Alone. [c]

The opening to Shrikestar's den opened in front of her as Coyotegrin hovered outside. The warrior was not unfamiliar with his den, as they talked their frequently about the state of WindClan as well as intellectual topics they found amusing that day. She was hungry; she hadn't ate since Hawkheart's body had been brought to camp. She hungered for a lot of things, but right now, she hungered most for comfort. Hawkheart would have been who she turned to, but now, Hawkheart was gone. The molly had felt the urge to go to Shrikestar, but now she was hesitating. Did she really want to seem weak to Shrikestar? Would he think less of her? Take away her title as Tunnel Captain, the very thing keeping her from not running away until she found herself fulfilled again?

"Shrikestar? Can I come in?" She called out in her weak, hollowed voice almost without her meaning to put the sound out there.

Things had been going good for awhile, but it couldn't all be good. Hawkheart's death weighed heavily on everyone's minds and hearts. Shrikestar was thinking about it as he laid in his den, his heart heavy as another of his clanmates had passed on so soon after Goldenpaw's. Then there was someone - Coyotegrin - at the entrance to his den, wishing for entrance.

"Come in." Hawkheart had been Coyotegrin's mate, so it must've weighed more heavily on her than anyone else. "Coyotegrin, is there anything I can do for you?" Hopefully as leader, he could do something, anything to ease her pain.

Coyotegrin stepped in as Shrikestar offered in and settled a slight distance away from him. "I just wanted to sit next to a cat for a while... It's lonely sleeping alone after never having to." She trailed off, her gaze staring blankly at the ground before she jumped and looked back up, startled. "Not that I'm asking to sleep here or anything, I just mean I wanted to not be alone." The correction came off at a scramble and fast paced, her eyes wide.

Shrikestar chuckled softly at Coyotegrin's sudden backpedaling, but he nodded and made himself comfortable, facing his warrior with a smile. "Of course. You can come to me anytime you need to, you know?" He then took on a more solemn tone. "The whole clan mourns for Hawkheart, but I know that your heart must be heaviest of us all."

Coyotegrin blinked slowly before looking back up to Shrikestar. She studied the leader, and her heart hurt as she wanted nothing more than to lay next to him, bury her face in his fur, and sleep with the comfort she was so accustomed to. She was so tired. Instead, she made an awkward shuffle to sit a little closer. It hadn't escaped her mind when he pushed his pelt against hers as comfort when Goldenpaw died, but she didn't want to make their relationship awkward by pushing it. [b]"It's the death of Goldenpaw so recent too. I have only Daisybreeze left. I feel so utterly alone." She sighed, drooping once more.

Shrikestar frowned slightly, but he understood. The deaths were still fresh in all of their minds. It hadn't been all that long ago, after all. "You have the whole clan at your back as well," he remined her, laying his tail across hers. "So don't feel you have to do anything alone. We're all with you." He smiled, just wanting to do whatever he could to cheer Coyotegrin up. He hated to see her this low.

Coyotegrin felt the warm and fluffy feeling of Shrikestar's laying against hers. Instinctively with no holds barred, she moved and closed the distance between them, pushing her head into his shoulder and fur, soaking in the comfort it brought. "Are you with me, specifically, Shrikestar?" She whispered softly into his tabby brown pelt.

At first, Shrikestar was surprised with how close the two were, physically. Then again, they had been close as friends for awhile. Perhaps something more as well? "I am," he replied with confidence, nuzzling her gently. "I wouldn't have assigned you as the tunnel leader if I felt otherwise." He laughed softly, then continued to speak gently to Coyotegrin. "I will always have your back, Coyotegrin. No matter what."