Originally Posted by Dipper
Snowybreeze's breath caught as Frostflight admitted it'd been rewarding, more than he could have ever imagined, and that flattened his ears slightly. "Oh?" he inquired, throat tighter than it was seconds ago. At least Frostflight had come back to RiverClan, sort of... he didn't like to think about what'd happen if the merge didn't eliminate any other outcome. "I imagine so," he said in an echo of an agreement, "but from my understanding, they've no concept of defending borders from other Clans." Predators, perhaps. But that wasn't the same as the constant struggle between Clan over which land should be owned by who. "With what few trees we have, perhaps they'll be able to keep themselves fed. I hope so, as satisfying the additional mouths to feed will not be an easy task..." Trailing off, he shook his head. "However, unlike others within this Clan, I intend to judge them on the merit of what they can add rather than their status as 'outsiders.'" Snowybreeze had already conjured a practical list of how they might benefit RiverClan, versus the drawbacks. Time would tell.
His usually-calculating gaze had a moment of softness when his shoulder was bumped, a fond albeit hesitant smile on his muzzle. It was a rarity and disappeared as quickly as it'd come, but it'd been there. "You're going to help Lionstorm?" The idea had him wrinkling his nose, then scoffing. "Why would you be lending a paw to him when he's been... Ah, he's always been like that, a perpetual state of prickly, endless and exhausting. I do agree the SkyClan cats will require further instruction on RiverClan's lifestyle, but it's unfortunate that the task has fallen upon Lionstorm and Fallenstar."
Snowybreeze let out a bitter puff of a laugh at that, shooting Frostflight a skeptical look. "Do you truly believe that Lionstorm will not goad them into a violent response? I admire Windystar's patience, but I am unconvinced that it'll last indefinitely." He had mixed feelings, genuinely not wanting another conflict but on edge from the aggression; for once, RiverClan hadn't started this but rather ShadowClan cats that were moving the border.
Although about to continue on that subject, everything seemed to halt as Snowybreeze processed with he'd said. Deputy. He was... the deputy? He blinked and stared--more like gawked--in utter shock, dumbfounded by what he'd been told. "That's what this has been about?" he asked, harsher than he'd intended but caught off guard, voice cracking. It was hard to actually comprehend that Frostflight, his friend for moons, had been promoted to SkyClan's deputy - of all positions. But that explained quite a few of the odd occurrences, and everything was clicking into place as he stood there with sheer surprise plastered over his features. Once he'd regained his precious composure, Snowybreeze coughed and amended, "I... apologize, that was an inappropriate reaction. I'd prefer to congratulate you. That's quite the accomplishment, and I assure you that my response to this is not to imply any belief of incapability. I cannot see you as anything but fit for the role." It was still a change that he couldn't have predicted, and it bothered him- the shift itself, the fact that he had been basically blindsided by it, everything. Snowybreeze wished he could find the words to ask a million questions that were circling in his mind, but they were eluding him. Congratulating his friend was all that mattered right now, that and Frostflight's mere presence. Those were good enough.
"No, it's alright," he reassured, the smile returning even if it was shakier this time, rattled by the new knowledge. Much like Frostflight, Snowybreeze was earnest as he went on to murmur, "I understand. And... you've returned, so I suppose I have very little to complain about provided you remain here."
[aaaa sorry this is super long]
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