Search for Herbs (Silverbrook/Sunstone)

[Runningtail]

Sunstone angrily flexed his claws into the soft soil near the bank. He lashed his tail angrily and suppressed a growl. The golden tom was just ready to go home when he heard a small, bitter voice travel through the atmosphere. He only caught a few words, but they were all he needed to hear. "I am so pathetic... no kits, no mate... why am I even thinking about this..." Sunstone played the lyrics through his mind. The tom got to his paws and trekked off towards the dappled she-cat, his body warming with every step. "Silverbrook... How could you be pathetic? Without you, Whitewhisper could never treat the whole of ThunderClan, now with the new arrivals." He meowed, his voice tense, but beginning to wind down.

[~*Ravenfeather*~]

If Silverbrook had had the energy, she would have jumped out of her own fur in surprise. She turned to look at Sunstone, surprise written on her face. "I thought you went back to your camp? Anyway, Whitewhisper would do just fine. She's done it before I was her apprentice, when I was still a useless warrior, before I found the only way I could be useful to anyone..."

The silver she-cat looked away from Sunstone. She felt her heart fluttering again. Pushing the feeling away, Silverbrook looked back at the river.

"I'm not strong like my clanmates, for StarClan's sake I look like a kittypet. I'm hardly allowed to hunt and they never taught me to fight properly because my mentor didn't care. He thought I was too worthless to bother with. That's why I went to Whitewhisper. She tried to save my brother when he had greencough. I remembered that she was useful to the clan. They listened to her. Yet, they still act like I don't exsist."

Silverbrook's last words were soft-spoken and quiet. Her leaf-colored eyes were clouded slightly.

[Runningtail]

Golden muscles rippled luxuriously as the tom stretched into a laying position. He was keen to listen to what the she-cat had to say, but he was also tired. he had been hunting all day, and the sun was beginning to fall back, letting the moon show through its blinding rays.

Sunstone turned his head towards the horizon, thinking when he was considered a criminal. He spoke up, his voice becoming steadily normal again. "It feels awful when you can't seem to do anything to help anyone, and you seem to be hated by everyone around you. Trust me, I know the feeling. I've had to live through it for more than half my life. To go from an eager and innocent apprentice to a rouge on the run for something you didn't do, it's terrible. " His last words seemed a bit forced. He didn't like telling other cats what his past had been like. They seem to rethink what the tom is capable of, on a bad level.

[~*Ravenfeather*~]

Silverbrook turned a gentle gaze on him. "Then you being here now means you've become stronger because of your battles. You've risen above what others say instead of becoming bitter and angry. StarClan has led you well."

The silver fae licked Sunstone's ear reassuringly. "You've beaten the darkness that's haunted you and become a better warrior to prove others wrong. I see no fault in you."

Silverbrook's words were soft and gentle, almost loving and her green eyes seemed to glow as night approached. Silver moonlight fell over her sterling pelt turning it white.

[Runningtail]

Sunstone looked taken aback for a moment. He had never expected the timid ThunderClan she-cat to become gentle to him. The tom felt a wave of warmth and regret wave over him. He had felt this before, but the feeling was never constricted by the nagging thought that the two cats could never be together. Sunstone gazed calmly into Silverbrook's eyes, as he could tell she felt it too. He took a deep breath and sat up, his gaze clouding over with sorrow. "You know it will never work..." he meowed plainly.

[~*Ravenfeather*~]

"I know" Silverbrook meowed calmly, getting to her paws. "StarClan hasn't destined me to feel love. I must obey and be loyal but I'll never forget you Sunstone."

The beautiful silver fae leapt into the river and swam across to the ThunderClan side. On the other side she stopped and looked back, her long fur clinging to her body and making her look very small.

"I can't feel love" Silverbrook whispered regretfully. "Or I'd stay with you Sunstone. I swear to StarClan I'll be there for you if you even need me."

With that the small she-cat padded away toward the ThunderClan camp.

[Runningtail]

The golden tom looked after the she-cat as she plunged into the water. His eyes were locked on her from the moment she left the bank, to the moment she entered her camp. The tom flicked his tail apprehensively and muttered back to her. "And when you go, just know that I will remember you."