The world simply needs more affection [c]

Stormdance was in a startlingly good mood as of late. It was pretty rare for him to ride a high like this for so long, but… how could he not? A clean victory at the gorge, with vanishingly few injuries and Riverclan’s message sent. And, the thing that was really sending him over the moon-- He and Brookstone were officially mates. Their new status as a couple did not afford them any extra free time as senior warriors of the clan, but when they had the time, between patrols and apprentices and the recent battle, Stormdance was spending much of his spare time with his mate. His mate! What a fantastic and wondrous thing!

They weren’t making a huge deal of it to their fellow clanmates (though they weren’t exactly hiding it either) but Stormdance wanted to tell a few close people. Mostly because he was so excited. He’d already told his mother, she was the first he told, and it warmed his heart to see her so happy for him. He figured it was only right he told another cat he considered family-- one who saw Stormdance’s feelings for what they were long before he did.

“Scooch,” Stormdance said, poking Rowansong to make room. He found Rowansong relaxing in a corner of camp as he ate, and in true brotherly fashion, Stormdance has come to break up the peace. Plopping down next to Rowansong with his own meal set down between his paws, Stormdance gave him a broad smile. “I’ve got something to tell you.”

Hopefully the good news, and the chance to tease his former mentor (which Stormdance is already braced for), would make Rowansong happy too. He’d already heard some of Rowansong’s struggles with his own apprentice, Larkpaw. It was admittedly a little amusing, given how much it reminded Stormdance of how rocky Rowansong’s own apprenticeship had started out, but it concerned him too. And he sympathized. He’d hated the feeling of helplessness that came with feeling like you were failing your apprentice. He wished he could do more to help than offer advice and a listening ear, but this was one of those things Rowansong would have to figure out himself. Still, Stormdance would be here, and at the very least, provide distraction from those struggles for a while with company. They may not spend as much time together now, but Rowansong was still his friend, his brother, and he cared deeply for him.