[Ziera]

// @spade | @Zero - set pre-angst <33 don't worry about matching length, just setting the scene a lil.

Silverfish. Iris. Sky.

"Stay close to me," Stormtalon mewed over his shoulder, thinking wryly to himself that the last thing he needed was Iris getting herself lost in one of the RiverClan dens. She was young, after all - he'd guess three moons or so - and Storm knew from experience about the flighty attention span of a kit; Brightpaw never listened to him for more than three sentences at that age.

...the mental comparison had him stiffening, tension knotting in broad shoulders as Storm reached Kestrelstar's den. Thankfully he'd managed to get himself under control, at least outwardly. But inside? The grey tabby's mind spun with those same three names over and over: Silverfish. Iris. Sky.

Sensing no tricks, Stormtalon accepted that Iris was really his little half-sister (even if the resulting puzzling emotions sent him into a tailspin.) Try as he might to dismiss Iris' claims, if just for her own sake - who else knew what she did? Only Storm heard their mother call his little brother Sky, the secret name he replaced with Bright. Not to mention Iris reeked of Silver's scent.

No. He had no doubt that Silverfish left the rambunctious little snot alone, defenseless in the heart of RiverClan territory and then hightailed it back to whoever's nest she kept warm these days. Stormtalon wished he could be surprised by that turn of events, but her actions now were her actions then: leaving Brightpaw and Stormtalon behind, abandoning RiverClan as if her loyalty meant less than dirt. It disgusted him.

Less than happy thoughts churned tirelessly in his mind but this was...not the time.

Stormtalon nodded toward the den's entrance, not looking at Iris (the resemblance to his mother was uncanny) when he said: "Go on." Following his own orders, the tabby padded inside, feeling the temperature drop a miniscule degree. "Kestrelstar." The tom's head bobbed in a respectful nod, his voice sounding cool yet restrained. "I have a favor to ask."