I love you to the moors and beyond (c)

With the sudden disappearance of Tigerstar, WindClan had grown weary and search parties had been sent out left and right. He'd done his fair share of scouring the moorlands and the nearby borders but his searching had been in vain, and he prayed to StarClan that their leader was found safe and sound. Sitting beside his mate, he knew the cream-pelted deputy was fairly anxious about all of this seeing as it had been such a shock to them all, and he hoped to provide her with some sort of comfort.

"We'll find him, I know we will" the plump brown warrior mewed with a sheepish smile, though he prayed that he wasn't sharing lies. He truly hoped their leader was recovered. It was a morbid thought and part of his wanted to kick himself for even thinking it... but even if Tigerstar was found not breathing, it would at least give them all closure.

Rapidfire glanced over to her mate. He was one of the few things that could still make her smile in all this. She wasn't sure if it was his hopeless optimism or his cute fluffy face but in either case, it did help. "I do hope so" she meowed quietly and scooted closer to him.

"Molehill? Do you think I am ready for this?" she asked in a whisper.

Things were happening fast, much faster than she would have liked. It was not common she got moments like this with just her and her mate.

She gave a deep breath not wanting to linger on any one topic too much, "I'm glad our son is finally well, I hope one day soon we could do his assessment or see what he's learned so far"

Part of his was shocked at his mate's question and he couldn't help but wonder why she would even ask such a thing. She was the most talented, strong, and respectable cat he knew, and there was absolutely not doubt in his mind that she couldn't tackle the task at paw. Of course it would be difficult for every-cat to say goodbye to Tigerstar if he wasn't recovered, but he knew that the clan would welcome Rapidfire to her new position. Well, he hoped so anyway. They didn't exactly have a choice, but even so she was clearly the most fit for leadership.

"Of course you are," the plump, brown-pelted warrior mewed strongly as he sat with his pelt pressed up against his mate's. He wasn't the best at pep talks, but he hoped he could lift her spirits at least a little. "You're the best cat for the position, I know you are. I know your heart and the love that you hold for your clanmates. You're going to do great," Molehill mewed softly, giving her a gently lick atop her cream colored head before addressing her next topic.

"I'll be honest and say I was a bit concerned about Bugpaw, but I'm glad that he's doing better now. He'll surely make a great warrior someday," he added with a purr, a sense of happiness filling every part of his being. Sure, a lot had been going on lately, but he couldn't help but find himself overjoyed that his family was doing at least somewhat well during such stressful times. Hopefully, he would get see his kits continue to grow and flourish among their clanmates and become strong warriors.

She considered herself very lucky, in the sense of having a mate like Molehill. Even in these changing times he seemed to have an unwavering confidence in her. She leaned into his pelt and nodded a bit. She could do this, this was not the first time she had been tossed into something that she was new too. Her parents death when she was young left her alone, becoming deputy afterwards and being tossed into that new role and now this, being tossed into leadership. She had already proven to herself that she could do this. Hearing it from your best friend in life was a reassuring thing nonetheless.

Her unsureness was turning into confidence quickly and she nodded sharply. "yeah, I can" she purred, she did feel better about things in general. At his lick at he forehead she pawed at his shoulder playfully.

"I know things have been crazy busy lately, and if I am being honest they will be for awhile longer, but once it settles down some, all of us should go do something together, all three of the kits and us"

Bugpaw and Rainpaw were old for apprentices, but that didn't bother her - they got to grow up slower than she had something she wasn't at all against.

"but... speaking of family, you should tell your dad he needs to knock off the twoleg food shenanigans she meowed eyeing at him. She was indeed very sweet but could be hardheaded on certain things and this was one of those hot buttons.

Glad that he'd seemed to be able to cheer her up at least a little, he took her playful paw without any retaliation except for a wide smile on his short maw. It made him happy to see her happy, and he found himself a little proud for being able to bring her at least some sort of hope.

"I..." he paused for a moment, lost in the possibilities of her statement next statement Doing something just them, as a family... he wanted nothing more in life. He understood things were a bit crazy right now, but he would hold onto this dream until the day he drew his final breath. "I would love that," Molehill purred happily, leaning against her soft pelt and taking in her comforting and familiar scent.

The next thing he said certainly took him a bit off guard though, and he perked his short ears up and sat up a little straighter. "Twoleg food? There's no way he's actually gone, right? I only caught him talking to an apprentice about it, but..." he trailed off, worried about his father's future. Twolegs weren't to be messed with and even just the thought of being so close to them sent a shiver down his spine. He'd certainly need to chat with him, though he knew the plump tom wouldn't take it well, especially from his son.