Meadowpaw spoke and Talons blue gaze flicked over, his untorn eyebrow raising as she spoke, expecting a longer story. But it was short and sweet. Fire was a great danger, he remembered. The red flames will eat you alive, if the black plumage of smoke doesn't suffocate you first. It'll destroy everything in it's path. He remembered his mother speaking, it was vague, and he couldn't see her face anymore very well. But they had walked through trees that were charred, broken. The green of forests were not there. It smelled awful, he remembered. How did you not die? How did you guys manage to survive? But he kept the questions to himself. Typical that he didn't ask. If she wanted to say, she would.
Even after he nodded, there was a shift in her gaze that he almost didn't catch if he hadn't already been looking at her from the mention of the deadly beast she faced. She called him strong, and yet, she didn't realize that in her own way, she was strong too. She survived something many perished to. But, he wasn't one to say stuff like that aloud.
She moved on to that warrior- named Owlbear. The brown tabby noted the predatorial name. Owls were hostile creatures, and could take cats if they felt the need to- and bears, they'll kill you in a swipe. If they see you, you best hope you're faster than it. But by then, it's probable you are already dead. But he didn't say much, just acknowledging the name. He couldn't breathe well from the fire- so it did cause them suffrage, which was quite unfortunate. Then she continued, Before she cut off before finishing the name. It was likely a sore topic, which he understood.
He had decided simply to move on, as she did with asking him questions about his history. But she moved on to asking about what he saw, and he rolled his tongue in his mouth, blinking slowly as he looked at the herbs before them. A claw slid out of his paw as he pointed. "Tansy. Th' thing y' give me t' chew on. It helped some with th' pain, an' it made me feel less of the-." He said firstly, recognized the herbs look, but cut himself off with a snap of his teeth. As if admitting something he didn't want to. His claw hesitated, searching before stopping at a golden flower. "This one, an' a golden thick one y' have him drink. I think... I overheard y' saying it helps soothe his throat. But it's risky t' get so you use it sparingly."
He hesitated again, blue gaze looking away, seemingly searching in the distance even though it was just the wall of the den. He had already revealed quite a bit, but she had questions, and he didn't know what they were. But it didn't... Sit right that she suddenly wanted to avoid it. It was a weird feeling he felt. A new one. Especially when it involved something he never wanted to speak about with another cat. But, unfortunately, he was building trust with a cat who had no idea about him. And she had revealed information about surviving a fire.
" T'was strange, one day. My... mother had never really carried me, but she grabbed me with th' force of an angry raccoon an' threw me in some bushes." Funny the comparison he made, considering well, it actually sort of happened. "Three rogues had been followin' us apparently. I watched between leaves of bushes- they tore her apart and fleed th' scene." His gaze had become cold, his teeth ground, and his claws flexed into the dirt. It was clear he was ramping himself up. "My mother taught me, playin' was for children who were safe. We weren't safe. Danger was imminent in every corner. In every shadow. She taught me th' danger, but not how t' deal with it. Have y' ever been so hungry, y' peeled leaves from branches, or ate bugs just t' try to satisfy th' pain?" He asked, blue gaze flickering to her. For some reason, he couldn't find the chance to stop. He was rolling, and he couldn't stop himself. "I was no bigger than th' kits y' guys are able t' cradle, t' laugh with. somehow, I came across a half dead mouse. It was squeakin' softly. Think it's leg was broken. It was taken from me before I could even enjoy it. T'was another mouse they fought each other over, but regardless. Out there, th' world is a cruel place. No one cares about ya. Y' gotta only care 'bout yourself, cuz y' aren't allowed t' trust nobody. If ya do, y' end up with no ears, an' in a ditch. If y' thinkin' bout leaving Windclan, I wouldn't. Not that I... Don't think y' can handle it. But it's better t' stay where y' know y' can always have y' back watched." His body had gotten stiffer, and he rolled his shoulders in his crunched over form, trying to ease the tension. His jaws moved as if chewing on something, but he didn't have access to chewing things as much as he'd like. He'd try to make the tansy last as long as possible, but it wasn't easy. His eye drifted, blue eye watching the way her tail wrapped around her leg, and finally asked a question. "Did the fire d' that?" It felt... Weird, but, if they were exchanging questions, well- it felt like now was the best time. Plus he needed to take his mind off of what he had said.
