Ask to Join Love prefers twilight to daylight [9ff'21]

What I dream, the day might send. Just around the riverbend.

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Otterwhisker padded into the hollow with the easy familiarity of one who knew exactly where to find him. When she spoke her voice was warm and edged with a smile. "There you are, Boldstrike."

She came to stand beside him, brushing her flank against his with a gentle press before settling down at his side. Her tail draped across his haunches without asking permission - though after all their moons together, she felt she hardly needed to.

"Clouds are being stubborn today." She remarked, following his gaze skyward. "I was hoping for a bit of sun to warm my whiskers… but I suppose you’ll have to do." A teasing lilt colored her words, but her eyes softened as they lingered on his face, searching for some spark to replace the heaviness she saw there.

Out with the old - In with the bold

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Boldstrike made no secret of his fond bond with Otterwhisker, draping his tail in response to hers. ”Just a pair of elders, keeping each other’s bones from aching.” His humor raised it’s head in response to Otterwhisker’s teasing. Here and now. That’s what mattered.

”Did you want me for something specific, or just my sunshine impressions?” His eyes drifted over the field again, then back to his companion. This was the nicest thing about being an Elder now. He could favor cats he wished to without a problem, without risking the stability of the entire clan over it.

What I dream, the day might send. Just around the riverbend.

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 💧 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

Otterwhisker’s whiskers twitched at his reply, her smile deepening. "Mm, I’d say your sunshine impressions are worth the trip alone. But one of these days - when the clouds decide to stop sulking - we should take a walk down by the river. Let the sun warm our bones instead of just our talk."

Her gaze followed his briefly out toward the fields before sliding back to him, eyes warm with the quiet fondness that had weathered more seasons than either of them liked to count. There was a purr in her chest when she continued.

"For now though… tell me, have you noticed how much our kits have grown?" She asked, her tone carrying a faint note of wonder. "Seems like yesterday they were tumbling in camp, and now I can hardly keep track of them between patrols and duties."

Out with the old - In with the bold

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”Nearly warriors, already.” Boldstrike couldn’t keep the throaty purr of pride out of his chest. He wanted to last long enough to see them named as adults. Only StarClan knew for sure, but he could hold out hope. ”Next moon and it’s already two seasons since they were born.”

The future truely was beautiful. ”You’ve raised them well, and their mentors have nearly finished training them well.” The pride was still rich and full in his voice. His contribution was relativly small, but it didn’t stop a tom from feeling full of himself when he saw what he’d helped make possible. ”Coldstar’s going to start testing them soon. I doubt they’re capable of disappointing the Clan.” Said out loud, despite being the words of an overproud sire rather than a cat with more realistic feelings.

What I dream, the day might send. Just around the riverbend.

❖ ⭒ ❖ ⭒ 💧 ⭒ ❖ ⭒ ❖

Otterwhisker’s eyes softened at Boldstrike’s pride, her own purr rumbling low in her chest. "Mm… I can’t remember the last time a queen had five to raise all at once." She murmured, the memory of those moons still vivid. "It was tough, stars know it was… but every moment was worth it. Wouldn’t trade a whisker of it." It certainly kept her on her toes, a touch younger than she felt most days, but now in the stillness of it all she felt so tired.

She leaned closer, pressing her flank into his, her muzzle brushing against his shoulder as if to ground herself in the present warmth rather than the creeping chill of time. For a few heartbeats, she only breathed him in listening to the steady rhythm of his life beside her. She was a bit hungry, but that could wait.

"Say you’ll look after them..." She whispered at last, her voice catching in a way she hadn’t meant it to. "After you leave for StarClan."

Out with the old - In with the bold

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Boldstrike leaned back into her weight, shifting to drape his head over hers. The warmth of their coats pressed together was something to revel in. ”I’ll watch, and protect them if I can.” His voice was hardly a whisper. They knew so much and so little about that fateful trip into the stars. It intimidated him now that it loomed so close.

He didn’t say anything more, silent with his eyes closed. He missed the tiny sliver of sunshine that shone for a moment from amoungst the clouds.

Here and now. That was what mattered.