Stars do not pull each other down to be visible, they shine brighter.

∘◦ ⛈ ◦∘

When Merryaster returned injured from the battle of yesterday, Skypaw couldn't help but fret for longer than she should have, it was only a few scrapes right? Nothing too deep or deadly. But what if they got infected and it got into her blood! A wound was never just a wound to her, not matter what it was, to Skypaw, it meant life or death.

But she knew she needed to trust in Nettleplume, after all, he did help her mother with her kitting all by himself, that was surely a testament to his skills. But she couldn't help but worry about her mentor, it was like her at least. Yesterday, tensions were high, but maybe today, she would be able to check on Merryaster herself. 

She hadn't really gone training that day, presumed den-rest. Skypaw wouldn't mind if that were the case, she wouldn't mind if Merryaster generally didn't feel up to it today either. It was better to not disappoint Merryaster or Lilyriver again, maybe. 

Her paws soon carried her to the entrance of the medicine cat's den and she poked her head inside of the herbal smelling den, her nose twitching at the various smells. "Nettleplume? You in here? I wanted to visit Merryaster." She called out, hoping to see a cream pelt or even hear Nettleplume's voice from the darkness. Or better yet, Merryaster's. It wasn't even about the training, she just wanted to know that her clanmate was okay. That's all she wanted.

I am shaped by the trials I refuse to surrender to.

༄༅:･ﾟ 🕊 ･ﾟ:༅༅༄

Restlessness had tickled at Lilyriver's sides since her kits had been made paws, in the nursery, there was always something she had concentrated on, something that would give her warmth in the darkness of night. And while it wasn't cold, there was distance between her and her kits now. Galepaw's frustrated grumbling, Skypaw's polite fussing, it was a fair few tail lengths away from her now. She knew this would come, that her kits would grow up. But seeing it happen when it seemed so soon. it was odd to say the very least.

Instead of trying to struggle for sleep that would hardly come in her own nest and potentially disturb the other inhabitants of the elders' den, she decided to rise to her own paws, making her own way to the center of the clearing. She felt the cool moonlight beneath a cool sky, Lilyriver glanced up at it. It was almost full, shaded by almost what seemed like the shadow of a claw. But then her blue eyes searched for white shapes at the opening to the apprentice den.

It seemed that Skypaw had made her nest closer to the entrance of the apprentice den, perhaps she wanted to better view the camp when she woke in the morning and went to bed at night, she was always an observer, quiet or not. She also noticed another form further back, Galepaw's white fur almost looked a greyish blue in the shadow of the den.

Lilyriver let out a breath she hadn't realize she had been holding before giving the pink, leathery pads of her paws a clean as she usually would, except much... much later into the night.

Roly poly, topsy turvey, bumble paws

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 𓆣 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

The nursery wasn't nearly as hot as it was these passed few days. After several days of heavy heat the change was welcome. Beetlekit stretched one tiny foreleg, then the other, before rolling onto his back with a sleepy little huff and blearily taking in the nursery around him.

Outside the Clan was undoubtedly stirring, but the little black tom had no particular desire to investigate it. He was getting older...he knew that and his paws were a bit steadier now, even if he didn't seem to get on as well as his more confident sister. There were all sorts of things he was supposed to learn eventually...but that wasn't today!

Beetlekit yawned, showing the tips of teeth. There was nothing wrong with being cozy...

Stars do not pull each other down to be visible, they shine brighter.

∘◦ ⛈ ◦∘

It hardly her second day of training when Skypaw padded into the apprentice's den, it felt... so empty, usually she would have Lilyriver, Galepaw, Beetlekit and Cricketkit to keep her company, even in quiet, but in the apprentice den, at least at this time, it was empty. It felt so strange but it was bound to happen eventually, Skypaw couldn't be a kit forever after all. 

Skypaw had given the elders a visit to offer them some prey, but only few were conversationalists out of the ward. She didn't mind though, as long as they were all fed. She would have hit the nursery too, but in honesty, she didn't want her day dampened by Bloomfire's attitude, even in silence, that she-cat is able to clear a den. It was a talent that she had only seen Bloomfire perfect. But that is not something Skypaw wanted for herself, in fact the opposite, right now she wished a cat would decide to poke their head into the den.

Company would be nice right now, she thought to herself as she adjusted her bedding, trying to get it to the shape of what was once hers in the nursery, but the more vacant space was too clear to go unnoticed, she side and sat, hoping a cat would pass by.

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

˜”*°• 🐚 •°*”˜

Goosesong unclenched his jaw around a few small fish he had caught from the river, he had been back and forth dropping off ground and water prey that he had caught and this had been the last of it… thankfully. It was dusk by the time he had collected all of it and brought it back, so he hadn’t spoken to anyone much today, but that was fine by him, at least for now. Perhaps he would ask if the elders have already eaten, maybe Bloomfire or her kits could use a piece or two… but in all honesty to himself, he didn’t want to do that, Bloomfire was careless and crude, he wanted nothing to do with it.

So instead, he had asked the Elders, from the answers he had gotten, they had already eaten and that was fine with him. It meant all the weakest were taken care of, perhaps he could have a pick for himself. That sounded nice.

Goosesong’s paws brought him back to the pile of fresh kill, he dug out a trout, big enough for a cat to join him in his dinner and small enough that if no cat did he would be able to finish it just fine by himself. It was the perfect balance, he commended the hunter silently in his mind, as he wasn’t too sure who had caught it, Cinderwisp had sent out her hunting patrols for the day, after all. 

And so, the silver tabby tom sat, his tail curled around himself as he used his claws to pull at the scales of the fish before him. A nice meal to end the day. 

Roly poly, topsy turvey, bumble paws

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 𓆣 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

Beetlekit sat near the fresh-kill pile with a scrap of fish between his paws, looking thoroughly unconvinced by the entire experience. The meal hadn't been bad, but it just wasn't milk. The verdict was still in debate within the little tom-kit.

With a small huff Beetlekit sat back on his haunches. The pile was much larger up close than he'd imagined from the nursery... It was all a bit overwhelming so he blinked away from it and swiped a glance around camp. And that was when he noticed it...a tail!

The color caught his attention immediately. And it seemed so long... Both his ears perked and the stub of his tail twitched. No...No, Mama said not to bother older cats and Beetlekit was good! Probably the goodest cat in RiverClan, although he'd never boast.

Beetlekit frowned at himself, brows furrowing as the internal conflict surged. Maybe just one pounce wouldn't be trouble, right? There was a tail practically begging to be hunted and his hindquarters gave a little telling tremor as eh rose and clumsily toddled over to the tail.

Leaving his meal behind, he followed the tail...which happened to belong to the warrior, Mistydawn, and gave a little kitten pounce as his kitten jaws attempted to grapple it.