Private Thread The Sun's Warming Rays [3LN20]

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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With a measly, skinny rabbit hanging from her mouth the spotted deputy made her way towards the protected area of the elders den. The rabbit was the best thing she could find in the pile, and she hoped it was well enough to please some of the elders. It had been too long since she had visited the senior members of her clan, for deputyship took up most of her time.

Right outside the den, clearly enjoying the sun was her foster mother, Sunbear, her large presence something impossible to miss. 'Hungry?' She queried, placing the rabbit in font of her carefully. She circled around the elder once before stretching herself out next to her in comfortable silence. 

Like the sun, I may burn fiercely, but it's my fire that warms those I hold dear.

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Sunbear's sharp hazel eyes flicked over the scrawny rabbit with a barely concealed smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. She greeted Aspenberry with a respectful nod, as if greeting a cat in a higher position than herself, well, she was deputy after all. So in truth she was.

Her tail flicked in a mild amusement as she looked towards her foster daughter, her voice steady but with a hint of dry humor, as far as the WindClan cats know, Sunbear had always been this way, it wasn't something she even liked about herself, but a tabby can't change their stripes. 

"I am, but I don't think a scrawny rabbit would fill me" She replied bluntly, though a glimmer of amusement softened her gaze. She watched as Aspenberry made herself comfortable beside her and straightened herself up a little, no matter how highly ranked the cat was, Sunbear would respect a cat because of how they acted, and Aspenberry was a cat she respected deep in her bones.

After a heartbeat, she let out a quiet huff "Could hardly call that fresh-kill, but I suppose I'll make do. As long as Barleyswipe and Emberback don't try and sneak a bite at it" she commented dryly, but the amusement that sparked in her eyes proved she meant nothing harsh by her words

Sunbear's stoic demeanor faltered just a touch as she looked back at her foster daughter. She admired her for taking the role of deputy so well where some would crack or even break under such pressure, she held her role with such resilience. though is was rarely something she spoke out loud, but felt so fiercely.

'I am yet to understand my place in this world, but with you by my side, I know things just might be alright'
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'Well, that's the best we've got at the moment. If you don't want that I'm afraid you might go hungry tonight.' Her tone was playful, but laced underneath she wanted to make it clear she wouldn't tolerate any complaints about prey, not in the dead of leafbare when everyone was hungry. Not even Aspenberry's foster mother could escape the deputy's pointed reply. 

'Oh stop complaining you old furbag. If you are so so hungry, if I even see a glimpse of the other elders I will send them off somewhere else.' Her tone was light and sweet, and her eyes glimmered with humour. It was times like this she could tell that Sunbear meant nothing serious. She might want the meal to herself, but if one of her fellow elders asked to share Aspenberry would hope that she would share, or the spotted she-cat might need to give her foster mother and gentle whack on the ear. 'How are you holding up this leafbare? It's chilly, but better than some of our previous ones. My main goal has been to make sure that everyone is getting fed properly, plus keeping on top of camp maintenance too. Rooknose and I spent half a day yesterday insulating some of the den walls. I think I cut my pawpad, but it didn't bleed. If it starts feeling funny I'll go pay Rowanglade a visit but no use in bother her or Pipertuft right now.'

Like the sun, I may burn fiercely, but it's my fire that warms those I hold dear.

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Sunbear gave a somewhat dramatic scoff, her tail flicking with a mix of amusement and stubborn pride. She knew a joking tone when she heard one, so she decided it wouldn't hurt to play along. "I've been through more leafbares than you've had sunrises, Aspenberry" she replied dryly, though her eyes glinted with humor.

"If a skinny rabbit's all that's left, I'll eat it without a single complaint. Not the worst meal I've had in my moons" She added, much less joking but she still didn't seem as serious as she normally was, wrapping her tail around herself as she pulled the rabbit towards her and keeping her paws guarding over it as she pulled rabbit fluff out of it before digging into the flesh with her teeth.

She listened as her foster daughter went on, her expression softened ever so slightly though her stoic expression failed to falter. "You're doing very well, making sure everyone is fed and keeping the dens secure." she meowed before taking another gracious bite of the rabbit.

"Not every cat would go to the trouble of padding out walls in this frost. Not even some deputies." She stated, turning to give her tail a quick cleaning. "You've got the sharp mind the clan's needs" her voice was blunt but with an edge of rare warmth, which seemed to be slowly growing more common recently.

"If that paw starts throbbing, don't be stubborn." Sunbear advised, giving her own paws a lick before taking another bite from her prey, twitching blood from her whiskers. "Rowanglade's got herbs for more than just apprentices and warriors you know" she added

Sunbear settled down with a faint sigh, the weight of her moons showing in her tired frame. "As for me, I’m holding up just fine. I’ll make it through another leafbare yet. I've got a thick pelt to help me" She gave Aspenberry a pointed look, one that was both challenging and reassuring, as if to remind her that Sunbear would be around as long as there was still work to be done.