[spade]

So much was happening, occurring, that Kestrelstar felt his mind scramble. What had been at the forefront was now shoved back under the weight of the discovery that Fernpaw was alive. The claws of ShadowClan perhaps hadn't harmed this soul, perhaps Twilightstar was mistaken. As the tiny body of the WindClan apprentice dug into his fur, it was almost nature at this point for Kestrelstar to curl around him, tail wrapped to enclose the kid.

Ears twitched as he caught wind of another cat approaching them. Nightleap. With a sigh, Kestrelstar turned his head. There was so much to take in, and while he didn't want to completely turn his former apprentice away, he had to handle... whatever this situation was. "Nightleap. Go see about fetching some moss soaked water please," he asked, turning his attention back to Fernpaw.

Fernpaw. The kid who had somehow wiggled his way deep into a crevice of Kestrelstar's shattered heart, a place where few cats resided. "Fernpaw, how did you..." he began, but closed his mouth. Bringing up what had been announced at the Gathering would only scare him, and for once the gray tabby felt like he didn't need answers right away.

So instead, he bowed his head, neck and chin encompassing the rest of Fernpaw's body as it molded into his. Reminiscent of their first meeting, moons ago by river that separated their two Clans.

At some point, Kestrelstar was aware that he would have to return Fernpaw to his home (stars knew there were cats who would be happy to see him well); but for now, this little sliver of happiness - it was his.

// @BILL. @Kunaiskrill