Time's up (OPEN WIDE)

The Riverclan leader felt nothing for this day. In the past, he might have been waiting for this to come but now... so many stuff had happened that Starlord's issue felt meaningless. It was more of a thing he had to do to keep his word. Jaystar soon spotted the rogue in the camp and he approached with a neutral mask on his face. "Starlord, please meet me at my den. There's something we must talk about." He said calmly, way too serious to be considered kind. Anyway, he held no good bonds with ginger and white tom so there was no need to pretend they were on good terms.

The large, blue-greyish warrior turned his body and walked to the small cave under the willow tree. Yet, he didn't enter until Starlord approached him. Once they were inside, the leader did not sit down but just looked at the other tom with the same serious expression. This was just a formality for his words of the past. His time in Riverclan was over and it was time for him to leave the clans' territories. It shouldn't be much of a trouble since he had shown a dislike for them anyway. It was clear he would never be a warrior. "Starlord... as I said the day you arrived, your stay here was temporal and now your time is over. I will thank you for being good to Goldeneye and the kits... and for hunting for the clan too. That's why I will send you with an escort back to the Twoleg farm so you can return safely if that's okay with you."

Starlord was milling about the camp after one of his many impromptu hunting patrols. Voles had proven the easiest for him to catch here, and so he had made a habit of doing so whenever the medicine cats did not need his assistance. They usually didn't but he almost begged them to let him lend a paw. Every other moment was spent with the kits outside of their patrol time and visiting Finchstream. In his time with Riverclan, the loner had found a rhythm. Only his lack of true obligation to the clan kept him satisfied. He had no ties to Jaystar or the Starclan cats that had supposedly set up this whole ordeal, the loner was merely a guest and every part he played was of his own decision. And he liked it that way. Thinking of his satisfaction was interrupted by a voice that caused his teeth to clench almost instinctively. Jaystar.

Without so much of a nod, stuffing back the disdain of having to follow him to the honorable leader's den, Starlord padded after. His steps were rigid and slower than normal at the thought of having to converse with the cat who Gold considered a mate. As he entered the den, his maw took up an abnormally unrevealing and neutral expression. Once the words left the silver tom's maw, Starlord's expression fell. The natural pounding of his heart seemed to slow and any of the natural spirit within him was drained out in an instant. Like his patrol with Scorchclaw days earlier, the ginger and white coated loner was unlike himself as he let out a fervent and almost desperate low meow, "I can't leave them, Jaystar. I can't leave her. It will break, Gold and the kits... there's nowhere for me in twolegplace. That was never my home. You can't send me away. I haven't done anything wrong."

The pleading edge to his voice, making it seemed almost raw, disgusted the loner within the recesses of his mind. Here he was, near groveling at the paws of the tom his despised more than any other cat that had crossed his path. But the thought of leaving behind the only cats that truly mattered was sickening. Unintentionally, his claws tore at the earth as the angst build up inside of him. Why couldn't things simply consider as they had? In all of his time here, the loner had not caused any issues. In fact, he had done what he could to help that cats that needed it and created friendships with several of the Riverclan cats. Was Jaystar really merely the cold-hearted brute that had sent Gold off to die on his own? Were his suspicions correct? As much as he hoped not, the sense of dread clawing at the depths of his belly only welled up further. This couldn't be the end.

For the first time in his life, and to his surprise, Jaystar felt bad for the tom. It was true he had done nothing wrong. He helped his former mate and was with her when the kits arrived. He hunted for Riverclan the moons he stayed and had proven to be a good parent figure for the kits too, even if he hated to admit. Yet, his resolution was clear. The tom just shook his head slowly, with a sad and truly sorry expression. "I'm not saying this because we were never in good terms. I must admit I still don't like you but to be honest, is mostly because I'm jealous of how you have the chance to be with Goldeneye and the kits when I couldn't because of the weight of leading my clan... But now... after all the stuff I had to deal and see during the eclipse... after witnessing one more time how easily life can be taken away... I see that I should just be grateful for the protection and love you offered them, for escorting them back home." The tom took a step forward and looked into Starlord's blue eyes, sincerely not happy about him leaving. For one part, it was a relief to him and those who had to escort him. Even though he had done no harm, a cat who had never cared about the Code, Starclan or the clans could be hardly trusted by a conservative cat like Jaystar.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you stay, not as a loner who never wanted to even care about the clans' life. I respect your beliefs but here in Riverclan, you must be warrior or train to be one to be welcomed here. And I fear... you could never do that because you don't believe in our lifestyle." He mewed softly but with his voice clear enough. His decision was final and even if it would pain who had some sort of relationship with him, it had to be done. The large silver tom passed by the loner, offering him a quick nod. "You can stay here if you wish until the announcement is made or join me and sit down next to the willow branch so you can say goodbye." With those last words to Starlord, Jaystar left the den and soon climbed the said branch.

His green eyes looked around, spotting some of his kits as well in the camp. He looked at the medicine cat den a second, already imagining Goldeneye's objections. Jaystar just sighed and lifted his head, ready for what was about to come. He only wished his clanmates would understand. "Riverclan! There's something I must announce!" He yowled, trying to catch the attention of apprentices and warriors.

"But why?" The words came out a soft hiss, continuous insistence, "No cat has shown any disdain for me. It is really impossible for clan cats to accept one who chooses to live of their own free will? I would never be a clan cat. But my presence here hasn't disturbed your clan. What will Gold do when I'm gone? Galepaw, and Sparkpaw, and Ivypaw, and Berrypaw. They all see me as their father, Jaystar. As much as you despise it, how will they take this?" Starlord's speech was fast and urgent. Disbelief was written all over his expression. In his entire lifetime, he had never seen anything like the clans. Many groups had their ways but most unlike this. In times past, he and his kin had been chased away for stealing prey or crossing the lines of unknown cats. And yet, never had they been cast away simply for the fact that they would not join. As a young cat, just out of the walker nest, he'd spent some time peacefully sharing territory with a rogue group.

"At least let me tell her..." Starlord's words were cut off by the leader. In his self-importance, as usual, the great Jaystar did not listen. Soft curses flew from his maw as the silver tom slipped from the den. That rot-brain couldn't even give the cat he loved the courtesy of letting her know what was about to happen. Gold would not take well. Oh, Goldeneye... A saddened breath was pushed from his chest and he hesitated a moment. The leader's call broke him from the trance and he raced out from the den in hopes that he might find his best friend, his one true love. The moment he did, Starlord would press his coat to her, tell her everything she needed to hear, and reassure her. Even if she held disdain for the kits, the loner would find them next and attempt the same. A lump swelled up in his throat and his tongue felt as dry as the earth. What was happening.

Even if the loner did nothing of what he suggested, Jaystar did not complain or said anything to stop him. He wasn't sure what type of feelings he had for Goldeneye, but he was pretty sure he loved her the same way he did.  And if it was like that, it was understandable he wanted to be her before his leaving. "Two moons ago, when Goldeneye came back with a litter of rogue kits and a loner, I asked you all for understanding and to not only take the kits as Riverclan cats but to also welcome Starlord here as our temporal guest for his service to the clan by protecting Goldeneye when she was captured by Shade. However, my promise of welcoming here has ended and now is time for him to return to the Twolegs' place. I, as leader of Riverclan, thank him for what he did and I'll make sure he returns safely to where he belongs. For those who want to say goodbye, now is your time. That's all I have to say." Jaystar jumped off his branch with a dismissive lash of his tail and searched in the crowd for his daughter, Hailsong. In other circumstances, he would have gone to Silverfang but he was well aware she wasn't okay right now.

Hailsong noticed her father approaching her and she lifted her head up to him. She didn't care too much about Starlord so for her it was the best if he could simply go. Riverclan did not need more mouths to feed and especially not a loner's mouth. "What's wrong father?" She mewed meeting his gaze.

The tom smiled at her and shook his head. "Nothing, sweetie. I just wanted to ask you if you can escort Starlord to the Twoleg place or farm, whatever he chooses. I trust you will do a good job"

Hailsong did not hesitate a second and just nodded, obediently. "Of course I will, papa. I will return him back home safely." She purred before following his father to meet Starlord in the medicine cat den. She sat down at the exit to wait for him when he was ready while her father entered the den.

Lightstep had been working on reinforcing the nursery in preparation for leaf-bare's snows when he heard his leader's call echo throughout the camp. The white warrior hesitated, glancing at the current mess that was obscuring a couple nests that were empty - for the time being. He didn't want to leave this mess for a queen or kit to stumble upon, but he certainly couldn't ignore Jaystar. I'll be back to finish as soon as I can, he thought, quickly tucking all his reeds and building materials as close to the den wall as he could. With that, the sleek white tom retreated from the den to sit in front of the Willow Branch, his pale yellow eyes gazing up expectantly at his leader.

Across the clearing, Lightstep spotted his friend, Mottledspark, who had been sunbathing in camp. The dark tortoiseshell tom was already looking attentively up at Jaystar.

When Jaystar began to speak, Lightstep's ears perked up. Ah, yes, Starlord, the young warrior remembered, glancing in time to spot the tom's bright ginger coat disappearing into the medicine cat's den - likely to say goodbye to his friend and RiverClan's medicine cat, Goldeneye. However, Lightstep noticed the slight scent of uncertainty and how swiftly the loner moved; was something wrong? Jaystar continued speaking, however, and so Lightstep quickly turned his attention back. It made sense that Starlord would need to leave eventually, especially with leaf-bare approaching. Prey would be even more scarce. Besides, didn't loners want to be alone?

Mottledspark snorted at his leader's closing statement, thinking, It's about time that freeloader headed back to his own territory. He didn't care that Starlord had nearly always hunted for himself and brought back more than enough for the other Clan members, too. Starlord just wasn't a Clan cat, and he clearly didn't want to be. Why try to make him? Mottledspark was just going to be happy when the stinky loner was gone.

At Jaystar's dismissal, Lightstep stood and returned to his work in the nursery. He wished the best for Starlord and was neither saddened nor pleased by his deparature, but Lightstep admitted that he had never been particularly close to the tom. They had only interacted once or twice, and he doubted the loner knew him. If they crossed paths, Lightstep would be amicable and say goodbye, but clearly Starlord had other more important matters to attend to. Meanwhile, Mottledspark went back to sunbathing in the clearing, ignoring the gathered cats.

Goldeneye sat just outside of her den, her claws digging into the ground as she looked up stoically at her mate. So, he was sticking true to his word huh? She was hoping that he would see sense and let him stay, see his worth. But she was mistaken. Goldeneye's jaw tightened, her eyes turning cold. He was jealous, he was letting his feelings get in the way of judgement, and in turn, was isolating her. Starlord was her only friend, was like a father to the kits she didn't want. Her eyes swelled with angry tears now, her fur bristling. Jaystar knew how much she cared for the loner, and still, he was sending him off. Her role was an isolating one, but now it felt worse, it was suffocating her and she hated it.

Jaystar knew what he was doing to her, he was using her heart against her and his feelings to shroud him. Disgusting. Her tail lashed as she got to her paws, pushing aside her clan-mates and ignoring their scornful looks. She did not care for them just as they did not care for her, they would never see her as a cat with feelings. Goldeneye's face pressed into the crook of Starlords neck, her legs quivering with the strain of containing everything. She loved him, dear Starclan she loved this tom with all her heart and he was being taken away from her! Goldeneye wanted to scream at the unfairness of it all, wanted to spit and rage in the face of this challenge. And yet- she couldn't because if there was anything else she loved more, was her place as a medicine cat, no matter how much she scorned everything about it. "I want you to stay, I want you to stay with me so so bad and- and there's nothing I can do." Goldeneye whimpered quietly, her chest shuddering.

Littlestream was lingering outside the nursery quietly as she heard what her father said about Starlord. She blinked once then twice as if keeping tears from her eyes the soon to be queen knew it was coming though she hadn't expect so soon after she had told Starlord the news. Ears flattening ever so slightly she laid down quietly unsure what to say or do once the leader made up his mind the decision was final. She would wait til he finished speaking before she said her goodbyes as much as she didn't want to. Quietly her tail curled over her side for a moment waiting.

It felt like something was clawing the inside of his throat and chest. As Gold buried herself into his fur, the feeling only grew and threatened to overwhelm him. The ginger and white tom was lost. He had no idea was what to come next. If the Riverclan leader was banishing him from the territory that meant he would not be able to see the kits, to sleep next to Gold, to be here for any of them. His glanced away for a brief moment and caught sight of Littlestream, the she-cat now carrying his kits in her barely swollen stomach. Would he not be able to be there when they were born? The pain that welled up in his chest was akin to the very same he had felt after losing all of his kin and companions all those moons ago. It threatened to crush the very core of his being and break the joyous spirit that kept him going. When Starlord swallowed, he was sure Goldeneye felt it.

He pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers, staring into her pained gaze with equal agony flashing through his blue depths, "I promised I would always be here for you, Gold. That won't change. Even if they kill me, I swear on my life I will be around when you need it. I will never stray far from Riverclan territory. I will walk among the clans but the forest is my home now. For the kits. For you." The loner's voice was raw with emotion and he squeezed his eyes shut as he listened to the increasingly raspy nature of his tone. Once he had pleaded with Pelly, a similar desperation in his voice, but she had disregarded him. He had to remind himself that this was not Pelly, not the cat he had sought after hopelessly for moons. Goldeneye was different, she was special. There was not softness or delicacy to the way in which she walked. Her scarred pelt would not catch the eye of many toms but her spirit and her overall beauty were incomparable to any other he had ever met. Even Pelly.

"I love you." Starlord whispered for only the second time in his life, tasting the magnitude of the words on his tongue. Those three words were just loud enough for the medicine cat to here as he buried his maw into the fur just underneath her ear. As much as he wanted to freeze this moment, to never move away, he knew that he had to end. So he slowly, lovingly, rasped his tongue over her fur as a final display of his affections from the she-cat whose nest he had shared for the past few moons. His eyes showed the deepening inner conflict as he managed to pull himself away for a moment. Afterward, he intended on finding all of Jaystar and Goldeneye's kits to leave them with a similar parting but one wrought with the immense love of a father for his kits. They were not his flesh and blood but they might as well have been. He had kept them alive the first couple moons and since then continued his role to the best of his ability within Riverclan.

Before he could begin his search for the apprentices, the silver tabby caught his eye once more. A sharp intake of breath caught in his throat. Starlord seldom returned to any she-cat, only Goldeneye was deserving of that action. But this was also the first time that one was to bear his kits and that was something that could not be forgotten. They would be born into Riverclan but carried his blood through their veins. He could not help but entertain thoughts of them all leaving the clan to forge their own path with him. It was merely a dream that would likely never come to fruition. With only a slight hesitation of his paws, he approached Littlestream with a dip of his head. His voice still held the same grave tone of moments earlier but void of the fervent desperation that had been there when speaking with Goldeneye, "As I said, I will not abandon you. My paws will not stray far from the territory. When the kits are to be born... come find me near the border at the walker barn. I will not let you go through this alone." He briefly touched his nose to her cheek before turning away. Starlord did not love her, and he was sure she knew that. But he would never abandon the kits nor treat her any less than she deserved. His eyes darted around for the kits. Galepaw, Ivypaw, Berrypaw, Sparkpaw... they had to be around here somewhere. He needed all the time with them he could get.
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Sparkpaw had bounded over at the call of Jaystar, fully expecting a ceremony or some good news. He settled down near his siblings with a half-smile already plastered onto his maw. In the usual fashion, the blue cream, diluted calico fur was in disarray. With a quick glance at Beepaw, he momentarily turned his head to lick down one little patch of fur on his shoulder before turning his attention back to the Riverclan leader. Wait, what? Goodbye? Immediately, any cheer died out from the apprentice and was replaced with panic. Starlord was one of the only cats he had know his entire life, aside from Goldeneye. And he was just supposed to leave? He leaped onto his paws, a protest building up in his throat. By the time his maw was able to move, Jaystar had left his perch on the branch.

The blue-silver tom had become like another father figure to him and the fact that he was willing to discard the loner so easily caused Sparkpaw's chest to tighten. His littermates could be okay with this either, could they? He raced over to where Jaystar was speaking so easily with Hailsong, as if he had not just said he was casting aside Starlord. Normally dull eyes were wide and pleading as he meowed with urgency, "J-Jaystar. You can't be serious, right? He's not leaving... this is a joke. He can't leave. Starlord has lived here as long as me!"

Littlestream watched the interaction between Goldeneyes and Starlord for a moment and felt the familiar stinging pain in her heart for a moment before pushing it down as he came over. She looked to him and gave a small nod"I will find you there then"she mewed softly but let him go.

"Nothing, sweetie. I just wanted to ask you if you can escort Starlord to the Twoleg place or farm, whatever he chooses. I trust you will do a good job."

What?

The tedious task bestowed upon Galepaw was immediately forsaken as soon as such words reached his ears, the roaring pulsations of blood that throbbed through his veins chilling to an unbearable frigid sludge. The circumstances that had brought his litter to the Clans were certainly peculiar at best, but that didn't mean that they had to change! Why did it have to change? Even the blind could see that Jaystar and Starlord rarely held a pleasant interaction, but that didn't mean anything! There was a predominant ache resonating within his belly and bones at the perturbing suspicions that were flickering to life at such a statement, a heaviness weighing down his stiff muscles. There was an unpleasant discomfiture lingering within the sparsely populated clearing, several idle gazes forced to fixate upon whatever tension-alleviating sources one could glean. Restless muscles stirring to life in the form of an agitated lashing of the tail, the dark-furred Apprentice's movements were fidgety and uneasy as he paced into the view of Jaystar and Hailsong.

"What's going on?" There was a note of vehement accusation in Galepaw's words, primarily directed at his Mentor, "Why are you speaking about my father in such a way?" The entire situation did not sit well with the young tom, instead fostering the embers of an anxiety-induced sense of rage. They couldn't be serious, could they?

---

Splashwillow, previously sharing a bit of momentary affection with her daughter Adderfeather, paused from the gossip-like chatter to instead peer at the unfolding commotion. After a moment of merely observing with an impartial attitude to whatever bickering that was inevitably likely to arise, the two molly's exchanged a similar gaze- one that was shadowed with the dredges of unease.

At the sound of Jaystar's call, Finchstream's tufted ears pricked up as she poked out of the nursery, at first not wanting to leave her napping kits, but when the announcement continued and revealed it's sad truths, her golden eyes widened to the size of full moons.  Making sure her kits were settled, the petite she-cat trotted across the clearing toward Starlord, who had been speaking with her former apprentice Littlestream.  Greeting him with a bittersweet smile, she reached out and gently touched her nose to his cheek, the weight of gratitude not needing words.  "I'm sad to see you go Starlord, but thank you so much for helping me look after my adopted kits...or, in a way, I should say 'ours'."  She laughed, sad eyes sparkling with a faint light of joyful memories, but those quickly vanished as she went on.  "...and, for burying my precious S-Shrikekit...I hope we may meet again someday."  With a soft blink and a nod, she turned away, but before she could once again retreat back into the warmth and comfort of her kitten-filled nest, she noticed two of her sons addressing Jaystar, their bristling pelts and furious eyes clear enough for any cat to understand.  Her mouth parted in a small, concerned o shape, the small queen trotted up to join them, brushing her pelt against Sparkpaw as she gently rested her tail across Galepaw's shoulders, which thanks to their growth had before a bit difficult; both toms were already taller than her.  She didn't speak, merely looking from the distressed faces of her adopted children back to Jaystar, a question within her curious gaze.  Is this really necessary?

From his place beneath the Willow Branch, Scorchclaw watched the unfolding events with a narrowed green gaze. The announcement had come as no surprise to him. The day Starlord had come to RiverClan, Jaystar had already set a time limit for his stay. That time was merely up now. When the gray tabby leader had called the loner to his den earlier, Scorchclaw had pretty much realized that this meeting was going to happen. As a cat who held no fondness for Starlord, he did not feel a scrap of sorrow for the ginger-and-white tom's departure. How some of his clanmates had grown close to Starlord over the past few moons was something that he could not understand. While he held no particular grudge against said tom, he could not accept the permanent presence of an outsider in RiverClan. He acknowledged and was thankful for what Starlord had done in saving Goldeneye's life. However, the clan could not take in someone who rejected clan life. It was that simple.

Unsurprisingly, some of the cats most shaken by his departure would be the rogue kits who had been taken into the clan at the same time Starlord had. They probably saw the loner as a parental figure of some sort. For the brown tabby who had never had a close relationship with his parents, it pained him to watch this separation. Nevertheless, if the rogue kits wished to remain loyal to their clan, they had to let go of Starlord. ... That's a cruel choice. Still, it was a choice that had to be made. Padding to Jaystar's side, he faced Galepaw. "Unlike you and your littermates, Starlord never chose to become a part of this clan. He's made his choice." Faced with the undoubtedly distraught apprentices, his tone held a hint of compassion, but his gaze was still hard.

"No way." Ivypaw's gray paws led her outside of the Apprentice's den, where she'd been lounging before Jaystar had leaped onto the Willow Branch. Beautiful eyes flickered up to meet her Leader's, the very Leader that was planning to kick out one of her dads. Of course, she wouldn't let that happen, for sure. It couldn't. She wasn't even going to imagine it. "What's Starlord done to be made to leave, Papa?" Whether or not Jaystar wanted to admit it, both himself and Starlord played a large role in her life. She wasn't ready to give that up. "If you could just give him a little time... Maybe he'd learn to love the ways of the Clans." Her eyes looked up pleadingly into her biological father's, begging for Starlord's chance at staying, at least a little longer.

"I... I wanted him to see me become a Warrior." Tears began to prick at the backs of her eyes, her tough facade falling immediately. The ginger tom had played a large role in her life so far, and she'd been dreaming of the proud moment, the pride that she'd get to see gleaming from his eyes. And Jaystar wanted to take that away? What kinda father was that? Her paws led her to Starlord's side, leaning to his shoulder for support. How could he seem so... Calm? "You can't make him leave, you're joking... He's hunted for RiverClan, for StarClan's sake!" She tilted her head to the side as the gazed at Jaystar. "Please, let him stay?"

---

Fallowpaw's small form sat rigidly in front of the reeds protecting her den, crystal blue eyes watching the cats gathering as Jaystar sat atop the Willow Branch. She was unaware of the fact that today would be the time that, finally, Starlord was to be escorted back to the Twolegplace, or the Barn... Wherever he was to be going. When the words left Jaystar's maw, her own was left ajar, stunned at the realization that the ginger tom would have to go. She wasn't completely sure about her feelings of the matter... He'd been so eager to help Goldeneye and herself, and hunted for the Clan's ever-growing ranks... But he was an outsider. He didn't agree with- nor did he wish to agree with- the ways of the Clans. He had peculiar ways, that one, but she still appreciated him. Not in the ways that Goldeneye did- her gaze flickered to the molly, tucked beneath Starlord's chin- but appreciated him nonetheless.

Jaystar's bias was clear. She knew the circumstances, the kits that Goldeneye and Jaystar had shared... And she knew that Jaystar wasn't dumb, either. He was aware of the fact that Goldeneye loved Starlord, and his own kits, as well. The jealousy teasing his features was obvious to the young she-cat, and she couldn't stand it. Jaystar hardly had room to speak out against the tom, what with his prior wrong-doings. He was prepared to emotionally harm his own kits and mate because jealousy fogged his thoughts. Not only that, but it wasn't fair to Starlord in the slightest. Jaystar had let Gingerstripe join that Clan with hardly the bat of an eye, knowing what he'd done. Gingerstripe had been forgiven, and was now a great addition to the Clan... What made Starlord any different? Her piercing gaze narrowed as she looked at him, praying to StarClan that he wouldn't make a foolish decision.

"We never made any choice!" Dismay and resentment further sharpened Galepaw's violent outburst, pupils drawing into narrowed slits as he glared at Scorchclaw with an unpleasant mixture of emotions. Everything about this situation only further provoked his emotional sense of wrath- all those merely sitting by complacent with whatever orders were fed to them, faulty pity that felt more like condescension over anything else, all of it. Did they really care so little for the fate of cats who simply differed in nothing more than circumstances that brought them to Clans? The distance that often yawned between the young tom and his Clanmates now felt more akin to a genuine chasm than anything else, inhospitable and impossible to cross. Would any cat even care if Jaystar decided to cast out his littermates? After all, they probably held them in the same regard as Starlord. Angrily shrugging away Finchstream's gentle attempts of bestowing soothing affections, the dark-furred tom began to bristle slightly. "The choice was made for us, just as you're making this choice for Starlord without any regards to how he might feel about it!"

Pressing tightly against Ivypaw, Galepaw rested his chin atop the soft fur that crowned the molly's head. The bond between himself and his littermates wasn't especially strong, yet to see his sister on the verge of weeping over such a particularly cruel situation on heightened the maelstrom of emotions he was currently experiencing. Larger form nearly swallowing Ivypaw whole, the smoke tabby's dark gaze was sweetened by the faintest notes of desperate pleading. "Please don't make him go."