give me breath and let me cough [C]

Crookedpaw

Crookedpaw had lost track of how long he’d spent here in this twoleg nest. He had seen some cats come and go, including Trufflesnap from his clan, who he had tried to rush after when she escaped but was caught by the cat lady before he could and so could not make it out after her. She never came back, though he did not expect her to. And so even more time passed. Days, weeks, months even. Crookedpaw grew older and learned what he could here in the twoleg nest. Crookedpaw was a bit surprised at the things he was able to learn while here. It was mostly thanks to Rowanpaw who, while not exactly taking Crookedpaw under his wing so to speak, did tolerate Crookedpaw hanging around him. Crookedpaw’s smaller frame grew with the passing time until he was the same size as Rowan. For all intents and purposes, they both appeared to be full grown warriors…but they both knew that it wasn’t the case. It may never be; although that was a thought neither of them shared.

He lay against Rowanpaw now, watching lazily as other cats roamed around the room. He leaned his head back, tilting it a bit towards Rowan in the same way that the RiverClanner often did to him. If he were honest, a lot of his mannerisms of late were picked up from Rowanpaw, but alas, that was something else he would never admit to aloud. “What will be the first thing you do upon returning home?” he asked. “Even if it is something outrageous. I want to hear your plans.”

Rowanpaw

The time passed within the nest, as grueling as it was, had become almost bearable. Whether it was simple complacency or the fact he'd actually obtained some tenuous friendship was hard to say, but either way, Rowanpaw had steadily become less and less desperate to throw himself at any window and wall that looked like it might have the slightest bit of give. Of course, he still wanted out, and was plenty bitter that he had missed his most recent opportunities, but his day would come. It wasn't an entirely terrible affair, either, as disgusting as the thought was. Again, he'd found a friend in the isolating walls, and he'd even found the time to become a bit plush during his stay.

Crookedpaw's head lolled against him, and Rowanpaw made a noise of acknowledgement.. The SkyClanner had grown with surprising quickness (or they had been trapped longer than he realized, a thought he did not want to entertain), and their bodies were flush against each other where they lay. He was no longer the apparently older and wiser one of the two. Though he tried not to linger on his reflection where it faced him, he was sure he looked just as aged as the other tom. They would be sights to see once they returned to their Clans. Tail waving idly, Rowanpaw hummed, "Me, outrageous? Oh, surely I have never been the type." A tittering laugh left him, and he paused to let the mirth echo before continuing idly, "I think I will do something rather mundane, truthfully. Fish, perhaps. The river is likely frozen now, but I can create a way. Where there is a will, as they say. And," he tilted his backwards as well, pressing their heads lightly together, "perhaps I will find the time to wander along your reach of the border. I am sure you will miss being graced with the sight of me every day, and who am I to deny any cat that privilege? But, aside from keeping an eye out from my appearance... what shall you be doing, once you've found yourself back in SkyClan?"

Crookedpaw

Rowanpaw’s gentle musings about Crookedpaw missing him made Crookedpaw smile. Rowanpaw was not far off. Despite the casualness of their entrapment together, Crookedpaw liked to think of Rowanpaw as a friend. It will hurt to leave him behind if they are ever able to get out of here. But, as much as he enjoyed Rowanpaw’s company…He knew precisely what was going to do if he had the chance to get home.

“First, I’m going to send time with Rainpaw,” Crookedpaw mused. He wondered if Rainpaw had gotten his warrior name…they wanted to get them together, but Crookedpaw had been gone for moons now. He couldn’t expect Rainpaw to wait indefinitely for his warrior name…especially if Crookedpaw never found that opening to escape this nest. “Perhaps we will run the territory together. I may even get the chance to introduce the both of you, either at the river or at a Gathering.” He paused and chuckled. “Gatherings…I wonder what they’re actually like. You have attended a few, yes? Are you looking forward to another one?” The closest one that Crookedpaw had been to was when all of the clans took refuge in Fourtrees for a few days, but that had a different vibe than he expected most Gatherings to actually have. What was it like to interact with cats outside your clan when you did not have the threat of natural disasters or twolegs hanging over you?

Rowanpaw

Rowanpaw's ears flicked against Crookedpaw's own and a gentle hum left him as he listened. A little pang briefly tightened his heart when Crookedpaw spoke of his best friend. It made him wish he could change his answer; he did want, more than anything, to sit and hunt and run with his mother, the rest of his siblings, his mentor. Rowanpaw's maw parted for a second, wanting to share in the commiseration, but snapped shut just as quickly. For some reason, he... he couldn't bring himself to talk about them. However comfortable he'd grown, it still hurt too much to acknowledge just how much he missed everyone. It was just as well, anyway, his friend had a question that needed answering.

Clearing his throat to remove the tightness, Rowanpaw meowed first, "I am sure he is a fine cat, considering he is your friend. I will be pleased to make his acquaintance." A beat to consider before he went on. "Am I? Hm. I should say that I am. They are quite exciting affairs; all the Clans gathered in one place, without..." his voice trailed off into a pensive hum before picking up its lilt again. "Well, it is more lively than your first impressions of Fourtrees. I have heard they tend to bring commotion, but I do not believe I've seen a bad one. It is a good chance to speak to cats of other Clans without incurring shame. Quite the jovial and social affair. I am rather in my element in such places." Rowanpaw sighed. Though a Gathering was far, far from his top priorities upon returning home, he would enjoy the night he got to hear the rolling chatter of so many different voices again. "I imagine I will be seeing you there as a warrior. What do you fancy your name might be, when next we meet?"