Beeg Hug!! [c]

Comfreypaw had learned about the events of that full moon night. She had heard the news of Thrushnose's death, and the word that Stoatstar didn't take it well. Her leader seemed ill from what she had heard, and not with greencough. Sick from stress. The apprentices' gossip echoed in her head,

"...looked terrible. He was a mess..."
"...no one is allowed to leave camp without permission..."
"...called everyone mousebrains! Why so mean?"

That last sentence stood out. Why was Stoatstar so angry? It seemed obvious, Thrushnose had been his mother, which is reason enough. And to make it worse, there were whispers that it was a Dark Forest cat who murdered her. Comfreypaw herself could feel the urge to run her teeth through the culprit's neck. But why hostile towards us? Pushing her frustration with the Dark Forest aside, confusion and concern was all that remained. She could understand why he'd be upset, but not why he took it out on Thunderclan. She felt like there was more going on in her mentor's head, yet the apprentice couldn't be sure. There was a pull to know what was troubling him. But more than that she wanted to help, even if there was nothing deeper. Maybe... maybe he just needs a good listener. Or a good hug.

She was nervous to confront him alone. Would he get angry at her? Or worse, ignore her? Comfreypaw came up with the idea to bring a friend along. Maybe that would help. And so she sought out the tom who had been on her mind lately, Morningsun. He was kind and nice from what she could tell. She remembered the time when he helped to comfort Fawnpaw. Yes, Morningsun would be the right cat to bring. Plus she wanted to get to know him better too. Finding her friend within the camp, she shyly approached him with her question,

"Hello Morningsun. Would you.. like to come with me to visit Stoatstar? He doesn't seem to be doing all too well and I thought we could try to cheer him up?"

The tom hadn't noticed the steps of the apprentice. His paws worked on weaving the brambles around the nursery where an ambitious kit had torn through, much like himself not too long ago. "Oh--" Morningsun began, ducking his head back from the thorny branches and ignoring the snags of his fur. "Comfrypaw, hello." He purred, shaking his head and casting a glare at the offending thorn that had torn a bit of his fur.

At her question, the young warrior tilted his head and his tail flicked apprehensively. Morningsun remembered his mother reacting poorly to Stoatstar's yells. It had taken Morningsun guiding his mother away to end her side of the conflict. Since then, most cats had avoided their leader. Needless to say, the warrior wasn't happy he couldn't roam their territory freely. The tom loved nothing more than to go on walks by himself. Now, someone would either have to be with him, or he takes up more camp chores--like patching up the nursery walls.

"Ah, Stoatstar, that's right." Morningsun's green eyes flicked towards the High Rock, eyeing the den. "Out of all the cats in this clan, he needs a listening ear. That's for certain. Especially if StarClan isn't here to guide him."

In a fluid movement, Morningsun stood up and walked past Comfrypaw. As he did so, the warrior flicked his fluffy tail over her ears. "That is very kind of you. Let's go see him."

Comfrerypaw grinned and followed Morningsun, happy to see him accept. "A listening ear! Exactly what I was thinking," she purred while trotting ahead of him. She flew her fluffy tail over his face, laughing at her tease. "You're kind too! Let's go use it." Thunderclan camp wasn't anything huge, so there wasn't much of a trip from the nursery to the Highrock. The molly quickly grabbed a rabbit before ducking under the lichen along with Morningsun. The rabbit served as both a gift and an excuse. It seemed pretty spacious with only one cat inhabiting it. I could see why he'd retreat into here. Does he ever get lonely? she wondered.

Comfreypaw cleared her throat, fully stepping into the cave. "Hey Stoatstar? It's us, Comfreypaw and Morningsun. Do you have a moment? Don't worry it's nothing urgent, I was just wondering if you wanted to share this rabbit with us?" she mewed respectfully, treading carefully with her words. She was nervous to push him out of his comfort zone, now uncertain what he would do. She just hoped he wouldn't send them away.

"Come in."

The low meow came after a brief pause. Had it been any other cats, the little leader would have likely sent them away without a second thought. But both Comfreypaw and Morningsun were young and did not deserve to be treated poorly for the disloyalty of the rest of the clan. Stoatstar was tucked into his nest but not neatly so. Legs splayed in different directions. One forepaw tucked underneath the brown and white pelt. His tail was strewn out behind him in a rather ungraceful manner. To top it all off, the orange eyes that fell on the pair of cats were dull and faded. He blinked a few times as if trying to remember what to say next.

"I'm not hungry." He meowed instantly, perhaps a little too honest. Stoatstar sighed, feeling a faraway guilt for the reaction. It was as if Minnowpaw was standing before him, like so many moons ago. The young tom deserved better - they all did. Relenting, he meowed again, "Thank you. It looks good." Stoatstar dipped his head slightly in a silent apology and straightened up slightly. Normally, he would have cared a little about his appearance but he couldn't bring himself to right now. Somehow, thinking to much lead to thoughts of Thrushnose and he was unable to bear it. His tail flickered to beckon them forward.

Why these cats wanted to share tongues with a disheveled and mad leader, he was not sure. But he would indulge them regardless.

The ThunderClan leader did not look well off. An ungroomed pelt, and tired, weary eyes. Morningsun did not blame him very much. So much was happening right now that it was only natural for him to be tired. Especially after losing Thrushnose. With a nod towards Comfreypaw, Morningsun approached the leader and settled a tail's length away. "It was a good catch. It is only right we share it with our leader." The fluffy tom mewed, tucking his paws under himself. "How are you doing?" Morningsun asked simply.

Of course, he was not well. But they would understand a bit better what they were working with depending on how Stoatstar answered. Despite the tom's worry, he did his best to keep a positive face.

Comfreypaw frowned at Stoatstar's initial response. Insistently, she nosed the fresh-kill closer to him as Morningsun led with his words. The leader gave in. Satisfied with his acceptance, she dipped her head back and mewed a quiet "You're welcome," before resting next to Morningsun. It was nice having him here to help. She lay similarly to her tucked in companion, except with her forearms stretched out towards Stoatstar's nest. She hoped she wasn't intruding his space.

The molly gave herself second to take in her leader's form. It was poor, to say the least. He looked like he hadn't left the den in a long while, which was probably true. A part of her felt tempted to groom the brown and white tom, but every other part of her understood how disrespectful that would be. Hopefully just eating the rabbit would help, even if only a bit.

Even if she couldn't figure out exactly what was going on with her mentor, she wished to at least comfort him.

Stoatstar instinctively huffed at the question, "Never better." His eyes immediately fell to the floor of the den, unable to look at either of them. Now he was slipping up in front of apprentices? Swallowing, he pictured a young Minnowfin once again. The leader took a deep breath and dredged up what little logical thought he could in this defeated state. Even if they had already heard him yowl like a maniac in front of the clan and witnessed his bitter grief... they did not deserve it. These kits had done nothing other than seek to bring him comfort. If just for a moment, he needed to be a better leader, a better cat.

"I apologize... to both of you. I'm sorry for everything." It was a muttered admission, drawing from the embers of guilt that smoldered deep in the recesses of his very being. This time his eyes moved to the rabbit and he dipped his head to take a bite. He willed the lavish flavors to dance across his taste buds but nothing came. Stoatstar swallowed back the freshkill. Maybe it would revitalize him, who knew, at least for now it would sate the desire of the younger cats. They seemed to want something, not from him, but for him. Such innocent creatures.

"What brings you to the den of the mad leader? There has to be something much more fun to do than seeing me in this pitiful state." At least he was self-aware. Stoatstar looked over his coat, whiskers twitching and drawing forth a low, bitter laugh.

"Mad?" Morningsun echoed with a tilt of his head. "Surely not. You are a member of the clan. When someone is going through a difficult time, we want to check in with them." The warrior explained, green eyes going over their leader's coat. "I sure don't hope you thought you were exempt simply because you are our leader. We won't let you get off easy!" Hopefully the young tom's satire did not go over Stoatstar's head.