Closed Thread Training the Brain

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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The forest was alive with the quiet drip of melting snow, and though she usually found such mornings serene her thoughts were preoccupied. Greypebble’s company was welcome though, and she found herself smiling faintly as he glanced back at her every so often, his short tail flicking in that nervous way she’d come to find endearing.

When he finally settled beneath an overhanging tree, she followed, her spotted pelt brushing against a low hanging branch as she moved to sit beside him. His question about Coyotepaw made her pause for a heartbeat, her tail curling around her paws as she considered her response.

“Oh, Coyotepaw’s training?” she began, her tone light and playful as she flicked him with her tail. “She’s... quiet, but willing to learn and does well when she applies herself...” She grinned, though the humor didn’t quite reach her eyes. Truthfully, there were moments when she doubted herself, wondering if she was truly shaping Coyotepaw into the warrior she deserved to be. But that wasn’t something she’d admit now.

“You know...” Leopardrose gave a purr, tilting her head toward him. “I think you’d make a fine mentor. Moosestar just hasn’t seen it yet. I’ll put in a good word for you!” Her voice was teasing, but the warmth in her gaze was genuine. “And once you become a mentor it'll be fun to compare our 'Starclan, what are our apprentices doing!' stories with."

Her expression softened as he confessed his lack of confidence, and for a moment, she felt the familiar pang of her own insecurities. Wasn’t she only ever acting the part of a confident mentor, hiding her fears beneath a polished exterior? “Confidence doesn’t always roar, you know. Sometimes it’s just... showing up, taking that next step."

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Greyprebbles shifted slightly, letting Leopardrose's words sink in, though, his blue-grey eyes stayed fixed on the ground. He toyed with a fallen leaf between his paws, his stubbed tail flicking absently behind him. "Coyotepaw's lucky to have you as her mentor" he murmured, his voice soft but sincere, he enjoyed Leopardrose's company, and even talking about things that didn't even concern him brought him a strange sense of joy. "She'll learn more than just hunting and fighting from you... she'll learn what it means to be strong, even when thing's aren't easy" he hesitated his hears flicking back for a moment as he gathered his thoughts "You've certainly taught me that"

As Leopardrose's teasing reached him, his whiskers twitched with a small smile, and he lifted his gaze to meet hers "You think I'd make a good mentor? Putting in a good word would be too kind of you" he asked, the faintest trace of surprise coloring his tone. "I don't really know...  I'm not sure I'd know what to say half the time. What if I said something wrong, or worse... what if my apprentice doesn't trust me?" his voice faltered, and he let out a quiet sigh, his gaze dropping again. "I suppose it's just... hard to imagine anyone looking up to me in that way. I know I'd try my hardest, but what if it's not enough?"

He gave a small shrug, his fur brushing against the tree bark behind him. The idea of spending more time with Leopardrose kept his eyes bright, Leopardrose seemed to light up the camp whenever she walked into it, and Greypebbles admired her more than he could say because of that. "Still... it would be nice to share those stories with you" he admitted with a shy smile. "Though I have a feeling yours would be way more exciting"

Her words about confidence lingered in his mind, and he turned them over carefully before replying. "Maybe you're right about that" He said quietly, but with a hint of thoughtfulness "Maybe it's not about having all the answers right away. Maybe it's just... being there, like you said. Taking that next step and hoping it leads to something good" He glanced at her again, the warmth in her gaze helping him to steady yet softening his own "I'll think about it"

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
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Leopardrose tilted her head, watching Greypebbles as he toyed with the leaf beneath his paws, his uncertainty written plainly in the way his tail flicked and his gaze drifted to the ground. She felt a pang of affection for the quiet tom, his soft-spoken sincerity striking a chord in her chest. When he murmured his belief in her as a mentor, she blinked, caught off guard by the weight of his words. Strong... even when things aren’t easy. Was that how he saw her? It was almost too much to bear, but she hid her emotions behind a light laugh.

"Hmph. If I can muddle my way through mentoring, I’m sure you’d be brilliant at it.” His concerns about being trusted or saying the wrong thing earned a purr from her, warm and reassuring. "If you say the wrong thing... well, that's what humor is for. And who's to say which stories would be more exciting -?"

She let her paw brush idly at the damp earth, her gaze turning thoughtful as she mulled over his final words. “You’re right, though. It’s not about knowing everything or always getting it right..." With a small, determined shake of her spotted rump, she trotted towards the nearest tree, launching herself against the bark where her paws stretched, claws out to scale it.

Once she was on a stiff enough branch her whiskers twitched, smile returning to her face. “I could try embellishing my stories...I suppose, but I'm a little young to be an Elder.” She winked down at him.

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Greypebbles was quick to follow Leopardrose up the tree that she had begun to climb, though this small body of his wasn't well build for it, he still could climb - it just took a little more effort that was all. Greypebbles then sat before his long old friend on the tree branch "I'm not apposed to you putting in a good word for me, about me being a mentor anyway" He said after a few heartbeats of silence. "Though the decision is up to Moosestar" he added

Leopardrose's words continued to play in his mind, even hearing her voice or smelling her scent gave him a bit of comfort, but he couldn't have a piece of her forever... at least he thought he couldn't, as long as they were clanmates he was sure as the stars that he could anyway. "You could pass as one if you embellish the story enough" Greypebbles joked back, giving his shortened tail a playful flick. "Then again if you told me that Coyotepaw flew onto a cloud I'd believe you" he added, letting out a dry chuckle at his own expense, though he felt no embarrassment... which seemed to happen most of the time, why not now?

"So what's the story today old Leopardrose, you don't need any mouse bile for those ticks do you?" he joked cuffing her ear playfully with a paw of sheathed claws. "Let's see if you could make it a good one" He added, his tone moved from a soft-hearted, bare whisper to one that sounded rather reminiscent of his father's chirpy and friendly tone but Leopardrose probably didn't know him that well, Greypebbles didn't know him at all... through circumstances that he had no control over... 

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
──●◎●──

Leopardrose let out a mock gasp as Greypebbles cuffed her ear, her whiskers twitching with wryness. "So...you want a story?" She perched herself a little more securely on the branch. "Alright. Just don’t laugh. Or, actually, laugh if you want..."

She cleared her throat. “There was a forest… uh, very much like this one, there was… a warrior. Let’s call her...Umm...Roselight!" She glanced at Greypebbles, her eyes narrowing pointedly. "Roselight was the strongest, cleverest, most fearless cat in the whole forest - but despite all her talents, there was one thing Roselight feared above all else..."

She threw herself up dramatically. "Ticks. A great, terrible, fat tick! It wasn't a normal tick... oh no. This tick was… huge! Yeah, it could -uh - scurry faster than a squirrel and burrow in the sand like a mole! Roselight and her Clan lived in terror of being ambushed in the night in their dens..."

Leopardrose faltered, realizing the absurdity of her story and feeling her ears grow hot. But she soldiered on, eyes glinting with a mix of embarrassment and determination. "One day, Roselight... was sent on a mission by her leader to, uh… defeat the giant tick...."

She suddenly broke off and gave Greypebbles a exasperated look. "You know, I’m starting to think I'd make for a terrible Elder."

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Greypebbles' eyes seemed un-movingly fixed on Leopardrose, unusually captivated by her story, letting out a few light-hearted snorts of laughter at some parts, but his eyes mostly held the respect and focus of the quiet and observant apprentice he once was, as if he had been listen to a wise, long-winded story from an elder. His ears twitched as he followed each of the words with a playful, light hearted expression.

With Leopardrose, it was as if Greypebbles was a completely different cat, more talkative and considerate, he had always been a great listener, but he hardly thought that any cat stuck around long enough or paid enough attention to notice. "Aww but I was quite enjoying Roselight and the giant tick" he laughed lightly, flicking his bobbed tail back and forth with rare enthusiasm and a more common intrigue.

"Does she end up defeating this giant tick? Come on Leopardrose, every story deserves an ending, especially an entraining one such as Roselight's" the grey tom purred, a smile pulling at the corners of his mouth as he placed a paw on one of Leopardrose's paws, smiling at her with a rare warmth that wasn't seen too often. He like feeling this way, but he just wasn't sure how to do that with other cats. He'll figure it out eventually, at least he hoped he would.

"I'm sure she saves her clan, maybe she could be as great as you are, even an elder with creative stories as yours, but i don't think any cat could beat Roselight and the giant tick" the spotted grey tom chuckled with a light hearted resolve behind his voice, one that isn't seen as often as it should be.

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
──●◎●──

The warm-faced she-cat continued after some encouragement from her clanmate, glad at least he was enjoying the story. "There Roselight was...Sent on a special mission from her leader and aided by a special, Starclan blessed stick soaked in mouse bile... Roselight ventured into the forest, deeper than she even dared to go, where the Tick waited."

Her claws scraped lightly against the bark as she continued, her voice dropping into an exaggeratedly ominous tone even as his paw sought to comfort her. Leopardrose was playing along. "The tick was massive. Their legs were like tree roots, their shells tougher than the bark of a ThunderClan oak! Roselight - uh - leapt into battle, wielding her stick like a true warrior. She slapped it left - then right, until the whole forest shook from their fight!"

Leopardrose let out a laugh, shaking her head as she glanced at Greypebbles, her aqua eyes bright with amusement despite the awkward telling. "Until finally Roselight hit it so hard it broke into a pile of pieces - and that's the story about Roselight and how she became a hero."

The tip of her tail twitched as it dangled, eyes bright as they landed squarely on her clanmate. "Your turn, Greypebbles. Save me from embarrassing myself further!"

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Greypebbles seemed oddly enthralled with Leopardrose's story, twitching his ears attentively as she used elaborate movements to achieve the right setting for the story she had been regaling to him. "That's a good storyteller if I ever saw one" he stated with a smile "The way you get so incapsulated in your stories and make them seem so exciting, as if the most outlandish thing could be perceived as a real event, I wonder how you're able to do that" he said with a light hearted chuckle, parting his grey jaws open in a yawn after the story had concluded.

"My turn?" Greypebbles responded in mock shock, his eyes dramatically widened and a single paw placed on his chest "Leopardrose, you know I've only ever heard stories how could I possibly make one as-" the grey tom let out a snort "-fascinating as Roselight and the tick?" he stated, a small giggle peeking through the rumble in his chest, oh how he loved spending time with Leopardrose, there was nothing he like more. Except spending time with Bravesong maybe.

He lay his body lazily on the branch, it being surprisingly built well enough to hold both the two cats' weight, granted Greypebbles had always been a runt, always small and light; he never let it get to him though, small and lighter means agile and able to evade attacks quicker. That's what he always told himself anyway. He'd never really needed to use his battle moves before aside from sparring with Larchsong and Brindlespice when they had been apprentices. And even light spars with Bravesong after his apprenticeship had concluded.

"I think you'd make a better story-teller than I would even if I tried my hardest"

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
──●◎●──

Leopardrose tilted her head, her ears twitching as she gave Greypebbles a playful, unimpressed look. "Oh, stop that." She teased, swatting at his shoulder lightly. "You’re not going to wiggle your way out of this with flattery, Greypebbles."

She stretched luxuriously along the branch, letting her tail sway lazily below her, the light catching the silvery sheen of her rosetted fur. Her aqua eyes glimmered as she smirked down at him. "Or are you admitting that my storytelling prowess is so incredible, it’s left you utterly intimidated?"

Leopardrose then rested her chin on her paws, her gaze warm and inviting. "But I’m not letting you off this branch until I hear something, so you might as well get started!" She purred, the challenge clear in her playful expression.

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

"Who's flattering?" Greypebbles mewed with a shrug, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth before giving his paws a brief few licks. The grey tom moved his blue-grey eyes towards the beautifully rosetted she-cat, a glint of something that was similar to humor in his gaze as he jokingly rested top of his body on top of Leopardrose's back "I was just finding a spot on this lovely nest" he said, holding back a small laugh.

Greypebbles wriggled his shoulders into a semi-comfortable position, as comfortable as one could be while lounging on top of a clanmate. "I am being honest though, if I was a kit you'd have me fooled" he stated, still keeping a stubborn hold atop of Leopardrose, however it wasn't malicious, more playful than anything. And he preferred it that way.

"Well if I'm not leaving neither are you" he let out a playful snort as he dropped his head dramatically onto Leopardrose's shoulder "and this nest is soooo comfy" he purred, the rumble that seemed near constant in his chest growing louder. However kit-like this might be, it was nice, even if it would only last a moment, he wanted to enjoy the moment for what it was, he never knew when a moment to play around like this would come again. Especially with his best friend.

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
──●◎●──

Leopardrose let out a startled laugh as Greypebbles flopped onto her back, his weight surprisingly light despite his apparent determination to turn her into his personal lounging spot. She twisted her head to glare at him with mock indignation, though her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Greypebbles, you’re impossible! I hope you realize that!"

She wriggled beneath him, trying half-heartedly to shake him off, but her laughter ruined any chance of actually succeeding. "This is not a nest!" She huffed, her tail flicking with exaggerated irritation. "If you wanted a cushy spot to laze around, you should’ve stayed in camp with the elders."

Despite her words, Leopardrose couldn’t help but smile as she felt the rumble of his purring against her shoulder. She rolled her eyes but didn’t try to push him off again. Instead, she sighed dramatically, as though resigning herself to her fate. "Fine. If I’m stuck here you’re going to have to work for it. That means telling a story. And it had better be a good one, or I’ll send you tumbling right out of this tree." Her tone was teasing, but there was a warmth in her gaze that made it clear she was enjoying the playful moment as much as he was.

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Greypebbles kneaded at Leopardrose's side when she attempted to wriggle free from him, his purring loud and evident in his voice "Oh by you're way more comfortably than any elder's den nest" he cried, one of the more dramatic and light hearted cries Greypebbles has ever made and he wasn't too convinced of himself when he said it, but it was out there now. "And besides, the only elder I think would even let me in there is Bravesong" Greypebbles laughed, flicking his shortened tail back and forth.

Seeing Greypebbles with energetic and friendly was a rare sight, perhaps one that wasn't even seen before until now, but Greypebbles felt happy, genuinely happy. Sure he felt calm when he was on his own and in the peace and quiet, but here, in this moment, her was happy, purring up a storm and laughing with his friend, what could be better than this?

"Oh no! Whatever shall I do to survive that tumble down the tree! It's a tragedy, Leopardrose! You'll be hurting your dear friend! What a betrayal!" He yowled dramatically before batting at the back of her head "Guess I just have to defend myself now before it happens!" He knew it was dangerous fighting up this high, but the branch of the tree was fairly large, large enough to fit both of them and a bit more, so Greypebbles, uncharacteristically wasn't too worried about it.

"If you want a story you'll have to squeeze it out of me!"

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
──●◎●──

Leopardrose let out a playful growl, her shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter as Greypebbles kneaded at her side. "you’re such a mousebrain..." She teased, though her voice was warm. She couldn’t help but snicker at his dramatic cries.

"Bravesong must have the patience of a saint to put up with you." Came her quick quip, shooting him a pointed glance over her shoulder. Her aqua eyes glimmered with amusement as he continued his exaggerated theatrics, batting at her head like a mischievous kit. "I’d feel so guilty if you fell. Truly. I might even lose sleep over it."

Her tail flicked beneath his chin, teasing him with a light touch before curling back down. "But you’re not getting out of this, Greypebbles." A sly grin spread across her face as he rump lifted into the air, steadying herself as her paw flashed out - a bap. A boop. The stumpy-tailed warrior brought out the absolute worst in her. 

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

"Leopardrose!" Greypebbles cried, trying to suppress his laughter, resulting in a, by all means, dorky and crooked smile, the little tom's canine teeth poked out from his upper lip as his blue-grey eyes glimmered in appreciation, for Leopardrose, for ThunderClan, for everything he was blessed with really, he was happy to have all of it. "That is no way to talk to your BEST friend!" he snickered, pressing his nose against her sides

Greypebbles twitched his ear at the comment about Bravesong and began to knead at her sides some more "Well nobody is leaving this tree with that attitude" he purred, his tail flicking back and forth rapidly to show his playfulness, even if his tone of voice did the job just fine. 

The young warrior then sensed a whisper of something genuine in Leopardrose's tone of voice, he supposed he was glad he meant something to some cat, and was more-so glad that cat had been Leopardrose. With a purr, he began to clean up the rosetted fur on her shoulder affectionately, his demeanor moving back to a more quiet and considerate one "Well hopefully I won't be falling anywhere any time soon" he purred lightly before shaking his grey and white pelt.

Leopardrose sure was insistent on this story wasn't she, Greypebbles thought to himself, though his whiskers twitched in amusement as he climbed off of his clanmate and sat in front of her "If you really insist, then you have to give me something to go off of, you can't just expect me to weave a tale from between the leaves and call it a day" he said, pausing for a brief second "And before you say anything, I would have given you one if you asked" 

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
──●◎●──

Leopardrose stifled a laugh as Greypebbles’ crooked smile and dorky snicker broke through his attempt at indignation. She tilted her head as his nose pressed against her side, an amused grin tugging at her lips. "What’s the plan? Do we start rationing moss for food now?" Her tone light and teasing as she quipped.

The gentle kneading of his paws and the sudden shift in his demeanor didn’t go unnoticed. Leopardrose blinked, caught slightly off guard by the warmth in his actions as he began grooming her shoulder. She stayed still, allowing the rare show of affection with a quiet purr of her own. It wasn’t often that Greypebbles showed his softer side, and she found herself appreciating the moment more than she expected.

"Good." When he finally climbed off her, Leopardrose straightened, flicking her ears in mock indignation at his challenge. "Something to go off of? I’m already doing all the heavy lifting here, Greypebbles.Hmph. How about the dramatic tree bound tom, stranded with his endlessly talented and clever clanmate."

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

Greypebbles let out a laugh at Leopardrose's sassy quips and a purr rose in his throat. "And I suppose birds have moved down to the ground then? If moss were our only diet" her snapped back with a wind and a flick of his shortened tail. The small grey tom batted at his friend playfully and shook some leaves from his thick pelt. He cast a somewhat extended glance at Leopardrose and his eyes softened, great StarClan what did he do to deserve such a great friend.

"Right." Greypebbles rolled his eyes "Does this endlessly talented and clever clanmate thing this story is going to be all about them?" Greypebbles teased, tapping Leopardrose on the nose before standing in front of her, planting his haunches on the tree branch before he let out a chuckle "I suppose she would certainly be important to the tree bound tom..." Greypebbles scraped his mind for something he could think of for the names of these allegedly made up cats. "Pebblestorm, yep his name was Pebblestorm."
"Pebblestorm and his friend… Uh... Roseygaze, yep Roseygaze"

Once he got the names out of the way, he straightened himself up and lifted his shoulders up. "One day in... uh... TreeClan, yeah TreeClan" he murmured before raising his voice again "There was a tom that had been born under a huge oak tree. He was a nervous and quiet kit and with his mentor Brave- I mean, Birdsong, he grew into a capable warrior with his friend Roseygaze" he began trying to make the story more fluid, though he may have been failing at that to a certain extent.

"One day, uhm, there was a storm! Yes a big storm! Thunder, lightning and pouring rain!" He explained with an unusual amount of theatrics for the closed off tom. "Pebblestorm and Roseygaze were on a patrol and got caught in the storm, but Roseygaze, apparently being the most clever cat in the clans" he rolled his eyes and purred in amusement at his light teasing "led Pebblestorm into the shelter of the oak tree he had been born under, climbing onto one of the branches shrouded in protective leaves... and uhh" It was then that Greypebbles had completely forgotten to even look at Leopardrose while he was talking, he sighed then looked up at her "I've lost you haven't I?" he chuckled, more in embarrassment than anything else

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
──●◎●── 

Leopardrose’s whiskers twitched as she watched Greypebbles scramble to piece together his story, the flick of his tail and the mischievous spark in his eyes betraying his enjoyment despite his flustered demeanor. She held back her laughter - barely - as he declared the names Pebblestorm and Roseygaze her gaze narrowing playfully.

"Roseygaze?" Her voice was deadpan, her tail swishing as she tilted her head. Not wanting to interupt her friend too much, her teasing faded to a purr as he continued weaving the tale. She found herself entertained by his earnest theatrics, the way he described TreeClan’s storm and their escape into the oak tree...

Leopardrose leaned back on her haunches, tilting her head as he trailed off. "Hmm, lost me? But I'm right here." She meowed with a smirk, her aqua eyes sparkling with amusement. An itch brought her muzzle to her flank where she gave herself a few hurried licks to soothe her skin. With a flick of her tail, she leaned closer, her grin widening. "Come on, Pebblestorm - please continue the story..."

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

"No I meant-" Greypebbles let out a short sigh, but there was no disappointment or anger behind it, it was more of a sigh of relief if anything else. "Nevermind, if you want me to continue the story then I will" he said, he probably wouldn't even come up with a story for any other cat, but for Leopardrose? Always, always for Leopardrose, always for his best friend.

Greypebbles' lungs filled with air for a moment, as if he were preparing for more of the story, but really, he was thinking of something else to say to follow it up. "So uh, Roseygaze and Pebblestorm spoke for what seemed like days while the storm bore on, they spoke about their duties they spoke of life in TreeClan, whatever was on their mind they spoke of." he continued, lifting his shortened tail up into the air and flicking it left and right in rapid succession to reveal that he was getting more involved within his own made up story... well, made up to an extent.

"As they continued to speak and chat alone together, the two seemed to loose their track of time and when they finally glanced over to check on the storm, the clouds were clearing to reveal a sky with streams of color the like of which not many have ever seen before, blues, greens, reds, yellows all the colors you can think of! The sky gifted them with a show that the two wouldn't forget anytime soon, as if the storm had settled to celebrate them, their bond." he continued, beginning to ramble on, and with every different description, he made different theatrical expressions wanting to get the story across as vividly as possible.

For a moment he paused, making himself more comfortable on the tree branch and her let out a breath, almost as if he needed to catch his breath after the long winded explanation. "Their friendship..." Greypebbles paused before speaking again "Pebblestorm and Roseygaze watched the dazzling sky as the sky began to cloak itself in darkness, only then did they return to their clan, it proves that even though things might seem gloomy, if you spend time with the cats you love, then soon enough everything will piece together to form your own beautiful sky, unique to yourself" Greypebbles finished, heaving out a sigh before twitching one of his ears "Soooo, am I free from my bounds or do I have to tell you another story?"

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
──●◎●── 

Leopardrose sat quietly her teal gaze fixed on Greypebbles as he spun his tale. The playful smirk she’d been wearing softened into something far more genuine as his voice carried the story onwards.

By the time he finished, his words hung in the air like the colors he’d painted. She flicked her ear, breaking the stillness. "You know..." Her voice began, a low purr as her voice seemed softer than usual. "You’ve got quite the imagination.That was… beautiful, Greypebbles."

Her teasing grin returned, though it lacked its usual sharpness. "Not bad for a spur of the moment story. I might even say it’s one I’ll remember." She stood, stretching her legs before settling down again, this time with her paws tucked neatly beneath her. "I suppose you're off the hook."

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

⋘ ──── ∙∙•🪨•∙∙ ──── ⋙

"I was a kit once you know, I spun stories like that in my head when I felt lonely, despite the nursery being pretty full at the time" Greypebbles shrugged, though accepted the praise with a soft purring within the back of his throat. He glanced at his paws, while he was glad that Leopardrose liked his story, he began to feel a little flushed with embarrassment at the compliment. Though, it wasn't anything he hadn't felt before this.

"I think you're getting too much into that mentor mindset Leopardrose, you're sounding a lot like one" he teased a little, playfully batting between here ears once or twice "But since I'm 'off the hook' you might as well race me back to camp hm?" he proposed, a rare yet playful smirk crossed his features "You know, to prove you're not becoming a big ol' grumpy mentor! Wouldn't want Coyotepaw to be bored to death with such little amounts of play now would we" he purred

With a snicker, Greypebbles bunched up his haunches, wriggling them to prepare a leap "three-two-one go!" he said quickly before achieving a head start by jumping down from the tree branch by branch until he hit the forest floor. He glanced back up at the she-cat lounging in the tree and practically grinned from ear to ear "C'mon you'll never catch up like that, suppose I just have to win again like always!" he called up before dashing in the direction of their beloved camp.

Spawn of flame, Thunder-struck, from the ashes I rise
──●◎●──

Before she could deliver a proper retort, he was off - his sudden countdown leaving her only a heartbeat to react. "Oh, you sneaky little - !" She started, but her words were drowned by Greypebbles’ triumphant taunt from below.

With a flick of her tail and a thrill of challenge in her veins, she pushed off the branch with a graceful leap, landing with barely a sound on the ground. "Cheaters aren't winners!" Her paws kicked up dust and debris as she charged after him.

The wind rushed past her ears, carrying the echoes of their laughter through the trees as the two warriors raced back to camp. Just for a moment, the weight of leaf bare and warrior duties lifted in Leopardrose's heart, leaving nothing but the simple joy of the chase.