|
|
Post by gingerluna on Jun 19, 2019 19:27:19 GMT -6
Adderdash couldn't believe he was a warrior. He loved his new name, sleeping in the warrior's den, and his newfound freedom to go wherever he wished. He'd spent his time exploring AspenClan territory, crawling into every nook and cranny, memorizing each tree. He was walking by the WillowClan border, listening to the rushing of the swollen stream, when all of a sudden the earth shifted beneath him. He tensed to jump just as walls of mud rose around him, and ground crumpled. Water began to leech into the muck of the newly formed hole, and in a panic, Adderdash scrabbled at the walls, struggling to find a hold. He screeched for help as dirt began to fall into the hole, panic overtaking him.
|
|
|
|
Post by niftyshark on Jun 21, 2019 15:19:16 GMT -6
Lizardstone was out hunting when he caught scent of Adderdash. He paused when he came across it, smiling to himself. Neither of them had much time to spend together since his own promotion, and since his current hunting was a relaxed matter, he didn’t mind seeking his friend out.
He followed the scent trail at a leisurely pace, enjoying the colorful leaves as they fell around him. He heard shrieking as soon as the wind gusted directly towards him, and Lizardstone stiffened in shock before he picked up speed, running as fast as he could towards the sounds. They grew louder as he grew closer, and thick mud from recent heavy rains stuck to his paws as he neared a stream. His eyes scanned the horizon frantically, and the screaming seemed to be coming from... underground? He inched his way forward, until he realized it was a large hole in the ground, closing none too slowly. He saw Adderdash in the middle, and his eyes widened. “Adderdash! I’m coming!”
He almost went to pull Adderdash out, but he realized he would get sucked in too if he tried. He backed away, kicking up mud as he looked around hurriedly. He saw a thick stick on the ground in the distance, and he picked up the thick end. The brown tom yanked on it, but it was heavy. The leaves still stuck to it pulled at the wet ground, but he continued to fight it, eventually tossing the stick towards Adderdash. “Can you grab that?” he called out urgently.
|
|
|
|
Post by gingerluna on Jun 22, 2019 11:23:24 GMT -6
Adderdash calmed somewhat when he heard Lizardstone's reply, and backed away from the collapsing walls, looking up at the tom. He didn't know what to say. His breath came in short gasps as the water continued to filter in. He could barely swim. He could hear Lizardstone moving around, and when the stick was offered, he scrambled towards it, digging his claws in as tightly as he could. He pushed his way up the stick, climbing with shaking limbs. "I g-got it," he muttered. It took all of his effort to pull himself up, inch by inch.
|
|
|
|
Post by niftyshark on Jun 30, 2019 14:34:35 GMT -6
He saw that Adderdash managed to grasp the end of the stick. Lizardstone was glad now that it was hard to pull, because that meant it was sturdy. He moved towards his end of the branch and started pulling on it, back towards dry land. The going was slow, but the collapse of the ground subsided, so it wasn’t getting any worse. His shoulders ached with the strain, and when Adderdash was close enough, Lizardstone darted towards his friend to clutch his scruff and bring him to safety. With one final tug, he freed Adderdash, and his momentum pulled them both to the ground. He didn’t move immediately, but once he caught his breath, he crawled over to Adderdash. “Are you all right?” he asked worriedly, nosing through his friend’s mud-caked fur.
|
|
|
|
Post by gingerluna on Jul 1, 2019 17:18:21 GMT -6
As Adderdash climbed, Lizardstone pulled and after a long, terrifying, muddy struggle, Adderdash was free. He felt Lizardstone tug at his scruff and he scrabbled weakly at the ground in an attempt to help him, collapsing limply once he was a safe distance from the hole. He heaved breath in and out, the scent of mud nearly overtaking him. It was only Lizardstone's touch that snapped him out of his stupor. "Th-thank...you," he gasped, his eyes moving to look up at the tom while his head remained stationary. "It just...fell. Around me." He had no idea how he was going to move. He was frozen by fear and exhaustion. "Mud...falling around me."
|
|
|
|
Post by niftyshark on Jul 12, 2019 19:20:46 GMT -6
Lizardstone still wasn’t convinced that Adderdash was truly okay. Whatever happened was traumatic, and his friend already didn’t have the best relationship with motion. To then have the ground, something that was always firm, give way? He couldn’t start to imagine. “It’ll be okay,” he said in a tone that he hoped was soothing. He crouched by the tabby and began to clean the mud off his head with rhythmic strokes. The dirt tasted awful, but he didn’t think Adderdash would be ready to get up and move to a stream. “You can stay here as long as you need to.”
|
|
|
|
Post by gingerluna on Jul 13, 2019 11:02:32 GMT -6
Adderdash pressed against Lizardstone, attempting to lay as close to the other tom as possible. He could feel his limbs shaking, but he couldn't stop them. He let out a low whine, closing his eyes and trying to slow his breathing. The strokes of Lizardstone's tongue were calming, and he didn't know what he'd do if the tom hadn't answered his screams. He didn't know what else to do. "Will you stay too?" he finally said, his voice half a whimper.
|
|
|
|
Post by niftyshark on Jul 31, 2019 22:54:20 GMT -6
Lizardstone blinked in surprise, and he paused in his cleaning. “Of course I’ll stay. I would never leave you here alone.” He wasn’t sure what or why Adderdash would even entertain the idea, but there wasn’t much he could do about that now. All he could do was reassure his friend and help him in any other way he needed.
He resumed, continuing until Adderdash’s head was completely clean. The rest would have to wait. He settled into a comfortable position and drew even closer to Adderdash. He didn’t try talking, and he didn’t try to make the other tom talk. The silence was soothing, and he let his mind wander as the wind rustled the branches above them. A sinkhole was dangerous for the whole clan, and he knew he’d have to tell the leader, but what cruel fate would let Adderdash of all cats get stuck. Lizardstone’s expression twisted as he looked up at the sky. Was it StarClan’s will? Or could they do nothing about it?
|
|
|
|
Post by gingerluna on Aug 3, 2019 21:12:40 GMT -6
“Thank you,” he whimpered, slumping completely against the tom and letting the rhythm of Lizardstone’s licks calm him. His pelt was still coated in mud. He’d need to wade into the stream to clear that off. Oh, he hated water. All Adderdash wanted was to fall asleep here, but he knew this wasn’t the spot. “I know we have to go home,” he muttered after a long stretch of silence. “But I really don’t want to.” He was so tired. He took a deep, shaky breath. “You’re my best friend. Thank you,” he murmured, shifting wearily to lick Lizardstone’s cheek. He felt something warm in his chest at the sensation, but it was dulled by exhaustion and fear. Adderdash pushed shakily to his feet. “I ought to go...to the stream,” he muttered. The thought of water against his coat made his fur stand on end, but he couldn’t stand the feeling of stiff mud on his coat.
|
|
|
|
Post by niftyshark on Aug 14, 2019 18:59:27 GMT -6
Lizardstone smiled widely despite himself. “You’re my best friend too.” He stood when Adderdash did, hovering nearby in case he needed help walking. “Just a quick dip in the stream,” he said comfortingly. “Then we can go find some place to rest. The territory has great places that you wouldn’t notice on first glance. Or even second glance. We can hide there until you’re ready to go back to camp… however long later.”
He kept his eyes and ears peeled for the sounds of a stream. It was a short distance until they came across one, small enough to be a brook more than anything. It traveled slightly downhill, but the water rushed around rocks, so it was safe for Adderdash to clean off in. Lizardstone stood at the banks, watching his friend expectantly. “Do you want me to join you in there?” he asked as innocently as he could manage. “You know… in case you get lonely, or slip, or something.”
|
|
|
|
Post by gingerluna on Aug 17, 2019 14:43:44 GMT -6
Adderdash appreciated Lizardstone's initiative, nodding at his suggestion at finding somewhere to rest. He didn't think he was ready to go back to camp just yet. He followed along at Lizardstone's side, stumbling wearily along, until he heard the rushing of a stream. Adderdash was shocked by Lizardstone's suggestion. Obviously he'd love company, but did Lizardstone really want to get wet? "You don't have to come in, too," he said, looking warily at the other tom. "It's cold and awful, I couldn't ask that of you."
|
|
|
|
Post by niftyshark on Aug 19, 2019 20:25:54 GMT -6
“Yeah, well...” Lizardstone made a motion of thinking about it, then shook his head firmly. “Nope, sorry, I’m gonna join you. You’re not asking me, I’m insisting. Now that that’s out of the way, come on.” He felt around the small bank to ensure there was nothing to trip on. Then he slipped into the water.
The icy coldness made him bolt ramrod straight, and he blinked several times in surprise. Then he shook it off, and turned towards Adderdash with a gleaming expression. “Join me! It’s balmy, s-so... refreshing... definitely.” He nodded vigorously, as if that would back his claim up. “We’ll get you clean in no time, and then we can find some place to rest. Just focus on that, and we’ll be that much closer to being comfortable.”
|
|
|
|
Post by gingerluna on Aug 22, 2019 17:16:12 GMT -6
Adderdash felt love swell in his chest for the other tom. Somehow, Lizardstone knew exactly what to say to calm Adderdash's nerves. He looked brightly down at his clanmate, nodding in response. His throat felt tight, and his face was flushed. He didn't know what to say. He followed Lizardstone into the creek, shivering violently. Still, he forced himself to lay so his whole coat was covered with water. Thank goodness Lizardstone had cleaned his face. He hated getting it wet, it felt like he was drowning. After a bit of shaking to work most of the mud off, he scrambled back up the bank, dripping on the sand. He shook his fur several times before beginning to lick his pelt down from the spiky tufts the shaking had left it in. He looked over at Lizardstone as the other tom climbed out of the stream as well. There was so much he wanted to say. You're my best friend. I love you. I don't know what I'd do without you. I want to spend every day just like this, at your side. You're the only cat I feel myself around. You take away my bad and multiply my good. "Thanks."
|
|
|
|
Post by niftyshark on Aug 30, 2019 9:04:01 GMT -6
He stood by Adderdash’s side when the tom slipped into the stream. He watched the tom shift and roll, a constant and companionable smile on his face the entire time. His teeth chattered from the icy water, but luckily Adderdash climbed out soon after. Lizardstone followed, shaking the water from his pelt.
“‘Course,” he said brightly, not bothering to dry off. Not yet. Lizardstone scanned the environment around them. They needed to find a little hideout close nearby. He saw an outcropping of rocks in the distance, surrounded by tall trees. He wandered over, examining the space under and between the rocks. It would be a tight squeeze, but it looked like they could manage it. “Adderdash, over here!” he called. “This place looks good as any.”
|
|
|
|
Post by gingerluna on Sept 5, 2019 21:27:50 GMT -6
Adderdash followed Lizardstone in a lovesick haze, not focusing on his movements and thus wobbling much more than normal. He didn’t care where they went, he just wanted to stay with Lizardstone. “Looks good,” he called agreeably, working his way over to the rocks. The den was snug, and Adderdash’s heart lifted at the thought of sharing the space with Lizardstone. Eagerly he squeezed his way in, settling against the back of the space so Lizardstone could enter as well. “It’s bigger than it looks,” he called, already feeling exhaustion tug at him. “C’mon, don’t leave me lonely.”
|
|
|
|
Post by niftyshark on Sept 9, 2019 14:59:41 GMT -6
Lizardstone let Adderdash go first, giving their surroundings one last look around before he slipped in after. It went farther back than he realized from outside, but it was still cozy and out of the wind. He settled down and faced Adderdash, keeping his back to the outside. “You can’t be lonely now,” he insisted. “I’m here. You should rest now.” He was sure his friend was taxed after what he endured.
(End with your post? We can do a newer thread that’s present in the timeline)
|
|
|
|
Post by gingerluna on Sept 11, 2019 16:01:08 GMT -6
Adderdash brightened as Lizardstone entered, snuggling close to the tom and resting his head on his shoulders. "I've got all I need," he murmured, purrs overtaking him as he finally allowed himself to sleep.
(fin)
|
|
