.x. bleeding in [BLACK && WHITE]

[idk my bff brindle]

pioneer & cobaltflight

It had been too long. Far too long. Pioneer's expression was one of wide-eyed increduality as he stepped into the camp. Nothing had changed, yet everything had changed. No one had noticed him yet, but they soon would. He had known the borders, so it had been easy to slip in undetected. he still knew the territory so well, like he was still Shoalpattern and he was still a warrior of MoonClan. Spectre. The name hit him like a dull ache, and he wondered how she was. But another name came to him. Paprikaleaf. He winced and turned, needing to leave now. But he couldn't back out of this now. So Pioneer padded towards the warrior's den, voice hesitant. Cats were starting to notice him now, a loner in their midst.

"Paprikaleaf?"

That voice. Cobaltflight knew that voice. Quick as a flash, the light brown tabby was out of the den and into the clearing. He couldn't believe his eyes as he took in the loner in front of him. "Shoalpattern..." he choked. He hadn't thought that he would ever see his half-brother again. "I thought you weren't coming back..."

"Yeah well," Pioneer shrugged, not bothering to correct Cobaltflight on his name. Damn, it felt good to be called Shoalpattern again. "I'm back."

"You're back," repeated Cobaltflight in awe.

OOC for shade with paprikaleaf ^^ and kee and claryfeather if she wants (:

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[SHADE. :D]

paprikaleaf

StarClan, it was cold. Paprikaleaf was curled in her nest, her cream fur even more fluffed out than usual. At least the snow was being washed away by the rain. The warrioress shuddered convulsively as suddenly, the only source of warmth disappeared. The she-cat lifted her head, her usually sharp pale green eyes clouded with sleepiness. She yawned, realising that the reason she had woken was because Cobaltflight had left her side. "Cobaltflight?" she mewed, stifling another yawn. She could hear his voice outside the den. Sighing a little, Paprikaleaf got to her paws and shook her thick coat. "Cobaltflight, I'm cold... Come back," she stuck her head out of the warriors' den, only to do a double-take, her eyes growing round and huge. She shrank back. Shoalpattern. No. No! Why was he here? Paprikaleaf stared at him, fear in her eyes. She left the den, but hovered behind her brother, as though scared of the tom.

"Shoalpattern, why are you here?"

[idk my bff brindle]

pioneer & cobaltflight

Cobaltflight winced as Paprikleaf came out behind him, her eyes wide. He placed himself squarely in front of her, hiding his doubts. Shoalpattern was long and lean, battle-scarred and still a much better fighter than Cobaltflight. The brown tabby would fight to the death for his sister, but he couldn't imagine defeating Shoalpattern. He couldn't even imagine fighting the lean cat. They were brothers- half-brothers, maybe- and they shared a bond. Pioneer just watched with impassive eyes as Cobaltflight protected Paprikaleaf. "I'm not going to hurt you," he mewed somewhat unsteadily. She was so scared of him. She hated him so much. He winced and looked down briefly before looking back up. "I came back for you... Paprikaleaf," part of him willed her to forgive him so he could go. Another part of him wanted to stay here with her in the Clan.

"Shoalpattern..." Cobaltflight's voiced was etched with pain. He didn't want to be caught between them. "She doesn't want to see you..." he added defensively. Pioneer looked down at him, eyes twinkling with some of his old spark. "Sorry, is your name Paprikaleaf now?" he said, ruder than he had had intended. The tom took a step back before turning to Paprikeleaf. "I won't hurt you... I can't hurt you. I know you ran away from me that day, but I swear on StarClan-" nevermind that he didn't believe in them anymore, "I wouldn't have hurt you. I know that you think it's wrong, how I feel for you, but... please... Paprikaleaf, just... give me a chance... the Clan will understand."

He had intented to come here to get over her, not to win her back, but yet Pioneer just couldn't stop the words from tumbling out.

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[kee :]]

claryfeather

So far this day wasn't working out too well. As usual, her crazy father was still trying to get a hold of his grand-kits and be with them. And as usual, Wovenknot was all atwitter about that. Her older sister was under a lot of stress lately with Firestar and her deputy position as well as her kits and father to watch over all the time. Claryfeather tried to help with some of those issues, but she didn't like her father much, nor was she a very motherly cat. She wasn't very good at helping others either. It just turned out badly most of the time. She did pay attention. She noticed Valleypaw getting closer to Secretcalling and that made Claryfeather uncomfortable beyond belief. It had to be hell for Wovenknot.

Sighing softly, she watched the entrance of the camp where her father and niece had just exited from and was just about to do something productive that had much thinking involved with it so she wouldn't have time to think about other things when Shoalpattern walked through the camp entrance. Claryfeather immediately recognized him and her emotionless face turned into a glowering distasteful face. He had caused Paprikaleaf enough damage and she knew that was why he was back. She wasn't going to deal with this, and besides, Cobaltflight was her friend. Grumbling, she stomped over to where this episode was taking place. "Hey, old buddy, nice to see you back," Claryfeather said, her electric green eyes staring up at the former clan mate. "But, umm, I'm not sure you understand how it works. You left to become a loner or whatever, so you can't just come waltzing in to camp, wist away your loved one, and skip away diddly do da into the sunset like nothing happened. Especially, if she doesn't even want to go with you."

The black she-cat twisted her head around to look at Paprikaleaf and she nodded strongly and approvingly. Lately, she'd been doing good at these speech thingies. It was fun. Smiling slightly, she planted her feet in the dirt next to Cobaltflight and she felt braver than ever.

[SHADE. :D]

paprikaleaf

The cream she-cat continued to look nervous as Pioneer peered at her. That alone was enough to frighten her. The fact that she looked into his eyes and saw her brother, her friend - but when he looked back he was a lover. Paprikaleaf did not shift from her position, hovering behind Cobaltflight, even after Shoalpattern promised not to hurt her. She couldn't tell anymore. Was he even the same cat? Maybe he'd just come back to settle this silly mistake once and for all. Perhaps, they could love in peace after all. She had liked him once... He was her brother...

Her hopes died when he spoke again. He had come back for her. Paprikaleaf opened her mouth to rebuff him, but Conaltflight beat her to it. She frowned a little, but let it pass. She could defend herself. Paprikaleaf flinched away, with a slight squeak of fear, as Shoalpattern reacted angrily to her brother. She pressed against him, her smaller body shivering still from the cold. She listened to Shoalpattern's words, but they went right through her. She'd heard it all before. "But Shoalpattern, I-" And then Claryfeather was there. Paprikaleaf couldn't help frowning again. How would she ever be rid of Shoalpattern if she couldn't tell him how she felt? How she felt? She needed to talk to him.

"Shoalpattern, listen," Paprikaleaf mewed. Her voice shook a little, but it was stronger than before. She could see the look in his eyes. He was blinded by his love for her. She didn't understand it. What was so special about her? And no matter how hard she tried, she just not picture them together. He was Shoalpattern, her older brother. Not her lover. Not her mate. "Shoalpattern, I can't go with you," she mewed. She then took a deep breath. "Because I don't love you. And... And I never will. I'm sorry." With that she turned and disappeared into the warriors' den, quick as a weasel, even the tip of her bushy tail vanishing in a split-second.

[idk my bff brindle]

pioneer & cobaltflight

Cobaltflight was flooded with strength when Claryfeather came to stand beside him. he pressed himself against her, grateful for the comfort that his friend brought him. He licked the top of her ear roughly, a startled look coming on to his face as she began to lose her temperature at Shoalpattern. He couldn't stand this anymore. His brother was in love with his sister, and Cobaltflight's friend was attacking his own kin. The brown tabby sighed, wrapping his tail around Claryfeather and pulling her back into him. "Please, don't," he whispered softly, not wanting to get caught up in the middle of this. 'I know he left... but he's still my brother, and I still care about him," he told her quietly, fearing for the worst. He knew what could happen if Claryfeather lost her temper, and he did not want to deal with that right now. He doubted Shoalpattern did, either. His brother...

Pioneer watched Paprikaleaf closely, his heart skipping beats. He tensed, his feelings tear him apart. On one hand, he wanted to stay here with her. He wanted to love her, to be her mate. But on the other hand, he wanted to go. He wanted to be set free, instead of being trapped here in this stiffling camp. Out in the wild, he felt so free. Even when Spectre was by his side. he felt peaceful. He didn't get that feeling here. There was noise all around him, pounding in his ears. When Paprikaleaf began to talk, part of him wanted to go to her in anger, but another part of him felt relieved. As she walked away, and Pioneer padded after her. He was blocked by Cobaltflight, who was still feeling torn. "Paprikaleaf..." he called, but his voice carried no pain, no undertones of need. "Thank you..." he murmured, bowing his head. "I think I can just be... I can just be your brother now," he doubted she would even still want him as that, but it was worth a try. She had rejected him, so now he could go home to Spectre. Wait- home?

Home. Spectre. Home. Spectre. The two words played themselves over and over again in his head. Pioneer took a step back, trying to make sense of it all. It was true, he felt comfortable around Spectre. She wasn't like Paprikaleaf. She wasn't something unobtainable, which was probably why he had continued pining after his sister for all this time. Spectre liked him for who he was. He wasn't Shoalpattern after all. He was Pioneer. "I am Pioneer..." he told himself, blinking away his doubt. Cobaltflight padded towards his brother, slightly confused. Paprikaleaf had gone, and now there was so much less tension. "What?" he mewed. "When I left I went by Pioneer... Back here, I felt once again like... like Shoalpattern, but... that's not me. I don't belong here, Cobaltflight," the tom's voice was a desperate plead. Cobaltflight looked into his brother's eyes and nodded. "No, you don't."

Pioneer nodded and cast one last glance towards the den before taking a step back out of the clearing and disppearing back into the woods from where he had come.

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