Don’t compromise yourself - you’re all you have.

✦･ﾟ:* ☆ *:･ﾟ✦

Robinpaw followed Skyblossom to the patch of moss and smiled up at her "You have a good eye." She praised gently before scooping out some moss of her own into a ball. "I think we'll need a few pawfuls, I don't think a battle is to be expected where we'd need them, but its always good to prepare for the worst and hope for the best." She added, answering Skyblossom's question honestly.

"You couldn't mind helping me take it back after this would you? If you can't that's more than alright too." Robinpaw added, it wasn't often that she had warriors helping her with herb collection duty, but it was nice to have it be Skyblossom of all cats. At least she was one of the kinder warriors in ThunderClan. That was nice to say the least.

With a twitch of her ear, Robinpaw pulled out another clump of moss with her paw and rolled it into a rough ball. Part of her wanted to complete this in silence, but she promised a chat to Skyblossom, so she was going to give her one. "How has hunting been going? I've seen good fortune in the fresh kill pile. But have you caught anything of note recently?" She asked softly, twitching the tip of her tail.

Stars do not pull each other down to be visible, they shine brighter.

∘◦ ⛈ ◦∘

When her brother almost immediately spotted that she seemed a bit... off, Skypaw sighed, her plume of a tail curling around her body. "I shouldn't be upset... Merryaster is a great mentor, but I'm worried that I'm failing her, failing Lilyriver, failing RiverClan." Skypaw answered, todays lesson has been several mistakes and there was little progress, how could she not be upset by that, it was failure, the worst kind of feeling.

"Lilyriver expects us to be great, but how am I supposed to be the great cat she sees when I can't even crouch right?" She murmured, looking down at her paws. She intended to keep these feelings secret for a little while longer, but she found keeping it from the only cat who might know how she feels to be a bit... redundent.

Part of her wondered what their mother saw in the both of them that made her think so highly, what made her want something great for them, so much so that she expects it. She felt terrible for the possibility of letting her down. "I don't know why I keep messing up, it just... makes me upset that I might be letting Lilyriver down. She's done so much for us."

The show must go on
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BamBam had observed the nervous little creature's approach. Oh, what a darling little tortie-thing. How cautious...! Every pawstep measured as though the world might shatter beneath her feet. The way her ears twitched at every tiny sound made something unexpectedly soft bloom in BamBam's chest.

Poor little thing looked positively terrified of existing. "Oh, sweetheart..." The old tom sighed under his breath. Without a second thought, he pivoted gracefully on one pink-capped paw and altered course - and he was impossible to miss.

The pink boa framed his neck like an extravagant stage costume and every step was measured with the ego of someone who had spent years under the spotlight. With a purr, he stopped just short of invading her space. Bright gold eyes washed over her obvious curiosity., his own expression melting into wamrth. It was almost maternal if not for the obvious tom scent to him. That and coconut.

"My, my..." His voice carried a rich, theatrical tenor. "You're absolutely precious - and terribly anxious."His accusation was tempered with sympathy. "I've seen that look before."A single, pink gel capped paw rose to his chest. "You may relax, darling... I have retired from clawing strangers. It exhausted me....Emotionally.

He chuckled quietly at his own jest before offering her a practiced little bow. "I am his Lordship Bambi-Bap Mandu, First of His Name, Son of Gochujang of Noir, Lord of Mandu, and humble Aide-de-camp to His Majesty King Pendragon of Camelot."A sly smile tugging at the corner of his muzzle.

"...But unless you've several moments to spare every time we greet one another... you may call be BamBam."He recalled the way she spared him her presence by moving one sidewalk over. "And - no, no, no..."He gave a tiny shake of his head, feathers bobbing on his collar. "You should never make yourself smaller or avoid someone because that someone may share the path. You should own it, darling! Strut your stuff!"

Then as though realizing he'd slipped into one of his lectures ha bawked at himself. "Listen to me, we've only just met and I'm already giving you advice."

Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
⋆｡°✩ ⭒ ──● 𓄿 ●── ⭒ ⋆｡°✩

His mismatched gaze lingered on him before he drew a slow breath. Then, unexpectedly, a deep, guttural sound rolled from somewhere low in his throat, vibrating across his muzzle. It wasn't a cat's voice. "Krrra-okk... rrhhk... kraaaugh." The noises clicked, rasped, carrying rough harmonics with alien syllables. "Ravens know one another by voice just as much as sight or smell."

Finishing his fold job, he assigned that one to Jasper to carry back while he touted the original. The larger one. "It might be a good excerise to see which name she might prefer. In our tongue." After unearthing what they could, it would be best now to return soon.

Tiptoe through the murk and mire
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At her request, he shifted slightly along the branch making more room for her even if he did it habitually. "I don't mind." It surprised him a little how truthful that felt. There weren't many cats he'd willingly share a spot with but Nightwhisper wasn't difficult to exist beside.

"The wood hold well enough if you want to join me. Just mind the thinner branches." There was the faintest trace of amusement in his voice as he looked back toward Nightwhisper as he imagined a younger cat struggling up the bark.

Retirement? I prefer ‘extended vacation with benefits.’
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"They might balance themselves out one day." When Laetitia placed her paw gently atop his, however, the laughter dwindled into something softer. The lids of his eyes narrowed, sinking with fondness as he looked at her. "Wouldn't that be honestly grand?" She might have indeed found a bossom conversation companion that could hope to keep up with her. There were a few cats he knew that probably woudln't find her as endearing as he did...

He slowly rested his own paw more comfortably beneath hers. "I'm not sure that would be enough! We've gone through most of the introductions...We could simply start introducing ourselves all over again?" To demonstrate his point, he cleared his throat.

"I am Tangleloon, renound through all four clans as a stone stacker, floral enthusiast, and undefeated warrior of arriving fashionably late." He bowed from where he sat, nearly tipping onto his shoulder and falling onto Laetitia in the process. He wasn't sure exactly what he should call her once she was accepted into the Clan...She'd get a new name then.

With a delicate huff, he mimicked her posture and spoke in a cracking, feminine facsmile of her voice. " Oh, Monsieur Tangleloon...! I have heard whispers of your remarkable reputation among the flowers and pebbles!" He winced softly at his rendition - it wasn't his most perfect performance and admitted.

"I think I prefer hearing you talk...What kind of name would you want to be called once you live with us?"