How can I believe, when this cloud hangs over me? [OPEN]

|| WORDS: 623 ~ TAGGED: adderfrost ||

The trees leaves rustled with a pleasant summer breeze as the sound of paw steps dragged her from her thoughts. Stoneheart's eyes flashed as reality washed over her, and her claws flexed in preparation for an attack. Every muscle in her body coiled, and she prepared to claw off the ears of whoever dared interrupt her time alone. 
"Stoneheart?" 
The soft voice echoed in her ears, and she dropped her defences promptly. Adderfrost stepped out from concealment, and Stoneheart's icy gaze fell on the other she-cat like a ton of boulders. She tried her best to force back her emotions, puffing out her chest in a regal manner and chomping down on her own tongue to force back the sadness. "Adderfrost." She spoke gently while dipping her head; the most common sign that the fiery she-cat liked someone. She was not the type of cat to put the formal sherade into play; however Adderfrost was the closest thing she had ever had to a friend within ShadowClan, excluding Bramblefang, of course. There was something about the other she-cat that intrigued Stoneheart. Perhaps it was that she had grown up with Adderfrost; she had only become a Warrior two moons ahead of her, after all. But more likely it was her own attitude that seemed to mirror Stoneheart's in many ways. Adderfrost was always cautious about bringing up Stoneheart's departed mate in front of her, which was a luxury that most of the Clan cats were unable to stop themselves from. It seemed that any time one of her Clan mates wanted to talk to her, somehow Bramblefang was dragged into it. Adderfrost only mentioned him when it was relevant, and for that Stoneheart would always be grateful. Stoneheart gestured with her tail, nodding her head at the other she-cat invitingly.
"This was Bramblefang's favourite place, wasn't it?"
The other she-cat's words stung a bit, but Stoneheart managed to shake it off with little effort. Her grey eyes washed over Adderfrost in an emotionless manner. "Yes, it was." Her tail tip quivered as his name rolled off her clan mate's tongue. "He had always loved coming to this very place. Said it was a great spot to just absorb everything. He'd watch the marshes like a hawk. It never made much sense to me." Her maw twisted up in the slightest trace of a smile as she spoke. "I guess it kind of does make sense now."
'It was Bramblefang's way of closing out the clan to learn who he was on his own.' Her mind spoke silently, and she sighed. She had been doing much of the same over the last few moons. Although she was sure it was much easier for Bramblefang. She hardly knew herself half the time.
Her ears fell in irritation briefly as she glanced at her friend awkwardly. "Am I that obvious?" Her maw twisted further into a smile that looked almost like a grimace instead. Stoneheart's version of a smile was almost terrifying, and usually you didn't want to be on the receiving end of her grins. If she was smiling chances are there was a negative reason for it; whether it was someone getting injured or a sinister smirk of mocking. This time was different. Her smile was a way to force back the tears she had almost allowed to come bursting forth. If she cried, she would never forgive herself for it; and she wouldn't hear the end of it. Adderfrost was the closest thing she had to a friend; but she would not handle a sad, sappy version of Stoneheart well. As a matter of fact she may even make fun of her for it. Stoneheart would want her to.  

|| WORDS: 273 ~ TAGGED: adderfrost ||

The frosty she-cat's eyes were distant as her friend spoke. She knew she was likely making Adderfrost uncomfortable, as she often did to many of her Clan mates. With Adderfrost it was different though. Stoneheart was never able to scare her away, because she was very similar to her. It was almost comforting, just knowing another cat wanted her company. 
She sat silent for some time before Adderfrost spoke again. It was her friend trying to poke fun at her, and her maw twisted in a similar smirk as her grey eyes met Adderfrost's yellow gaze with a challenging stare. "Let's not go down that path, dear Adderfrost." Her ears twitched in amusement as she spoke, her tail brushing the other she-cat's shoulders affectionately. Adderfrost had to be the only other cat in all of the territories that Stoneheart would ever get along with. Allowing herself to stretch and resettle, she turned her gaze back to Adderfrost indifferently. "What shall we do here? Perhaps we will catch something to drag back to camp. I suppose we are Warriors, we should try to be productive." Her smirk never left her maw as stoneheart slipped off her rock, allowing the swampy ground to pull at her paws once more.