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Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
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Bravesong had gone for a short walk to stretch his legs to keep his joints from settling for too long and made a trip to the dirtplace. When he stepped through the entrance of camp he couldn't help but shake out his coat.

There was an itch on his flank and a more graceful cat would have satisfied the urge instantly, although his attempt was less than flattering as he teetered. Once he regained his balance he lifted his eye to spot a familiar dappled coat.

When the wind carried the scent over to him, his muzzle twitched, then he blinked sympathetically. "Smells like Finchpaw might owe you a favor after this one."

Even a flame that burns softly can still bring warmth through the darkest nights.

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At a fondly familiar voice, Orchidflame perked her ears, her mismatched eyes glancing over to Bravesong. A coy smile pulled the sides of her muzzle as she greeted the bi-color tom with a soft nuzzle, nothing that she wasn't used to with Bravesong.

"Finchpaw will owe me nothing." She stated, firm but kind as she moved another scrap of crowfood from the pile. "He's the only warriors apprentice... for now, so I offered to help him. He's already got enough to focus on" Orchidflame's good paw works efficiently with near perfect meticulous action as she move the good prey and the bad prey, like it was all she needed to do as an apprentice.

With a flick of her tail she took another glance at Bravesong "I don't mind doing it. Finchpaw can't do all that work in a day." She purred, plunking out a piece of prey that was slowly starting to smell, though not as bad as the others. "What do you think of this one? Worth wasting?"

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
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Bravesong leaned instinctively into her greeting despite knowing this wasn't exactly relaxing, but he took comfort in her scent and looked a bit disappointed as she pulled away. Probably because her scent masked the unpleasant one.

"It's kind of you to help out. You've always had a gentle heart." His tone was less playful, yet still had it's familiar ring. What it seemed most was sincere as his hazel eye shifted to the prey item she dredged up from the pile. It's faint sourness was only slightly offensive, but it was doubtful that it would do. It was probably too much of a risk, especially with the distant knowledge that prey once killed cats in a similar manner.

"It’s halfway to crowfood, if you ask me. I wouldn’t risk a Clanmate’s stomach on it." His head twisted to smooth down the ruffled fur on his chest as if to get rid of the smell, his mostly intact ear shifting towards the she-cat for her answer.

Even a flame that burns softly can still bring warmth through the darkest nights.

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Orchidflame gave a nod of appreciation, she rather throw out half-rotten prey than mistake it for edible and get some cat sick because of her negligence. Bravesong's addition was helpful, very helpful indeed.

She dragged the rotten prey to the pile of rotten kill, she took a glance at it, disappointed that it had time to go to waste, but she wasn't about to complain about a well fed clan. However she was simply just upset that some had to go to waste. But so be it, there was nothing she could really do, unless she ate more... she would only really need to do that if...

Her gaze lingered over to the nursery for a moment, Rimekit was just about ready to leap out of her nest now, as strong and independent as she was going to get under Wildcry's care. She commended Sunstrike for dealing with her for that long. She certainly didn't visit the elders very much.

"Rimekit is doing well. She'll get her mentor soon." She purred, maybe one day... maybe she could be the queen in the nursery watching her young at their ceremony. What an honor that would be. "Maybe an aspiring queen will take Wildcry's place when she's back in the elders' den." She commented softly, flicking her ear in thought. Perhaps.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
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Rimekit. Now that was a topic that Bravesong could speculate on. "Fierceblooded if I ever saw one. Thank StarClan it seemed to skip over me. Whoever gets selected as mentor better keep half an eye on their tail."

He sighed, as as he loosed the sound he blinked his eye towards Orchidflame. Aspiring queens, huh? He sniffed at one of the voles in the pile. Probably just left over stink from the one that was thrown away. "There’s no shortage of she-cats in ThunderClan, that’s for sure."

He allowed himself into a slow loaf, not feeling particularly productive. Besides, it gave him a moment to rest his paws as he pondered. "It's hard to determine if any of the younger ones might be interested...but it's a lot for a she-cat. I don't blame them if they want to focus on their duties first."

An eye boldly slid across towards her, half a kitty brow cocked. "Maybe Wildcry's raring for another litter." The tom barely could keep a straight face, and in the end, chuckled out loud.

Even a flame that burns softly can still bring warmth through the darkest nights.

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"Thank StarClan." Orchidflame let out a soft chuckle ass she nuzzled against Bravesong again, the softness of her dappled fur pressing lightly against Bravesong's bicolor pelt. "I don't think we'd have much in common if it didn't." She added. There wasn't a lot Orchidflame knew of Fierceblood except that she had no family from them, at least none that she can really remember. After all most of the stories she heard of were about the brave and fierce Hopestorm, Markedkit, all that ordeal. It didn't appeal all that much to her. But Bravesong did.

The though of baring a litter flicked back to her, the risks, though the reward vasty outweighed them. Orchidflame glanced down at her paws for a moment, perhaps her paws could be used for more than just lounging and taking evening walks. Something more... motherly.

Then she glanced back at Bravesong, a flicker of recognision in her eyes. There was something about him that allured her. Something about the way he continued to look for a silver lining even if the whole world played against him. She liked that about him.

Orchidflame let a huff fly out of her nose, something close to a laugh, at Bravesong's mention of Wildcry baring another litter "Great StarClan, Bravesong. The last we need is a clan of Wildcrys." she said "Perhaps someone less... fiery will consider it."

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
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For a moment, Bravesong's gaze softened to trace the determination in her face. "Less fiery, hm?" He drawled easily as he halfheartedly shifted through the leftovers of the pile, pleased with what remained. "That narrows it down to... three she-cats in camp?"

His chin brushed along her flank, a soft reminder that he was still with her. In heart as well as body. "Gentleness and love can be the biggest assets we have. Claws alone don't win battles."

Even a flame that burns softly can still bring warmth through the darkest nights.

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Orchidflame nodded in response, her whiskers twitching with her usual mirth that she carried with her when she was with Bravesong, with those she got along with. It seemed to come so natural to her that she didn't realize it was there.

The longhaired dappled she-cat moved her head back, lest she was pushing to far into Bravesong's fur as he inspected the pile. Her fur fluttered gracefully in the soft breeze and she glanced up at the overcast, flicking an ear in thought. If she bore a litter for ThunderClan, she knew who would be siring it.

The wordless softened glance at Bravesong spoke more than her words would, but she didn't make any mention of he thoughts of carrying any kits. She wanted to think on it a little further, but she wouldn't rule it out, she had all day, but not all her life.

"Three she-cats?" She trilled, curling her kinked tail around Bravesong. "Who would those three she-cats be? If the question is appropriate Bravesong." she purred, a little note of teasing in her tone as she gave Bravesong an affectionate lick on his cheek. Affectionate aside with whatever Bravesong wished for it to mean.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
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Bravesong gave a low, rumbling hum. Her question wasn’t exactly unexpected and he replied just a coyly and passed time rearranging the remains of the pile.

"Mm..." He leaned into her briefly. "Well, if I had to name them…Mistyleaf and Larchsong are certainly less fiery than others."

He was halfway into straightening a vole near the top of the pile before he continued. "And then there’s you. A she-cat with the warmth to melt leafbare snow." An ear sideflicked in her direction, and he ducked to avoid her seeing the soft ruffle of his cheek fur.

"Anyway...that’s just one tom’s opinion. I’m sure the rest of camp’s got their own list if you asked them."

Even a flame that burns softly can still bring warmth through the darkest nights.

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Mistyleaf and Larchsong, she nodded, though there wasn't really a definite guarantee that either would be willing to have kits any time soon, Rimekit would be apprenticed any day now and the idea of a dry and empty nursery tore at her heart. Orchidflame couldn't just wait around until hedgehogs started flying.

"You're a charmer, Bravsong. You know that?" Orchidflame huffed an amused breath before doing one final once over of the fresh kill pile, everything seemed to be in order, which was good, no cats needed to be poisoned by crow-food. Especially since that green mush in the prey that ravished the clans before this killer start creeping about. 

Orchidflame glanced towards Bravesong, purring loudly before standing up on her good paws, flicking some dust from the stiff one. "Your opinion matters more to me than you'd think." She purred, certainty thick in her tone. "I'll dispose of the crow-food." 

She padded over with that lop sided gait of hers, however before she leaned down to pick up the rotten scraps, she cast a final look at Bravesong "I'd like to speak with you tomorrow, to go out on a trip. Sunningrocks, meet me at sunhigh if you have the time." she chirped sweetly before picking up the rotten prey, her nose wrinkling at the stench. She'd definitely need some water after this.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
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Bravesong gave the pile one last approving glance. Orchiflame, mostly, did good work. The pile was neat, clean and orderly thanks to you. "I’ll take you up on that offer." Sunhigh at their usual meet up spot.

As she bent to collect the crow-food, Bravesong lingered a heartbeat longer. Simply watching how she effortlessly moved along with her day, and helping apprentices no less. Then the tom turned towards the Elder's den "Tomorrow then." He bid her a fond farewell before padding off to find a spot to settle.