private WHITE SUNDAY \ a meeting

[EDMUND]

Oh, this was probably the most bonkers idea he'd ever had... a feeling of neverending stupidity hammered at his head like a woodpecker, and Edmund fidgeted on the spot. Their tail swished nervously from side to side. Stars, she probably thought they were the biggest idiot in the world, clueless not to have known she couldn't have left camp. His breaths shuddered, and Edmund traced his tongue along the inside of his teeth. If there was anything he hated (or maybe hate was a bit strong...) it was feeling like an inconvenience. That was why they'd gone mad, scrambled off into the distance, at the slightest sign ...

And they'd almost not even shown up, honestly... they'd been debating if it was even worth it, showing their worrying face. How embarassing, to get someone to come all the way here just for a check-up?

Tall ears twitched at the movement, and uneven eyes widened at the sight of the two familiar she-cats ... Edmund swallowed, gave a nervous smile. "Erm, hi," he murmured, scuffing his paw along the ground. Desperately, they tried to read her face. Did she look exasperated? Annoyed, upset? "It's nice to see you." Their voice was soft, earnest- despite apprehension and thumping awkwardness, their smile was genuine, and they took a soft step forward. "... I feel a bit daft having you come all this way just to hear that."

\ @butterflytuft (with @Florabreeze as her escort!)​

penned by pin ❤​

 

[butterflytuft]

She is a bit nervous about this whole meet-up scenario. She knows she asked Florabreeze to set this up so she could properly thank the kittypet who’d helped her, who’d helped her daughter, but she can’t help the anxiety that wells up in her chest as she pads after her friend towards the border. She hasn’t been this way since the dog attack, and she can feel her fur prickle as she looks around more diligently than she normally does.

The fence line comes into view, and so does a cinnamon pelt. Butterflytuft's heart softens the moment she sees Edmund, noticing his nervous fidgeting and the way he hesitates before speaking. He certainly is sweet. The sight of them brings back more memories of that day, now a day she would never forget. Despite the anxiety she can feel rolling off of him, their presence is a comfort, a tangible reminder of that kindness he’d shown her a season ago.

She offers him a warm smile, stepping forward with a gentle purr. Somehow, his nervousness makes her feel a bit more confident, if only a tad bit. “Hi, Edmund. It’s so good to see you too," She mews softly, though there is still a characteristic shyness in the way her head ducks. Her ears lay flat and her tail brushes the ground awkwardly. She studies him closely, noting the worry in his eyes as he admits he feels a bit of a fool. "It’s no inconvenience," She attempts to reassure. Her paws shuffle against the ground as she tilts her head slightly, trying to maintain eye contact. "I'm…grateful for the chance to see you again. I wanted to thank you for that day." She glances at Florabreeze, then back to Edmund. "The kit you carried back to our camp - she’s named Budkit now. She’s doing well! She’s grown so much, and she’s strong. That’s thanks to you.”
​

 

[EDMUND]

Edmind's tail twitched, a tiny thought. It's good to see you too, she said, and he felt for a moment that his sickness ceased, and- and that there was a genuine gladness on her face. It soothed his heart to see it, honestly. To know for certain that she had some affinity for them, a memory kept fondly despite the fire it had been forged within, made him visibly relax. Their paws stopped kneading, and a genuine smile smothered the shaking one that had sat on his face before.

"Oh, it was..." There was no need to thank him, really, truly. He'd just done what any cat would do- the right thing. No one in their right mind would leave her there, it wasn't a matter of nobility. "I mean, what else could I have done?" Their tone was earnest, and they met yellow eyes with mismatched, copper-and-blue crescenting with his smile.

Budkit, she was doing well. It was like some gale of relief struck him, sent him unsteady- interest widened Edmund's eyes, and he leaned forward, head tilting the more and more she talked about her. Strong, healthy. Thanks to them- they blinked, grin growing by the moment, flattery pinkening the tips of their ears. "I'm- I'm so glad to hear it." he said breathlessly, bowing his head. "Has she said her first word, then? Is she- is she friendly? Y'know, i thought ... I felt a good energy when she looked at me." Was he rambling? "Um, I just... wow, it'd be great to see her again someday."​

penned by pin ❤​

 

[butterflytuft]

Butterflytuft's nerves begin to ease as she notices Edmund relax, and she notes the genuine warmth in his smile. His earnestness makes her feel comfortable, and she finds herself smiling a bit more openly. She blinks softly, her yellow eyes brightening as she listens to him eagerly ask about Budkit. His genuine interest touches her heart, and her posture relaxes just slightly, her tail now resting more comfortably at her paws.

"Her first word was ‘mama’," The queen responds with a soft laugh, her voice still carrying a shy undertone but filled with warmth. "And she's so curious and playful. She's really friendly too - loves to pounce on anything that moves and talk to anyone who breathes!" A fond smile curls at her lips as she speaks of her daughter. "She’s very special…has always been full of life, even when I first brought her to the nursery."

Her gaze then softens as she considers his last words, and she hesitates briefly before speaking again. "I think she'd love to meet you one day," She murmurs, her tone sincere. "You're the reason she's with us, after all. I…I can't thank you enough for that." Her eyes meet his once more, a quiet gratitude in them. “Oh, I wish you could meet her sooner…but kits can’t leave camp, and the only kittypets who can come in are daylight warriors.” She frowns and tilts her head dejectedly to the side.
​

 

[EDMUND]

Her first word was mama- his ears angled at the thought, and a sugared expression found its way onto his face. They couldn't suppress a little aww of adoration in reply ... and wow, it really made them think about how long it had really been. Budkit, speaking- it felt like yesterday they'd seen round kitten eyes staring right up at them, as he passed her gently on to Fireflypaw and pulled himself away from the small thread of attachment that had been forming. And wow, how Butterflytuft lit up when she talked about her... to think, that was anything to do with him!

She thanked them again, and it was all Edmund could do to resist sputtering out another dismissal- but it'd make him look a right idiot, probably, so he just dipped his head, a wordless curtsy. The thought that Budkit would like to meet them had the prickles of flattery beginning to flare beneath their fur. "Do you really think she'd remember me?" he murmured, a small, hopeful sliver in his tone.

Kits couldn't leave camp, either. He supposed it made sens, if Butterflytuft couldn't... she would have to stay where the kits were, right? Interest flickered in odd eyes then, though. A daylight warrior- a small, light furrow of the brow darkened their face in thought. "D-Daylight warriors?" he repeated. Kittypets who could come in. Was he being daft? "I knew there were wildcats, but- you let kittypets come in... in the daylight?"

His paws shuffled. In truth he'd been too shy to hear all the rumours, despite a want to make friends... conversation always sunk into the earth when he murmured quiet hello. Had the daylight warriors been the wildcats his neighbours had been speaking of?​

penned by pin ❤​

 

[butterflytuft]

Butterflytuft catches the soft adoration in Edmund's expression, and it warms her heart to see how much Budkit still means to him. She can tell they’re touched, and his reaction makes her feel even more at ease. She blinks thoughtfully at their hopeful question, her own gaze softening as she considers it. "I think she might," She replies gently, knowing it’s a bit of a lie. "She's still young, but kits have a way of remembering the important things…and you, Edmund, you brought her to safety. That's not something easily forgotten." She leaves out that she’d been a tiny baby back then and likely doesn’t remember anything about that day, but she wants to be kind to her new friend.

When they repeat the term "daylight warriors," the tortoiseshell can see the curiosity flare in their mismatched eyes. She chuckles softly, realizing he might not know much about them. "Yes, daylight warriors are kittypets who live with their twolegs but help the clan during the day. They hunt, patrol, and fight alongside the normal warriors, but they return home at night." She tilts her head slightly, gazing patiently at them. "It's a way for cats to help the clan without leaving their homes completely behind. It's rare, but some kittypets choose that life…to be part of both worlds."

Her tail sweeps across her paws thoughtfully as she watches him. "It's not an easy choice," She continues. "But for some, it's worth it. You can help protect your friends and clanmates, while still keeping the life you've always known." Her words are light, but there's a hint of something deeper beneath them, as though she's trying to offer him a glimpse of a path he may not have considered before. "Would you…ever think about something like that?" She asks gently, her yellow eyes meeting his gaze with curiosity. Oh, now is she being selfish? She just made a friend…how can she be so self-centered to ask him if he wants to live such a dangerous life when he’s perfectly safe and fine in his twoleg nest?
​

 

[EDMUND]

It was a lovely thought, wasn't it? A sort of mingling of souls... a memory, argently reinforced. The world walked a predetermined path, or at least a predictable one- even when nothing concrete existed, the overwhelming strength of memory was recurring. Appreciation lit in odd eyes, a flame and a glint of ice. There was a touched warmth in Edmund's expression, even though they couldn't really think of anything to say.

Transfixed, in pleasant silence he listened to her explanation; a way to help the Clan, while not having to give up his companion. For he loved her very much, relished in the kindness she offered him, even as she'd become less and less able to play with him... even when she'd opened the door for the first time, and gently encouraged him to face a bright world he'd never walked upon before. The pavement still hurt his feet a little- his paws were plush, not calloused. But when he'd found Butterflytuft and Budkit, when he'd helped her home ... Edmund had felt within themself a contentment, a warming purpose, he had never before experienced in idle chatter to other housecats.

"I - I think it sounds grand, really," he murmured without really thinking about it. Oh, it shouldn't be some awful rush- it was a big decision, and the way Butterflytuft flitter around the topic a little made him hesitate. A silken tail swept slow behind him, and he gazes for a few long moments. "I felt like, well, when I helped you out ... I'd never felt that good about myself before. I've ... I've been comfortable for a while, y'know, but it was different."

They found they could not lift their eyes from their paws to meet Butterflytuft's yellow. "Um ... I'm gonna ... I'll have a think." A little smile on his face, steadfast despite bashfulness, might give away a little what he was thinking.​

penned by pin ❤​