Calm and Quiet -- Medusa's Warrior Plight (open)

[RHINESTONE.]

LEADER ❝ RHINE ❞ PALMCLAN

For some time, Rhine had firmly believed that the Twisted Forest was not a place for anyone within Palmclan. He saw it as somewhere that they could access prey such as squirrels and mice, and nothing more beyond that. Or rather, he did see beyond that, but nothing that he saw was overwhelmingly positive. Maybe it was just because of his childhood memories of the forest. He could remember many a day where he had heard rumors all around him, warriors and apprentices alike talking about what lurked within and outside of the Twisted Forest. Some of the tails were more farfetched, such as evil spirits or massive beasts that had been assigned to watch over it, killing anyone who took prey from there. However, some of the rumors were far more believable, and petrifying. Stories of wild and vicious groups that would tear Palmclan children to shreds if they got their claws on them, or hungry and powerful wild dogs that were just waiting for the right feline to fall into their clutches. Those stories were the ones that had really gotten to a young Rhinestonepaw, the quiet and timid apprentice that had done anything he could to avoid the forest. Hell, he excelled in aquatic prey because that put him as far from the forest as possible.

However, that had been a long time ago. In a time where he had been young and afraid, and everything seemed so intimidating and big. Now he was a warrior. Not only that, but he was a leader. He held a great amount of power within the group, as well as a great amount of responsibility. That meant that he needed to seriously think about every part of the territory, and the threats and benefits that came with it. Nowadays, the Twisted Forest still somewhat unnerved him, but he also knew it to be a base of valuable prey. Not only that, but it was the perfect barrier between Palmclan and the outside world, as well as a natural labyrinth that they could use for cover in case of invaders. Not that Rhine found himself too worried about invaders. Even with the outside groups that had begun to pop up, such as Alithís Evgenis and The Typhoon... they seemed friendly. Or, at the very least, non-hostile. Which meant that, for the time being, they weren't threats that Palmclan needed to worry about. Not that the leader intended to get too buddy buddy with them. He liked Bai Shi and Alithís, but an alliance could turn sour just as quickly as it had become good.

The rust colored tom had been pondering all this when Medusa came into camp, her light and excited voice causing Rhinestone to look up from his meal. Not that he had been particularly absorbed in it, considering how he had been totally zoning out. When he heard that the other was doing her Warrior's Plight, he couldn't help the grin that curled onto his muzzle. With how she had been worrying about being perceived as of late, with her hybridization and how others looked at her, it was good to hear that she wanted to take such a big step in becoming a true member of the clan. Pushing himself up to his paws, Rhinestone eagerly followed after the group that had gathered behind Medusa, staying a little close to Vaas – glad to see that the other was at least engaging with the ritual as well. When they began to delve into the forest, Rhine initially felt himself tense up slightly, pale gaze flicking around to the towering trees that surrounded them on all sides. He managed to take a deep breath, calming himself as the pads of his paws slipped over the smooth stone of the path. The coolness of it almost caught him off guard, having never stumbled across the clumped together stones before.

When they reached the actual house, the feline found his eyes growing wide, a soft gasp leaving him as he began to wander around. His paws explored freely over the ruins of the house, taking in the remains of the fire as well as the strange boxes full of wilting – and some not wilting – plants. The downstairs intrigued him most, with the statue that lingered there seeming almost like a comfort and a threat all at the same time. It looked so realistic that Rhine wasn't sure he'd be surprised if it came to life and sprang forth. Despite this, he still found himself calmed within the sheer presence of the building, a small smile curling on his face as he returned to where Medusa was. He purred to the hybrid, fluffy tail flicking behind him as he spoke, "Medusa... this place is wonderful. I'm so surprised you happened to just stumble upon it. And that thing you said about the stones... very inspiring." He spared a glance downwards, as if trying to look through to the bottom floor, before he questioned, "What do you suppose that statue was for? Just decoration? It's so ornate..." Rhinestonestar didn't really expect Medusa to have answers for him, mostly just musing to himself.

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

— Reggan