He imagined Hazecloud was quite a bit relieved to finally be out of the nursery... that was one reason he wasn't in any rush to have kits, he hadn't a desire to keep Sablemist cooped up for as long as she had been. Even though, well, it was an inevitable thing- something that came hand in hand with kits, he saw it in Iciclefang- he would be sure to have a long conversation with Sablemist about the topic whenever it came up.
Surprise lit in his eye at Troutsnout- no, Gladefrost's presumed choice to ask after a changed name. For everything he'd been through, every step in his life, Ferngill would never think to change his name- it meant too much, and was too welded with his being. All the same, he'd always thought Troutsnout's name had suited her well- it must mean something great to overwrite something like that, though. He'd do his best, then, to make the adjustment. Gladefrost suited her just as nicely.
Eveningkit, Horizonkit and Twinklekit waltzed into apprenticeship beneath their parent's eyes, glimmering with love- Ferngill blinked, long and thoughtful and fond, as he looked at them. Many a time he'd been put on babysitting duties, helped the queens, checked in on Hazecloud and the writhing little clouds at her belly- his heart swelled to see them now, all grown up- with mentors! If they were anything like their parents, which was probably likely... they were going to be absolutely fine.
Warriors, too, new to jon their ranks- Ferngill beamed with a verdant glimmer in his eye as he looked at them, another brood he'd known since kithood. "Bumblenose! Minnowtail! Carawaysong!" His voice joined the chorus- strong paws would stride along the rest of RiverClan, and the Clan he had loved since kithood would prosper forever. Bumblenose, Minnowtail and Carawaysong were living proof of it, and he would be beaming if they looked his way.
Then, though- the matter of deputy came creaking out of Lichenstar's injured throat, her words slowly rasping, raking. Ferngill watched attentively, still- yeah, it had been a long time since they'd had a deputy. He'd sort of forgotten you even needed one... when Snowy, uh, Splashpaw had ended up in their paws, the council had been who Lichenstar sought.
That Hazecloud was not on the council had always surprised him- she was a loving, good cat, brave and true, he knew it. he had a lot of respect for her, and had found comfort in her presence during and ever since the journey. For her to be announced as deputy, then, sparked a smile on Ferngill's face- a smile that faltered a little when he saw the look on their new deputy's face. Her eyes glimmered a little in the light- he hoped they were tears of pride, of happiness, but she wasn't laughing or anything. Still, he let his voice join the chorus; "Hazecloud! Hazecloud!"
All he hoped was that Lichenstar knew what they were doing. He loved Sablemist so much, but if he was ever leader he didn't think he could ever choose her as his deputy... and if she was leader, he would not want to be hers. Something about watching your mate's nine lives slip away whilst being expected to success them sat very wrongly within him, and for all his good memories of life beneath Cicadastar, he saw the toll that relationship had put on Smokestar.
Surprise lit in his eye at Troutsnout- no, Gladefrost's presumed choice to ask after a changed name. For everything he'd been through, every step in his life, Ferngill would never think to change his name- it meant too much, and was too welded with his being. All the same, he'd always thought Troutsnout's name had suited her well- it must mean something great to overwrite something like that, though. He'd do his best, then, to make the adjustment. Gladefrost suited her just as nicely.
Eveningkit, Horizonkit and Twinklekit waltzed into apprenticeship beneath their parent's eyes, glimmering with love- Ferngill blinked, long and thoughtful and fond, as he looked at them. Many a time he'd been put on babysitting duties, helped the queens, checked in on Hazecloud and the writhing little clouds at her belly- his heart swelled to see them now, all grown up- with mentors! If they were anything like their parents, which was probably likely... they were going to be absolutely fine.
Warriors, too, new to jon their ranks- Ferngill beamed with a verdant glimmer in his eye as he looked at them, another brood he'd known since kithood. "Bumblenose! Minnowtail! Carawaysong!" His voice joined the chorus- strong paws would stride along the rest of RiverClan, and the Clan he had loved since kithood would prosper forever. Bumblenose, Minnowtail and Carawaysong were living proof of it, and he would be beaming if they looked his way.
Then, though- the matter of deputy came creaking out of Lichenstar's injured throat, her words slowly rasping, raking. Ferngill watched attentively, still- yeah, it had been a long time since they'd had a deputy. He'd sort of forgotten you even needed one... when Snowy, uh, Splashpaw had ended up in their paws, the council had been who Lichenstar sought.
That Hazecloud was not on the council had always surprised him- she was a loving, good cat, brave and true, he knew it. he had a lot of respect for her, and had found comfort in her presence during and ever since the journey. For her to be announced as deputy, then, sparked a smile on Ferngill's face- a smile that faltered a little when he saw the look on their new deputy's face. Her eyes glimmered a little in the light- he hoped they were tears of pride, of happiness, but she wasn't laughing or anything. Still, he let his voice join the chorus; "Hazecloud! Hazecloud!"
All he hoped was that Lichenstar knew what they were doing. He loved Sablemist so much, but if he was ever leader he didn't think he could ever choose her as his deputy... and if she was leader, he would not want to be hers. Something about watching your mate's nine lives slip away whilst being expected to success them sat very wrongly within him, and for all his good memories of life beneath Cicadastar, he saw the toll that relationship had put on Smokestar.
✦ penned by pin ✦
