Timber giggled in turn with the kit, a smile wide on his face as he looked away from the stars.
"Petree works. I'm sure he'd be happy you tried." He chuckled, but his smile lessened as the kit continued to talk, and his eyes wandered back towards the sky as she spoke.
"...Then maybe the rain isn't that bad." He said finally, tilting his head as though he was imagining clouds covering the stars.
"If it reminds you of someone you loved—and it must, since I'm sure your mother loved him. That love can still live on in you, just..." The tom gestured with a paw, as though he was grasping for words he didn't know how to say.
"Y'know. Through stories. There's lots of ways to love someone, and stories is one of them."
He nodded at his own words, it had rung true for him for so very long.
"There's lots of people I still tell stories about. I remember them, and in that way I love them. I might not see them anymore, or they might not be around anymore, but that doesn't change that I remember and love them." A tightness in his throat wobbled for just a moment, and he swallowed roughly and looked at his white paws, focusing on the gentle weight of the kit leaning on his side.
"My brother is one of them. I do what I can to remember him. To love him."
Timberfrost let the memories fall from his mind
—it was far too much to reminisce about on even a good night, and especially not in front of such a little thing. Sealkit was new to the world... it hadn't been kind to them, but Timber didn't want to add to the cruelty of it if he could help. At Seal's next question, though, he found himself chewing on his lip in thought.
"I think... there's no point where you stop." He said thoughtfully, he hadn't considered that before...
"You might not remember that you're related to someone, but you're still connected..." Curling his fluffy tail around the kitten, he smiled down at them.
"We might not remember that we're related, but me and you are still connected. I'm sure if we go far back enough, my brother could have been your mom's mom's brother." He shrugged.
"Or however far back you need to go. I'm sure they're both watching us, and everyone inbetween too."
He found himself blinking in surprise at Sealkit's next question, but after a moment of thinking the smile on his face once again grew wider. It was nice to be wanted like that, and he was so, so very happy Seal
wanted to be friends with Stoat. Maybe, just maybe... she'd find a place in this clan.
"Of course you can." Timberfrost purred reassuringly.
"She's nervous, but she's been the only kit she's known for a very, very long time. She'll come around, I promise you." The tom chuckled to himself, envisioning a much,
much younger Stoat, one that had closed eyes and folded ears. How time flies....
"I sure hope so..." An idea popped into his head, and he nodded happily at it.
"You can help me make sure of that, if you'd like. Just... be nice to Stoat for me, that's all you need to do. She's been through a lot, and sometimes a little kindness can mean so much." The tom looked back towards the kit, taking a large, white paw and patting her on the head gently.
"You're already doing wonderfully. Thank you for that."
-
im so sorry for how late this is i owe u my life
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Timber
✦—Shadowclan Caregiver | 23 Moons
✦—He/Him
✦—"SPEECH", 'THOUGHTS', ATTACK
✦—A large chocolate tabby with pale gold eyes
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