Familiar Company [c]

In this rare moment of inactivity, Irispaw relished in the comfort of the volume of her mind, as the camp she paced about was otherwise silent. She'd spent many a sunny day running about as both a kit and an apprentice, enjoying the world around her, but she rarely took the time to properly study it. To see Home for the things it was made of, rather than just Home. It looked so different on sunny days. Sun dappled into their clearing, and there was always some sort of commotion, with cats of all ages walking around and going about their business. The ground underfoot- perpetually spongy- would dry and make for a more welcome ground to trod upon, and the assorted critters would come out in force to make the most of the pleasant day.

Irispaw pressed her front paws more firmly against the ground, feeling the mud squeeze and squish between her toes. She took a moment to immerse herself in the sensation, almost kneading at the forgiving ground, unmindful of how quickly she grew wet in the maelstrom.

But when it rained, it seemed like the world had turned on its head. The sky never warmed with the light of the sun, to indicate that a new day had begun. The thrum and rhythm of cats about the clearing was replaced with that of rain and thunder, falling and playing its own tune against the ground as many a cat took shelter in their dens. The birdsong and other sounds of the forest grew quiet then, and the River that fed them and gave and took life grew loud as it roared with its speed and hunger.

It was on days like these, she idled, where the sky cried and made all that lay below it wet with its tears, that one found the best company with loved ones.

"Irispaw,"

Speak of the angel.

Irispaw greeted her first friend with a happy chirrup, trotting up as he spoke to hear him over his namesake.

"Heya Stormdance! 'Course I've got a minute! I've got so many minutes that I'm not using, and always happy to spend them with a friend," she enthused, settling before him in a parallel to how they'd first met.

"My training's been going great so far! Poppyshine's the absolute best, and I'm learning to spar with her right now. Oh, the trick you showed me, with the Moss Boss! That came in super handy in our first spar, thanks for showing me that! I'm still learning tons of new stuff and seeing the world outside the Camp, and there's so much oh my gosh, you wouldn't believe it! Except you would because you already did the apprentice thing and now you're a warrior and you have apprentices and you've probably seen like everything everything, so you definitely would believe it," she nodded to herself, as if affirming her own thoughts.

"Where was I going with that... Doesn't matter! Point is, training is going great and thank you! Also! How are you doing with the leg? I heard you got real hurt running afowl of two dozen foxes and geese."

Irispaw nodded with all due seriousness at Stormdance's wisdom. There were so many new things to learn all the time! She was learning things constantly just by looking around and going about camp, and becoming an apprentice just helped her learn even more things. Before she'd become one, her perspective had been so limited- confined to first the Nursery, then the camp as she grew and explored and learned. She'd never even been able to properly see the River that her clan was so named for, her whole world confined to that little clearing.

Now though? She'd seen trees and birds and fish and animals that were alive and breathing and moving and living. She'd seen what the Clan's territory looked like from beyond their little glade, seen grasses and flowers and things she had no name for, but knew were just good and beautiful. Seeing new things- and learning new things to go along with them- was one of the most comforting constants of her life. For to learn was to grow, to improve, to become better and stronger and smarter- a Warrior. She wasn't there yet, and she didn't know when she would be. But she would do her utmost to keep her eyes open and looking towards the future, taking in the lessons that life gave her along the way.

Blinking from her musings, she felt herself grow warm at the thought of being able to hold that tradition. She'd had more than a paw and a half of siblings in her litter, and there was no shortage of other kits in the nursery needing attention growing up. For all that she'd been clingy and needy and bothersome, Irispaw had been fairly independent from a young age, constantly trying to leave the Nursery far before her time. It meant she didn't have as strong of a connection with her parents or siblings as many other cats did, as she'd never taken the time to properly bond with them growing up. It left her feeling a bit empty at times, that lack of connection that should've been there, that she'd prevented through her own actions. But this connection- the tradition- was a lovely bit of a grounding point for her. And she knew- should she ever encounter a kit in a similar situation, she'd do her best to pass it on to them. Continuing the tradition.

Irispaw's lips quivered a bit in disbelieving bemusement. Despite Stormdance's words to the contrary, she was quite certain that him and Poppyshine working in tandem would absolutely be able to take down a whole burrow of foxes if they ever really felt like it- they were both so strong! But they were also very kind and merciful and she knew those predators should thank their lucky stars that neither of them bothered to turn the predators into prey. Still, Stormdance seemed insistent on making people think he didn't have the power of his namesake filling his bones, so she'd play along.

"I'm glad that you're feeling better! And I definitely believe you when you say that you wouldn't be able to handle a dozen foxes blind with a paw bound to your chest," Irispaw chirped, convincing nobody.

"...But you're right. The Medicine Den has been almost overflowing with the flood of cats that have had injuries lately," she worried, looking towards where the Den lay as her ears folded back. "Do you think Dovesight and Sandypaw are doing alright? I don't know anything about healing or being a Medicine Cat, but it seems really difficult. I wish there was some way I could help."

Irispaw frowned, looking at the medicine den. She hadn't known that Dovesight had never had a mentor to learn under. She thought to the guidance she'd received so far from Poppyshine and winced. If she'd had to become a warrior without Poppyshine's help... it was a concerning thought. Poor Dovesight.

At the mention of being able to help though, Irispaw's ears perked up, and she turned to Stormdance with wide eyes, listening intently. She didn't want to get in the way of the clan's healers, so approaching them properly seemed out of the question- she was very good at getting in the way and being underfoot. But helping from a distance- just making sure that they had food and getting them helpful things- that she could do. Her tail thumped against the muddy ground in pleasure at the idea, before thumping harder at the praise Stormdance levelled at her.

She bet Stormdance was a fantastic mentor. Even if she wouldn't trade her mentorship with Poppyshine for the world, a part of her was a little sad she wouldn't be able to learn under Stormdance. He was very good at keeping his cool and providing all sorts of amazing ideas.

Irispaw beamed at Stormdance. "No need to apologize, Stormdance! You always have great things to say and give me all sorts of good advice and ideas, I really appreciate it!" she enthused. She seemed to almost dance in place at the mentioning of the gathering. "I'm so so SO excited for my first gathering! It's going to be the farthest I'll have ever gone from the camp, and I'm absolutely ecstatic! And it'll be my first time seeing other clans, and other cats, and other clan cats and cat clans! I really really hope that everybody'll be super duper nice and friendly!" she wished.

At that, she let out a small sneeze that jolted her whole body. Shaking her head, she looked to the maelstrom above with a small frown. "Hmmm... I think I miiiiiiight've been out in the rain a little too long," she noted absently, pawing at her nose a bit as she made no move to actually get out of the rain pouring over her thoroughly drenched body. "At least I can get used to it now!"

Irispaw beamed at the invitation to join Stormdance, taking a moment to step a short distance away and shake her fur out as much as she physically could (she didn't want to be rude!) before looking to find a spot in the shelter of the reeds. "I wouldn't want to be making more work there, no sir," she agreed with Stormdance, scanning the area momentarily before a very tempting idea popped into her head. Her nose twitched in mischief before she managed to compose her face again to respond.

"I dunno about all that, I think Poppyshine might just call me silly and give me a little scolding for staying out in the rain for so long as to catch a cold because 'If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times, you need to stop looking for trouble and start paying attention and pull your head out of the clouds, you should know better by now, Iriskit'-er, paw." Irispaw looked momentarily chagrined. "Not that Poppyshine's ever said anything like that, mind you, she's the best! Just, ya know..." she trailed off, before shaking herself out again and making more visible effort to find a spot amongst the reeds to settle.

Except there really wasn't aaaalllll that much space in the reeds. Really just about none at all. No, that wasn't an excuse she was making for herself. It just so happened that there was no space amongst the reeds for a whole other cat to find shelter, so she had to make do and cuddle up against Stormdance. Oh nooooo, it was a real shame she thought as she pressed herself against his side, his bulk and longer fur radiating warmth against her much smaller body. "Sorry about this, there's really no more room over here, and I figured you wouldn't mind sharing," she smirked, no shortage of mischief in her tone. Such a shame there was no place else to settle. Oh darn. She didn't bother to suppress the purrs that arose from leaning against Stormdance. He was really warm and cozy.