IT'S SUMMER, AFTER ALL / edenberry

[Orangestar]

She's been busy.

With SkyClan's council dwindled to a shadow of its former glory, Orangestar has had to pick up the extra work. She doesn't mind so much, always happy to put her paws to use, and she thinks nothing of the exhaustion that pulls her to her empty den without a second thought at the end of the day. Between that and the final moon of Ashpaw's training, she's constantly moving, and while her paws ache she feels satisfied with her work. Now if only she could remember to eat consistently, she would be back to normal.

The leader finds herself in camp with few Clanmates lingering, the sweltering heat of late greenleaf simmering around the sunhigh camp. She has chosen not to patrol until the evening, invoking a rare entitlement as leader to pass on her duties to another warrior. It's the perfect time to do some upkeep, to finally tackle that damned fern plant which has started to push into the front of her den. It seems worse now than it ever has, the leafy foe barring her path as if it hadn't been there that very morning.

"Seriously?" She hisses under her breath, and closes her teeth around the fern in an attempt to rip the frond from the ground. It refuses to give and Orangestar lets go after a few tugs, spitting shredded vegetation to the earth, ears folded as anger makes her blood boil. A presence nearby makes her swing her head towards the yet-unidentified Clanmate with a snap of, "What?"

ooc ✧ 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦

• // @edenberry ?!
• 
  
  [ art by pin ]
• ORANGESTAR ✧ she/her, leader of skyclan | seven lives
  
  
  — "a scarred white-and-ginger she-cat with brown eyes."
  — (undisclosed) mate to slate ; mentoring ashpaw
  — speech is in #D2977D
  — tags | penned by mercibun, contact on discord for plots.
  
  
  
  

​

 

[edenberry ?!]

Stretching their legs in the wide open expanses of SkyClan territory has been.... bittersweet. For every journey they take back to camp each morning, it is another sunrise that demands acknowledging what they sacrificed to have it. The walk is longer than it felt before, the patrols longer... The work to get back into the shape of a warrior takes more work than Edenberry had ever imagined. A bitter murmur wonders if all queens feel that struggle... especially now that their exile to the nursery lasts a whole six months (not including the horrible moon of increasing, disabling roundness that finds them at the end of pregnancy). Imagining spending upwards of two seasons lounging about doing nothing... it makes their skin crawl.

Luckily.... they don't have to worry about it (except in the passing scents that remind them of two tiny shadows... expect in the middle of the night when they wake up to the phantom sensation of a tiny paw kicking their stomach). They stretch in the midst of camp, trying to relieve some of the tension in aching muscles as they spot a flush of white and daffodil fur near the mouth of the leader's den....

Their nose scrunches, thoughtfully, wondering why Orangestar had been so... prickly that morning when patrols had been assigned. Her tiredness is reasonable but... the snappish mouth doesn't suit her. Deciding that maybe they could cheer her up, offer their support (what little that's worth), the striped cat wanders closer as she struggles to wrestle a stubborn bit of foliage. They hardly get a chance to open their mouth before she rounds on them with a venomous "What?"-

A frown drops the corners of their lips, twitching an ear as if already irritated by this situation. But... they quickly shake out their fur and move on past the rude greeting. "Someone's got thorns in their nest," they chirp, teasing and very aware that they're inches from a cuffed ear, "You looked like you needed some help.... Can't do everything by yourself, Orangestar." They glance towards her den, as if expecting to see Slate appear from the shadows to tell them to buzz off, that he is capable of being the leader's little maidservant. The image almost makes them snort.... but they become aware of the sharp sepia eyes on them still. "You sure you're feeling okay....? I mean... you've been a bit... uh.... thorny, for lack of a better word..."

Their eyebrows lift in question, already recycling through the gossip that had milled around (some of which was absolutely their fault) as they searched for explanations, their own theories being written and rewritten with every new piece of information.

---

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 〰 i want no more than this

• -- edenberry / skyclan daylight warrior / any pronouns / 16 moons
  -- mostly white with black pinstripe and green eyes / scarred face and back
  -- color #728c69​

​

 

[Orangestar]

Oh, it's Edenberry. Orangestar wrinkles her nose at their greeting, sarcasm grating against the leader as if it were a physical sensation, but the offer of help comes as a surprise. Since when had Edenberry chosen the path of least slacking off? Caught off guard, the wave of uncharacteristic helplessness that follows Edenberry's teasing remark nearly sweeps Orangestar off her paws. Tears glaze her eyes, forcing the leader to blink against the uncomfortable sting. She vocalises the emotional impact in a rough noise, the scrunch of her features briefly panicked before she forces them flat once more. She can't quite hide the slight droop of her ears, though.

"No, no, it-" Orangestar's voice quiets then, glancing back at the mildly shredded fern as she continues in a mumble, "I can't just leave it for the warriors to do, it's my den ..."

Orangestar's mind circles back and focuses once more on the pinstriped warrior, pupils narrowing, an acknowledgement finally surfacing amidst her muddled thoughts. "I'm fine. Just ... tired. I-" Her voice cracks again, fracturing beneath her- "haven't stopped."

Her tail flicks, agitation subsided in the wake of the soul-crushing realisation that she couldn't do anything, but stubbornness still fuels her to march on. Orangestar shoulders her way into her den in a three-legged hobble, gesturing to Edenberry with another tail-twitch that they could join her if they were truly adamant about continuing this conversation.

ooc ✧ 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦

•  
• 
  
  [ art by pin ]
• ORANGESTAR ✧ she/her, leader of skyclan | seven lives
  
  
  — "a scarred white-and-ginger she-cat with brown eyes."
  — (undisclosed) mate to slate ; mentoring ashpaw
  — speech is in #D2977D
  — tags | penned by mercibun, contact on discord for plots.
  
  
  
  

​

 

[edenberry ?!]

The look that flickers like a tiny peak into the exhausted nature of their leader is startling... it's unfamiliar, vulnerable and lasts a moment so brief they aren't sure if they even saw it. Her face practically twitches to rid itself of that watery stare and Edenberry instinctively looks away, as if they've pried into a moment that didn't belong to them. Like they've witnessed a secret that isn't for their eyes. They wait, for just a brief moment, before glancing back up as Orangestar offers a small whisper, ears less attentive and proud than before.

But she's still stubborn.... The bi-color cat offers her a small frown again, wondering if she'd heard the part where it was an offer to help, not a command to do her dirty work. It hardly seems to register for the orange and white she-cat, settling on a soft admission of her lacking energy, of the burden of her role and the increase of its demands. Pity trickles down their spine but they do their best to hide it, they know she'd hate to be stared at like a kicked kitten.

"So I've heard...." Because her council is a fraction of its former self.

Surprise sends a shiver down their limbs as the molly coaxes them to follow her into her den instead- they aren't being turned away? Sent on another patrol to repent for their bold declaration of her sour attitude? The SkyClan warrior doesn't give her the chance to change her mind, trotting after her with their bobbed tail held high.

"Maybe I'm being a bit quick to jump the branch here but..." They hesitate, trying to decide if it is a stroke of luck that saw their guess confirmed the last time or if it's the sickening feeling of empathy that drives their speculation. "You seem... upset." More than just for the usual reasons... more than just the burden of responsibility could cause- What would you know about being responsible?

The thought strikes like lightning through their chest, the fur on their haunches standing on end for a split second before they let out a small huff. "Are you taking care of yourself too Orangestar? SkyClan can't have you putting yourself last all the time..." It's a more intimate line of questioning than they'd ever thought to ask her, maybe emboldened by her willingness to speak to them privately.

"I've been guessing you and Slate would be a thing probably a hundred moons ago. Ever since he started sleeping in your den really.... I don't know if you remember but Silversmoke was pretty ticked off I even suggested such a thing," they implore further, sweeping their glance over her quickly, trying not to linger as a show of respect. They press, unable to stop the tumult of words as they spill like a rushing river from their mouth- Get to the point!- "Are you.... maybe choosing you for once...?" They pause... and in that moment of breath they realize it may sound like an accusation of selfishness, "It's okay if you are," they hurry to add, "You're allowed to!"

The urge to slap their face into the ground is overwhelming, embarrassed that they've implied their leader might need permission to pursue her own personal happiness.

---

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 〰 i want no more than this

• -- edenberry / skyclan daylight warrior / any pronouns / 16 moons
  -- mostly white with black pinstripe and green eyes / scarred face and back
  -- color #728c69​

​

 

[Orangestar]

You seem ... upset. Orangestar nearly snorts, disdainful, the crashing wave of her emotions pooling once more in anger at her paws. She'd all bust lost a battle against a damned plant, why wouldn't she be upset? The leader is surprised, though, by Edenberry following her into her den. She shouldn't be. The warrior has always been too nosy for their own good, reckless and chirpy in a way that grates against Orangestar's sensibilities. It would have surprised her more had Edenberry taken the chance to exit the conversation graciously.

Unfortunately for Orangestar, it seems that Edenberry cares. Ginger ears fold back at the tentative question, confusion welling in its wake.A leader's job is to put themself last. They lead from the front and retreat from behind. A leader has to put their Clan first. To do anything else is selfish. Orangestar opens and closes her mouth a couple of times, uncharacteristic hesitation marking her lack of reply, until her mind sorts through it and discards the warrior's concern. It's easier to reply to their second line of questioning, the memory of Silversmoke's anger impressed upon her mind like paws to weathered stone.

"Of course I remember. I thought the Clan would fall apart because of it." Despite her bluntness, there's a tinge of regret to her words. Had she been too harsh? Not harsh enough? She remembers facing Slate and Silversmoke in this very den, threatening them with a fatal blow to their egos for their behaviour. Her mind circles back, somewhat belatedly, to Edenberry's first comment about her and Slate.

"Slate and I have only been mates for a short while." Recognition flashes in her eyes, Orangestar's subconscious fitting facts into place before her thoughts have a chance to catch up, but her frown deepens all the same. "What are you implying?"

ooc ✧ 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦

•  
• 
  
  [ art by pin ]
• ORANGESTAR ✧ she/her, leader of skyclan | seven lives
  
  
  — "a scarred white-and-ginger she-cat with brown eyes."
  — (undisclosed) mate to slate ; mentoring ashpaw
  — speech is in #D2977D
  — tags | penned by mercibun, contact on discord for plots.
  
  
  
  

​

 

[edenberry ?!]

They feel like their voice fills the space in a most tinny way... annoyingly bouncing off the hollow walls, flitting through the leaves like their every stumbling sentence is laced in barbs. Careful, a murmur suggests, gritting its teeth against the humiliation of their fumbling. Orangestar's quietness is enough to make their skin itch, antsy to confess.... confess something though the particulars elude them.

Their ear twitches, waiting for her response and already regretting the very mention of Silversmoke the moment her voice grows strained. The clan falling apart... that most certainly would've been their fault then, if her intonation was any judge. Right... They sigh softly, waving their paw at her to try to say 'that's not the point' but not being so bold as to dismiss her outright.

That'd be rude.

The admission of their formal union is.. intriguing... something that draws the brights of green eyes to a gleaming thing. They want to congratulate her maybe... or would that be inappropriate? They tie their words together, mashing the possibilities in their head several times over. Before ultimately deciding not to draw attention to such a private confirmation...

"It's not like you to be so out of sorts so.. I just wondered if maybe..." The striped cat swallows nervously, already imagining angry teeth dug into their scruff to throw them out of the den. "You might be.... expecting... kits?"

They purse their lips thoughtfully, paws shifting uncomfortably under them until they practically beg to escape- the daylighter stands suddenly, scrunching their nose with an apologetic grimace, "It was just a hunch-"

"Sorry...? Or... congratulations? I'm.. not really sure which to say- Oh stars... I hope I'm not wrong or that'd be.. horribly rude..." They clam up under her narrowed stare, "I... should stop talking...."

---

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 〰 i want no more than this

• -- edenberry / skyclan daylight warrior / any pronouns / 16 moons
  -- mostly white with black pinstripe and green eyes / scarred face and back
  -- color #728c69​

​

 

[Orangestar]

The suggestion douses Orangestar's inflamed emotions in ice, shocking her back to reality. For better or for worse, it seems that Edenberry's reasoning follows Orangestar's own subconscious connections. Her tongue darts across her maw; it's a nervous, thoughtful habit by now, and one that the leader doesn't notice as her eyes dart back and forth. Scurrying like ants, thoughts carrying the pieces of a larger picture that Orangestar hasn't had the time or the wherewithal to assemble herself.

Perhaps Edenberry isn't as mouse-brained as they seem. They had been close with Butterflytuft before falling ill ... or was this obvious to anyone except Orangestar herself? Were she any more self-aware, the leader might cringe at that, but the daylight warrior sitting across from her is more important than such things right now.

"... I expect you to keep this hunch to yourself." Though she does not agree with the pinstriped warrior's hunch, the absence of denial in favour of warning would stand as apt confirmation for the two SkyClanners. Tension returns to Orangestar's shoulders, which would be more of a surprise if it had ever left, and her scowl turns vague in thought.

She had planned to visit Dawnglare's den for him to look at her hindleg once more, any strenuous movement to the old injury causing her to suck in a gritted-maw breath of pain, but maybe she would need to entrust him with a confirmation too. She doesn't particularly want to, but she would prefer to find out sooner rather than later. Perhaps she would talk to Slate, too, depending on how crowded the den was. Her ears twitch with thought.

"... While you're here." Orangestar stands once more, ushering the warrior from her den with a curved tail around skinny hindlegs. She glances, sidelong, at Edenberry. "Do you think you're well enough for an apprentice?"

ooc ✧ 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦

•  
• 
  
  [ art by pin ]
• ORANGESTAR ✧ she/her, leader of skyclan | seven lives
  
  
  — "a scarred white-and-ginger she-cat with brown eyes."
  — (undisclosed) mate to slate ; mentoring ashpaw
  — speech is in #D2977D
  — tags | penned by mercibun, contact on discord for plots.
  
  
  
  

​

 

[edenberry ?!]

A bid for secrecy.... The requirement for quiet isn't even something they need asking. Would Orangestar afford them the same kindness, if they asked? If they stepped towards her right now and said 'I know,' and unraveled the entire miserable ordeal of the last few moons? Told the truth. Maybe they're a coward, to think it a resounding no, to not even be willing to find out. They were supposed to be her daughter's sweetheart. Someone who'd promised to cherish her... to love her.... and instead?

Your secret is safe with me.

The black and white cat given a solemn nod, an air of seriousness resting on their scruffy pelt in a display that would shock most anyone that knew them. Just a jester... a jokester... someone dedicated to a good laugh and a joyous time. They could hold a lot more behind that smile than they let on. It might be a strength, if not for the sickening toiling guilt in their stomach.

Orangestar rises, whisking at the back of their heels to coax them to leave- The young warrior feels that's expected. It was a loaded gun they'd just pointed in her direction, surely she had no further want for such nosy company. "While you're here."

Their brows furrow in a confused question, glancing towards the shorter she-cat expectantly as they depart from the shaded privacy of her den- "An apprentice?" They blink, dumb-founded, before twisting their lips into a frown. They think to remind her they are a trustworthy cat that doesn't take kindly to bribery but.... it seems like a bad idea to make further implications about their leader after narrowly escaping cuffed ears. "Yeah- Yes, I'd like that a lot!"

Their bobbed tail wiggles in anticipatory excitement and they are prepared to ramble off all of the practice they'd put into their hunting of late- it... probably isn't the best idea to poke the bear. The corners of their eyes squint up in a wide smile, "I'll be ready, whenever you have need of me!"

---

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊 〰 i want no more than this

• -- edenberry / skyclan daylight warrior / any pronouns / 16 moons
  -- mostly white with black pinstripe and green eyes / scarred face and back
  -- color #728c69​

​