Leafbare Breezes (Tagged)

[Lionhearted]

Tagged: Anya [Lightningheart]

Thrushleap padded into camp, a thrush dangling from his jaws. Dropping it off on the pile, he carefully picked a small vole and moved off to the side of the clearing to eat.

"Thrushleap, can I go out on a patrol with my friends?" asked Buzzardpaw.

"Yeah," he mumbled through a mouthful of food.

"Thrushleap, I'm going to go hunting! Perhaps on StormClan territory, hehehe."

"Don't!" He spat after Lakepounce, who was already prancing away. Some bits of vole sprayed out of his mouth and landed on passing warriors, who huffed at him.

"Thrushleap," said a cold, high voice. Frostberry was standing over him, his tall form blocking the sun. "I am taking Raggedpaw to the Skyfield tomorrow. I will not be back until sunhigh of the day after tomorrow. I have already excused Raggedpaw from patrols--"

"I excuse cats from patrols," snapped Thrushleap, after swallowing. "And he has been excused. Now, I need you on patrol now, when you're still here."

Frostberry promptly turned and strode out, his tail erect in the air. Thrushleap glared after him and turned back to his food, but not before more voices called him.

"Thrushleap?"

"Thrushleap, please--"

"Thrushleap!"

"Aghhh..." He clambered up and tossed his vole aside, hastily kicking dirt over it. "Go on a freaking patrol if you need to. You don't need my consent if you want to help the Clan. That's part of your dang job," he growled, admist astonished and scared stares. "I'm going for a walk. You all are giving me a headache!"

[Anya]

Lightningheart stood near the medicine cats den. She had been busy bringing water and food to the sick cats. Her ears swiveled towards the entrance and she turned her brown gaze to see Thrushleap enter with prey dangling from his mouth. She smiled, he was working hard. She hoped he would take a break soon. WhisperClan needed him to stay fit.

She watched him take a vole from the pile after depositing his catch and she returned to her work.

"Thrushleap can I go out on a patrol with my friends?" she caught Buzzardpaw asking before she entered the medicine cats den with soaked moss.

"Thrushleap I'm going hunting! Perhaps on StormClan territory, hehehe." Lakepounce pranced off as Lightningheart emerged.

"Don't!" Thrushleap spat. She stopped in her tracks on the way to the fresh kill pile. Her tawny paws hesitated before moving forward and as she did Frostberry approached the deputy. Goodness. He never has a moment of peace. She picked up a mouse and headed back to the medicine cats den.

The petite warrior could still hear his name repeated by numerous voices with their own concerns.

"Aghhh..." she poked her head out to see Thrushleap toss his vole aside. "Go on a freaking patrol if you need to. You don't need my consent if you want to help the Clan. That's part of your dang job," he growled. Well, he was bound to snap sooner or later. She watched with sad eyes. "I'm going for a walk. You all are giving me a headache!"

Lightningheart heart let her legs lead her forward after the tom. "Don't worry," she glanced at the shocked and fearful stares. "He just needs some space." she explained gently.

She followed him out, just a few paw-steps behind. Her tawny fur brushing against the cold snow. The northern winds whistled in the birch forest, it brushed by her side. "It's hard isn't it? Not a second goes by without a matter to be attended to." she spoke up softly. Needless noise was the last thing he needed.

[Lionhearted]

As he paused in the snow, he could feel the snow crunch; pawsteps sounded behind him, and Thrushleap tensed.

"It's hard isn't it? Not a second goes by without a matter to be attended to," said a voice from behind him. Lightningheart. He couldn't get mad at her. Turning around, he smiled grimly at her in greeting.

"Yeah," he said, half chuckling. He approached her, and smiled again, but more tightly. "It's Thrushleap, this Thrushleap that. It's like they're dependent on me or something. Luckily, not everyone is." he shrugged, looking at the ground. "I'm sorry that I blew up back there. I probably shouldn't have. I'm their figure of authority, and I've disappointed them. Embarrassing that you had to see that." he gave her a crooked grin, and lashed his tail to vent the rest of his frustration. The leafbare wind blew through his fur, but he found it strangely comforting, along with the presence of his female Clanmate.

[Anya]

"Don't apologize. You're trying Thrushleap, and that's what matters." she returned his smile with her own. Maybe now was a good time to let him know what she thought. "I know you didn't mean it and I'm thankful of everything you've done for the Clan. You're our strength Thrushleap." she purred. And you give me hope. He didn't need to prove his worth. He wouldn't try so hard if he didn't care.

It was best if he was distracted. She didn't want him to think too much of the responsibility resting on his shoulders. He needed a break and she would help him get one. That's what clan mates were for after all. Sharing the burden. "It's cold," her nose twitched. "but the sun feels nice." She walked up, her nose to his shoulder. "Why don't we continue that walk?"

[Lionhearted]

He placed his tail on she she-cat's shoulder, touched by her words. "And you are a talented warrior, Lightningheart. May you walk a path of greatness. And that walk sounds good," he purred. "Hopefully, the snow goes away when the sun rises higher. For now, we can only cope with the chilliness. How is your own life? Going well, I hope? It's nice to see that there are still healthy, strong cats. We need all the support from you guys. I may be your strength, but all of us make up the strength of the Clan, and with warriors sick, us healthy cats need to work harder to help carry them through. Each of us individuals make up the Clan, but at the same time, we are one as a Clan. Let's appreciate this moment, Lightningheart. It's beautiful out here."

[Anya]

Lightningheart felt her ears grow warm at his praise. She dipped her head in thanks. She nodded to his words with understanding eyes. "Yes," she agreed to his observation. The petite she-cat breathed in a long, peaceful breath. "It's a wonderful day, even with the cold." It felt good to relax once in a while. She realized she needed this walk as much as he did. Her mind wandered, carried off by the breeze. This reminded her of her first Leaf-bare when she was a kit. It had been just a moon before her apprentice ceremony. The tawny she-cat smiled at the thought of laughing kits and the warmth of her mothers touch.

"How are your kits doing? And Cinderstep?" It had been a while since Lightningheart had visited the nursery. She had been busy with aiding her clan-mates due to the shortage of helping paws.

[Lionhearted]

Thrushleap tilted his head. "They're doing well, thanks for asking. I thank StarClan everyday that they're healthy." A lot of cats had been asking about his family, and he had never gotten tired to talking about them. but his breath hitched when he said his last sentence: I thank StarClan everyday... really? Was StarClan still watching over them, like they promised they would? If so, then why didn't they answer him when he went to the Skyfield? And why did they have to send this greencough, right when they didn't have a medicine cat?

"How's your life?" he asked abruptly, trying to take his mind off of the thought that constantly probed his mind. He yearned to broach it, but he didn't want to upset any warrior. So far, no one was aware of what happened at the Skyfield. Execept Cinderstep...

[Anya]

"That's good to hear. May StarClan bless them." she blinked back against the stronger breezes. The ground was cold and stiff but not uncomfortable to walk on. The tall grasses swayed and rustled as she walked through. She turned her attention back to Thrushleap. He seemed to be thinking. She decided not to press further and was glad she didn't when he asked how her life was.

Lightningheart had to think. How was her life? She woke up every morning, earlier on some when she was assigned to a dawn patrol. She would grab a meal before joining a hunting patrol. On her return she would take her apprentice out for some training and come back to help with attending the sick cats when needed. Then it was off to sleep or another patrol at the twilight hours. "My life's pleasant. I'm never bored, that's for sure." she smiled. She never really had the time to think of anything else while she worked.

It was good. She was blessed. She could only pray her thanks to StarClan and hope that they hear her. When in doubt she always fell back to what she was taught as a kitten. Believe in StarClan, follow the warrior code, and always serve your Clan.