Private Thread Fairweather Friends

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

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Basilflame had been padding softly through the thin patches of undergrowth, every sense attuned to the faint rustling sound of potential prey, though she didn't hold very high hopes at the moment, as she hadn't even seen a mouse scurry past in the whole time she had been out here.

Leafbare had laid its cold grip upon WindClan territory, and with each passing day, prey seemed to grow scarcer, making each morsel more and more precious. The flame lynx point she-cat lifted her head and paused, tasting the air with a slight frown. Her focus shifted from hunger when she noticed the slightest hint of movement along the border, an unfamiliar silhouette standing out against the windswept moorland.

Basilflame stepped closer, she had recognized the pelt from a description given to her, and the rest of overhearing warriors by Cloudflare, though she hadn't heard much of a name. His thin frame and purposeful stride revealing a quiet, hardened resolve that struck a chord within her. With a deep breath to steady her nerves, she approached, her hazel eyes calm and gentle as they settled on him.

"Hello there" Basilflame greeted, her tone warm and polite despite the chill in the air, if this was a situation where this cat intended on trespassing, Basilflame didn't want to make things harder for herself by causing unnecessary battle. "It's... quite cold out, isn't it?"

She hesitated for a brief moment, nothing the weariness in his stance "Are you passing through? Or is there something you're searching for? It is leafbare, after all" she spoke softly, she hoped she didn't seem to pushy in any way, but it would have eaten away at her if she had walked away and let the outside walk away with pride that he effortlessly trespassed.

"If you're looking for shelter..." Her gaze softened, recognizing his evident need. "If you'd like I could guide you towards the edges of our territory, just close enough to catch the scent of some nearby shelter" She meowed, trying to seem helpful but her shuffling paws betrayed her nerves. "There's an old barn a bit further out, if I'm not mistake. You'll be able to find some warmth and perhaps even a trace of prey there" she spoke quietly making her offer warily

 "I know leaf-bare isn’t kind to any of us."

She held his gaze for a moment longer, hoping her kindness would reach him without appearing overbearing. She knew well enough that some cats weren’t keen on accepting help, and she respected his independence, even if she couldn’t bring herself to ignore a fellow cat in need.

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty lifted his head at the voice, ears pricking as he noted the flame-tipped she-cat approaching with a calm, measured gait. His amber eyes studied her for a moment, catching the careful warmth in her gaze and the slight shuffling of her paws that betrayed her nerves.

“Hello to you, Madam” He dipped his head politely, his voice carrying the soft lilt of practiced courtesy. “Cold seeps right into your bones if you’re out here too long.” He couldn’t hide the weariness in his tone, his shoulders slightly drooped from days of travel.

Her offer of directions to the barn struck him as both kind and cautious, and he found himself grateful for her tact. There was no pride left in him to keep up appearances or feign strength when his bones ached from the wind and his belly growled.

“Thank you, truly..." Monty's voice softened by a sincerity that felt strange on his tongue.“The barn’s what I was aiming for - heard it might offer a bit of warmth, and anything edible at this point would be a fine thing.”He glanced down, as though suddenly aware of his own thinness, before meeting her gaze again, his amber eyes flickering with a faint but genuine gratitude. “I’m Monty. I don’t mean to trouble WindClan, only to make it through leafbare with my tail intact.” He gave it a flick, its kinked end twitching.

With a small, grateful dip of his head he added. “Thank you for the guidance. It's a rare gem indeed that shines the brightest.”

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

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Basilflame's eyes softened at Monty's polite gratitude, her heart stirred by the genuine weariness she saw in him. Though she was fascinated by this cat regardless. It was far too easy to forget how hard leafbare could be on those with nobody else with them to rely on, and something about his polite demeanor tugged at her natural empathy.

"Oh it's no trouble at all, Monty" She replied, her tone gentle and light "My name is Basilflame" she added, her tone becoming one of warmth and sincerity. "The barn has been a refuge for more than a few travelers. You'll find it's sheltered and, if luck favors you, perhaps a bit of warmth left from the sun."

Her flame-tipped tail flicked gently behind her as she took a step closer, she lowered her voice in case any curious clanmates were scouting nearby. This cat wasn't being abrasive or in any way intrusive on WindClan territory, so Basilflame didn't see why he had to be chased off just yet. "We all have out struggles in leafbare, and... well, every cat deserves a little grace when times are this tough."

The long-furred she-cat paused, studying the burmese tom a moment longer, noting the faint sag in his shoulders and the way he held himself with practiced dignity despite his apparent exhaustions. It was quite admirable really, and Basilflame really wanted to help his situation more if she was able to.

"Monty, if you're in need, I could bring you a bit of fresh-kill to the barn tomorrow morning. No one has to know." Her voice was as soft as the wind itself, her offer made with a quiet reassurance. "Just think of it as... on cat lending a paw to another in need"

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty’s eyes brightened slightly, a flicker of surprise warming his weary features as he listened to Basilflame’s gentle offer. He hadn’t expected such generosity, least of all from a warrior at a border where tensions usually ran high. It was a rare sincerity, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words, feeling his practiced eloquence slip.

“Basilflame...” The fawn sepia tom let her name settle on his tongue with quiet respect. “It’s a fitting name, warm as it sounds.” He gave a soft chuckle, his tail giving a small flick. “If I were a poet, I might say - 'When hunger’s ache and cold are near, your voice becomes a hearth to hear.' ”

There was a trace of something akin to pride in his gaze, but it softened as he met her eyes. “A hearth is the floor of a fireplace, usually of stone or brick that traps a small, warm fire..." He added with a brisk clearing of his throat, wondering if he knew of what he spoke of. " And if there’s ever a time I can return the favor, I’ll do so gladly.” He paused, glancing back toward the direction of the barn. Then, with a gentle nod, Monty turned, taking a few steps in the direction of his refuge before glancing back. “Shall you be my escort, then, Basilflame? ” His tone was light, with a hint of gratitude that needed no more words.

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

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The flame pointed she-cat's whiskers twitched with a hint of amusement at Monty's poetic reply, and the corners of her mouth turned upward only slightly, showing her amusement and consideration of his words. She seemed rather intrigued by his way with words, it seemed like something that would come to intrigue her.

"You certainly have got quite the way with words, Monty" She replied softly, her hazel eyes full of warmth, or as much as she could offer in any case. "A hearth... I suppose there are worse things I've been compared to" She let out a small, thoughtful purr. "I'm glad I could offer you a little warmth, at least"

Seeing Monty's amber eyes look back at her, she gave a gentle nod, one of both recognition and confirmation. "I already said I'd see you to the barn, didn't I?" she replied with a light smile, her eyes filled with amusement that left her with a flick of her tail.

"It's no trouble, really. Everyone deserves a place to rest" she added, her plumed tail twitching every now and again, the flame colored fur surprisingly clean and well kept for the conditions she lived in. 

Basilflame set a pace towards the barn, her paws pressing against the gradually frostbitten ground, ever so often looking behind her to make sure that the fawn sepia tom was following behind her, her looked in closer age to her mother than herself, but there was no age limit to a friendship, there never should be.

She cast a quick glance around the fields, ever-vigilant despite her calm demeanor. "But if you ever do find a way to return to favor I won't hold it against you" she added, a faint glint of humor in her tone. "For now though, let's just get you to that barn safely"

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty padded after her, his steps slow and deliberate as he matched her pace. The frostbitten ground pressed cold against his paw pads, but her warm demeanor was a comfort he hadn’t expected. Her flicking tail, its flame like motion drawing his gaze now and again, seemed to cut through the chill air like a beacon.

“You WindClan cats...” His voice was thoughtful, personalized for the she-cat beside him. “You’re different from what I’d imagined. I’ve heard talk, of course - lean runners with sharp tongues, but...both Cloudflare, and you, Basilflame, are warm - more fire than gale.” His tone was tinged with humor, though the sincerity lingered underneath.

His amber eyes scanned the moorland, the vast openness of it so unfamiliar to his memories of cobbled streets and winding alleyways. “What’s it like? To live here?” He asked after a pause, his gaze returning to her. “All this space, the wind in your fur, the stars so close they look like you could pluck them from the sky...” His voice softened, curiosity evident in every word.

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

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Basilflame walked steadily beside Monty now, her long, creamy toned fur gliding in the wind as if it was dancing along with the gale. Her ears angled toward him, tuning into his voice as he spoke. Her gaze flickered to him briefly, a flicker of surprise at his poetic but thoughtful words, before returning to the frostbitten path ahead, walking it as if her paws didn't sting from the freeze.

"Different you say?" Basilflame let out a light and soft chuckle. "I suppose I can see how we might seem that way." She added, her flame colored tail lowering as if there was calm from the flicking blaze of it's appearance, her hazel eyes became fixed on the burmese tom beside her for a moment, a moment of thoughtfulness flickered in her gaze.

"The wind shapes us of course, but not in the same way for everyone" she replied flicking her gaze occasionally into the direction they were heading in to ensure they wouldn't take a wrong turn due to their conversation, as engaging as it seemed. "Some of us grow sharper edges, and others learn to move with it, to let it carry us instead of pushing against it"

"Maybe that's why Cloudflare and I seem different to you" Basilflame supposed, her ears twitching for a moment as her mind flowed with endless thought. "Fire has it's place, even in the moors, it's that warmth that helps a lot of cats"

Her striped tail flicked lightly, brushing Monty's flank as she nodded towards the horizon, the scenery, despite the coldness, was always something to marvel at, at least Basilflame thought so. "Living here... it's something you feel more than anything. The wind does more than ruffle your fur, it sings to you, whispers its secrets if you will." She explained, pausing as he mentioned the stars, she knew that no outside we appreciate any ramblings of StarClan, so describing what she thought should be broad to say the least.

"They're not just close; they're watching, guiding. Sometimes it feels like they're the only consistent thing in all this openness" she explained, thinking back to when she glanced up at the stars, knowing that Fennelwhisker would be watching over her, though she just hoped that he kept an eye on herself and her mother. That's all she asked StarClan for, more recently anyway. 

She paused briefly, glancing back at him with a smile, her hazel eyes reflecting the distant glow of the sky in them. "It can be lonely, though. So much space, not a lot of places to hide. But I've learned that the wind doesn't just pull things away, it brings them too, And sometimes it brings unexpected company" she winked at Monty, there was a warmth behind her words, a quiet assurance that her present here with him wasn't an obligation, it was a chose, shaped by the kindness she carried in her heart.

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty couldn’t help but smile as Basilflame’s words painted vivid images of life on the moor. Her descriptions felt like poetry in motion, and he found himself drawn to her voice, her thoughtful tone, the way she spoke of the wind and stars as if they were old aquaintances.

,b>“You speak of this place like it’s alive." He let the words hang in the crisp air, his amber eyes scanning the frost-kissed grasses that stretched endlessly around them and the treeline beyond. “It reminds me of the fields of Italy - beautiful place too, although much warmer.”

Her comment about the wind bringing unexpected company made him chuckle, a low and quiet sound that rumbled in his chest. “I won’t complain about being one of the wind’s passengers tonight. Seemed to blow in your direction and now my guide leads me to the farmhouse - Marvelous.” His gaze softened as he glanced at her again, his tail swishing lightly behind him.

Monty’s pace slowed slightly as the barn came into view in the distance, its silhouette faint against the deepening twilight. He tilted his head toward her. “And these stars of yours...” His amber eyes flicked skyward for a moment before returning to her. “Do you ever think they guide more than just clan cats?" Monty had his own opinion about stars and the echoing cosmos, but his perplexion of these cats grew. He wanted to know more about them and their 'culture', especially if they were to be neighbors.

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

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Basilflame glanced toward Monty, a gentle smile touching her features as the barn grew clearer into view in the distance, Almost there, she thought for a moment, but she seemed disappointed that they were so close already, she supposed no interaction is meant to last forever no matter how good it was.

His words about the stars, they were so curious and thoughtful, they carried a warmth that reminded her of a kit's wonder when hearing stories of StarClan and the stars for the first time. It was rather endearing if she was being honest with herself.

"Monty, I believe the stars can guide anyone" She began softly, her hazel eyes lifting to the darkening sky where pinpricks of light began to shimmer above. "They've always been a guide for us clan cats, whether we're looking for strength, reassurance, or just a reminder that we're never truly alone. But I don't think they limit themselves to just us" she looked at him, her expression calm but filled with a quiet conviction that she truly believed every word that came out of her mouth. "They're there for everyone who chooses to follow their light. You don't have to be born into the clans to find direction in them"

Her gaze lingered on the star's for a moment longer, her gaze seemed to be longing for something long missed, with a sigh she murmured.. "Our ancestors are up there, my sire joined them when I was young" she replied, finally revealing why she felt so connected to these collection of white speckles "Sometimes I think the stars speak in ways we don't always understand at first. Maybe they bring travelers like you here to teach us something... or remind us of something we might have forgotten" she contemplated, but quickly shook her head 

Basilflame's steps slowed to match Monty's as they approached the barn. She looked at him again, her smile soft but sincere. "Even if you don't think of the stars the same way we do, they still shine as brightly for you. Maybe they've already guided you here for a reason, even if it's just for tonight." Her tail swished slightly behind her as she added, with a gentle laugh "And who knows? Perhaps the wind thought I needed a little company too"

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty’s amber gaze flickered skyward as Basilflame spoke, the faint pinpricks of starlight seeming brighter against the growing dark. Her words settled over him like a gentle wind, stirring something he hadn’t felt in moons - a small sense of belonging, however fleeting. He glanced at her, taking in the sincerity in her voice and the quiet wisdom in her hazel eyes.

“The stars, guiding everyone...” He mused, his tone soft. “It’s a comforting thought, isn’t it?” A small smile tugged at his muzzle. “Maybe they do have their reasons."

His steps faltered briefly as they neared the barn, the silhouette growing sharper with every heartbeat. For a moment, he hesitated, his gaze lingering on Basilflame. “You’ve given me more than directions tonight.” His voice was quieter now, a touch more serious. “I didn’t expect... well... this. But I’m glad we were brought together, however briefly.”

Monty paused as they reached the barn’s entrance, the old structure standing as a weathered sentinel against the night. He turned to face her fully, his tail curling slightly behind him. “Thank you, Madam. For the company and the conversation.” A flicker of warmth danced in his amber eyes. He dipped his head respectfully, stepping toward. With a final, lingering glance, he disappeared into the barn, leaving only the faint sound of his pawsteps behind.