Open to Join A Rose in Winter

Think before you leap. Find the right route. ~Shadefrost
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Shadefrost had been patching up a hole in the Elders den, when he spotted Kestrelswipe and Leopardrose near the camp entrance. He wanted badly to go say hello to the she-cat but he wasn't sure how he felt about the tom. Come on, get it together, he thought to himself. She is your friend, you shouldnt be afraid just because someone else is around.

Slowly, pawstep by pawstep he make his way over, dipping his head to Kestrelswipe respectfully before muttering a soft hello to Leopardrose.

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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Leopardrose’s ears flicked as she heard Kestrelswipe’s voice, followed by the familiar brush of his fur against hers. She hadn’t realized she’d been sitting there for as long as she had, lost in her thoughts. Glancing up at her adopted brother, she forced a small smile, though it didn’t quite stretch to the teal of her eyes.

"No, not on watch duty. Just... thinking." She meowed, her voice quieter than usual. She was usually much better at hiding her feelings, but today the weight of her conversation with Wildcry clung to her. "The cold’s not so bad. Keeps my mind focused." The lie was thin but she hoped it would hold.

Before she could say more, she caught the hesitant approach of Shadefrost. She hadn’t expected company, and though the tom’s arrival was quiet, his presence was enough to pull her from the sour mood she was in. His respectful nod toward Kestrelswipe didn’t go unnoticed, and when he murmured his greeting, she gave him a soft purr in return.

"Shadefrost..." Her tone was a bit lighter. "Look at you braving the cold too."

Her eyes briefly flickered between the two toms, before she gave Shadefrost an easy wink. "What have you two been up to in this dreadful weather? Shouldn’t we all be curled up somewhere warm?" She tried to steer the conversation away from herself, her usual charm flickering back to life despite the heaviness still gnawing at her.

Even the smallest pebble can make ripples that change the course of the stream.

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

The cold had not been getting to Greypebbles all that much, but after the snowstorm he and Leopardrose had been trapped in, he had a new view in it entirely. It could both tear cats apart and bring them together, it was oddly poetic to him in that way. The young warrior slipped out of the elders den without any struggle and the first pelt to catch his eye was the warrior he had be stuck with no short of two days ago.

The little grey tom’s face lit up, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth and he could swear it spanned outward towards his cheekbones. Leopardrose had an effect on him that just made him happy, but he couldn’t put his nose on it. Regardless, he bounded over to greet the uniquely pelted she-cat. "Leopardrose! It’s nice to see you’re doing well!" He said, he hadn’t even noticed the other two tom-cats that had joined Leopardrose prior to him, he seemed so excited to see her that the other toms somewhat faded out for a moment.

When it clicked that Kestrelswipe and Shadefrost were there also, his ears flattened with embarrassment, though he did dip his head in greeting towards the two of them, much less enthusiastic than he was with Leopardrose of course. "…Kestrelswipe …Shadefrost, nice day isn’t it?"

Think before you leap. Find the right route. ~Shadefrost
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Shaking his pelt out, Shadefrost gave a slight mrow of amusement, "It helps to have a nice thick pelt." His eyes scanned Greypebbles as he approached, noticing the change in demeanor when the tom noticed himself and Kestrelswipe. He tilted his head to the side, "Hello to you as well Greypebbles. I do hope you are fairing well in the cold."

Hearing Kestrelswipes words he uterred a quick and quiet, "It will be better when newleaf comes. More prey." His gaze raked over them all before settling on the ground at his feet. He never felt comfortable with others but he knew it was something he needed to work on.

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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Leopardrose felt the corners of her mouth twitch into a small smile as Greypebbles bounded over with that familiar enthusiasm of his. All this attention was starting to affect her, and the she-cat couldn't help but bring her paw to her lips suggestively. After a few good licks, she smiled at the grey spotted tom.

"Greypebbles." Came her warm meow, her tone brighter than it had been moments before. "It’s good to see you too." She glanced at the other two toms, silently appreciating how easily they all seemed to fall into conversation despite the biting chill.

Kestrelswipe’s flat response about hunting didn’t go unnoticed, and Leopardrose’s eyes flicked to the frozen vole. Her tail-tip twitched in sympathy. "I suppose it's better than nothing..." She offered, her voice a little softer as she glanced between the group. "Leafbare tends to have a way of testing the best of us."

Shadefrost’s quiet comment about newleaf coming brought a small hum of agreement from her. "I’m starting to forget what warmth feels like." Her usual charm was beginning to resurface, though the lingering heaviness still tugged at her thoughts. But at least for now, surrounded by her Clanmates, she could push that aside.

"Shadefrost, Greypebbles - How has the hunting been for you both?" She asked, tilting her head curiously, happy to let the attention shift away from her as the conversation continued.

Even the smallest pebble can make ripples that change the course of the stream.

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Greypebbles shifted awkwardly as he stood among the group and he kept his gaze low, unsure of how to join in without feeling intrusive. When Kestrelswipe mentioned the frozen vole, Greypebbles' ears twitched in sympathy, a familiar feeling settling in his chest. "Leafbare’s been… rough" he murmured, his voice quieter than usual. He hesitated, glancing toward the vole before continuing, "Me and Leopardrose were caught in that snowstorm two days ago. Barely made it back at all." His stubbed tail flicked, remembering how he’d fought through the biting wind, his paws nearly frozen as he tried to make his way back to camp.

He cast a quick look at Shadefrost, noting the tom's calm but distant expression. "It’s… hard for everyone" he added, his shyness creeping back in. "Even catching a vole in this weather is something." His words were soft, not meant to overstep but to offer a sense of camaraderie. He glanced at his paws, feeling the cold sting of memory as he recalled the struggle of moving through the deep snow, barely able to see in front of him.

When Shadefrost mentioned newleaf, Greypebbles gave a small, grateful nod. "Newleaf can’t come fast enough, I think Finchkit and Robinkit will be apprentices around that time right?" he said, his tone a little lighter, though the weariness from his ordeal still lingered in his voice. "At least then we won’t have to fight the wind and snow just to find something to eat."

He allowed his gaze to drift back to Leopardrose, drawing some comfort from her presence. With her nearby, he felt a little more secure, even in the company of cats he didn’t know well. Despite his natural shyness and the lingering exhaustion from the snowstorm, Greypebbles was determined to push through, to prove his place in the clan, and protect the ones he cared about.

Think before you leap. Find the right route. ~Shadefrost
ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ

Shadefrost nodded towards Kestrelswipe, a slight purr building in his chest. He loved his thick coat on these cold days. He pressed himself lightly against the other tom, trying to provide warmth. A felt slightly embarrassed doing it but maybe this would help him make friends.

He glanced at the others nervously, hoping they wouldn't poke fun at him for trying to help warm his clanmate. He cleared his throat and with a slight growl in his throat said, "Kits can be such a blessing. It's a shame some cats can't see that." His eyes seemed to glaze over a bit at some memories before clearing up again.

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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Leopardrose listened as the conversation drifted back to the things she's rather not think of, a familiar ache creeping up as the others talked of Finchkit, Robinkit, and the promise of new life in the clan. She tried to focus on the warmth of her Clanmates’ words, on how their voices momentarily softened the biting chill around them but the mention of kits stirred fresh wounds.

She forced herself to nod in agreement, letting out a shallow laugh. "Yes... such a blessing..." Her voice faltered, and she quickly looked away, unable to keep her expression steady. Shadefrosts' words strung even if a part of her knew he didn't mean for it to target Leopardrose specifically. It was too much - all of it tangled together in a mess she couldn’t untangle right now.

Without another word, Leopardrose suddenly turned and slipped away into the woods, her tail held low and her heart racing. The quiet of the forest closed around her, and she felt herself finally able to breathe, her paws instinctively guiding her deeper into the trees. For a moment, she just let herself feel the solitude, the only sound being her own breath in the cold silent air.

Maybe she'd be followed, but maybe she could distract herself more thoroughly with prey hunting.