Private Thread Meltwater Mornings

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
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Cottonbright padded quietly behind Goosesong, her pawsteps careful but not forced just steady. The breeze ruffled her fur as they approached the upper west bend of the river, carrying with it the scent of wet stone and the distant promise of fish. She didn’t speak at first, content to listen to the river’s soft churning.

When Goosesong glanced back, her ears perked, catching the slight shift in his tone. Something unspoken lingered behind his words, and she didn’t press. She rarely did. Her lime eyes settled on the river ahead, watching the way the sun glinted off the ripples. "This s-spot is perfect..." she mewed softly, her voice always gentle, but more certain now than usual.

She padded up beside him, paws sinking a little into the soft earth. "I like the way the water moves here. I-it’s calm... underneath the noise." Her tail curled loosely around her paws as she settled near the bank, back half hovering just above the moist ground. "W-we could try the shallows first? Sometimes the fish come up with the sun."

What are you afraid of losing if nothing in the world actually belongs to you.

~･ﾟ: *~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*:･ﾟ~

Goosesong gave a short grunt of agreement, the closest that he came to something like praise, at least today, at least right now. "Hm. You've got an eye for detail don't you" he said, his voice low and steady as he padded to the river's edge. He scanned the shallowed, noting the flickers of movement beneath the surface, but none came quite close enough. "Sun's right for it. We'll get something if we're patient."

He didn't sit, not yet. His posture remained alert, shoulders squared as he studied the water. But after a moment, his tail flicked once, and he added more quietly. "I'm glad you agreed to come along" The words were simple, but from him, it might as well been an open show of fondness.

His gaze slid to Cottonbright, briefly, before settling again on the water. "We'll start in the shallows" he said, echoing her suggestion without fuss. "But don't go too deep." There was no sharpness in the warning, just a quiet care, and something that crept into his voice a little more, but it was all neatly tucked beneath his usual tone.

With that, he finally crouched down at the bank, eyes narrowing slightly as a silver flicker darted near a sun-warmed rock "Let's see what the river offers us today."

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
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Cottonbright’s ears twitched at his grunt, and a small, pleased warmth unfurled in her chest at what almost sounded like a compliment. Her whiskers gave a soft twitch, but she didn’t call attention to it. She just watched him for a moment and mirrored his stillness.

"I’ve s-spent a lot of time watching. It helps when words get stuck." Her eyes flicked toward the water again, scanning the edges of sunlight for those familiar, darting shadows. "The river teaches you to notice the small things. O-or it humbles you fast."

When his tone shifted she glanced over at him, meeting his eyes for a heartbeat before lowering hers again. Her fur warmed under the simple honesty of his words. "I w-wanted to..." She replied softly, paw brushing at the edge of a flat stone as she adjusted her weight. His warning could have made another cat bristle, maybe an apprentice, but as another warrior who valued carefulness, quite the opposite.

Her ears angled forward, attentive and calm. "Th-there - by the reeds." She whispered, motioning with her nose to where a soft swirl disrupted the surface.

What are you afraid of losing if nothing in the world actually belongs to you.

~･ﾟ: *~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*:･ﾟ~

Goosesong's ears flicked in acknowledgement at her words, but his focus didn't waver from the water. "Observation's half the battle" he murmured, eyes narrowing at the surface where she had indicated. "Talking never caught a fish" His tone held no mockery, just simple agreement, as if her way of watching the world made perfect sense to him.

He crept forward a pawstep, posture taut but quiet, like a coiled reed. The swirl by the reeds was small, but telling, likely an easy catch. He shifted his weight back, careful not to startle the prey with a misplaced shadow. "Hold still" he said lowly, the command was not harsh but firm, calm. His paw hovered just above the water's surface. "I have this catch"

With a sudden flick, his paw shot down, claws flashing into the current with practiced precision. A splash, quick and sharp, and then a silver-scaled fish writhed in his grip. Without hesitation, Goosesong bit sharply at the base of its spine, silencing it before its flailing could disturb the others.

He stepped back, laying the fish on a stone beside Cottonbright with a quiet huff. "That's one" he said. A small twitch at the corner of his mouth suggested quiet satisfaction, maybe even something closer to pride. "Stay low. They seem to be moving in pods this morning, we might fill the fresh-kill pile before sunhigh."

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
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Cottonbright held still just as he asked. She didn’t flinch when the splash came, noting how his weight shifted just before the strike. Her breath caught when he surfaced with the fish, then eased again when he dispatched it cleanly.

She watched him place it beside her and her lime green eyes softened. "That was clean." She murmured with quiet approval, glancing down at the glistening fish.There was no flattery in her tone, just simple truth. She shifted, lowering her form even more into a crouch beside him, her stark pelt brushing lightly against the grass. "Pods are a good sign. Means the river's settled again." Her voice carried more steadiness now, grounded by familiarity with the current and his presence alike.

Her gaze flicked back to the water, alert. "Th-there - one just darted closer to the bank." She didn’t move yet, just nodded toward a narrow ripple that broke the surface near the roots of a leaning alder. "I’ll wait for another. If w-we time it right, we could take two in one breath."

What are you afraid of losing if nothing in the world actually belongs to you.

~･ﾟ: *~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*:･ﾟ~

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❀ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

Cottonbright’s ears tilted back slightly at the soft thump of his tail behind her, the subtle gesture registering more clearly than a command ever could. Her gaze stayed fixed on the ripples near the alder roots, and her breath escaped her slowly.

"Alright..." She shifted her weight forward just enough to brace her forepaws, the muscles in her legs still, ready. Goosesong carried a bit of his mentor self in his standing now since training Stormpaw, but she didn't really mind.

There just beneath the surface, a flicker. A shimmer of silver drifting too close to the shallows. Cottonbright waited. Then, like a snake striking, her paw shot out in a swift arc. The splash was quick, not as sharp as his had been, but clean. She hooked the fish and flicked it up onto the bank with a sharp movement, just as it began to writhe. Her jaws caught it before it could flip back toward the water, and she dispatched it with a firm bite.

Breath leaving her in a steady stream, she stepped back and set the fish down beside his. Her voice came softer now, steady with a quiet pride. "N-not as clean... but it held." She glanced sideways at him, her whiskers twitching faintly. "Still counts."

What are you afraid of losing if nothing in the world actually belongs to you.

~･ﾟ: *~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*:･ﾟ~

The splash wasn't big, but the strike was less clean than his own, he himself knew no cat could make clean strikes every time, not even himself. And he would much rather efficancy over cleanliness any day. Once Cottonbright placed the fish beside his own, he moved them further away from the water with his tail, he could imagine the taste of the fish now, although they would more than likely go to Lilyriver or the elders first, though he hadn't dared visit her yet. The queen needed her space after all.

With a twitch of one of his ears, the large silver tabby responded clearly, "Don't put yourself down for feeding the clan. Not everything is about the show" he said, they way he said it was plain and unchanging but there was a hint of genuine care beneath it all. Regardless of what he sounded like, he cared.

It didn't take long to realize how he was speaking, he was speaking like Cottonbright was his apprentice, her narrowed his eyes as he stared at his reflection in the water for a moment before glancing back to Cottonbright "I'm used to being out with Stormpaw, commands shouldn't be what I'm giving. You know all this" he replied as he watched the fish make ripples in the water, not close enough to catch on shore, but still close enough to see the glimmer of their scales.

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
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Cottonbright’s ears twitched at his first words, but there was no protest waiting in her throat. Instead, her eyes stayed on the fish as he nudged them farther from the water’s edge, listening to the unpolished but sincere care tucked into his tone.

Her tail curled slightly over her paws. "It’s... nice when someone says it." There was no edge of teasing, only simple honesty, shaped by a cat who rarely asked for approval but still felt its weight when offered. She started to move down stream a bit, mindful of where they fished and where their prey would seek shelter.

When he corrected himself, her gaze lifted. "I didn’t mind," She meowed.. "Y-you mean well, in mentor mode." She paused then, glancing down at her reflection in the water. The ripple of a distant fish warped the outline of her features, then faded. Times like these she really wished Alderfly was around. "But I’m not your apprentice." Her voice was softer now, but not chastising.

"You d-don’t need to hold back, though. Not with me. I l-like that you’re careful and that you think things through..."

What are you afraid of losing if nothing in the world actually belongs to you.

~･ﾟ: *~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*:･ﾟ~

Goosesong fidgeted with his paws for a moment. His claws unsheathing, scratching at earth, then retracting again a few times over. "I mean well always, I have a strange way of showing it... so I've heard" he replied as he watched the water, the pattern of its ripples, any sparkling scales of a fish that was brave enough to come close.

Without warning, simply at the sight of the fish, Goosesong's paw flashed and launched into the water, hooking another, smaller fish. The splash wasn't particularly large, but bigger than the one he made prior as this fish wanted to fight back particularly hard today.

With a wrinkle of his nose, Goosesong's head jerked forward and he dispatched the fish in a swift bite to the spine, pressing down until the thrashing had come to a complete stop before placing it into the pile that was beginning to form, ah, it was good to fish again, he thought to himself before turning his aqua gaze back to Cottonbright.

When Cottonbright spoke of not holding back, his ears gave a twitch of acknowledgement, but there was no answer right away, just deafening thoughts. He recalled how Stoneclaw and his own mentor silenced him into discipline, and that is how he learned to be, but compared to Cottonbright, to Tangleloon he must seem so alien to them. "If you'd like me to be open, I can try... for you. If you have questions clinging to your mind like a stubborn tick, you can ask"

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
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Cottonbright watched the sudden strike with quiet admiration, noting how the fish thrashed harder this time and how Goosesong adjusted without hesitation. She turned her gaze toward the small pile of fish they'd gathered so far, a subtle curl of her tail betraying a flicker of pride in their shared work.

When he turned back to her, something in his expression had shifted, and she felt it before he even spoke. The offer in his voice made her heart skip, just once, like a pebble skipping over still water. "I..." Her voice caught, not with fear, just quiet surprise. Then she let it settle. "I d-don’t want you to change who you are. I like who you are." She looked at him now, blinking shyly, her green eyes steady and soft. "But if you want to share more... I’d listen. I’d always listen."

She hesitated, thoughtful, before adding a gentle. "If I ask something and it’s too much, y-you can say so. I won’t be hurt. I just... I think it’s nice to be seen. To be heard. And I think you deserve that too."

What are you afraid of losing if nothing in the world actually belongs to you.

~･ﾟ: *~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*:･ﾟ~

"This will be... rare" Goosesong promised, curling his tail around himself as he watched the water ripple with activity, activity that was too far from shore to catch with an outstretched paw however, so he didn't attempt to try out of concern for scaring them off entirely. And just watching the ripples was nice too. "I don't wish to change to every cats whims, I can't do that without hiding myself away from my own clan. I won't do things to impress anyone that's for sure"

Goosesong's ears moved as a sign that he had took in Cottonbright's words, while he didn't answer right away, he took in what she said and the look in his eyes held understanding and recognition before he turned his gaze towards the mostly white warrior. "Nothing you could ever say would be too much. I put this offer out expecting personal questions. There is nothing you could ask that would push me away." he added, placing his tail on her back as a soft gesture of kindness, something rarely seen from Goosesong, something he will only show to his friends. "You have my word"

A small silence followed, but it was far from empty, what words didn't say, was spoken in the soft breaths and calmness in Goosesong's gaze, he was comfortable, the most comfortable he'd been this moon. "That being said..." he began with a twitch of his whiskers, "You may ask me whatever you like and share with me what you wish. I'm here to answer as well as advise" 

His voice was less cool and steady now, less like he was attempting to compose himself from sharing to much. He was warmer now, open and inviting, his ears moved forward to Cottonbright ready for any questions she wanted to throw at him.

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
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Cottonbright didn’t flinch when his tail rested across her back. If anything, her posture softened, shoulders easing in a way they rarely did. She stayed close—just enough for the quiet to sit comfortably between them. His warmth beside her felt like something she'd been missing without realizing it.

Her gaze lingered on the river for a moment before she looked up at him again. He had given her a special opening...one she didn’t want to waste. She hesitated only briefly, as if choosing her steps as carefully as she would near thin ice.

"Can I ask... if it gets any easier?" Her ears tilted slightly back in that shy way she had, but her voice remained steady. "When you lose someone close to you, t-that is." Alderfly weighed heavily on her, especially the method of his death.

She waited for a breath, but she was quiet as if building the confidence to ask the tom about his own loses. Cottonbright’s tail fluttered nervously, just bracing for whatever answer he might give. She wasn’t here to judge or press, much less make him uncomfortable.

What are you afraid of losing if nothing in the world actually belongs to you.

~･ﾟ: *~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*:･ﾟ~

At the question, Goosesong gave a flick of his ear, not a dismissive one, but one that showed he was thinking about his answer, knowing that what he said would have a lasting impact of Cottonbright, Goosesong was going to be honest, her promised her that much.

He shuffled closer instinctively as if the territory drove him slightly closer to her, with a sigh, he gave her cheek a few soft, comforting rasps before answering.

“It’s always hard, sometimes you will see something that reminds you of them and all of your memories of grief flood back to you…” He let a breath slip from his maw, not soft or rigid, but a breath of recognition, he knew exactly what Cottonbright about Alderfly’s death. He had felt the same for his littermate, but it wasn’t something reversible and Goosesong knew that.

He curled his tail around Cottonbright, not a large gesture, that wasn’t Goosesong, just something small that would offer comfort. “The grief never leaves you, but there will come a time where you get used to it and the weight doesn’t feel as heavy, that can be as short or as long as it needs to be. But I assure you it will happen” Goosesong rose his head, a silent offer that Cottonbright could have a shoulder of comfort if need be.

Goosesong took a moment to reflect, not only on his own words, but what they meant to him, sure the grief of Reedpaw’s death felt less heavy, but sometimes it crept up when he didn’t expect it to. “It can creep up on you when you don’t want it to, but making peace with it is the first step. I’ll be here for you when you need me to find the place to step”

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
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Cottonbright's voice caught in her throat. The rasp of his tongue over her cheek and the soft wrap of his tail around her frame made her breath catch. Grief had felt like something sharp and quiet lodged beneath her ribs for a bit now, and Goosesong’s voice felt like someone acknowledging it.

Her head dipped slightly, pressing into the space beneath his chin for just a moment, not clingy, but grateful. A touch of trust returned for the comfort given. "I still expect him to see him turn the corner, or take his place at clan meetings..." Her voice wavered, but didn’t break. "I t-think about how he died...and I wonder if I could’ve done more. Or if it would have been different if I accompanied him that day by the r-river..."

She took a slow breath, letting the quiet stretch for a heartbeat. "You mean what you say, and say what you m-mean...so, I'm thankful for that. Sometimes I still run his voice through my head...y'know...Just so I don't f-forget it."

What are you afraid of losing if nothing in the world actually belongs to you.

~･ﾟ: *~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*:･ﾟ~

Goosesong listened as Cottonbright spoke, her didn't look away, his attention didn't waver, he just listened as his tail instinctively tightened to comfort. Something he felt like he hadn't done to any other cat except himself when Stoneclaw had been particularly cruel. But now the comfort was reserved for Cottonbright, and the mostly white she-cat would always have a share of that.

He was silent until his clanmate had finished her honest expression of grief but when she had, he gave a nod, one of understanding and a familiar look in his eyes. "Reedpaw's voice is still as bright as it always been, even if I feel I'm the only one who remembers it. But it is important to move on from the past" he paused to flick an ear in thought "at your own pace"

"There was nothing you could have done that would have changed anything" Goosesong stated, as if he was reminding Cottonbright of the fact, his brows quivered slightly, fighting to furrow, but he kept his composure for his friend, this was not his time to speak, Cottonbright was still grieving for Alderfly, all of RiverClan was. "StarClan has their reasons for everything. Even if... we don't know what those reasons are, Alderfly is hunting with our ancestors and all we can do is wish him well." he murmured to himself, and for a moment, his voice wavered the same, but stopped as if it was scared to break.

Aqua eyes glanced up at the cloud-dappled sky, blue as the river itself, then back to Cottonbright. "Death has a way of creeping up on you, but it happens to all of us at least once in our lives. It is the one thing in our lives that doesn't change... but rather... we change around it." he added, steadying his gaze despite everything in him telling him to be more open, it was not the time, not yet. "One day, we all meet the cats we treasure, but until then, we have to hold strong for them, in most cases, it's what they would have wanted"

Pressure like a drip, drip, drip that'll never stop, whoa. Pressure that'll tip, tip tip 'till you just go pop, whoa.
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Cottonbright listened, her body still and quiet. She didn’t rush to speak when he finished, her silence not from uncertainty, but from letting his words settle deep.

"I th-think about that a lot..." She admitted softly. "What he'd want for me. What he’d say if he were still here. And you’re right it doesn’t feel like it ever really goes away. It just… gets quieter. Not lighter. But manageable."

Cottonbright leaned just slightly into his side. He had offered, and she trusted that offering. "Thank you. For listening. For not making it feel small or silly." After a pause, she glanced sideways at him again, her voice quieter. "What was Reedpaw like?" The question came gently, not prodding—just the way one opens a door without forcing it. "You don’t have to tell me. But if you ever want to… I’d like to know her through your eyes. To remember them."