Username: nindroidzane
Clan: FrostClan & FluxClan
Quest Number: 1
Response: The freezing water of the lake lapped gently over Flint's paws. But they didn't really mind the cold. It was a pleasant shock to their numbed system, and anything that made them feel anything but the drowning numbness was a welcome change.
They dug their claws into the snow. But the cold, too, eventually numbed their paws, until they could no longer feel the gentle lap of the waves or the soft crunch of the snow. Typical.
Light pawsteps sounded over the wind, and they peered over their shoulder to see Icewing trotting towards them. She dipped her head, settling down beside them in the snow.
"Hello, Flint." She looked at them briefly, before turning to gaze down at the smooth water.
Flint shuffled uncomfortably. They didn't usually talk to their Clanmates, outside of hunting and patrols. Bad things would happen if they did, and none of them deserved that.
And… on a different note, Icewing had always seemed like a bit of a snob. Maybe a bit more… subdued since her sister had fled, but she still complained of the cold, of patrols, of waking up at dawn. They weren't even sure why she was here; by the lake's edge now or even in the Clan.
But she didn't say anything more, seemingly waiting for them to speak. They wondered how long she'd wait before simply leaving. They'd been… not exactly enjoying the time alone, but they'd been…
Flint flattened their ears. They were never content. But it hadn't been agonizingly terrible, so maybe that was their equivalent.
"Do you ever miss your sister?"
Flint flinched hard, turning to see that Icewing was now looking at them. Her tail was wrapped neatly around her paws, and her eyes were like soft, melted ice. Looking at them. Waiting for them to answer that.
"I…" Flint didn't even know what to say. They didn't even know that she'd known.
"I heard you mention it to Frecklepaw." She murmured, voice as soft as the lapping waves. "It was nice of you to help him out like that."
Right. Frecklepaw. Flint felt terrible for him, losing his family at such a young age. But at the same time… watching him play and laugh and live his life… Flint couldn't help but feel a bit jealous.
"I miss my sister, too." Icewing carried on, voice even softer now, her ears drooping slightly. Flint hadn't noticed the dishevelled state of her fur or the rigid slouch in her posture. Actually, they thought she'd been sitting in that usual pristine way she usually did. But maybe it had been a while since she'd really looked like that.
"I know she's not dead…" Icewing paused, wrapping her tail tighter around herself. "Well, I suppose she could be… but even knowing that she's gone, and I might just never see her again, alive or otherwise…"
Flint frowned slighty. Was she coming to them for… advice? Comfort? Their fur ruffled uncomfortably. They couldn't even comfort themself. They just wanted to forget.
"And I started thinking…" Icewing had turned back to the water, eyes trained on it intensely. "I started thinking that this must be how you feel."
Flint startled. But Icewing carried on.
"Ever since you showed up here, all you do is mope silently around the camp. You don't talk to anyone." She shuffled a paw through the snow, composure waning. "I… I used to think you were just weird. 'Who would talk to them, anyway?' and all… you… you know how I used to be."
Flint thought 'used to be' was up for debate, but they kept their mouth shut. They supposed they didn't know much about any of their Clanmates, really.
"But it's always been about your sister. And… and whoever else it was that you've lost." She looked away sheepishly, ears flat. "I didn't eavesdrop for long, I promise."
Now Flint really didn't know what to say. This was several times weirder than Icewing just showing up to vent about her sister and leave. This was… this was too much like before, and they didn't want to remember that right now.
But Icewing didn't leave. She turned to them again, face painted with concern. "You can't just live like this, Flint. I know we're not really friends, and that… maybe you just don't like other cats. I understand." She glanced back at the camp before turning to them again. "I'm not asking you to tell me everything. I just… you need at least one cat. You need some support."
Flint stared at her in disbelief. Support? Icewing? Maybe she had changed. Or maybe they'd just been reading her wrong this whole time. It was… probably at least partially the second, given… everything.
But still. That didn't mean they wanted support.
"I'm… fine, Icewing. Thank you." Their own words felt strange in their mouth. Icewing looked very deflated.
"It doesn't have to be me." They could hardly hear her over the sharp breeze. "Our Clan is full of cats that I'm sure would love to be your friend."
Yeah, full of cats who'd love to die. Sure.
"Just… consider it." To their surprise, she finally stood up to leave, glancing at them as she started padding softly away.
To their further surprise, something inside them screamed at them not to let her go.
"...Wait."
Icewing's ears pricked. She turned back to look at them.
"...You can stay." They looked away slightly, fur heating up with embarrassment. "I just... don't really want to talk right now."
Or ever, but they'd deal with that another time.
Icewing smiled, coming back to sit next to them again. "I'm fine with no talking."
She leaned down to lick at her pelt a couple times. "I… just needed to get all of that out. Sorry."
Flint blinked. "It's alright."
Actually, they were still trying to process what was even happening right now. But, they supposed, at least, that they could now do it in the presence of Icewing, rather than alone with their paws numbed by ice and snow.
An ever-present weight lifted, ever so slightly, off their chest.
Maybe, with another cat by their side… they could stop trying to forget.
Word Count: 1,031
Quest Number: 3
Response: Nightfall dug her claws into the soft ground padding the camp. There were many stupid decisions Fawnstar had made over the moons, but this was just getting ridiculous.
A kittypet? Being let into their Clan, just like that? Nightfall wasn't sure why she was even surprised. This was the same leader who'd let some… some squirrel boy be deputy over her.
And it just so happened that this kittypet was his little sweetheart. Surprise, surprise.
Of course, she wasn't stupid. There was value in new kits, and this kittypet with her stupid jingling collar was already expecting them. That was probably most of the reason Fawnstar had let her in so easily, despite her showing about zero warrior skills. With the other reason being, y'know, deputy's girlfriend.
But Fawnstar barely had half a brain if she even wanted kittypet kits. Did she not remember the stories? Half-blood cats who couldn't morph at all? What use would these kits be if they couldn't do the one thing their entire Clan was supposed to be able to do?
Not to mention the kittypet herself. What was she going to do when the kits were born and weaned? Become an actual warrior? Not likely. She couldn't morph, either. Leave? She seriously doubted that, though it would be better for everyone if she did. Especially if her kits turned out miraculously normal.
"Cinnamonheart! Cinnamonheart!"
Nightfall was jolted out of her sulking, claws caked in dirt, by the chanting of her Clan.
Well, most of them. She was pleased to see that a few other cats looked as disgruntled about this as she did, and they made it known with their stiff posture and stony silence. Fawnstar seemed to just ignore them, because of course she did, but 'Cinnamonheart' was glancing around nervously, paying particular attention to the silent cats. Her eyes landed on Nightfall.
Nightfall channeled her anger into her eyes, glaring deeply. She wanted it to be known that didn't deserve to be here. She wasn't one of them.
The kittypet flinched and looked away, turning back to the blindlessly cheering cats.
Nightfall's fur prickled, anger seeping into her pelt. Somebody had to do something about this.
She had to do something about this.
Word Count: 371