Fledgling || RP

Dovespring ||

Dovespring knew some drama was going down in camp but couldn't figure it out. She figured with everything going on she should cheer up Bramblesnap. He seemed really prickly, or maybe it was just his rough pelt standing on ends. The she rolled her shoulders as she wandered the camp looking for her feather friend. "Bramblesnap?" She asked quietly peeking into the warriors den. Ready to turn on her heel if he wasn't there.

Bramblesnap ||

The last few days seemed to roll and replay through his memory oh so vividly, yet it seemed a blur all at the same time. His father had been exiled, his mother had disowned him, denied her own impurity. Bramblesnap was sure there had to be some kind of reason for his father's actions; one that drove him to that point. That, the newly ranked warrior could understand. He too had been tipped over the point where his patience ended, to the point the adrenaline drove him to merciless acts of violence. Ones he had reason for. Ones that resulted in deserved consequences for the other party.

The tabby finally found himself able to rest for the first time in a while. There was no doubt that he couldn't care less about his mother "disowning" him, and the lack of his father's presence would have likely hit harder if he'd encountered his kin more regularly as he grew. But Bramblesnap had found independence early - a blessing that seemed to be with the current ongoings. Although, he didn't look too far into the whole situation. He hadn't time for it. Sure, it agitated him; Burntflight had just about humiliated him, but he didn't need his mother. He never did. Never will.

With a paw dangling over the edge of his (mostly flattened) bedding, the large tom lay half asleep. That was until he heard a voice from across the den. "Bramblesnap?"

His head lifted, his fur bristled. He wondered if this would be some freshly served mockery from some lousy apprentice; mockery like the type he had received when he revealed his inability to stay afloat in water. The corners of his lips twitched, a snarl forming upon his visage until he realised who the greeter was. He shut his mouth, glaring at Dovespring from behind his mop of hair. The two had spoken following the latest "incident", but with the looming feeling he was being stalked and the lack of shits to give, Bramble hadn't admitted to everything he felt, nor to what was going on. He knew this she-cat, knew that she was dim enough to have not listened in on what was likely big news to the whole clan at this point.

"Dove?"

He greeted his friend with nothing but a grunt save for the response of her name, yet he didn't seem to be against her presence.

Dovespring ||

The dark tabby she smiled softly at his return greeting and crept into the warrior den. Her footsteps were surprisingly quiet as she moved very unlike her usual loud and bouncy energy. "Are you feeling okay? You usually don't stay in the warrior den for too long." She asked laying down next to him thinking to the times he'd rather be out of camp than in it. Dovespring never knew why he prefer being out of camp since she loved to be in camp with all her friends and family.

Bramblesnap ||

His eyes narrowed, a frown embedded into his face as if it were chiseled in stone. Nothing out of the ordinary when it came to this particular tom, really. Many times he'd ask another "what's it ta' yew?" or something along those lines, but Dovespring was acting different. Her rather peculiar behaviour made the dusty tabby's ear twitch, and slight curiosity peaked within him, though he pushed it aside. She was always so... Well, she lived up to her name. She was like a flightless bird - hadn't she mentioned being able to fly once? He was sure she was at a loss of a few marbles, or just another ditzy little thing that wandered about uselessly.

It was true, he preferred to linger about outside the camp, hunting as he always had done since he gained even an ounce of freedom as an apprentice. Now he was older, he could do just about whatever he liked (in his eyes), and that happened to be remaining beyond the security of camp, the stuffiness and peering eyes of snoopy strangers. He nodded, grunting again, "I'm fine." Bramblesnap shrugged and didn't shift as Dovespring laid beside him. He remained still, peering down into her eyes after scanning the room for a flicker of a second. "Can be 'ere if I want. Think I've given 'em 'nough of my own prey for the day." He hadn't been happy about the rules implemented as the famine took over the valley from the start, and had undoubtedly broken a few of them since. He always fed himself first, and if not himself, he'd sneak Dovespring some extra rations without her knowledge, nor without care of it getting either of them into trouble. "Bitch's got 'er possy of suck-ups out there too. Can deal with 'em sometimes but the headaches're gonna split my skull open."

He sat for a moment, staring at the wall of the den, but soon back at the dark tabby she-cat. "Ain't yew meant to be bein' mollycoddled by yer mother?" He offered a smirk, one which seemed to crack the molded frown on his visage to the point it almost seemed unnatural.

Dovespring ||

She hummed and nodded her head, "you give so much of your prey to the clan. That must be why your so popular, right? I'm sure everyone likes you and wants to be like you." Dovespring admired Bramblesnap's ability to hunt she felt like he was always going to bring something back even with the famine happening. "what? You skull is going to split open?" Her eyes wide with panic about her friend being hurt. She didn't know how to help him, "do you need the medicine cat den? They could help and make sure your head doesn't split open." She fidgeted with her paws unsure about what to do, "maybe I'll ask Owlfall or Starlingdawn if I can learn some thing so I can help you more." She said wanting to assist Bramblesnap as much as possible. 

Dovespring thought about it but shook her head, "mama has my little siblings to take care of! I have new little siblings so I need to go get more toys for them! Thats right I was looking for you to see if you wanted to collect gifts for my little siblings, flowers, pebbles, leaves, mossballs, and pebbles." She smiled even brighter when she talked about her little siblings.

Bramblesnap ||

He raised a brow but slowly nodded in agreement. He saw it best to feed himself, and definitely wasn't a fan of handing over prey he had tried his best to catch to those he had little to no care for. For all he cared, they could starve and rot.

And dim-witted she was. Of course, Dovespring was oblivious enough to not realise that the attention Bramblesnap received was mostly out of disdain than admiration, save for that from Talonpaw, herself and Curlyrose on the odd occasion. His brother had found himself slipping out of the prickly tom's good books, however, ever since his mother's demand that he was no longer considered family, the day his father was escorted out of camp. The day he was compared to the tom that had been so brainless as to execute an act of the sort so poorly. He took the compliment, allowing himself a brief moment of pride before moving on.

The tabby tom's brows furrowed; Dovespring really was something rather special, wasn't she? "It's an expression yew ditzy ass. My head ain't doin' nothin'." There was an essence if venom in his tone, but he relaxed more as he lay beside the smaller feline.

Ah yes, Tanglebranch the intruder and professional snoopy bitch had herself another litter. Once before Dovespring had dragged him along to visit some kits within the nursery, but this time he had the fortune of escaping that... Until now, at least. He wanted to get out and about, however, to stretch his legs. Plus, the task seemed like one that wouldn't quite involve another scolding from the old crone. He pondered on the matter for a moment, thinking about telling the she-cat that she can go and get them herself, but finally answered, "couldn't hurt ta' get outta this shithole, hm? May find some decent fuckin' food on the way for ourselves." The corner of his lips cracked a smirk.

Dovespring ||

She looked at him with large eyes making sure that Bramblesnap was telling the true. "Are you sure?" She asked softly looking down to her chest for a moment before smiling. "I'm glad your okay! Though I should ask if I can learn herbs." She said nodding her head agreeing to herself. "It's not a potty hole. But I'm happy to get some food with you! I love eating with you." She bounced up ready to help Bramblestep up. Dovespring was excited again already shaking off the fear she had for Bramblesnap.

Bramblesnap ||

He couldn't help but give her a small smile of his own before standing, "yea, yea. Herbs, eh? May be better for yew doin' all tha'; can't fight, can't hunt - or won't. Ain't gonna get yew very far if sum'n comes for us out 'ere." He held his ears back for a moment, eyeing Dovespring from behind his hair with an almost sickeningly sorry expression. Quite frankly, he didn't believe that she was fit to be a warrior, goodness, she'd ranked up late. The nursery always seemed to require more assistance with all of those little ones running around, but Bramblesnap wasn't quite so sure how adamant his friend was about working the kind of job they both did, but his ideals never wavered and he thought her best suited to a job of the kit-watching sort. He digressed.

Letting out a hefty breath, he stretched his paws before him, though one may argue that the exhale was one of disbelief. He watched the molly bounce up before he moved, lightly shaking his head as she disagreed with him. "Whatever yew say, fledglin' ." Silently, the tom hoped she'd catch onto his attempt at endearment, but his doubts were high. She wasn't the brightest, which crossed Bramblesnap's mind on the frequent. His paws steadied his weight beneath him as he stood, seemingly tall compared to his companion. Whatever they were leaving to get, he didn't mind. Her company was enough for him, and the growing reassurance that she wouldn't flat out drop him when she pleased made him feel lighter if anything. He looked down at her before taking his first few steps towards the exit, making sure she wasn't too far from his side. The last thing he wanted was someone providing unwanted intervention on his outing with Dovespring.

He took it upon himself to strike up some conversation on the way out, thinking back on their past discussions. "Speakin' a' which - yew never proved ta' me that yew could fly, hm? I'd still love ta' see how that happens." A smirk of almost mockery curled up his visage as a huff of laughter came from his nose. He still didn't believe it - who would? But Bramblesnap was truly intrigued. Did she truly believe that she could?

Dovespring ||

The molly nodded her head, "Well that's what I have you for Bramble! You hunt and can fight so you'll always protect me!" She smiled not terribly worried about her inability to survive if she was left  alone.
She glowed at his term of endearment having always loved to get nicknames from her feather friends
Dovespring blinked before cocking her head, "But my name is Dove of course I can fly! Come on! I'll show you!" The molly said bouncing ahead of Bramblesnap leading him to the forest.

"Alrighty! You stay here and I'll show you" She looked determined before darting away behind some trees a small thumping noise before she appeared in the branches. You ready Bramble?" She asked but didn't wait for him to respond as the dark she charged forward on a branch leaping off of it.  Those few seconds of air had a small appearance of flying even without wings. She had listen to her mentor tell her it looked like she was flying when she jumped from branch to branch hence why she said she could. The molly then landing on a different tree's limb, only almost tumbling off for a second before she was stable. Surprisingly she had more balance when climbing then when she was on thr ground.

Bramblesnap ||

The two had made their way out by now, side by side until Dovespring told Bramblesnap that she'd prove her ability to fly. He shook his head, that smile never shifting from his face as the black tabby molly skipped ahead of him. Her joyful response to his term of endearment would trigger a rather apparent pang in his chest - a good one, he could only assume. Large tipped paws touched the forest floor, heavy yet he wasn't trudging... In fact, he was rather calm and quiet despite the storm that had brewed in his mind. The feeling of the dirt beneath his paws only reminded him of the freedom he had, the freedom he didn't wish to lose. He wondered how his father may feel, out there alone... But Duststorm likely didn't need anybody. He didn't need his son.

"Stay here and I'll show you." And he did. The large tom stood a little distance from the trees, eyes following her from behind his shaggy fur, carefully observing Dovespring's every movement. "Aight," he spoke, disbelief apparent in his tone, yet some would assume it flat. A look of pure amusement curled upon his maw, a twisted smirk that relaxed as he huffed... But soon enough it had faded he could hear her climbing higher and higher up the tree, the branches likely shaking beneath her paws as she clung to the next. She wasn't serious, was she? Bramblesnap only assumed she would jump, be it to the next tree or to the ground. Surely she'd only carry out an attempt at the latter if she truly were a fool?

He didn't want to have to carry her back to camp in a state. For one, he didn't feel like carrying dead weight, and would they really believe him if he explained that she was trying to fly? Her name didn't grant her abilities... Else his would likely be rather mundane.

Thankfully, her paws met the branches of the next tree, and then the next. The wood shook beneath her paws, and the large dusty tom may have flinched to run forwards. He remained stood where he was. "Ain't exactly flyin'... Didn't know yew could do tha', though." It was impressive, really. He'd give her that. He was never the skilled climber himself, more endorsed in the art of hunting and fighting - the things he saw as useful. Perhaps she wasn't such a clumsy idiot, after all; not in the trees at least. He found himself softly smiling up at her.

"Am I the first ta' see this, or did yew end up showin' Tiger earlier on?" Truthfully, he was curious. It wouldn't have meant much to him, but being the one who was the first to see something of the sort appealed to him. A skill she had promised to show another before him when they were younger.

Dovespring ||

She huffed up in her tree "Sure it is! I wasn't touching the ground the whole time!" She then slids down the tree and ends up tumbling into a somersault on the ground. She giggles after shaking her head.

She cocked her head for a moment before dragging her paws across her face, "I forgot! I'm a horrible cat! How could I forget!" She pouted clearly distraught about forgetting for her promise.

Bramblesnap ||

Scoffing, the large tom tittered at her friendly retort, clicking his tongue, "yea, yea, if yew say so." His eyes rolled to the side. As Dovespring slid down the drew to come to a tumbling halt, Bramblesnap would find himself padding towards the she-cat. He would have squinted his eyes at her or made some judgemental remark had this been any other feline, but the black tabby's giggles seemed to shift even the most stubborn of expressions, allowing him to chuckle for a brief moment.

His features would relax once more, moving himself to be beside the molly. He nudged her on the arm with his own, offering some words to stop her look of dread, "naw yew ain't, stop yer mopin'... He obviously wasn't interested if he ain't bothered ta' ask since. Don't think 'bout it too much; ain't worth the time." Tail softly swaying behind him, the tom walked forwards and led the way, his shoulder brushing up against her as he moved. "C'mon, yew wanted stuff for yer siblings, didn't'cha?" The warrior turned to watch her, to see if her expressions had changed.