Life of an Elder

[Aspyluff]

Finchstar || Resting by himself in his nest

Finchstar shifted restlessly in his nest. He wanted more than anything to get up and go out and hunt. The cat's needed food, they needed help, they needed every cat they could get to help out. How dare he just sit here, like some fat kittypet and do nothing. He hissed under his breath, pushing away any protests from his mind and lurched to his feet. His weight sifted to the side and he hobbled around to catch his balance. His front right fore leg stabled itself as it took compensation over the missing left leg. He shivered. No pain this time, but it still bothered him every time he thought about his missing limb. He limped forward. One hop, two, three. He circled around and tried going faster. He began trotting and then flopped down, his body shaking with the effort. He was doing better than last time. Progress! He began to groom his fur slowly.

[Kovu]

Another friendly tongue revealed itself as a familiar she-cat made her presence known as the tom's visitor. "Good day, Finchstar...you ah missed a spot...And I thought you could use a familiar face around." she admitted gently with a happy glow about her. Happy to be his visitor for the day. Owlflight was off on his daily errand, helping so much it wore him down to the bone and left little free time for themselves to be together. But Finchstar still needed her as well...as a friend and visitor.

"How are you and Redfur doing, love?" she wondered easily, purring as she bathed him, hoping to sooth his frazzled spirits. Knowing he was antsy as all get out better than she knew he knew. Habit had her calling him 'love' for he was her first love, or so she had thought.

[Aspyluff]

Finchstar closed his eyes and let out a relaxed purr. "I'm doing well. Redfur keeps me good company in the elder's den. " He looked over at her with a gentle gaze. "I will be out helping in no time." He slowly began to groom her fur back. It had taken time, but slowly and slowly he had begun to loose the pangs of regret when he looked at her. He now held a happy respect for the blotted she-cat. "How are the others?" He looked at her in the eyes. "how are you?"

[Kovu]

Cirruscurrent breathed a silent sigh of relief, gazing tenderly towards Redfur's form; once again grateful to the depths of her soul for the loving she-cat with Finchstar. She went back to washing him contentedly, her mind filling with thoughts at his next questions. Where to begin?

"By others, I assume you mean Hawktide?" she mused hesitantly and in a mock bored tone, silently asking him not to ask about their spiraling son. "Hmmm..." was her only noncommittal reply about him...until he specifically asked about their wayward Tom. In the meanwhile; she croaked out a purr about herself. "You know how happy I am now, thanks to you." her voice soft, and filled with love; overwhelming for Owlflight.

[shadowfire]

A small, muscular tomcat turned to Finchstar, cowering a bit. He shook, rather nervous and his usual glossy black and white pelt that had lost its shine long ago. He let out a sigh, and got up, padding slowly over to Finchstar and the cat.
"It's been a while, Finchstar." he rasped, looking up to show his bright orange eyes. "How are you?"

[BizarrePheonix]

Day? Night? What time is it?
Crimson eyes shone in the sunshine as Darkfeather woke with a start. He thought he would be in the warriors den, with Paintedfire and Thistleclaw at his sides.
No.
Thistleclaw died, Paintedfire missing, both within a few days of each other. The dark leader was devistated, even now. All he had now was Dustpaw, Faintpaw and Cragfrost. Cragfrost. His oldest son, the only surviving kit of his first litter. Darkfeather wished he had made more of an effort on the white and brown tom, but he had his eyes on Thistleclaw and Paintedfire, leaving Cragfrost with Leafstorm or Cindermoon. Cindermoon. Darkfeathers chest ached with sadness. His love of his life. Gone?

The dark tom stood up, his paws wabbly from tiredness. He couldn't beleive leading was this hard. It was a few weeks ago when Bumblestrike stepped down and gave Darkfeather the position of leader. Flabbergasted, Darkfeather couldn't speak, but he eventually accepted the younger warrior's wish and took his place.

The new leader looked around and saw Finchstar. His best friend, his father figure. He would have some advice for being leader. Darkfeather padded over to him with a slight limp, as one of his hind legs had been scarred badly by Venomstrike.
"Hey Finchstar, Cirruscurrent, Shadowfire." He called with glee in his voice.

---

Sorry, it looks almost like a narrative xDDD haha

[Aspyluff]

Finchstar sighed. "I meant our clan as a whole, but I do worry about Hawktide as well. I miss Gingervoice very much too, I think its really getting to him." He let out a purr. "I'm glad you are happy." Finchstar blinked and looked up as Shadowfire spoke. "Yes it has. I am well. It's good to see you back in with the clans. I missed seeing you around as a kit."
His gaze drifted again as Darkfeather apeared. He couldnt help but flick his tail in contentedness. So many visitors. "Ahh!!! Hello Darkfeather."

[Kovu]

Cirruscurrent flattened her ears and frowned at the mournful note in Finchstar's voice about Gingervoice but she jumped up at the voice of Shadowkit, or rather, Shadowfire now. Goodness gracious had it been a while! Now was fussing time! She nearly tackled the precious little one as he covered him with licks and frantic grooming as if she was attempting to make up for lost ground at the lost poor little sweetheart.

After the new voice popped in, she looked up mid-lick and blinked in surprise. Sitting up and drawing her tongue over a raised paw, she purred, "Greetings Darkfeather...Congratulations on your leadership position; I think you've earned it, dear friend..." a gleam in her eye. History flashed in their lilac depths as she remembered all that they've been through together.

[shadowfire]

(sorry about lateness of reply! Ive been busy. ^^)

As Shadowfire shied away from Cirruscurrent, he blushed madly. Surprised that this reunion was going better then expected. What Shadowfire expected was hostile glares and whispers passed on from the cats-wondering if he could be trusted.
He nodded at Finchstar, still a bit unsure where he stood with this cat. He hadn't had a lot of memories with him. Except one distinctive moment in his kitten hood. The alligator incident. His eyes widened and he took a step back, as the memories came rushing, as though a river, back. But; he calmed himself.
"Yeah. Dont worry; im not that gullible, foolish kitten that had a knack for trouble." he joked, trying to lighten his mood with a joke.
He gave Darkfeather a nod and turned his attention to Cirruscurrent. "Its been a while." he said with a smile. "Nice seeing all of you again. A change from living with only a kitten in the old forest." he joked.

[BizarrePheonix]

Smiling, Darkfeather looked at Cirruscurrent, "Thank you, friend. Though I find it upsetting that Bumblestrike didn't fit the position. So young with plenty of potential, but his illness dragged him behind."
He smiled at Finchstar, "How have you been, buddy? I hope the loss of your leg hasn't hurt you any worse?" he asked, mainly wondering if the former leader felt upset by the loss of a limb.
The dark gray tom flicked his tail with acknowledgement towards Shadowfire. The young warrior had been though, what seemed more than Darkfeather, in such a short time span. And knowing Shadowfires desperation, he never showed any anger towards him, just understanding.

[Aspyluff]

Finchstar nodded slowly. "The forest is no place for a lone kitten, as far as I'm conceded, and I'm sure that Darkfeather feels the same, you will always have a place here with us." He ducked his gaze and flinched slightly at the mention of the missing limb but he dodged it away quickly with a false smile. "Oh me? I'm doing great!"

[shadowfire]

Shadowfire narrowed his eyes, not completely sure. From the talk he had suddenly discovered Finchstar had asked Bumblestrike to be the Migration leader. But his illness had gotten the better of him. How horrible both ways! Retiring from leader? Thinking to himself, he silently promised that if he ever became leader-he would never step down. From illness or age.
He didnt have anything wrong with them stepping down. Darkfeather seemed like a good cat to lead Marshclan. And he was respectful and understanding. Good qualities that Shadowfire looked for in a cat.
He laughed half heartedly at what Finchstar had said. But then turned serious. "Finchstar-if...ever you need to get something off your back that you dont feel comfortable saying with other cats-come to me. I promise I wont judge you." he mumbled, looking down at the dirt covering his paws.

[Kovu]

Feeling Shadowfire shy away from her and the waves of embarrassment along with pleasure and happiness, Cirruscurrent felt her job to make the Tom feel at least slightly comfortable within his own Clan, complete. She giggled lightly. "Nice to see you too, little one." she purred lovingly as a mother to a son would. Turning now to Darkfeather, she dipped her head in polite assent. Agreeing as well. It was quite disheartening for the youthful and strong tomcat to fall so ill that he had to give up his rightful position. She was close to the sick tom as Hawktide was best friends with him, she wondered if it perhaps had something to do with Gingervoice's death, for her son was not quite right at the moment either. 
Feeling sidetracked, she looked up as she realized Finchstar had spoken. Missing his words, she felt ashamed, but instead focused on Shadowfire's low tones, "Me as well, sweet, no matter how big a dilemma you think youre in...we'll be here." she purred timidly but truthfully strong.

[BizarrePheonix]

Darkfeather frowned sadly at the former leader's obvious fake joy.
"Finchstar. Don't prentend to be happy when you aren't, it just doesn't help the matter. It's best to speak out then keep things inside. Surely you should know that."
Darkfeather didn't like to see his best friend, and father figure, so upset. The dark gray tom sighed, If only I'd got to him before the boulder...

[Aspyluff]

Finchstar could feel embarrassment rush over his body. The fake joy differently didn't fool his closest friends. But how could he tell them his own deep feelings if he couldn't even come to terms over them himself. He kneaded his paws into the dirt. But refused to meet any one of them in the eyes. "I will be ok, really, its just hard now. It seems I still can't let go of what I used to be, and be who I am now," He finished the rest off really quietly, " a worthless elder, who can't do anything." He desperately wanted to take it back. He wanted to be leader again, to help his clan. But they has asked his deepest opinion, and there it was.