[squidz]

| BERRYSHINE |

small & nimble dark brown she-cat with darker flecks and light, leafy-green eyes | the collector | dreamwalker |

[ riverclan medicine cat | she-cat | 17 moons | timid, kind, hardworking ]

—

Berryshine couldn't help but let out a soft hum as Crowpaw spoke; she was right. How was the medicine cat able to control how much or how little she felt? It'd be impossible to do so, and yet she'd been trying for so long. Her gaze rested somberly on the dark-pelted she-cat, a twinkle of fondness in her green eyes despite the heaviness she felt inside.

Crowpaw's suspicions were right — Berryshine had been just about to say 'it's my duty', some kind of solemn and mature acceptance of her responsibility and the weight on her shoulders... but seeing such conviction from the younger she-cat had took her off guard. Crowpaw was so timid and soft-spoken that to sense her getting frustrated... it moved the medicine cat. So the protestations died on her tongue, instead settling for giving Crowpaw a long, resigned look. One that indirectly answered the question for the apprentice, one that she couldn't say aloud:

What happens when you need someone?

...Berryshine still didn't know. She'd just had to keep going. She knew Crowpaw wouldn't want to hear that, and yet... what other answer was there?

Then, a lump formed in the small brown molly's throat. Crowpaw had look startled by the affirmation that she was a good friend, and the soft admittance that she'd like to be one made Berryshine's heart wrench. Exhaling shakily, the medic lightly bumped her head against her friend's; yes, it was true that there were burdens others couldn't carry, some that just had to be taken and endured. Yet it was equally true, as the apprentice was pointing out, that carrying it all alone was needless suffering and almost a twisted sense of self-righteousness, in a way... like one thinking they can't rely on others is actually a form of pride.

"You are," Berryshine assured softly. "A good friend, that is. You... m-might be the only one who's talked some sense into me." There was a somber chuckle behind her words, not one borne of actual humor, but of a defeated sense of acknowledgement. The medicine cat lifted her head once more so that she could meet Crowpaw's eyes, a bittersweet smile on her maw. Her voice was quiet and steady.

"Thank you, Crowpaw... really. For everything. You've... helped me, more than you know."

Crowpaw was a reminder, along with Rainpaw, Sunheart, Owlstar, and her adoptive family that'd checked in on her during these times, that she wasn't alone. And that was a spark of light in the dark, the break of sun through the clouds; even if Cobwebstorm's self-exile had taken some of that light with her, still some remained in her Clanmates and friendships she had here. Family.

And for that... Berryshine was truly grateful.

[ @Rowan ]