A shoulder to lean on [private]

**dionysus** · #1 July 5th, 2020, 08:47 AM

[ @Shimm ]

Sunlight dappled the tortoiseshell pelt of Heathernose as she weaved back and forth in the clearing, chewing her lip nervously as she paced. The meeting had long since ended and the rest of the clan had dispersed but she couldn’t go lounge by the warrior’s den after what had happened! Every once in a while, the warrior lifted her head to search for the familiar figure of Brindlejaw before looking back down at her paws and pacing some more.

He had resigned? Was he happy to do so; was he forced out? How upset would he be? And then with all the drama with Feather whatever and her insensitive comments. Ugh Heathernose still wanted to tear her fur out by the roots but she had to keep it together. In all of the uncertainty, perhaps the only thing that was certain was that Brindlejaw was going to need a shoulder to lean on.

**Sweetie** · #2 July 8th, 2020, 11:54 PM

The walked back from the burial was tough for the tom. Not only was he tired physically but emotionally and mentally as well. Coating with dirt Brindlejaw tiredly walked into the Windclan clearing. He didn't want to deal with Twilightstar at the moment nor any other cats. Stalking towards the warrior den blazing orange eyes landed on Heathernose. Oh... The tortoiseshell couldn't forget how his friend acted during the execution. Okay, he would deal with her, well not deal because he actually cared about the molly. Shaking much of the grim off the tom padded towards the warrior. "Hey, how are you?"

@Beau

**dionysus** · #3 July 9th, 2020, 08:05 AM

[ @Shimm ]

A voice lifted Heathernose’s head and she immediately rushed the owner, embracing Brindlejaw tightly before backing up.

“How am I? How are you?”

Concern etched the features of Heathernose’s face and she couldn’t believe he was asking her how she was doing when something so big had just happened to him. It occurred to the molly a little late that maybe she shouldn’t make such a big deal out of it- she didn’t want to make him feel worse- so she tried to put on a calmer face and spoke more evenly.

“I-I mean, how are you holding up? Do you need someone to talk to?”

**Sweetie** · #4 July 11th, 2020, 09:22 PM

The tom was surprised by the kind welcome, it was not every day that he was given hugs. Looking at Heathernose with gentle concern the former deputy scoffed at her motherly worry."I a little shaken but certainly better than you. Before I left you looked very...disturbed." Brindlejaw wasn't sure which word to use to replace horrified, disgusted, and so much more.
He noticed her little mood switch. How she was a freaking out mother to this...this calm molly. Why was she forcing her concern to show less? "I'm fine but what do you mean by 'do I need someone to talk to?" Tilting his head and looking at his friend.

@Beau

**dionysus** · #5 July 14th, 2020, 05:21 PM

[ @Shimm ]

Disturbed... assuming he was talking about her reaction to all of the deaths, that was an astute description. Yet, Heathernose didn’t care about the whole debacle nor her own disgust with it at the moment. Brindle has had just stepped down from a role he’d poured his soul into and whether is was willingly or not she knew it had to have left him feeling at least somewhat empty.

Tsking at Brindlejaw’s clear lack of concern for himself Heathernose swatted lightly at his nose. What did she mean? Why she meant that she was there for him to talk to and to comfort him!

“Do you want to talk about how you feel, silly! It’s a big change and I want you to know that I’m here for you and I’m always available if you want to talk about how you are feeling.”

**Sweetie** · #6 July 15th, 2020, 08:18 PM

Brindlejaw was taken back, surprised and shocked, Heathernose just swatted his nose! Tilting his head at the molly the tom stated the obvious. "You hit my nose!" Overall Brindlejaw was shocked that she hit him, it wasn't hard but he never thought that Heathernose was one to try and knock some sense into a cat.
When Heathernose explained her actions the tom couldn't help but chuckle. It warmed his heart that he had such a sweet and caring friend. "It was very hard for me to resign from being deputy but it became clear that I wasn't the best for Windclan. I...my loyalty to Twilightstar was blinding me from being an honest deputy. I could not speak against or badly about her and bring my opinion to the table for fear of losing my spot." A knife twisted in his heart when he recalled his talk with the leader.

@Beau

**dionysus** · #7 July 16th, 2020, 06:58 AM

[ @Shimm ]

Despite Heathernose’s concern for Brindlejaw, her eyes shone momentarily with mirth at his shocked exclamation that she’d hit his nose. It was hardly a hit and she felt comfortable enough around Brindlejaw that she wasn’t worried he was going to be upset by a light swat. It was rather funny to see his surprised face, though, and another time she would have laughed.

“That is one of the most loyal things a cat can do, I think- step back and let someone else try something for the clan. I personally think you were a great deputy and Windclan is lucky to have you.”

Heathernose punctuated her totally unbiased opinion with a single forceful nod and a huff. Anyone who wanted to fight her on that was welcome to do so... well maybe she wouldn’t actually fight them- but she’d certainly talk some sense into them!