[dino.]

Originally Posted by Jayvines

The sudden appearance of one of her Keepers was unexpected, however the serious tone that Bumblebreak spoke in immediately captured her attention. Sitting up from her nest, the tan molly gave a few quick blinks to remove the drowsiness from her eyes before standing and approaching her visitor.

"Of course, what seems to be the issue?" she stated, voice slipping into her usual no-nonsense tone as she cleared her throat.

bumblebreak === >

Her guarded resolve quickly began to crumble, and she averted her eyes as she sat down—a little closer to the center of the den this time—and wrapped her tail around her paws. When Sparrowstar spoke her gaze snapped right back up again, further narrowed. "There's no issue," she managed to say without hissing. "I'd already talked to Shallowshiver, Cinderpaw, and Cindersky about this. Might as well be your turn, before I ask for what I need."

She gathered her words again before beginning. They came a bit easier than last time, perhaps because she knew Sparrowstar much less personally. "I know you still believe I'm a tom. Everyone does, and I don't blame 'em. It's not like I've ever said anything about it. But I'm not. Never was. I'm a she-cat and I'd like for you to start referring to me as such."

Without waiting for a reaction, she barreled on, the sentences practically tumbling from her tongue in their urgency. "I'd like the whole Clan to refer to me as such. I'm sick and tired of hearing the wrong words day after day. I want to make an announcement at the next meeting about it." Something edged with sharp determination entered her tone, and her eyes took on an almost challenging light. "I'd like your permission but I'm just as willing to do it without."

Bumblebreak meant it. Hearing the same incorrect thing each day felt sickening, and even if Sparrowstar denied it for whatever reason(perhaps for some foolishly bigoted excuse, if she was truly as cruel as some part of Bumblebreak feared), she had no issue with barging her way up that tree.

Something told her Cindersky would have admired that.