Right here, right now (complete) |

Right here, right now (complete) Dec 12, 2021 13:50:10 GMT -6

Post by Fleet on Dec 12, 2021 13:50:10 GMT -6

Shrewdshade had finally managed to slip away from his clan mates, he'd chosen to slip off during a quiet period of the day when Feroxwind had thought he was napping in the Warriors Den and so had gone to be with his family. It had all been a ploy and it had worked, he was out in the wilderness now doing his duty as the family protector. Now it was three days since he'd left Riverclan and Shrewdshade felt he was making good progress, he'd gotten direction from some loners as to where the nearest two-leg place was, which he had decided was going to be the best place to start his search for Flightwind. He was enjoying the freedom of his journey, not being under constant scrutiny or having concerned clan mates following him around at all times. Shrewdshade was trying to listen to Beewings advice even as he journeyed, making sure not to push himself to hard for fear his leg would not be able to take it.

Now though darkness was falling and he knew he should stop and rest but Shrewdshade had settled into a rhythm besides the forest he was currently in felt far to quiet for him to comfortably be able to rest. The more he walked the more the feeling that something was wrong grew in his gut, the woods were to still, to quiet and Shrewdshade got the sense he was waiting for a storm to break. Slowing to a halt the large, brown and white warrior took in his surroundings with his wary mis-matched gaze of green and yellow. It was as he stood there that it reached him, the smell of foxes, his pelt prickled as he tried to place the direction the scent was coming from so he could avoid confrontation. But before he could fully deduce the direction of the threat the bushes exploded apart and a large ginger muzzle came snapping towards him.

Shrewdshade sprang into action in response dancing backwards as the fox pushed forwards with its attack and then he was springing to one side, raking his claws down the bigger animals flank. Usually this would be enough to scare a lone fox off but this one was not scared off, instead it twisted around to come after him again. Not a good sign, it meant the fox was either starving and so desperate for food or there were more of them lurking in the darkness. The fox lunged again and Shrewdshade successfully dodged once again but before he could get another blow in something was ploughing into his side, sending him tumbling into the dire. He landed heavily on his recently healed leg and immediately felt a flash of pain but he could not worry about that now, the second fox was towering over him, its jaws coming down towards him.

With a ferocious snarl Shrewdshade lashed out at the descending muzzle, managing to rake the animals nose, sending it flinching back from him with a wild yelp. Scrambling to his paws he found he could barely put weight on his bad leg, which left him at a disadvantage when facing two foxes but he refused to give up, he had to find Flightwind, he could not die here. SO he faced the circling foxes, claws unsheathed, brown and white pelt bristling, a growl rumbling in his throat. The one whose nose he'd scratched was smaller and was hanging back slightly with blood dripping from its nose. Its pack mate however was large and was circling only closer. Upon noticing this Shrewdshade let out a loud yowl and shoving the pain aside made himself move towards the bigger fox, hoping his display would put it off.

His plan however did not work and the fox was lunging for him, caught by surprise Shrewdshade was not quick enough to dodge so the animal ploughed right into him, its snapping jaws seizing his right shoulder. Yowling only louder Shrewdshade struggled in the foxes grip, clawing all parts of the animal he could reach and in response the fox rammed him down into the dirt, all while biting harder. He felt all the air get driven from his lungs even as his body screamed in pain and then next thing he knew there was someone else yowling, someone else was there. He had barely any time to react as something brown, white and ginger ploughed into the foxes lowered head. The grip on his shoulder was released as the ginger animal responded to the savage new attack, but Shrewdshade's saviour didn't give the fox a chance to recover, hammering blow after blow into its face, not once stopping in their yowling.

Wide eyed Shrewdshade struggled to sit up, breathing hard as he tried to get over being winded, his mis-matched gaze seeking out the second fox only to see it had already fled and then he returned his gaze to the first fox. Only then did his mis-matched gaze take in just who had come to his aid, a familiar brown and white pelt with a ginger forepaw,Flightwind. The younger tom was fighting with a new found ferocity he'd never seen from him before and Shrewdshade found himself realising that his relative had grown braver in their time apart, likely due to the fact he had no choice other than to face fights and confrontation himself. The big fox was yelping now, making a frantic retreat and Flightwind gave it no other choice making it obvious it was not welcome here. Shrewdshade's gaze dropped and he instead focused on his breathing, feeling the air returning to his lungs.

The next time he looked up the fox was gone and world was silent once again, his gaze settled on the familiar pelts back, noting the rise and fall of the others sides. Then the younger tom was turning to look at him and Shrewdshade felt relief wash over him, he wasn't imagining things, the familiar face of Flightwind was gazing back at him with wide dark green eyes. For a moment the two tom's stared at each other and then Flightwind spoke"I thought the yowling was familiar, I didn't dare believe... But it is you! Shrewdshade!" With that the younger tom was at his side pressing his muzzle into his uninjured shoulder. Bending his head down, Shrewdshade pressed his muzzle to his cousin's forehead, he smelt of the wilderness but beneath it all there was the tang of Riverclan still and in that moment he didn't care if it hurt, he reached out with the injured leg to pull Flightwind closer saying"I feared the worst, we all did... I didn't know if I'd ever find you... But I had to try... I could not fail you again."

At that Flightwind pulled away giving him an odd look as he responded"You never failed me Shrewdshade, you saved me... When that tree fell you were my protector, you're a hero." At that Shrewdshade shook his head before responding"I was the reason you were up the tree in the first place... And then worse than that I was not there when you needed me most, I should of been there to prevent you being tak-" At that Flightwind reached out with his single ginger paw and booped him on the snout, effectively cutting him off before he spoke"Enough Shrewdshade, you did not fail me... You saved me from the tree and as for when I got taken you were in a coma in the medicine cats den so you couldn't do anything, its not your fault..." Shrewdshade prepared to argue but Flightwind pressed on"If it is anyones fault it is my own, I should not have run off like I did, my actions could of got Firebreeze captured as well or worse hurt or killed... Besides, for all we know it could of been Starclan's choice to pull me away in such away, perhaps I was meant to learn something from it and if that was the case then no one could of done anything to prevent it happening, so there's no point dwelling on it."

Shrewdshade clamped his mouth shut, a flickering in his memory of Fleetfoot saying something similar springing to the forefront of his mind and his gaze lowered, deciding he could not argue further right now he instead focused on standing. A groan of pain escaping him as he did and then he felt Flightwind at his side supporting him. His mis-matched gaze lifted and Flightwind spoke again"We should find somewhere safe to rest up and where I can look at that wound on your shoulder, I don't know much about medical stuff but Beewings made sure cleaning a wound was drilled into my head as an apprentice you know." Shrewdshade smiled at that saying softly"Of course he did and he was right to." An amused snort came from Flightwind and in Shrewdshade's chest he felt a spike of pleasure at the sound. He'd found Flightwind or more over the younger tom had found him and it seemed so far that he had not needed rescuing after all, instead it was himself who needed saving. But then Flightwind's next words came"I hope you know the way home Shrewdshade because I've been roaming for moons in this maze, I never realised how big the lands beyond ours were..." At that Shrewdshade smiled, his travelling had not all been for nothing after all then, it was nice to be needed and he responded softly"I will get us home Flightwind, I know the way... I'll get you home.. I promise."