Clanmate Conversations (C)

Snow had been lightly drifting from the sky all day, but it began to come down heavier as Perchfall finally made her way back into camp. Two fish were wedged in her jaws; all that she'd managed to get during her hour or so of hunting. As much as she disliked the concept, she had to actually spend a bit of time resting before going back into her duties. She would allow herself that. Padding through the thickly piling snowdrifts around camp, over to the meager fresh-kill pile, the deputy deposited her catch. Her jaws felt stiff from holding the two fish, and she yawned to try and relax her face muscles. As wrong as it felt to eat her own catch, it was midday and she hadn't eaten yet. The elders and queens would have eaten in the morning after the dawn patrol. In order to have enough energy for her next border patrol, she'd have to eat something.

Sighing, the gray and white she-cat settled in the snow next to the pile and took a small bite of food. Sensing another cat approaching the pile, she silently pushed the other fish over with a paw, looking up as she offered the prey.

Birdsong padded toward the fresh-kill pile, shivering despite her long fur. Two of her kits had been made apprentices, but the others remained in the nursery still, needing more care. As a result the gray tabby was mostly in camp... Which truthfully wasn't the worst thing with how this leafbare seemed to be progressing. Still, she felt a bit guilty for not hunting more, and what fresh-kill she was given went to the clan's kits before herself.

Movement, and then a fish was being nudged in her direction. The deputy sat not far off, biting into her own meal.

"Thank you, Perchfall." Birdsong mewed, tugging the offered fish towards herself and sitting. She hadn't really talked much with the gray and white deputy, and she'd always come across as rather standoffish to Birdsong. Perhaps that first impression wasn't entirely true. Her gaze drifted towards the nursery... The kits would be fine for a bit, right?

A huff escaped her, and she shook her head, carefully biting into the fish.

"I worry for them, having to grow and train in this. I was born in leafbare, but it never seemed quite this harsh." She'd spoken her worries before she'd really thought about it, even though she was sure the deputy had plenty enough to worry about on her own. Probably the same worry buried in amongst the others. Birdsong cringed internally, gaze returning to the fish at her paws.

Perchfall was mildly content to lay in silence next to her Clanmate, taking small bites of the fish. A good piece of prey was something that she could often enjoy, though lately she didn't take quite as much relaxation in the action. An almost-permanent tension lay around her shoulders, the weight of her position and the Clan's current troubles lying heavily across her like a large boulder strapped to her back. However, there was still a kind of comfort in the familiar act of eating the small fish, even lying in the cold snow next to a Clanmate she knew little about.

All that she really knew about Birdsong was that the she-cat was a mother... and sure enough, when the queen spoke, it was about her kits. The worry of whether kits would survive through such a harsh leaf-bare was not a stranger to Perchfall. As a matter of fact, it was one of her more pressing concerns. However, frustratingly, there was little one could do about a season. The fact that RiverClan was already in such tough times, and that the overly cold and bitter blizzards would only worsen their situation, was an ever-present companion in her thoughts. "It is concerning," Perchfall finally agreed, tone neutral as ever, "but RiverClan will survive as it always has." I hope. I pray.

"We always have." She agreed, "Some would say hard times breed better warriors." It was evident from Birdsong's tone that she wasn't quite sure if she believed that herself, though there were plenty in Skyclan who seemed to. From her own experiences... Well, Skyclan was too caught up in vengeance and warmongering. And being lying hypocrites. "I think any sane cat would rather we not all suffer just for the sake of it."

Perchfall continued slowly eating her fish as the other she-cat talked, saying words that were probably on many of her Clanmates' minds. Of course, no one enjoyed this harsh season. It was difficult for everybody. But she was doing the best she could to ease whatever burdens she could. It took what little energy she had to not feel the annoyance that began to creep up on her consciousness. Instead, her face stayed neutral, and her tone showed no sign of any strong emotion when she eventually responded. "Suffering for the sake of suffering is foolish, but sometimes life is difficult no matter what measures we take." It would be nice once newleaf came around and they could focus on something other than just survival... however many of them were still alive by then. The bitter, pessimistic thought settled over her head like a stormcloud.

Birdsong nodded in quiet agreement, continuing to eat her fish while Perchfall spoke. "True." She spoke softly, not enjoying that the deputy was right. They could only hope that this harsh season ended sooner rather than later, and that newleaf came swiftly. For now, Riverclan and the rest of the forest would just have to endure.