Silversmoke stood in an empty alley. One he often visited when he felt the pressure of...socializing was too much. Or, when he got sick of Goldenshadow's sass and bitter comments. It was clear that the tom had a bit of a grudge with the she-cat; yet they were still companions, and so he tolerated her for the reasons unknown.

He felt as if sometimes they were meant to be friends, even if they argued like cats from different clans over territory disputes. The tom wondered how they survived...survived each other that is. He sat on top of a closed dumpster, and the tom had his tail-tip dangled over the edge; rested on his side he relaxed in the bits of sun that found their way into his shaded alley. The sounds of the city were comforting. Loud, random, and constant.

Silversmoke didn't mind, no, not at all. The tom was told by a few of the older warriors that he often times reminded them of a former deputy and former clanmate...though, he acted nothing like his father. They had suspicions on who his father was; though none seemed to care to tell him of who that was. The tom was always infuriated by that factor when he was young and it still irritated him now.

He was told that Goldenshadow was much like her own father...stubborn, determined, and cold. He assumed that for them to stick together; their kin had mingled and tangled at some point in their lives. He supposed StarClan had their ways...His ears twitched as a passing monster tore down the road. He didn't move. He didn't much care for the passing danger.

Enzio stepped aside for his father, letting his words ring in his ears... Because he was right. If he had anything over his siblings was his ability to speak that he had gotten from his dad. He had nothing more to add, not for the moment. His dad had spoken what he would say. 

Clarisse smiled and purred, standing up slowly to look around. "I know of a few good ones we can look at, and you can decide which you'll like the most." She nodded, watching him with a warm smile.

Fencerunner stood staring, her olive eyes open and moist with tears. Delano's words had smacked her straight in the face and her legs twitched to run away from her awful, awful mistakes. But her tender paw would prevent it, slowing her, and she knew she would fall if she tried to run on three legs. What makes me think we should trust you . . .

"I'm not running now," she said softly, the mood of the argument shifting as she shrunk under Delano's gaze. She remembered Summerpaw and Vermillionpaw's deaths, at her paws, and though she had blocked the exact scenario, she could see them- flying. Gone. Enzio, Emmy, Monroe, and Oshun were their age. The mention of her kits, of how Delano had actually wanted her to mother his kits, it haunted her further.

"Look- Delano, I- I thought you didn't want me around," she said softly, "Every time we talked- it made you so sad. It made me sad. Just remembering it makes me sad. And then I became deputy, and I did run away. Death Rattle almost killed me, and I was scared if he saw I was close to anyone, he'd take it out on them. But that's not an excuse. None of this is an excuse- it's all a mess, and it's a mess because of me. I said yes to you on the rooftop, Delano. And I ran away right after," she felt the scar on her chest from Clarisse's claws burn, even though it was long-healed. Despite what Delano said, Fencerunner did believe she was better than the vindictive she-cat. Fencerunner had never murdered kits.

"But I'm not running away now, okay? I want to try again, and no, there's nothing I can do to make you believe you can trust me. The only thing I've done is ask Hollowstar for an apprentice, and she gave me Oshun. And I was so excited to teach her- I still am - so I can lead her in the right direction, to help you just that little bit. I still care. I always have-" Fencerunner stopped again, once more realizing she was rambling and that nothing would keep her from stopping in this brigade of broken feelings except herself.

Clarisse nodded. "It's just you and me, Poli." She smiled, knowing for herself she didn't exactly want another litter of kittens. She just wanted Politoes, and what he wanted. Though if he ever wanted them, she wouldn't tell him no. "Well, then how about we decide together?" She smiled, before looking over the fences and jumping up onto one, looking over a rather clean yet small yard with a small cat area packed away in the corner. Thanks to her mother she knew where the yards that dogs weren't kept and where they let stray cats stay with a warm place, and this happened to be one of them. A bit away from the little cat home was a fountain, good for water and should it ever get hot, cooling down. "I like this one, it's tiny and we could have the entire yard to ourselves. A garden full of goods we could snack on, and water right here. The plants would also bring in birds and other types of prey." She said, looking to him. "What about you?"

Clarisse jumped down beside him and purred, smiling. "Then we're home." She smiled, rubbing into his pelt and wrapping her tail around his. "All ours." 

Clarisse looked up at him, her eyes filled with curiosity and a bit of worry. "What's wrong darling?" She asked, gently nuzzling his cheek. 

Clarisse watched him, and sat across from him, her eyes softening a bit as they narrowed. "You can talk to me Poli." 

Clarisse gently inched forward and put her head underneath his chin, purring softly. "I know. I'm sorry." She said, wrapping her tail around his side, "But... I love you too. In fact, I've come to find I love you more." She said gently, giving his chest a gentle kiss.

Delano stood, staring at her stone-faced until she stopped talking. He raised an eyebrow slightly at the news that Oshun was her apprentice. Perfect. He wasn't getting away from her, was she? She was..actually trying this time. While his walls were up, the entire situation with Clarisse had broken him down immensely. He was vulnerable, and he knew it. His ears flicked back and he glanced over to Enzio. "That is up to them to decide..." He said lowly, not commenting on their own relationship. He didn't even know what to say when it comes to them..he didn't want to overstep any boundaries that his children had put up and he also didn't want her to feel like she could get too close to him too fast. Plus, he didn't even know if she was trying to go there with him. He obviously had a lot of baggage, but she wasn't perfect either. They were both severely damaged.

Enzio looked at his father, hearing him basically give her his permission to be around him and his siblings, to help them out where they needed, to be the bigger cat in the shattered relationship these two had. His green eyes narrowed as he looked back to Fencerunner. "I can't trust you." He said, flicking his tail. "You've hurt this family once because of the lack of care, and I can't trust that you won't do it again. In my book you're just about as bad as Clarisse, perhaps even worse to say you've watched us but never did anything. You never saved Emmy or Oshun from Monroe and I's teasings or Emmy from herself. That's something someone who cared would have done. So no, I can't trust you." He took a breath and looked back to his dad, his gaze immediately softening. "As for my other siblings, it is up for them to decide for them if they can do that, but I give you two warnings as the eldest -" His voice grew cold as he looked back to her, and his ears flattened. "I swear to StarClan that if you 'forget' or show that you don't 'care' about Oshun as your apprentice and don't give him the training or the time of day, I will have your pelt." He growled lowly. "And if you try to help Emmy and walk away again like you did after our mother beat her," He remembered the memory, despite he was so young when he witnessed it, "It'll be worse. She's too fragile and scared to be befriended then left alone." He murmured, and the care for his family showed through the commanding tone of his voice. After that, he turned once more to his father, "Dad, do you want me to go check on them? We've been gone for a while, and if there's something you want to discuss without me here I'll go make sure they are okay. But I don't want to leave you alone after..." His ears faltered a bit, and his gaze cast away for a moment before turning back up to him.

Bourbon lazily laid at his post, eyes closed but ears perked. Ever since most of the gang cats had left, there had been little to no traffic. I have no interest in clan life. I've seen how they work and they're more barbaric than we could ever be. What he couldn't believe was how many had left the clans already, did loyality mean nothing these days?

Fencerunner flicked her gaze at Enzio, letting his words rip into her again. Goodness, she was going to be a mess as soon as she was alone, but despite the tears that stained her cheeks, she was surprisingly . . . okay. Not fine, not wonderful, but- this was one of the best possible outcomes. Fencerunner . . . didn't expect to get away scot-free. She knew she'd messed up. But if she'd tried to fix the mistakes, then she was one pawstep closer to letting go.

She remembered Clarisse's episode in the nursery and shuddered- she'd walked away without realizing what a profound effect it had on Emmy. But now that she knew, she could talk to the she-cat- and her new apprentice, goodness she was excited to show Oshun all of what she knew. Even if he was wary of her, she could still impart her knowledge on a new generation.

She nodded to Enzio, simple understanding and the agreement struck, "I- it won't happen again, Enzio. Y-you have my word," she said, though her gaze was focused more on Delano. Part of her hoped Enzio would go back to camp so that she could talk to the tom in private, so they could work out this desperate tangle of a mess all  . . . how many cats were involved in this? Many. The mess they'd all gotten tangled in. She stared at the handsome tom, comparing him to his past self- the first time they'd talked in EclipseClan camp. He was so carefree then, she thought, now he looks so tired.

Brandy's solemn eyes scoured the deserted bar, the traces of the her former members' scents subsiding along with her sanity. She was perched ontop of a crooked stool, her slouching posture gave the impression of an hunched-back elder. Returning after her absence, the bar consisted of merely less than half of her crew along with the depressing lack of customers. The __ have I now to appreciate? Disloyal members? An empty bar? I think the __ not. Her head hung low as she remained standstill; it was an outward display of her despondent state, and by the looks of it, she wasn't going to move anytime soon.

"I appreciate you looking out for me, Enzio, but I'll be fine." He purred lightly and touched his tail to his sons flank. "Make sure you let Emmy know, especially, that I'm okay. " He gave him a reassuring smile before turning his pale yellow eyes to Fencerunner. "What happened to your paw." He meowed, but it came out as more of a demand than an actual question.