[Jayvines]

 

Originally Posted by poppy.

 

Dovefluff was nearly startled when she heard a voice beside her, but any jumpiness was stamped out by her eyes meeting the warm gaze of Lioncrest, lapis hues brightening before she realized how painfully, embarrassingly obvious she was being. Ducking her head until she had her face under control, Dove smiled at the golden warrior. "I don't mind at all." She purred out, nodding in greeting.

Smoothing her chest fur with a slightly quivering paw self-consciously, Dovefluff felt her paw graze raw scar tissue and she was able to keep any sign of unease with the memories attached from crossing her face, and she instead continued to her paw to place on the ground. "Thank you... they're both very talented, I'm lucky to be surrounded by such good cats." Her wording made it clear that she was also referring to Lioncrest himself and Alderstep, who both played such important roles in her... not-dying.

Tipping her head to the side as Bumblestar waited for cats to gather, she turned back to look at him, sapphire hues trying to meet emerald orbs. "How've you been doing? I... I understand it's a pretty rocky time." With wars and deaths and territory stealing and Cracklepaws, she wanted to make sure he was doing alright. Nervousness grabbed her by the shoulders. Did she sound too awkward? Too nervous?

~ Lioncrest ~

A pleased rumble echoed out from Lioncrest's chest, and he shuffled a whisker-length closer to the silver she-cat beside him as her seemingly-enthusiastic response escaped her jaws. He sat up a little straighter as her compliment quickly followed. He WAS quite a wonderful cat to have in one's life, wasn't he? Stars only know what Thunderclan would do without him there.

"I am faring well enough; all things considered," he stated, amber eyes flicking down to meet her searching sapphire gaze with a self-assured and steady one of his own. "I am confident Thunderclan will weather this storm with strength and courage, just as we have done in the past. Do not fret over my safety; I am well equipped to handle whatever challenges the forest may throw my way."

His attention was pulled away briefly as Bumblestar announced some new arrivals, however his eyes narrowed slightly as she called out for this "Hawk", who apparently held little regard for social etiquette and careened into the clearing, late, like a bat escaping the Dark Forest. Rolling his eyes slightly, he elected to return his focus to the much more put together feline next to him. Casually flicking his tail over to rest against her flank, Lioncrest called out the apprentice's name as a respectful acknowledgement of his leader's choice to accept the young cat before awaiting her next announcement.