taaa-daaaa! rumors are true, huh?

[Rowan]

r o w a n m a n e
• he/him • 45 moons • riverclan/lionheart •
killer aptitude t2
❝ i never thought I’d get here. but now that I am, I’m not letting go. ❞

RowanMane … more tired than usual? Pfffttt…no! Newborn kits weren’t exhausting, what do you mean? Well…the Lionheart had definitely been prancing around with a new confidence and…nobleness. Shockingly, it wasn’t due to his promotion, rather the kits that still remained at their mother’s side. It may have been a bit of a ruckus, them being born…in the middle of the night…in the warriors den.

Anyways- no cat had really seen the kits, let alone meet them with proper introduction. And RowanMane hadn’t spoken to any other about them. So, before he knew it, he was seeking a cat, and was now in front of the cat he’d found a friend in. “SeaBreeze, how are you?”


└> . . . @Dolomedes

[Dolomedes]

Seabreeze
@Rowan

Seabreeze lifted his head up from where it was resting on is paws, the tom having been catching some Zs ( the only thing he had trouble hunting ) while having some down time. Well napping and also worrying about a certain apprentice as of late. The anklebiter, he sighed, and pushed the thought away for the moment as his blue-green eyes shifted to his approaching friend.

"Rowanmane! Congrats, pal." Seabreeze purred in response as he pushed himself up into a sitting position, his short tail swaying peacefully behind him as he did so, "Me? I haven't been up too much besides some worrying and feeling too old. I've been around for at least two full season cycles now." Which admittedly, wasn't really that long at all, but with the flippant nature of his clan, he would say it was still old enough for him to complain. Especially with life events draining him with something new every moon.

"How're you? Is Wisteriawren doing well?"

[Rowan]

r o w a n m a n e
• he/him • 45 moons • riverclan/lionheart •
killer aptitude t2

“Ah- thank you.” he grinned gratefully for the congrats, though there was quite a bit it could be about. His promotion or his kits. Either way, he was grateful for both things in his life. SeaBreeze? Feeling too old? He scanned the younger cat with a hint of disbelief. “Kid, if yer’ feelin’ old I’m practically wasted away. I’m almos’ through my fourth season!” he mused, no real harshness to his tone.

“I’m good myself…y’know…proud. Ah- Wisty! She seems t’ be doin’ pretty good. Everythin’ was so…quick…but she seems healthy and so are m’ three sons.” he beamed like a proud dad…like he didn’t have a daughter already. Oh- right- OH RIGHT. RaccoonSun had to visit the kits too! Goodness, he had a lot to do, huh?

└> . . . @Dolomedes

[Dolomedes]

Seabreeze
@Rowan

"Well with Riverclan, anything over 15 moons is old. People usually die or disappear before then." The warrior shrugged with little care shown for the sad reality of the clan. He wondered, briefly, if it was similar for the other clans or if it was simply Riverclan's flippant nature at play once more. The tom sighed, and blinked hard, ignoring the way his paws felt like blood still lined and matted the fur there even though he has cleaned them countless times since Stormstar's death. Blue eyes shifted back to Rowanmane, "Well guess that makes you ancient then, yeah? Should you be retiring, old fellow?" The former lionheart teased, hoping that the playful nature of his words were clear.

"Three sons... congratulations, Rowanmane. I'm sure you and Wisteriawren will raise them well." Family was a foreign concept to Seabreeze, he had never considered the possibility of being a father and even now the term would feel impossible to associate with someone like Seabreeze. He was happy a cat like Rowanmane got to have a family of his own though, he was a cat that would make a good father and if he turned out to be bad then Seabreeze had no qualms with smacking some sense into his friend. Wisteriawren was often around the nursery even before the whole song and dance of love with Rowanmane, so Seabreeze didn't even have a flicker of worry there. Those kits were lucky.

"We'll just have to hope that they don't put you in an early grave. You've heard what they say, all the grey fur and heart attacks from worrying." Seabreeze laughed a little bit, lifting his paw to cover his mouth as though muffling the noise. The limb spasmed and Seabreeze returned it to the ground with a slight wince. "Good time too, they'll be up and out of the nursery just as the season starts to warm up again." A easier to feed the lot too with prey starting to wake up and when the rivers start to melt again.

[Rowan]

RowanMane’s deep chuckle rumbled through him, a warmth that matched the smile he flashed at Seabreeze. "Ancient, huh? Guess I’ve earned tha’ title, though I don' think ‘m ready for retirement jus’ yet. Still got plentya’ fight left in me." His tail flicked behind him, a sign of his relaxed confidence. "But you're no’ wrong abou’ bein’ ‘old.' I’m no’ gettin’ any younger, tha’s for sure."

He glanced over at the nursery, where WisteriaWren was likely keeping a careful eye on their kits, a more somber expression meeting his face. “Three sons, yeah. Can’ believe how fast i’ all happened. One minute, i’s jus’ Wisty n’ me…next thing I know, I've gotta whole little family ‘f my own." the Lionhearts voice softened.

The toms blue eyes flicked back to Seabreeze, his grin returning. "But don’ worry, I’m not gonna let the little rascals run me t’ an early grave. ‘m already on the lookout for signs of trouble. If they get too much for me, I'll be chasing 'em down myself." He gave a playful flick of his tail, the humor back in his voice.

You've heard what they say, all the grey fur and heart attacks from worrying. RowanMane let out a laughing snort and looked at his friend. “Ya should come meet them. ‘m sure Wisty’d be grateful for the kits to focus on somethin’ but trouble.”



@Dolomedes

[Dolomedes]

Seabreeze
@Rowan

The tom was startled. Seabreeze and kits weren't known for being around Eachother- actually, maybe they were given his tendencies for hosting events for the lot but at the same time, Seabreeze never actually fully interacted with kits. He was sure to mess up or something- Rowanmane was sure to know this of him, yes? SO what business did the lionheart have inviting Seabreeze to meet his kits.. at the same time it was a kind offer. One of trust, he flicked his stubby tail as his ears folded down ever so slightly as the former lionheart took on a more nervous smile, "I dunno Ro', I'm not the best with kits- I would be all awkward and stuff." As though he wasn't always 'awkward and stuff.'

[Rowan]

RowanMane studied Seabreeze's reaction. It was clear that his friend was feeling a bit hesitant, the familiar flick of his tail and the slight shift in his expression not going unnoticed.

"Awkward? C’mon now, ya’ve gotta way with cats, even if ya don’ notice it…" he spoke kindly. "Ya don’t have to be perfect around ‘em, just be yourself. They’re not gonna judge you, trust me. Kits are all about fun and noise, no real expectations." His grin softened into something warmer, more understanding. "I get i’, though. Firs’ time I really spoke t’ em when they got old enough t’ understand it, I though’ I was gonna trip over my own paws just trying to make ‘em laugh. But… ya know, that’s part of the charm. And they’ll love you for it."

He stepped a little closer, his posture casual but inviting. "Besides, Wisty’d be happy for the company. I think a little distraction from the usual chaos wouldn’ hurt, n’ ya know they’ve got plenty of energy to share." RowanMane’s eyes gleamed with a bit of mischief. "And hey, if anything, you can always kit-sit if they get too much for me n’ Wisty. I wouldn’t mind a bit of help. They can be real troublemakers, those three." he teased lightly.

He gave a nod toward the nursery, his blue gaze warm. "I promise, they won’t bite… unless they’re really hungry." Okay…he should’ve thought before he said that cause he now really didn’t want to scare the warrior off by rushing to correct himself. In all honesty, pikekit and lotuskit a certain pair of kits had a biting history…oh well. Hopefully they’d be good for their dad, yeah?


@Dolomedes

[Dolomedes]

Seabreeze
@Rowan

Seabreeze blinked at his friend's reassurances, which while didn't surprise him because of lionheart's tendancy to think something more of Seab than what was really there, but it almost made Seabreeze feel worse about himself. Rowanmane shouldn't be bringing his kids around someone that kills everyone around him. Be it death or the lost that takes his family and friends like a sick game. A penance, for what, he wasn't sure. He sighed, ducking his head,

"Sure, for you.. But I'm allowed to bail if I-.. I dunno, just if I need to. Alright?" The warrior got to his paws, noticeably lifting one of his forepaws off the ground, as though in the middle of the step but really it was to avoid shooting sparks of fuzzy awful feeling up his entire arm and shoulder. "We can head over now, unless you had a different day in mind?" Something about this made Seabreeze think about what may have been if he hadn't been used as a cover.

Blueberry... ugh. The tom resisted the memories, wanting to focus on his friend. No use thinking about a queen that only used Seabreeze to hide her Shadowclan relationship.

[Rowan]

• he/him • 48 moons • riverclan/warrior •
killer aptitude t2, primal instincts

RowanMane noticed it. The way SeaBreeze lifted his paw like he was halfway through a step—but didn’t take it. The way his voice wavered on that “if I need to” …there could be a whole storm of reasons behind the words he didn’t want to say out loud. But Rowan didn’t call it out. Didn’t make it weird. Didn’t try to fix it.

He just dipped his head with a quiet nod, his voice calm and casual, like always. “A’course. If i’ ever feels like t’ much, you don’ owe me nothin’. Jus’ bein’ there’s more than enough, yeah?” He turned toward the nursery, not rushing him, but also not making the pause feel heavy.

“Figured now’s as good a time as any,” he added lightly, tail flicking behind him as he padded towards the nursery. Then he glanced to the warrior, catching SeaBreeze’s eye with that half-grin he always wore when he knew someone needed the smallest nudge but not a shove.

“I’ll be there the whole time. If they start climbin’ ya like a tree, I’ll pull ‘em off before they ge’ t’ yer ears.” He had a playful warmth to his tone as he gazed at the tom. If those kits swarmed him with giggles and pounces and bit his ears off? Well. Maybe that was exactly what healing looked like.

Soon they reached the nursery entrance, and he carefully stepped inside. “Kiddos! ‘ve got a guest for you t’ meet!”

└> . . . @Dolomedes (omg this took forever help)

@versailles ( @Daragca @Minku if you guys want to reply! lmk if not!)