03. video

[firealone]

[It's no surprise that Fireheart is feeling ashamed, after he overworked himself into a coma for a month and a half. And after nearly everyone who knows him has been telling him for months to take it easy... he is finally starting to listen. A little.]

So... there's a few things I want to talk about. But the most important one, is, well- I've got a warrior name now. When we were sending out those boats, I saw- Bluestar, my old Clan's leader.

[He only knew her for a short time, a lifetime ago, but there's still a somber tone in his voice. ThunderClan was where he thought he belonged for a long time, after all. ThunderClan has been on his mind less and less every day, but having his adult name still means a lot.]

She called me Fireheart. So... that's what I'd like everyone to call me. Firepaw was a kitten name, so... it's good to feel like an adult, properly.

[He wavers a little before continuing... he really should have rehearsed this a little.]

I'm going to cut down on my work, and... I think I'm done hanging around the Clinic for a while. So I'll be focusing on recovering this month, and then running messages for the senior Cheri members for a bit. Staying in the city, for the most part, unless someone needs me.

[He said 'month' instead of 'moon'... and doesn't seem to have noticed it.]

I think that's everything. And, if anyone needs to talk, after... Froslass... I'm happy to listen.

Comments

[firealone]

[It does help, a lot. Knowing that he's earned Bigby's respect, and burying the hatchet. It felt wrong to be on bad terms with anyone in the Bay, since he considers them all Clanmates in some form or another.]

It's okay. You didn't know.

[A pause.]

I'm sorry for attacking you.... all of the times. But especially the first time.

[He didn't feel bad at the time, at all. But it feels important to mend that bridge so they can move on.]

....Are you okay, after... Froslass?

[wolfcut]

Eh. Can't blame you either. Cats and mice don't mix easily.

[ Something to lighten the mood, even if it still feels weird at best. It doesn't even stick when Fireheart inevitably brings up Froslass. ]

... Not really, but it is what it is.

[ Lone wolf behavior. Typical. ]

[firealone]

...All the more reason for us not to fight our city-mates, then.

[He's fully making up his own vocabulary, since they aren't guild-mates.]

Emporio said that Mightyena can't be affected by Froslass... which means she chose to go along with all of that. That's... troubling.

[Far be it from him to question a guild leader, but... it's on his mind and ends up coming out before he can stop himself.]

[wolfcut]

... Yeah.

[ Troubling. An incredibly nice way to put it.

Bigby is not known for being nice. ]

Honestly, I don't know what she was thinking. She had a responsibility to protect everyone in new territory, and she blew it.

[ As much as he likes her, as much as he feels for her, there's definitely some residual bitterness over her letting it get so far. ]

[firealone]

I'm sure she had a reason for doing what she did.

[He doesn't know what that reason could possibly be, but there must be one. Right? Leaders don't just screw around and ignore Pokemon in need for no reason.]

Maybe you should ask her, if you get a chance. In the meantime, um... I guess we just keep moving. And keep our ears pricked, if Froslass comes back. I'm sure Ribombee and Polteageist won't let Mightyena ignore the next threat.

[wolfcut]

A reason? Sure. Doesn't mean it'll be a good one.

[ He should talk to her eventually, once he's had a chance to simmer down. As it stands for him right now, just seems like she had a perfect excuse to let loose for once. ]

Rumor has it Ribombee was the only one that actually wanted to do something. [ A beat, followed by an amused little huff. ] I mean, not counting you, but you're not quite a guild leader yet, are you?

[firealone]

He said it was a good thing Froslass left before I did anything, anyway. I couldn't exactly drum up an army.

[He'd like to grand-stand about how he definitely would have shredded her pelt if she'd stuck around, but... Ribombee was probably right. He's only one Litten, even if he's fairly high-level by now.]

I think it would be a good idea to keep track of who got affected, though, and who didn't. If she comes back, or... if something else messes with our minds, it would be good to know who would be able to fight back.

[He doesn't voice it, but he does wish he'd had more authority to work with. Ribombee had the right idea, but he was stuck in the Bay - if Fireheart had authority to act in his place, maybe he could have moved the Cheri guild in an actual attack.]

[wolfcut]

Mm. Whole thing did kind of resolve itself on its own. [ He does not sound happy saying that, despite it being true. ] Still would've been better to resolve it on our own terms.

[ That doesn't come without a disgruntled sigh. Not like he could've done anything himself, as Fireheart indirectly notes. ]

But that's not a bad idea. Considering all the ghosts involved, death had to be the throughline. [ What dying for a few minutes does to a MF apparently. ] Hard to say if that connection will stick if a different kind of Pokémon shows up next time though.