Irritation was making its way well underneath his fur as Kestrelstar heard the tom sit back down. Lips pulled back in a snarl as the leader cast a glare over his shoulder. "Eat something, for Stars' sake. You look skinnier than a WindClanner." His gaze was firm as it bore into Horsepaw, lingering momentarily before shifting to Goosefury. There was something in the Shield's tone that registered to him as worry. It made him want to scoff. To strike out with a claw. This pain that he felt... no one understood. "Yes. Make sure this mouse-brain's mistakes do not delay her training." In the end, he spoke with a neutral, disinterested tone as he dismissed both cats with a flick of his tail, turning once more and settling back into his nest.

[ no need to reply! just wanted to wrap this up ]

Today had been... okay. For once, Kestrelstar had awoken early with no recollection of the nightmares that plagued his sleep. No shadowy paths, no haunting whispers that breezed past his ears and tangled themselves into his fur. His paws weren't as shaky and his eyes were brighter. He had even taken a piece of prey from the fresh-kill pile and finished the entire morsal. Slowly but surely things were fading away - the grief, the sorrow, the pain. It still hurt, but... maybe he was getting better at handling it.

So when a familiar voice sounded at the entrance of his den, Kestrelstar lifted his head from his grooming. He felt ready to face any cat that might walk into his space today. "Whitepaw, how are you doing toda-" the leader began, though the rest of the question was cut short as he turned around, yellow eyes going from the face of the apprentice to the fluffball she dropped on his den floor. A fluffball that... had once been alive.

Suddenly his blood went cold and his throat felt tight and - dear stars was it getting hot in here? Shifting uncomfortably, Kestrelstar blinked to try to regain his composure, shifting his gaze up to the apprentice. Her expression. The frost that covered the lifeless kit. "...What... happened?" His tone was raspy and somewhat ragged as he felt all of the work, the progress for today, shatter like glass within him.

Turning his head from where he sat further in his den, Kestrelstar recognized the voice and scent of Wormbite. He remained silent as the shield reported on the progress of the two apprentices, nodding along before rising to his paws and padding over. "Good. It is definitely about time they're made warriors. Thank you for handling their assessment, Wormbite," he replied, nodding to the tom even though he was pretty sure he could not see it. An idea sparked in his mind as well about perhaps asking for his expertise in an area that Kestrelstar wanted himself and RiverClan to learn more about - but that could be dealt with later. "If that's all, make sure you grab something from the fresh-kill pile. I know our hunting patrols have been bringing back quite a bit."

It was rather hilarious how most of the kits that came in here were so naive. Too often they did not use their senses, check their surroundings. It only served to reinforce the idea that they should stay in the nursery - and especially stay within camp walls. From the shadows of the corner of his den Kestrelstar watched as Rainkit emerged into the dim lighting. He let her go on for a moment - whiskers twitching in amusement at the declaration of her promoting herself to the position of leader.

"Well, Rainstar, what will be your first act as leader?" Stepping out from where he'd been sitting, dark fur having added to aiding him in his hiding, Kestrelstar flicked his yellow gaze down to her, taking a seat nearby. There was a small twinge of displeasure, but he shoved it down for now. That was part of trying to be better, right? Feeling annoyed but not acting on it? Hopefully it was because it definitely felt like growth to him.

Seeing her face, the emotion that dwelled beneath the surface, Kestrelstar felt something in him almost relax. Most of the Clan grieved Stormtalon, but not in the way he did. Not in the way Plumstorm, or Snakeheart, or even Mistypaw did. They knew the tom beneath the calculating, cold green eyes, beneath the flashing claws and the mistakes he had made. They knew his heart, and the intentions he had behind every action whether good or bad or unspoken of. So in a way, it was almost comforting to see Mistypaw step up before him; at last, someone who could understand what he was dealing with.

"...I do." His words were soft at first, yellow gaze rising from where it had fallen to her paws. A mixture of grief, of sorrow, and even of relief swirled in his eyes. "...What do you want to know?" He knew from her expression that no one had told her the truth behind her former mentor's disappearance yet, so that task fell to him. As it should; no one else in RiverClan should have this burden.

Another day, another kit who seemed to wander in under the impression they were alone. This time Kestrelstar had witnessed the den breach from across camp. Still new to camp and the rules perhaps, and it was definitely something to speak to Swansong and Rosyfrost about later, though he knew the two she-cats had their paws full with Bearspot's kits as well.

Padding in after the young kit, Kestrelstar took a seat at the entrance of his den behind him. "I see you managed to sneak your way in here without anyone noticing," the leader began in a soft purr, before his smile faltered. "Well, almost."

Camp life had been running pretty smoothly, and most cats continued about their day. For Kestrelstar, however, the tom was finding it difficult to complete his duties today. First Stormtalon had been taken too soon, and last night had been Talonkit's burial. Too many deaths in such a short span of time, though luckily he knew he could now lean on Plumstorm or Snakeheart if needed. It offered him a small slice of solace in such a troubling time.

Hearing a voice at the entrance of his den that slipped in, the leader turned his gaze towards Horsepaw. He had not yet heard any report on how he was handling his punishment, and yet here he was asking to leave camp? "I'm unsure if you're aware how demotion works, Horsepaw," Kestrelstar rasped, shifting so that he was facing the tom. At the name of the traitor who had led rogues to camp, he growled. "No. You remain in camp as long as you are demoted. I have not heard anything yet that reassures me that you remain loyal to this Clan." Narrowing his gaze, he watched Horsepaw and simply ignored his latter question of him asking if he was alright; he didn't deserve an answer to that, he wasn't close with this tom.