to pass the time [o]

Leopardsun hauled the body of the owl she'd tracked and killed earlier that day into ShadowClan's camp, beginning the comparatively slow and tedious work of removing its feathers. They would be put to good use, lining nests in the nursery- or else the kits would spot them first, and they would be played with.

As much as it was tedious, she liked this part of her work. It was something she chose to do, whereas assigning patrols and mentors (both dealt with for the moment) was an obligation.

Learning how to handle predators from Thalia had been fascinating: the older she-cat had a wealth of knowledge that she was all too happy to share, and Leopardsun in turn had started handling most of the predators she brought back herself in order to gain experience. She had always learned best by doing, and as it turned out this was something she had plenty of opportunity to do.

So with a slowly less-feathered owl and a pile of growing feathers before her, ShadowClan's deputy lay not far from the fresh-kill pile in the center of camp.

Moondancer had watched as her mother padded into camp and lay near the fresh-kill pile with the owl she was stripping the feathers from. An ugly, bloody task unworthy of the deputy, but it wasn't her own time being wasted on it so at least Moondancer couldn't complain as she picked up a frog and settled nearby. The warrior eyed the dead bird in mild disgust for a moment before speaking. "...At least nobody's going to wear that thing." She grumbled. Her gaze traveled to the growing pile of feathers, "More nest lining?" She asked hopefully. They'd probably go to the nursery first... But maybe she could snag a few feathers for her own nest.

Tawnyshadow padded into camp, several frogs dangling from her jaws. She deposited them at the fresh-kill pile and glanced over at what her clan deputy was doing. Feathers? She supposed they would be used for lining nests; Dawnkit would enjoy playing with them very much. A purr rose in her throat at the thought of her adopted kit; when Dawnkit's mother died, no cat knew who her father was, so she had volunteered to take Dawnkit under her wing. The kit proved to be very enthusiatic, and soon became a highlight of Tawnyshadow's day.

Perhaps she was a little young; her warrior ceremony was not even a moon ago. But it's not like she was stopping her duty as a warrior, she was just playing with the kit in her free time.

"Could I get a few for the kits? They would enjoy playing with them," She asked politely, "If there isn't a use for them already."

Another quiet day of doing very little, Batswarm grabbed the least messy of prey off the pile and joined his mother and sister. He arrived just as Moondancer mentioned that nobody would wear such a thing. To be honest, he wouldn't mind the feathers if his own gorgeous pelt and face didn't do all the work for him. "It would suit you, though." Before laying down, Batswarm swept up loose dirt out of the spot he chose near Moondancer, piling that same loose earth as a line between them so she wouldn't touch him.

His green eyes glanced at Tawnyshadow, a cat he hadn't truly gotten to meet yet. Which wasn't a surprise since he barely talked to anyone other than his family. And even that was a chore sometimes. Feathers for the kits... He couldn't understand why kits wanted to play with such things. Not once did he ever bother with playing games as a kit, in fear it would make him dirty. "...Hello, Tawnyshadow." He wasn't one for conversation, but it would he weird not to greet her.

Tawnyshadow glanced over as Batswarm approached the group of cats at the fresh-kill pile. Batswarm, though they have yet to interact much, came off as a bit arrogant and self-centered. But he was still a strong and able warrior.

"Hello, Batswarm," She returned the greeting politely, dipping her head.

"Take a few if you'd like, but not too many," she said to Moondancer. "I don't really want to have to track down another one today, and these are meant for the nursery."

Leopardsun stretched out a bit, considering the young warrior that had approached. "Ah, Tawnyshadow, it's good to see you! I was planning to use most of these to line the nests in the nursery, so go ahead. I'm sure Dawnkit would appreciate something new to play with."

It was true that Tawnyshadow was a young warrior, but she hadn't been that much older when she'd taken a kit under her own care. Tawnykit (she recalled the name with a hint of irony) hadn't lasted long, but she had been loved; and Leopardsun thought that, in the end, that was the thing that mattered most.

She just hoped that Dawnkit made it to her apprentice ceremony.

"You're managing alright?" Though she still made an effort to help out around the nursery, that habit she'd picked up so long ago, she was often occupied with the responsibilities of being ShadowClan's deputy, and otherwise with things like tracking predators or everyday warrior duties. Still, she wanted to make an effort to be there for her Clanmates as well; that was something she would simply make time for, if it was necessary. "Don't hesitate to let me know if you need anything."

Tawnyshadow dipped her head in gratitude. "Thank you very much, Leopardsun," She purred. It wasn't often she got to interact with the Shadowclan deputy, but when she did, Leopardsun turned out to be a kind, warm she-cat.

Though, Tawnyshadow was not expecting Leopardsun to check if she was managing fine. "I'm managinging well," She quickly assured the deputy. Does she think I'm not going on enough patrols? The warrior made a mental note to join in an extra patrol as soon as possible. "Dawnkit is growing into a bright, optimistic kit," She continued, glad of the chance to talk about her ward, "It won't be long before she becomes an apprentice. I trust you will make the right descision when it comes to choosing her mentor, as you have done for me and many others."

As long as she doesn't get herself into trouble, she added to herself.