Warrior Cat Clans 2 (WCC2 aka Classic) is a roleplay site inspired by the Warrior series by Erin Hunter. Whether you are a fan of the books or new to the Warrior cats world, WCC2 offers a diverse environment with over a decade’s worth of lore for you - and your characters - to explore. Join us today and become a part of our ongoing story!
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11.06.2022 The site has been transformed into an archive. Thank you for all the memories here!
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Orchiddrop couldn't understand why Rosethorn had left. Logically, yes, it made sense. A fresh start, after tragedy. But emotionally... how could she leave? It wasn't like Orchiddrop was alone now, with Crow and their kids and Pikepaw... but she'd never been away from her sister, and her heart was torn in two. She had asked Crow to explain the situation to the kits, because she couldn't speak about it without breaking down, and their children didn't need to see that.
It was a warm night out, and Orchiddrop had slipped out from the fast asleep kits to find some solace in the moonlight. That was where Crow found her, staring at the moon and wondering if Rose and Phantom had reached Nightclan yet. She leaned into his side without hesitation, a soft exhale coming from her mouth. "I wish she didn't have to go," she said, closing her eyes. This latest loss had washed away the last of her hesitation about being with Crow, but she wasn't sure how to say that out loud. They had settled into coparenting well, and everyone considered them a couple, but there was still a lack of resolution between them.
Orchiddrop had consigned herself to bearing her sins for eternity, but seeing the pain in her sister's eyes... it had changed something. The white queen had realized that life was short and unpredictable, and even if she had messed up there was no use in forcing herself to be unhappy. Especially when there was already so much unhappiness in the world.
"I know." Her touch sent electrifying shivers through him, but Crow found no glee tonight, not after the tragic losses their family had just witnessed. Though lately he hadn't spent much time with Rosethorn, things still rocky between them, all the bitter feelings he was still holding onto had washed away in the face of her loss and he'd sat quietly beside her in those brief moments where Orchiddrop couldn't be with her. "It's the worst kind of absence. Knowing where they are but not being together. I know it hurts," he murmured, taking a seat beside his agonized lover.
Out of everyone, he might have been the most familiar with separation. First with Igziq leaving his litter to SunClan, then Ghostcrown's exile and Crow's ensuing choice to strike off on his own, and then the moons that kept him and Orchiddrop apart. It never got any easier, but the lwast he could do was ensure she knew she wouldn't have to be alone in it. "We'll just have to take the kits on family trips to SwiftClan and NightClan once they're a little older then. They'll be the most well-traveled apprentices SummerClan will ever see," he chuckled, trying to imagine being able to keep Firekit and Cinderkit in line long enough to make progress or keep Oceankit from being distracted during the trip.
Orchiddrop smiled faintly, her sapphire eyes focused on Crow as he spoke. She knew he was right- it wasn't the end. It was just going to be different from now on. Still, it didn't make the separation any easier. His physical proximity helped, and the gentle way he spoke to her, which she frankly still felt undeserving of. "You're too good to me," she mumbled quietly, turning her gaze back to the sky. It had been weeks since they'd mentioned it.
Their kits were getting older- they'd be apprentice aged before they knew it. It had been moons since Crow had saved her, since he'd offered forgiveness and she'd turned it down. Bringing it up now, in the wake of loss, felt odd- but something had changed. Now, she was more open to talking about it. "I don't know how you could ever forgive me," Orchiddrop said, her tail draping over her paws. "For what I did. I don't know why you stick around for anything more than our children."
Orchiddrop's words startled Crow, having anticipated anything but the direction their conversation seemed to be turning to. He smiled wanly at her as he followed her gaze to the moon and stars. "You aren't less deserving of kindness, Orchid," he reminded her, knowing it was something she would need to hear if she ever were to convince herself of it. "You are deserving of good things and love." He didn't like to dwell on what happened before. The memory was still jagged with pain he still found hard to swallow, but Crow didn't place blame on Orchiddrop-- not anymore.
"How I feel about you, how I always felt about you, it only grows. Every time I see Oceankit look at me with you eyes or see you and Eveningkit cuddled up together, I fall deeper in love with you. It's never been conditional... Even if we could never be...what we were again," his voice cracked, the suggestion painful for him to even mention, "you're always going to have my heart. You're my always." Orchiddrop was a constant presence in the most turbulent period of his life and someone who saw past his pain and anger to the boy underneath, and that was something that could never be changed by what the last few moons had thrown at them. Crow had been deeply hurt, despite that he couldn't find it in his heart to shut her out. She was his first love and the mother of his kits, but so much more than that too.
Perhaps it was true, perhaps it wasn't, but it didn't mean Orchiddrop didn't want these good things. Life had been hard, too hard, lately, and she wanted the carefree days of their early romance back. The crack in Crow's voice made her frown, and she instinctively leaned forward, pressing her nose to his shoulder. "You're my always, too," she said softly. "I never told you but during... those months... the memories of us were the only things that kept me going, in addition to knowing our kits would be coming into the world. I thought it was selfish of me, to cling so tightly to you in my mind, when I was the one who pushed you away. But I wouldn't be around if I didn't know that you loved me- however much I don't understand it."
Orchiddrop hesitated for a moment, her blue eyes examining the features of Crow's face. "I want to be what we were again... and if we can't, I want to be something different. Something stronger and better. I want to be with you again, not just the coparent of our kids. Even if I don't think I deserve it, it's the one thing that's still missing from my life- if you still want that too, of course."
Orchiddrop's whisper against his shoulder filled him with a thrilling sensation of hope, as it always did. Ever since they'd first met, she'd always given him a reason to hope or something to hope for, reminding him of what it was like to want something out of life or something different than the only life he knew. He curled his tail around her flanks and tugged her closer against him, reveling in the way his body responded to her touch after so long of being deprived of it. "I want you," he said into the ensuing silence. "I never gave up on us, Orchid, and I never will. You're the one I want to grow with until we're old and I'm ugly and losing my fur. We can be better and stronger than we've ever been before, the two of us and our family." They stood on the precipice of something fantastic and fulfilling, and as Crow stared into the depths of the future he'd only dreamed of, he was all too eager to leap into it. "Be mine, Orchid-- officially. Always."
The confirmation that this tom, the one she'd loved since those first few weeks in Summerclan, still loved her after all they'd been through, brought a burst of light to her chest. The confession that she still wanted to be with him had been quiet, solemn, and genuine, but the smile that broke through her features was loud and bright and joyful. Orchiddrop hadn't smiled like this in a very long time, since that last night where they'd confessed their love to each other, and it brought back the rush of emotions she thought she'd never get to experience again.
She wouldn't mess it up this time.
"Always," she agreed, the smile lingering on her face and carving hope into her sapphire gaze. "I won't ever let you go again, Crow."
Seeing that smile again was like the first drop of rain falling upon the desert sands, both refreshing and the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen after so long of being in want of it. "I won't let you," he promised. He knew what it felt like to lose her already, and it was something Crow never wanted to feel again, something he would fight endlessly to prevent. "I'm so happy to have met you that day. You saved me, Orchid, you saved me from myself. Do you remember that day we met?" He'd still stank of smoke when he came upon the quiet Orchidpaw on SummerClan's border, his pain still fresh but his anger had outlasted that painful trek away from a smoldering SunClan to the joyful, romping meadows of the clan that was now home to him, his love, and the six products of their love. "You were one of the first cats to have ever shown me kindness before then. You didn't even know me then, but you showed me what a kind heart you have. It's what made me fall in love with you."
"How could I forget?" She asked, amusement and joy still written in her features. "You smelled awful and you made a lot of bad jokes." Orchiddrop nosed his shoulder, a deep purr reverberating in her chest. "You saved me, too, from dwelling too long in the horrors of my past. It was so easy to talk to you, and training in the evenings with you... it was the best part of my day. Your determination and fire- and maybe some of those corny jokes too- are what made me fall in love with you."
"Only some of those jokes? C'mon, my jokes are my winning quality," Crow reminded her, feigning offense and crossing a paw over his chest. "I mean, sure I'm handsome and unbelievably talented in all things, but being funny really seals the deal, eh? I'm the total package!" If only he believed any of that, he might be able yo stomach facing his reflection, but the atmosphere was light enough to lift his self-consciousness for a bit.
"You're right," Orchiddrop purred, but her words were teasing. "Of course you're hilarious and talented- but most of all you're handsome." That was one thing she did believe, her blue eyes warm as she looked at her mate- official mate, now. "I really don't deserve you." That sentiment would remain for a long time- possibly forever- but at least she was allowing herself this happiness now.
"Sleep in the nursery with me tonight," she said, resting her cheek against her shoulder. He had slept there in the earlier days of her pregnancy, even as she pushed him away, but she wanted to curl up against him this time and return the affection for once.
If this night could be a physical entity, he would pin it down and stay like that forever, basking in how the stars reflected in her eyes as they glanced up at him and how the moonshine lanced silver off her fur. He felt more timid now than he had in moons, like this newfound tranquility and acceptance was fragile and he might be careless enough to shatter it. "What if," he breathed against her fur, "what if we sleep under the stars tonight? The kits will be fine for one night, and it's been moons since we got to just exist. Together." Crow didn't want to lose this moment; he would undoubtedly treasure it forever, hold it close during cold nights as he'd done before they could spend any together, but something about returning to camp felt...wrong. He wanted to be selfish and greedy; the normalcy of stepping into camp and resuming life, albeit reunited now, could wait another day.
