Ask to Join Sunset Skirmishes

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty stirred at the sound of his name. A slow, lazy unfurling rather than any real startle. He’d been half dozing atop a pile of hay tucked near one of the barn’s half broken windows, where the sunlight came in just right. The call cut through the soft rustle of straw and the distant murmur of pigeons in the rafters.

He blinked once eyes catching a slant of gold, then pushed himself up with a yawn that cracked his jaw wide. "Mmh - " That sound came first, followed by a drowsy, amused rumble as he shook out his fur. "Basilflame?"

Padding forward he appeared at the threshold of the old barn door, one ear canted and a half smile playing across his muzzle. "You’ve a knack for finding me when I’ve just gotten comfortable." His tone carried a lazy sort of humor.

With a flick of his tail, he nodded toward her. "What brings WindClan’s finest to the farm today?"

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

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"Ah yes, only the best time for me to visit a friend," she began, her voice laced with a purr of amusement "when they’re doing nothing else on this fine evening." She trilled, tracing a friendly circle around the fawn colored tom before meeting at his front again.

Basilflame twitched an ear at Monty’s words, her whiskers twitching and her eyes narrowing with mirth "so flattery is where you wish to travel. Softening me up are we?" She began to giggle, her tail flicking so fondly and so consistently she thought she wouldn’t be able to keep it still again.  "I take it that this is your home now?" She asked politely, moving to his side but not seating herself, not yet

She curled her tail with interest, finally focusing on answering his question properly. "I’ve met you on quite a few occasions, but I do have one offer for you that will help you defend yourself from this rogue roaming around… if you’d humour me." Basilflame whispered, glancing around as if something is going to leap out of the bushes and rip off her ears, but there was nothing, the two were free to talk and do whatever they pleased. At least for now

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty’s gaze softened as she circled him. He had that easy smile of his tugging faintly at the edges, though there was something quieter beneath it this time. He gave a low hum glancing back toward the hay where he’d been napping, then out across the old field beyond the barn doors.

"Aye..." He said finally, voice low, almost reluctant. "This is home. For now, anyway."

His tail brushed lightly against the dusty floorboards, the motion unhurried but heavy with thought. It was a fine enough place that provided shelter. "Good amount of mice and a bit of company." His whiskers twitched slightly as if scenting the air for his barn mates, but they mostly kept to the house, not the hayloft.

Monty missed Edward.

Monty shook himself lightly, breaking whatever quiet weight had settled. His amber eyes found hers again, the warmth returning bit by bit. "It's not much, but...you said something about a rogue and an offer?" His tone lifted, curious, though the ache behind his voice hadn’t quite vanished.

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

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The weight behind Monty's eyes wasn't lost on the ginger tabby point she-cat. There wasn't any words that healed the feeling of loss but she instead, she moved to his side and gave a purr of comfort, placing her muzzle on his shoulder to offer some condolences to him. 

"I'm glad you aren't out here taking any blows at least" She chuckled, she wasn't in any rush to let Monty live his strain down, not entirely, and always playfully. "Oh yeah, what I've come to do might help you with that actually" she began, moving her body to face him and lowered her tail until it nearly bushed against the ground. 

For a moment, she let the silence, the suspense settle between them before dipping her head before speaking again, as if paying respects to the cats they had lost in recent moons. "I want to help make sure you can defend yourself against this rogue and other rogues or threats to come." she admitted, though her voice held a strong conviction, like making sure Monty was strong and could hold himself in a fight was not only an offer of kindness, but a duty.

"So..." Basilflame paws, spreading her paws in a steady motion "Care to spar?"

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty blinked once, slowly, as her muzzle brushed his shoulder. For all the quiet ache that still lingered under his ribs, her gesture drew out a soft purr.

At her suggestion though, his ears pricked, and an amused glint flickered to life behind his eyes. "A spar?" He meowed back with a bit of surprise and some dry humor. "You mean to tell me you snuck out just to wrestle a barn cat?"

He shifted his weight, stretching one foreleg forward until his claws flexed faintly against the wood. He stood rolling his shoulders as though shaking off the remnants of drowsiness, the faintest spark of liveliness rising to the surface again. He hummed a note of thoughtfulness. "I suppose it couldn't hurt... much, at least."

His whiskers twitched with a ghost of a grin. "Alright then, Basilflame. I'll try." He licked at his muzzle to moisten his maw before he took a lax stance in front of her, waiting for her lead.

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

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Basilflame's ears pricked as Monty expected, a spark of glee and delight in her hazel eyes as she straightened herself, trying to make her seem taller and bolder than she was. After all she didn't want to make a fool of herself as soon as she offered to help a stranger in self defense. "Of course, I couldn't just let you lay defenseless. And you can show the moves to the other cats around here... if there is any." she replied, dipping her head gently before tapping her paw on the ground, claws hidden in their sheathes.

"We'll do soft paws, no claws or intent to harm. I want to spar, not face the claws of a friend" She explained, a little more authoritative than she would have liked, but she just hoped the point came across well enough. 

Usually soft hazel eyes narrowed with focus, eyeing the tom's physic, he wasn't muscular or battle ready, but with any hope, she would hopefully alter that second descriptor, at least a little. "Would you mind pouncing at me first? I'd like to see what you can do first of all" She asked, more of a polite request than a command. She wanted to know what she was working with, what she needed to do to make sure Monty knew how to defend himself against this rogue.

She didn't need to see his blood spilled on the grass.

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty gave a small, rumbling purr of amusement as Basilflame straightened up, that spark of liveliness lingering in his gaze. She was serious, but her earnest attempt was endearing. The sepia tom gave but a confirming hum towards her instructions as his amber eyes sized up his 'opponent'.

Tail tip twitched as he tested his footing on the barn floor. "Wouldn’t want to send my teacher limping back to her camp." His teasing drone was gentle and perhaps a bit distracted as he tried to determine when best to strike.

He crouched slightly posture loose more like a hunter than a fighter. His hind legs tensed, not for a full force leap but a measured spring. With that Monty pushed off his forepaws reached toward her shoulders. His claws were carefully sheathed as promised and weight kept light so he could pull back if she countered. He wanted to learn rather than win.

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

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Basilflame's whiskers twitched with quiet amusement at Monty's teasing, though her paws stayed firmly planted, muscles coiled and ready beneath her ginger and cream coat. "Then you'd best make sure your teacher doesn't have to limp, hmm?" she replied softly, tone even and warm but carrying the faintest challenging breath. Her tail gave a slow, sweeping flick as she watched him position himself, hunter's stance, not a fighter's but the focus in his eyes made her nod with approval.

When he sprang, she shifted her weight, moving to the side but letting him land a gentle blow to her shoulder for only a heartbeat before she rolled lightly to the side, brushing her flank against his in a controlled slide. "Good," she murmured, voice calm and measured even as she moved, "you're light on your paws, that'll serve you well." With a swift motion, she tapped her paw against the ground before retreating a pace. "But don't just aim for where I am. Think about where I'll be."

Her hazel eyes softened, her tone encouraging rather than scolding. "Fighting isn't about brute strength, Monty. It's about rhythm. About patience. Let your instincts lead, but don't let them rush you." Her ears perked slightly, tail curling behind her as she gave him, a small, approving smile, she wondered how much she sounded like Rooknose, speaking like this. "Now, again, this time, try and see where I will move before you strike."

The faintest spark of excitement lit her expression, the kind that came not from aggression but from the joy of teaching, of helping someone grow. "You're learning quickly," she added with a gentler murmur, "and I'd like to see that again."

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty huffed a low laugh as Basilflame slid neatly out of reach. The tap of her paw and her calm, measured words drew a flicker of sheepish amusement to his face.

"Aye, well, I’ll admit - ‘rhythm’ isn’t something I’ve got much practice in lately." He said, voice carrying a rough, self deprecating warmth. He flexed one paw shaking off the dust that clung to his pads. "Been more used to pacing fields and counting fence posts than sparring proper."

Still he listened. His ears angled toward her as she spoke, amber eyes steady and thoughtful. There was no bruised pride there. He was rusty maybe even a bit slow to adapt, but far from unwilling.

His gaze followed the faint sway of her tail, the weight in her stance. He crouched again, slower this time the muscles in his hind legs moving with care rather than force.

Then he moved...not fast or graceful, but deliberate. He aimed just off to her side, hoping to meet her mid shift instead of chasing where she’d been.

"Suppose I’m still counting fence posts..." Monty murmured as he landed, chest rising with soft laughter. "But I’ll get there."

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

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Basilflame's ears twitched when he made the leap, his amber eyes gleaming with a strange sort of endearing glance that sparked a glimmer of interest. "Rhythm isn't always natural. You just need to keep practicing until it feels natural. You don't think I was helping others with battle from the nursery did you?" she purred.

She perked her ears, moving to the side, only for Monty to barrel into her side, she let out a soft huff, simply a bit of breath leaving her lungs from the impact. "Good!" She cheered, curling her tail and purring despite the pounce.

"You've pinned me, that's good for a cat that was never given a day of training" Basilflame rolled onto her belly before bursting up with a force to either roll Monty off of her or launch him, albeit a small distance. "If I had to make a bet on it, I'd say you have more rhythm than you think."

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty’s breath came out in a short laugh as they tumbled, the sound mingling with the soft thump of straw beneath them. When Basilflame praised him, the sepia tom gave a rumbling purr of his own. He didn't believe her...but it was nice.

"Aye, well you’re kind to say so though I think that one was more luck than rhythm."

When she twisted beneath him he didn’t quite brace in time. Basilflame’s sudden burst of strength sent him stumbling backward. He blinked then snorted softly, amusement brightening his eyes.

He rose again stretching one foreleg in front of him and flicking his tail in invitation, his expression warm despite the tousled fur. "You’ve a good way of keeping a tom humble, Basilflame."

Monty’s gaze softened as he settled back into a looser stance. He wasn't hurrying. "Care to show me what I did wrong before I go making the same mistake twice?"

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

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Basilflame's whiskers twitched with quiet amusement as she settled back into a gentle crouch, her beath even despite the scuffle. There was no pride in her eyes, only warmth, and a soft spark of encouragement.

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty listened closely, amber eyes following every movement as Basilflame stepped near. Her words carried the same kind of knowledge he imagined a seasoned mentor might’ve once had. When her paw brushed his shoulder, his ears flicked back slightly in focus. He shifted his stance as she spoke, testing the balance she described...

He gave a low hum of acknowledgment. He'd do his best to keep his paws aligned.

With a measured breath, Monty crouched again. His shoulders rolled with slow intent, tail tip flicking once as he gauged her posture. Then he lunged again not as forceful or direct as before, but as his paws adjusted they slipped on some hay which brought him just shy of the she-cat.

He landed next to her, huffing slightly. "I can try again...Just give me a moment." Was he nervous somehow in sparring with her? He'd have to think on it.

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

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Basilflame braced herself to dodge and counter the pounce, but just as Monty landed just shy of her, slipping down on the hay, she leapt into action, moving to break his fall, not catch him, she wasn't fast enough for that but she used her body and break his fall with soft fur before nudging the fawn tom upright with her before rubbing her tail on his back, a wordless sign that she had his back.

"Your form was good, but you... might have misjudged your pounce" her words weren't laced in disappointment or discipline, just a faint amusement that betrayed itself in a soft chuckle as she spoke. "When pouncing at anything you have to be aware of your surroundings too. A mistake in a battle like that could be fatal." she murmured, her voice gaining a certain seriousness that was unlike her, almost a deep seated worry for her newfound friend. "Sometimes you could use your surroundings to your advantage" she added, dusting the ground with her flame-like tail.

The ginger she-cat let a soft chuckle slip from her throat, a purr rolling in beside it. "Oh Monty, no-one can learn to fight in a day. You've made a good start, that's what matters." She explained, pushing her head into his cheek affectionately "You're doing well. Take as much rest as you need."

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty steadied himself with Basilflame’s help letting out a quiet, breathy laugh as he straightened. Her fur had cushioned the worst of the fall, though a touch of embarrassment still burned in his chest.

"Misjudged, aye..." He murmured, tone light but touched with genuine gratitude. Her tail along his back, the gentle weight of her presence steadied something in him that he hadn’t realized was unbalanced.

When she spoke again, that faint edge of worry in her voice drew his gaze. For a long heartbeat, he was quiet, his amber eyes drifting toward the open barn doors where the wind whispered through the grass. "One slip can make all the difference... "

He exhaled through his nose, shoulders sagging slightly as he gave a rueful purr. "Shame, really...Wouldn’t it be easier if we could all just talk our way out of things? Used to think diplomacy solved most troubles though that was before I lived out here."

Monty’s expression softened again, warmth returning as he glanced at her. "Still if it must be claws I can’t say I mind the company teaching me." His voice dipped lower, fondness lingering at the edges. "You make even sparring feel like good conversation."

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

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Basilflame blinked back surprise for a moment at Monty’s thoughts on diplomacy, how he wished that no cat would need to be hurt, as if everything could be solved with the right words. It was wishful thinking but Basilflame still admired the thought. To know that there were some cats out there that felt fighting to be unnecessary brought her a fleeting spark of comfort.

"I wish that could be how it was, but there is a reason we’re trained in battle." Basilflame replied, sitting and curling her tail around herself with a sigh. "Some cats see no other way and the more diplomatic of us don’t have much choice than to accept that and fight, or refuse and get injured using words. Our clan is our purpose, us clan cats live to serve. It gives us purpose" she explained, her voice soft but not distant. 

"in truth" Basilflame began, flicking one of her ears "I’d fight the same battle ten times over if it meant the cats of WindClan would know peace. And I trust that my Clanmates would fight beside me." She added, there was a reverence in her tone from moons of service to something she loved, she planned to keep serving it until the day she died from how she spoke. There was nothing more loyal.

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty listened quietly, his gaze never straying far from her as she spoke. He admired that about her and that blend of warmth and duty that seemed to come so naturally.

When she finished he was silent for a few heartbeats longer, the barn filled only with the gentle creak of the rafters and the rustle of straw in the wind.

"I suppose that’s what makes Clan cats different. You’ve all got something greater to fight for. A reason beyond yourselves." His tail flicked slowly behind him, tracing a small pattern in the dust. "For cats like me it’s… not always so clear."

His whiskers twitched faintly, a trace of a smile curving his muzzle. "Still I can’t say I don’t understand. Loyalty, duty...those aren’t things I’ve forgotten." Monty’s gaze drifted out toward the fading light beyond the barn then back to Basilflame. "Peace is worth a fight even if it’s not always won by words. I respect that."

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

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Basilflame's expression softened, the gentle light in her eyes deepening with understanding rather than pity. She followed his gaze towards the barn's open doors, where the sky bled into the soft colors of dusk, then looked back at him with quiet conviction.

"We're not as different as you think." She murmured, her voice low but steady. "A clan gives us names for our loyalties, but the heart of it, the need to protect, to build something that lasts beyond one life, that exists in every cat capable of caring for more than themselves" she responded, speaking truth of what she saw in Monty.

She stepped closer, not invading his space, but offering presence, solid and sincere. "You choose peace even when you could walk away. You honor loyalty even when no cat demands it from you. Those choices speak louder than where you sleep at night or which name you carry." Basilflame curled her whiskers into a soft smile that, to some, may just light up the entire barn.

Her tail brushed lightly across the straw, a thoughtful motion. "A reason to fight doesn't always come first." she added gently. "Sometimes it's found along the journey. And sometimes..." her gaze warmed. "It's found in the cats you meet along the way."

A little bit of elegance never goes out of style
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Monty’s expression gentled as he listened, the fur along his shoulders easing as though her words had brushed some lingering tension from him.

"Aye..." He mewed simply after a long thoughtful pause. He offered her a faint, lopsided smile. His tail flicked once across the hay strewn floor, sending a few loose pieces drifting between them. "You might be right about finding purpose along the way. Maybe that’s what this is...me figuring out mine one tumble at a time."

His gaze lingered for a moment longer before a spark of playfulness returned to his tone. "Speaking of tumbles…If you’re still willing perhaps we should pick up where we left off. Before I go getting sentimental on you."

He straightened after a brief stretch. "One more round?"

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

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Basilflame's whiskers lifted in a soft laugh, the gentle sound like wind through leaves. Though his teasing words were light, she could still sense the truth behind them. The quiet shifting of something unspoken, the way his shoulders no longer seemed weighed entirely by solitude. It warmed her, a subtle pride blooming in her chest not from her own words, but for the trust he'd allowed to show.

"You may tumble your way into it" she replied warmly, dipping her head in acknowledgment, "but there are many paths to purpose. Some claw their way through battle to find it. Others... find it in the bonds they build." Her gaze held his, soft yet unwavering. "No path is lesser, so long as it leads to something true."

For a heartbeat more, she lingered in the stillness between them, then her eyes sparked, brighter now, catching the playful glimmer in his. She took a posed step back into her stance, shoulder's relaxed, weight light on her paws like a dancing readying for the opening move.

Her tail flicked once, a mirror of his before, but far more deliberate. A quiet challenge that curved at the edges of her mouth. A final spar between friends couldn't hurt, after all, Monty was still learning.

"One more round."