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|| White-Void // Seven // Watch point ||

As the sun began to descend over the horizon, a tall tomcat made his way quietly towards the peek of Watch point. The path was rough and meant for experienced cats, but he was constantly fascinated by high grounds. He loved the feeling of being on top of the world, mainly thanks to Tabitha.. back when they used to be earth-tribemates. She had convinced him to make a nest a few ways farther than the rest, and the spot she had picked was situated in a bit of an altitude. He never really minded.. except when winter came. The nights got so cold.. he feared losing some of his limbs to frost bite. Thankfully though, he was alright.

After nearly reaching the top, Seven stopped, deciding to perch himself on a large blunt stone. It was a perfect place to lay down and observe the territory in all its glory. The dying sun bathed across the fields, making the scenery appear orange and pink at some parts. He smiled, enjoying the breeze up the Watch point. after a long day of training with his mentor, Sanguis, he though right to come and rest here for a while. He sighed, closing his eyes as he placed his head comfortable upon his paws. Solitude wasn't all that bad once you got used to it.

{ Lusa | Blue-White-Void | Watch Point }

The fresh adolescent waved her tail slightly as she clambered higher, the sun warming her back and glowing off the red rocks, turning them hot to the touch. However, Lusa knew where to step, and to anyone who might have seen her delicately picking her way up to the peak of the great orange outcrop, they would have recognized her experience. In truth Lusa loved climbing up here, because she could gaze out quite clearly at Fire Tribe and sometimes even trick herself into believing that the red rocks she sat on were the same as those scraping the distant sky. She missed her family. She wondered continually how they were faring, how Palette was doing now with so many kittens to care for. Lusa remembered how it felt to see her mother's dead eyes when she'd told her that Aunty Csilla was dead. There were no lies anymore. There was no softening the blow. Csilla was gone, gone till Lusa died too, and her little children had been left with only Palette and Cyrus and Damek.

Sometimes, though, Lusa felt close to her aunt when she sat on the Watchpoint. She gazed up at the stars by night and wondered if they were really the spirits' eyes glittering down at her. It hurt to realize that at only a year old, Lusa knew so many stars, but she didn't let herself cry. She had faith that she would see them all soon. Besides, at least she had Reuss and Tabitha now.

The white tabby had lost herself to her thoughts before she realized that she had almost run right over a curled figure, their head resting against crossed paws. Lusa jumped backward and felt her eyes fly wide open, and then she blinked quickly. It was Seven, the tomcat who fascinated her with his strange, velvet-like pelt and unassuming nature. A lot of toms she knew were very loud and confident (and boastful). Seven wasn't really any of those things. It was intriguing.

"I'm sorry!" Lusa mewed quickly, backing up several paces. "I didn't realize you were trying to sleep up here. I...I can leave, so you can do that."

|| White-Green Void // Seven ||

He could only hear the soft breeze whistling past his erected ears. Fur had finally started to grow around the nape of his neck and shoulders. He wondered if he'd get covered eventually. Would he really be able to turn into a short-haired tomcat someday? The thought made his whiskers twitch, a faint smile crossing the corner of his lips as he blinked open his eyes-- to then be suddenly startled by the blurred figure of a white cat padding up his way. He immediately shot his head up, his eyes round, wide open as he stared bewilderedly at the White-blue void. Her jump made him jerk, his ears flattened against his head as he lowered his head down, shifting his eyes nervously. He wasn't expecting anyone to come get him. Shouldn't he be here? Perhaps he was supposed to do something else down at camp. He pushed up, rising to his paws as he prepared himself to beg an apology. Though, as he opened his maw, ready to muster the words out, the she-cat stole his line and excused herself for her bold manners.

He felt-- taken aback by her words, his eyes wide as he stared right at her, unblinking and intense. Why was she apologizing? She had done nothing wrong! His lips quivered. "U-uhh ah--I don't mind. I mean, I wasn't sleeping I was just relaxing. It's nice here so I thought that.. it was probably the best place to--do that. You don't have to go. I should be the one asking that. You probably want to be alone, I would understand if that's the case. I can leave you to your thoughts, no problem. No problem at all," he swallowed hard. Was he talking too much? Maybe she'd take him for a weirdo. His lips screwed up as he tried to think of a better way to explain himself without sounding like a complete idiot.. or a coward. "W-what I'm trying to say.." his voice trailed off. Wait.. this she-cat was.. Lusa.. right? Oh, it was her. He would recognize her between thousands. The beautiful she-cat he had first met during his introduction to Void-Tribe. Her jolly nature captivated him, her long fur and her clean markings. He knew exactly who she was. He knew he was staring, though he couldn't really look away.

Eventually, he regained his composure and breathed in deeply. His words coming out less messy than earlier. "You can stay, I'd like the company," he finally meowed, laying himself down once more as he placed his head on his paws. He kept watching the she-cat, though less nervously this time. He seemed calmer.

{ Lusa | Blue-White-Void | Watch Point }

"Oh," Lusa said as she paused, her eyes widening slightly in concern as his lips pressed together and trembled as if he were afraid. She almost took a step forward, but before she could even do anything at all Seven was blurting out a great many words that didn't make much sense, really. Lusa blinked rapidly and then tilted her head slightly to listen. He hesitated after a bit, but Lusa wasn't the interrupting type, and she smiled slightly before he continued. Her blue eyes glowed in a friendly and encouraging way until he faltered and seemed to truly notice her. It wasn't as if he hadn't seen her when she'd almost stepped on him, but it felt as if Seven were just now realizing who she was. Lusa tilted her head back to normal and offered a small smile, uncertain with the silence and the clear tension in the skinny tom's shoulder, but then he took a deep breath and the air seemed to clear. She liked that.

"Well," Lusa mewed gratefully, her gaze sparkling, "that'd be real nice of you." She dipped her head just like Palette had taught her to when she was thankful and moved forward, not sitting at first but instead gazing out over the lands with a wistful expression. It contrasted with the smile on her face, which seemed to say that nothing equaled the heights here. She could see everything. She could even see the smoke from the forges in the distance, and it sent a pang of homesickness rushing through her before Lusa had to remember that it'd been half her lifetime since she'd lived in Fire Tribe. She didn't know why she'd been missing it so much lately. Maybe it was because the Spirits had ensured that it was impossible for her and Reuss to ever move back...

Lusa glanced back to Seven, her gaze clearing as she finally settled down on her haunches and swept her short tail over her paws. A new blue flower rustled quietly at its base from where she'd tucked it. "I thought I was the only one who liked coming up here," she admitted. "It's real peaceful and...well, it's warm." Lusa tilted her head back to gaze up at the sun as if viewing an old friend, her face blissfully spread with a smile. The rocks here were the warmest in all of Nandryx; there was no better place to sunbathe. Yet Lusa came here to see, not to sleep; she just so happened to enjoy the sun-washed rocks while she did so. "...Guess it was silly of me to think that nobody else would figure that out too, huh?"

|| White-green Void // Seven ||

If Seven was able to read her mind, to understand her thoughts like clear water, he'd object. She, alone, matched every bit of scenery that this land could offer. Though, unaware of the meaning in this smile of hers, Seven remained quiet, his eyes staring ahead as he watched the setting sun. It had already disappeared beyond the horizon, but the sun's light still rested over the land, illuminating it with soft pastel colours. It truly was a beautiful sight, and the pastel colours seemed to make everything much beautiful than they initially were. The grass looked cleaner, the rocks, smooth and colourful, the white of Lusa's fur glowed a soft pink. How was those colours affecting his look? Was it making him look nicer than what he truly was? He shifted a little, feeling a little lump at the back of his throat which he quickly cleared with a small cough.

"Well.. when I came here, I scented many other smells. Most of it belonged to cats, so.. I guess we're not the only ones who like this place. It wouldn't surprise me to be honest. The view is nice," he meowed nonchalantly, his face remained plain with no clear sign of emotion on it. He was mostly keeping himself reserved. As much as he felt comfortable in an 'one on one' conversation, he was still a little nervous. He couldn't really understand why, he just was. He shifted again. "Really, with just a 'sniff' you could've guessed it on your own. Are you usually distracted when you come here? I mean, I'd understand if you are, we're in Void-tribe's territory after all. Our home. But one can't be too careful. I'm just glad we haven't spotted any predators yet.. I mean, predators roaming in our territory."

{ Lusa | Blue-White-Void | Watch Point }

She noted his head turning, and she blinked slowly, gazing at the setting sun once more. It's very pretty, isn't it? Lusa didn't say that, though, because Reuss had always told her that was a very girly thing to say and Seven wasn't a girl. The other adolescent was glancing back at her, and Lusa's expression softened, her eyes warm. Alright, so maybe Seven wasn't a girl, but it seemed he could appreciate the beauty of a good sunset. His eyes traveled over the rocks and then her again, causing her to wait a few seconds until he moved on. His own fur was tinted a rosy-orange around his silhouette.

"That's true," Lusa agreed, nodding. Of course she'd smelled other cats on the rock, but it seemed rather silly to think that many knew of her own little place on the Watchpoint. Of course cats knew about the great tower of rock itself, for they often traveled up to the very topmost peak to keep guard of the territory, but Lusa much preferred this ledge that was almost at the top but not quite. It was enough to give her practically the same view and plenty of solitude. Seven, however, seemed a bit uncomfortable. She wondered if he was afraid of heights.

The patched tabby tilted her head slightly. "Well, sure," she mewed simply, "I only ever like to be alone when I don't want to talk much. And I usually don't want to talk much because I don't want to think right then. Or at least, I don't want to...think in front of others, because that can be hard." Lusa glanced unconsciously at the ground, thinking of all the things she'd come up here to ponder about in privacy lately, embarrassment hot for a quick second on her fur. Then it was gone and she blinked normally, glancing back to Seven with a warm and teasing expression. "It's a very good thing. It's also very good that nobody's tried to take our prey, or threaten the borders, or tease the patrols...." Lusa trailed off and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't think there's going to be a lot of trouble for a while. I mean, I don't know that, but I just...I kind of feel that. I feel like we're going to get a break."

|| White-green Void // Seven ||

The more he felt her eyes on him, the more the tom grew uncomfortable. What was it with her gaze that seemed to bother him so much. It wasn't the annoying type bother, it was only to explain how her gaze was powerful enough to make the tom feel-- incredibly self-conscious. Though, her soft words did calm him down. She was staring at him for how weird he looked.. right? She was simply enjoying the new colours the scenery was giving him. Perhaps was she intrigued by his half hairless body? Did it 'bother' her? So many questions flooded the tom's head, his eyes shifting as he tried his best not to get too distracting. He had been secretly hoping to catch the she-cat alone, mostly because he liked her presence and wanted to grow closer to her. But trying to get closer while surrounded by many other cats, including Tabitha and Roran, resulting in being quite difficult. It was pure luck that he had tumbled on her here-- or rather, she had tumbled on him here.

The thought brought a small smile to cross the tom's lips, his furry tail swishing happily behind his hairless form. And without noticing, his shoulders began to relax and so did the rest of his body. Though his voice remained the same, nonchalant. "You should trust your judgement more often, Lusa. We are cats blessed with the ability to see through fabric and space. I can tell that this hunch you're getting might be the very truth. And if that's the case, thank Spirits. With the winter we had, I kind of feel like my body is still recovering from all of it. I wouldn't be complaining for some peace a quite for a while," he chuckled softly to himself, lifting his head up to meet the she-cat's gaze, "It's.. okay to desire solitude. There's nothing wrong with that. And you are, again, right. I came especially here because the scent of cat was almost nonexistent here. I, too, seek for some peace and quiet. It helps me relax, helps me put order to this chaotic mind of mine. And, it helps me think, about Tern and Ghost. My sister and my best friend. They are in other tribes and I don't get to see them as much as I wish to. I'm thankful for mother and Sekhmet to be here. At least I get to spend time with my family a little more." he chattered, tilting his head as he silently wondered who else she had as a family here. Any other siblings, perhaps a parent?

{ Lusa | Blue-White-Void | Watch Point }

Seven still seemed a bit uncomfortable around her, but then again, he was probably remembering the first time they'd met and she'd promptly attached herself to his side. It was kind of a bad habit of hers, touching things that seemed intriguing, especially when they were alive. Like when she'd tried to touch Parsley and his big brother had knocked her clear away. Lusa shivered lightly at the memory and looked down at her feet for a moment, ashamed. She felt as if she'd matured more than she ever had throughout five months in a single one. Then again, she'd learned a great many things. She'd learned what death really was, and that all the cats she'd been waiting for to come home were never coming home, and that she had younger siblings and her father was probably going to become a loner when they got their tattoos. Lusa hoped one of them came here. She wanted a little sibling to cuddle at night when Reuss kicked her because he was restless, or to help train the way she always wished somebody would do for her. Phineus was supposed to be her mentor, but he daydreamed even more than she did. Lusa hadn't learned much at all. He did scholarly things and she just...bone crafted.

Though Seven, apparently, seemed to know about their powers quite well. He was secondary too, she could tell by the color on his head. She straightened proudly at the realization that hers was actually visible now- a neat little blue arrow pointing down to her pink, button nose- and purred. "I keep forgetting that. I mean- well, it's just that I don't get to train all that much. It's really weird switching from Air Tribe's powers to these ones. Nobody really knows how to use them." Lusa tipped her head. "...But you're right. I do get these feelings sometimes, so I guess that might be them. I wouldn't argue any peace, either." She forced a bright smile even though on the inside she hurt a little bit. Peace should have come when she was little, like her siblings. That was selfish, though. She was glad they wouldn't have to deal with the things she and Reuss had- then again, she and Reuss hadn't lost their mama before they could even see.

"Oh," Lusa said, taken aback by his change in subject. She opened her jaws to protest, to say that she really didn't like solitude, but in truth she'd started to enjoy it. It certainly had its perks. The Blue-White-Void tilted her head slightly and then slowly nodded, her eyes trained hesitantly on Seven's. "...Yeah, I...I don't know. I mean, I really love having all my friends here- well, almost all of them- and I gave up ever'thing to be with Reuss because he's my brother, but I also think I lost a lot. I don't really know how to tell Reuss about it. Or Tabby, honestly. I'm glad they're becoming friends though." Lusa looked thoughtful now, her gaze clouding and her thoughts drifting away from the tom in front of her. "I like to sit up here and just think, sometimes. I didn't use to think. I think I'd really surprise Reuss if he knew about it; he thinks I'm off training, but my mentor doesn't do so much. I try to see when the forges go on." Lusa raised a paw and pointed out in the distance, at the smoke filtering out the pink-strewn sky. "See that smoke? That's where my mama lives. I've got six baby siblings- actually, I'm sorry, it's really more like eleven now- and they all live there with my papa right now, too. My mama's the head smith and she always taught me about her job in the forges. I like to sit here and watch the smoke and remember all the stuff she showed me, and I like to guess at what it is she's doing to make all that." Lusa smiled wistfully. "I miss her. I'm glad I've got Reuss, though. More glad than anything in the world."

|| White-green Void // Seven

Well, let's say that her 'bad' habit and made Seven grow quite attached the she-cat for sure. Her sudden interest in his appearance made him believe that, perhaps, he wasn't as strange as he thought. His mother would often remind him of how special he was and how more interesting he was compared to the typical cat, though deep down, he wondered why he couldn't be just completely hairless, or short-haired, instead of standing in middle with half of half. If he had the knowledge of what had happened to Lusa when she tried touching Parsley, he would've done anything to make whoever had tossed her away, feel sorry they ever did. But that side of him was deeply buried and hidden inside of him. It had yet to come out, and it was probably for the best. He was good at keeping himself under control, with all of his training with his two mentors, Sanguis and Jack, he sometimes missed his long relaxing days in Earth-tribe. Though the nostalgia was brief, he had never felt at home there anyway.

"Ah, right," he murmured at her comment. It's true, they had little to no knowledge about their powers. Only the adults were able to fully comprehend the extend of their powers and abilities. They were still training. It was a bit unsettling to think that an adolescent from another tribe might be even more comfortable with their powers than they were. As much as it made sense, it was still something that bothered Seven. He wanted to be the best, to prove himself to his new tribe and family. To Ghost mostly. He smiled as she still agreed with him. Little by little, they'll start to understand, and they will be the best at using their new given powers.

When he sensed the change around Lusa's feelings, Seven became quiet, his ears perked as he brought his complete focus on the she-cat. Something.. was causing this pain inside of her, but what? Nostalgia perhaps? He felt the need to comfort her.. but his awkwardness and nervousness took over, preventing him from displaying any physical warmth towards the she-cat. As much as he wanted too.. he couldn't move. He lowered his head and listened. Maybe he could help her some other way? As she directed his attention towards Fire-Tribe's territory, Seven's eyes blinked, the smoke clear even this far. It couldn't be from the volcano, it was clearly coming out form the bottom ground. He squinted his eyes, wondering if he could even see from this distance. No luck. He could only listen to her explanation. "Oh.. forges, uh?" he murmured as he glanced over at her. The sadness in this she-cat's eyes.. he could see them now.

Without noticing, the tom elevated himself to his paws and closed the gap that separated them both. He flopped down next to her, and placed his head on top of her front paws, his eyes looking up at her still. "I'm sure they miss you too. But.. the only thing separating you from your family is the distance. Nothing physically stops you from visiting them. And as sad at it is to not be able to share a nest with them, or your warmth, it is still satisfying to be reunited with them, even if just for a minute. I treasure every second I have with my best friend. And I know that nothing could break our bond, not distance, not the tribe, not the tattoo. Whatever happens, you know where you belong and you know they'll always be there for you." he nuzzled her chest affectionately, trying his best to reduce this she-cat's pain as much as he could. "Like you said earlier, at least you have your brother here, and Tabitha. Remember that not every cat have the chance to reside in the same tribe as their siblings or family. You're more fortunate than you think. I wish I could be with Ghost, but this only gives me the more reason to better myself, so that one day, I can protect him."

{ Lusa | Blue-White-Void | Watch Point }

The pale she-cat turned her head slightly to look at him, eyes quiet and thoughtful as ever, but a bit clearer now. A small smile grew across her face. "Forges," she agreed quite happily, though her mood was still a bit dampened. "They make pretty things there, with the fires. My mama's very good at it. I always wanted to be as good a crafter as she was a smith, but I think that was a little silly of me. They're very different trades." Lusa blinked suddenly as if she'd just remembered. "And I'm not a crafter anymore." That was the saddest part, Lusa realized, the fact that she was expected to be a scholar and use her brain to better her Tribe. She was only good with her paws, really. And she sure wasn't a good fighter, so that kind of automatically cancelled out soldiering. She was really only good at the "special" professions, which Palette claimed there was nothing wrong with, and Lusa agreed with that thought fullheartedly.

Void Tribe, though, had no special profession. It was a tragedy.

Lusa's chin lifted in surprise when Seven suddenly got up and padded over to her, his soft, velvety shoulder actually brushing hers as he settled back down again right next to her. A smile grew again and she tilted her head at him, her gaze warming with gratitude and companionship. This felt nice. "I know they do," she agreed, "and I miss them a lot, too. I think I'd see them a lot more if everyone was a little happier right now. I don't want my little siblings thinking that anything is wrong." Lusa settled down onto her belly absent-mindedly, her shoulder brushing Seven's again. She didn't seem to notice it, but she did notice when the tabby tom brushed his cheek against her chest fur. The adolescent quietly purred, leaning her head against Seven for a moment and wondering in awe at the feel of his fur again. It was like nothing she'd ever touched before. Seven acted like he didn't like it so much, but Lusa thought it was wonderful. She bet it scarred easily though. Lusa was one of the only adolescents with scars, and hers was long and ugly and hardly even hidden at all even with her long, wispy fur. It was a good thing she didn't really care about scars.

"There's so many nice cats here," Lusa sighed blissfully. "Tabby's been my friend since kithood. I missed her a lot when she was in Earth Tribe. I also missed her brother, and I really missed seeing Lee. He's my brother's best friend," she added, glancing at Seven. "He's a former Fire Triber and he's got patches like clouds all over. Reuss really likes him. I'm real glad that he's happy here, and I'm even more glad that I can be happy with him. So I guess...even though I miss my mama and my papa, and now my little siblings, I'd still rather be with my friends and my brother. And that includes you!"

|| White-green void // Seven ||

He listened attentively as she described Fire-Tribe's profession with so much interest. If she hadn't told him her former assigned tribe, he'd be certain that she was a fire cat. Her expertise about Fire-Tribe's hobbies, professions and materials really surprised him. It also made him realize how little he really cared about professions. He wasn't even sure what Earth-tribe's profession was, despite him staying there for a few months. He smiled, enjoying that spark in her eyes whenever she spoke about Fire-tribe and her mother. He could tell that she was closer to her than her father.. just like him. He was aware of his father's presence in Shadow-tribe, but he had never really felt the need to know the tom further. He only truly cared about his mother. He adored her, she meant everything to him. And the more she spoke, the more he admired her, respected her. "You know, you don't have to forget. I'm sure you can still use your paws for good, even in Void-tribe. Perhaps you could use your expertise for the good of this tribe. We'd be coming to you if we ever desire one of your creations. I know I would. I personally prefer accessories made out of bone. Or teeth." he chuckled, growing quite once more as he kept listening to her.

The purr vibrating through her chest reassured him, causing him to join in with his own purr. His purr sounded lower and more raspy than the she-cat's, which added a little to his masculine look. "Plus, you'll be able to see them again. And who knows, maybe one of your younger siblings will join us in Void-tribe," he smiled reassuringly at her. Hearing about all of her friends and acquaintances in this tribe made the tom feel a little.. introverted. They all sounded so interesting, especially Elliot and Reuss, but the tom was the coward type, always keeping himself away and avoiding other cats' presences. Deep down, he was convinced that they wouldn't like him. Plus, he wasn't the best at keeping a conversation running, especially in public. He was much more comfortable in an 'one on one' conversation.. just like right now, with Lusa. He was friends with Tabitha and Dexter, so he could relate a little with the beautiful splotched tabby she-cat. Still, he envied her. Though as she finished, Seven had failed to realize that, not only was she done, but she had also included him into her circle of friends. It took him a few heartbeats to realize. And when he did, he jerked with surprise, blinking furiously as he shot his head up and stared straight at her. His mouth parted slightly, though words took a moment before exiting his mouth. He seemed to still be processing her words.

"M-me? Y-your friend?" he gulped, his face flushing. "You see me as a friend, really? B-but we hardly know each other, can we really be?" it wasn't like he didn't want to. He was actually touched.. beyond words. He hadn't expected it.. especially from her. And for her to want him as a friend.. it meant so much. He was so grateful to her. Not only that, but it also helped him feel a little more confident around her. A sheepish smiled crossed his maw as he used a paw to hide half of his face, his skin warm to the touch as the heat spread all over him.

{ Lusa | Blue-White-Void | Watch Point }

A soft breeze rustled her fur and she leaned up her head so that it could tickle her chin, basking in the scent of honeysuckles and rocks and the coming evening that she could identify but never explain aloud. She heard Seven's words, and she nodded very faintly, her eyes opening again with a sparkle. The adolescent glanced back at him and smiled gratefully. "Mister Coud already took a flower necklace I made," she admitted shyly, though she looked pleased beyond words that someone had actually liked it. Lusa knew now that she was good. It had just taken her a while. The Silver-Void had even hung it in his den. It was so nice of him that it'd actually brought tears to her eyes. At first she'd meant it for Kyle, but the Gold-Void had been so mean to Reuss that day that Lusa had been forced to be mean herself so he would straighten up some. It always hurt, being mean, but sometimes she had to do so even if just to shock others back into reality. She never yelled, but simply saying something that was bluntly honest tended to draw another cat up short, especially Kyle. At least she found out that later he'd apologized. She'd just walked away and stared at the little bone necklace before she realized that Coud had followed her.

Lusa's eyes lit up at Seven's addition. "Oh, we use teeth too!" she added eagerly, before she seemed to realize that she had still included herself with the bone crafters. She hesitated, her heart pounding, before she shrugged as if it were nothing. "My mistake. I mean...the bone crafters use teeth. It's kind of the same as bone, really, except they're a bit harder. My first mentor, he had a big gem necklace with two huge fangs on it. It was really cool."

Seven's purr mingled with hers, and she was absolutely delighted. It wasn't often that she got to make a new friend like this, or when she had the chance to enjoy the sunset with somebody who didn't think it was a waste of time or "dumb." The Blue-White-Void swished her tail happily across the rocks behind them, gazing out at the smoke again with excitement. "I really do hope so." She wished that Drake had moved to Void Tribe, too, so Palette and Damek would know all their kits were together, but the new litter changed things. Now she hoped that if any kits went to Shadow Tribe, he would be there for them- of course he would. Drake was the best big brother ever! And Lusa was lucky enough to already have been blessed with growing up alongside Reuss again.

"Yeah, you're my friend," Lusa said brightly, her eyes warm and slightly amused at Seven's shocked reaction. He seemed to be trying not to smile, looking so much comfortable than before, his paw clutching at his jaw to hide it from her, and she laughed. It looked so sweet. "See, that's why! Because you're so nice. See, I think I get it- you're real shy with a lot of cats around, but right now, you've been so nice to me that I think I understand you now. You're a bit nervous around crowds, right? I understand that sometimes. But it's not like you don't want friends. You're just not used to them! Your smile says all that." Lusa tapped his cheek with a paw very lightly, almost playfully. "My mama, she says that the smile's a window into the soul. So I think I just saw your soul right then."

|| White-green void // Seven ||

Her every move captivated him. He could not stop from staring, her cute ears, her jaw line, her delicate muzzle and her beautiful silky-like fur.. it all added up to her natural beauty. He couldn't muster how beautiful this white and blue void was. He had hardly ever witnessed beauty like hers. He felt himself getting choked up just thinking of how close the two were of each other. He couldn't hold the stare, and soon, drooped his eyes to stare at his own tabby paws, his deep amber eyes shifting occasionally as he forced the image of her off his mind. He could hardly concentrate on the topic at hand now. 'What a lucky tom,' was all he could think as she so kindly shared her personal achieved goals with him. If he was lucky enough to get a flower crown from her--- he'd probably wear it everyday, despite it making him look odd or girly, he'd still wear it. A small smile began to quiver its way up his maw, making him flush once more. Why was he acting in such a way? They were simply friends. Just plain friends. Just friends. Friends. The words echoed in his head as though cruelly reminding him of his rightful place. He only deserved to be her friend.. nothing more.

"Oh?" he murmured as he brought his eyes upon his necklace, a gift from a dear friend. He smiled as he inspected it. Was this necklace done by a bone-crafter then? Perhaps so. It made him smile to think that he was wearing a bone-crafter's creation. He puffed out his torso with mild pride.

"Yeah, you're my friend,"

Her sudden words caught him off guard and he immediately shrunk back down, his eyes averting hers as he felt the need to evade her gaze. Her eyes felt too intense for him to properly hold them. And the more she spoke, the more he felt embarrassed. Was she making fun of him? Couldn't be, her voice sounded so sincere. Then why was it making him feel the more flustered? He gritted his teeth, his face wrinkling as he felt the blush deepen on his face. He suddenly rose to his paws, clearing his throat, cutting her off as he spoke again. "S-shouldn't we get back now? The sun has already set and night will fall soon. We still don't know our territory by heart, it'll be hard to find camp when its pitch black. So.. uh.. let's go. I need to fetch some of my kills anyway. I'll see you around Lusa," he meowed almost desperately as he quickly began to step down on some rocks. His whiskers twisted along with his growing flush. His heart was pounding as though he was being ambushed by a predator. What was happening to him?

But that touch of hers.. it chilled her cheek and made it grow numb the moment her paw was taken away. He could still feel it resting on his cheek. It gave him an odd feeling of satisfaction.. but at the same time, it caused tension. How could you even be relaxed when tensed? 'I'll never wash this cheek ever again..'

{ Lusa | Blue-White-Void | Watch Point }

The smaller adolescent smiled reassuringly, though Seven seemed a bit...misplaced, somehow. Not as if he didn't belong there, but as if he thought he didn't. Lusa attributed it to the height. Then again, if he was scared of heights...why was he up in here in the first place?

Maybe he likes to be alone. Lusa blinked, thinking of something. Maybe being up high with other cats makes him nervous. What if they slip? That makes sense.

She leaned forward slightly, curious, when Seven's attention drifted to his own necklace. As she looked at it, she could actually make out the symbol carved into the bone piece, and a smile lit her features as she looked up at Seven's amber gaze. "Did your friend make that for you?" she asked, tilting her head and tucking her paws under her chest fur. It tumbled over the curl of her ankles to splay across the rock face, painted a rosy-gold in the sunlight, but Lusa didn't pay anything much mind save for Seven. It was obviously very important to him, and Lusa loved accessories even more if they had a story, or a history. Her own prized possession was very special to her not just because her mother had given it to her, but because Palette herself had worn that piece for so long. And even before Palette had worn it, her brother Drake had made it for her as a surprise, and crafted it based off a necklace that Damek had given to her months before even Drake was born! It'd been broken in an accident, Drake had said, but he'd made her a new one with the old pieces to fix it. And then Palette had entrusted the new pieces to her children. Lusa couldn't have been happier with it. She often touched the beautiful blue jewels to bring herself comfort, because the simple sleek surface of them all reminded her of nestling into Palette's side and toying with the centerpiece to calm her nerves.

Lusa blinked quickly, unaware that her gaze had clouded with memories as Seven had gotten to his feet. She looked up at him in surprise- and a bit of hidden dismay- as the other Void Triber moved away, hurrying down the rocks. Though Lusa felt a twinge of disappointment, she couldn't blame him if he'd gotten startled. She wasn't the best company when she drifted off like that.

"I'll see you soon!" she called after, a note of hope coloring her voice as his distinct pelt disappeared down the shadowed rocks. She kept watching after them even when Seven was long gone. Then, when Lusa was quite sure that she was completely alone, she turned around and curled up to watch the sun, lying across the ghostly warmth of the place where Seven had been lying before.

Description
|| White-Void // Seven // Watch point ||

As the sun began to descend over the horizon, a tall tomcat made his way quietly towards the peek of Watch point. The path was rough and meant for experienced cats, but he was constantly fascinated by high grounds. He loved the feeling of being on top of the world, mainly thanks to Tabitha.. back when they used to be earth-tribemates. She had convinced him to make a nest a few ways farther than the rest, and the spot she had picked was situated in a bit of an altitude. He never really minded.. except when winter came. The nights got so cold.. he feared losing some of his limbs to frost bite. Thankfully though, he was alright.

After nearly reaching the top, Seven stopped, deciding to perch himself on a large blunt stone. It was a perfect place to lay down and observe the territory in all its glory. The dying sun bathed across the fields, making the scenery appear orange and pink at some parts. He smiled, enjoying the breeze up the Watch point. after a long day of training with his mentor, Sanguis, he though right to come and rest here for a while. He sighed, closing his eyes as he placed his head comfortable upon his paws. Solitude wasn't all that bad once you got used to it.

{ Lusa | Blue-White-Void | Watch Point }

The fresh adolescent waved her tail slightly as she clambered higher, the sun warming her back and glowing off the red rocks, turning them hot to the touch. However, Lusa knew where to step, and to anyone who might have seen her delicately picking her way up to the peak of the great orange outcrop, they would have recognized her experience. In truth Lusa loved climbing up here, because she could gaze out quite clearly at Fire Tribe and sometimes even trick herself into believing that the red rocks she sat on were the same as those scraping the distant sky. She missed her family. She wondered continually how they were faring, how Palette was doing now with so many kittens to care for. Lusa remembered how it felt to see her mother's dead eyes when she'd told her that Aunty Csilla was dead. There were no lies anymore. There was no softening the blow. Csilla was gone, gone till Lusa died too, and her little children had been left with only Palette and Cyrus and Damek.

Sometimes, though, Lusa felt close to her aunt when she sat on the Watchpoint. She gazed up at the stars by night and wondered if they were really the spirits' eyes glittering down at her. It hurt to realize that at only a year old, Lusa knew so many stars, but she didn't let herself cry. She had faith that she would see them all soon. Besides, at least she had Reuss and Tabitha now.

The white tabby had lost herself to her thoughts before she realized that she had almost run right over a curled figure, their head resting against crossed paws. Lusa jumped backward and felt her eyes fly wide open, and then she blinked quickly. It was Seven, the tomcat who fascinated her with his strange, velvet-like pelt and unassuming nature. A lot of toms she knew were very loud and confident (and boastful). Seven wasn't really any of those things. It was intriguing.

"I'm sorry!" Lusa mewed quickly, backing up several paces. "I didn't realize you were trying to sleep up here. I...I can leave, so you can do that."

|| White-Green Void // Seven ||

He could only hear the soft breeze whistling past his erected ears. Fur had finally started to grow around the nape of his neck and shoulders. He wondered if he'd get covered eventually. Would he really be able to turn into a short-haired tomcat someday? The thought made his whiskers twitch, a faint smile crossing the corner of his lips as he blinked open his eyes-- to then be suddenly startled by the blurred figure of a white cat padding up his way. He immediately shot his head up, his eyes round, wide open as he stared bewilderedly at the White-blue void. Her jump made him jerk, his ears flattened against his head as he lowered his head down, shifting his eyes nervously. He wasn't expecting anyone to come get him. Shouldn't he be here? Perhaps he was supposed to do something else down at camp. He pushed up, rising to his paws as he prepared himself to beg an apology. Though, as he opened his maw, ready to muster the words out, the she-cat stole his line and excused herself for her bold manners.

He felt-- taken aback by her words, his eyes wide as he stared right at her, unblinking and intense. Why was she apologizing? She had done nothing wrong! His lips quivered. "U-uhh ah--I don't mind. I mean, I wasn't sleeping I was just relaxing. It's nice here so I thought that.. it was probably the best place to--do that. You don't have to go. I should be the one asking that. You probably want to be alone, I would understand if that's the case. I can leave you to your thoughts, no problem. No problem at all," he swallowed hard. Was he talking too much? Maybe she'd take him for a weirdo. His lips screwed up as he tried to think of a better way to explain himself without sounding like a complete idiot.. or a coward. "W-what I'm trying to say.." his voice trailed off. Wait.. this she-cat was.. Lusa.. right? Oh, it was her. He would recognize her between thousands. The beautiful she-cat he had first met during his introduction to Void-Tribe. Her jolly nature captivated him, her long fur and her clean markings. He knew exactly who she was. He knew he was staring, though he couldn't really look away.

Eventually, he regained his composure and breathed in deeply. His words coming out less messy than earlier. "You can stay, I'd like the company," he finally meowed, laying himself down once more as he placed his head on his paws. He kept watching the she-cat, though less nervously this time. He seemed calmer.

{ Lusa | Blue-White-Void | Watch Point }

"Oh," Lusa said as she paused, her eyes widening slightly in concern as his lips pressed together and trembled as if he were afraid. She almost took a step forward, but before she could even do anything at all Seven was blurting out a great many words that didn't make much sense, really. Lusa blinked rapidly and then tilted her head slightly to listen. He hesitated after a bit, but Lusa wasn't the interrupting type, and she smiled slightly before he continued. Her blue eyes glowed in a friendly and encouraging way until he faltered and seemed to truly notice her. It wasn't as if he hadn't seen her when she'd almost stepped on him, but it felt as if Seven were just now realizing who she was. Lusa tilted her head back to normal and offered a small smile, uncertain with the silence and the clear tension in the skinny tom's shoulder, but then he took a deep breath and the air seemed to clear. She liked that.

"Well," Lusa mewed gratefully, her gaze sparkling, "that'd be real nice of you." She dipped her head just like Palette had taught her to when she was thankful and moved forward, not sitting at first but instead gazing out over the lands with a wistful expression. It contrasted with the smile on her face, which seemed to say that nothing equaled the heights here. She could see everything. She could even see the smoke from the forges in the distance, and it sent a pang of homesickness rushing through her before Lusa had to remember that it'd been half her lifetime since she'd lived in Fire Tribe. She didn't know why she'd been missing it so much lately. Maybe it was because the Spirits had ensured that it was impossible for her and Reuss to ever move back...

Lusa glanced back to Seven, her gaze clearing as she finally settled down on her haunches and swept her short tail over her paws. A new blue flower rustled quietly at its base from where she'd tucked it. "I thought I was the only one who liked coming up here," she admitted. "It's real peaceful and...well, it's warm." Lusa tilted her head back to gaze up at the sun as if viewing an old friend, her face blissfully spread with a smile. The rocks here were the warmest in all of Nandryx; there was no better place to sunbathe. Yet Lusa came here to see, not to sleep; she just so happened to enjoy the sun-washed rocks while she did so. "...Guess it was silly of me to think that nobody else would figure that out too, huh?"

|| White-green Void // Seven ||

If Seven was able to read her mind, to understand her thoughts like clear water, he'd object. She, alone, matched every bit of scenery that this land could offer. Though, unaware of the meaning in this smile of hers, Seven remained quiet, his eyes staring ahead as he watched the setting sun. It had already disappeared beyond the horizon, but the sun's light still rested over the land, illuminating it with soft pastel colours. It truly was a beautiful sight, and the pastel colours seemed to make everything much beautiful than they initially were. The grass looked cleaner, the rocks, smooth and colourful, the white of Lusa's fur glowed a soft pink. How was those colours affecting his look? Was it making him look nicer than what he truly was? He shifted a little, feeling a little lump at the back of his throat which he quickly cleared with a small cough.

"Well.. when I came here, I scented many other smells. Most of it belonged to cats, so.. I guess we're not the only ones who like this place. It wouldn't surprise me to be honest. The view is nice," he meowed nonchalantly, his face remained plain with no clear sign of emotion on it. He was mostly keeping himself reserved. As much as he felt comfortable in an 'one on one' conversation, he was still a little nervous. He couldn't really understand why, he just was. He shifted again. "Really, with just a 'sniff' you could've guessed it on your own. Are you usually distracted when you come here? I mean, I'd understand if you are, we're in Void-tribe's territory after all. Our home. But one can't be too careful. I'm just glad we haven't spotted any predators yet.. I mean, predators roaming in our territory."

{ Lusa | Blue-White-Void | Watch Point }

She noted his head turning, and she blinked slowly, gazing at the setting sun once more. It's very pretty, isn't it? Lusa didn't say that, though, because Reuss had always told her that was a very girly thing to say and Seven wasn't a girl. The other adolescent was glancing back at her, and Lusa's expression softened, her eyes warm. Alright, so maybe Seven wasn't a girl, but it seemed he could appreciate the beauty of a good sunset. His eyes traveled over the rocks and then her again, causing her to wait a few seconds until he moved on. His own fur was tinted a rosy-orange around his silhouette.

"That's true," Lusa agreed, nodding. Of course she'd smelled other cats on the rock, but it seemed rather silly to think that many knew of her own little place on the Watchpoint. Of course cats knew about the great tower of rock itself, for they often traveled up to the very topmost peak to keep guard of the territory, but Lusa much preferred this ledge that was almost at the top but not quite. It was enough to give her practically the same view and plenty of solitude. Seven, however, seemed a bit uncomfortable. She wondered if he was afraid of heights.

The patched tabby tilted her head slightly. "Well, sure," she mewed simply, "I only ever like to be alone when I don't want to talk much. And I usually don't want to talk much because I don't want to think right then. Or at least, I don't want to...think in front of others, because that can be hard." Lusa glanced unconsciously at the ground, thinking of all the things she'd come up here to ponder about in privacy lately, embarrassment hot for a quick second on her fur. Then it was gone and she blinked normally, glancing back to Seven with a warm and teasing expression. "It's a very good thing. It's also very good that nobody's tried to take our prey, or threaten the borders, or tease the patrols...." Lusa trailed off and shrugged her shoulders. "I don't think there's going to be a lot of trouble for a while. I mean, I don't know that, but I just...I kind of feel that. I feel like we're going to get a break."

|| White-green Void // Seven ||

The more he felt her eyes on him, the more the tom grew uncomfortable. What was it with her gaze that seemed to bother him so much. It wasn't the annoying type bother, it was only to explain how her gaze was powerful enough to make the tom feel-- incredibly self-conscious. Though, her soft words did calm him down. She was staring at him for how weird he looked.. right? She was simply enjoying the new colours the scenery was giving him. Perhaps was she intrigued by his half hairless body? Did it 'bother' her? So many questions flooded the tom's head, his eyes shifting as he tried his best not to get too distracting. He had been secretly hoping to catch the she-cat alone, mostly because he liked her presence and wanted to grow closer to her. But trying to get closer while surrounded by many other cats, including Tabitha and Roran, resulting in being quite difficult. It was pure luck that he had tumbled on her here-- or rather, she had tumbled on him here.

The thought brought a small smile to cross the tom's lips, his furry tail swishing happily behind his hairless form. And without noticing, his shoulders began to relax and so did the rest of his body. Though his voice remained the same, nonchalant. "You should trust your judgement more often, Lusa. We are cats blessed with the ability to see through fabric and space. I can tell that this hunch you're getting might be the very truth. And if that's the case, thank Spirits. With the winter we had, I kind of feel like my body is still recovering from all of it. I wouldn't be complaining for some peace a quite for a while," he chuckled softly to himself, lifting his head up to meet the she-cat's gaze, "It's.. okay to desire solitude. There's nothing wrong with that. And you are, again, right. I came especially here because the scent of cat was almost nonexistent here. I, too, seek for some peace and quiet. It helps me relax, helps me put order to this chaotic mind of mine. And, it helps me think, about Tern and Ghost. My sister and my best friend. They are in other tribes and I don't get to see them as much as I wish to. I'm thankful for mother and Sekhmet to be here. At least I get to spend time with my family a little more." he chattered, tilting his head as he silently wondered who else she had as a family here. Any other siblings, perhaps a parent?

{ Lusa | Blue-White-Void | Watch Point }

Seven still seemed a bit uncomfortable around her, but then again, he was probably remembering the first time they'd met and she'd promptly attached herself to his side. It was kind of a bad habit of hers, touching things that seemed intriguing, especially when they were alive. Like when she'd tried to touch Parsley and his big brother had knocked her clear away. Lusa shivered lightly at the memory and looked down at her feet for a moment, ashamed. She felt as if she'd matured more than she ever had throughout five months in a single one. Then again, she'd learned a great many things. She'd learned what death really was, and that all the cats she'd been waiting for to come home were never coming home, and that she had younger siblings and her father was probably going to become a loner when they got their tattoos. Lusa hoped one of them came here. She wanted a little sibling to cuddle at night when Reuss kicked her because he was restless, or to help train the way she always wished somebody would do for her. Phineus was supposed to be her mentor, but he daydreamed even more than she did. Lusa hadn't learned much at all. He did scholarly things and she just...bone crafted.

Though Seven, apparently, seemed to know about their powers quite well. He was secondary too, she could tell by the color on his head. She straightened proudly at the realization that hers was actually visible now- a neat little blue arrow pointing down to her pink, button nose- and purred. "I keep forgetting that. I mean- well, it's just that I don't get to train all that much. It's really weird switching from Air Tribe's powers to these ones. Nobody really knows how to use them." Lusa tipped her head. "...But you're right. I do get these feelings sometimes, so I guess that might be them. I wouldn't argue any peace, either." She forced a bright smile even though on the inside she hurt a little bit. Peace should have come when she was little, like her siblings. That was selfish, though. She was glad they wouldn't have to deal with the things she and Reuss had- then again, she and Reuss hadn't lost their mama before they could even see.

"Oh," Lusa said, taken aback by his change in subject. She opened her jaws to protest, to say that she really didn't like solitude, but in truth she'd started to enjoy it. It certainly had its perks. The Blue-White-Void tilted her head slightly and then slowly nodded, her eyes trained hesitantly on Seven's. "...Yeah, I...I don't know. I mean, I really love having all my friends here- well, almost all of them- and I gave up ever'thing to be with Reuss because he's my brother, but I also think I lost a lot. I don't really know how to tell Reuss about it. Or Tabby, honestly. I'm glad they're becoming friends though." Lusa looked thoughtful now, her gaze clouding and her thoughts drifting away from the tom in front of her. "I like to sit up here and just think, sometimes. I didn't use to think. I think I'd really surprise Reuss if he knew about it; he thinks I'm off training, but my mentor doesn't do so much. I try to see when the forges go on." Lusa raised a paw and pointed out in the distance, at the smoke filtering out the pink-strewn sky. "See that smoke? That's where my mama lives. I've got six baby siblings- actually, I'm sorry, it's really more like eleven now- and they all live there with my papa right now, too. My mama's the head smith and she always taught me about her job in the forges. I like to sit here and watch the smoke and remember all the stuff she showed me, and I like to guess at what it is she's doing to make all that." Lusa smiled wistfully. "I miss her. I'm glad I've got Reuss, though. More glad than anything in the world."

|| White-green Void // Seven

Well, let's say that her 'bad' habit and made Seven grow quite attached the she-cat for sure. Her sudden interest in his appearance made him believe that, perhaps, he wasn't as strange as he thought. His mother would often remind him of how special he was and how more interesting he was compared to the typical cat, though deep down, he wondered why he couldn't be just completely hairless, or short-haired, instead of standing in middle with half of half. If he had the knowledge of what had happened to Lusa when she tried touching Parsley, he would've done anything to make whoever had tossed her away, feel sorry they ever did. But that side of him was deeply buried and hidden inside of him. It had yet to come out, and it was probably for the best. He was good at keeping himself under control, with all of his training with his two mentors, Sanguis and Jack, he sometimes missed his long relaxing days in Earth-tribe. Though the nostalgia was brief, he had never felt at home there anyway.

"Ah, right," he murmured at her comment. It's true, they had little to no knowledge about their powers. Only the adults were able to fully comprehend the extend of their powers and abilities. They were still training. It was a bit unsettling to think that an adolescent from another tribe might be even more comfortable with their powers than they were. As much as it made sense, it was still something that bothered Seven. He wanted to be the best, to prove himself to his new tribe and family. To Ghost mostly. He smiled as she still agreed with him. Little by little, they'll start to understand, and they will be the best at using their new given powers.

When he sensed the change around Lusa's feelings, Seven became quiet, his ears perked as he brought his complete focus on the she-cat. Something.. was causing this pain inside of her, but what? Nostalgia perhaps? He felt the need to comfort her.. but his awkwardness and nervousness took over, preventing him from displaying any physical warmth towards the she-cat. As much as he wanted too.. he couldn't move. He lowered his head and listened. Maybe he could help her some other way? As she directed his attention towards Fire-Tribe's territory, Seven's eyes blinked, the smoke clear even this far. It couldn't be from the volcano, it was clearly coming out form the bottom ground. He squinted his eyes, wondering if he could even see from this distance. No luck. He could only listen to her explanation. "Oh.. forges, uh?" he murmured as he glanced over at her. The sadness in this she-cat's eyes.. he could see them now.

Without noticing, the tom elevated himself to his paws and closed the gap that separated them both. He flopped down next to her, and placed his head on top of her front paws, his eyes looking up at her still. "I'm sure they miss you too. But.. the only thing separating you from your family is the distance. Nothing physically stops you from visiting them. And as sad at it is to not be able to share a nest with them, or your warmth, it is still satisfying to be reunited with them, even if just for a minute. I treasure every second I have with my best friend. And I know that nothing could break our bond, not distance, not the tribe, not the tattoo. Whatever happens, you know where you belong and you know they'll always be there for you." he nuzzled her chest affectionately, trying his best to reduce this she-cat's pain as much as he could. "Like you said earlier, at least you have your brother here, and Tabitha. Remember that not every cat have the chance to reside in the same tribe as their siblings or family. You're more fortunate than you think. I wish I could be with Ghost, but this only gives me the more reason to better myself, so that one day, I can protect him."

{ Lusa | Blue-White-Void | Watch Point }

The pale she-cat turned her head slightly to look at him, eyes quiet and thoughtful as ever, but a bit clearer now. A small smile grew across her face. "Forges," she agreed quite happily, though her mood was still a bit dampened. "They make pretty things there, with the fires. My mama's very good at it. I always wanted to be as good a crafter as she was a smith, but I think that was a little silly of me. They're very different trades." Lusa blinked suddenly as if she'd just remembered. "And I'm not a crafter anymore." That was the saddest part, Lusa realized, the fact that she was expected to be a scholar and use her brain to better her Tribe. She was only good with her paws, really. And she sure wasn't a good fighter, so that kind of automatically cancelled out soldiering. She was really only good at the "special" professions, which Palette claimed there was nothing wrong with, and Lusa agreed with that thought fullheartedly.

Void Tribe, though, had no special profession. It was a tragedy.

Lusa's chin lifted in surprise when Seven suddenly got up and padded over to her, his soft, velvety shoulder actually brushing hers as he settled back down again right next to her. A smile grew again and she tilted her head at him, her gaze warming with gratitude and companionship. This felt nice. "I know they do," she agreed, "and I miss them a lot, too. I think I'd see them a lot more if everyone was a little happier right now. I don't want my little siblings thinking that anything is wrong." Lusa settled down onto her belly absent-mindedly, her shoulder brushing Seven's again. She didn't seem to notice it, but she did notice when the tabby tom brushed his cheek against her chest fur. The adolescent quietly purred, leaning her head against Seven for a moment and wondering in awe at the feel of his fur again. It was like nothing she'd ever touched before. Seven acted like he didn't like it so much, but Lusa thought it was wonderful. She bet it scarred easily though. Lusa was one of the only adolescents with scars, and hers was long and ugly and hardly even hidden at all even with her long, wispy fur. It was a good thing she didn't really care about scars.

"There's so many nice cats here," Lusa sighed blissfully. "Tabby's been my friend since kithood. I missed her a lot when she was in Earth Tribe. I also missed her brother, and I really missed seeing Lee. He's my brother's best friend," she added, glancing at Seven. "He's a former Fire Triber and he's got patches like clouds all over. Reuss really likes him. I'm real glad that he's happy here, and I'm even more glad that I can be happy with him. So I guess...even though I miss my mama and my papa, and now my little siblings, I'd still rather be with my friends and my brother. And that includes you!"

|| White-green void // Seven ||

He listened attentively as she described Fire-Tribe's profession with so much interest. If she hadn't told him her former assigned tribe, he'd be certain that she was a fire cat. Her expertise about Fire-Tribe's hobbies, professions and materials really surprised him. It also made him realize how little he really cared about professions. He wasn't even sure what Earth-tribe's profession was, despite him staying there for a few months. He smiled, enjoying that spark in her eyes whenever she spoke about Fire-tribe and her mother. He could tell that she was closer to her than her father.. just like him. He was aware of his father's presence in Shadow-tribe, but he had never really felt the need to know the tom further. He only truly cared about his mother. He adored her, she meant everything to him. And the more she spoke, the more he admired her, respected her. "You know, you don't have to forget. I'm sure you can still use your paws for good, even in Void-tribe. Perhaps you could use your expertise for the good of this tribe. We'd be coming to you if we ever desire one of your creations. I know I would. I personally prefer accessories made out of bone. Or teeth." he chuckled, growing quite once more as he kept listening to her.

The purr vibrating through her chest reassured him, causing him to join in with his own purr. His purr sounded lower and more raspy than the she-cat's, which added a little to his masculine look. "Plus, you'll be able to see them again. And who knows, maybe one of your younger siblings will join us in Void-tribe," he smiled reassuringly at her. Hearing about all of her friends and acquaintances in this tribe made the tom feel a little.. introverted. They all sounded so interesting, especially Elliot and Reuss, but the tom was the coward type, always keeping himself away and avoiding other cats' presences. Deep down, he was convinced that they wouldn't like him. Plus, he wasn't the best at keeping a conversation running, especially in public. He was much more comfortable in an 'one on one' conversation.. just like right now, with Lusa. He was friends with Tabitha and Dexter, so he could relate a little with the beautiful splotched tabby she-cat. Still, he envied her. Though as she finished, Seven had failed to realize that, not only was she done, but she had also included him into her circle of friends. It took him a few heartbeats to realize. And when he did, he jerked with surprise, blinking furiously as he shot his head up and stared straight at her. His mouth parted slightly, though words took a moment before exiting his mouth. He seemed to still be processing her words.

"M-me? Y-your friend?" he gulped, his face flushing. "You see me as a friend, really? B-but we hardly know each other, can we really be?" it wasn't like he didn't want to. He was actually touched.. beyond words. He hadn't expected it.. especially from her. And for her to want him as a friend.. it meant so much. He was so grateful to her. Not only that, but it also helped him feel a little more confident around her. A sheepish smiled crossed his maw as he used a paw to hide half of his face, his skin warm to the touch as the heat spread all over him.

{ Lusa | Blue-White-Void | Watch Point }

A soft breeze rustled her fur and she leaned up her head so that it could tickle her chin, basking in the scent of honeysuckles and rocks and the coming evening that she could identify but never explain aloud. She heard Seven's words, and she nodded very faintly, her eyes opening again with a sparkle. The adolescent glanced back at him and smiled gratefully. "Mister Coud already took a flower necklace I made," she admitted shyly, though she looked pleased beyond words that someone had actually liked it. Lusa knew now that she was good. It had just taken her a while. The Silver-Void had even hung it in his den. It was so nice of him that it'd actually brought tears to her eyes. At first she'd meant it for Kyle, but the Gold-Void had been so mean to Reuss that day that Lusa had been forced to be mean herself so he would straighten up some. It always hurt, being mean, but sometimes she had to do so even if just to shock others back into reality. She never yelled, but simply saying something that was bluntly honest tended to draw another cat up short, especially Kyle. At least she found out that later he'd apologized. She'd just walked away and stared at the little bone necklace before she realized that Coud had followed her.

Lusa's eyes lit up at Seven's addition. "Oh, we use teeth too!" she added eagerly, before she seemed to realize that she had still included herself with the bone crafters. She hesitated, her heart pounding, before she shrugged as if it were nothing. "My mistake. I mean...the bone crafters use teeth. It's kind of the same as bone, really, except they're a bit harder. My first mentor, he had a big gem necklace with two huge fangs on it. It was really cool."

Seven's purr mingled with hers, and she was absolutely delighted. It wasn't often that she got to make a new friend like this, or when she had the chance to enjoy the sunset with somebody who didn't think it was a waste of time or "dumb." The Blue-White-Void swished her tail happily across the rocks behind them, gazing out at the smoke again with excitement. "I really do hope so." She wished that Drake had moved to Void Tribe, too, so Palette and Damek would know all their kits were together, but the new litter changed things. Now she hoped that if any kits went to Shadow Tribe, he would be there for them- of course he would. Drake was the best big brother ever! And Lusa was lucky enough to already have been blessed with growing up alongside Reuss again.

"Yeah, you're my friend," Lusa said brightly, her eyes warm and slightly amused at Seven's shocked reaction. He seemed to be trying not to smile, looking so much comfortable than before, his paw clutching at his jaw to hide it from her, and she laughed. It looked so sweet. "See, that's why! Because you're so nice. See, I think I get it- you're real shy with a lot of cats around, but right now, you've been so nice to me that I think I understand you now. You're a bit nervous around crowds, right? I understand that sometimes. But it's not like you don't want friends. You're just not used to them! Your smile says all that." Lusa tapped his cheek with a paw very lightly, almost playfully. "My mama, she says that the smile's a window into the soul. So I think I just saw your soul right then."

|| White-green void // Seven ||

Her every move captivated him. He could not stop from staring, her cute ears, her jaw line, her delicate muzzle and her beautiful silky-like fur.. it all added up to her natural beauty. He couldn't muster how beautiful this white and blue void was. He had hardly ever witnessed beauty like hers. He felt himself getting choked up just thinking of how close the two were of each other. He couldn't hold the stare, and soon, drooped his eyes to stare at his own tabby paws, his deep amber eyes shifting occasionally as he forced the image of her off his mind. He could hardly concentrate on the topic at hand now. 'What a lucky tom,' was all he could think as she so kindly shared her personal achieved goals with him. If he was lucky enough to get a flower crown from her--- he'd probably wear it everyday, despite it making him look odd or girly, he'd still wear it. A small smile began to quiver its way up his maw, making him flush once more. Why was he acting in such a way? They were simply friends. Just plain friends. Just friends. Friends. The words echoed in his head as though cruelly reminding him of his rightful place. He only deserved to be her friend.. nothing more.

"Oh?" he murmured as he brought his eyes upon his necklace, a gift from a dear friend. He smiled as he inspected it. Was this necklace done by a bone-crafter then? Perhaps so. It made him smile to think that he was wearing a bone-crafter's creation. He puffed out his torso with mild pride.

"Yeah, you're my friend,"

Her sudden words caught him off guard and he immediately shrunk back down, his eyes averting hers as he felt the need to evade her gaze. Her eyes felt too intense for him to properly hold them. And the more she spoke, the more he felt embarrassed. Was she making fun of him? Couldn't be, her voice sounded so sincere. Then why was it making him feel the more flustered? He gritted his teeth, his face wrinkling as he felt the blush deepen on his face. He suddenly rose to his paws, clearing his throat, cutting her off as he spoke again. "S-shouldn't we get back now? The sun has already set and night will fall soon. We still don't know our territory by heart, it'll be hard to find camp when its pitch black. So.. uh.. let's go. I need to fetch some of my kills anyway. I'll see you around Lusa," he meowed almost desperately as he quickly began to step down on some rocks. His whiskers twisted along with his growing flush. His heart was pounding as though he was being ambushed by a predator. What was happening to him?

But that touch of hers.. it chilled her cheek and made it grow numb the moment her paw was taken away. He could still feel it resting on his cheek. It gave him an odd feeling of satisfaction.. but at the same time, it caused tension. How could you even be relaxed when tensed? 'I'll never wash this cheek ever again..'

{ Lusa | Blue-White-Void | Watch Point }

The smaller adolescent smiled reassuringly, though Seven seemed a bit...misplaced, somehow. Not as if he didn't belong there, but as if he thought he didn't. Lusa attributed it to the height. Then again, if he was scared of heights...why was he up in here in the first place?

Maybe he likes to be alone. Lusa blinked, thinking of something. Maybe being up high with other cats makes him nervous. What if they slip? That makes sense.

She leaned forward slightly, curious, when Seven's attention drifted to his own necklace. As she looked at it, she could actually make out the symbol carved into the bone piece, and a smile lit her features as she looked up at Seven's amber gaze. "Did your friend make that for you?" she asked, tilting her head and tucking her paws under her chest fur. It tumbled over the curl of her ankles to splay across the rock face, painted a rosy-gold in the sunlight, but Lusa didn't pay anything much mind save for Seven. It was obviously very important to him, and Lusa loved accessories even more if they had a story, or a history. Her own prized possession was very special to her not just because her mother had given it to her, but because Palette herself had worn that piece for so long. And even before Palette had worn it, her brother Drake had made it for her as a surprise, and crafted it based off a necklace that Damek had given to her months before even Drake was born! It'd been broken in an accident, Drake had said, but he'd made her a new one with the old pieces to fix it. And then Palette had entrusted the new pieces to her children. Lusa couldn't have been happier with it. She often touched the beautiful blue jewels to bring herself comfort, because the simple sleek surface of them all reminded her of nestling into Palette's side and toying with the centerpiece to calm her nerves.

Lusa blinked quickly, unaware that her gaze had clouded with memories as Seven had gotten to his feet. She looked up at him in surprise- and a bit of hidden dismay- as the other Void Triber moved away, hurrying down the rocks. Though Lusa felt a twinge of disappointment, she couldn't blame him if he'd gotten startled. She wasn't the best company when she drifted off like that.

"I'll see you soon!" she called after, a note of hope coloring her voice as his distinct pelt disappeared down the shadowed rocks. She kept watching after them even when Seven was long gone. Then, when Lusa was quite sure that she was completely alone, she turned around and curled up to watch the sun, lying across the ghostly warmth of the place where Seven had been lying before.