remember me? (open to cats living at the barn)

((I’m assuming that forest lets her into the rogue group lol))

Rose paused at the entrance to the barn, tail-tip flicking.

It had been weeks since she’d first come across the forest, and the strange cats Whisper Ear and Bracken Wing, and surely the invitation to stay the night had long-since expired. She wasn’t here for that, or at least she’d managed to convince herself of that fact. She was here to repay them for their kindness in the form of information- and the pair of starlings that hung from her maw.

“Hello?”

Brackenwing stretched, green eyes taking in the snow-dusted fields outside the barn with a mix of disdain and nostalgia. She did not enjoy the colder seasons, much less the powdery white stuff that meant she had no chance of hiding her warm-toned pelt out on the moors, but she missed the feeling of the wind in her fur, missed chasing rabbits and hares even if she had not been one of Windclan's better hunters. Barn life had been peaceful and quiet though, and that to Brackenwing was priceless with Whisperear at her side.

A voice broke through her thoughts, and Brackenwing's green eyes turned toward it, catching sight of the cat who stood in the entrance of the barn with a flicking tail. She remembered the she-cat who had passed through weeks ago, staying for a night. Rose, if she recalled, had been pleasant enough company.

"Hello, Rose," Brackenwing greeted, "What brings you back here?"

Bracken Wing and Whisper Ear soon appeared, voices kindly as they had been in Rose’s memories. She was not entirely able to quash the small smile hovering on her maw, and instead elected to disguise it by bending down to place the starlings on the ground. They were not exactly plump, but well-fed prey was practically unheard-of in such a harsh season. It would be a good meal for two elderly cats who did not get out much, however.

“I have been well,” she answered shyly, flicking an ear. “It’s nice to see you again, too. I’m sure you’ve noticed that the Clans are gone?”

Her words came out more of a question than she would’ve liked, but Rose wasn’t quite sure that they would’ve noticed. From here, the scent marks had always been faint.

Whisperear came to her side, and Brackenwing acknowledged their presence with a soft smile.

"I'm glad to hear you've been well." Leafbare wasn't an easy time to be hunting, that was for sure, and even the barn wasn't immune from the lessened prey. Perhaps, she thought, some outsiders that were free to wander had a better go of things in the cold seasons, but she had not felt the need to wander far from the old barn, even so.

Brackenwing nodded as Rose spoke, "Some time ago... The moors have been quiet." She did not let on how that also worried her. Her life here with Whisperear had been too peaceful, and while she did have precious few cats she cared for in Windclan, the ties that had kept her paws willingly within their territory had long since been severed, gone with Owlshade and Flutterpetal and Adderdawn. Wherever the clan had gone off to, she was sure Smallstar was leading them well enough... And she was sure Tigerdance and Sootstorm would be alright. They had to be.