Breathe

Sigue andando el camino por toda su vida

Respira

Breathe // Y si pierdes mis huellas que dios te bendiga

Respira

Vulturebloom walks back from the tunnels having dismissed their apprentice for the day. As she watches them leave, there is a sagging to her shoulders. From relaxation or stress she isn't fully sure herself. She listens to the families that pass by her, along with the friends she passes. Who smile and nudge her, as they rush off. The cavern is getting dimmer than usual, and she is mostly relying on three things. Her ears, her nose, and her whiskers.

This is my street
I smile at the faces I've known all my life
They regard me with pride
And everyone's sweet
They say, "You're going places!"

As she walks she flashes back when she was an apprentice and everyone was happier. Or at least not bogged down by what was going on in the war. She remembers her mother, telling her that she is going to be a great warrior. Flash forward to her getting Juncojaw as a mentor, her mother's pride, her sister looking to the side. Pumafall smiling but shaking his head. The rattling of her father's purr sounds like an incoming cough. She goes forward to press noses to her mentor, she blinks back to reality.

So how can I say that while I was away, I had so much to hide!
Hey guys, it's me!
The biggest disappointment you know
The kid couldn't hack it, she's back and she's walkin real slow
Welcome home
Just breathe

We see her looking down, stopped, swearing that there are eyes on her. Because of what she is doing, causing a blockade in the street. Made worse by Ashtail coming by and saying "Move it, Kid" as he tries to get to his nest. She knows he doesn't mean anything by it, but it still hurts weirdly.

Sigue andando el camino por toda su vida

Respira

Just breathe // Y si pierdes mis huellas que dios te bendiga.
Respira

She focuses back, trying to continue her walk. Trying to avoid the memories that are going to flood in. Trying just...to get to her nest.

As the radio plays old forgotten boleros
I think of the days when this city was mine
I remember the praise
Ay, te adoro, te quiero
The neighborhood waved, and said
Nina, be brave, and you're gonna be fine

She looks over towards the center of the town, she smiles seeing a small image of herself. Running about with Beetleburr, being followed by her sister who is sagging behind. She gets tense especially as she watches the young Vulturepaw bump into her sister, smile, and tackle her. Laughing, and watching as Javelinapaw fights off a laugh herself. She thinks on her sister, and how they are now. Nests apart and away from the younger warriors she was once close too. Even more so as she sees a younger Flyfall call to her as they play. 

And maybe it's me,
But it all seems like lifetimes ago.
So what do I say to these faces that I used to know?
"Hey, I'm home?"

It's been nearly 12 moons since she became a warrior, and she feels so old now. Especially as she watches the younger version of herself return with Junco from the eagle. Wide eyed and shaking, and rushing to her sister. Sharing a nest as she finds comfort in the snoring form of her companion. Again pulled apart by Flyfall when she comes to see how she's doing. Her eyes stern as she gets up, and wanders to her mothers side.

Mira, Nina
Hey
No me preocupo por ella
They're not worried about me

Mira, alli esta nuestra estrella

They are all counting on me to succeed // Ella si da la talla

I am the one who made it out
The one who always made the grade
But maybe I should've just stayed home...

She sees her warrior ceremony, smiling and watching her horribly wounded mentor tell her how wonderful she was to have. He can't even speak, and she wants to cry but she can't. Her parents smile, especially as she notices her sister can't meet her gaze. She wants to revel in her last minutes, before she is shut down (in her eyes) by Starlingmoon's demotion. Her mental state falling off the edge, towards the unknownness of adulthood.

When I was a child I stayed wide awake, climbed to the highest place,
on every fire escape, restless to climb
Repira

Shunted to the bottom, climbing up and up and up. Seeing the faces of her friends as she climbs like her life depends on it. Running towards the surface with Junco, begging him to hurry up. He laughs at her when she realizes he just wants to nap. She nudges him to get moving. Just as she clung to him when the eagle came, almost carrying off a cat towards the end. Just like when she saw the other apprentices coming back to fight.

I got every scholarship
Saved every dollar
The first to go to college
How do I tell them why
Respira // I'm coming back home
With my eyes on the horizon
Just me and the GWB,
Asking 'Gee Nina, what'll you be?'

Smash cut of her jumping at Redthrasher, Junco screaming that this is his fight. Another cat slashes at her back, as red tries to pry her off with words. She is shaking but she doesn't want to die. Modern Vulturebloom is shaking outside of the warrior's den, lost in the memory of the fight within their home. She sees her sister, and sees junco, and runs to her sister when the vocals say coming back home. Her sisters spit venom, especially as her eyes are on the big forms of Dunerunner and Skunknose. Just as terrifying as Redthrasher.

Straighten the spine
Smile for the neighbors
Everything's fine
Everything's cool
The standard reply
"Lots of tests, lots of papers"
Smile, wave goodbye
And pray to the sky, Oh, God

She blinks and comes back, as she sees nobody there. That she whispers a silent prayer to her father, who she sees as a cat in the stars. Smiling and healthier than she had ever seen him growing up. it hurts a bit, especially as she wants to cry into his arms. As she sees everyone else who has joined them. As she watches her former mentor turn down the deputyship, and give it to Coyote. In the wake of Falconwatcher's body. She watches as her sister goes to Ratbite for comfort rather than her...but she deserves it.

And what will my parents say? // Nina

Can I go in there and say // Nina

"I know that I'm letting you down" // Nina

She looks back, towards the maw as if seeing her parents casting her into it. She is tired and wants to see her family, and the only one that comes up is Javelinadream. Her brows crunch and her tail flick, anxiety and stress there. Her shoulders tight again, and showing the transition from Mentor back to just...a Warrior.

Nina // "Just Breathe"

Vulturebloom heads inside.