you can't make me disappear, till I make you -- haskill's visit

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    When Severa snapped at her fellow BloodClanners, Haskill felt a sense of pride swell within his chest. A small smile formed upon his maw, such a foreign expression. Ruth's threat didn't phase the tuxedo tom. Severa was strong, he knew. She didn't need to be looked after. Any daughter of his knew strength.


    "I should be going now." Haskill spoke, his voice a bit saddened. "Severa...come with me. Wander the world with me. I'll show you the sea." He had seen it for himself, the sandy beaches, the lapping, frothing waves. Surely his daughter would love to explore such an interesting landscape? And it would be nice, to become close with his family.


    Severa

    Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.



    The instant she said it, she regretted including Luna into the crowd. The silver molly had taken her in when she had been reeling from grief after the death of her mother. She had taught her how to be dangerous, enlightened her mind to the meaning of predator, gave her the skills to obtain the position of Guard.


    She forced the hiss away from her voice. “She told him to leave after we confirmed who he was,” she said, wanting Luna know understand she was not angry. Not at her. “I don’t know what he’s done in Bloodclan, I just know he was a member once and I can guess he’s done something that makes him unwelcome here. But he’s stated he’s only here for a moment, and I can’t help but point out rude hypocrisy,” Severa finished pointedly. She swallowed with difficulty as she turned her gaze over to Ruth.


    Ruth was only a little older than her. And judging from the impulsive anger firing in her heart, she figured the Deputy had a similar fire within her. “I—apologize,” she said though the word was somewhat stiff on her tongue. “I understand you have my best interested at heart.”


    At Haskill’s word, she felt her stomach drop. This was why she had been so upset. She hadn’t wanted him to leave and they were making him go before she even had a chance to talk to him. And then he invited her to join, and for a moment she could see herself going. She wanted to go.


    “I want to.” And then she looked over at Mama Luna, at the concern in her eyes and she realized she knew the silver molly better than her own father. “But I can’t,” she said her voice choking. “I just became guard, you know,” she said trying to laugh it off. It didn’t sound natural, and she stopped trying after a moment. “I’ll walk with you out. I want a chance to talk alone, at least.”








    Luna felt herself want to snap at Ruth in an instance of panic, but took to placing her fluffy tail on her other daughter's muzzle with a soft look. "Ruth. She's upset and she has a right. I'd be the same if I hadn't seen my father since I was young," A lie was what she spoke, for when she saw her father, she brutally slaughtered the old cat, revelling in his blood on her tongue and claws, the fear in his eyes. But the soft tone, the slight pain as she watched this unfold, it was killing her and she didn't want anything worse to happen. Then he spoke and Luna stiffened and she felt her claws unsheathe and the motherly protectiveness take over her actions as she stood frozen there, mixture of pain, sadness, panic, and rage flew across her features. He couldn't take her from her, he couldn't. She wouldn't let him. She wouldn't and she turned to motherly eyes on the tom, blazing with a soft rage before Severa met her eyes and she felt tears in her moment of helpless panic.


    The Queen of Flies was almost reduced to a wallowing kit before she heard the words. 'I can't...' and with those words she couldn't help the relief that flooded her limbs and she felt so happy and choked up, she pushed a sad, shaking smile as her limbs shook. She let out a breath, so happy, so relieved. She was staying.

    Ruth's glare softened when Severa apologized, but she still held a bit of resentment towards the other she-cat in the tense stance her body took as she stood there, quietly watching the interaction now. She relaxed a little more when she felt Luna's touch, but the she-cat's words fell on deaf ears. Ruth couldn't relate to Severa or Luna's feelings regarding Haskill's return. If Ruth had her own father in front of her, she wasn't sure whether she'd run away in terror and tears or slit his throat for the turmoil he'd caused her and her siblings. Regardless, a reunion with her father wouldn't be a happy one filled with pleasant emotions. She wouldn't be upset if others tried to chase him off the territory. In fact, she wanted him dead, whether she would be the one to inflict that or allow that burden to pass to someone else. The she-cat stared on, quite detached from the situation as painful memories flooded her. Troubled eyes turned to her paws, no longer paying attention to the interaction before her.


    INFORMATION

    Haskill should have suspected as much, that his daughter wouldn't leave with him. She had ties to BloodClan, loyalty that he had never truly possessed. Haskill dipped his head, a slow blink of his golden eyes shining with acceptance.


    "There's one last thing." He let his gaze roam across Ruth and Luna, who were probably relieved, though Ruth's vision appeared to be downcast. "Is Scarecrow here? That's my brother. Tell him I said hello."