Finding a Way Forward (Open to 2)

It had been several days since Oliverain's vigil, and Orchidmask felt like she was finally done wrestling with her emotions.  She woke with the sun that morning, the pale light peeking through the clouds reflecting off the shining snowdrifts.  She peeked out of the warrior's den, about to head out and ask Ashstorm which patrol she could be on, but she stopped.  Instead, she looked back at the waking forms of her clanmates and took a deep breath.  In a low tone, she tried her best not to sound as authoritative and...distant as she usually did, and she was surprised by the friendliness she managed to summon.  "Who...does anyone want to go hunting with...me?"  It felt odd, she was used to just relaying messages of patrols to her clanmates, not simply requesting company.  She didn't want to be alone though, what had once been comforting to her now only brought forth feelings of anxiety and pain.  Perhaps having other cats by her side would keep those emotions at bay.

He needed to keep training. Even if Oliverain was gone, he had no excuse; Yewpaw's training was in his own paws now. Even if it felt like he'd lost a sister. She had been, in a way, since Lynxpetal took in both him and Crickethop after what had happened. Though he would never say it. It felt insensitive to her surviving siblings. So he stood in the morning sun, plowing paths through the snow in an attempt to build muscle. It felt like it was working, but it was nevertheless very, very cold work. A voice breaking through the silence caught his ear. Orchidmask. After a few beats Yewpaw gave a quiet meow, "I'll come with you." He wondered for a moment if she could even tell who he was through all the snow stuck to his pelt. He shook it out and tried his best to wipe his face clean. Stars, his paws were freezing.