Open to Join A Brave, Strong Tree

If ignorance is bliss, you must be the happiest cat on the planet
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Barleyswipe had been dozing in the elders' den, curled into the moss with her tail draped over her nose. Age had made her a lighter sleeper, and the quiet stirrings of dawn were enough to pull her from rest. With a grumble, she cracked one eye open, just in time to catch a small figure padding across camp.

With a great stretch, her joints popping as she unfolded herself, Barleyswipe carefully shifted so as not to disturb her denmates before rising to her paws and shuffling to the entrance of the den. She shook out her thick fur and took a moment to watch Cedarkit. The morning air was crisp, and she let it soak into her fur.

"Up before the sun’s got its paws under it, are we?" Barleyswipe rasped as she padded forward, stopping just at the nursery entrance. She cast a glance toward the sky, letting the cool morning air fill her lungs. "Hmph. Can’t blame you, I suppose. Morning’s got a way of making things look fresh - like the world’s startin’ over again."

"You're a star in my sky!"

⚝──⭒─𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･─⭒──⚝

Cedarkit looked up at Barleyswipe when the older molly spoke up, tensing for a heartbeat as she hadn't noticed the much bigger feline before relaxing again when she realised that she smelled like WindClan. "Hi Barleyswipe. Yeah. Bayflower woke me up with all his shuffling." The she-kit explained before glancing up at the sky again. "Bayflower says his littermate is up there."

If ignorance is bliss, you must be the happiest cat on the planet
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ❦ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Barleyswipe let out a low hum, her gaze following Cedarkit’s up to the sky. The stars were fading now, giving way to the creeping light of dawn, but she knew well enough that just because you couldn’t see something didn’t mean it wasn’t there.

"That so?" The odl she-cat questioned, settling back on her haunches. "Well, if Bayflower says so, then I’d wager his littermate’s watchin’ over him—and you too, I’d bet." Her tail curled around her paws, voice rasping but steady. "S’what kin do, even after they're gone. They don’t just disappear, kit. They stick around, in stories, in the wind, sometimes even in dreams, if you’re lucky."

She glanced at Cedarkit then, one eye narrowing slightly in thought. "You believe that?"

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

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Basilflame had found herself visiting the elders' den pretty often to converse with her dame, although... Sunbear was much of a conversationalist. Regardless she did enjoy the time spent with her dame. Though this time Basilflame hadn't stayed there for a particularly ample amount of time, simply giving the elders whatever prey was available before slipping out of the den.

Hazel eyes scanned the camp for a moment and landed on Barelyswipe and Cedarkit, so that's where Barelyswipe had left to, she thought to herself as she let out a breath she had been holding and stepped over with a hint of hesitation. She did want to interact with her clanmates, but if they wanted to speak with her was a different story.

"Kitsitting, Barleyswipe?" her words came soft but not a whisper, she of course wanted herself to be heard and approaching cats timidly wasn't how Basilflame would approach a situation, her meeting with.. a particular loner, revealed that more clearly.

Basilflame then looked down to Cedarkit and offered a friendly smile "Hello there sweetie, having fun with Barleyswipe are you?" she asked with a flick of her flame-colored tail. "I'm sure she's enjoying your company as much as Sunbear does" she purred in addition, taking a seat beside Cedarkit and before making herself comfortable asked "Would you two mind if I joined in on this?"

"You're a star in my sky!"

⚝──⭒─𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･─⭒──⚝

At Barleyswipe's low hum, Cedarkit's ears twitched, listening to the elder speak patiently. "Yeah." The molly responded to the older she-cat's question. "But Bayflower said that him and his littermate were on bad terms when greencough took her to StarClan. So he's not so sure if she's watching us. But there is a cat he's sure is watching over us though. Burnstone! Bayflower's sire." It seemed that Cedarkit had picked up Bayflower's habit of rambling and it probably wouldn't end any time soon. "But of course I believe in it! Bayflower would never lie to anybody."

When Basilflame approached the duo, Cedarkit was surprised again, the kitten jumping when a cat much bigger then her suddenly appeared in her vision before recognising that it was Basilflame."I'm just looking at the sky. You can look at it too if ya want."

If ignorance is bliss, you must be the happiest cat on the planet
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ❦ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Barleyswipe let out a short, dry laugh, shaking her head. "Kit...sitting? Hah! As if. I’m no nursemaid." She cast a sideways glance at Cedarkit, her tone gruff but not unkind. "This one just happens to be up at an hour when most kits’ve still got their tails tucked in a nest. Figured I’d see what she was getting up to before she went tumbling into trouble."

She shifted her weight, giving her thick pelt a shake before turning a narrowed gaze to Basilflame. "Not that I mind the company, long as you’re not lookin’ to turn this into some sentimental gathering." Her tail flicked once before she followed Cedarkit’s gaze back to the sky. "Kit’s got her head in the stars. They’re about the only things that don’t go runnin’ off when you need ‘em."

She let the words settle for a moment before snorting at the kit, green eyes flicking accusingly towards the sky. For a moment she wondered if her own folks returned the glare. "And you, rambling on like that - hmph, you’ll be tellin’ stories in the elders’ den before your paws even touch the warrior’s den at this rate."

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

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Basilflame couldn't help but let out a soft giggle at the elder's humor, she knew it was going to be rather easy to be around Barleyswipe, after all she does visit the elders' den pretty frequently and hasn't had any prior problems with the old she-cat. "Well I could seems like Cedarkit has some big thoughts, she certainly gets that from her sire" Basilflame purred lightly, twitching her tail as she curled it politely around her paws.

"This? A sentimental gathering? Wouldn't dream of making it more than it is" Basilflame added with a polite smile towards the elderly she-cat before turning towards the much smaller one. As Cedarkit went on about all the cats that were up there watching over them, her mind flickered to Fennelwhisker and she let out a sigh, to avoid unnecessary sentiment, she simply let out a breath to say "My sire is up there too you know, Cedarkit" 

Barleyswipe's remark on Cedarkit made Basilflame purr with delight an amusement, the flame-pointed she-cat quickly leaned down to Cedarkit and placed her muzzle to the small point kit's ear "I'd always visit you if you were in the elders' den Cedarkit" she replied with a gentle hum before lifting her head up to the dawning sky, it staying there for a moment of reflection before turning to Barleyswipe. "Anything out of the ordinary, either of you?"

"You're a star in my sky!"

⚝──⭒─𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･─⭒──⚝

Cedarkit frowned, the kitten actually offended by Barleyswipe's words, childishly so. Probably because they were more used to their sire's patient listening and nodding along, not expecting Barleyswipe to tease her. "I-I do not sound like an elder!" The kitten squeaked, stomping their paws unhappily before flopping down onto the floor right beside Basilflame.

However, when the warrior started to speak, she sat up, still sulking over Barleyswipe's comment but listening and responding nonetheless. "That's cool. I guess." Was all the kitten mumbled. It wasn't clear which of Basilflame's words were responding to but she wasn't going to elaborate unless prompted.

If ignorance is bliss, you must be the happiest cat on the planet
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ❦ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Barleyswipe huffed a chuckle, watching Cedarkit’s tiny paws stomp against the ground with all the weight of a leaf on the wind. Wryness crinkling the corners of her green eyes. "All huffy like a senior warrior too!"

She let Cedarkit’s sulking settle, glancing toward Basilflame when the warrior mentioned her sire. Barleyswipe’s ear flicked, a brief pause in her usually quick retorts. "Hmph. Seems there’s always another cat to add to the stars."

At Basilflame’s question, she took a moment to stretch, her old bones creaking in protest. "Out of the ordinary? Not much. The prey’s lean, but that’s no surprise with leaf bare determined to rule the forest. Camp’s the same as ever, full of cats frettin’ over things they can’t change and too stubborn to fix the things they can." Her tail flicked behind her before she leveled a knowing look at Cedarkit as she gossiped right in front of her, casting a sidelong, feather soft whisper over at Basilflame. "Think this one will be a loudmouth, a whiner, or a tale-teller?"

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

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Basilflame let out a gentle chuckle as she nuzzled Cedarkit with her nose, not harshly, but rather delicately, as if trying to lighten the situation with a light-hearted tickling to get the kit to laugh. "Oh Barleyswipe, she's not even an apprentice yet, shouldn't be worrying about all those silly roles on her yet" She responded, brushing her flame-colored tail over Cedarkit's head before softly speaking to the young kit. "C'mon sweetheart, I think my tail is a big enemy trying to attack the camp, you better protect WindClan huh" She playfully cooed, her tail twitching wildly to distract the kit from her sulking.

A thoughtfulness formed in Basilflame's eyes when Barelyswipe mentioned the fact that there is always another cat to add to the stars. She wasn't wrong, and Basilflame was far used to Fennelwhisker's death now, so she felt it was just simply to go along with the apricot she-cat's words. “There are many more to come, which is why we have stars—some reassurance that we'll be protected sooner or later.” she purred her eyes softening, but she then recalled her promise not to turn this into a sentimental chat and turned her attention back to Cedarkit “Especially with the strong WindClan kits protecting us from the wicked fox tail!”

Basilflame watched Cedarkit with a soft glance, Cedarkit wasn't her kit, being around them was always fulfilling, yet she didn't feel the need to rush into having them; moreover, her options for a sire were quite limited, so it didn't bother her too deeply. She was happy the way she was for now, happy with this moment, happy with her life, just... happy.

"You're a star in my sky!"

⚝──⭒─𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･𖣂.ೃ࿔ ✈︎ *:･─⭒──⚝

"I AM NOT HUFFY!" Cedarkit mewled as loud as she could, stomping her paws again before noticing Basilflame's tail. No. It wasn't time for silly games like this. She was a big kit now. Cedarkit turned their head away. However, when Basilflame called her strong they couldn't help but smile shyly, their fur heating up. "I'll protect us!"

If ignorance is bliss, you must be the happiest cat on the planet
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ❦ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧

Barleyswipe snorted, the noise a rough blend of amusement and satisfaction as she watched the kit puff up at Basilflame’s praise. "Good. WindClan could use more cats with a backbone."

She shifted where she sat, rolling a shoulder as if trying to shake loose an ache, her green eyes gleaming with a knowing look. The length of her own, ragged tail seemed to stir some dust as it brushed along the earth. "Now, what’s this nonsense about fox tails takin’ the camp?" She grumbled, though there was no real accusatory grumble to it. "Suppose if we’re under attack, I’d best leave the fightin’ to WindClan’s strongest, hm?" She gave Cedarkit a mock appraising look, as if sizing up the kit’s ability to take on a threat. "You up for that, little warrior, or you just all talk?"

I’d rather bear the weight of others than let others carry pain alone.

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Basilflame focused her hazel gaze on Cedarkit as she gave her tail a few more flicks, though it looked much more like a wild flame than a fox tail, the lynx point was working with what she was given by her dame and sire, she certainly had the thick for to make it look at least a bit convincing.

"Quickly Cedarkit, before it attacks the nursery! You wouldn't let the nursery get attacked would you?" Basilflame prompted, giving her tail a few more inviting flicks before laying it on the ground for a moment before flicking it back up again, enjoying this little game she had thought up to distract the kit from her sulking, however Barleyswipe made it sound.

Basilflame's expression softened ever so slightly at Cedarkit as she played with the warrior's tail, though Basilflame didn't think there was any real reason behind it, she just liked spending time with kits was all, nothing more than that. "Maybe we can see if you're able to earn your warrior name by defending the camp Cedarkit" she challenged giving her tail a few more challenging flicks