Ask to Join Where Tides Meet

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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A large mostly white she-cat padded along the bank on small paws, enough to make her appraoach quiet enough if not for her scent. Dandelion petals colored her coat in flecks of yellow from her excursion around the bank. She had always been a help to Frosteyes when it came to pikcing out herbs and dandelion was an obvious one not to mistake for anything else.

Maybe Nettleplume would appreciate her efforts. Now that a cat didn't have to be too worried about being targetted, she felt confident enough to strike out on her own. A mouse was half buried in the foliage behind her some fox lengths away while the few dandelion leaves she had gathered were in her maw.

When she spied a silvery shape near the water, she paused out of cuation, but quickly realized it was Goosesong. "Hello, Goosesong? Are you out here fishing?" She asked quietly once she put the leaves down, as if not to disturb him.

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

*~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*

A familiar voice pulled Goosesong from his own mind as he turned to see where the voice came from. His eyes seemed to soften ever so slightly when he saw Cottonbright. "Initially I came out here to fish." Goosesong paused to look at the river as if smoothly flowed beneath him, he could hardly believe it had been two moons since his father had died... though he wasn't much of a father, not like he was required to be. Goosesong was probably overthinking it. "I haven't pulled anything up."

Goosesong continued to glance down at his reflection in the water, focusing on the features he shared with Stoneclaw instead of the differences between the two, of which there were likely more. "If you're not busy, you could join me." He offered, tapping his tail on the spot next to him as he lowered himself into a more steady crouch.

However, when a fish got close, Goosesong didn't rush in, instead, he took things slower than a more opportunistic cat. He used his paw to swipe the fish onto the shore, a small minnow, his teeth then found purchase on the fish's spine. Would this just be to prove to Cottonbright that he was out here to fish? He wasn't sure, but regardless, at least he had something to show for leaving the camp, especially after the rogue had been dealt with late last moon.

"Cottonbright..." Goosesong asked softly, as if words any louder would alert their location for another predator to strike at them. "Do you think... Stoneclaw could have been saved if I was more stern on him? Did he die because of me?" he asked, his voice breathier than normal, as if the feelings were eating at him since Stoneclaw was pronounced dead. "I can't help but put blame on myself. He would have had a fighting chance if he let me apply field medicine."

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 sighed softly to herself, lime eyes traveling top to bottom scanning the tom in front of her. Of course he was still upset about his sire passing. He had questions. He had insecurities. Her tail curled a bit around her legs defensively, mind wandering to Alderfly's face.

With a few small steps she settled in next to him, catching the motion in the corner of her eye as the minnow was fished out. Herpaw tossed a small pebble around on the shore, half wet in the river water as she waited for him to finish the prey off. An ear flicked to his musings and her eyes narrowed briefly on the water surface where her own reflection stared up at her.

"I think...Stoneclaw wouldn't have wanted to grow old and die peacefully in the Elder's Den..." He didn't seem the type, not at all. Cottonbrigth steered clear of him at the worst of times, and while she culd appreciate the stubborness of a cat, too much was a detriment as Stoneclaw proved.

"I-It wasn't your fault. I think...it was Stoneclaw's choice."

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

*~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*

Goosesong listened to Cottonbright with perked ears, curling his tail around his paws. "He was due to retire. He refused the idea like he'd been offered death berries." the large silver tom glanced down at the river as the effects of his fishing rippled away and his reflection steadied again. "He would have lived longer that way. But I don't think Stoneclaw would have wanted that. I didn't imagine him going out any other way. He'd fight StarClan to die in battle." he added, glancing at Cottonbright's green eyes as his ears lowered, almost as if he had thought of something that bothered him.

"I still think field medicine would have given him a chance. He started storming off before a word was said about it. The rogue being dealt with feels like vindication, however." Goosesong continued, not keeping his eyes off of Cottonbright... and then the thoughts in his mind tumbled from his mouth, something he had thought since Cottonbright and himself had begun to bond. "How did you manage to find entertainment in someone like me?" he finally asked.

With a gentle sight, Goosesong found himself in a lay with his paws tucked beneath his chest and his tail laying over the minnow that he'd caught, he didn't want it getting the attention of any other creature. And then, the silver tom glanced forward, across the river to find nothing in particular, just enjoying the presence. "Usually, I'm passed off as boring"

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 recognized a familiar hopelessness within him, one that threatened to darkne the skies of his confidence. Goosesong was a senior warrior like her, but times like these she wondered if she was really cut out for the job. Having two apprentices under her paws helped, but if Boldstar hadn't given her a chance she might have felt just as hopeless.

As he tucked over his catch, the white she-cat hunkered down next to him, shoulder to shoulder as she gently lowered herself on her dainty paws. After he tried to diminished himself she couldn't help but give him a morose blink. Yet her lips lifted. Slightly...she smiled at him. "You make me feel comfortable... I don't want 'entertainment' and frankly, boring is preferrable..." Half chuffing a self depreicating note of laughter, she continued, even quieter.

"You're a s-steady tom. I like that."

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

*~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*

Goosesong, despite himself, stayed a steady presence as his shoulder touched with Cottonbright's. His breath eased as the warmth of the fur brushing against his own met him. Perhaps the compliment added to the warmth a bit to. "I haven't thought of it that way." The longhaired tabby replied. He then dragged the fish closer to himself with a paw to leave room to slip his tail around Cottonbright, an gracious gesture that wouldn't be wrongly seen as affectionate. He cared for Cottonbright... deeply so. He didn't want to let that go easily.

"I don't usually try to fill a silence that doesn't need to be filled... suppose my silence would have came off as boring. But I'm glad someone is here to not only understand it, but prefer it over someone more like... say, Tangleloon, or Hailstrike." He went on, his eyes moving back to Cottonbright again, looking back at her with a carefully protective look like she would be taken at the next moment, even though they were safe enough now. Thank StarClan. "Peace of mind would be given to the idea that I don't have to entertain a cat to get alone with them."

For a moment, Goosesong did just that, let his words settle in silence as he usually did. A rare smile teased his maw, something small and tender, uncommon as it was. He felt it held weight here, as of course he felt warmth in the moment, even if the weather was colder. "Sometimes, companionship is enough."

With Cottonbright's words of Goosesong being steady, he didn't say much a tall, just looked towards Cottonbright and let a purr rumble in his chest before leaning over and licking the spot behind her ear. "I'm as steady as I need to be for those in my care. That includes you too, especially you."

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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It was exceptionally peaceful alongside the silvery tom. The river bubbled and frothed over the rocks where fish slipped between the reeds, and the buzz of insects filled her ears. No yowls or battle cries, or the silence of something threatening around every tree. Cottonbright was indeed confortable around him, moreso that most in the Clan.

The mention of the more rambuncious cats, Halstrike and Tangleloon brought a giggle to her muzzle. "O-Oh, I don't mind either of them...but I certainly wouldn't be able to keep up with them." Tangleloon in particular. She felt like a ten minute conversation would feel like a whole day had gone by and leave her exhausted by the end of it.

"The Clan needs cats like those...and cats like us, too." She purred, leaning into the tongue that swiped over the muddy brown of her ear. Every other part of her body was stark white, but behind an ear was the only smudge of color.

"I worry about you sometimes." Came Cottonbright's admittance as she exchanged her paws, laying one over the other. "I-It's good you care...I don't think anyone can deny that."

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

*~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*

"It's good to have that balance. It's important." Goosesong answered, after a few more moments of cleaning. His eyes met the brown spot at the back of Cottonbright's ear, it is how he differentiated her from someone like Lilyriver at first glance. It gave him peace to know that he wouldn't be able to lose her easily when it came down to it. But he drew his head back anyway then glanced down at the water. Not at his reflection this time, but hers, the white of her pelt beautifully stark on the blue of the river.

He then twitched his ears, pressing a little closer to Cottonbright as she spoke, the tip of his tail twitched around her. "I worry you?" He asked, his eyes softening, as he once again took them back to Cottonbright, taking in her expression for a moment. "If I may, how do I worry you?" he asked, softer than usual. He wasn't trying to pull an answer from her, just trying to keep the peace between them more in tact without worry looming over them.

However, Goosesong paused briefly when Cottonbright spoke of how much he cared. It was true, he did care, but he tried not to show much of that, especially around Stoneclaw when he was here, best not make trouble with a tom that thought care was weakness others could exploit. But he was still watching, just... somewhere Goosesong couldn't see him. He wondered if Stoneclaw regretted not letting Goosesong help him as much. Probably not... 

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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The soft, yet steady purr that resonated throughout her frame was comprable to a song. It hinted of her comfort around the tom even if he did eventually catch on to what she had gently revealed. It was bound to come out of her sometime so Goosesong deserved to know her true feelings. Such times were few and far between, especially if she managed to get emotion in return.

"Well...You seem to mostly just t-tend to your lonesome. It's hard when we aren't on the same patrol, I know...we both end up leading our own. So it's nice when I have these quiet moments to ourselves. Or rather...I'm glad I happened upon you. Fishing." She took some pleasure in knowing that she had distracted him from his thoughts, if only for a little while.

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

*~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*

Goosesong's ears pricked slightly at the expression, the explanation that Cottonbright gave him, his steely stone-like expression faltering for a moment. "You... miss me when I'm not around?" He asked, almost as if the concept was strange. Sure he liked to think that he was a warrior of consequence, but he didn't imagine himself to be someone who would be missed, especially if he wasn't being grieved for. "I see no reason why we can't do things like this more, working around patrols of course. If that is what you're implying." he offered, in truth, he enjoyed not having to think about things constantly, just enjoyed Cottonbright's presence, uninterrupted, just her and him together.

Regardless of the time spent with her though, thoughts tended to creep in when silence followed, some were good, most, actually. But some, like how Stormsquall had almost drowned that day by the river, and now, with Stoneclaw's death. But most were good, the wellness of the kits, the training of their former apprentices, how each others' days were going, even the idea of hunting or getting exercise, being in another's presence, it was nice to just sit and think about nice things without feeling the need to fill the silence.

"Right... fishing." Goosesong shook his head, glancing back down at the water as rippled shapes drifted past, he didn't rush to swipe at them, none of them were close enough for that. It would be best to wait for the perfect time to strike than to launch yourself into trouble for something larger. He learnt that the hard way... great StarClan he missed Reedpaw sometimes. But aye, she was long gone. Just a memory that he would be able to look fondly on. There were much more good than bad, as with Cottonbright. "I've caught something at least."

His attention caught the fish beneath his paw again and his mouth curled into a small smile that one might miss if they weren't looking close enough. "I wonder who would take interest in a little minnow. But I'd imagine something small matters more than larger prey to those who need it most."

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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If cat's cheeks could color in rosied blush, then Cottonbright might have just done that as he plained reiterated what she had said back to her. That she would miss him. A concept that seemed so foriegn to him...A half sigh left her lips, eyes falling down to the stilled fish underneath a paw, a flash of silver peeking out.

"Yeah...I'd like that. As long as you'd like that...h-hanging around me more!" She doubled back her nervous expression once she realized that it might have been a selfish thing to suggest. Her whiskers drooped with the weight of the insinuation, hoping that Goosesong woudln't be offended if she wanted him more to herself. It felt like the natural thing to do after being without Alderfly for so long.

She couldn't help but take form along the bank, shifting her weight so that she faced the river. "A little minnow like that would make a kit's day!" One wouldn't feed all four but that was why she was determined to fish out a couple more for them all to share. Loose limbed she followed the small glossy school of fish before she flashed a small, uncertain smile at him to see if he'd follow suit.

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

*~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*

"I'd love nothing more than to spend more time with you, Cottonbright." He responded, his aqua eyes meeting her green ones with something soft that he wasn't sure could be given a name, but he wanted to her to know that he would go great lengths to make her feel safe and happy, she was his closest friend, and he wouldn't dare take advantage of that.

When Cottonbright mentioned the kits, he flicked his ears, how did he not think of that? However, he didn't get much time to dwell on that as another school of minnow began to flick wildly in their direction. One minnow wouldn't be enough for the whole nursery of kits. But with Cottonbright, Goosesong was more than certain that they would be able to catch enough for all four. "I'll take first strike." He whispered to Cottonbright.

He didn't hesitate this time, the voices that angered him so deeply about Stoneclaw, the thoughts of his sire, seemed long forgotten now as he launched his paw into the water, pulling a minnow from the school with practiced perfection before he gave it a swift bite to the spine to dispatch the prey until it stopped flopping for the water.

Two more, Goosesong thought as he pulled the minnow closer to the shore, flicking his tail with interest as he glanced at Cottonbright with the kind of admiration that might have been rare for Goosesong to give to anyone but Cottonbright. This was her ground now. Goosesong would sit by, but his muscles still coiled in preparation for a strike, he was ready to help in case she needed it. But he had trust in her, he always did.

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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Half closing the lime slits of her eyes, she shifted herself so that the tom could comfortably join her at the edge. There were kits to be fed and they would be just the pair to accomplish their shared task. A small purr left her mouth, although she silenced it as Goosesong started his riverside wait.

She counting the flashes of silver, more than enough to feed the whole Clan, perhaps, but they needed to hunt in thrift and not make waste. Four kits would be enough. Cottonbright watched as his claws fished out a wriggling body, seeing its end on the bank before the she-cat patiently crawled close to the water.

As she had trusted him, he seemed to trust her as her gaze bore down a concentrated stare across the ripples. Closer they dared, darting playfully just out of her strike zone, but then she dipped her arm with the speed of a hornet and dragged out another.

She wedged its spine in her mouth and ended its struggle before her tail fanned out over the rocks.

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

*~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*

Goosesong's eyes followed the movements that followed up in Cottonbright's paws as she pierced the water with her paw, pulling out another minnow and pressing her teeth into its spine with the swiftness and prowess of a warrior in her position. "A fine catch, Cottonbright." he said to her, his stony expression faltering for longer than he meant it to, replaced with something soft, admiring. Despite being moons Cottonbright's senior, she was an admirable cat, he'd commend her on it when it mattered most. "It made my catches seems like kit-play." he added with a curl of his tail before glancing at the two lifeless minnow he had caught and nodded, mostly to himself.

"One more and well have a nursery of full kits." Goosesong commented, however, he had caught the most of them so far. Cottonbright looked like she revered hunting, as if it meant more to her than the average cat would notice, but that was just internal speculation on Goosesong's end. It was formed upon nothing but speculation really.

For a moment, Goosesong sat on the idea of pulling out the last fish, but he hesitated just long enough for him to consider Cottonbright's wishes on the matter, she may very well want to catch the same amount that he had, but part of him thought that she would just be happy that the kits of the clan were getting fed as they should. That seemed more like his friend... friend... that sounded nice. "You can catch the next. It's only fair." He concluded with a nod, his tail curling over the fish he had caught while his eyes remained on the sky. After all, RiverClanners weren't the only ones that enjoyed the taste of fish.

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 paused to give her fishing paw a lick, tasting the hint of fish on her claws before she took form again, giving way to glance at the tom as he seemed content to let her take her time. The edges of her maw turned shyly at him, the edges of her ears flicking back briefly as her anxiety touched her cheeks. Just one more. There wasn't any pressure or anything...She took a deep breath and loosened it as her paw flashed out towards the river once more. The hooks breached the surface, flinging a fish onto the shore - and straight in the tom's direction. Her eyes welled up with shock, then quickly admonishing herself as she began to fret. "O-Oops! Sorry, Goosesong."

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

*~･ﾟ:* 🫧 *:･ﾟ~*

Goosesong watched how Cottonbright's paw moved so easily through the river, but when the fish seemed to be tossed toward him he didn't hesitate to draw out a paw and slammed his paw on top of the minnow before it could touch any other part of him. He leaned down, however, instead of going for the kill, he lifted the flailing creature by the tail moving it towards Cottonbright but placed it far enough from the shore that a strong jolt won't send it flying back into the water. He was letting her have the satisfaction. It wasn't his catch to kill.

"There's nothing to apologize for, you caught the prey, where it landed didn't bother me." Goosesong reassured her, tried to, as he moved to block the minnow's escape to the river with his body and nodded at her encouragingly, offering her a rare smile that was reserved for very few cats Cottonbright was most certainly on of them. "Go on, I don't need the glory." he added, curling his tail around his body as he eyed the fish, not with hunger or the urge to kill, but with a silent observation.

And now, patience and waiting held Goosesong in place as he observed both his pale furred clanmate and the flicking fish on the ground, drowning in the air that it was pulled towards. "We can taken them back to camp after this, lets get these kits fed." He purred softly, a rumble so soft that it almost couldn't be heard, there was something about kits that seemed to intrigue Goosesong, the way a life so new can thrive in so many different ways, how they have the ability to grow into a path marked for them or create their own. It was interesting, but not realistic, at least not for him. He wasn't sure of any she-cats that would be interested in a litter and him at once. Maybe one day.

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 was all smiles and nervous energy as she tiptoed around the tom. It flopped on the bank and the she-cat went to retrieve the still wriggling prey. It's escape attempt was all for naught as her jaws found its body, fangs clamping down until it stilled in her mouth. Now that the embarrassment washed over her, she fiddled with the dirt on the bank.

A nervous little tick teased the tip of her tail as she regarded him. He face seemed to shine agisnt the riverbank somehow, or maybe that was just his smile. Glad to be on the receiving end, Cottonbright gave him an enthusiastic nod. "Their poor bellies must be grumbling by now." She agreed, not wanting to keep them waiting.

She'd brave Bloomfire's judgement to deliver them straight to the nursery. Diligently she began to grab the two she had caught, fitting them in her moutb as she purred around them, tail indicating it may be time to leave the river behind...at least for a little while.