freedom is a wild wolf’s birth-right. (c)

Another night, another patrol he was not truly part of. The trudging of paws and squelch of marsh-mud, slowly transitioning into scattering pebbles and then sturdier, drier dirt. He had gotten used to the Thunderpaths stench by now. Something like rot or char, carrion that had turned sour and wretched. It was where his paws always brought him. He did not know why, nor did he care to know why. Here, he had met Pipitpaw. Lost her in the same breath, an imposter in her place. Then he had met that stink-thing that had lured and drawn in his sister, put her in danger. Perhaps it was a physical and symbolic thing. A path.

Tonight would be no different-- in truth, he should have expected it by now. Blankly staring out across it toward the moors, a monster surging pass that caused little reaction from him bar a blink of eyes to rid them of dust churned up by its large, spinning feet.

Only Wolfpaws eyes moved, a dart to the side until it locked onto a set of eyes that brought him a sense of calm. The calm not unlike watching a beautiful sunrise, or a pretty-coloured pebble. Or paws, stained-- He let out a rush of breath, and pushed that image back.

"Yes," He answered back, as brusque and gruff as ever. He was not thinking. He liked it. Neither full of seething rage at the mere thought of her, or that stone-cold dread that someone would rip her away from him. Though, the second that thought came into his mind it caused a sort of churn to his stomach. For a moment, he saw amber on white over the Thunderpath. It faded into silvery patterns, and he blinked slowly.

"You should not be here," He said, though there was no true scold in his voice. Rather, he moved, edging closer to where the little moonglow spoke from, and closer still. "Are you alright?" His tone was flat, as always. Like a statement rather than a query or concern. But not abrupt.

His head tilted slowly, like a curious little creature gazing upon something purely perplexing. 'Had to see' him. Why? Did she hear something, or see something, or..? He lashed his tail, once, and grit his teeth while she continued to speak. Something was wrong?

"I am well," He rumbled, drawing his legs in to a seated position, folding his winding tail over his paws. He blinked, lapsing into a long and drawn out silence as he passed his eyes over her. The wounds from the owl was healing well. She looked good, healthy, even. His lip twitched, what could have been a smile, but died before it was born. "Nothing is wrong, Moonpaw. I have been busy. Protecting. There is... Leopardstar allowed a rogue into the clan. I think it is trying to hurt my sister." She spoke again, and he blinked. Why... Why? Most avoided him like the plague, unless it was his family.

"I will always be okay," Wolfpaw assured her, lowering his head so that he was mostly eye level with her. "Unless I am torn limb from limb, I will be okay. I will always come back. And if I do not, wait for me. I will return."

"Good," The word dropped from Wolfpaws mouth like a stone in water. It was as flat and unwavering as anything else he had ever said, but held a note of relief to it. The other one had left before; though now that he looked at Moonpaw, he could no longer see the white silhouette that was forever embedded into his mind when he spoke to her. Just Moonpaw.

He blinked at her blurt. A very brief motion, like when one got dust in their eyes. He felt his paws itch, jaw tighten. His tail thudded the ground harshly, and he took in a long, drawing breath. He closed his eyes, and exhaled. The itch was gone. "It is too convenient," He said. "I met the rogue on the territory once before. He said he had met her and my mother once before. I told him to stay far, far away from them if he valued his life. And yet, one day, he walks into camp. He is around her all the time. His mentor is her mentor, and I do not trust him either. I did warn them, that if they so much as nick one of her whiskers, I would come for them."

He flicked an ear, moving his fixed gaze away from her and up to the sky, then back out to the moors behind her. "Your Clan," He said. "Are they as foolish as my own? Are you safe there?"

Something not unlike the feeling of a shard of ice jabbed into his throat and worked its way down to his chest. His jaw clenched, so tight he could feel an ache spreading through him and it popped when he parted his mouth again. She was safe, yes. But...

"Who is Falconpaw?" His head tilted, an almost mechanical motion in how precise it was. His eyes, like owl-wide saucers, bored into her. Pupils elongated, thin and narrow and when he blinked, they only dilated again by a fraction. And when she smiled... His gaze fixed on it like it were prey, and lifted back up to her with a chilly glint. "Does he put you in harms way? Trouble. Has he hurt you, ever?"

He did not recall meeting someone by the name 'Falconpaw' when at the Gathering. Not with Moonpaw, anyways. He watched her for another while. A change in expression, a look of alarm. Anything at all. If he had hurt her, then perhaps a visit was in order. She would not be anothers to hurt, not at all. "You will introduce me to him at the next Gathering," He said pointedly. "Won't you, Moonpaw? I will be very grateful to meet your friend."

Wolfpaw followed her eyes no matter where they went. To the side, he leaned over. Up, he straightened himself. Down, he kept himself low. He blinked, slowly, mouth still parted somewhat and taking in everything around them. In case of unwanted visitor, to commit her scent to memory. To snap at ready if required.

"Why would it not be a good idea, Moonpaw?" He drawled, using her name like a puncturing claw. "We are not doing anything wrong. There is nothing wrong with having bonds in another clan. I will know him then. And he will know me. Wouldn't that be better? Unless there is some reason you do not want to tell him."

He stood, tail coiling behind him like a wisp of smog disturbed by a rush of paws. He tiptoed around her, keeping his head angled low and his ears forward. She was nervous. Afraid? Uncertain? He ran his tongue over his lips, narrowing amber eyes. He stopped at her left, bringing his maw in close to speak next to her ear.

"It is harmless. Introduce me as someone you met the last Gathering. We spoke on a patrol crossing paths after that. I will know his face, then. He will know mine. I will not be a stranger. Do you not think it would look suspicious if you were friendly with a ShadowClanner, and refused to speak of it?" He hummed, a low, rumbling sound. "I cannot keep you safe while you are in WindClan. Not physically. But making it known that you have me as a friend-- wouldn't that silence unwanted whispers, Moonpaw?"