no angst THE SHORT STICK // prey chatter

[rivuletpaw]

[ this is retro & based at the copse! also no need to wait!! ]

"Oh!" Rivuletkit chirps from her station outside of the nursery, her tail flicking loosely behind her. Before her, @MERLINPAW ✦ has brought the nursery some prey. Fish, namely, though each morsel is... well, exactly that. Small, perhaps large enough for a small rabbit to eat (... do rabbits eat fish?) Rivuletkit cannot discern if any of these were Merlinpaw's catches or if the apprentice had just been tasked to bring a few minnows before the kits to ensure they had their fill.

Regardless, it'd a pitiful display of RiverClan's strength (or therelackof.) Rivuletkit, however, beams with excitement despite this.

"I've been craving minnow!" she cheers, easily ignoring how her stomach twists. She'll have to get used to eating less, or eating last - apprenticeship is fastly approaching and she has no room to be greedy. "And good thing too, that they're small. I don't think I could eat more than a few bites, even," modesty stolen from her mother, she shines a thankful grin to the apprentice before moving along with, "Do you need help passing out the rest?"
​

 

[robinheart]

They are all trying to make the best of being displaced by the flooded river. Robinheart puts on a brave face for her kits, making small talk with the other queens (the absence of one in particular leaves a gaping wound upon her heart) while the kits play around and observe the copse. It's Merlinpaw's approach and Rivuletkit's voice that draws her away from her conversation. Curiously she watches the interaction. Her daughter's modesty quirks a soft smile from the tortoiseshell – Brookstorm would have verbally tore into the apprentice for such a meager offering.

"The kits will love the minnows, Merlinpaw. Thank you," Robinheart assured the apprentice with a nod of gratitude. At the very least the morsels of prey would teach the little ones how to de-skin and pick out the bones from the fish. An important skill to learn early on lest they find themselves with scales stuck in their gums or fish bones jabbing their throats. "Lettie, maybe you can help show Claythorn's little ones how to eat the minnows? I'm sure Merlinpaw's mentor has a few more tasks for him to complete," the tortoiseshell queen suggests to her eldest, tipping her head towards the tumbling younger kittens. She appreciates Rivuletkit wanting to help but she'd hate for the poor apprentice to feel like he has to do his chores and keep an eye on her.​

[ penned by kerms ]​