Do Not Disturb [c]

After a long day of watching over bickering kits there were few things more relaxing than sinking her teeth into a delicious piece of fresh-kill. The salty taste of fish exploded in Clovermottle's mouth, earning a pleased purr from the queen. It was a meal well earnt and she planned to enjoy it in peace, far away from the others. Perhaps tonight she would sleep under the stars, the nursery felt so crowded, and while it would be uncomfortable without a nest, tonight it would be more than preferable than getting kicked in the stomach by some restless kit. Excited at the prospect of a decent nights sleep, Clovermottle picked up the fish and trotted happily to a secluded area of RiverClan camp. The ground beneath was soft too, it would at least help to compensate for the lack of moss. She was about to tuck in, and prepare for just one night alone, but out of the corner of her eye she spotted a black shape approaching. The queen sucked in a breath of annoyance, expelling it in a plume of mist. "Can't you pester someone else?" meowed Clovermottle, tail twitching,

"No." Came the swift reply from the black tom. "Not since ya settled down by a pretty rock I was about ta grab." Ravenfall answered. "If ya would be willing ta move or hand it over ta me I will be out of yer way in a tick." Yellow eyes settled intensely on the she-cat. He needed that rock, and he needed it now. He wasn't going to leave without it.

A groan unbefitting someone who carried themselves like Clovermottle did escaped her maw. There were thousands of rocks did he really need this one? But the less she argued the quicker she'd be left in peace and could enjoy the moonrise over the gently lapping waters of the river. Picking her fish up, she moved several paces to the right so that Ravenfall could get to 'his rock'. They all looked the same to her, various earthy tones smoothed by the river. Amber eyes blinked in curiosity as she watched the tom. "What's so special about your rock? I can hardly tell the difference between them." mewed the queen, tail twitching as she expectantly waited for his reply.

As soon as the queen had moved, black paws reached out and pulled the rock he was speaking about closer. "Well if ya bothered ta pay attention ta the rocks then ya would know they have some interesting an' pretty details about them." The black tom stated. "Like this one," He nudged it towards her slightly, but not far enough away that he couldn't snatch it back in a heartbeat. "It's shiny, an 'mostly white with black running down ta middle. How many rocks do you see tha' are like this one? Not many I'm guessin since most rocks around here are gray."

Ravenfall’s nabbing of the rock was blink and you miss it. Clovermottle blinked, no one was going to snap it up, he was alone in his rock sentiments. Though, if she ever encountered the rock thief he seemed to think was lurking in the shadows she would certainly let him know. Her yellow eyes watched apprehensively as he explained the minuscule differences between his rock and the rest. There was admittedly some merit to his claims, but was it worth entertaining? Shouldn’t he be more focused on his warrior duties… than… pebbles? She was just a queen though, and what he did in his spare time hardly was her concern. She twitched her tail thoughtfully, peering a little closer at the rocks. “Is that the only one you can see here?” perhaps she was a little disappointed that there weren’t more nice rocks. She’d come to see the moonrise for its beauty, why not see the rocks as well. Or maybe if there was none left Ravenfall would leave sooner.

The black tom let out a hum. Yellow eyes looking around at the area around them, but glancing back to the rock every so often. "It's very rare for us ta get many good lookin' ones round here." The young warrior stated. "When one does show up, I like ta nab it." Yellow eyes flicked up to the she-cat noting her disappointment at the fact that there isn't many more. "I have a few more near my nest if ya would like ta see." He said scooping the rock he he just recently acquired once again. He didn't mind showing off his rocks, it's when someone tried to take one is when things got nasty.

“Shame. The world could do with more pretty things.” mewed Clovermottle eyes still transfixed on his rock. The tom offered to show her more rocks and despite how annoyed she had just been there was a certain compulsion to accept. It wasn’t a particularly far walk, and she had just said herself the world needed more pretty things, why deprive herself of such a sight? The moon could wait for her a little longer, her dinner too. Dead fish didn’t tend to swim away. “Sure.” she purred, rising again. This would be her first time back in the warriors den since retiring to the nursery, a wave of bitterness washed over her. If it hadn’t been for the sickness she would still be there, it wouldn’t be a task to indulge in anything, and every night she would be able to admire the collection Ravenfall spoke of. It was a reminder of everything she’d lost to return to the warriors den so fleetingly, but the finality and acceptance would be good at least the tortoishell supposed. It was hardly the black tom that had caused her condition, the bitterness towards him was unwarranted. With a swish of her orange flecked tail, Clovermottle banished her envy for the time being.