Uh...well howdy there fellas
No...no...that won't do...uh...
*breaks random door* GUESS WHO'S BACK
YOU THOUGHT YOU GOT RID OF ME
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA YOU WERE WRONG
*clears throat*
Well hey there again, so sorry about the long wait, but le inspiration has returned and I shall hopefully begin writing once more!
So responses first!
Wait wait wait, first, WE ARE SO CLOSE TO 100 REVIEWS MY LITTLE SAGELINGS. ...imma refrain from calling ya'll that apologies
abujfrmseinhcurwlscmk
Also 15 follows and 15 favourites :D
Now, responses, with double cookies today
Ivystorm/Ivystormrandomness: Ahahahah you can never be free from me =) and yes, killing is bad, let us not kill. In other words, please don't kill me. Enjoy your zoomin (: :) (: :) (: :) (: :)
SunKatt: Hehee, I'm sorry. And yes, bearable Bramble. He shall always be a mouse-brain. Yeah, that was just a little something I wrote on the spot heh. Thank you! (: :) (: :) (: :) (: :)
SavvySpirit: Ahah...hah...hahah...*runs* *turns around and shouts back* BECAUSE PLOT
Ahem, now without further ado, le chapter!
Bumblestripe's POV
The parties that took place inside of rooms have spread outside into the snowy "backyard" of the high school. Everyone is now bustling about as one big, unofficial party, and everyone has chipped in to the snack fund, bringing down their food and drinks. It's a lot nicer now, busy and loud, but nicer. Someone managed to rig up a stereo system, so now Greystripe is DJing, and I have to admit he has a good taste in music. Nobody has complained or started a fight. It's all going well.
So why do I feel so cold?
Actually I know why, it's because I can see Dovewing with Tigerheart from where I'm sat on the bench. Dancing. And smiling at each other. Dovewing may be slightly narcissistic and arrogant, but she is right about her eyes and smile. They "compliment" each other. How they do, I have no idea, but with the soft glow of the fairy lights in her eyes is so freaking pretty. I sigh. Look at little lovesick Bumblestripe, sat alone mourning for his girlfriend even though he was the one who got angry and stormed off.
I sigh, shaking the hot chocolate in my cup around. I'm grateful someone supplied it, it certainly helps those who are sat around the outskirts keep warm. I don't get how some of the girls are wearing dresses. Suddenly I feel something brush against my elbow, and turn to see Lionblaze has sat down next to me. I put on my best smile.
"Hey, man, I haven't seen you in a while!"
"You too bro!" he laughs back, "How're things?"
"Eh, well enough. You?"
"Yeah, yeah."
There's a pause, and then
"So I noticed you've been watching Dovewing for a while."
I groan. "Is it really that obvious?"
"Depends on who's looking. But hey, as someone who's had to break up with someone I still love, I know it can be hard to move on. 'Specially when you see them with someone else." he pauses, as if contemplating his next words, "But if I have any advice, it's not to let it weigh on your mind. Girlfriends come and go, you'll find someone you really wanna spend the rest of your life with eventually. And don't let it ruin your friendship."
I snort slightly. "Dovewing's probably already forgotten about me. Us." I comment, half bitterly and half guiltily.
"Y'know what? I doubt it. Sure, Dovewing's narcissistic and conceited, but she has a heart and she's sweet deep down. Go talk to her, I'm sure you can make it better."
I hesitate, and he encourages me more.
"Fine, fine, but you're paying if I need therapy for depression after this."
"Sure, why not."
I get up and begin walking over, unable to stop myself from noticing how her silver-grey hair shines softly in the moonlight. As I get closer, they both turn to see me, Dovewing regarding me with….guilt in her eyes?
"Uh, hey." I begin awkwardly.
"Hi."
"Hey."
"I uh...I just wanted to apologise about...what happened. I-I shouldn't have run off like that without waiting for you to reply. I'm sorry." I say.
"You're sorry?"
I wince, waiting for some cutting remark.
"W-why are you sorry? I should be the one apologising! I...I cheated on you and said nothing, and I just let you run away without stopping you! I'm so sorry, Bumblestripe."
I blink at her in surprise. Then I laugh. "Well, no reason to not talk to each other, now. I...I forgive you, Dovewing."
She smiles. "And you too."
Then I turn to Tigerheart. "And...I'm Bumblestripe, nice to meet you."
He grins back warmly. Reminds me of Lionblaze. "Tigerheart. I've heard a lotta good things about you."
Oh wow.
I smile. Now I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my back. It feels good.
Hollyleaf's POV
One hour until midnight, my friends!
I'm currently standing around with Cinderheart and Honeyfern, just talking about any random thing that comes to mind. How pretty the decorations are...clothes to be wearing in the winter...how long it'll snow for...etcetera.
Suddenly a snowball hits Honeyfern in the head and she stumbles to the ground, yelping, but quickly dissolving into laughter. I can't help but giggle, looking over in the direction it came from.
"HA! YOU JUST GOT SAGEFEATHER'D!"
It is, in fact, Sagefeather, standing on top of a tree branch about midway up the tree. She is grinning slightly madly, and is promptly knocked off the branch and onto Ivypool (sending them both crashing into the snow with a loud "OOF!") by an impressive counter from Berrynose. I laugh again.
Berrynose winks at his girlfriend and helps her up. She gasps and brings her hands to her chest.
"I am touched by your manners, dear." she mocks.
He picks up her hand to kiss before they both laugh and he returns to his conversation with his brother and Toadstep.
Wait a minute.
Foxleap was with them a second ago.
When he vanishes it can only mean one thing.
Trouble.
Oh no.
I begin furiously searching around, trying to catch even a glimpse of that dark ginger hair. Nope. Nothing.
"Guys, where's Foxleap?" I hiss to the other two. They pale.
"Oh stars."
"Go ask Ivypool or something. Quickly." Cinderheart advises, and I nod and dash off towards the silver-and-white haired girl. She has got up, but Sagefeather still seems to be enjoying lying face-first on the ground. She's conscious though, so I leave her to it. Ivy turns towards me immediately.
"Hey Holly, what's up?" she asks.
"Where's Foxleap?" I ask, more urgently and sternly than I intended to.
Sage cackles, voice muffled by the ground, and Ivypool's smirk grows. Neither reply.
"Where. Is. Foxleap."
She says nothing once more, just raising her eyebrows once and pointing upwards towards the building. I follow her finger slowly.
Foxleap is crouching precariously on the window ledge at the end of the top floor. He seems to be focusing on...fixing something to the wall? And there's a harness just behind him?
"Oh stars...what is he doing now?" I sigh, glancing at his ex.
"You'll see soon...veerrry soon." she replies ominously, and I walk backwards to Cinderheart and Honeyfern.
"Did you get an answer?" the silverette asks. I nod and point up to the window again. We stare incredulously at him for a few moments, when he notices us and gives us a cheery wave, grinning. I blink.
Whatever happens, it best not be destructive.
I can only pray.
Foxleap's POV
Everything is in position, and it's perfect.
I've set up the bungee cord to the harness and rigged it up to the confetti cannons, so when I jump they will explode over the crowd below. Not many people have noticed me apart from those I told. Sure, I'm missing out on conversation, but I have tons of that everyday. If I can time this to the exact moment we tick over into the new year, it'll be perfect.
Ivypool knows she has to film, Sagefeather is making sure that the space below is clear, and Berrynose has tested the cord beforehand. It's safe and secure, and it won't let me hit the ground when I jump. Sure, it's still a little risky, but isn't everything in life? There's no point living life if you're not gonna live to the fullest.
One minute to go until midnight, and I'm waiting on the window ledge still, still grinning stupidly. I am a little bit nervous, but nothing too major. I've done this plenty of times before. Everyone has gathered into the centre, most staring at the sky to see when the moon will reach its highest point and others watching the clock projected onto the white screen someone put up. I can see it now, I have forty-five seconds.
I catch Ivypool's dark blue eyes from within the crowd. She winks and prepares her phone video. I look down and Sagefeather gives me a thumbs up. She's covered in snow. I don't question it because I saw what happened. Quality comedy.
Thirty seconds. I shift about on my narrow perch. Deep breath in, deep breath out, how many times have you done this before? The cord is trusted, used before and reliable.
Fifteen seconds. I stand slightly, holding the edges for support. Almost time.
Ten seconds. Ivypool hits record and turns to me, and there's a loud, collective, horrible-sounding medley of notification tones from most of the people in the crowd as they realise we're livestreaming. The video is clicked. Everyone turns slowly towards me. Their expressions are a perfect mix of scared and excited.
Five! I take a deep breath.
Four! I grin.
Three! I brace myself to jump.
Two! I jump!
One! The feeling of falling through the air-
Zero!
And perfectly timed! The cannons launch as my weight pulls the trigger once I reach the end of the rope as the clock ticks over, and I bounce up and down as cheers and whistles fill the air. Fireworks launch from around the island, and some more in the far distance where the mainland is. As I come to a stop, I can only breathe a sigh of relief before I'm tugged out of the harness and into the hyper crowd, shouting and jumping around. I'm hugged by random students as they celebrate the new year and the success of the trip. Of course, I join in with them, but I'm secretly so damn relieved everything went to plan.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
And if you live in the UK or anywhere that has broken up for school, HAPPY SUMMER HOLIDAYS!
Enjoy your break as much as you can with the guidelines.
Also vote: would you rather have your collective term as "Sagelings" or "Featherlings" or just me returning to calling ya'll folks, fellas, puppitos, or whatever else comes to mind. Or just nothing. Idm
Okay stay safe and don't die and stuff
bai
~KT