[ti]Private[/ti]Fading

[silverfang218]

Spottedheart was wandering his usual route, just like he always is, but tonight there’s something different about him. His expression is twisted into a frown, something rarely seen on his usually kind and cheery face. The tips of his ears… they seem barely visible and almost… foggy. There’s a bit of the black ooze, which is so evident on Tanglefur while never really making an appearance on Spotted until now, matting in the fur around the front of Spotted’s ears, making it a bit easier to guess how he may have died. It is his tail that really shows off his problem though; the end third of his tail looks like it is hidden in a fog and one can see right through it. The small tom had been here quite a long time, long enough that maybe elders still tell a story or two of the small warrior (unlikely but possible) but none are like to remember his name, and there are no living cats near old enough to actually remember him; he should have started to fade a long time ago, but willpower alone had been enough to keep him firmly rooted to this world. It seems like that is no longer enough, but the tom still holds no fear in him, only unease at his situation. Spotted has never liked the unknown, and yet he has no idea what happens when cats fade from StarClan or the Dark Forest; he supposes they simply stop existing. No one knows what it means to not exist. It still seems like fading takes a while, from what he has seen, so he still has plenty of time to get used to the thought.

His ears swivel as he hears soft pawsteps in the pine needles. “You may come out. I hear you.” He meows, no caution in his voice this time which is a strange considering how he usually tries to be so careful. Cats here usually saw the small tom as weak, and with his fading appearance, it’s likely that they will see him as even weaker. While many of the cats here would love to torment him like this, he sees no reason to believe they will kill him. After all, many of these demented cats like to leave the weak ones alive to be toyed with later. Now more than ever that will apply to him. He has never seemed to mind being tormented or attacked by the other cats in the Dark Forest; it has happened many times, but he merely brushes it off. Now he doesn’t think any cat will do permanent harm to him, so why be so cautious?

His ears twitch as his eyes find Tansysong. Ah, of course. He briefly wonders if she understands how Dark Forest cats tend to fade. Probably not unless another Dark Forest cat told her. Either way, he doesn’t bother to hide his problems; if she wants to know, she knows she can always ask him. “Hello, Tansysong.” He greets her, his frown becoming a small smile. “What brings you to me on this fine night?” He purrs, putting his walk on pause as he sits down with his half faded tail curling around his front paws. “No more ignorant apprentices or warriors to warn me of, I hope?”

[M'Lady]

She'd been mostly looking for Tanglefur, to ask him about Oakwish. But when the tom was nowhere to be found in his usual spot, Tansysong set off to find someone else to bother. It was luck that she managed to catch Spottedheart's scent early. He was a wandered, there was never any guarantee that she would be able to find the tom easily. When he spoke, she left the shadows of the trees with a huff, fern green eyes glittering softly.

"Guess all yer time 'ere hasn' addled yer nose yet, Spotted," She hummed, noticing as his frown flickered into a smile at the sight of her. She frowned, this time. What was he upset about? It was unusual to see the tom with anything but a smile on his face, even it was only for her sake that he put on the charade. Immediately, she went into analytic mode, his speech drowning in her efforts to find out what was wrong. It didn't take much time, she found out the problem quickly. Was... His tail, his ears, they were.. Well, not gone, but it was like rain washing away dust, the tips were fading away.

"Oi, whatcha goin' on about now? Yer here with yer fur missin' and yer asking about those idiots that wander in here?" She grumbled, though there was a note of worry in her voice. She didn't like Spottedheart much, but whatever was happening couldn't be good. She trotted forward to him, bending down to peer at the tip of his tail with a mix of curiosity and caution. "What in Starclan is happenin' ta ya?"

[silverfang218]

“Quite the opposite, my dear. Besides, I must admit I’m coming to enjoy your company, so my nose must always keep on the lookout for your scent, Tansysong.” He responds gracefully to her comment about his nose.

“Is that a hint of worry I detect, my dear? I feel quite honored.” He purrs with a graceful nod- thanking her for her worry about him- as she asks him about what is happening, though his voice becomes a bit more serious as he continues. “Ah, yes. A bit of nasty business there, though I suppose it happens to all of us eventually. I’m fading. Think of it like old age; I’ve been here a very long time, you know, and it has finally caught up to me, I’m afraid.” He explains briefly, though he’d have to admit he’s a bit surprised Tansy isn’t already aware of the phenomenon. Half the time it seems like she knows the Dark Forest better than he does.

He chuckles softly as she leans down to get a better look as his tail tip. Never would he have thought a living cat, any cat really, would show concern for him. What is this world coming to?

[M'Lady]

She grumbled at his comment, he must have noticed her tone. She should've known, he was almost as analytical as her, and she could tell a cats thoughts by the twitch of their whiskers.

"Don' puff out yer chest too much, Spotted, I'd just miss yer clever remarks, that's all. Yer th'only brain I've met among th'brawn 'ere." She listened quietly as he explained the phenomenon, and a pang of concern flashed through her heart, her fern green eyes. "Guess yer sins are catchin' up ta ya, old timer," She spoke quietly, studying his tail for a moment more before straightening her posture. It really hadn't been a trick of the light, then, it was really and truly vanishing before her eyes. She didn't... Particularly trust or even like Spottedheart, but he was interesting to talk to, and she would miss that. She wondered how long it would take. Would the process be quick now that it has begun? Or would it be as slow as it had always been, but was just now becoming noticeable. She frowned, but soon matched the dead warriors gaze once again.

"... 'ow long?" She asked simply, her voice suddenly empty. She didn't want him to think she was worrying about him, how could she be? He was a killer, he could turn on her in a second... She felt a strange sort of companionship with him, though, they've known each other for awhile, and so far Tansysong hasn't met another cat, living or dead, that was able to compete with her thoughts step for step.

[silverfang218]

“Brains are a rare thing around here, aren’t they? Though I’m very glad I’ll be remembered fondly for my ‘clever remarks’.” Spotted purrs. “I suppose they are catching up to me and Tanglefur both.” He comments offhand, not thinking much of it. After all, from what he’s seen, Tanglefur is even worse off than he is. He doesn’t comment on the continued concern, but he notices it all the same. He’s not quite sure what to make of it, as he is more than aware Tansy knows exactly what he is.

“I don’t know.” He answers her question. “In truth, I likely should have faded before now, but I am a stubborn old timer. It usually seems to take a while, from what I have seen, even once it becomes visible, though I suppose we are about ready to find out. I reckon you are still stuck with me for a good while, Tansysong. How lovely for you.” He gives her a sly smile. She didn’t think she could get rid of Spottedheart that easily now did she?

[M'Lady]

Her gaze whipped up at his words, fern green eyes wide and almost a bit wild. Did he say Tanglefur? Was Spottedheart saying that the other tom was getting this old too? That he was going to disappear? She didn't think she cared this much, but apparently that Dark Forest cat had pricked her heart more than the others. He was different, he regret his actions, he was willing to make amends. She wondered what happened to these cats after they disappeared. Were they really gone forever, or, would Starclan maybe give them a second chance. She prayed they would, for Tanglefur at least. He was aggressive, but he could learn this time. Spotted, whatever, he could vanish and never come back for all she cared. While he was useful and sometimes amusing, he deserved his fate through and through. She heard Oakwish was found dead in Ivyclan, she wondered who could've done something like that.

She composed herself quickly. Tansysong was not a violent cat, no matter how much she wanted to pin Spotted down and crush his throat until he told her everything. Spottedheart would offer up information freely, that had been proven time and time again. Despite her heart racing in her chest, and the worry that bit at her, telling her to go find her old friend, she cleared her throat and responded to Spottedheart with an even tone that was only a bit tinged by her frantic mind.

"Did y'say Tanglefur?" She asked him softly, fern green eyes glittering with unreadable emotions. "Is he... Like you?"

[silverfang218]

Spottedheart gives a small nod to Tansysong’s concern about Tangle. “Have you seen Tanglefur recently? He’s fading far faster than I am; he’s quite old too, remember. I think I’m older than he is, but I have a stronger connection to this place than he ever did. And I am much more persistent in this regard.” He replies softly, his voice holding a note of sympathy even though he has no idea what sympathy truly is. He knows Tansysong was close to Tanglefur, and he also knows that Tangle is probably her closest ally. If Tangle fades, that would be a major blow to both Tansy’s little rebellion and to Tansy herself. At least, Spotted believes so. “I’ll miss him, the old fool- and before you say that I won’t, I’ll have you know that he seems like one of the few rational souls down here. I like him a lot better than anyone else excluding you I suppose. Certainly better than Sweetoak or any of those fighting brutes.” There is sincerity in his voice; Tansy understands Spotted’s mind better than any cat he has ever met, but Tangle has a different kind of understanding with Spotted that Tansy doesn’t have yet.

In order to ease Tansy’s mind just a little bit, Spotted offers up some comfort. “I don’t know if it’s true or not, but I’ve heard that after a cat fades so much they might end up reborn in the clans. A second chance if you will, and only for special cats who regret their actions and want to make amends. Obviously I’m not going to get a second chance, but Tanglefur… he just might. Don’t get your hopes up too high, though. Like I said, it’s just something I’ve heard.” He meows softly.