Ask to Join A Small Run in With a Fox

The world's too big to stay in one place.

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🦊•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Fox glanced over at ThunderClan territory from the base of a sky facing stone he had found himself resting under, the ginger tom twitched his ears as he allowed the peace and quiet of the territories to wash over his long fur. Until... a thumping sound, then many, rabbit paws, they were running, and a cat was running after them. But it wasn't a particular smell he recognized well. Not the Leopardrose at least.

When the rabbit burst from the shrubbery, his lime eyes narrowed as he darted in front of it to send it back to the warrior. "Catch it now!" He called out as the rabbit let out a startled squeal and darted, confused, back to Smallbird's direction. Rabbits were quick as anything, he didn't expect this pretty grey stranger to listen, not really, but if she didn't she'd lose her prey.

Fox used his massive body to block the rabbit's path when it tried to veer away from the path he had made for it to return to the stranger, nipping at it to keep it where he wanted it. "Go for the throat and avoid the legs!" He called out. The prey before to rush back to Smallbird now, its attention being running from Fox.

There’s always something to do.
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So focused on the rabbit was Smallbird, that she didn’t notice the large tom until he appeared in front of the rabbit. Shocked and confused, it took a few moments for the tabby she-cat to recover herself enough to act. In that time the tom appeared to be everywhere, keeping her rabbit from fleeing. With his second sentence, however, Smallbird was finally focused once more and took the chance to dart after the rabbit. Her pounce was less than neat, but her bite was accurate and sure. The Thunderclan warrior wasn’t large enough to pin the rabbit, being hardly bigger than it was. Having managed to grab it by the throat, as suggested by the unfamiliar tom, Smallbird was able to successfully kill the rabbit.

Rabbit dead, Smallbird sat back and looked toward the tom, observing him properly for a moment. He was huge. Larger than any other tom Smallbird had met. Yet, she didn’t feel afraid. He had helped her. He was certainly large enough that he could have just caught the rabbit himself and chased her away. The gray tabby she-cat licked her muzzle, cleaning the blood from the kill away so she could smell better. ”Thank you,” Smallbird meowed politely. Suddenly she wasn’t sure what to say or do. She wasn’t in Thunderclan’s territory anymore and from his scent, the tom wasn’t of a clan anyway. The tabby she-cat backed up for a moment, the thought of the murderer in her head until she remembered that the murderer was supposedly a tortoiseshell, and this stranger was certainly not.

”Ummm…” Smallbird began then shook her head. There was no protocol for this. If she were in Thunderclan’s lands she would be obliged to tell him he had to leave, but Fourtrees was neutral. No one had claim over these lands. Not to mention she didn’t want to tell him to leave. He had helped her. Plus he was clearly stronger than her and she wouldn’t be able to make him do anything even if she did puff herself up and act all aggressive. Not that cats ever seemed to take that seriously from her. ”I…thank you,” she meowed again, more awkwardly and looked away. Should she offer him the rabbit? It was every bit his kill as it was hers now. But she needed to take this kill to try to gain her clan’s approval. Would he let her? Smallbird looked back at the large red tom, watching him to see what he would do next.

The world's too big to stay in one place.

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🦊•∙∙ ──── ⋙

The limp rabbit gave Fox a sense of pride, he felt it was just as much of his catch as it was the lovely... strangely cute, stranger's. And yet there was no desire to take it, none that he felt. He had eaten a bird that he caught at the barn before, she smelt of ThunderClan, this would feed a cat who needed it more than it would feed him.

"It's no trouble. The prey seem to be much more scared of a big fella like me. Not sure why... though" He replied, cocking his head to the side as if he was thinking about why any creature would be so frightened of him, he took into account the fact he was out to eat the prey, but even some cats were a little put off by his size. Taking steps back before he even spoke. That was an action he didn't know the reasoning of.

Fox lowered himself into a loaf-like position and curled his tail around his body, now looking like a massive clump of ginger and white. "I haven't met you before, you're of ThunderClan if my nose isn't playing tricks on me." He replied, the corner of his mouth twitching into a friendly grin that looked like it meant not harm, and it meant just as much as it seemed.

"What'd they call you? It'd be nice to know what to call you." Fox asked, his words rolling easily off of his tongue as if every word he said came from a confidence that he was born with. "I'll share my name if you share yours, that way we're not just nameless strangers." his words were laced in a meaningful promise as he dipped his head. There was no reason to let this cat fear him. He didn't come from anywhere that treated cats with disrespect they didn't deserve. He just hoped this soft-voiced stranger had the same morality.

There’s always something to do.
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Smallbird smiled at the tom’s comment regarding the prey’s fear. ”I would guess because you look more capable than other’s,” she meowed genuinely. Certainly he appeared more capable than she herself felt. Admittedly though, intimidating might have been a more accurate word, but personally he didn’t appear scary or intimidating. The gray tabby had simply been surprised at his sudden appearance and size. She hadn’t seen cats so large before and could easily see him as being a descendant of one of the ancient great cats that lived so long ago.

The Thunderclan she-cat’s posture relaxed into one of calm amusement as the tom’s legs seemed to positively disappear as he settled down. How such a cat was capable of the illusion was beyond Smallbird’s reckoning but it amused her nonetheless. It had been a while since she had felt so at ease around another, although she hardly knew what to say or do. There was just something relaxing about this cat. The idea that this was due to a lack of fear or confrontation flitted through the gray tabby’s mind and for a moment she wished she could be as large and powerful as he appeared.

”Oh!” Smallbird exclaimed with surprise. Not many appeared familiar enough with clan scents to identify between the clans. Or at least that’s what she had heard. It certainly wasn’t within Smallbird’s normal behaviour to associate with cats outside of her clan. Or anyone in general. ”That’s right,” she added quickly. ”And uh…yes, ummm… my name’s Smallbird…” For the first time ever the Thunderclan warrior felt embarrassed by her own own name. Indeed, there was something nearly shameful to her, quite suddenly, in the way her name exemplified her smallish stature. Not to mention, this tom didn’t necessarily understand clan names. What was going to stop him from mocking her? Bird wasn’t something a cat should be proud of. Thinking of it, didn’t that mean she was flighty and scared? Yes, of course, her name was to mock and remind her of how inadequate she was, she just hadn’t realised it until now.

In a matter of moments Smallbird had gone from smiling warmly at the unfamiliar tom, to flattening her ears and twitching her tail in embarrassment, and then outright looking miserable and ashamed. She no longer looked toward him, instead staring at her paws, her posture tense as she awaited some form of laughter or mockery.

The world's too big to stay in one place.

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🦊•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Fox took immediate noticed of her change in mood, from a comfortable, shy stranger to someone that seemed a little down, though he was not sure of the reason, he responded in a way that framed his words as truth. "I like it." He began, his smile growing a little more genuine. "Small but full of might, like the mighty osprey or swift and agile falcon." Fox chirped with reverence. To him, small didn't mean meek or weak, he saw swift, easy to duck under to run or do easier damage to the underbelly with the right crouch.

"Small enough to sneak through the woods like a ghost, didn't hear you until I saw you. And not many your size can take down a rabbit that big." Fox's tone lightened as he spoke, his eyes glimmering with admiration, sure the rabbit might have been trickier to catch without him herding it, but she killed it, she killed something almost as big as her. Not many could say the same.

Fox didn't move from where he sat, he had no interest in crowding the she-cat in any way, why would he? She did just humor his company after all, not many of ThunderClan bothered to do that. "And hey, at least the smaller birds got cuteness goin' for them, just like you. Fitting in every way." He purred, the charm that followed him moving evenly into his voice like it had been waiting for the opportunity.

"And the cat you're talking to now?" He mewed with a nod, placing a paw on his chest to gesture to himself. "His name is Fox. And he's pleasured to meet someone a kind as you."

There’s always something to do.
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Smallbird blinked in surprise as the words from the tom’s mouth were not degrading or negatively judgemental. Nor was it some sort of derogatory laughter. Much to the gray tabby’s shock, he actually claimed to like her name. Although his reference did not manage to buoy her mood as he might have intended. If she were mighty like an osprey or as swift as a falcon, would her leader not have named her “Smallfalcon” or “Smallosprey” instead? The names certainly seemed mightier than “Smallbird”.”

The Thunderclan warrior was pulled out of her thoughts as the unfamiliar tom continued his thoughts in a light tone. ”Oh! Uh…thank you?” Smallbird chirped, blinking in surprise and looking away in embarrassed glee. A compliment? And from one so handsome and mighty-looking no less! Somehow this tom was managing to make her feel special. Something the tabby she-cat was distinctly unfamiliar with feeling, but enjoyed nonetheless. ”It’s not often that rabbits appear in Thunderclan’s territory so my mentor made a point of teaching me how to get to their throat and bite hard enough that I ought to be able to kill them with little struggle,” Smallbird mewed in rapid bashfulness. She was feeling shy and unsure of what to say, yet a strong desire to keep this tom pleased sat in her heart. Not many paid the small she-cat much attention and she was figuratively rolling in it, soaking up as much as she could.

The fact that the tom found her cute had Smallbird feeling all sorts of delighted and embarrassed. It seemed to be a default set of emotions with her. Could he really see her that way or was he simply trying to charm her? The little tabby had no clue. She had never been described as cute before. Nor complimented as much as she had been during this brief conversation. Smallbird turned her amber gaze on the tom, trying to evaluate him but not quite being able to decide just how genuine he was. She certainly supposed that to him she might appear cute in the way smaller creatures like mice and, yes, birds, did. But, and she hardly dared to follow the train of thought but couldn’t help doing so with a small measure of hope, what if he was genuine and he found her cute in a more attractive way. The way a she-cat might find a tom? Surely they too found she-cats attractive and desirable? It seemed completely illogical to Smallbird for a tom to agree to mate with a she-cat he found unappealing, after all, she would hardly ask a tom to father her kits if he was unappealing.

So deep in her thoughts of attractiveness and mating potential was Smallbird, that she almost missed the tom’s name. ”Fox!” she exclaimed with surprise, not having expected such a name with so many connotations. Certainly the name suited when it came to surprise and almost appearance, what with the reddish colouring. ”But you don’t appear to be sly or devious,” the gray tabby blurted out in a somewhat dismayed tone. Once more she gave the tom, Fox, an appraising look over. He was large and red-coated like a fox, but if he were devious, cunning and sly like one too… Smallbird allowed the thought to trail away, hoping beyond hope that Fox was named only for his appearance. She liked him thus far and had hoped to spend a little time getting to know him. All the Thunderclan warrior wanted was a friend, and this was the first cat to have shown the interest or potential for such a thing to develop. But if he were more fox-like than just in name, and sort of appearance, well a friendship could hardly happen then.

Smallbird watched Fox with a forlorn look, almost expecting that horrid grin foxes wore to appear. She quickly glanced around the clearing, tensing up before focusing her attention back on the loafed tom before her. Had this all been a trick? Some sort of sly game to keep her in place while others surrounded her? Maybe that murderer didn’t work alone, but used this tom to lure cats in and when they were off-guard, it attacked? Smallbird’s heart sank ever further as her thoughts ran rapidly through her mind. It was just like her to be fooled by a pretty face, get her hopes and expectations up, only for them to come crashing down like a falling tree.

The world's too big to stay in one place.

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🦊•∙∙ ──── ⋙

"And you do a fine job of it, Smallbird." Fox responded, speaking her name as if it tasted sweet on his tongue, he was impressed by her prowess, even if she didn't see it outright. He did, and it drew out an upward curl of his whiskers. "I've been hunting since I was... about..." He gestured with his paw to about the size of what seemed like a little larger than a kit of 4 or 5 moons "yay tall?" He tilted his head in amusement before tucking them back beneath him. "There seems to be a lot of things that a big cat like me can get away with, especially when it comes to neutral prey. Mice and such."

Fox spoke as if he had known Smallbird for much longer than he had, a calm and honeyed cadence that suited a tom like him. 

At the mention of the sly and devious creatures he was named after, he let out a soft chuckle, warmed by the calm he had felt being around Smallbird, finally a ThunderClan cat that didn't feel like baring claws and teeth. "The she-cat that raised me up gave me it. She was laughin' at the similarities, big fluffy red and white fur, sharp eyes, something like that. It stuck after that and I tend to forget I might've ever been named anything else." Fox gave his chest a few embarrassed licks, it was strange to be so attached to a name that was originally made to poke some playful fun at him, but now, he couldn't imagine being called anything else.

"I can assure you, there's nothing devious going on here, swear on my left paw!" He raised his paw with a playful laugh, he seemed much too playful to be scheming. The large tom then shuffled himself to a more comfortable position that looked like it would be rather inconvenient to climb up from if it came to it, he had a feeling he was safe around Smallbird... somehow. 

There’s always something to do.
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Smallbird smiled warmly at the compliment. It felt so good to be recognised by somecat for something. Funny that it should be an outsider who saw worth and skill in her. The thought was a curious recognition. In her clan Smallbird felt useless and as though she never carried her own weight properly. Where others in the clan might not have acknowledged more about the rabbit catch than it being a good feast, this tom, who was large and must be skilled too with how long he had been hunting, thought she had done well to catch it. The gray tabby flicked an ear thoughtfully. Maybe… no. She would never make it out here alone. Besides. The clan needed her. She was doing her part, mostly, she just needed to provide the clan with some kits. Then this feeling of failure would finally leave her.

The gray tabby’s fears and distrust melted away at the soft chuckle Fox gave in reply. She blinked curiously at him, wondering how it was that he could make her feel so at ease. No one appeared able to soothe her worries and concerns so easily. Not even her brothers had that talent. Yet this outsider did. Oh what a wonder it would be if the clan were to have more like him! Charming and easy going, friendly and kind. ”I’m glad that she only named you for your appearance. Although…,” Smallbird trailed the words off and shook her head. No, she ought not finish that thought aloud lest she anger him.

The Thunderclan warrior relaxed and sat down finally, taking a moment to lick a paw and swipe it over her ears. So relaxed was Smallbird beginning to feel that she was almost tempted to take a full on bath right then and there. The gray tabby was just extending her licks to her chest when a light breeze brought the rabbit scent to her nose and she remembered where she was. For a moment she stared at the rabbit with eyes half covered by her nictitating membrane and her tongue poking out. Then she swiped her muzzle with her tongue and looked toward Fox. ”Sorry,” she mumbled and looked away with embarrassment that he should have seen her so relaxed and distracted. ”I suppose I ought to take this back to the clan,” she mewed disheartedly. ”Unless,” Smallbird looked up at Fox with a sort of curious hope, ”you want it? After all you did help me catch it and it wouldn’t be fair of me to take complete claim. But I couldn’t take it back to camp if it were torn or eaten without getting into trouble.” Truth be told, the idea of leaving Fox was completely undesirable. Here was a cat that made Smallbird feel safe and relaxed. Back in camp she felt stressed to match everyone else’s abilities to provide for the clan. Nor could she say she would find much company there even if she took the rabbit back. There would be a struggle for her to drag it all the way there, and then, if she was to remain honest with herself, maybe a compliment on the catch from the deputy. Just maybe the leader too. But that would be it. Smallbird sighed and sincerely hoped Fox would want the rabbit, although she made no further actions to sway his mind about it.

The world's too big to stay in one place.

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🦊•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Fox watched as Smallbird shifted her posture, moving the rabbit to pick it up and he flicked an ear, merely something that he did without thinking. "Leaving so soon?" His voice came easy, but slightly disappointed that his newfound company was leaving so soon, however his lilt was also accepting of the outcome. He wasn't going to pressure her to stay, it was her choice to stay or to leave, not his.

"If you're hungry, we can share. I've got nobody to return to, just me, myself and I" Fox let an easy laugh slip from his throat at his own poor joke and hooked the rabbit with a claw, pulling it toward him from a matt in it's fur. And only then did he tap his tail beside him, an invitation rather than demanding she sit beside them, his eyes soft around the edges. "If you're not hungry, well, I thank you for your wholesome donation anyways, pretty birdie" he trilled, beginning the act of defluffing the rabbit, a common courtesy if Smallbird decided to share the rabbit with him.

A welcoming grin pulled at Fox's mouth as he nodded to the prey "C'mon, I'll save you your favourite piece." He added, continuing to defluff the rabbit with the precision of an experienced hunter, he was definitely no kittypet, at least not raised as one. "I favor the legs myself." he added "When they're fresh the muscles make you work, but the taste is worth it."

There’s always something to do.
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The slight disappointment in Fox’s voice had Smallbird feeling instantly bad and delighted at the same time. He was enjoying her company. Somecat was actually enjoying her company. How could she possibly renege on this opportunity? So instead of getting up to leave as she felt she ought to, the gray tabby she-cat settled down into a comfortable crouch. ”Well, uh, if you want me to stay, I um… suppose I can stay for a bit longer,” she mewed with a crooked smile. She wasn’t likely to be missed back in camp. After all, she hadn’t been sent on a specific patrol but had, rather, taken herself hunting to try and ease her incessant feeling of not having done enough.

”Oh I couldn’t!” Smallbird exclaimed somewhat sharply with a touch of regret. ”We are supposed to feed the clan before ourselves. I’m not allowed to eat until the clan’s fed and truthfully I oughtn’t… uh, nevermind.” The Thunderclan Warrior trailed off and looked away, her tail flicking nervously. She didn’t want Fox to feel bad about the rabbit. She was such a fool. A desperate fool! The first cat to show her the kindness she craved and she goes and breaks the warrior code for him. Oh how much easier life might just be without the code to adhere to. Smallbird turned her amber gaze back onto Fox, watching as he defluffed the rabbit. What a life he must have with no one to answer to. No worries about doing his part, as long as he was fed. Yet, how lonely it must get. The tabby’s eyes narrowed, could it really be much lonelier than being amongst others with no cat to spend time with aside from one’s own littermates? No. No! The clan needed her and she needed them. It was safer and more dignified. Fox just made the clanless life appear appealing because he was so large and competent. She would never measure up to that.

”I do wish I could have some,” Smallbird meowed quietly in reply, the smell of the rabbit becoming more tantalising as Fox prepared it for eating. ”I would get into a lot of trouble if somecat were to discover I had eaten before having brought back enough food for the clan.” The tabby she-cat stared forlornly at the rabbit. She had no doubt that she could catch more prey. Not to mention she technically wouldn’t be in any trouble if she didn’t as she had already hunted earlier in the day. Yet what she had caught was hardly enough for everyone and while some cats might be content to hunt once a day and say they had done their part, Smallbird never felt satisfied with her efforts. Once more the idea of living a clanless life seemed appealing until she forcefully thought of Leafbare. Although that only lured images of her snuggling in Fox’s fluff for warmth. The she-cat sighed. There was no winning with her. Would she ever feel content with her life? Maybe when she had kits.

A look of anguish and misery was plastered all too clearly on the she-cat’s face as she thought about her life and happiness. She knew she ought to be happy with things as they were, everyone else seemed to be. Yet the stress of keeping up with her duties was so exceptional that there were days she feared she would break. What then? What good would she be to the clan if she became too stressed to handle her duties? What good was she now? She never fully succeeded. Maybe the clan life wasn’t one for her. Since she couldn’t handle the task of looking after others so that they might look after her, maybe she should be alone with no cat to answer to but herself? The idea didn’t feel right. More like a severe punishment. She needed company. She craved it. She just had to work harder. ”I… I’m sorry for being such a misery,” Smallbird meowed aloud, looking up to meet Fox’s gaze. ”I struggle to complete all my daily tasks and I tend to get down on myself for letting the clan down. I shouldn’t put that on you though, and I am very sorry.” The tabby she-cat sat up and licked at her chest, embarrassed.

The world's too big to stay in one place.

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🦊•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Fox's expression didn't change very much as Smallbird went on about the vital rule of the warrior code as he finished clearing the rabbit of its barely edible fur and moved the left over fur into a small pile. The his gaze moved back over to Smallbird "That's noble of you, I'm honored you broke it for me. If it is truly that important to you, I will avoid taking your prey from now on." There was more he could say 'especially since that Leopardrose of yours would tear my fur off if I did' came to mind, but he didn't speak much further, it wouldn't be worth the thought, and he was enjoying Smallbird's company. Why would he want to ruin it with tension?

"It's fine, really, there's other rabbits out there" Fox added before using a claw to cut the rabbit open and take the first bite of its innards, savouring the taste in every bite. 

Fox watched as her expression shifted, and as did his own, something with less charisma and more empathy, not so much pity, but as if he had felt her worries in his own mind, as if they hurt him the same. Or at least did once. "I've heard a lot worse from cats a little more stubborn and snappy than you. Whatever you struggle with, it's not stopping you from making fine company." He began, a trace of a smile returning to his lion-like face  before her gave his paw a clean before taking another large bite of the rabbit. If Smallbird didn't want any, he wanted to show how much he appreciated the selfless gift.

He shuffled a little closer, dragging his lunch with him before settling closer to her, not crowding, just present. "You hunt, you protect, that's more than enough for us rogues. There will always be a cat that knows what your doing and appreciates the effort whether it be in your clan, out here on territories you're not to familiar with." there was a sense of longing in his voice, like he was missing a cat that acted similarly to Smallbird, a cat that reminded him of her, though she seemed so lost to him now. "You try, it's the effort that counts."

There’s always something to do.
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Smallbird winced as Fox pointed out that she had truly broken the Warrior Code by allowing him to have the rabbit. What was she supposed to do? Demand he give her the rabbit and then drag it back to camp? Of course she should have, but was a rabbit really worth the risk of getting killed? The gray tabby knew she was fooling herself. Her small conversation with the large tom already told her enough to know that should she have demanded the rabbit like a true warrior, he would have let her taken it without complaint. Great Starclan! He probably would have even offered to carry it to the border for her. Such a sweetheart was this tom. Smallbird’s eyes narrowed slightly as she began to wonder why not more of the clans were like this tom. Was the conflict and requirements for food so truly necessary? What would happen if the borders were removed and any cat could hunt anywhere? Camps ought to remain a place to protect but… The Thunderclan warrior shook her head to stop the thoughts. This was disloyal! Traitorous!

”It’s important to the clans,” Smallbird meowed somewhat hollowly. ”I…,” she began then paused, looking distinctly uncomfortable, her tail tapping out a steady rhythm as she flicked it with vigour. ”I shouldn’t say this but… meeting you has me wondering if the borders really are so important. I mean… wouldn’t it be nice if we all just shared the prey that there is in the world rather than fight over what lives and wanders into our little borders?” The tabby warrior’s eyes narrowed as she considered her own question. Her ears, however, were pressed back, giving her a look of nervous anticipation that expected a negative reply. Truthfully Smallbird had always accepted her lot in life without much thought on how or why things were the way they were. The stories told to her as a kit were growing foggy now though, and Fox was demonstrating that life outside the clans didn’t have to be as horrible as she had always thought. After all, how could any cat look so handsome and remain so positive if their life was even more of a struggle than those in the clan? Yet she truly didn’t think an every cat for themselves life was an answer. Connections to Starclan, leaders and the Medicine cats were so very important. But why, why not have the four clans share the hunting grounds without competition? Could that truly not work?

Smallbird smiled weakly at Fox’s remark that she was fine company. Many would disagree but it was comforting to know he thought that. A gentle purr rumbled briefly in the tabby she-cat’s chest as Fox moved closer. Instantly Smallbird ducked her head, embarrassed that he had brought out such a pleased reaction from her. Yet she truly was pleased. It was one thing to have her brother sitting close to her, and quite another to have this handsome tom wanting to be near when he had no need to be. ”I’m always being told that trying is enough,” Smallbird replied with a frustrated look. ”But if that is so true, then why can’t I feel satisfied with what I do? I never feel like I’ve done enough for the clan. I always feel like I’ve forgotten something.” The Thunderclan warrior scratched at the dirt beneath her paws mindlessly. ”But more than that, nothing I do ever results in company like this within the clan,” she mewed in a small, wavering voice. ”Fox… you live alone, out here, with no obligations to anyone but yourself. No one to protect you, but no one to have to answer to or look after to…but…are you happy with your life?” Smallbird looked up at the larger tom with wide amber eyes, almost pleading him to answer. What answer she was hoping for, wasn’t over obvious, however.

The world's too big to stay in one place.

∙∙•🦊•∙∙

Fox paused mid-bite, jaws still sunk into the rabbit as Smallbird spoke. His ears pricked, eyes lifted towards her with a soft, amused glimmer, once that said he heard everyone word, even if he didn't interrupt his chewing right away. He tore off the mouthful he had been working on and swallowed before answering, voice warm and easy despite the heaviness of her worries. "Y'know," he began, licking a smear of rabbit from his muzzle, "most cats don't say things like that out loud. Borders, rules... all that stuff is important to you clan cats. Important enough that mentioning anything different makes them look like they got stuck by lightning." his whiskers twitched in a light laugh, affectionate rather than mocking.

He leaned slightly closer, not crowding her, just close enough distance to show he was listening, truly listening, even as his paw rested casually atop the rabbit he was still eating. "But there's nothing wrong with asking questions. Curiosity hasn't hurt a cat yet... unless they go sticking their nose where it'll get them hurt." A playful grin flashed across his face, all sharp teeth and good humor. And then, he spoke again, more gently... "Sharing prey? No borders? It could be nice. Maybe it wouldn't work. Maybe it would. But the fact you're thinking about it doesn't make you disloyal, Birdie. It makes you thoughtful. And kind." His tail swayed behind him, slowly but noticeable. "You're just the sort of cat who worries about more than just yourself. I'd be proud of that."

At her confession about clan life, Fox's expression softened, turning more earnest than he often let it. "Trying is enough. But that doesn't mean trying always feels good." He nudged her shoulder lightly with his own, gentle as a breeze despite his size. "You're hard on yourself. Not because you're failing, bur because your care about doing what's right. That's not a flaw, lil Birdie. That's heart." When she asked if he was happy, Fox fell quiet for a moment, not uncomfortable, just thoughtful. He took another bite from the rabbit, chewed, swallowed, then spoke looking away from her wide amber eyes.

"Yeah," he said honestly. "I'm happy with my life. I like the freedom, the quiet, meeting new cats... seeing new things." His smile warmed, easy and bright. "But don't mistake that for loneliness. I've got friends. And I'll always find them to make sure they're okay."

His gaze lingered on her, not intense, but steady, sincere. "But you know something? Being alone doesn't feel half as nice as... this." His tail brushed the ground, an unconscious contented motion. "I think you don't feel satisfied because you think you have to earn every bit of warmth and companionship you get." He leaned down, nudged the rabbit toward her in a quiet offer, even though they both knew she'd refuse. "But trust be on this my Birdie... you don't."

There’s always something to do.
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Smallbird flinched as Fox brought up that most other clan cats were shocked by the idea of no borders. Was that why she couldn’t make friends this easily? Was she just too strange for the clans? Was there something wrong with her? The tom’s laugh brought a small smile to her face that didn’t quite light up her eyes. The gray tabby she-cat closed her eyes and allowed a small purr to rumble in her chest, leaning closer to Fox as he got somewhat closer. She dared not to actually touch him, but she desperately wanted to nuzzle into that long fur. Smallbird felt almost certain that if she did she would be reminded of the kithood she had never had, yet maybe, it would be warm and soft, not bittersweet.

”Are you sure it doesn’t?” she asked quietly. ”I spend so much time worrying, stressing, and no other cat seems to. You say I should be proud but how can I be with this weight on my shoulders? A weight that no other cat seems to carry.” Smallbird was close to tears. She wanted to believe Fox. To feel proud of the way she cared. Because she genuinely did. Instead, though, she just felt excessively stressed and, even, close to collapse some days.

Smallbird blinked in surprise. ”Trying doesn’t make you feel good either?” she blurted out before she gave herself a chance to think. Everycat had always told her that she should feel good because at least she had tried. Her brother especially seemed to be an advocate of this. Yet Fox seemed to be saying otherwise. Yes, trying was a good thing to do, but not to expect it to make her feel good. ”Heart,” Smallbird mewed quietly. Fox wasn’t saying she cared too much. No, he was saying she cared so much it hurt her, but that it was a good thing. Confusion seeped into the she-cat’s eyes but this time it was thoughtful. She didn’t think on it for long, however, before moving onto other topics.

”I…ummm…” If cats could blush, Smallbird would be as red as a tomato. Instead she flattened her ears and ducked her head, smiling widely as her tail swished back and forth just above the ground. Great Starclan she was a mess! But what a relief that she had inherited a longer tail than her brothers. Why, she’d look like a puppy wagging its tail if she hadn’t! ”But what do you do if you get hurt?” she meowed suddenly, looking up at Fox while her head remained half-ducked down. ”And what of Leafbare? Don’t you get cold with no other cat to lay next to?” Although looking at his fur, Smallbird seriously doubted if the tom ever got cold. How horrible it must be to handle the heat of greenleaf, however.

Tempting. That’s what Fox was. How could she honestly be considering following him into a clanless life? Thunderclan needed her. Didn’t they? Of course they did! Every set of paws helped the clan to survive. Yet, every mouth was another to stress about feeding. If she were to have kits would they be safer with the clan? Or where there were no obligations? The clan of course! Thunderclan provided land safe from twolegs and predators. Not to mention the Medicine Cat’s skills and the guidance of a leader under Starclan. Did Fox ever feel directionless? Did it matter? She often didn’t know where she was going in life. What she was supposed to be doing. It’s why she hunted so much. Feed the clan. Fight for the clan. But there were no fights most of the time. She could hunt that murderer, but Smallbird knew she wouldn’t survive.

The gray tabby warrior looked down at the rabbit. She desperately wanted to share it with Fox. To eat when she pleased. To hunt no more than they needed. It would be so… relaxed. Yes, she was relaxed now. Would she be without the protection of the clan? Smallbird couldn’t answer that. Nor did she want to think on it right now. Besides, she had only met Fox this one time. ”I will have to return to my clan soon,” she meowed sadly. ”But… do you think we could meet again? I have really enjoyed this time with you, Fox, and I… I would like to see you again.”

The world's too big to stay in one place.

∙∙•🦊•∙∙

Fox grinned as Smallbird spoke about all of her worries, something between support and confidence, a deeper feeling that he couldn't name, something that warmed his pelt more than he would have hoped on a hotter season. "It doesn't always feel great, when you try and don't have any progress, it can hurt, make you feel like you didn't do anything. But it's the trying that matters, it shows cats that you care. And if they don't see that, I certainly do." he replied, placing his tail onto her back as a kind of grounding comfort. 

"Well, with any luck, I don't." He responded to Smallbird's remark about him getting hurt, letting out a warm chuckle at his out thoughts. "But if I do, I'll go off and find cats that can help. It isn't just the clanners that know medicine." His voice grew kinder, softer, as if anything louder may disturb Smallbird in some way. 

He let out a soft hum as Smallbird asked her questions, he wasn't opposed to them, in fact, he liked the sound of her voice, his ears twitching when she stopped speaking for him to answer, almost disappointed that she stopped, but he didn't show that in his face. "Green-leaf is harder, shade isn't easy to find when I'm not allowed in the territories, some cats have a knot in their tail about it. Which I understand, safety and all," he answered, curling his tail around himself "but I manage. But I'd think you'd need a cat to snuggle up to if you get cold in leaf-bare. If you were out here I mean." he added, letting out a breath, not quite a chuckle, but something close to it. "But I don't think someone as pretty as yourself would have trouble finding someone to cuddle up to." He spoke, lending her a wink before taking another bite out of his rabbit.

At Smallbird's need to return to her clan, Fox nodded in acceptance, he didn't want her to leave. If everything worked out the way he wanted, Smallbird would be travelling with him to the next den he'd found for himself and they'd be able to catch some rest together. But that wasn't how this worked, and he wasn't sure if it ever would be. So instead, he accepted.

"I'd love to see you again, Birdie." He purred, loud and genuine purring that rumbled deep from the depths of his throat. "Name a time and place and I'll be there, maybe even before you!" he chirped, moving his tail from around Smallbird's back to curling around himself and he savored another bite of the rabbit.