time is a wheel in constant motion [P]

[Luna16]

Today was...weird. It had been a while since Heathernose slept in the warrior's den. It wasn't until now that she was really faced with Lionscar's absence. It was...glaringly obvious. Her nest felt...significantly colder. Before, she shared her nest with her kits. But now it was just her...and it felt substantially colder. Unable to get comfortable, Heathernose rose from her nest and stepped carefully out into the night. Her paws sank almost immediately into the snow as she emerged from the warrior's den, sending a violent shudder down her spine. "Stars it's cold!" She muttered, shaking herself quickly before continuing to exit the den.

Once outside, she exhaled from her mouth and watched as her warm breath billowed in front of her like small clouds. It was freezing, but somehow didn't feel much colder in some ways than her nest had. I hope you're all okay... She prayed silently as she blinked up at Silverpelt. Lionscar, Rabbitkit, and Ferretkit. All missing. She'd almost rather that they had died, so at least she knew what had happened to them. But she may never find out what became of her mate and kits, and even Lionscar's brother, Flamemane, was gone. It had been a while since she felt this alone...it was more piercing than any cold.

Maybe I should visit the kids soon... She had been resisting visiting Songpaw, Fernpaw, and Hawkpaw since their apprenticeships. Wanting to give them space in their newfound independence. She didn't want to smother them, or make them think that she didn't think they were capable. But it was difficult. Even Fallensky, who Heathernose first met as a kit when she first moved into the nursery, was a warrior now. She purred with pride at the thought, but it also made her realize how time had continued to march on. Heathernose heaved a sigh, staring up at the bright stars of Silverpelt. The cold air seemed to make them even crisper and more clear. But their light offered no warmth or comfort tonight.

@RomanticMangoBear - Lightnight - hehe you offered so I figured we could test it!

[RomanticMangoBear]

Originally Posted by Luna16

Today was...weird. It had been a while since Heathernose slept in the warrior's den. It wasn't until now that she was really faced with Lionscar's absence. It was...glaringly obvious. Her nest felt...significantly colder. Before, she shared her nest with her kits. But now it was just her...and it felt substantially colder. Unable to get comfortable, Heathernose rose from her nest and stepped carefully out into the night. Her paws sank almost immediately into the snow as she emerged from the warrior's den, sending a violent shudder down her spine. "Stars it's cold!" She muttered, shaking herself quickly before continuing to exit the den.

Once outside, she exhaled from her mouth and watched as her warm breath billowed in front of her like small clouds. It was freezing, but somehow didn't feel much colder in some ways than her nest had. I hope you're all okay... She prayed silently as she blinked up at Silverpelt. Lionscar, Rabbitkit, and Ferretkit. All missing. She'd almost rather that they had died, so at least she knew what had happened to them. But she may never find out what became of her mate and kits, and even Lionscar's brother, Flamemane, was gone. It had been a while since she felt this alone...it was more piercing than any cold.

Maybe I should visit the kids soon... She had been resisting visiting Songpaw, Fernpaw, and Hawkpaw since their apprenticeships. Wanting to give them space in their newfound independence. She didn't want to smother them, or make them think that she didn't think they were capable. But it was difficult. Even Fallensky, who Heathernose first met as a kit when she first moved into the nursery, was a warrior now. She purred with pride at the thought, but it also made her realize how time had continued to march on. Heathernose heaved a sigh, staring up at the bright stars of Silverpelt. The cold air seemed to make them even crisper and more clear. But their light offered no warmth or comfort tonight.

@RomanticMangoBear - Lightnight - hehe you offered so I figured we could test it!

(Yayyyyyyyy hehehe)

(Activity post hol up) Fernpaw was sleeping.

Lightnight stretched. Emerging from his nest. The lean tom couldn't sleep, anxiety making his fur Bush. About what? He didn't even know. Lightnight scented another cat. A she cat. One of his clan of course, spotting Heathernose Lightnight gave a small mew to try and not spook the queen. Giving a small shake of his pelt. Lightnight looked at her, she was darn pretty alright. "Hi...Heathernose right?" Lightnight mewed softly, trying not to seem creepy as he approached. Not inviting himself to sit but not standing like. 10 feet away

[Luna16]

Despite his best efforts, the light brown she-cat flinched slightly at the sound. But she quickly relaxed when she realized it was a clanmate. She turned and saw him, a denmate. She nodded at his question, feeling a little bad because he somehow knew her name but she didn’t remember his. “Yes.” She mewed, timidly shuffling her paws.

“I’m sorry… Admittedly I don’t recall your name.” She blinked apologetically at the tom. Her focus has been solely on her kits for so long, she hadn’t realized how out of touch with the clan she’d become. It was rather embarrassing. Perhaps this is what her fellow queens refer to as “mom brain”?

@RomanticMangoBear - Lightnight - LOL little Fernpaw

[RomanticMangoBear]

Originally Posted by Luna16

Despite his best efforts, the light brown she-cat flinched slightly at the sound. But she quickly relaxed when she realized it was a clanmate. She turned and saw him, a denmate. She nodded at his question, feeling a little bad because he somehow knew her name but she didn’t remember his. “Yes.” She mewed, timidly shuffling her paws.


“I’m sorry… Admittedly I don’t recall your name.” She blinked apologetically at the tom. Her focus has been solely on her kits for so long, she hadn’t realized how out of touch with the clan she’d become. It was rather embarrassing. Perhaps this is what her fellow queens refer to as “mom brain”?

@RomanticMangoBear - Lightnight - LOL little Fernpaw

"Its fine" Lightnight purred softly. "Lightnight. That's my name. I think I saw you at the clan meeting. Your kits are Fernpaw and Hawkpaw...and oh uh Softpaw. Right?"

[Luna16]

Heathernose smiled, appreciative that Lightnight didn't hold it against her. That's a rather interesting name. She noted, thinking it sounded rather poetic. At the mention of her kits, she couldn't help but purr and sit straighter with pride. "Yes." She purred. "Those are min little furballs." Her whiskers twitched with amusement. Then she realized something.

"They haven't caused you trouble did they?" She asked, suddenly concerned. Her pelt fluffed a little, and in her mind she immediately thought that perhaps Hawkpaw or Fernpaw had mouthed off to the warrior. Probably Hawkpaw... Or maybe he had to break up a fight between Fernpaw and Hawkpaw? Though Songpaw usually managed that, and Fernpaw had softened considerably since meeting Sweetpaw. So perhaps it was nothing? And Lightnight simply remember their ceremonies? Stars above she hoped so.

@RomanticMangoBear - Lightnight

[RomanticMangoBear]

Originally Posted by Luna16

Heathernose smiled, appreciative that Lightnight didn't hold it against her. That's a rather interesting name. She noted, thinking it sounded rather poetic. At the mention of her kits, she couldn't help but purr and sit straighter with pride. "Yes." She purred. "Those are min little furballs." Her whiskers twitched with amusement. Then she realized something.

"They haven't caused you trouble did they?" She asked, suddenly concerned. Her pelt fluffed a little, and in her mind she immediately thought that perhaps Hawkpaw or Fernpaw had mouthed off to the warrior. Probably Hawkpaw... Or maybe he had to break up a fight between Fernpaw and Hawkpaw? Though Songpaw usually managed that, and Fernpaw had softened considerably since meeting Sweetpaw. So perhaps it was nothing? And Lightnight simply remember their ceremonies? Stars above she hoped so.

@RomanticMangoBear - Lightnight

"No no. There chaotic but there perfectly fine." LIGHTNIGHT reassured her his tail brushing In a friendly and hopefully not intruding way across her shoulder. "Fernpaw ran into me the other day, but that's about it" Lightnight meowed. "Hawkpaw mentor Watertail is my brother though" Lightnight meowed

[Luna16]

The touch, though clearly meant in a friendly gesture, did give Heathernose pause. Lightnight may have seen her muscles stiffened for the briefest of moments before relaxing. It was instinctive, it had been too long since she had been this closer with a clanmate who wasn't one of her kits. She realized it with a start, the last cat to show her any kind of gesture, friendly or not, that wasn't her kits had been... But she didn't want to think of that now.

Heathernose purred in amusement as Lightnight described his run in with Fernpaw. "That silly boy. I'll bet a mouse that he was rushing over to Sweetpaw." She mewed with a soft laugh. That son of her's had narrowed focus when he wanted to. She lifted a brow when he mentioned Hawkpaw was being mentored by his brother. "My condolences to your brother." She teased with a playful smile. But she sighed wistfully. "Hawkpaw is probably the biggest pawful of them all, always trying to prove himself. Songpaw thinks it's her responsibility to keep those two in line, she's come out of her shell some due to that." The queen mused, a warm tone in her voice as she reflected on her kits.

"Fernpaw...he's always trying to keep the family together. Like he thinks something bad is going to happen..." Not that she could blame him, but her gaze darkened nonetheless. "I suppose that's my fault ultimately..." As the mother, she should have been able to make sure her kits left the nest well-adjusted. But Fernpaw's anxieties just proved that she hadn't done enough. Stars, will you listen to yourself? Heathernose blinked in surprise, shaking herself to try and clear her head. "I'm so sorry, I'm sure you don't want to hear the ramblings of a queen." She mewed with an embarrassed chuckle, craning her neck to give her chest fur a few quick licks as she tried to recollect herself.

@RomanticMangoBear - Lightnight

[RomanticMangoBear]

Originally Posted by Luna16

The touch, though clearly meant in a friendly gesture, did give Heathernose pause. Lightnight may have seen her muscles stiffened for the briefest of moments before relaxing. It was instinctive, it had been too long since she had been this closer with a clanmate who wasn't one of her kits. She realized it with a start, the last cat to show her any kind of gesture, friendly or not, that wasn't her kits had been... But she didn't want to think of that now.

Heathernose purred in amusement as Lightnight described his run in with Fernpaw. "That silly boy. I'll bet a mouse that he was rushing over to Sweetpaw." She mewed with a soft laugh. That son of her's had narrowed focus when he wanted to. She lifted a brow when he mentioned Hawkpaw was being mentored by his brother. "My condolences to your brother." She teased with a playful smile. But she sighed wistfully. "Hawkpaw is probably the biggest pawful of them all, always trying to prove himself. Songpaw thinks it's her responsibility to keep those two in line, she's come out of her shell some due to that." The queen mused, a warm tone in her voice as she reflected on her kits.

"Fernpaw...he's always trying to keep the family together. Like he thinks something bad is going to happen..." Not that she could blame him, but her gaze darkened nonetheless. "I suppose that's my fault ultimately..." As the mother, she should have been able to make sure her kits left the nest well-adjusted. But Fernpaw's anxieties just proved that she hadn't done enough. Stars, will you listen to yourself? Heathernose blinked in surprise, shaking herself to try and clear her head. "I'm so sorry, I'm sure you don't want to hear the ramblings of a queen." She mewed with an embarrassed chuckle, craning her neck to give her chest fur a few quick licks as she tried to recollect herself.

@RomanticMangoBear - Lightnight

Lightnight listened carefully. His attention all on Heathernose. "No no. Im happy to listen. You dont need to hold it all in" He purred gently. "I'm guessing Fernpaws the oldest out of them all?" Lightnight purred. "Maybe Softpaw feels that way because she doesn't want to lose them. I did the same thing when I was younger" Lightnight commented softly, his tone careful. "Thoe two are lively, you and Softpaw have nothing to worry about. I'll keep an eye on em and so will Watertail" Lightnight vowed in a soft meow. His bright eyes gazing around the sky. "Fernpaw and Sweetpaw hmm"

[Luna16]

Heathernose smiled appreciatively. Socializing was...different now than she remembered. Gosh that made her sound like a shut in. She nodded at Lightnight's astute observation. "Fernpaw...yes I suppose now he is my oldest." She mused, blinking up at the stars. It didn't occur to her how strange that statement sounded.

The accuracy of Lightnight's statement stung a little though. It hit a little too close to home. A sadness crept into her gaze, and her smile grew sad. He was right. Songpaw was probably terrified of losing her brothers. What's left of her family... Heathernose didn't even notice that she had let silence hang between them.

@RomanticMangoBear - Lightnight

[RomanticMangoBear]

Originally Posted by Luna16

Heathernose smiled appreciatively. Socializing was...different now than she remembered. Gosh that made her sound like a shut in. She nodded at Lightnight's astute observation. "Fernpaw...yes I suppose now he is my oldest." She mused, blinking up at the stars. It didn't occur to her how strange that statement sounded.

The accuracy of Lightnight's statement stung a little though. It hit a little too close to home. A sadness crept into her gaze, and her smile grew sad. He was right. Songpaw was probably terrified of losing her brothers. What's left of her family... Heathernose didn't even notice that she had let silence hang between them.

@RomanticMangoBear - Lightnight

Lightnight noticed the queen's expression turn sad. "I'm sorry..... I didn't mean to make your sad.. " Lightnight mewed. His gaze apologetic. The Tom's tail reached forward hesitantly deciding to give her some space and drop back down. "Uhm... Softpaw and her brothers are lucky... to have you as a mother. Your an amazing mother from what I've seen. And Fernpaws told me once about how he wishes to spend more time with you....he has a lot of emotions" Lightnight mewed softly. Trying to gently change the subject over to something on the same emotion level yet something that makes Heathernose happy to talk about. Lightnight gazes at the queen gently, he gaze worried and apologetic.