Private Thread Worried Minds

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Bravesong had seen grief take many forms over the moons. Some, like Greypebbles, seemed to shrink into themselves burdened by thoughts too heavy to carry alone.

He made his way over with slow, deliberate steps, his old bones aching faintly in the morning chill. He wasn’t as spry as he once was, but that never stopped him from noticing when a Clanmate needed company.

Without a word, Bravesong settled down beside Greypebbles, not too close to intrude, but close enough to be felt. The silence stretched for a moment, easy and unpressured. He exhaled slowly, allowing himself to be known by his former apprentice. Hazel eye glanced down to glimpse his twisted paw, as he gave it a couple licks.

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

It wasn't long after Greypebbles had shut his eyes that he felt a warm presence beside him, he drank in the scent for a few heartbeats and let out an instinctual purr. Before even opening his eyes, Greypebbles let a smile tug at the corners of his mouth. Even with the death of Cottonlily weighing heavy on him, on everyone, but the weight seemed lighter with the quiet company.

The young warrior reveled in the silence for a moment, his eyes opening only slightly as he glanced over at Bravesong meticulously cleaning his paw. He had made his peace with that injury and so had Bravesong, it had been many moons since then, and Bravesong was doing fine, despite the dull aches he has been hearing about from the elders, but Bravesong couldn't be that old right?

"It's nice to see you, Bravesong" When Greypebbles finally spoke, he hardly even realized that his voice was somewhat weakened and splitting at the grief, though his own was just a result of the young tom's sensitive heart. But Greypebbles still wanted to improve on his sensitivity, not rid himself of it entirely, it was a tool, he just wished to be a little stronger for his clanmates, like Bravesong had once done. The elder had saved Greypebbles' life at the cost of his ability to be a warrior and Greypebbles owed him everything for that.

"Are you choosing to.. relax in the shade to?"

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧ 

Bravesong’s ear flicked at the soft tremor in Greypebbles’ voice, but he didn’t acknowledge it outright. He finished his slow, methodical grooming before offering a small, knowing smile. "Something like that..." He murmured, stretching his good paw out in front of him before tucking it back under his chest. "Or maybe I just figured a certain warrior could use some company."

His hazel eye lingered on Greypebbles, his expression unreadable yet warm. "It’s been a heavy time for all of us. No shame in taking a moment to just… be." His tail gave a slow, idle flick. "No need to hold it all alone."

Then a dry chuckle left him the corners of his mouth twitching. "Here I am. With you."

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

The subtle actions Bravesong made weren't lost on the grey tom, he noticed each twitch of his whiskers, each twitch in his tail, even when he was as worried as this he knew that Bravesong would be coming through the same, in such a different way. Greypebbles wondered if he could even have kindness to loners again after this, they killed one of their own, what cat could forgive something like that, until a killer was found, every loner and rogue was suspicious.

"I always appreciate the company when it matters, and from you Bravesong, I'd accept it even if it didn't matter" Greypebbles seemed comforted by his former mentor's presence, even if it was just slightly. "It's just..." Greypebbles' brows furrowed for a moment, his ears twitching with a concern that might match that of a paranoid queen. "If that rogue killed Cottonlily, who else will they kill? I worry that our whole clan is under threat and I can't bare to lose anyone else" 

Greypebbles didn't try to hide the fact he was speaking of the cats he was particularly close to, but even if the rogue took no more lives, or lives of cats he didn't know very well, the worry still lingered in the tom's chest like an aching nettle sting. "And Leopardrose, I heard her stomping into camp earlier, rambling on about some fox, if there is a fox we would need to worry about what else could there be?"

"Sorry, I'm talking to much..." Greypebbles' lip quivered as he laid his chin back onto the backs of his paws, he had told Bravesong all of his worries since Cottonlily had died, well... most of them. He didn't need to wonder to know that Bravesong would be there to offer a shoulder to rest on.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Bravesong listened with thoughtful patience, his gaze never leaving Greypebbles’ face. The way the young tom’s voice cracked, the flick of his ears, the quiver in his lip - it reminded him of when Greypebbles had been just an apprentice, all nerves and questions, shadowed by doubt but full of heart.

“You talk just enough." He leaned in, brushing his tail lightly across Greypebbles’ flank, a gesture that asked for nothing, only offered presence. "Worry’s not weakness, you know. It just means you care."

He tilted his head. "And Leopardrose - I'm sure if anything was serious she would have informed Moosestar on the matter." Then his voice lowered slightly, hazel eye darkening with something quieter, steadier. "As for the rogue… we don’t know the whole truth yet. And until we do, we hold close what we can. The cats we love. The ones we can protect. Worrying doesn’t make you any less."

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

The feeling of Bravesong's tail on his flank grounded the grey tom ever so slightly, and even if it was only by a little, it was enough to give Greypebbles some semblance of comfort in these trying times, especially when it seemed like the reasons for worry never ended. "I'm sure cats worry every now and again, at least once in their life. Fear keeps us alive, and bravery protects the ones we love, I could use more of that." The youthful tom responded, his bobbed tail flicking ever so slightly with self awareness.

"It's been... a hard time for all of us, but I can only imagine Wrentalon and Tigerrush have it worse, Cottonlily had been their dame." Greypebbles responded, he thought back to his own dame, she hadn't been able to see him become an apprentice since she had died a moon beforehand, he never really got to prove to her that he could really be something worthy of praise. Perhaps he was still trying to prove that.

Greypebbles' whiskers twitched ever so slightly as Bravesong noted Leopardrose bringing up her encounter with Moosestar, it was certainly more reasonable than just raging around camp about it, and if it were a fox, then that would be another thing for ThunderClan to keep in their minds.

The tom sighed, thinking about the rogue again, he had not seen Cottonlily's body for himself when it happened, but he witnessed her being brought back to camp, the sight wasn't pretty, and he prayed that none of the kits would have seen something like that. He didn't want another cat to be killed in that way, but of course he didn't want to seem like he wanted to be ThunderClan's hero, he just wanted to be recognized as more than a measly warrior of no consequence. "If I catch that rogue comes back, I wonder if I should attack if I end up seeing in the case of a next time." Greypebbles' eyes had an anxious but still determined gleam, he didn't want to see another cat die that way, not in such a cruel, undignified way.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Bravesong listened without interruption, his expression unreadable but attentive. He let Greypebbles speak, let him work through the spiral of thought and fear - because sometimes words were the only thing keeping a cat from drowning in silence.

"You already have both." He said gently, after a heartbeat passed. "You’re still here, aren’t you? Still feeling. Still thinking about others. That’s what makes you dangerous to cats like that rogue. You haven’t let it hollow you out."

His tail rested back at his side again, but his tone remained steady. "Wrentalon and Tigerrush…" His voice dropped. They’ll walk through this the way they know how. Just as you are. There’s no right way to grieve. Just a hundred paths we stumble down, hoping one leads to peace."

Bravesong’s gaze drifted for a moment, hazel eye softening with thought. Then it returned to Greypebbles, sharp and clear. "If the rogue returns and you find yourself in their path… trust your heart, but listen to your head. There’s no shame in defending what’s yours, Greypebbles. But don’t throw your life away chasing vengeance."

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Greypebbles listened with his full attention to the elder tom, as if he was still an apprentice listening to an instruction give to him so many moons ago, but he had grown much more since then, more than he thought he would have.

The small grey tom nodded along with the words that Bravesong spoke, noting nearly each with an appropriate glance, from concern to understanding, Greypebbles' gaze didn't leave Bravesong. He appreciated the tom's company and he wanted to make sure that Bravesong knew that. "Not letting it hollow me out, like, how I knew what I'm fighting for and how it would feel to lose it, to know it is worth fighting for" the spotted tom guessed, twitching what would be a long tail before placing it on the ground behind him.

"I would go and console them, but they need space to process I'd say, not matter how much they deserve to have someone to confide in" Greypebbles added, he wanted to be the cat some would go to in the case they needed comfort, he had experienced enough to certainly know of resilience, especially with Bravesong in the medicine that seemed like so many moons ago. "But it is their decision alone, like you said, no right way, and there is also no wrong way. We just grieve"

Greypebbles thought for a moment and offered Bravesong an assuring nod. Greypebbles took a gentle glance over to the nursery and twitched one of his ears, he knew that being a mentor was an honor, one that warriors don't get often, and he knew his chance were probably slim, but Greypebbles thought it could be a good place to ask. "Bravesong, who would you say might be a fitting mentor to the nursery kits?" he asked, a tilt of his head and a steadying look in his eyes

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Bravesong offered a small nod, pride flickering briefly behind his calm demeanor at the way Greypebbles processed his words. The tom before him wasn’t the same apprentice who once second guessed every pawstep. There was a quiet strength building in him now. A fire lit not by rage, but by love.

"That’s exactly it." He murmured. At the mention of Wrentalon and Tigerrush, Bravesong let out a soft hum of agreement. “It speaks well of you, wanting to be someone others can come to." His whiskers twitched, the closest thing to a smile.

When Greypebbles shifted the subject, Bravesong followed the tom’s gaze to the nursery. He was quiet for a moment, contemplative. Certainly there were many warriors who'd fit the bill at mentoring, but Bravesong had one in particular in mind. "Well. I think any kit would be lucky to have a mentor who knows what grief feels like. A cat who watches out for others. Who listens before he speaks. Who doesn’t chase glory, but steadiness. I’d say that’s a fine example for a young cat."

He bumped his shoulder lightly against Greypebbles'. "Either Finchkit or Robinkit would probably be a fine match for you." Rimekit was blossoming into a feisty she-cat, and probably required a more experienced paw.

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Greypebbles let out a soft hum at the mention of Robinkit and Finchkit, the litter was awfully quiet, for different reasons entirely from what Greypebbles had gathered from glances at them in the nursery, but Rimekit's yowling always put him away from the nursery, along with Wildcry being in there that is.

"It isn't up to me really, Moosestar will choose the mentors at the end of the day. I just don't believe I'm a warrior that stands out enough to be noticed as an option really" Greypebbles admitted, brushing the fur on his chest down with a few delicate rasps of his tongue. "I'm not that large and I don't have drop of bravery in my blood. My sire was Goldenstar's son and I'm essentially a shadow in comparison, how am I supposed to live up to that" Greypebbles went on, placing his paws over his nose.

A sigh escaped Greypebbles' muzzle, he supposed it was just one of those days when he couldn't hold his tongue for five minutes. Those things were always best kept to himself and now he was just admitting them aloud, why must he subject himself to such a cowardly lifestyle.

Greypebbles moved his paws off of his muzzle and glanced up at Bravesong, his blue-grey eyes glinting faintly in the light. "I think you might be the only cat that believed in me when no other cat would, I appreciate you so much for that Bravesong" Greypebbles looked on for a moment, his gaze flicking down to his paws before shutting again, letting the air simply flow around him. It was much easier to worry about himself in silence.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Bravesong listened without judgment, letting the younger tom speak his insecurities into the open. His silence wasn’t empty merely understanding.

"You don't need to be Big Cat to carry something heavy." He meowed softly, his voice low and even. "And you don't need to roar to be brave." He tilted his head slightly, eye catching the way Greypebbles’ gaze dropped like a stone. The mention of Goldenstar didn’t stir reverence in Bravesong - just awareness. "Lineage doesn't decide the cat. You’re not your sire, and you're not his legacy. You're your own story and it's a good one."

He paused, then leaned forward just slightly, his voice gentler now. "You say you’re a shadow... but even a shadow is proof that something real is standing in the light, bright as day." Bravesong reached out his tail once more, brushing it lightly along Greypebbles’ flank in that same wordless reassurance as before.

He let that settle, his tone unwavering as he sat back, exhaling slowly. "You just need to be steady. Kits don’t need a legend. They need someone who’ll be there for them."

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Greypebbles' ears perked quickly when Bravesong began to speak, his mentor sure did have a way with words that was for certain. There as a way that he spoke that made Greypebbles think that the black-and-white warrior had said nothing wrong in his life. "But bloodline is what carries your legacy onward no? It the main reason cats have kits that isn't to make their mark in their clan, and I worry I won't even get that. So, I really do want to try and make a name for myself so it doesn't disappear into the stars" his words carried genuine worry, the weight that a cat of his age shouldn't be carrying for such a young tom.

Despite his words, Greypebbles was genuinely comforted by Bravesong's company and his words, there as something about them that made him even second guess his own insecurities, not many cats that Greypebbles knew brought that sort of comfort.

"Steady? I can try, to push through the struggles and survive stronger than before, like I have once before. I seem to focus to much on what I can't do and not enough of what I've been able to do for so long" Greypebbles didn't seem as upset when speaking now, as if his former mentor's company and the words shared between them were comfort enough to ease his worries.

"I suppose I should really focus more on what I can do than fret over what I can't, I haven't been getting anywhere by fretting over things I can't control" he murmured, mostly to himself, but still, the words came out, soft and smooth. Greypebbles had no trouble talking around the cats he trusted, and it showed in the way he acted around a select few trusted clanmates, but he supposed he was just glad to have cats he could talk to instead of facing all this alone.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Bravesong listened quietly again, his expression softening with each word Greypebbles spoke. The younger tom’s worries weren’t unfamiliar - not to him, not to any cat who’d ever sat awake at night wondering if they’d done enough to matter.

"Legacy doesn’t start in your blood. It starts in your actions. It’s what you give, not what you’re born with." Bravesong himself came from a fierceblooded lineage through his dam, although it seemed to have passed him. Thankfully.

His gaze lingered on Greypebbles, warm and sure. "There are plenty of cats with fine bloodlines who’ve left nothing behind but their name. And there are cats with nothing who leave behind everything that matters." He offered a small smile—not wide, but true. "Keep building it."

He nodded once slowly. "You’re right. You’ve survived worse, and you’re still here. And every pawstep you take forward - that’s the kind of strength kits do need to see." The older tom, although not so old as some elders, stood on all four feet. A growl shivered through his stomach, and he was soon aware of a blossoming appetite. "Have you been eating? Are you hungry? I am."

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Bravesong's gaze was so certain and yet, so calming and warm. The young grey tom always seemed to wonder what made Bravesong so wise, was that an elder thing? Or would Greypebbles be able to get that wise in the future? Whatever the reason, he was glad that Bravesong's words of wisdom were there to reassure him.

"I know you're right Bravesong, you've never been wrong about these things for as long as I've known you" Greypebbles recalled that Goldenstar had another litter, Savagefox and Kestrelswipe, both fierceblooded from their dam; Wildcry, Thriftfeather managed to avoid that lineage and as did Greypebbles. Though there was always an odd sense of interest when it came to them, it wasn't like he was up to date on all the fiercebloods.

When Bravesong asked if he had been eating, if he was hungry, Greypebbles twitched his ears for a moment, glancing over at Bravesong for a moment "Have the queens and elders been fed? Aside from you of course" he asked, adding the latter statement with a soft chuckle in his best attempt to be light-hearted. 

"I've been eating, just haven't gotten around to it today" Greypebbles added honestly before pushing himself upwards, his blue-grey eyes flicking towards the fresh-kill pile. "I could grab you something if you'd like, it's the least I could do"

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧ 

Bravesong let out a soft, amused breath through his nose at Greypebbles’ light jab, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.

"I’ve already been mistaken for an old cat once this moon." He drawled with mock offense, though there was a glint of humor in his eyes. He gave his pelt a quick shake, as if shedding off the stiffness of the heavier conversation. "I saw Wildcry bring prey into the nursery for everyone, and Maplesprig and Gingerthrash brought enough for the elder's not too long ago." He assured, tone easy.

His gaze followed Greypebbles’ glance toward the fresh kill pile, thoughtful. "I’ll come with you..." He said after a beat, stepping up beside the younger tom and ambled a bit akwardly. "But only if you share something with me. No point in pretending you aren’t hungry too. Vole perhaps...maybe squirrel."

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Greypebbles' ears perked as Bravesong began to follow him to the fresh kill pile, holding his stride in his usual confidence, he knew how to keep his injuries from holding him back, that was for sure, there was no doubt in that. "Hey! I never said you were old" he mewed lightly, softly nudging Bravesong with his shoulder before continuing to the prey pile. "You're just in the elders' den like the others, meaning the clan sees you as an elder."

It was only a few pawsteps before the Greypebbles had reached the Fresh-Kill Pile, his eyes scanned over the pile with the choice of a squirrel, a vole or a robin. The choice felt pretty easy, since Bravesong wanted to share prey, the squirrel had more meat on it, and the two would have enough for each to get at least a few bites.

Greypebbles let a rare, sly grin peek through at the corners of his lips for a moment when Bravesong said something about Greypebbles pretending he wasn't hungry and let out a soft and breathy laugh. "Says the cat who gets fed first most days" he purred before pulling a squirrel from the pile. "How about a squirrel to share?" 

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Bravesong let out a low hum of amusement, his whiskers twitching at Greypebbles' playful nudge. When they reached the fresh-kill pile, his eyes lingered briefly over the prey before flicking to Greypebbles with a smirk of his own. "Squirrel’s a good choice..." He meowed, voice warm. "And enough to share for two."

He brushed along Greypebbles gently with his flank, a softer echo of the earlier nudge. "Soon newleaf will finally blossom - and who knows, maybe the nursery could have some new kits in there." He understood that Leopardrose and Greypebbles were close, and there was always a small part of him that wouldn't have minded if a she-cat of the clan asked him to sire a litter. He missed being a queen.

With a flick of his tail, he gestured toward a spot nearby "Come on then. Let’s eat before the kits find us and demand stories or someone starts asking me for battle training tips again." He mewed halfheartedly, his breath coming out more wistful than serious.

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Greypebbles acknowledged Bravesong's approval with his shortened tail flicking once before picking up the squirrel by the tail. He was brought back to the first time he caught his first squirrel, he was so proud that he had been quick enough to catch one, and now it seemed to come so easy to him, maybe he could pass on that to an apprentice one day, the gift of noticing how you've grown and improved.

When Greypebbles had lead Bravesong back to the spot that they were at prior to retrieving the prey, the word of new kits hit his ears. A sense of surprise washed over him, making his ears perk "You're already thinking of new kits when the ones we have aren't even close to being apprentices yet?" He asked with a tilt of his head, but their was nothing but humor and a small chuckle under his perplexed tone.

Secondarily however, he thought of his own legacy to ThunderClan, wondering if it would be lost on him, or even if Spidertongue would- probably not, he doesn't seem the type, Greypebbles had quickly reconsidered that thought when he remembered his littermate's personality as a whole, but he didn't expect him to sire any kits, and Leopardrose surely didn't want any, she avoided the kits in the nursery like they had blackcough.

"And I'm not sure where you'd get a she-cat that's interested, haven't seen any that are very open to it at the moment" Greypebbles replied, the thought that he could be a sire didn't really come to him, because no she-cat in their right mind, at least with the grey tom's set views on himself, wouldn't dream of picking him to sire, not in one hundred moons. 

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Bravesong settled beside Greypebbles, stretching out his legs with a slow sigh as he watched the tom drop the squirrel and muse on his own memories. His expression softened at the question and he let out a light chuckle in return.

"I said maybe, didn’t I?" He teased gently, the curve of his mouth fond. "Newleaf just brings the thought to mind. Everything wakes up. Even dreams we forgot we had."

He began the tedious process of shredding the fluff off the prey, then glanced toward the nursery in the distance. The wistfulness returned to his eyes, quieter now. "Sometimes I think I missed my chance..." He admitted, voice low but unbothered. "And sometimes I wonder if I could still find a way to leave something behind."He nudged the squirrel toward Greypebbles with a flick of his paw. "But they I remember...Coyotepaw and my time as a queen. Doesn't have to be blood."

Bravesong glanced sideways at him, reading into the self deprecating tone like claws through snow. "You talk like you're forgettable, Greypebbles, but you’re not. Not to me. Not to the clan." He meowed it plainly without hesitation. "You’ve got more heart than most cats I know. That matters more than blood or kits ever will."

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Greypebbles let out a breath that suppressed an embarrassed chuckle at Bravesong's words "I suppose you're right there, the thought has come up a couple times for me as well but it doesn't linger long." He replied, giving his little tail a light flick of thought, his mind to whirling up words like it could never run out of them. "But maybe that's a queen thing" his tone was lighter now, yet it still held the weight of a cat that meant his words.

"Not just Coyotepaw" Greypebbles offered Bravesong a smile, if Bravesong hadn't saved him from that fox, Greypebbles would not have lived to find out what his warrior name could have been, he was forever thankful for that. "You've got an old apprentice who knows how much your story is worth, at least to him it's worth more than you might know"

Bravesong's following words cut the air like enemy claws in the thick of a fierce battle, there were times where Greypebbles felt he knew how forgettable he was, but then there was moments with Bravesong or Leopardrose that made him question how real his thoughts were, or if they were just cruel tricks made up by trials he'd experienced, but he felt like he could just be for now, nothing weighing on his back like a massive boulder, just Bravesong and that... delectable looking squirrel.

After scarfing down a small bite, Greypebbles moved his dull-colored gaze towards his former mentor "it means a lot Bravesong, more than I think you know" Greypebbles held his tone softly, keeping it light and breathy but still holding the weight it deserved. "We all still have a long way to go, plenty of time to do what we need, so maybe, all the worry with have some sort of meaning I'll find out one day"

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧ 

Bravesong chewed slowly, savoring both the squirrel and Greypebbles’ words. There was something grounding in hearing them, like a stream gently cutting through stone. It would take time, but the shape left behind would matter.

He flicked an ear at the mention of 'a queen thing,' the edge of his mouth tugging upward with tired humor. "Maybe it is...!" He mused, a bit of bravado in his voice as he sat up a little straighter. "Queens usually carry things even when they’re not expecting to." His gaze drifted briefly toward the treetops before settling again on Greypebbles.

At the younger tom’s mention of his old apprentice, Bravesong went still, just for a moment. The quiet reverence in Greypebbles' tone struck deeper than he expected. His chest rumbled in quiet gratitude.

The middle-aged cat took another bite, mouth filling with the warmth of strength and close companionship shared. He offered a smirk and nudged the squirrel back toward Greypebbles. "That was a very small bite for someone claiming to be hungry. Go on, have some more." Goodness, maybe he did sound like a fretting queen sometimes.

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Bravesong's words seemed to always carry that unexpected weight whenever he decided to speak, Greypebbles wondered how he was able to do it so naturally, how wisdom came so naturally to him. He wondered if Bravesong's own mentor gave him similar advice that he passes onto Greypebbles, maybe one day he could pass his knowledge down further onto an apprentice of his own.

"Well you said you were hungry too didn't you?" Greypebbles replied, a soft smile tugging at his muzzle as he took another bite of the squirrel, a slightly more sizeable one this time, enough to fill the belly of a freshly weaned kit anyway. "I want to leave you the prey you need, a few bites will keep me going for a little while" he added, giving a twitch of his short tail.

Greypebbles stretched out his front paws and stretched out his back, parting his jaws in a quiet yawn before his body fell naturally into a loaf-like position beside his mentor as he nudged the squirrel back to the black-and-white tom who had suggested the prey in the first place. "You take as much as you need Bravesong"

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Bravesong’s whiskers twitched at Greypebbles’ gentle defiance, the soft give & take that always seemed to emerge between them like sunlight through branches. "I did say that..." He admitted with a low hum, tone lilting with amusement. "But I also said there was enough for two. Don’t go turning generous on me now, or I’ll start thinking I’ve made you too soft."

Still, the warmth in his eyes betrayed the jest. He watched Greypebbles stretch, then settle beside him in that unassuming loaf shape, and something in his chest softened again. The nudge of the squirrel back in his direction made him pause, look down, then flick his gaze back to the younger tom.

He leaned down to take another bite, slow and measured. When he finished chewing, he gave Greypebbles a sidelong glance, his tone quieter. "One day, you’ll have an apprentice. You’ll pass on what you’ve learned, even the parts you think no one noticed."He looked forward again, toward the trees and the whisper of newleaf in the breeze as the black and white tom took another bite.

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

"Well to be fair I was always a bit soft" Greypebbles replied with a shrug, letting a smirk tug at the corner of his mouth "or would you prefer me to be all fierce and cranky like Wildcry?" he joked as he reached up to rub his nose against Bravesong's face, an affectionate gesture that was fitting to the moment of casual camaraderie between clanmates.

For a moment, Greypebbles sat in silence as Bravesong took the bite of the squirrel, his eyes flicked down to the prey and then back to Bravesong, he was glad to have moments like these with Bravesong, especially with how demanding warrior duties were as a whole. And with everything that has been going on, some time with Bravesong was what Greypebbles needed more than anything else at the moment.

Bravesong's statement cause Greypebbles' ears to perk up and his blue-grey eyes flicked back to Bravesong, a twitch in his tail betrayed it caught him a little off guard from the conversation that they were having just before. But soon his gaze softened and the smirk that was peeking out on his lips turned to a soft grin. "You know just what to say Bravesong." he said with a gentle rumble in his chest. "How about we go finish this by the elders' den? It's warmer over there" he suggested, unsettling himself in order to stand up properly, not that his height was grand. But it was enough.