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."

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

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Quailfeather let out a soft, amused huff, the corners of his mouth lifting as Emberdust spoke. When Emberdust had accounted on Eaglecry's behaviour specifically, his gaze flicked towards the elders' den, fondness easing into something quietly protective. "She always did like the walls were out to get her," he murmured, not unkindly. "But... having Honeyglow there will help. He's good at steadying nerves." There was a warmth in his voice when he spoke of them, family, even if the word was never really said aloud.

When Emberdust nudged closer, Quailfeather shifted without thinking, angling himself so she could lean without smearing him too badly. Mud didn't bother him much anyway. "Honestly," he added with a small smile, "I think 'interesting' suits Wolfkit just fine. Some cats are meant to look a little... untamed. Makes them memorable." His eyes softened as he pictured the scruffy kit, clearly pleased by the thought.

He noticed her tired stretch, the way she started grooming mud from her shoulders, and his expression gentled further. "You've done plenty for one day." He said quietly. "If they wake up before you're spotless, I doubt anyone will mind. They will just be happy you're there." After a pause, he added, almost shyly, "If you want... I can keep an ear out while you clean up. Just in case."

Quailfeather tried to salvage his dignity, however there wasn't to be lost, he wished to be closer to the nursery, to the kits, something about them had him wishing he was a queen when he wasn't doing warrior duties. But that's not how things worked, he couldn't press his paws in both lives at once.

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust paused mid lick, one ear tipping back toward Quailfeather as she caught the note beneath his words. Her eyes slid to him, warm and teasing and a crooked smile tugged at her mouth.

"Oh?" She drawled lightly. "Keepin' an ear out, are you? That almost sounds like you like 'em or somethin'." Her tone was teasing, not pointed, the kind meant to invite a laugh rather than pry. She bumped her shoulder gently against his, mud and all. "Careful. If someone sees you so attentive cats might wonder if you're their sire!"

She'd take his help in a heartbeat if he offered.

Emberdust shifted her weight and settled more comfortably, stretching one hind leg out as she finally committed to cleaning. Long, practiced licks worked the worst of the mud from her fur, motions unhurried.

She paused, glanced toward the nursery entrance where the kits slept in a warm tangle, then back to Quailfeather. "They’re easy to like, I guess." Emberdust added simply, as if that explained everything. Her tongue flicked out again, resuming her grooming. "And they seem to like you just fine too."

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

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Emberdust's light jabs brought a chuckle out of the young tom, letting the mud brush up against him, an excuse to stay in camp with his clanmates more than anything else. If he wasn't mistaken, who would be on tonight's dusk patrol. Even though he was in no rush to look his best, it helped.

"Like them? Me? Nooooo!" He chirped, something close to a laugh. The words were made to be joking, that kind of light teasing that some apprentices may have done to one another, at least he thought so. "Of course I like them Emberdust." He added, more genuinely as he gave her a shy smile, one that curved the lower arches of his eyes. "I love kits. Sometimes I wonder if I was meant to be born a she-cat!" He let out a soft snort, something near a chuckle, but still further away from it. As beneath the joke, sometimes he did wonder why StarClan would pull such a joke on him, making him enjoy the time spent with kits and not giving him the option to have any. Jokesters, StarClan was. 

This time, when Emberdust mentioned that the clan may take the kits' sire into question, he let a chuckle slip, honey-sweet at the edges. "All they need to do is take one look at Wolfkit and Specklenose nest to one another and they've got their answer." He trilled, clicking his tongue as the laughter settled. "They've even got the same nose."

His ears perked when Emberdust mentioned that her kits liked him and shifted his gaze bashfully to his pale paws. "You think so? They've told you that?" He asked, now seeming oh so interested in how his paws looked in his shyness.

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust flicked her tongue over a muddy streak before lifting her head, eyes bright with mischief at his bashful reaction. She noticed the way his gaze dropped to his paws and couldn't help the fond huff that slipped out of her.

"Oh, I know so." She relented easily. "Muddykit's said it once or twice. Not in so many words but she's loud about who she likes." Her whiskers twitched. "And the others follow her lead like ducklings."

She leaned back on her haunches, tail curling loosely around her paws as she regarded him. Then her grin returned, lopsided and teasing. "And hey… don't go thinking StarClan's played their last trick on you. One of these days, some she-cat's gonna look at you and think, 'Yeah. That one.' "

Her eyes softened. "Until then, I'm glad you're here."

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

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Quailfeather didn't think of arguing, as she seemed to move on from the idea of his being a sire rather quickly, however he did let a smile tease his lips as she said that she would be there with him. After all, what she-cat would want him as sire? At least he didn't think of any of the she-cats taking an interest in kitting since Emberdust, and even that seemed to come as a shock. They were quite young when she announced her kits.

"I'm glad to hear it, Emberdust." Quailfeather chuckled, giving the floor a sweep with his tail before leaning back against Emberdust, not caring about the mud the smudged onto his fur. "It's nice that, even if it's mucky, you're here." He meant it both metaphorically and literally as he batted the cinnamon tortie she-cat on the nose with a playful and soft paw. "Until then, let me know when you need a kitsitter. I'll always show up."

He let a silence, settled, not a long one, but it was long enough to hold a peaceful breath between each of the warriors. "Echobright misses you in the warriors' den, I do too." Quailfeather explained, a soft chuckle leaving him. "Specklenose definitely does." he added a little brighter, almost in a sing-song tone before straightening up. "So there will be faces to come back to when your kits reach their ceremony." he added.

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust's ears perked at that, her grin widening as she gave a final swipe of her tongue across one foreleg before abandoning grooming altogether. She leaned into him without hesitation when he pressed back, mud be damned.

"Oh, StarClan, don't remind me." She laughed softly. "I miss the warriors' den. I miss not tripping over tiny tails every time I roll over. And I really miss going out hunting whenever I want..."

Her eyes lit with something brighter when he mentioned the ceremonies. It wasn't that she was selfish, but she was just...over it all. "I can't wait." Emberdust admitted, voice gentler now. "Seeing them up there, all puffed up like pigeons...And then I get my old nest back!"

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

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Quailfeather couldn't stop the soft breath, something close to a chuckle, from leaving his nose with a soft, amused expression that covered his eyes and muzzle, making his face seem a little softer to anyone that would notice it. "There is a little charm in it, the nursery." he spoke just above a whisper, quiet and wispy, as if there was something softer behind the claim. "I wouldn't mind tripping over little tails if it meant to take care of those sweet fluffballs."

He gave her a nudge with his shoulder, smirking at her as he used his body to further spread the mud across Emberdust's fur, not that she would be bothered, but the message was clear. This was play.

"So you'd rather trip over big tails then?" he trilled, rolling against his agemate in an attempt to playfully knock her off balance. "Hmmm, this nest is MUCH more comfortable then mine in the warriors' den. I think I'll just have to start sleeping on this from now on!" Quailfeather's laugh was much mor palpable than before, bright, genuine, real. something that he had missed quite a lot since he had been busy with his duties and everything happening recently.

All in all, he was just glad he could do this. Slack off, relax after the day was over, whether that be tackling his clanmate to the ground, or something deeper and quieter. This was a good life to have.

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust let out a surprised oof as he rolled into her, paws scrabbling for a heartbeat before she dissolved into laughter. Mud smeared further but she clearly didn't care. Instead of fighting the weight outright she wriggled and twisted with the practiced ease of a smaller cat used to slipping out from under larger ones.

In a flash she ducked low and scooted beneath him, popping out on the other side with a triumphant chirp. Her jaws snapped playfully around his tail with a gentle claim before she flopped onto her side and tugged it close.

"Oh no you don't..." She laughed, curling slightly and draping the fluffy length across her chest. "If you're gonna steal den space, I'm makin' use of this."

She shuffled until her head rested comfortably against his tail, cheek pressed into the soft fur with exaggerated contentment. Emberdust sighed dramatically. Oh, the joys of having a tail! "Mmm. See? Perfect." Her eyes flicked up at him, bright and teasing before she snorted. "I wouldn't mind trippin' over this tail."

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

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Quailfeather's eyes widened as Emberdust moved to his tail, grappling it and pulling it toward her, the tip flicked, not purposeful, but he didn't try and stop it from flicking her chin either. "Excuse you?" The young tom feigned shock as he placed a paw onto his chest and wriggled his tail back and forth the best he could, or at least trying to tickle Emberdust's nose with it. "I'll have you know a cat is attached to that tail" He joked, finally turning his head to face her, his sage green eyes glimmering with a bit of mischief despite himself.

An off-white paw batted Emberdust's ears without the threat of claws before he attempted to roll onto his side in some form of attempt at dislodge. "But if you're lucky, maybe I've got lizard in me and it'll drop off, then you'll get to keep it." He chirped, a trill escaping as he tried to settle the laugh burning for escape in his chest.

"That's if you can handle the twitching!" Quailfeather snorted as he began flicking his tail back and forth to wriggle it, possibly making it a little harder to keep grip of as his flank faced the stars. "But if you can get over that the tail is all yours!"

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust squinted as the tail flicked her chin, then promptly opened her mouth and caught the twitching tip between her teeth. Her ears flattened for half a heartbeat when he batted at them, then popped right back up as she laughed around her prize.

"Mm hm." She hummed, words muffled, before releasing the tail just long enough to hook it again with one forepaw. "Attached or not, you offered it. I heard the terms very clearly."

She wriggled closer, chin dropping right back onto the fluffy length despite its constant motion. The twitching only earned a dramatic sigh as she adjusted, tail fur tickling her whiskers. "I'm a professional kit wrestler. You think a wiggly tail scares me?"

Emberdust fell to the side with him. "If you tail does fall off, you think I can attach it to mine?"

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

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"Last I checked I asked if you'd rather trip over big tails, not steal them." Quailfeather trilled, but accepted the fate placed before him, who was he to dictate what the kit wrestler would do with his tail. "And for the record." Quailfeather then squirmed horizontally for a moment in an attempt to slip his tail free from her grip instead of just tickling the queen's whiskers with the fluffy tip. Though results didn't yield... at least not the one he had hopped for. "Asking isn't offering"

However, the young tom couldn't help but let out a soft snickering at Emberdust's comment at attaching his tail onto her own if it falls off and couldn't help the curl in the corners of his mouth soft and loving. Part of him wished himself and Emberdust could have done this more often. "Well, we can try to see if it fits, but last I checked, I'm about a pawstep taller than you." He responded, his chocolate dapples curling with mischief. Like a kit engaging in a particularly interesting game.

Then, before anything else could flicker in his mind, he smirked to himself, something that he hid from Emberdust's view before flopping his body down in a frumpy lump of brown and white, as if being defeated. Weather this feigned defeat would be just convincing enough was another story, but he wasn't performing for anyone but Emberdust, so he didn't really mind how silly he might look.

The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
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Emberdust let out a mock gasp as he went limp, ears shooting up. For half a heartbeat she squinted at him, suspicious then her grin split wide. "We did trip, right over one another!"

Her purr was like laughter and contagious, snickering all the while. She finally released his tail only to half pounce forward in the same motion. Small but determined forepaws braced as she wrestled and squirmed. "Feignin' defeat? That’s a dirty trick, Quailfeather!" Her whiskers twitched with delight.

She ducked her head to bump her forehead lightly into his shoulder, short tail lashing behind her. "If you're gonna play possum you better be ready when the kit wrestler moves in!"

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

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Quailfeather didn't give up the act, if he had chosen this path, there would be commitment involved with it. The young tom began to make snoring sounds to the best of his ability, though it sounded more like a quiet, choked snorting. However, his tail fell limp as if he were sprawled out sleeping, he certainly had the position down, the sounds just needed some work.

He cracked one sage colored eye just a clawlength to see if Emberdust was budging, likely not, but the effort he was putting in gave him enough amusement for the day and possibly into the next moon. He snapped his lid shut again the moment he saw Emberdust turning to face him, feigning that defeat that Emberdust had depicted, except this time, he was, not so convincingly, sleeping instead of faking death. 

Quailfeather perked his ears just slightly, enough that no cat would take notice unless they were really looking, but enough for a better range of hearing in case Emberdust decided to try something so he could retaliate, playful as it was.