[spade]

Originally Posted by Jackpot

Snowfern | he/him | @spade

The newly returned tom quietly padded into the leaders den, his head slightly lowered. A lot of things had changed in the moons he had spent away from the clan, but not all of it was bad. Kestrelstar didnt seem to really be as bad as some cats made him out to be, though the crimes he apparently committed certainly gave them good reason to dislike him. Still, he was never one to disregard the growth of another cat. He seemed like he was trying to change, so Snowfern would do his best to support the younger tom in his journey.

Shaking out his long fur as he approached the leader, Snowfern cleared his throat lightly before he began speaking, ¨Im, uh, sorry for disappearing. I should have said something beforehand, but after everything that was going on I just really needed to get away from things, yknow? It was a stupid decision, I see that now.¨ He didnt see the point in dilly-dallying, so he cut right to the chase. Between the death of his beloved apprentice, the loss of both Lionstorm and Sootstar almost simultaneously, and the conflicts with Thunderclan, it had just overwhelmed him.

A sigh left the one-eyed tom as he gazed at Kestrelstar. He seemed to be doing the best he could in his position, and that was something Snowfern greatly respected. RiverClan really needed someone to step up and take charge, and while Kestrelstar had certainly made several rather big mistakes at the beginning, things seemed to be taking a turn for the better. The loss of multiple innocent cats were certainly nothing to ignore, but rather than direct hostility towards the leader for it, he would rather try and make it so more deaths could be avoided in the most peaceful way possible. The divide in the clan was already great enough.

Sitting stationary in his den, surrounding by walls that seemed all too quiet today, Kestrelstar was doing his best to rifle through the thoughts that plagued him. He was really to understand he Clanmates better, but it just didn't make sense. First there had been Stormpelt - now Stormpaw. A cat he had actually admired a bit for his resilience. Until it had come crashing down at not one but two Gatherings in a row. The next was Floodfrost - now Floodpaw. The tom yowled at him in his den about the mistakes he made, the wrongdoings he did - and then turned around and did those very same mistakes at a Clan meeting.

Was this was RiverClan was now? Were they all calling him out for his mistakes only to turn around and commit the same exact ones? Lionstorm had left RiverClan in his care after Sootflare's cowardly abandonment, and on days like today Kestrelstar felt as though he was failing the golden tom. Not once had he seen him in a dream, or felt as if he was being guided. His belief in StarClan wasn't strong, but if his dreams could be filled with cats of the dead like Duskfall and Pebblepool, why hadn't Lionstorm come?

A voice interrupted the leaders' thoughts, yellow eyes moving to see who it was. Snowfern, an old warrior who had been missing for many moons - back when Sootflare had been leader. "I know," he replied, a sigh exhaled along with the words."It's... overwhelming. I understand." He truly did. After all, not even two moons ago Kestrelstar had done the same; left his Clan at the appearance of a vision that promised RiverClan's demise if he didn't go. Was this another precedent that he had set for the Clan he loved so much? That if things get too hard, the only solution was to leave? He could only hope it wasn't.

Originally Posted by Angelique

-->Petuniapaw

The apprentice felt in the mood to go up and bother Kestrelstar. It hadn't been long since the meeting, but upon seeing how upset he was despite him staying calm she just had to. She had nearly come back from the lionsbeach, trying to find the perfect gift. As she walked in a flat rock with a fossil was inside. It was really pretty depsite her not knowing what it was. It was the girst time she had seen one.

Petuniapaw didn't enter the den. Just like she had in the medicine den she sat outside of it. Cats seemed to respect her more if she waited for permission. Snakeheart seemed to appreciate it. "Kestrelstar! I brought something for you. It might not take away the stress, but its a really nice peice.", she meowed. The apprentice hoped he liked it. She really did. She'd be upset if he didn't.

// @spade; here comes Petunia and spoiling him \\

As the day passed by slowly, like sand being blown across Lionsbeach, Kestrelstar felt his eyes began to tire. His nest appeared much more comfortable, and though he hadn't eaten yet today the tabby tom, sleep called out to him. Jaws parting in a yawn, the RiverClan leader gave a shake of his head that traveled down his shoulders, flank, and finally through his tail. Hopefully that would keep him up for just a moment longer, in case any of his Clan came in needing him for something.

Which was exactly what happened. Ears swiveling around, Kestrelstar recognized Petuniapaw's voice. Stars, it still hurt to hear sometimes, and images of her aunt flashed briefly in his mind. "Come in," he called, taking a seat from where he'd been standing as he waited patiently for the apprentice to enter his den. Not many cats in the Clan had the same tact as she did - but he was certain it was due to being related to Petuniaflame and not Blizardsky.

Originally Posted by CatontheMoon

@spade

Flaremist padded into the leader's den. "Uhm, Kestrelstar? May I have a word with you?"

Having finally gotten rid of the scraps left over from the extra nest he'd been building - a sight that had hurt to look at while it had still been there - Kestrelstar felt as if he could finally breathe again. It was one step closer to truly moving on, and starting to really focus on himself. Just as he was about to curl up into his own nest, paw steps sounded near the entrance of his den, and the gray tabby tom blinked, turning his head to see who it was. "Yes?" he questioned, wondering what this was in regards to.

Originally Posted by Naiad

(So sorry this took so long to get up!)

Hollykit nervously crept into the spacious den, staring around with wide green eyes. The skinny tuxedo swallowed anxiously before straightening up. She had to at least look presentable and confident. She mentally rehearsed the words she had gone over and over in her head before speaking, "Excuse me? Kestrelstar? Is it alright if a speak with you?" She knew exactly what she was going to ask, and was fairly certain of the leader's reaction, but she still fretted over the words to come. What was the worst that could happen? Kestrelstar says no? It wasn't the end of the world. The kit took a deep breath before taking a step deeper into the den.

She knew exactly what she was going to ask: If she could change her name. Hollykit just... didn't fit. It didn't feel right, and she didn't want to live the rest of her life with a name she didn't really like. Going through life as Hollykit, then Hollypaw, then Holly-whatever... it didn't appeal to her. The ebony she-kit had a name selected, and had even picked out a few back ups - just in case.

@spade

From where he sat in the den, Kestrelstar heard the tiny pitter patter of paws before Hollykit spoke. Kits were never that sneaky, no matter how much they thought they were. But the RiverClan leader would never call them out on it - after all, he remembered his numerous adventures with Stormtalon that involved plenty of sneaking he thought was pretty stealthy.

He recalled when he had first met Hollykit - back then she had been named June, and had been with her brother Ace, now Goldenkit. But Goldenkit had been missing for some time, and Hollykit had just come back. It was good to see that she hadn't decided to sneak out again. "What is it, Hollykit?" Kestrelstar asked, watching her curiously.