;;Free `Will, Free `Way;;

[∑SoaringFlame∑]

FROM: Being accepted!

Wind howled across the cliffs and rocky ridges of the mountains, making long grasses roll like oceans and tall trees rustle their leaves. A feline silhouette sat on a perch, pressed up against the setting sun and overlooking the vast world. Beauty. Nothing alive can be truly beautiful. This is beauty. The cat thought, his green eyes reflecting the horizon he looked out on. What lay in front of him was first the rouge territory part of the mountains, then the bottom of the mountains, then the loner fields, then the kittypet houses. But in the farthest distance from him was the forest, the forest of old memories.

Dusty's mind brought a vivid picture to his eyes of two young cats. One was a mixture of brown, black, dusty shades. . . but the other was full of pearly white and cheerful auburn and tortishell patches. "Reach out for your horizons, Soaringflame." The tom shook his head, not wanting that memory to come back. "Leave it behind you, Dusty. Never look back." He meowed out loud, letting his tones be carried on the wind. But isn't that contrast to what I'm doing? No, 'cause I'm only going back for a visit. Just a pit-stop on memory lane, that's all. The rusted hazel tom sighed and leapt down from his perch, padding over to a berry-bush a little ways away. But isn't that the same as revisiting my past? He gave his rusty hazel, brown tabby body a few licks and then climbed into the berry-bush, which appeared to be hollow. He lay down and kept his eyes slitted open, ready for whatever came his way.

((OPEN!!))

[Krestlepatch]

::FROM::
Being accepted!

Krestlepatch padded out of a heather bush at the base of the mountains. She looked up at the setting sun and noticed a black gap where a reddish-orange stripe should be. She narrowed her eyes as the wind whipped into her face, bringing sticky tears to her eyes, and noticed that the figure was actually the sillhouette of a cat. She dug her claws into the ground and padded towards where the mystery cat disappeared.

As she neared the holly bush, she picked up the scent that told her that the cat she had seen was a loner, and a tom, as well. The wind continued to throw itself against Krestlepatch, chilling her to the bones, as she crept into the small bush slowly and carefully, sheathing her claws.

[∑SoaringFlame∑]

Dusty scented the she-cat before he saw her. But when he did he looked up, his eyes holding a blank and unafraid expression. "My greetings." He meowed cooly, his tail coiled around his paws. The tom's eyes held a look of everything but regret and sorrow. He held Krestlepatch's gaze evenly.
For Dusty was a bit of a Loner and a rouge. He moved often, so he never fought for his territory. He was also calm like a loner, and alone. Though he was not loner, for he still held strong belief in StarClan.
He was like a rouge, for he was an outcast (on his own accord) from the Clans. Though he was not as rebellious.

[Krestlepatch]

Krestlepatch acknowledged Dusty's greeting by dipping her head slightly. Her gaze held no expression within the depths of them as she meowed, "You're...Dusty, right?" She had met Dusty a few moons ago, but only spoke with him enough to catch his name. She crouched in front of the dust-colored tom, tucking her paws underneath her and curling her tail up around her chest.
Her eyes flashed slightly as she waited for an answer. She was a rouge, and this tom was a loner. She had no business with him, but she felt slightly drawn to talk to him for some reason. Maybe it was because she wondered how he had become a loner, maybe it was because she felt the need of companionship ever since her mate, Tigerscar, died after being attacked by a badger. But whatever the reason, she wanted someone to talk to.

[∑SoaringFlame∑]

Dusty nodded. Yes'm, that is the name I am known by in these regions. The rusty hazel tom looked away. He remembered meeting Krestlepatch before. She had been kindly enough to him, but Dusty did not let a cat get to know him well enough for friendships to begin between them. "You are Krestlepatch, if I am not mistaken?" The tom meowed, an air of hostility and yet exhaustion about him. "How have you been faring in this intense weather?" The tom noted the heat with a flick of his tail, wiping the sweat of his brow. It was getting cooler as the suns passed and drew the world into autumn. . . but Dusty had been walking for miles through the mountain range and even though he had endured greater heats in the deserts, Dusty was weary.

[Krestlepatch]

"With my short pelt, quite fine. I'm assuming you've been in worse heat than this, so I guess this is nothing compared to it." The air seemed to crackle slightly around her and she took note of this. Maybe it's time to be leaving... Then she flicked her ear, dismissing the thought immediately. He may not want my company, but that doesn't mean we can just talk.
Her tone grew a little tired as she asked, "Do you think this leafbare will be better than the last one?" She traveled alone now, but she was still thinking as if she had a companion. Maybe I should just find a small piece of land and settle there.. she thought akwardly at the intention of not be ever moving like she was used to.

[.::CreekPaw::.]

"Yes. I do hope so." Dusty meowed. His thoughts somewhere else. He shook his head. He looked back at Krestlepatch, his olive-hazel eyes held a flaw-less beauty as he meowed, "Have you ever been down to the Clans land?" He meowed, feeling like he needed a little pick-me-up before he returned home.

((Yetch, no muse. >.<))

[Shadeyness >D]

Krestlepatch almost snorted at Dusty's question but decided it might be rude. "I used to live in ShadowClan before I was drove out by my own sister. But I haven't been down there recently," she answered, trying to hide her anger. She forced her bristling shoulder fur lie flat at the mention of her sister. She deserved to die, that lieing pile of foxdung. Her own thoughts held her hatred for her sister, even though she had died long ago after being attacked by a fox when out hunting. She had better not have gone to StarClan. She has no place there.

[∑SoaringFlame∑]

Dusty sighed and nodded. The charming yet ragged tom tipped his head to the side. Do I dare ask this question and risk bringing suspicion? The tom decided he hadn't anything to lose. "Have you been there recently? Near RiverClan?" The tom asked, there was hurt and love in his eyes as he gazed from the mountainside down to where the river sparkled in the pale right-before-dark lighting.
The sun had just finished sinking into the earth and now there was only a deep orange glow on the horizon. Horizon. . . my favorite name. If I ever had the chance to name something important to me I'd name it that. Horizon. The tom thought. Tears threatened to roll down his cheeks so Dusty blinked them back and breathed in and out deeply once, almost like a sigh.

[Lightwhisper]

Krestlepatch stared at the tom for a moment, trying to think. "RiverClan territory?" she asked, in a slight trance with her thoughts. Then she shook her head and looked up at Dusty once again. "No. Sorry." In her mind she had a little bit of suspicion, but she didn't really have any business with this loner's life, so she just flicked her ear, disposing of the thought.

[∑SoaringFlame∑]

The loner sighed and nodded, a bit wearily but kindly enough. "It's getting late, I have to move on and find a good place to rest for the night." The tom meowed softly, letting out a small yawn.
He shook his honey-mustard colored pelt, and some dust came off so he proceeded to wash himself thoroughly, his mind replaying the last moments he'd shared with Arrowheart, playing it over again and again and making his head ache just as much as his heart did.

[Krestlepatch]

Krestlepatch nodded. "I suppose so." She stifled a yawn then stood and stretched slightly. "I'll be off, then. So you can get some sleep." She turned in the small space she had and crept out of the small bush. Then she turned away from the wind and padded silently back to where her thread was.

TO;; Where ever

[∑SoaringFlame∑]

((TO: Somewhere else))