[Fawn]

"Lion," Fawnsqueak echoed with the same inflection, rigid in the mouth of the den as he waited, breath shallow as if he was afraid a loud exhale would cause this moment to shatter. Whatever was about to happen between them, not that he could pinpoint what the meaning of this private meeting would be. It severely hindered his ability to prepare, make mental lists and maps to guide him through it.

The next thing that came out of Lionstar at least gave him the faintest of clues as to what this was. "Uh... maybe? I have a conscience and the motivation to be self-reflective, if that's what you're referring to." It was a little sarcastic, teetering on true uncertainty as he listened to where this was going. Oh... Frostfall. It was a stab in the gut as he recalled how they'd left things on a sour note. Frostfall had changed, a strange twist of the heart that'd overshadowed the good memories. Fawnsqueak still didn't understand what'd gone so terribly wrong that wrecked their relationship in a single night.

He snapped to the presence as he was getting overwhelmed with Lionstar inquiries. "Whoa, hey..." His wild desperation was unnerving. "Okay, let's take a step back." Fawnsqueak was going to need a moment to process the mess that'd been flung at him, and he reviewed it, jaw working in silent debate. "Look, I don't even.. understand the whole burial thing, to be honest. I get that it's a tradition or something, but we bury-- other things, too... and that's not a sign of respect really." It was a tough subject to speak on, especially in consultation with the leader when he felt as though he was lacking information to provide anything of worth.

Fawnsqueak's expression softened. A fond flicker of a smile crossed his muzzle, and he murmured, "You kind of accidentally said the quiet part out loud." The quiet part, something he knew was always in Lionstar, had always hoped was there. The quiet part was the unspoken, innermost feelings, Lionstar's own self-reflection that he tried to pretend didn't exist. It often wasn't revealed at all, so this was a rarity. Drawing in a deep breath, he started over to ask, "So... why do you feel bad? I know it's because you left him behind, but... why? Do you actually think Frostflight-- uh, Frostfall, would want you to get him?"