Open to Join Keeping a Bird Company

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust came back into camp looking like she'd lost a fight with the swamp and the swamp had won. Mud clung to her legs and even streaked her belly. A limp frog dangled from her jaws, a fitting prey to return with.

She paused when she spotted Quailfeather stretching just outside the nursery. She set it down at her paws, although pushed it to him as she sheepishly blinked at him.

"...I maaay have lost track of time." She admitted, flicking one muddy paw as if that explained everything. "Turns out the frogs were very fun today." Her gaze slid past him toward the nursery entrance, but it didn't linger. Honestly...Emberdust was a bit fed up with being stuck in the nursery. Thanks StarClan for toms like Quailfeather.

She lowered her voice. "They asleep?"

If you believe you can, that’s enough to try.

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"It's nothing to worry so much about. They weren't any trouble." Quailfeather mewed in return, greeting Emberdust with a wave of his tail and a softer look in his eyes, as if he just appreciated being around the kits at all. "All of them, Muddykit took the longest. But eventually they all got there." He explained with a soft hum. Quailfeather let out a little sigh, he was going to miss the kits when they went to the apprentice den, that was for sure. 

Quailfeather watched as Emberdust placed the frog in the pile with the grace of a bird with a broken wing and padded over to him, hopefully to keep him company. He gave another smile to show that he saw what she was doing and appreciated it. "I might bring that frog over to Eaglecry or Honeyglow later. I think Eaglecry needs it, still adjusting to the elders' den and all." He chirped softly rolling a twig on the ground with his paw, back and forth in a aimless motion.

He took a glance at the nursery, eyes following Emberdust's, but his lingered a little longer. If he were a she-cat he thought her would have kits, but that wasn't his choice. He wouldn't dare ask a she-cat to risk herself for a dream of his. Not now, not ever.

He flicked an ear as he notice Wolfkit stir, but evidently he remained asleep, his scruffy fur puffed out like an unkempt shrub. "Tried fixing up Wolfkit's fur today, the fluff just wouldn't stay flat not matter how I tried. Has that happened to you too?" he asked, doing his best to make conversation. Hoping to the stars that it would topple and for his fresh company to leave so soon.

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust let out a quiet snort of laughter. Her shoulders finally eased, tension she hadn’t noticed carrying slipping away now that she knew they were all settled.

"Frog’ll do her good. Eaglecry still looks like the den walls might bite her but I saw her nest was next to Honeyglows!" Her whiskers twitched fondly before she nudged her muddy flank closer to Quailfeather, careful not to smear him too badly.

At the mention of Wolfkit’s fur, she broke into a full grin.

"Oh, I gave up on that moons ago." She admitted freely, tail tip flicking. "So now I don’t bother flattening it. I lick it into shapes instead."

Emberdust leaned back slightly, stretching her neck with a faint groan as she began licking at her shoulders. "Figured if he’s gonna look scruffy no matter what he might as well look interesting."

Her eyes flicked down to the mud coating her legs. If she wanted to be fully rid of the muck it would probably be a while. "I’ll clean up before they wake. Probably."