Oh Wonderland, I love -- Open

[RHINESTONE.]

LEADER ❝ RHINE ❞ PALMCLAN

If the world were truly controlled by Rhinestone, he would've made it so that nobody bothered Medusa a long time ago. He knew that the hybrid didn't deserve any of the scorn or suspicion that was leveled her way, especially not with how much she had proven herself already. He could admit that he had been somewhat unnerved by her in the beginning, but the leader was also willing to admit when he was wrong, as well. He was wrong to have ever thought of her as a threat, and he only wished he could make others see things the same way. However, he knew that he couldn't make change happen overnight. He could make all the announcements he wanted, and glare sharply in the direction of anyone who so much as coughed at Medusa, but he still couldn't make it all go away. He tried to help in the ways that he could, such as offering her extra jobs and hanging out with her quite often, but things needed to happen gradually, as frustrating as that really was. It was especially frustrating when one was leader, considering you were supposedly in charge of everything – although Rhine had never considered Palmclan such a straightforward dictatorship.

The tom wasn't exactly sure of what had woken him up that night, but it really could've been anything. A strange noise, a shift in the wind, a nightmare he could no longer remember... either way, Rhine found himself blinking open his pale eyes, gaze darting around the walls of his den. After several minutes of trying and failing to get comfortable enough to fall back asleep, the male just pushed himself up onto his paws. He figured he would go for a late night walk, just to burn off any energy that was still lingering within his system. Naturally, this walk led him towards the shore, one of the places where he had always felt the safest. Ever since he had been a kit, he had seemed as though he was one with the sea, knowing the ins and outs of swimming and aquatic hunting. After all, there was a reason that was where he had chosen to excel. Once Rhinestone reached the edge of the water, he was somewhat surprised to see that someone else was there, and that someone was Medusa, of all people. He wasn't sure he had ever seen her swim before, and she seemed to be doing it with surprising elegance.

The weak waves were gently lapping against Rhine's paws as he watched Medusa swim, eventually realizing he should probably say something. His muzzle opened, ready to say hello, but he found himself pausing when a strange hum reached his ears. Eventually, he realized that the hum was Medusa's voice. Her singing caught him even more off guard, although not in an unpleasant way. Rather, Rhinestone found a soft smile coming to his muzzle, and a strange sense of serenity passing over him. Sitting down against the sand, the leader waited until Medusa's voice had faded to clear his throat, speaking up so the hybrid could hear him, "Hello, Medusa. That singing... it was very beautiful. Where'd you learn that song?" He hoped that she wouldn't be too upset with him for hearing. After all, it wasn't as if he had intentionally followed her out here.

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

— Reggan