A Long, Long Time Ago... [Bab]

[Carotius]

Babylonranger
OOC: SURPRIIIIIIIIIIIIISE!!! Part of my "random muse" threads that have been popping out, though this one has a plot function :3 And guess what? This thread is my 1000th post! XD

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Adderfoot yawned, reaching out his forelegs as far out as he could in a luxurious stretch. The sleepy wheezes and snores of his fellow warriors filled his ears, something he didn't think he'd ever miss in his life; the brown tabby made his return to the warriors' den last evening, having been given the okay that most of his illness was cured. His nest was so cold when he got back to it, both from being unoccupied and from the frosty winds that accompanied the leaf-bare weather. After a while of laying down in it, however, he managed to warm it back up, and sleep had never felt so cosy in so long.

Speaking of seasons... Newleaf! The tom's nose twitched at the familiar scent of grass and flowers, warming his insides physically and emotionally. He got up as fast as he could and attempted to walk over to another nest nearby, only to stumble a little as his legs seem to buckle. Hissing softly in annoyance and pain, the warrior regained his balance, blaming it on the numbness from the cold, before resuming his short walk over to the nest with a similarly-shaded brown pelt. Meadow green eyes glowed dimly with pride, a soft smile spreading across his lips as he looked his kin snooze. I'm so proud of all of you.

"Hareblaze? Wake up, my dear," he prodded the new warrior with the forepaw of his namesake, resisting the urge to bat it at her ears. "It's finally newleaf.. Let's go for a walk."

[Babylonranger]

Ooc: Congrats Carot!

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Hareblaze moaned softly in her sleep, only hearing and feeling her father's attempt to wake her distantly. By the time his gentle prodding registered with her, the young light-brown warrior was rolling away from the disturbance to her rest. Unfortunately, the movement jostled her still-healing shoulder, and the pain made her wince.

Rising with a cut-off whimper, Hareblaze arched her back and opened her yellow eyes. Her uncomfortable expression brightened at the sight of her father next to her. "Good morning, Adderfoot!" the large she-cat said, smiling happily. After moons of distancing himself from her and her littermates, she was relieved the older tom was acknowledging his first three kits and being a father to them again.

Flexing her dark-stockinged paws, the young warrior nodded and padded out of their den. "Any place in particular where you'd like to walk?" she asked, giving her face a cursory wash.

[Carotius]

Babylonranger

The tom was this close to flopping himself onto his daughter, an act so playful that he was sure the other warriors would give him the look of surprise of bewilderment. It'd been so long since he showed any affections for his first litter, more from his own withdrawal than any other reason; he regretted letting those days of potential fun and bonding past, and was determined to make up for it. Even if there's not much time left. He blinked his meadow green eyes, suddenly aware he was drifting off into a daydream again, something which he often kept from his family since their reunion.

Adderfoot nuzzled the larger she-cat's cheek gently, holding back the moisture in his closed eyes as he felt the softness of her fur. I spent so many moons...missing out on these sensations. He pulled back, smiling at Hareblaze with a warm glow lighting his otherwise sickly features. This was it. He was going to make up for the errors he's done in the past. Turning around, he padded after the younger warrior, blinking rapidly against the warm sunshine that began to filter into the camp. The tom knew exactly where to go, even if his heart ached at the very thought of ever returning there.

"The butterfly Gardens. It's been a while since I was there," he mewed, glancing towards the apprentices' den, expecting himself to be able to see a white pelt amongst the many in it. "You lead."

[Babylonranger]

The large light-brown she-cat beamed with delight, ecstatic at Adderfoot's display of affection. Hareblaze, warmed by her father's actions, nodded at the older warrior's suggestion of the butterfly Gardens. butterfly, she thought, rising to her dark paws. He must have gone there often with Dawnthorn.

Returning her attention to Adderfoot and the present, she took note of how he'd paused by the Apprentices' Den. The young warrior had little doubt that the large brown tabby was trying to catch a glimpse of Thornpaw. Padding beside him, Hareblaze nudged him gently with her good shoulder. "Alright, butterfly Gardens it is," she said softly, keeping in mind the cats who still slumbered. "but I think I'll walk alongside you. I probably shouldn't go too fast while this bite's still healing." Well, that and she didn't want to tire out her father by setting a fast pace or aggravating his cough. but she didn't mind using her injury as an excuse if it saved Adderfoot's pride.

That reasoning in mind, Hareblaze set a casual pace for the two of them out of camp. Neither cat had an apprentice at the moment, so no one would be too concerned if their chat and walk took a while.

[Carotius]

Adderfoot purred in amusement at his daughter's jest, flicking her spine good-humouredly with his tail tip. While the larger she-cat may claim the pace was for the sake of her injury's recovery, he knew there was some underlying reason beneath it, but, for once, he kept his mouth shut, letting the moment pass with a forgotten note of joy. He flicked his gaze backwards to the warriors' den briefly as well, trying to glimpse a silver-striped pelt in the gloom, but quickly figured Squirrelheart might either have left camp already or was still dozing off. It would just be him and Hareblaze for now.

As their paws tread on the ever familiar path to the Gardens, past golden fronds and sweet-smelling flower bushes, a wave of nostalgia washed over the brown tabby, green eyes clouding from memory. It felt so long ago since he stomped out of camp to escape the kits and apprentices. It felt so long ago since his dull pelt had been decorated with colourful butterflies. It felt so long ago that he found the world's beauty in the most innocent pair of blue gems, resting on the cream-faced warrior of his home Clan. The image of happiness warmed his heart, at the same time bringing a chilling cold when he reminded himself Dawnthorn was no longer there.

"I would have been a colourful warrior had Dawnthorn not chased the butterflies from my pelt," he pretended to sulk, the tall grass beginning to tickle his fur as if to tease him. "She was the first to compliment my appearance, and it felt....different."

He faced forward as the scent he recognised from the Gardens hit his nose - they weren't far from it, but to Adderfoot, the distance suddenly felt bigger. The fur on his neck bristled in fear and surprise at the sensation of pain in the joints and weakness in his leg muscles, even though they disappeared as soon as they came. Nothing's wrong. Adderfoot blinked at Hareblaze, pushing away the idea of something not being okay. At least...not yet.