( camp-fire tales | shadow puppets )

[RHINESTONE.]

LEADER ❝ RHINE ❞ PALMCLAN

Perhaps, in some ways, Rhine was simply naive. He had wanted to believe – had hoped so dearly – that Toadwhisker would be accepted easily back into Palmclan's ranks. After all, this was his brother that they were talking about. One of the siblings that he had been missing so desperately had finally returned, and he had thought that everyone would be as overjoyed as he. Yes, obviously the leader still had his gripes about what Toad had done in the past. It would be some time, if ever, before Rhinestone forgot having to put Redpond to rest all on his own, unknowing of his brother's presence only a short distance away. However, the tom had only ever been one to hold grudges if someone had done something to hurt his clan as a whole. If they had just done something to him, it was slightly easier to forgive. Maybe that was just because of a negligible sense of self worth, or maybe Rhine was just too kind for his own good. Either way, he had been quick to welcome Toadwhisker back in with open arms, and had hoped that, at the very least, his clanmates would be able to see how happy Toad being back made him.

To their credit, some had managed to hold back any vitriol or pity, just addressing Toadwhisker with a sense of neutrality whenever they had to interact with him. Unfortunately, the grand majority had some kind of opinion on the other warrior's return, and many of them weren't afraid to voice it. The leader could only hope that eventually that anger would simmer down and vanish, before Toadwhisker got it in his mind that he should just leave again. The thought made Rhine's chest clench painfully, for many reasons. For one, he knew that the other's absence would once again devastate him, and leave him to deal with any future family matters. For another, on some level, Rhinestone knew that if Toadwhisker left again, there would be no forgiveness in his future. The rusty colored tom wouldn't be able to open himself up again, and he'd probably shun Toad just as the rest of them did. That thought alone was enough to make his heart ache, unwilling to even think about a future that would be so harsh. No, it was best to just think that Toad had changed, and that he really did intend on staying this time.

Rhinestonestar had actually been pondering this all when the scent of his littermate reached him, causing the feline to raise his head up from the ground. He was about to go out and see how the other was doing, only for Toad's voice to ring softly throughout his hidden away den. Curiosity piqued, Rhine pushed himself up to his paws, shaking the moss and seaweed from his pelt, a side effect of his bedding. He then made his way out to where Toadwhisker was, immediately able to tell that the other was nervous. Tilting his head to one side, Rhine couldn't help the faint amused smile that came to his face before he spoke, "Alright then, I'm here. What is it that you need help with? Cause you look like you're just about to jump into the ocean from nerves." Rhinestone couldn't help the teasing nature that came out when he was interacting with Toad, it just coming naturally as a result of their childhood together.

NEVER OPENED MYSELF THIS WAY
LIFE IS OURS, WE LIVE IT OUR WAY

— Reggan