Dim Light (Stormwind)

Echowhisper followed behind closely, clearly still a little sleepy.

Puddlepaw took a moment to rouse himself. While the journey with Rainstorm made it so that he could at least tolerate his mentor, that didn’t mean he was eager to leave his comfy nest to go train with the other tom every day.

Berrypaw had to move away to keep him from rolling into her and cast him a stronger glare before leaving the den.

Graycloud stumbled out of the den once she finished grooming herself, yawning.

Puddlepaw rolled over at the unexpected sound, not used to sharing the den and having to be careful about bumping into other cats.

Echowhisper moved over so that Graycloud could have her nest to herself to get ready. The silvery she-cat stood at the side instead, cleaning her face.

Berrypaw woke up with a disgruntled sound when the older tom’s paw bopped her nose, casting him a mild glare.

Graycloud sat up in the nest and blearily started to groom her fur.

Puddlepaw was still asleep, but the morning light streaming through the den bothered him. The tom rolled over to get the sun out of his eyes, which caused his outstretched forepaw to bop Berrypaw’s nose accidentally.

Echowhisper awoke as soon as Graycloud stirred, stretching her sore muscles and trying to prepare herself for the long day of construction work ahead.

When the sun started to rise, most of the cats woke with it.

Echowhisper laid awake for some time. Everything in this warrior’s den was so much different than it was back home. There was no snoring Duststorm, and none of her brother’s rambling in his sleep about one thing or another. there were far fewer cats, too, and the small she-cat felt the chill to her bone thanks to the more frigid climate and the smaller amount of body heat that radiated into the den air. Eventually, she managed a fitful sleep.

Puddlepaw curled up tightly, lying awake. He hadn’t acknowledged the presence of the other apprentices in his den despite wanting company for some time.

Graycloud curled up in her nest and tucked her muzzle underneath a paw. She was asleep in moments.

Echowhisper nodded, a little surprised by the She-cat coming up to her, and also a little surprised by her offer. However, the She-cat let all of those thoughts leave her body with a loud sigh as she flopped down into the nest, laying on the very edge so that she didn’t take much room from Graycloud.

Graycloud padded up to Echowhisper and managed to give her a tired smile. “You can sleep with me.”

Echowhisper sighed, unsure of where to go. They hadn’t said where she’d be allowed to sleep, having had other things on their minds all day.

Unfortunately, with how exhausted everyone was they wouldn’t be able to start rebuilding until the next day.

By the end of the day, Echowhisper was dragging her paws, exhausted but satisfied with how much she’d done to help out. This was why she’d come all this way, after all.

Eventually, the trio reached the camp and were able to place down their burdens inside, but they were immediately sent back out because it was hardly enough bracken to fix the camp. This went on for most of the rest of the day, with other cats occasionally helping them with gathering the bracken, brambles, moss, etc. but mostly the rest of the Clan was hunting and patrolling, trying to build themselves back up.

Echowhisper was grateful for the slower pace, needing to slow herself down considerably as well in order to keep hold of her bundle.

Graycloud led the way back to the camp, albeit slower than usual considering the size of her bundle.

Echowhisper sighed, having to split her portion with Glaciertail. Her bundle kept getting in the way of her legs if she tried to carry it all at once, The petite she-cat tripping over it until she passed some to the tuxedo tom.

Once they had a sizable pile of the bracken, Graycloud started to gather up as much as she could carry, cramming it into her mouth and tucking it underneath her chin.

Echowhisper followed suit, while Glaciertail guarded their backs, wary of danger from the rogues.

Graycloud reached a thicket of Bracken and started to rip the branches/strands/whatever off.

(If you think that’s bad, think about Loveclan’s ratios! There’s way more she-cats than toms!

And yeah, at this point Echowhisper will probably try and experiment with a she-cat rather than touch one of the Toms! )

Echowhisper turned her head, her expression significantly more appalled now. Rainstorm didn’t mention any of this! While she tried to be angry at the tom for that, as if he’d misled her, she then thought back to the nature of their interactions. oh, right, the first time we really met was when he crammed his cock in my throat. The she-cat blushed slightly, keeping her head down and remaining silent.

Glaciertail huffed softly, appreciating the silence after coming dangerously close to losing his temper with Graycloud. That didn’t happen often for the laid-back tom, who clearly felt some residual guilt for what he’d done based on that reaction.

(Or one of the she-cats But yeah, that’s pretty much it. Oh my God, there are only six toms in the Clan, one of which is a prisoner of the rogues lolwut.

If I sound a bit loopy it’s because I’ve been feeling out of it since yesterday and I’m exhausted.)

Graycloud scowled at Glaciertail but didn’t respond to his words despite clearly wanting to because she knew it was true. She ignored Echowhisper’s horrified look, determinedly marching ahead to get some materials to fix up the camp with.

“At least I apologized,” snapped Glaciertail, the senior warrior giving Graycloud a dangerous glare.  “It’s not as if Shadowleaf wants my help now anyways; I tried.”  The tom shrugged, whereas Echowhisper gave Graycloud a bit of a horrified glance.  So, If I go into heat, my choices for toms are an apprentice or those two foxhearts!?

Graycloud sent Glaciertail a nasty look. “Oh, shut up. Like you’re any better. Over half of those kits are yours and you’re doing the exact same thing.”

Echowhisper pinned her ears back, picturing the cream-furred tom turning his back on her. “...Really?”

Glaciertail nodded to confirm what Graycloud said. “Shadowleaf is raising kits currently; Rainstorm won’t have anything to do with them.”