Ever Watchful Ever Helpful (Open)

Soft paws tread lightly as they carried the small black and white furball from the nursery and into the light of the morning outside. Amber eyes looked carefully left and right around them taking note of the others that had awoken already to begin their day. Crowkit noticed even with her 4 moon old mind the significant others that where not around. Some had gone out on a dawn patrol and another group had gone out for a morning hunting patrol; if the pile of fresh kill had anything to say on the matter at least. The young molly padded her way across Shadowclan's familiar camp and headed for the Elders den to peek inside to see if they too were awake. She didn't mind sitting with them quietly and listen in on their gossip and talk. She; unlike her other nursery mates was not one to go scampering off to cause trouble, in fact Crowkit found herself much like a shadow; sitting off to the side by group of cats to listen in whether she is seen or not. She never was one to speak very often. And if she couldn't find someone to listen in on; as bad as it may sound to most people. She enjoyed her time to go into the medicine den and help out if she could or at least talk to anyone in there. She had a soft spot for the injured and others who were kind to her even if she was an odd little thing.

Crowkit pulled herself away from the elders den and headed for the next best thing; her favorite sunning spot from where she could see everyone that came through camp back and forth and yet still be in hearing range to hear any gossip or news. The sly little she-kit was not known for opening her mouth to anyone about her findings as she found it rather sacred. She didn't put in her time away from socializing to listen in if she didn't care or was going to blab to people about it. Shaking her head her eyes roamed the area a long moment before finding her next target to listen in on and settled herself down in a sunny spot to warm her soft white and black spotted fur. She pretended to be dozing in the sun with her amber eyes half lidded in bliss at the warmth but her ears were keen and awake to hear all the buzzing around her. Even if there was no one around to listen her; her ears were keen and her eyes sharp for new things to discover. Maybe later she will get up and go visit the medicine den if she felt up to it if her attention was not stolen by that point. But there was no way she was returning to the nursery to hear bantering of child-like voices and the doting or fussing voices of the queens and mothers that lounged within.

Crowkit was not friendless per-say. She was a kind soul who watched out and cared for everyone she met; but there was a difference between bonding with someone at a emotional level and just having people around to play with; she wasn't a very playful kitten. Too grown up in her mind to bother with such nonsense. She wanted to be a great warrior someday and in her mind the only way to do that was to watch and listen until she was physically big and old enough to take on actual skills to train herself physically.

Crowkit's ears perked up at the sound of voices coming her way and pawsteps that she felt even through the ground when her eyes were closed. They briefly opened to look at the newcomer with a hopeful twinge in her chest in hopes of learning and observing more information about the day. Was it a warrior coming back from the dawn patrol with news about the territory? Was it others coming back from a hunting party so that she could listen in on their adventures beyond the camp entrance? Or perhaps it was someone else bored and seeking company.

Flintshard found himself pacing the camp, his tail swishing as he ran through the patrols he would be expected to send out later to watch the borders and also hunt. There was only so many warriors, some would have to pull double duty but that proved to be...Troublesome along with the mass amount of apprentices that needed their training to be handled as well and patrols only helped with a small part of that. The deputy grumbled softly to himself, once again finding him somewhat annoyed with the responsibilities he had. He wasn't against it, he didn't mind being deputy under his mother's rule but it always meant communicating with others when he would rather hide away in silence. But he wasn't about to let Thornstar down...

The deputy suddenly came to a stop, his fur prickling at the slight feeling of being watched as he swung his head to stare at the black and white kit on her perch. He titled his head as he returned her stare, his expression as bored as it always was...Before he suddenly got an idea of what she was doing. He had done the same when he was little - favoring a spot much like that. He always had an ear for listening in - if only because his head seemed to want to focus on any conversations that he could hear even at the point where it become overwhelming like it was every Gathering. "What are you up to?" he questioned, whiskers twitching as he waited for an answer.

Crowkit blinked at the sound of the deputy's voice. Her amber eyes opened a bit more and she tilted her head up to look at him face to face instead of under her lashes. So it was Flintshard huh? She wondered why he looked so stressed. Maybe not to someone who did not care but to those who cared to look closer like Crowkit they would have noticed the small tall tales of the ticks and habits he seemed to have whenever he was stressed. She blinked again a moment longer before replying to the elder cat in front of her as he did ask her a question; she mulled it over thinking of how to reply to him.

"I'm watching." she finally replied honestly.

There was no reason to lie about it. And he did ask her a honest question so why not tell him the truth? Not like she was doing anything bad at all by laying herself in the sun and watching her clanmates around her. Although, others would think it odd that she was not among the other kits playing and mewling like they were. No, Crowkit was different and one look at Flintshard's eyes would tell you he was one who would be one to understand her; at least partly as to not judge her or think too strangely of her because of her actions.

"What are you doing?" she questioned back with a tilt of her head. She could play this kind of game.

"Mama said that you were supposed to be doing some important stuff for your position. Wouldn't you want to be out there with the others on a patrol or something?" she asked curiously examining him.

Of course, Crowkit knew that a deputy didn't just send others off without doing something themselves to contribute but sometimes they were needed within camp for something or another. She was not fully understanding when it came to certain duties among her clan but she was slowly gathering and in time and age she would learn more about it and what's everyone's roles were within the clan including Flintshard's.

Flintshard huffed as the kit confirmed his theory - that she was simply watching. He perhaps would have continued on his way, back to thinking things through but was stopped when the kit suddenly questioned him. He fixed the kit with his bored look, whiskers twitching. "I can't very well be out on patrol when I have more to send out," he remarked, shrugging his shoulders slightly as he settled down. He wasn't one for...Talking with kits, he often found them far to noisy and annoying for his taste but at least Crowkit seemed to have a good head on her shoulders. "I am currently trying to decide who will be sent out on what patrols are needed later. We've...Lost many cats recently and that means some will have to go out twice to fill out the numbers," he explained, curling his tail around his paws as he started to knead. "But I also can't overwork them, lest I want a sloppy job to be done so I need to think about my choices and I'm not going out on a patrol myself until I am certain that all daily patrols are fulfilled."

Also, he just didn't like going out with others but the kit didn't need to hear about his anti-social nature.

Crowkit tilted her head curiously mulling over his words as she listened. She didn't know much about duties that warriors would do and she did not know a lot of the warriors personally because naturally she was not one to talk to bigger cats because she was her own little shadow and preferred to stay silent and observe more than talk but that's what made her smart too; because she used her head and ears more than she did her mouth and head. She slowly sat up and squinted around camp trying to remember who was not present right now; of course she would not be able to tell the deputy who to send out but if she got a good idea of who was out and how many she might be able to help, maybe.

"How many cats are in the clan and how many did you send out on the patrols?" she asked; she was good at math and even her mother commented that she would be good at strategy because she used her head and brain more than a lot of kits her age.

If she knew the overall number of her clan she could subtract the number of elders, kits, and queens that lowered the numbers of the whole and subtract again Flintshard himself and their leader and medicine cat; from there once she knew the number all she needed to know was to know how many where already sent out that morning on the varies of patrols.

"Even if we don't have a lot of warriors right now, apprentices could go out as well. They count too even if they are not full fledged or fully trained. Every little bit of knowledge helps." she mused idly rubbing at her black smudged nose.

"If anything, combine the patrols maybe? I don't know how that would work compared to having two seperate ones but sending out a small group for a border patrol they could run that and then hunt on their way back if there are no issues right? Just cause they are assigned to one patrol does not mean they can not assist the others as a side task. That would not be overworking them, every cat needs to pitch in with the lower numbers that we do have according to you right?" she studied him with a thoughtful look.

"Mama always said sharing is caring...well, everyone needs to pitch in, it could be slower work sure cause the patrols are one and the same border and hunting patrol but that would give cats time to rest up before the next group is set out to do the same when needed."

Crowkit looked towards the entrance of the clan camp with a quiet hum. "I'm just a kit so I don't know everything and it could be a silly idea or not work at all of course, but sometimes you have to think outside the box. Working as a team does not always mean more numbers needed to join said team."

Flintshard's eyes narrowed a little as the kit started to ramble, listening idly to her long attempt to help - if only because he knew he was unable to actually ignore the kit as his head always focused on any sounds, no matter how of little important it was. He did give the kit credit thought, she was smart but huffed. But...Well, it was somewhat nice to have somebody to all the talking as he lazily listened to her. He started to knead the ground as he waited for her to finish, musing over her words.

It was almost annoying how much of a good point the kit had. Merging the two patrols wouldn't be a bad idea...But it was middle of leaf-bare. Hunting was getting harder and harder as most of the prey they went for had the smart idea to ignore the cold. "...You bring up good points, kit," he finally said as she came to a close, allowing his gaze to focus on her. "But there is a difference between having ideas and having experience. Merging the two patrols would perhaps be a good idea in any other time...But this is leaf-bare. The prey is scarce, most don't tend to show themselves when things get this cold. Having the border patrol hunt on their way back wouldn't be enough to keep the fresh-kill pile stocked as there is no telling if they would even be able to find anything - much less catch it as the snow both make us more visible and easier to cause sound to alert the prey. There is a reason we tend to turn to eating crow-food during leaf-bare because its hard enough to keep the prey stocked to fill our bellies.

"And we aren't the only things scrounging for scraps. Predators will just be as hungry as we are and they may be more likely to attack us while we are out in an effort to use us as their meal. We have plenty of apprentices, yes, but their skills won't stand well against a ravenous fox or dog. I can use apprentices to fill out the numbers, but the more warriors to fend off the creatures are for the best. But..." he huffed, curling his tail around his kneading paws. "You...Do have points and I will consider them. ...You'll be a fine warrior one day, kit," he said as he watched her. "To many cats favor strength, but that does little if you can't realize that you are in over your head. A head like yours, you will know when to pick your battles - the ones you can win. We need cats like that if we ever want to survive out here."

Crowkit had even told him before that she did not know about everything she was talking about; she was a kit after all and had not had the experience to really know the duties or the warriors to make a just judgement or decision making on how to help her deputy out but she still liked the fact he seemed to get her line of logic even if it was coming from a kit. She straightened up a bit and frowned as she mulled over his words; true it was leaf-bare and prey would probably be scarce but if he thought about it, prey would still be scarce no matter how you went about it; it was cold after all.

"But Flintshard, even if there is one party for border and another for hunting the prey will still be the same amount is just how you go about trying to find it. Whether it's together in one group or seperated prey will still be scarce." she argued softly trying to get her point across.

"Predators on the other paw...I can understand that...they will be pretty hungry too but if prey is scarce for them too and scarce for us; we both are hunting for the same thing. You'd be bound to meet each other across the path. It's survival all of us are looking for. It wouldn't be any different if you were on a border patrol or if you were hunting. You'd just have to have the right mindset to always be watchful when you are hunting or doing a border patrol no matter the occassion." she tilted her head and gave him a look wondering if he understood.

Again, Crowkit knew she probably sounded like a know it all but she had heard so many stories from warriors and elders alike from past hunting and border patrols that she made up her own logic to the matter. When he praised her about her logistical thinking she gave a small smile and tipped her head down in a small bow hiding her smile. She was glad to see that he seemed to approve at least a little bit; he could sense and tell just by her speaking with him about grown up matters and confessing to have a few points on the matter made her feel good. Gave her a better encouragement that she would indeed be able to grow up as a fine warrior. She hoped that would be soon though. Would they make her an apprentice before her time? She was a little way halfway there already being 4 moons old.

"I watch and listen; not a lot of cats do that these days I've come to notice. When you're a bit of an outcast from our own litter you tend to find other ways to entertaining yourself...." she confessed with a twitch of her whiskers; she really didn't want to sound bitter about it but it was true. She never had the right mind set to being a regular kit in her family. She was always different.

"Flintshard...with you saying that you need more apprentices and warriors like me to survive..." she hesitated and pawed at the cold dirt beneath her paws. "Would there be a chance of making me an apprentice sooner? To be able to gain better chance of survival when you have better thinking and hard workers? Do you think leader would allow it? I'm not technically old enough by warrior code but...would there be a chance of a special occasion to be able to bend the rule a little?"

"But the hunting party can spend more time looking for prey if they are out at the same time as the border patrol," he explained, before he paused as she mentioned being an outcast. He blinked, an almost emotion crossing his face at that. He...Knew that feeling well. There was no denying that he was an odd cat - he didn't understand emotions and could be painfully blunt at times, he still didn't understand what made certain cats upset or not. It...Was one of the reasons he preferred not to speak if he could help it. His siblings at least had been normal, they knew how to interact and be...Cats while he had many small things he had noticed that had set him apart.

"Hm, I can understand that. I did the same when I was a kit, watching and listening... I always was able to focus on any conversations that caught my ear. For better or worst," he admitted, thinking back at how painful it was every Gathering when the sound of all the conversations would become overwhelming. He only wished he could stay home but as deputy, he had to go now so that ShadowClan wouldn't seem weak. "Its never easy being...Odd. But we make do." He however paused as the kit brought up the idea of being an apprentice early. He huffed, leaning forward as he looked down at her.

"Cute. But no. The world outside the camp is dangerous, I've heard stories of the bravest cats dying out there - seen noble warriors get brought back dead from things that couldn't have been stopped or expected. Even with a solid head on your shoulder, the world is still crueler than you could ever imagine, kit. Cats die - heroic sacrifices or meaningless deaths - the forest doesn't favor one or the other. That head of yours is going to help for the situations you can control, but there are plenty that you won't have a say in. So you'll be staying in the camp until you are six moons old, until you are truly old enough to start understanding how the world works."

Crowkit huffed under her breath at his remark; he did have a point there so she didn't argue, there would be no use in arguing with him over that when he was a deputy and made one for a reason and she only a kit so she kept her mouth shut after his remark. After a small pause Crowkit saw something flash behind his usually bored and blank stare which made her inwardly prick up in interest. So he had been like her once when he was younger also? Was that why she never saw him around other cats often unless doing his duty? That would make sense; likeminded people tended to gravitate towards others like themselves. The small molly smiled slightly to herself as she considered the possibility that maybe someone could be her friend after all and that someone could understand her to some degree of her intelligence. Just the thought made her happy and made her feel as if she was not alone. Her ears twitched a little at his phrasing but she did not argue; people like them did what they had to to make do indeed; what else was there left to do when there were so few people like herself and Flintshard? She wondered why he had agreed to become deputy if he was like her. If he truly didn't socialize well with others because of his personality like herself; why did he agree to take on such a big task knowing that one day he would take over the clan? He would have had to realized that that position meant more than just assigning warriors to patrols and sitting in on conversations...he would one day be their leader and part of Crowkit felt sorry for the poor tom because she knew how it felt to not like being around others but having to anyways for the mere position you held; the role you had to play because it was given or born.

Now, on the subject of early apprenticeship made her wilt a little; she really did want to become something great one day and she felt like she was ready to take that step. But, she was a mere kit and every kit is eager to become something great as they grow up. She just thought she would be an exception because of her knowledge. Strength would come in time with training obviously, but she had known other cats to be as small or smaller than average size while being apprentice age and they seemed to be okay at it. She didn't think it was fair but a part of her knew that in a time like this in this season it probably was not the best idea. She just did not want to wait.

"Do you think when I am old enough that I will be your apprentice one day Flintshard?" it would make sense since they were likeminded individuals.

The question did not come from one who wanted that type of attention to become the deputy's apprentice but it seemed only logical for them to be paired up as they would better understand each other as they thought the same during her training when she was indeed old enough to train to become a warrior.

Flintshard blinked, straightening up as it was clear that Crowkit wasn't going to press the issue any further. The rule existed for a reason - the world was cruel and there were threats that a kit wouldn't stand a second against. His ear twitched thought when the kit finally spoke again, softly wondering if there was a chance that she would be his. "...Perhaps," he said after a few heartbeats. It was currently his choice to make, he was the one assigning apprentices - another thing which had been a pain to figure out as there were already more apprentices than warriors...So many kits to assign mentors. He had already a pawful but... "We'll have to see when we get there, to decide who will be the best fit but...Perhaps. But its not best to get ones hopes up, for you can never prepare for changes that might happen suddenly," he said with a shrug.

The young molly tilted her head up towards him and studied his face wondering what he was thinking about. Her gaze turned towards the dens and frowned slightly. How long had it been since the deputy actually slept properly? He was seeming more and more tired the more they talked.

We still have two moons. Lets hope things look up towards then; it should be getting warmer soon right? I think some of the apprentices should be ready to be warriors by that point..." she mused to herself thoughtfully and cringed inwardly.

"I don't want to be assigned to a new warrior as an apprentice, I might end up having to teach them a thing or two." she joked half heartedly.

She did not like the thought of being paired up with a fresh warrior who was out of training. In her mind she thought they needed more experience as warriors before they took another's training in their own paws. A more experienced warrior would be better as they could teach life lessons that fresh warriors would not be able to. But, it was a few moons til she was to be apprenticed anyways so she had to be patient.

"Have you thought about what would happen if you became leader one day? There's a difference between being a deputy but being a leader comes with more responsibility than just a deputy. Starclan i pray won't take Thornstar away too soon of course but what if something happened that made you leader sooner then expected?" she looked up at him again and frowned.

"Do you think you are ready for that?" she was not judging him or expressing his lack of faith in his abilities but if they were truly like minded he would understand her worry for him. Nothing was guaranteed for their lives as possibilities and choices shift each one of their lives. She wondered if Flintshard was tired of being a deputy. Not to become leader just tired in general.

"What's your vision for yourself and this clan Flintshard?" she suddenly asked.

Flintshard shook his head slightly with a huff as Crowkit expressed her desire not to be given to a new warrior - completely missing the joking side of it. He wasn't going to put much through into who would be her mentor now - it would depend on who had apprentices when the day came. He suddenly froze when the young kit brought up the idea of him becoming leader one day, slowly focusing his attention on the kit as she wondered if he would ever be ready for that possibility. It...It was a thought he had certainly had, mostly after the tragic death of Poppyheart.

When he got an idea of how quickly his family could be taken from him - the disappearance of Frostpaw didn't help with that regard as well. His expression darkened slightly as he thought about it. He...There was some comfort in knowing that his mother held most of the responsibilities, that he wasn't the figure-head of the Clan. Not yet, anyways. He was simply there to support her and...Well, he would have to take over if something happened to her first. She still had many lives left, but...No, he do suppose he couldn't assume on anything.

"...If I was to ever become leader, then I would do so. I would be as ready as I could ever be," he finally uttered as he straighten up, looking down at the kit. "Thornstar chose me as deputy, to be her replacement when that day comes and I will not fail her. Not like her previous deputy," he added, whiskers twitching at the thought of Lynxscar. He only felt disappointment toward his mentor, of how he had failed so badly to end up being demoted - and fled the Clan in return. "...I see us redeeming ourselves in the eyes of the other Clans - prove that we are just as noble as them. Not the group of code-breakers they believe we are. The other Clans, SkyClan in particular...They have no love for us and I do not blame them. Lynxscar's actions as deputy stained our name and the death tolls did not make it any better. I wish to redeem our name, fix our reputation. Be better than what they see us as."

Crowkit knew it had been a bit of a loaded question when she spoke about his future as a leader and what his vision for his clan was. Crowkit knew it would still be a long time until that would happen as Thornstar had many lives left but the small kit was curious to see what Flintshard had in mind for his clan and for himself if and when it came to him taking on his nine lives to lead the clan. The black and white molly tilted her head studying his expression but said nothing if she detected anything out of place as she listened closely to his words. She nodded slowly wondering if other clans really thought of them as weak as Flintshard made it out to be. Crowkit knew that numbers were low but so were the other clans surely? She knew peace between clans would never be a real thing to live in harmony together for as long as they lived in these forests and had breath in their lungs; life was full of survival against the fittest. But she didn't think that they were being bad off right now.

"Flintshard..." she hesitated and frowned looking towards the leader's den "What happened to the last deputy? I wasn't around when that part of history happened as far as i can remember. Why must we fix our reputation? What happened that you have to say that we need redeeming in the eyes of the other clans? What's it with their business what happens with this clan?" she questioned.

As she was young she had not been known what had happened to make Flintshard the next deputy. She thought it was because his mother was leader that he became deputy at first. She did not know the history to judge though. No one liked talking about history of the clans outside of the origins of the clan from long long time ago; not really the most recent history though.

Flintshard grew silent as Crowkit questioned the fate of the last deputy - of his mentor...Of what had transpired. A soft sigh escaped him, turning to better reveal the terrible scar that raced down his leg - something that had plagued him for moons and was only just fully healed. "It started with the death of the deputy before him," he said, gaze focusing on the horizon as he through back on the memories from all those moons ago. "Redwing was killed in a fight with SkyClan - their warriors were to blame but those cats fled and justice was never received for her demise. Lynxscar...Lynxscar was my mentor and was named deputy. He sought justice and that need was only strengthen when I was scarred and nearly killed by a SkyClan apprentice - something had happened to their deputy and it seemed ShadowClan was to blame. I still do not know what the tom was talking about, none of us do. My...Attack led to higher strain and soon a battle happened. I was not there for it, but I remember the aftermath. Thornstar and Spottedstar agreed to battle each other - only for Lynxscar to attack anyways which caused the death of three cats that night - four if you count Thornstar losing a life. Lynxscar had broken the Code that night - Thornstar's words are law and he did not care. ...He remained deputy for a while until Thornstar chose to remove him. He did not take that well and fled - he could still be alive but he has not been seen since and I was named in his place."

A heavy sigh escaped him, letting his gaze fall back onto the kit. Perhaps this was to much to be sharing with a kit, he never knew quite the line for that type of things. Why hide the truth? She would learn of it soon enough and it was better to know how cruel and unfair the world - and other cats - could be instead of being blinded by how...Bright one could see things as a young kit. Better to be prepared then to be taken by surprise by it. "That night stained us and painted us as salvages - eager for the blood lust as we had taken the lives of two of their cats in a battle that we had started. Thornstar waited to long to make her choice of how to deal with Lynxscar, the other Clans do not respect her as it seems she could not control her deputy. ...We have never been seen in a good light due to our fondness to stay in the shadows. We stalk the darkness so we seem untrustworthy at a glance and that night only confirmed their suspicious in their eyes...But I will fix that. We might not walk in the light like they do, but we are not blinded by the darkness no matter what they think. ...If anything, it only makes us better at seeing both sides while the others are blinded by their light," he added, a faint snarl ending his words before he paused and blinked. "...I am sorry, this might be to much to share with a kit. I do not want to dwell on the past, we must focus on what we are going to be and not what we left behind. I do not blame SkyClan for their actions - not even the tom who gave me these scars. He paid a heavy price for it..."

Crowkit listened and watched his face with rapt attention; he seemed to unwilling to share the truth behind her question and that made her wonder just how bad of a history her clan had that connected to the other clans that made them think so lowly of her clan. Shadowclan did not seem that bad off in her opinion. When he began to speak her mind began to reel with the information that he was sharing; mulling it over carefully as she took in his every word. She did not say anything; nothing at all and gave nothing away as she listened to the end of the story without so much as a blink or an expression to indicate how she was feeling or what she was thinking about the story. The black and white molly's face turned from blank and unreadable to a frown that held understanding and yet...a bit of confusion in her gaze as she spoke.

"First of all, Skyclan deserves to pay for the crimes they committed; that's obvious enough for killing Redwing and no one should get away unpunished for anything. She did not deserve to die and Skyclan should not have attacked so cowardly. There's a difference between battling for no reason but to kill thinking you are in the right which honestly doesn't make them any more in the right than the actions they took. Secondly, war is never the first option someone should be considering even if it is for a death of a clan member. Violence is never the way to get answers." Crowkit spoke softly and looked down at his leg as she continued absently.

"I'm sorry what happened to you; it should not have been done even if they thought they were avenging or revenging their clanmate. Lynxscar...he's a different story. Obviously, I didn't know the tom personally so I can't judge too harshly and think he was keen on power..he was made for a deputy for a reason by Thornstar so he should have known better than to just...jump in like that even in blind rage...no one thinks with their head anymore; least of all think to investigate what was going on without pointing at each other mindlessly because something happened to come up that could or couldn't involve that clan or cat." she clenched her teeth and turned to look at the leader's den as her next words hit a bit harder.

"I am not the deputy or a warrior yet. I may not know well enough how the world works. But it doesn't take a genuis to figure it out. People learn lessons the hard way and I hope starclan gave Lynxscar what he deserved for betraying the clan like that. Both for our clan's sake and Skyclan's. With each new day comes a new chance to change life as we know it and we don't know what will happen next...and I agre; living in the past will not solve anything...but learning from it will. Judgement has been placed without real knowledge of what was going on. I can't change what happened or change the mind of the other clans. You're right we can only live each day trying to better ourselves...but the thing is Flintshard...you're wrong about something. It's not your job...and it's not Thornstar's job to change the mind of others. No one can change anything or change the mind of others like that. Their opinions don't matter. It's the past...it happened...and it sucks yes. Lives were lost and trust was broken. But at the end of the day our family and our clan should mean more to us than fixing something that happened too many moons ago to count. It's not our job to judge others or to punish others for crimes they committed against starclan. Redwing I believe is up there somewhere with them watching us and guiding us to make the right choices...and sometimes that means letting it go." she looked up at him and gave him a small smile.

She stood to her paws and touched her nose to his; having to lift up on her small back legs to do so to reach him properly. Her eyes held a bit of understanding that was too old for her young 4 moon old body.

"You are doing your best; and you have the heart of someone who wants to change history. That's the kind of deputy and leader we need. You guys just have to be careful to choose your battles carefully...and sometimes winning a battle doesn't always mean having to involve yourself physically in it. It doesn't always mean start a battle over something long ago. Sometimes words won't work either...but sometimes; battles are won simply by walking away with the knowledge that it's not a coward's way out...it's showing them that you are strong and don't have to prove to them that it's not your fault." she snorted and shook her head.

"But what do I know? I'm just a kit who loves listening to others talk. Maybe my words mean nothing or i'm out of line. But I haven't heard anyone else speak up about it yet." she shrugged and looked at him with a bright smile that was soo...not like her which made it even more precious when she said the next words.

"It's not your fault Flintshard, and I think you're doing a great job with what you've been through and what you've had your paws tangled with. Don't let anyone tell you different; especially yourself."

And with that, the little kit that had a brain and heart bigger than her 4 moon old body...trotted away from the deputy with her last parting words and headed back to the nursery to curl up with her littermates and catch the last few hours of snoozing with them in the confinements of the warmth of the nursery.

(FIN)