that was then, but then it's true - open, intro ; sneaking around

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    ☾ Light footsteps carried the bony girl back home in the depth of night; another evening spent wandering on her own. She preferred night to day; the moon was much prettier than the sun. The sun was a big ball of hate that had been beating her family down for many moons now, while the moon was a harmless bystander Batpaw could vent out her frustrations to. If the truths of science were revealed to her little cat brain, she'd have an extremely hard time coping with the loss of moon's beauty. Thankfully for Batpaw, though, she would probably never come to learn that the moon's comforting glow was simply a reflection of the sun's hellish rays. Guided by the light of night, Batpaw tried her best to get back into camp without making a peep.

    Batpaw wasn’t the only resident of the moors who was awake at this ungodly hour; Elkroot was up and sitting just outside camp, basking in the soft glow of a simple sphere two-hundred-thousand miles away. The Siamese pacifist had justified his absence to the other warriors by saying he wanted to stand guard. In reality, the statement was simply an excuse (and possibly a way to earn some credit with his peers).


    No, the real reason he was out here was one the tomcat would be embarrassed to admit to some of his more brash clanmates; the flowers. The delicate plants fascinated him to no end. every time he was out on patrol, Elkroot would keep track of their numbers and compare them to the previous count. It brought the pacifist a strange satisfaction seeing the wondrous machinations of life happening all around him. It was a small, insignificant hobby, but one that brought the warrior much joy.


    As Elkroot sat squinting and trying to make out pale specs of color amid the void-like darkness of the sky and washed out green of the moors, diamond-blue optics spotted something approaching. The peace-loving tomcat leaned forwards, attempting to get a better look. He managed to make out distinctly feline features, and was worried about an attack when the familiar scent of home drifted into his nose.


    “Batpaw!” The Siamese whispered once he realized who it was, keeping his voice down as to not wake his peers, “what are you doing up? Where were you?” The pacifist wasn’t paranoid by any means, but he was a bit of a worrier.

    ☾ Batpaw froze in place, lowering her raised paw back to the ground. "Walking," she said simply, stalking towards Elkroot and the patch of flowers. "Pretty, huh?" she hummed, gently touching a petal on one of the flowers. Batpaw always liked flowers; they were pleasant to the eyes and nose. They were kind to all the senses, really, minus taste, but she couldn't say she ever ate a flower.


    "Pretty, indeed!" Brightshine's hushed excitement was voiced right on the other side of Elkroot as she peered down at the lovely plants. It was almost as if she had appeared out of thin air, but the deputy had a knack for that sort of thing. Lifting her eyes towards Batpaw, she grinned, "I'm glad you made it back alright! But, next time you go out, why don't you take me with you? Or, at least another warrior! You can never be too careful." She recalled the memory of the rogue leaping out and attacking her while she and Wilson were out hunting. The scars on her flanks seemed to burn at the thought, and she shifted uncomfortably to forget it.


    "speech."



    I'll work real hard and do my best
    To turn that sad frown upside down

    Eyes like clear lakes narrowed slightly as Batpaw gave an inadequate, unsatisfying answer. While parts of the pacifist wished to probe further, he had to remind himself of boundaries. “I guess that checks out. I have no reason to not believe her, after all.” Elkroot was about to give the apprentice a warning about the dangers of the wilderness at night when she turned the topic of conversation towards his weakness, the flowers. “Yeah! I’ve been trying to memorize the names of ‘em out here to pass the time.”


    Elkroot was about to go off on a spiel about his favorite types and their subsequent properties when an eternally cheery voice sounded next to him. The siamese pacifist leapt into the air, putting a paw over his mouth just in time to let loose a muffled shriek. (He was already unpopular enough, the last thing he wanted was to wake his clanmates!) his head snapped towards the source, diamond-blue optics shimmering with a mix of amusement and shock.


    “Starclan above! Brightshine, don’t scare me like that! I swear you’ve just taken ten moons off my life!” Elkroot then grabbed his chest and croaked, thudding onto the soft grass and playing dead. “My weak heart couldn’t take it...” the pacifist giggled, deciding to stay on the ground and stare at the stars.

    ☾ She hummed as Elkroot reminisced on all those flower names. Batpaw liked hearing of other's opinions; everyone had such a unique way of thinking that Batpaw adored.

    When Elkroot jumped in surprise, Batpaw couldn't help but laugh too. "I'll be careful, but being alone is fun for me. You can come if you want, though." she looked to Elkroot and giggled again. "You too, silly."


    Brightshine couldn't help but let out a lengthy giggle as the tom flopped to the ground, dramatically feigning his own death. "Sorry, Elkroot! Maybe I helped beef up that heart though, huh?" With another amused snort, she sat herself down, unable to keep standing with how hard she was laughing. Her cheery green gaze fell upon Batpaw and she grinned, "Well, then maybe we'll just have to join you one night!"


    "speech."



    I'll work real hard and do my best
    To turn that sad frown upside down