private IGNORANCE IS BLISS // lightflower

[STORMYWING]

The sharp scent of blood clings to Stormywing's jaws as she pads toward the nursery with her striped tail held high. A freshly killed thrush dangles from her teeth, its feathers ruffled but the catch otherwise clean. It had taken more patience than she cared to admit, crouched in the leafless branches of the Great Sycamore waiting for the bird to stop hopping about. But the effort had been worth it - this thrush was the plumpest prey she'd seen in days.

Her golden eyes sweep the area around the den for one cat in particular. Lightflower had been kind to her earlier, and though Stormywing is never one to enjoy receiving pity, it had felt…nice, to have an ounce of kindness shown towards her from someone who wasn't a close friend or kin. Besides, she has noticed the queen's appetite dwindling, and she can't ignore the uneasy twist it leaves in her gut. Pregnant or not, ThunderClan can't afford to lose anyone to leaf-bare's grip.

She pauses at the den entrance, her breath puffing in the cold air before she ducks her head inside. "Ligh'fowr," She calls, her scratchy voice muffled around the bird. Her gaze finds the pale tabby queen curled in her nest, and she steps forward to drop the bird at her paws. "Caught this for you. Thought you could use something fresh." Her ears flick as she takes a step back a bit awkwardly. She's never been well-versed in…nursery stuff. "You've gotta eat," She trills more firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Your kits need you strong." A striped tail flicks as she stands there, unsure if she should stay or leave. She doesn't usually linger around this den - her place is out in the forest, hunting or climbing or patrolling - but something keeps her rooted in place. A desire to talk, maybe. Or perhaps it's the guilt that she didn't get to do this for her own unborn kits.

// @Lightflower
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[Lightflower]

❝ swinging in the rain humming melodies ❞​

The scent of fresh-kill wafted in shortly before Stormywing herself. The young queen smiled upon hearing her name a bit garbled due to the bird within her jaws. "Thank you," she purred. The smile fell a bit at her next words. "You've gotta eat, your kits need you to be strong," Lightflower sighed lightly. There wasn't any argument to make. Though not hungry, yet again, she resigned herself to take a bite. "You're right," she admitted. "They do feel like they take up all the space I have in there, though," she joked lightheartedly. Their constant squirming and wiggling had actually managed to become a little bit soothing. (Save for when they kicked a little too hard.)

She noticed the older warrior's hesitation. "Did you want to chat? Maybe share?" she offered. Lightflower and Stormywing were quite different, and she didn't know much about her. She'd been quite young for the journey and the yellowcough epidemic. Most of what she remembered was the aftermath of things. Had her own teenage problems as well. Despite that, her desire to know her fellow clanmate was alive and warm along with the invitation.
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[STORMYWING]

Stormywing watches her nibble at the thrush, eyes flicking over the queen's frame. She's still too thin for her liking thanks to leaf-bare's meager offerings, but at least she's eating. That's what matters. At Lightflower's joke, the tabby snorts softly, tail-tip twitching with amusement. "Yeah, I bet. You look like you've got a whole litter of badgers in there," She teases, a hint of sarcasm lightening her scratchy voice. She's never been great at comforting cats, but humor? That, she can do.

When the other she-cat invites her to stay, the warrior blinks, caught off guard. Chat? Here? In the nursery? It's not like she has to leave. But she doesn't belong here. The nursery has always felt like another world, one separated from her by an invisible barrier. It's where queens rest, where tiny lives begin, where soft murmurs replace battle cries. Not where she lingers. Yet…she hesitates. Maybe it's the warmth in Lightflower's voice, or maybe it's the unfamiliar but not unwelcome feeling of someone besides Thundergleam and Roeflame genuinely wanting her company, but her paws stay rooted to the ground. "Well. Guess I could," She finally trills, lowering herself onto her haunches. "Not like I've got anywhere else to be right now." She licks her ruffled chest fur as if to downplay the choice, then tilts her head at Lightflower. "You sure you don't want me to grab someone else? Leafhusk, maybe? I don't exactly scream 'nursery conversation.'"
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