Open to Join Sunhigh Birdsong

Smallbird lay in the Warrior's den silently. She was desperately trying to work out what it was that she had forgotten to do. She had joined a hunting patrol in the morning like she had been told to. She had tidied up her nest in the den to make sure she wasn't interfering with the space of other cats. She had even gone around the walls of the camp to make sure there was no damage even though she hadn't been asked to. Now, the gray tabby was curled up in her nest trying to work out what she was supposed to be doing, while hoping that no one came in to yell at her for being lazy. Her mind kept flitting to the fact that she hadn't done a border patrol, but she hadn't been assigned to one yet as far as she was aware.

Smallbird startled when she heard Bravesong's voice and it took her a moment to register what he had said. "Oh! Uh...I can!" the anxious she-cat chirped in surprise. It wasn't like her to offer to join a conversation but Bravesong was her brother's former mentor and she was eternally grateful to him. If not for him, she feared to think of how beaten down Greypebbles might have become. Or even dead from that fox encounter. A shiver ran through Smallbird at the memory of seeing Bravesong when he had returned to camp after that encounter, causing her tail to twitch violently a few times. 

"What were you wanting to eat? And uh where?" the soft she-cat blurted, trying not to let things get uncomfortable. It seemed to be something that happened a lot to Smallbird. She was awkward and unsure of herself and that seemed to relay to other cats no matter how much she tried to mask it. Maybe this time would be a success, however. "Oh! And you wanted to talk about your dream?" she mewed quickly.

Bravesong blinked his good eye at the quick voice in succession to his call. Both ears flicked towards a small grey shape as it materalized from the den's darkness. There was only an easy smile on his face as he watched her step forward, and his chest rumbled with the beginnings of a quiet purr.

"Didn't see you there at first, Smallbird." He meowed with a smile. She was a smaller cat and seemed to possess all the traits of a mouse or perhaps a chickadee, a bit timid. His twisted paw rested on the edge of a nest as he stood, watching Greypebble's littermate. The older tom wouldn't admit it readily, but he'd kept an eye on her from time to time, just to be sure she didn't get trampled by the bustle of Clan business.

At her question his head gave a thoughtful tilt, half cocked as he pondered his choice of lunch. "Hmm… well, I think a squirrel would be a nice hearty meal. I’ll share, of course...You young warriors always have a strapping appetite." Not that he was by any means the stereotypical age of an elder. He was quite young to be in the Elder's Den, but fate had a way of rearing its ugly head.

As he straightened himself out the best he could, he spoke again. "How about the sunlit corner by the southern camp wall?" He earnestly hoped she agreed with his suggestion. "Good warmth there now that the sun is peeking again and the forest is warming up."

He turned to move out of the den and into the open. An ear flicked apologetically before his scarred face turned towards the small grey tabby. "Also...I didn't mean to startle you." He was used to causing some amount of unease, of which he noticed especially with Brindlespice as a kit. Scars could be scary. As his paw carried him across camp, he paused at the fresh kill pile, and sniffed out a plump grey squirrel that could easily feed two mouths. "This'll do nicely, don't you think?"

Smallbird grinned sheepishly at Bravesong's greeting. It already felt like she was being exceptionally awkward and it took a huge strength of effort to prevent herself from fidgeting. Despite her efforts, the fur on her shoulders twitched as though a fly had landed there. 

She nodded in reply to the tom's suggestion and then quickly protested, "Oh no! No no no! I wouldn't dare dream of eating your meal. I can go hunt you a squirrel if there isn't one on the pile if you would like?" The gray tabby she-cat shifted nervously. Embarrassment pulled stress lines onto the young she-cat's and she suddenly looked moons upon moons older than she actually was.

"Of course! Of course! Wherever you would like to sit," Smallbird smiled pleasantly, her tail twitching back and forth. As Bravesong moved from the den, the young she-cat followed swiftly and smoothly. It was when she was moving that Smallbird seemed to really calm and settle. It was almost like she had too much energy and this manifested in a string of anxiety. 

Smallbird frowned. "It's quite alright," she mewed quietly. "I'm easily startled because I'm too in my head. I need to pay attention to my surroundings more." Her last sentence sounded like it had been said a great many times. Indeed, it was something that her old mentor had mentioned often when her thoughts began to distract her from tasks. A small smile lit her face as the two cats made their way to the Fresh Kill Pile and Bravesong found a plump squirrel. "I think so," she agreed. It certainly did look delicious. 

"I'll carry it for you," Smallbird lifted the squirrel, not wanting to appear lazy or disingenuous. It wasn't often that cats invited her to do things with them, likely due to her always being preoccupied. The gray tabby really hoped that this could go well. Taking an easy pace, she made her way toward the spot that Bravesong had requested and gently placed the squirrel down. "Bravesong..." the she-cat meowed quietly. "Thank you for looking after Greypebbles."

An amused huff left his nose at Smallbird's eager offer. "If you insist..." With a dip of his head in gratitude. "But only because I’d rather not argue with a young warrior." Came his airy tease. He was pleased that she matched his pace as he walked.

When the small warrior gently spoke of her gratitude, Bravesong's ears flicked at her words. There seemed to be sincerity in her tone and the Elder merely blinked and offered a softspoken meow. "You don’t need to thank me for that. I'm sure any other cat would have done the same. I try to keep an eye on everyone now that I have extra time on my paws."  

It wasn't long before they reached the part of camp he wanted to relax in when he spotted a familiar shape, keeping to the shade across the clearing. He motioned with his chin towards Smallbird. "Seems your brother is already one step ahead of us and enjoying his meal." 

Bravesong lifted his head then, voice carrying more than usual as he expelled a greeting. "Greypebbles! Care to share the sun with us? Better company than shadows, I'd say."

He smiled at Smallbird. "You can put the squirrel here." He indicated as his healthy, if twisted form, lowered itself into the welcome sunbeams and gestured for both warriors to join him.