to tinge her muzzle. “You were always younger than me, though.” Maybe it was just her, displaced in time. Beetle was younger than her, and every high rank in the Clan. Sometimes she felt like she was floating.

His ears gently drooped with sympathy as she recounted her own story. It seemed a lot of cats had lost family while he was away, or at least the ones he had the time to talk to so far. Though, the rest of her family seemed to be doing just fine, he was still a little behind, but he swore all three of those names were leading the clan... He took a small mental note of that.

The mention of age pulled a scoff out of Locust. "Starclan, don't remind me." He was far too aware that he had spent his prime youth playing rogue out of the territories. Now everyone was older and stronger and he was... Locust. His own apprentice could beat him in a spar now... though he had spent so little time training her he wasn't sure if he counted as her mentor anymore. "I'm so tired all the time now, I swear by next moon I'll be complaining about my joints like an elder." He missed all the energy he had as an apprentice and new warrior. Maybe he'd get some of it back now he was in the clans with proper freshkill and without the worry of rogues at his hide... maybe not. He'd have to see.

"I was very selective with my friends, I'm lucky most of them are still around when I had chosen so few, but I notice so many cats are missing from Shadowclan too. All the senior warriors that used to scold me as an apprentice are gone, the high ranks have completely refreshed... I'm so behind... I really shouldn't be telling you any of this either..." Locust paused, pawing a bit at the ground below him. She was from another clan, he didn't know who she could spread this information to... but he doubted she would blab with any malicious intention. He'd rather talk to her and have this information disappear over clan borders than have a clan mate look at him, constantly aware he was insecure about his place.

"I'm glad you're still around. I just... need some normalcy. It's nice to see a kind face I recognize." He hoped a small compliment would be good enough as a half-apology for his behavior as a younger tom. He couldn't make himself bring it up, so it would have to do.

“I know,” Dawnfeather mewed in sympathy. “Me too. My grandfather, mentor, and leader- gone, exiled. My aunt, former medicine cat- gone, exiled. My other aunt, deputy- gone, killed by foxes. A cat I barely knew- a former ShadowClanner, mates with my grandfather was leader, and then she was gone- the only cat older than me is another aunt, and who knows how long she’ll last. The leader, deputy, and medicine cat- none of them born when I left. The senior warriors that I knew- all gone. My two best friends, two mollies just younger than me- gone. I- the only cats I knew were my aunt and… step-aunt? It’s- it’s hard. I’m glad you still have cats who remember you. Our high ranks have ‘refreshed’, as you put it, three times over, easy. Sometimes I wonder if she was right, that SkyClan is a curse and a plague onto the forest…” Her eyes stared past him for a moment, sorrow and worry swirling in her heart.

“I know what you mean,” Dawnfeather purred, returning her gaze back to his face. “Normalcy is something I think all us old folks crave… do you think your ancient bones could handle a spar?” she teased lightly, flicking her tail. “I’ve a dove stashed in a tree over there, if you haven’t hunted yet. You could consider it a favor?”

Locust listened quietly, giving little nods of understanding. He would put it past Starclan to curse Dawnfeather's home. The stars were petty things with nothing left to do in their afterlife but whine about what cats did below. It was possible they were punishing them for spawning Dawnhawk, or for some other thing Dawnfeather and the younger generations couldn't control. Regardless, she didn't deserve to be caught in this much misery.

The golden she-cat offered a shift in conversation and Locust was quick to latch onto it. "Heh, I don't know. It might be an easy win for me since you're about ready to crumble to dust in your old age." He gave a soft chuckle, extending his body in a long, dramatic stretch. He was a bit rusty, unable to refine his warrior skills with no warriors to teach him. This spar was what he needed.

"Sure, I'll take you on with a spar. I'll even let you make the first attack. I would hate to knock an old mollie off her paws without giving her a fair shot." He purred teasingly, his claws digging slightly into the cold earth to steady himself. "Of course, no claws, soft maws, blah blah blah. I'm already beat up enough."

“Crumble to dust?” Dawnfeather purred in abject amusement. It was getting dark out; soon, he’d have the advantage. Better get started then. He- for all his posturing, he looked rough around the edges, as if life in Twolegplace hadn’t treated him kindly. She’d have to be easy on him, without looking like she was doing so. “Alright- you asked for it!” She grinned widely, circling the tortoiseshell tom, flicking her tail. They were in a bit of a clearing, and the trees around weren’t ones she was used to- but that would give her a challenge, would it not . Keen blue eyes studied the tom, trying to find an opening.

Falling into an offensive stance, Dawnfeather surged forwards- at the last moment, swerving past Cicadashriek to leap towards a stolid oak, twisting in mid-air to push herself off the tree and back towards the tom, pinning him to the ground. She could’ve tried a front attack- could probably have succeeded at a frontal attack- but she didn’t want to knock him clean off his paws. He hadn’t eaten as well as she had during their time in Twolegplace- being a SkyClanner made it easier to stay out of trouble, and easier to catch prey. Besides, her pretty coat had convinced many a Twoleg to leave out food for her, when all else failed.

“Knock me off my paws, huh?” There was a mischievous glint in her eyes- for just right now, she could pretend that everything was alright. That she’d spar with Cicadapaw, and when she won, send him on his way with a piece of prey and some pointers. That she’d come home and play with little Holly and Wasp and Slate. That she’d curl up beside her mother in the warriors den, splayed out with her tail across Dandelion’s flank and head on Olive’s soft back. That, if she had a nightmare, she’d go to the medicine den and find Beechaunt already or still awake- that she could sit there in companionable silence, if she needed. That she could go out on a walk that day, hunt herbs with Muddy, talk with Smokema, teach Hollowpaw and Rabbitchaser and Antpaw new tricks and tips.

If only.

Dawnfeather used Leaping Bound, dealing 7 damage, costing 10 stamina, and pinning Locust for 1 turn. Dawnfeather is using disadvantaged stats willingly as she’s going easy on him but trying not to show it.

Dawnfeather
65/70 HP
120/160 SP (-10)

Locust pinned for one turn
33/40 HP (-7)
100/100 SP

Locust lowered his head and narrowed his eyes, falling into a defensive posture as the she-cat circled him, but he couldn't wipe the smile of anticipation off his face. He shouldn't be doing this. Friendships in other clans were dangerous, he had learned that before with this particular cat... but this was just a spar. It was to refine his skills, to learn Skyclan tactics... it was fine. He could have a sparring buddy if he didn't get too attached again.

Suddenly Dawnfeather rushed toward him. Locust lurched to the side, dodging what he thought was an attack, but the flash of gold fur continued on behind him, towards the tree he had backed himself up against to protect his rear. Right, Skyclan and their trees, that was a terrible idea. Locust grunted, the air knocked out of him as Dawnfeather's weight fell upon his back, forcing him down into the dirt.

"Don't get arrogant; we've only started." His weight shifted underneath the Skyclanner, twisting himself onto his back and launching his back legs into one of hers to knock her off balance. However, his paws couldn't get enough leverage, doing little to force the she-cat off his back.

Locust used Duck and Twist, but failed, costing 5 SP and dealing 4 damage! Locust is still pinned!

Dawnfeather
61/70 HP (-4)
120/160 SP

Locust (Pinned 1/1)
33/40 HP
95/100 SP (-5)

The member 'MediocreCrisis' has done the following action : Dice roll

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'Effect Dice' : 2

Cicadapaw’s struggles weren’t nearly enough to force Dawnfeather off, but that wasn’t her strategy in battle anyways. The golden she-cat grinned, stifling a purr. “Is it arrogance if I’m winning?” she teased, smacking his forehead with a sheathed paw and letting go to dance backwards, standing not a fox-length from the forest. Hopefully she could make a quick escape into the trees if necessary. However- well, she doubted it would be necessary to dodge. Her strategy in battle was to use the trees to her advantage, pinning and stunning others as much as possible. Not like Bloodstrike and Beechaunt, who preferred to just absolutely annihilate any cat unlucky enough to come up against them in an actual battle. Dawnfeather wasn’t as tall or strong as they were- so she fought like her mother, focusing on non-lethal attacks and incapacitating the other cat.

Dawnfeather used Front Paw Blow, dealing 7 damage and costing 5 stamina.

Dawnfeather
61/70 HP
115/160 SP (-5)

Locust no longer pinned
26/40 HP (-7)
95/100 SP

Locust gave a playful snap at the paw that bapped against his cranium. Not a real attack, but a mischievous try that again before the she-cat pushed off of him. "It's arrogance to think one successful pounce means you're winning." He corrected, though it would be wrong to say Dawnfeather didn't have the upper paw. She was more agile and strengthened by being with her clan longer than he. The tom was already starting to feel winded and they had barely even started. Locust didn't expect himself to pull an easy win if he managed to at all, but for once, he didn't mind. There were no stakes here, no one in his clan to impress. He could fail without feeling like he was letting anyone down.

He rolled back onto his paws, lunging forward to grab her tail between his teeth and yank her away from the oak, careful to ensure he had a good hold without breaking the skin between his teeth. Locust couldn't let her use the trees, determined to keep her grounded if he could.

Locust used Tail Yank, costing 15 SP and dealing 8 damage! Dawnfeather is Stunned for one round!

Dawnfeather: (Stunned: 0/1)
53/70 HP (-8)
115/160 SP

Locust:
26/40 HP
80/100 SP (-15)

He was smart- he’d always been a smart one, hadn’t he? Dawnfeather found herself thrown off-balance as he grabbed her long feathery tail and yanked sharply, causing her to skid across the grass. Away from the trees, she noted. Good choice. “Smart move!” she purred even as her legs slid out from under her and she landed on her shoulder. From this position, she probably could hit his stomach- a risky move, the one she’d used against Wolfblossom (and the one they’d both failed over and over), but one that made her heart light from the positive memories it held.

Her paws reached out, but he moved at just the wrong moment, batting her away- and Dawnfeather found herself still splayed out on her back on the grass, staring up at the sky, and laughing. She flicked her tail, rolling to her paws and attempting to ready herself for his next attack.

Dawnfeather is no longer stunned.