claws rut the jungle blood . Power discovery

[RHINESTONE.]

LEADER ❝ RHINE ❞ PALMCLAN

Rhinestone knew that power was a fickle thing. Whether it was more literal power, like the elemental force the Vaas now held within his grasp, or more metaphorical power, like what Rhine held as leader. Both of them had been given power, arguably, without either of them wanting it. The tom had ended up as leader of Palmclan not because he yearned for it, or because he had been working towards it his entire life. Yes, he had sometimes envisioned being leader one day when he was a child, but that had quickly lost its luster when he saw just how much responsibility went into the job. However, he had ended up taking on the title – and the power it held – anyways, because he hadn't had a choice. He had known that he couldn't just leave Palmclan to die, which had meant that someone needed to take the reigns. And seeing as he had been the only senior warrior left alive at the time, it only seemed right that he be the one to step up. Despite that, he hadn't really felt any joy in it. Pride? Maybe a little. But happiness? That felt so far away, when his mind had been solely focused on all the power he had been given, and the responsibility that came with it. He'd been in a constant panic mode for what felt like weeks after that, just trying to figure out what his next step forward would be. And unfortunately, it seemed as though Vaas was having a much more violent version of that happen to him.

Deep down, Rhine knew that it probably wasn't a great idea to get closer to Vaas in this moment. After all, the tiger was pouring his heart out before all of them, and admitting to sins that he had committed in the past. Despite this, the ruddy feline still found himself stepping forward, slowly willing himself closer to Vaas despite the fear in his chest screaming no. If he ended up being hurt as a result of this decision... well, he supposed that he would deserve it, but he didn't think he would regret it. After all, Vaas had already provided him with support in one of his most vulnerable moments, when he had been struggling after the terrible nightmares had arrived. Now, the tables were turned, and Rhine wasn't about to let his fear get in the way of him returning the favor. So, even as his heart was pounding wildly in his chest, the leader grew closer, until eventually he was right in front of Vaas. He felt a bit breathless as he looked up, the other towering over him even as he was slightly slumped. He spoke softly, a frown pulling at his muzzle as he did so, "Vaas... you are not cursed. I don't know the full story of what happened with your family – I'm not sure I could ever even understand the whole of it – but I know that you aren't them. And I believe that you wouldn't just turn your back on them without reason. Cause I trust you..." Perhaps that was a poor decision – in fact, it almost assuredly was – but Rhine didn't care. He wanted Vaas to know that he had someone, who would trust him no matter what.

Quasar's words were echoing softly in Rhine's mind as he reached a paw forward, seeming ever so small despite the power he held within the group. He tried to lay his paw down on top of Vaas's, the soft press of his pads against the other's fur as he continued, "Quasar is right, too. You are different from your family, and this power is yours, not theirs. I can tell... I can tell that this isn't something you ever expected, but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Palmclan has a complicated history with... everything, really, including powers. But you're a valued member here, and you're a part of this family. A family that isn't going to exclude you, or fear you, because of this. So, I need you to take a deep breath, alright? I need you to realize that we're here, and that this isn't the end of the world... that you're okay. Can you do that? For me?" His voice softened at the end, in a way that caught even Rhine himself off guard. He hadn't meant to make it sound as though he mattered any more to Vaas than anyone else, but it had just slipped out, really. It just physically pained the small feline, seeing Vaas in such anguish, and all he wanted was for there to be a calm in the clearing once again.

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

— Reggan