Private Thread You Never Know What's on the Other Side

"You're a star in my sky!"

⚝──⭒─𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･─⭒──⚝

Cedarpaw had spent ages bragging about how their sire, Bayflower had become a senior warrior, the young feline immensely proud of their sire. But they couldn't really do that with Basilflame. Not when she was a senior warrior too. Because like... What was there to brag about? It was like telling an apprentice who had caught three prey that they had caught three prey. Equally impressive but nothing to brag about.

Cedarpaw hadn't liked Basilflame at first. Thought she was just... Too much? Too eager? But they had grown to like her a little and warmed up to her, looking around curiously as they followed after her. They did as they were told, nodding as Basilflame spoke.

The gorge... Their father talked about this place all the time. It was like he was obsessed! "Oh... Um. That's easy. Bayflower likes it here. RiverClan? I also hear a lot of water so I think that makes sense?"

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

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Basilflame's whiskers twitched in quiet amusement, a soft hum of approval leaving her throat as she looked toward her apprentice. The wind carried the faint scent of the river across the gorge, rippling through her cream and ginger fur, an she let her tail brush lightly over Cedarpaw's shoulder.

"Well done!" She mewed warmly, pride glimmering beneath her hazel eyes. "RiverClan it is. You listened well, your ears will serve you as much as your eyes ever will." There was no teasing lilt to her tone, only genuine encouragement, her voice soft but firm enough to hold Cedarpaw's attention.

She turned her gaze toward the distant glimmer of water, her expression thoughtful for a heartbeat. "Your father's right to admire this place. It's dangerous, but beautiful. There's a lesson in that, I think." Her tail tip flicked lightly, a habit that she did when she thought aloud. "Sometimes strength and serenity share the same space, just as the current hides under calm water."

Then she looked back at Cedarpaw, her expression easing into a faint smile. "You should be proud of yourself Cedarpaw. You're starting to think like a warrior. Paying attention, connecting what you know instead of guessing. Bayflower and Beewhisker would be proud, too."

Her tone softened at that, and she dipped her head slightly. "And I'm proud. Keep listening to the world around you, it tells us more than we realize." She purred, perking her ears as she heard the rustling of a mouse feeding on seeds nearby "What do you hear now?" Basilflame hoped that Cedarpaw could figure it out too, if the smell didn't give it away first.

"You're a star in my sky!"

⚝──⭒─𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･─⭒──⚝

Cedarpaw couldn't help the small candle of pride that lit in her chest as Basilflame let a soft hum of approval leaving her throat as she looked toward her. The river... She didn't really like the smell. But that probably wasn't why Bayflower loved it so much. There were probably other reasons.

:I... I don't think it's a difficult observation to make?"

Strength and serenity shared the same space... Hearing that felt paradoxical. But it made sense.

"I don't think it's anything to be proud of... But thank you anyways."

The she-cat listened for any other sounds. "I hear... Fish swimming?.. Or is that a different sound?"

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

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"The ripples in the water." Basilflame replied, her voice soft, but still carrying a strong conviction. As if whatever her apprentice said, there would be a glint of pride behind her words no matter what. "There are many things to hear and smell out here. Though the falls that lead into the gorge do make it a bit more complex." she added taking a sniff at the edge of the gorge.

As the fresh, salty air drifted into her nose, Basilflame didn't pull away, she embraced the scent, not as if she had known it for her whole life, but if she were to be welcoming something new to what she had known. "Finding something as faint as a shift in the grass is important too." 

Basilflame's tail moved towards the mouse, who was sill scuffling in the blades of grass, likely searching for its next meal. "That mouse over there, it's about a tail length away." She directed, light and airy but still grounded all the same. "If you're quiet you could still be able to take a shot at catching it."

"Don't feel bad if you don't grab it the first time." She mewed softly, directing her apprentice's gaze to the little brown body in front of her, nodding to the ground to order a hunting crouch. "Remember to watch where your paws land, a mis-step could cost the clan a meal" Her voice was quieter now, as if the words could startle all the prey in the moor.

"Keep your breathing steady and your tail still. Anything as small as a misplaced breath could startle it." She added, lowering to a hunter crouch beside Cedarpaw, keeping her tail off of the ground but her belly high enough that the long fur didn't brush the grass. "I will flank you if you startle it and it darts off. Remember no cat gets anything right the first try, you'll do fine Cedarpaw."