Is this your kid? Silversmoke blinked fervently at the question. "It's complicated." Blood did not bind them, rather, it was an obligation to see the apprentice succeed... and some parental feelings, even if recent events had made him more awkward around the idea. Luckily, Crowpaw was not the focal point for the maine coon's attention for long, unluckily, she instead asked questions about SkyClan, and the inevitable time-wasting began. Temptation struck him to tell Twitchbolt and Bear to go ahead if only to spare them of his lost temper and the frustration of having a repetitive conversation, but with the way their eyes tracked the stranger, he doubted they saw his tail gestures. Flora spoke of intruders and his fur bristled, angry at rogues and WindClan's disrespect to their borders. Kittypets at least had an excuse, as flimsy as it was, he couldn't say he'd never trespassed on accident before. He didn't answer Flora's question, the answer made SkyClan appear weak before a stranger and he would not be the one to reveal its flaws to an outsider.
He huffed as she talked about doing her own patrols, the statement so Johnny-like that he briefly wondered if he was talking to a friend of his. Alas, Flora was a self-proclaimed innocent, who had somehow found joy in his clanmate's company. He could believe her words, kittypets were some of the most selfish and sheltered creatures he knew. A single brow raised. "Yes... we're some of SkyClan's most likable." He turned his head, eyeing the shivering Twitchbolt, the stone-faced bear, the surly Crowpaw: a motley crew of friendliness if he'd ever seen one. Then, he thought of Chrysaliswing and Slate. Perhaps there was a fraction of truth to his sentiment, guarded as the current patrol was, others may have attacked Flora by now. "Silversmoke," he mewed curtly, tail gesturing to himself. When Twitchbolt implied a threat, his black claws unsheathed, wondering if the other sensed danger that the spotted tabby was unaware of. His odd eyes fluttered their attention to other things, none seemed to hide something nefarious. 'Is it her scent?' Their Deputy had been damaged by Twolegs before, forced into a cold and dingy cage surrounded by strangers. Silversmoke's assessment couldn't be completed before Flora spoke of joining, and his head whipped around like a gunshot.
"We don't let joiners in 'for a little bit', you become a SkyClanner for life or you don't bother. Every warrior fits a purpose, we do not have resources to waste on cats that would abandon us once they don't need us anymore." Silversmoke's tone turned harsh, a warning that SkyClan should not be treated as a fun day out or a means to an end. "Should you be allowed to join, you will shadow a warrior for two moons to learn our way of life. At the end of these two moons, you will be tested on three components of our life. Fail your assessments or cause any problems and you will be sent away. You will not be allowed back." With ears flat against his skull, Silversmoke waited to see how Flora would react to the stipulation.
