Begin Again (Spider)

[Avery]

OOC: Apologies, got pulled away, hoping you're on! @spiderpelt

Tabby striped legs moved towards the pond that glistened in front of her. Stars dappled the water and made the surface look like it was a part of Starclan itself. White clouds of frost bloomed from the feline's mouth while she paused on the crest of the hill. She felt tired, exhausted really, but it didn't matter now as she moved towards the heart of the field below her. It had been several days since the battle of Leafclan and the apprentice was still recovering. It wasn't her wounds as they were mostly healed by now, it was her heart that was heavy.

 Prior to the attack her and her mentor had gotten into a war of their own. One that had ended in physical violence, and had left her rock recovering in the medicine cat's den with a broken rib. She felt like she had no one now that she had lost his respect. To add to her misery her arch nemesis was made a warrior before her. She could still feel being called upon and then told to... step back. Again the warrior title she rightfully deserved was striped because of her actions. To make matter's even worse her good friend Frogleap was dead. It came as a sudden shock when a random tom approached her telling her how he died. She couldn't believe it. She didn't want to believe it. Even though they were from different clans, she felt something for him, and only wished she could've been there to mourn. 

 With so many pressing emotions she had given up on trying to sleep and instead made the journey to the one place where she could really be alone. The Pond of Truce. A peaceful place where rarely anyone was present, and no one would whisper as she walked by. Padding to a stop she glanced behind her, sighing when she noticed small paw prints in the snow leading her straight home, or a shell of home. If someone was following her she didn't care, let them think what they wished. She was alone. Bitterly alone.

 Moving forwards again she made her way towards the pond and leaned down to take a drink. Ice cold water scorched her throat while she lapped at the surface. She shivered in delight before lifting her head, and sinking onto her haunches. Her paws shifted slightly on the cold pebbles, before her tail wrapped tightly around her legs and covered them. 

[Deleted]

It had been a while since the brown bengal had returned to this place. Since his return, many things had changed. Moonstorm had died. Silverstar had died. He was now the deputy of his Clan. And more importantly, where was Wildpaw? Or was it Wildheart, or Wildwing? Or maybe something more fierce and fitting like Wildblaze? He had honestly missed her. It was weird. Frogleap hadn't adjusted to the changes. He didn't like change. He didn't like.. this. It was all too new to him.

Frogleap carefully entered the place he believed he would never return. The Pond of Truce was more beautiful than he had remembered. Seeing it all over again was like meeting an old friend, nervous but still breathtaking all at the same time. If his eyes had not been so amazed by the view, maybe his nose would have picked up the familiar scent not too far from him. Moments later, it had trailed toward him and his nose was no longer lying to him. There was no doubt about it, Wildpaw was here. His ears instantly pricked up and he noticed the she-cat drinking from the Pond of Truce. After all this time, she had still came here. Frogleap was amazed, astounded, confused, happy, sad.. everything. He didn't know what to think or what to say.

The spotted cat stood there breathlessly, his now dull gaze staring off into the distance. He was looking directly at Wildpaw, but past her. It was like everything at once just came crashing down on him. Through all the time it took him to construct a string of words to create a reply, only one simple word came out. One simple word that Frogleap had not said in moons. It pained him to think of all the time he had lost, all the days he had been without seeing her. His eyes didn't dare more as he stayed focused on the WhisperClan apprentice. He inched a few steps closer so his dirty pelt could be seen. Frogleap's voice was shrill and broken, it had been so long. "Wildpaw.." 

[Avery]

OOC: Sunsetclan apprentice  @spiderpelt

"Wildpaw.."

At the sound of a voice Wildpaw deflated. She had come her alone, and wished to be alone, not to be followed by someone wishing to speak with her. Face screwed up in annoyance she twirled on her haunches her tabby fur fluffed up to make her look bigger. What she saw before her wasn't what she expected. She had assumed it was an apprentice or fellow warrior or to make it even worse, it could've been a cat from another Clan. Starclan forbid it was a pair of secret lovers.

"What do you-" She began but the words stuck in her throat, harsh expression fading into disbelief. In front of her stood a once strong and fiesty bengal cat. His coat was dull and unkempt, his voice sounding strangely broken. He looked far older then his young age. Blinking the she-cat's mind whirled as she let the frame of the cat in front of her sink in. It couldn't be. It shouldn't be. Frogleap was supposed to be dead.

"You!" She snarled flying to her paws, her tail whipping behind her. "I thought you were dead! What are you doing here?! Did Starclan change their minds or something? Did they send you back to haunt me?!" Green eyes blazed in anger fueled by everything that had been happening in her life. In truth she was relieved he was alive, and she could stop imagining some painful death by drowning. She was angry over the fact that he hadn't had someone tell her. She was sadden by how pitiful he looked, but most of all; she was happy he was here. Perhaps, she could finally have a friend again... provided she could stop yelling at him enough to say all of this.

[Deleted]

Frogleap hadn't expected her to explode like this. Sure, he knew she was true to her name, but this?! This was.. scary. Frogleap didn't know how to react, but at the same time he knew it was all his fault that this was happening. Maybe if he hadn't been so stupid about everything. He shouldn't have sent Moonstorm and he shouldn't have even disappeared in the first place, but it wasn't his fault! He couldn't control it. but now, seeing Wildpaw like this, it just made everything wrose. Frogleap had no clue what to do or say. He was just.. lost. 

The spotted cat had known that he looked completely ruined, but her reaction to it really took a toll on the poor cat. Yet, he was still looking for a reason to make Wildpaw happy. Frogleap so badly wanted to tell her everything he had seen and the journey he took just to get back here. Just to get back to her. He was back and they were seeing each other once more! How much better could it be? Frogleap still knew he had some questions to answer but, still, he wanted to make things right. He didn't enjoy life much without Wildpaw. The deputy cautiously took a few steps forward, his eyes pleading for forgiveness. He felt terrible. "I didn't die.. I was.. lost" he meowed, his dim eyes looking down to the ground. "I can explain, I promise" the bengal had seemed to have lost his once cheerful and happy self, because right now he felt like a completely different cat. What had happened to the happy Frogleap and the cheerful Wildpaw that had been together moons ago? Why was this so.. different? Frogleap already hated it.

Yet, he would not give up on her. He couldn't. He had already came this far, he refused to go back empty pawed. With every word, he drew closer and closer until eventually his nose was practically touching hers. "I didn't leave on purpose. I was stolen. They all thought I was dead, but I fought back and returned." he choked on words, ready to break her the news he had been so excited to tell her. but he couldn't. Something still wasn't right. His voice was still tattered and broken. He couldn't perfectly word what he wanted to say, but he tried his best. "I came back for you, why aren't you happy?" 

[Avery]

Ooc: ... Gosh darn it. Frogleap you making me sad.

"I didn't die.. I was.. lost. I can explain, I promise"

Wildpaw shut her mouth when he finally spoke, her fur barely lying flat as the tom's eyes drifted downwards. A growl radiated from her throat, but she cut if off before it could go anywhere. Frogleap seemed... frightened by her outburst. Another stab of guilt pierced her heart and she took a few steps backwards to calm herself down. She seemed to be frightening a lot of her close friends and family lately. Taking a deep breath she re-focused on him.

" I didn't leave on purpose. I was stolen. They all thought I was dead, but I fought back and returned."

Blinking she realized he had moved incredibly close to her. Pebbles shifted underneath her paws as she moved a half step backwards, trying to figure out the timeline in her head. Looking over at the pond she tried to get a handle on what he was saying, but she had to re-focus on him once more as he finished his story. He came back for me? Her eyes searched his but she wasn't thinking about that; she was trying to figure out his last statement.

Why aren't you happy?

This time she looked down at her paws. That was a loaded question. "Frogleap." She said quietly, her voice barely audible over the sound of the gentle waves of water onto the stony shore. "I am happy you are back. I'm just incredibly surprised and in a state of shock." She looked back at him. "So much has happened since you disappeared, you have no idea, and to find out you aren't dead... It's just incredibly confusing. Where did you go?"

[Deleted]

ooc:  this is great

The troubled tom suddenly felt a bit relieved. So maybe she wasn't mad at Frogleap, but just the fact that he returned without warning. Or was that the good part? The young deputy still didn't know what to think of it all. He was still adjusting. More importantly, he had to drift back down the road he didn't ever want to return to - his disappearance. It was a long and confusing story, one that he would only feel comfortable telling Wildpaw. No other cat knew the entire truth of it, and it only felt fitting to tell Wildpaw, especially at a time like this. Frogleap took a step back and sat down on the gathering floor, feeling the pebbles and stones below him sink into his mangled and unkempt fur.

The bengal took a deep breath before beginning his story. There was a lot to tell, and it would be a lot to take in for the old apprentice. Then another thought popped into his head.. She is still Wildpaw? Though he didn't ask. It was probably a touchy subject, and now wasn't the greatest of times. Frogleap was truly doing anything he could to avoid telling this story. He didn't like it. but it was no use. With another deep breath, he nodded awkwardly. "I was alone at the river when a branch fell from above. It hit me in the back and knocked me out." he managed, his voice was dry. Frogleap's entire face turned ghostly and his eyes went wide just thinking about it. "I suppose I fell into the river, because I woke up in an unknown place with a lot of twolegs and cats living together" the tom shuttered at the thought of the gigantic twoleg nests that outlined the streets. He couldn't even describe how happy he was to be back, yet his face showed the opposite. "I met a few cats there, and after a few moons we followed the river back to StormClan" he said, swallowing his words hard. Now, for the exciting parts.

Finally getting over the hard part, the usual Frogleap smile returned. He seemed to ease up a bit at the thought of his return to StormClan. He was truly happy here. "When I returned, they welcomed me like a hero. Silverstar was dead and the clans were being repaired" he said, his green eyes regaining the positive glint they once had. "Goldenstar became leader" he swallowed hard, trying his best to hide the amount of excitement he was still containing. "And she named me deputy" he said with a smile and the usual laugh. Frogleap felt so much better talking to Wildpaw again. Everything just seemed so right. The tom shook his head, eager to get onto another subject. "Enough about me. I want to know about you" 

[Avery]

@spiderpelt-- Sorry for being late!

"I was alone at the river when a branch fell from above. It hit me in the back and knocked me out. I suppose I fell into the river, because I woke up in an unknown place with a lot of twolegs and cats living together. I met a few cats there, and after a few moons we followed the river back to StormClan"

Wildpaw's expression changed yet again to one of discomfort. She couldn't imagine fighting for her clan one moment and then the next being caught by two-legs. Her eyes remained steady as he continued on in his story and she felt herself slowly relaxed. So it had been a misunderstanding all along, yet why did the random tom tell her a story of him dying? That part didn't make much sense to her but it didn't matter. Her friend was alive and well. Her ears perked as he told her about his big news.
"Congratulations! That's amazing Frogleap!" She purred, happy for him to gain a high position so early in his career of being a warrior. It felt strange that only months before when he was a young warrior and her an even younger apprentice, they had played like to young kits. The amount of responsibility he now must be enormous. "That's so unbelievable." She meowed to him, a small smile pulling at her lips. Things would change now. He was deputy, and needed to be there for his Clan. Perhaps, this would be the last time they would be able to talk so freely. Her thoughts ran wild for a few heart beats while her she only showed him pure happiness.

"Enough about me. I want to know about you."

A dark look crossed her feature and she looked away. "Nothing really. Just a lot of small things." She meowed, her eyes focusing on her paws rather then his eyes. How could she tell him that she had attacked her mentor? How could she tell him that she almost accidentally killed him? How could she tell him about how she was angry and embarrassed about being an apprentice still? How could she tell him about feeling alone in her clan? She couldn't. He wouldn't understand.

[Deleted]

Frogleap smiled awkwardly at Wildpaw's praise. He was happy and sad at the same time. On one side, he was happy to see Wildpaw and be here with her, but on the other, he couldn't help but think this could be the last time they ever saw each other in private again. He didn't like the thought of that. Not one bit. She was important to him, even if she didn't know it. Frogleap loved being around her and wanted to always be around her. If only she could come to StormClan. That would truly make him happy. but he knew that would be taking things way too far. There's no way she would ever come with him. She was too loyal. but then again, she was meeting him here every night. 

At the return of her voice, Frogleap knew instantly something wasn't right. He'd known her long enough to be able to tell when something wasn't right and now was one of those times. He made careful note as she looked to her paws. Despite that, he still wanted to know everything. "I like the small things. Tell me every detail and story I've missed since you were gone" he purred with an uneasy smile, "I want to know everything" he reassured her, his voice slowly returning to the happy, normal Frogleap. At least he was being honest. Frogleap was slowly growing tired of hiding all of his feelings and emotions. Maybe he would just be honest about how he felt for once. The young deputy leaned over and gave her a playful nudge. He flicked his tail toward a stone and went to sit. "Come on, I'd never judge you" he meowed, flicking his tail for her to come join him. Hopefully, she would understand. No matter what happened, Frogleap would never abandon Wildpaw just because of a simple story. He liked her far too much to do that. 

ooc: no problem  Avery