[russetstar]

The past several nights, sleep came like an elusive beast, rare, and when it did creep from the shadows, it didn’t stay for long. Russetstar sat, his body tired, but mind swirling restlessly against the dark night. His head hung below his shoulders, gaze facing the ground. The sound of his tail brushing against the den floor was the only thing that could be heard from the outside, but inside Russetstar’s head, it seemed that nothing would shut up. Sickness plagued the clans and Sunningrocks continued to sit in the paws of Thunderclan. The thought of those squirrel-chasers sprawled across the sunbathed rocks sent a ridge of fur to raise across his back, and irritation to prickle in his spine. However, it was not the time to reclaim it, much of Riverclan was still feeling the lingering effects of the Coven; wounds had yet to heal, both mental and physical.

A small breeze rustled the willow branches that hung over the entrance of the leader’s den. Russetstar lifted his head towards the wavering branches, watching the faint moonlight as it shone through, covering the front of the den in dancing moonlight. Lifting himself to his large paws, Russetstar padded towards the light, placing hid paw under the faint light, watching as the moonlight danced over his russet colored paw. Russetstar lifted his pale yellow gaze towards the rustling entrance, slowly padding through the soft hanging braches, feeling the small leaves as they lightly brushed against his thick, water resistant pelt.

Outside the den, everything seemed quiet. The only sound to be heard was the faint babbling of the nearby river. Russetstar could feel himself being pulled towards the water, his ears listening intently to the faint water. A part of him urged him to stay in camp, not to leave his clan, not again, but the river pulled him like a magnet. Slipping from the camp silently, Russetstar took several steps by the river, not wanting to stray too far from camp. He watched shortly as the waves rippled and churned, slipping into the river, feeling the cold water surround him in soothing comfort. Small waves lapped at his pelt, pulling on his thick fur but not seeping through to his skin. After several moments, Russetstar emerged from the water, he could feel his body relax and mind ease. Sitting down, Russetstar watched over the water, trying, for once, to forget all the pressures of leadership that pressed him down.

---

410 words
@open

[Deleted]

Blossomleaf - RiverClan - Warrior - She-cat - 28 Moons

Blossomleaf padded quietly out of the warriors den, her pelt shimmering in the moon light. The reeds rustled gently in the breeze, and she could hear the water faintly in the distance. She couldn't miss such a nice night to be out, and as long as she remained near camp it would be fine. She wasn't very tired, and as she pushed her ways out of the entrance, she took a deep breath, the fresh air cooling her and making her refreshed. As the territory came into sight, her ears perked at the sound of the rushing water, and she headed towards it, relaxed and happy.

Reaching the water's edge, she looked around, and spotted another cat sitting along the bank, and she froze, fur beginning to bristle. Opening her mouth slightly, she recognized the scent of her leader, and instantly relaxed. He must be out to enjoy this night as well, she thought to herself. Wondering if she was disturbing, she walked closer, dipping her head to her leader respectfully. " Hello Russetstar, I did not expect to see you here. Am I intruding?" she mewed quietly, sitting down two tail lengths away. "I did not know you would be out on this night as well." Her eyes landed on his slightly wet pelt, and she assumed that he had been swimming. Turning to face the direction he was facing, she continued to speak. "It really is beautiful, isn't it? I just love how calm it is..." Here she trailed off, remembering the past hardship of the clan. Glancing at him, she decided to remain quiet, for maybe he had not just enjoying this night, but maybe he had been remembering. Half under her breath, she mused, "It must be hard being a leader."

Words:294 // Tag:russetstar // Notes:
Sorry I couldn't make it longer, I'll try to add words to my posts as I develop more.

[russetstar]

Shining from above, the elliptical moon cast a shimmering reflection. Russetstar watched as it danced across the surface of the rippling river. It was just morphed between full and half form, growing larger and brighter each night, reminding Russetstar of the gathering that came along with the full moon. There was presently peace through the forest, as there always was after a great tragedy, but it couldn’t last long, no such peace ever did. Peace was anything but ephemeral. Since the last gathering, the clan’s wounds from the coven had healed, the physical ones at least. Unfortionatly, they had been replaced by illness, a sickness attained from the river. Those afflicted seemed to wither away, starving no matter how much they ate. The water at Russetstar’s paws glistened with purity, but the same could not be said for the entire river. Downstream Russetstar could faintly hear as the tainted water bubbled and churned, eventually fatal to fish and cats alike.

A sound broke Russetstar from his revere; smooth pebbles crunching under soft paws. The fur along his spine prickled slightly, ready for an intruder. His chest tightened in anxiety, remember the coven as they bore down on Riverclan by night, swooping upon them as birds of prey ambushed rabbits. The scent of blood faintly touched his nose, dribbled on his tongue, but soon drank in the familiar scent of the river, a clanmate. A voice soon accompanied the scent, familiar. The tension in his chest loosened, his mind easing, glad to finally have a distraction from himself. It seemed that if he were left alone with his thoughts any longer, they would eat him alive. His head swiveled to rest his yellow eyes upon the brown tabby, identifying her as Blossomleaf even though the darken. Small droplets of water fell from his not yet completely dry ears.

“[SMEAR:A7C5B3]Not at all Blossomleaf, I was just sitting here, hoping to catch sight of some flying fish. I hear they only come out at night,[/SMEAR:304B3B]” Russetstar joked lightheartedly, sarcasm shining in his voice, trying to hide his still relatively elevated heartrate through jokes, he deeply hoped Blossomleaf didn’t notice. It didn’t do the clan well to see their leader shaken. Russetstar had shown them too much of that before the Coven, running away from responsibility, afraid of the idea of leadership, he had never expected to be leader. Now, Russetstar refused to show anything but poise, diplomacy in the face of his clanmates.

Easing himself into a relaxed position, hind-courters settled among smooth silver pebbles, his long tail wrapped around him large paws. “[SMEAR:304B3B]I couldn’t sleep, too much to think about,[/SMEAR:A7C5B3]” Russetstar mewed, keeping his statement vague, not wanting to concern his newfound companion with his struggles, they were none on her business. His head nodded ever so slightly as she commented on the scenes beauty. “[SMEAR:A7C5B3]The water’s calming, helps me to forget about everything,[/SMEAR:304B3B]” He mewed, yellow gaze traveling across the water. Blossomleaf spoke softly, Russetstar almost didn’t pick up what she said, but he did. Tension tightened his muscles slightly, but hoped it wasn’t noticeable. “[SMEAR:304B3B]You have no idea,[/SMEAR:A7C5B3]” Russetstar muttered under his breath, focusing on the moons reflection.

---

529 words
@blossomleaf

[Deleted]

Blossomleaf felt slightly relieved as she found out her presence was not intruding, and she remained sitting. Purring slightly at his remark, her tail brushed the pebbles behind her, making a soft crunching noise. "I also have yet to see one, though I have seen leaping fish." The she-cat certainly had, on some occasions when she dished, she would see their shimmering scales surface into the air, before plunging down into the waves. Too absorbed in her surrounding, she didn't notice her leaders discomfort much, her brow only furrowing slightly as he stated he couldn't sleep. she could think of many things he might be mulling over, but decided not to mention them. No risk spoiling this night, she thought, sighing happily.

Just as she was about to open her mouth again, she heard him say something, only catching a word or too, about no idea. Not wanting to pursue it, she only gave him a searching look,, her green eyes looking at his expression for clue. Maybe he had heard her last words, and it seemed they had touched a point in her leader's thoughts. Turning away quickly, she looked out at the moon as well, not sure what to say anymore. As the moon shone on the water, her eyes caught on the shimmering scales of a fish. Not able to fight the urge, her paw flashed out, hooking the fish out of the water onto the bank. Killing it quickly, she murmured, "Thank you StarClan." Suddenly realizing what she had done, and how strange it must see, she looked up from where the fish lay at her paws. "I-I can bring it b-back." she stuttered, hoping her leader wouldn't think she was a showoff. "I just saw it and, well, it's prey." Bending down, she gave it a quick sniff, hoping it wasn't poisoned. The water here seemed pretty clear, so she hoped it would be fine.

russetstar