You Are So Beautiful The River Can't Compare

Kestrelpaw was not used to the river. Well, he was, since most of his life he had had access to it. He didn't like it though; it was cold and wet and he wasn't meant to go in one. However, he did like sitting next to it on the moon-bright nights like tonight. His muscles were sore from training and travel, but as he realized in the soft grass, his muscles eased and he felt peaceful. He green eyes shimmered reflections from the silent water. Crickets and other forest noises rang in his ears, lifting his heart and soothing him at the same time. He couldn't stop his mind from wandering to think about Falsconstar's daughter, Feathertail. She was so pretty, so confident, and made him feel something funny he didn't understand. All day, Kestrelpaw wanted to be by her side, protecting her and making sure she was safe. He couldn't help wishing she was here now too.

Well Kestrelpaw was lucky his wish was about to become true. The warrior was out and about fully exploring the territory Windclan had gained over the past while. Sure she had seen some of it out on patrols, but Feathertail didn't really get to see what was on the inside of their borders. She liked exploring, and always determined to find nice spots to relax or good hunting spots. She was just about to head back to their temporary camp when she spotted an apprentice sitting next to some water. Kestrelpaw to be exact. The warrior decided to walk over, and sit next to him. "What are you doing out here all by yourself?" She asked.

Kestrelpaw jumped, fluffing out his fur in his defense. He calmed, soothing his shoulders when he saw it was Feathertail. Then, his heart fluttered. She talked to me! Feathertail had only politely acknowledged him, only talking to him when it was of a warrior nature. But now she was talking to him on a personal nature! "Uh, I, uh..." he took a deep breath, looking at the calm river. "I'm just watching the river, thinking. It's so calming, Feathertail." he said softly, looking to her and catching her gaze. "And beautiful. Like you." Oh! He was such a fool! Why did he say that? He let out the softest hiss and glanced down at his paws again, embarrassed.

Feathertail let out a small chuckle when the apprentice had jumped. "Didn't mean to scare you." but she went quite as soon as he spoke. "That's very kind of you to call me that Kestrelpaw." She said with a slight purr. "And I agree that the river is indeed calming. But I like sitting on the moor watching the grass sway in the wind. Now that is very calming." She said, recalling the memories of being home.

"I never really got the opportunity to enjoy our WindClan territory." he said mournfully, dragging his paw in the water and flicking water droplets to the side. "The dogs came when I was a kit. I was the last kit out of there; my parents nearly forgot me." he realized, becoming agitated by the thought. "They had all of my siblings, ready to go. And they were going to leave me." He paused, rambling on. "I am lucky to have Falconstar as my mentor. He is next to perfect." Kestrelpaw purred, looking over to her again and blinking slowly. "I wish I was his kin. How is it like, being his daughter?" he asked curiously.

Feathertail shrugged. "To me it's like being any other warrior. Just because he is my father doesn't make me special. I'm just like every other warrior. Ready to risk my life for my clan, ready to defend it no matter what." He knew that Kestrelpaw was very fond of her father, and it seemed the same way with her. "What's it like being his apprentice? Now that is something special."

Kestrelpaw's lit up when she asked him how it was being Falconstar's apprentice. He loved talking about Falconstar, and how proud he was to be his apprentice. "Amazing, Feathertail!" he said with a purr. "It's almost like... I..." He paused, thinking. "It's one of the hugest honors to receive, to be taught be a legend. It makes me sad that I won't ever be a deputy under him, though. That is my dream." he said with a small sigh, shrugging and turning to her. "Either way, I'll be the most amazing warrior he's ever seen. It would be embarrassing to have a pathetic warrior as your apprentice if you're Falconstar!" he said with another laugh.

"Well as long as you work hard, I'm sure he will be proud of you no matter what." The warrior curled her tail around her paws keeping him from getting cold. Leaf-bare was coming soon. "And I'm sure you may end up deputy one day. If you work hard enough." Feathertail looked up at the sky above. "I used to dream of being the deputy.. Well that was a long time ago. I'm happy being a regular old warrior." She said with a slight twitch in her nose.

Kestrelpaw noticed she shivered a little, and he stood and moved closer, pushing his pelt lightly against hers. He was taller now, just a little over Feathertail. He laughed, looking at the sky too. "You can still be the deputy, Feathertail. It's just as possible as me." he pointed out, playfully nudging her with his shoulder.

"I know it's possible. But if I was offered the position I would refuse. I'm not meant to follow in my father's pawsteps. I'm meant to be just a regular old warrior. And I think Falconstar knows this." She said looking back down to the cat beside her. "I'm perfectly alright with this." She let out a soft sound. "Now you? You are going to be a great warrior one day. Great enough to be deputy, great enough to be a leader." Feathertail said with a small purr.

"Really?" he purred happily, feeling his pelt grow hot. "I hope that one day I can prove you right." Kestrelpaw said with a small laugh. He paused, remembering how they met. "Where were you? The other cats said you were gone a long time." He said softly, hoping it wasn't a sensitive subject.

The gray warrior took a moment to recall. "I honestly have no idea.. I know I was far from home, since it took me a while to get back. I picked a direction and hoped that I would end up home, luckily starclan was on my side. I ran into many cats. Some kind, some not so much.. I can't even count how many times I was chased off when I tried to find food. I'm just glad I'm home. Well sort of home." There was so much more to the journey but it was very boring to talk about. It was pretty much the same thing everyday. "And yes. I was gone for a while. I disappeared for a good many moons."

Kestrelpaw was confused, contemplating why one would desert their clan without a good enough reason to remember. "Perhaps you wanted to explore," Kestrelpaw pointed out, trying to help the pretty she-cat. "or maybe the pressure of being Falconstar's daughter was too much." Kestrelpaw knew he wouldn't mind being his kin, but he also knew the pressure would be too much for some cats.