{Firedance} Light that leaves the shadows

The sun had sunken low on the horizon, colouring the already autumn hued forest with even more fiery shades. Birchberry had abandoned her patrol to hunt on her own, promising to be back before nightfall. She needed to clear her head, alone. While her family had been scarred by the loss of Brightspots and Whifflepaw,wa they had always managed. They had each other and nothing could've changed that in Birchberry's eyes. Yet when Mistgaze shouted her secrets through the camp, her perfect little family picture had been shattered beyond repair. Mistgaze was gone with barely any traces, everyone was furious with each other and Birchberry, frankly, felt betrayed that she had not been included. Sure, she had not been that close as Firedance and Mistgaze had been, but still.. She shook her head, before her gaze fell on an pelt that was even more fiery than the sundappled autumn leaves. "Firedance," she mewed, slightly wary even though her tone of voice was tired. They had not spoken since the ceremony.

War is not a woman’s game, but I know how to play

The only positive thing about this whole situation was that she was a warrior once again. With no kits to care for anymore, quite literally actually, Firedance could resume the tasks she loved. What that actually meant was her being on her own in the forest quite often. Had everything not occurred the way it did, she would have looked for Mistgaze, but now she could not find the motivation. Something had happened, she knew, something bad. Somewhere she felt uneasy about it, but she refused herself from worrying about it. The she-cat had made the choice to run away on her own and she would have to face the consequences of her actions.

On her way through the territory, she crossed paths with one of her other sisters. Firedance had not talked much to anyone after the whole ordeal. The fact that she had not spoken to Birchberry yet was not much of a surprise. ”Birchberry,” she greeted in the same manner. Both her sisters had been mad at her and Mistgaze for keeping the secret, although Firedance doubted they would have wanted in if they had been given the choice.

F I R E D A N C E

Birchberry's green eyes found the blue and green ones of her sister before she cast her gaze down again for a couple of heartbeats. What was there to say to her sister? Was she even mad at her for keeping the secret? Disappointed maybe? But did Birchberry have it in her heart to be actually mad at her sister? Her family was crumbling, with Mistgaze disappearing, her three kits being spiraled in disarray and her other family members either confused or spitting mad. The leaves rustled abovehead as she realized she was dragging the silence on. She heaved a soft sigh, this was incredibly uncomfortable. She did not know where they were standing right now and what she wanted. So.. She tried to take the first step. "How.. are you holding up..? Considering..?" She tried, her voice catching as she tried to find the right words to speak. It had always been her sisters who were better at voicing the thoughts they formed in her head. Birchberry never inherited that talent. She was always thinking, but not much of a speaker.

War is not a woman’s game, but I know how to play

There was a long pause before Birchberry spoke again. This time to ask how she was holding up, considering everything that had happened. ”Fine. I’m doing fine,” she said, her voice too sharp for her words to be very convincing. She was still seething on the inside. The fire had not died down since that ceremony day, all because Mistgaze had run off like a coward and thus failing to give her any closure. There was no punishment, there were no talks on what to do next. Again it was her problem to figure out where to go from here, how to deal with the three kits, what to do with all the gossip and looks.

F I R E D A N C E

_{Why was she even bothering? Firedance had not spoken to her about it when it was happening and was not speaking with her now. Birchberry cast out a sigh and drew back her ears, flattening them slightly. The tuxedo she-cat averted her gaze from her sister and sighed softly. “Okay, if you say so,” she mewed, falling silent once again. She wanted Firedance to know that she would be there for her, but if Firedance did not allow her in or kept being icy towards her, Birchberry’s good will would be voided soon as well. Why even bother. “I hope you’re right sister,” she mewed, turning away from the ginger she-cat.}