Private Thread Food for Company

There’s always something to do.
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Smallbird tentatively crept through the forest of Thunderclan, checking over her shoulder and regularly tasting the air. Guilt stirred lightly in her heart as she crossed the small thunderpath that split their land from the Treecut Place. Diving into the undergrowth on the other side, the gray tabby took a moment to collect herself, cleaning her fur smooth as her eyes scanned Thunderclan’s lands for movement. Once sure no one had followed her, and a quick glance at the sky to tell her that she needed to get a wriggle on, Smallbird turned away from her home, perked up her ears and relaxed her shoulders as she made her way carefully toward the meeting spot.

Since that first accidental encounter with the handsome loner, Fox, Smallbird had found herself irresistibly drawn to the fiery tom. She had planned, after last moon’s Gathering, that when she met him for the second time she would reaffirm the Warrior Code in her heart and say they couldn’t meet again. Yet, once she found herself in his company, the sense of belonging and relaxation which had caused her to agree to see him again, stopped all thoughts of never seeing him again. Life was easy and calm beside Fox. He opened her eyes to another way of living and made her own life more bearable. As such, she had agreed to meet him again, and again, and again. Part of the Thunderclan she-cat felt terrible that she no longer participated in her duties as thoroughly as she once did, but no cat had seemed to notice or care. A fact that only hardened her heart and made the decision to see the one cat who saw her and what she did all the more tempting.

As Smallbird padded through the unnaturally straight trees and thin underbrush, she considered the thoughts that plagued her mind whenever she thought of Fox. When she had first met him, she had considered that maybe he could father kits for her, helping her fulfill her duty to Thunderclan. As she had spoke with him more, however, she had found herself not wanting to have kits just to satisfy others. Fox helped her feel like she ought to do things for herself. If she were to have kits, it should be because she wanted them. Certainly, a part of Smallbird did want those kits, and she also still thought Fox would be the best cat to father strong, healthy kits that might just inherit a softness to their hearts that the clans lacked. For now, however, she found that just having someone to talk to, who heard her and liked her, eased her heart in a way that she had been unable to do by attempting to complete all of her duties to Thunderclan. Smallbird was enough for Fox, and that was becoming enough for her.

The smell of Fox strengthened as the gray tabby approached, and she purred warmly. The smell of rabbit blood surprised her but she supposed the tom had to eat too. A hint of jealousy flicked through her mind at the thought of him catching it with some other she-cat but she shook it off. Fox was more than skilled enough to catch a rabbit alone. Besides, he didn’t belong to her and was free to do as he pleased. ”Fox?” Smallbird purred as she pushed through the undergrowth into a small clearing where they had met before. She noticed the rabbit with surprise but assumed he must have caught it on his way to meet her. ”I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long,” she mewed, tail twitching as she settled close to the large tom. Smallbird’s body seemed to utterly relax as she sank against the soil by Fox’s side. For truely, this was where she felt safest and most at home.

The world's too big to stay in one place.

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The scent of Smallbird hit Fox before he saw her, and even the scent itself made him purr. Sure he had met other cats before and it was a pleasant experience, but none as unique, as... beautifully enticing as Smallbird's company. Part of him wondered if she felt the same way about his company or if he was just beating a dead bush chasing her. However... meeting her didn't feel like a chore or something he forced himself to do, it seemed to slowly become natural to him. Even if the two were going against her code to do it. He had told Smallbird that she didn't have to keep meeting him, but the look of joy on her face made everything worth it.

When her body pressed lightly against his side, he began defluffing the rabbit, a little too tedious for his large paws to keep up with, but so what if the rabbit was a little scratched up? It was still edible, and he was glad to share the prey with Smallbird, then again, a cat would just need to not try and rip out his throat to have his company. But none as special as Smallbird, never so special. "Birdie!" there was a trill that quickly moved to a paw in Fox's throat as he pressed his nose against the small she-cat's striped forehead, the purr vibrating through his chest. "I wasn't, I got here just as you did. Even if I was waiting though, I'd wait moons for you." his tone was light, but the sentiment held true. Smallbird he never typically hung around in the same places for very long, but Smallbird seemed to be changing that. Maybe the forest wasn't that bad after all.

"I caught this rabbit on the way. Had to fend off a weasel too... but those things are too bitter for someone so sweet." Fox reminded, his shoulder twitched, a small bruise was hidden under his fur from when the weasel tried to trip him over, but no bites or scrapes... thankfully. He glanced back at Smallbird with a softened but charming expression before nudging the rabbit closer to her. It seemed only fair that she got the first bite, after all, she was the one breaking her rules to be here with him. "Ladies first, Birdie." 

There’s always something to do.
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Smallbird watched as Fox began stripping fur off of the rabbit, maintaining her purr. These moments with the tom made her feel so wanted and accepted that the guilt of meeting with a cat outside of her clan, of not putting all of her effort toward the survival of her clan, simply melted away. The little nickname the tom had given the tabby she-cat made her heart sing and she grinned bashfully. ”I’m glad I didn’t make you wait,” she purred and pressed her own nose into the thick fur around his neck, relaxing further.

”A weasel!” Smallbird gasped in shock and stood up. The gray tabby instantly began nosing over Fox’s pelt, looking for injuries. ”You weren’t hurt were you? Even our bravest warriors are advised not to take weasels on alone.” Worry glittered in the she-cat’s eyes, although the lack of blood-scent had her standing back instead of still checking Fox over. His offer for her to take the first bite of rabbit went completely unnoticed, such was her concern for her one true friend.

”Maybe I should take you to Tigerrush just to make sure you’re okay…” she murmured, her worries and concerns about life without a Medicine Cat coming to the forefront of her mind. Thoughts of the brave tom succumbing to an unknown infection made her feel weak and queasy with fear, causing her legs to tremble with the effort of standing.

The world's too big to stay in one place.

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"Yeah it was just-" Before Fox could explained what happened, Smallbird was moving his fur around like she was checking him for ticks. "Woah! Birdie, Birdie, Birdie! It's fine, I'm fine, the weasel was old. the most it did was clip a bit of fur from my chest and gave be a little bruise on my side. And to be honest, that bruise was mostly just me losing my footing from a dodge." Fox then gestured to his side with his tail "There, no swelling, no blood, just a little bruise, it'll fade in a little bit. I'm fine, Birdie."

Fox nudged the rabbit closer. "Here, eat." He stated again, however his ear flicked at the mention of another cat's name "Tigerrush, is that your medicine cat?" he asked, placing his tail onto Smallbird's shoulders, light but present enough to feel the meaning, he wanted to assure her that he was fine, that she didn't need to worry, because she didn't. He had been through worse in his younger moons and he was sure that he would be able to survive much worse afterwards. But he would for Smallbird.

Fox watched and waited for Smallbird to take a bite of the rabbit before speaking again, softer and back to his usual charming dememour. "The clans gathered all together at fourtrees again didn't they Birdie? Did you go?" he asked casually, attempting to draw the conversation back to something that focused more on Smallbird's life than his own.

There’s always something to do.
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Smallbird flattened her ears in embarrassment at Fox’s exclamations and reassurance. She wasn’t sure why she was so worried, but the idea of losing Fox’s company hurt her heart sharper than any claw had ever hurt her pelt. She calmed down as he reassured her but still couldn’t resist giving the bruise a tender inspection and a light lick before she settled down again. ”You really must be careful Fox,” she mewed quietly, staring at her paws. ”I know you say you know cats who could heal you if you were that badly hurt, but what if you can’t get to them? Would they hunt for you too? I… I just can’t…” the pretty she-cat trailed off for a moment before whispering to herself, ”... lose you.” She ducked her head lower, trying not to openly display the fear and concern that she felt.

When Fox nudged the rabbit her way and told her to eat, Smallbird straightened a little. ”Oh but I couldn’t,” she meowed sadly. ”I must hunt for the clan before I am allowed to eat and because I had border patrol this morning I didn’t wind up hunting yet.” The gray tabby’s stomach protested her refusal to accept the offer loudly, causing Smallbird to look thoroughly embarrassed. ”I… sorry,” she mewed quietly. ”And yes, Tigerrush is our medicine cat.” Smallbird was unsure of what more to say. She desperately wanted to eat the rabbit that Fox had caught and was offering, she was practically starving since she hadn’t eaten yet today, but how could she? Not for the first time since meeting the handsome tom, did the tabby she-cat feel frustration at the Warrior Code she was trained to follow. Why shouldn’t she eat now as long as she hunted for the clan too? It wasn’t like she had caught the rabbit to feed herself.

For a few heartbeats more, Smallbird fought an internal battle, one that hunger ultimately won. Tentatively, as though she expected to be attacked, the Thunderclan warrior crouched down and took a small bite of the rabbit. A purr of appreciation rumbled in her chest. Somehow it tasted more flavourful than any rabbit she had eaten in the past and no sooner had she finished her first mouthful than was she taking a second, larger bite. She nodded at Fox’s first question and finished her mouthful before replying to the second, ”I wasn’t invited to go last night.” Smallbird shrugged. ”Why I was sent on this morning’s border patrol, since I was one of the most rested.”

The world's too big to stay in one place.

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Noticing Smallbird's worry softened Fox's posture and deepened his expression. He gave the small grey tabby a lick behind her ears as she chose to inspect him still. "Birdie, I've been alive for a while, I know how to survive out here. I'll be honest, I'm big, I'm bright, I'm only hidden from prey. But that doesn't mean I'm going anywhere." He watched Smallbird meekly reach forward for a bite, then return for another and a purr rose in his throat. "I had a smart cat to teach me, she lived a long time with a big kit strapped to her side. I've been doing well on my own. Fed, quenched, not bleeding. I'm alive Birdie. Nothing is more precious than life." he went on, shuffling a little closer to her and taking a bite of the rabbit, still leaving space for his companion to take her own.

"Tigerrush must be very skilled if she's the first cat you think of. If you think of taking a rogue into your camp just for her skills to be put to use on him. That's a brave thing to do, Birdie. Noble even." Fox replied when she spoke of Tigerrush, he hadn't the faintest idea what medicine cats really did aside from treat their clan cats, but he didn't assume, lest he offended his friend. So he moved as naturally as the conversation did.

Fox nodded at the notion she didn't go to have enough energy for dawn patrol this morning. "That's smart, leave the cats that did go a chance to rest so they're more attentive. Anything notable happen on the patrol?" he asked though if he was being honest, Smallbird could say 'I saw a pinecone' and he would be enamored by it. Anything she said held something deep and warm in his chest, he just wasn't sure exactly what it was yet.