Private SkC 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚'𝙨 𝙖 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚 ✦ quailstep ✦ '𝙩𝙞𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚

[brightnose!'s icon brightnose! brightnose!]

BRIGHTNOSE ──

skyclan | sun guard

​

When Brightnose finally leaves the company of her beautiful, well-kept secret, the moon is already threatening to sink below the horizon. She hadn't planned on being out so long, but she hardly cared; any tiredness she'd inevitably feel tomorrow is worth the time she'd spent with Coyoteclaw. She's still on cloud nine as she capers through SkyClan's territory, almost forgetting that she'd told her Clanmates she was going on a 'hunting trip' - it's by sheer luck that she manages to catch a small squirrel in her rush to get to camp before cats started waking up to see that she was gone most of the night. Oh well, she'll just say the prey was running bad because of the cold.

There are moments, like right now, that a twinge of guilt threatens to coil in Brightnose's gut. She would never have told a lie to her Clan a mere moon or so ago, but here she is now keeping secrets and covering her tracks. Ever since meeting Coyoteclaw, the RiverClan beauty had changed her, though Brightnose is not sure whether that change is good or bad or even a bit of both. After all, she used to lie like it was nothing back in her apprentice days, and it's not like telling her Clanmates now that she was going hunting was really hurting anyone. She's sure that it's fine.
As she finds her way into camp, she steps as lightly as possible through the clearing so as not to make a sound. The squirrel dangles from her mouth as she carefully places it at the edge of the pile, and for a moment she looks down at it with relief - she's glad she'd managed to catch something for the Clan, in the end. It'd eat her alive if her gift to Coyoteclaw had been the only thing she'd managed to catch tonight. She would've hesitated to catch the chimaera anything from SkyClan's territory to begin with, as it would surely be frowned upon if anyone found out, but Coyoteclaw had already gifted her a fish fresh from the river - she was just returning the favor, Brightnose had convinced herself. That's a perfectly justified thing to do, right?

As she turns away from the fresh-kill pile, she's met with the sight of a cat that was definitely not there before; she nearly jumps out of her own pelt as her eyes widen with shock. Quailstep. Of course it had to be Brightnose's best friend, the only cat she couldn't bring herself to lie to. She silently prays to StarClan that the older warrior won't question her, but she gets the feeling she won't be so lucky.
"Q... Quailstep! Hi!" she stammers, her heart beating fiercely in her chest at the sudden realization that she's been caught red-pawed. "I, um, didn't expect anycat else to be awake so early... or so late, depending on how you look at it..." a small, nervous chuckle escapes her, and she can't bring herself to meet Quailstep's gaze. How did she ever lie with such a straight face when she was younger? She's not even saying anything bad right now, but the guilt she feels is so obvious. She swallows in an attempt to get rid of the sudden lump in her throat, sitting down with her shoulders hunched as her pelt burns with shame. I hope Hawkstar won't find out about this. Quailstep wouldn't tell on her like that, right? Hopefully? Brightnose supposes she's about to find out.

now i will tell you what i've done for you

fifty thousand tears i've cried

• ooc: @Quailstep
• "speaking" | thinking | action

 

[Quailstep Quailstep]

​

QUAILSTEP

Quailstep hadn't meant to catch Brightnose in the middle of sneaking back into camp in the middle of the night. It was a total accident! They'd eaten a bit of prey that hadn't quite agreed with her, so she'd woken in the middle of the night from a bad dream caused by a little stomachache. Her mind and gut now clear, she was planning on heading back to bed when she'd spotted Brightnose.

That's odd. Why was Brightnose out alone on a hunting patrol so late?

"Well, usually I wouldn't be awake this late... or early, as you said," she mewed. "But I had a bit of a stomach issue. I'm probably too awake now to go back to sleep, if you wanted to do a quick perimeter check with me." They paused, tilting her head to scrutinize her friend's face. There was definitely something up.

"Maybe we can talk while we make sure camp's secure?" she said, a knowing tease in her voice.

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[brightnose!'s icon brightnose! brightnose!]

BRIGHTNOSE ──

skyclan | sun guard

​

Brightnose can tell that Quailstep knows something is off as soon as they meet each other's gazes, and she internally braces herself for some sort of interrogation that never comes; instead, Quailstep asks if she'd assist in checking camp perimeters with a tone of voice that implies she's got more of a playful curiosity about it than anything else. Maybe Brightnose really is worrying for nothing - she straightens up a little as she nods. "Sure, I'll lead the way."

Silently making her way to the edge of camp, Brightnose peers out at the territory beyond. The forest is still and quiet, almost eerily so; the chill of leaf-fall has driven away most of the bugs and critters that would chirp through the night. Emerald eyes flick back to her Clanmate as she slowly trails next to the camp's outer walls, her voice small as she wills herself to admit why she was really gone.
"If I tell you what I was doing out so late, um… would you keep it a secret for now?" she asks. "I don't really want to be at the center of any Clan gossip, especially since I just got promoted… um, if you don't mind, of course." She adds on the last part quickly; the last thing she wants is to seem like she's ordering her friend around or demanding her silence.

now i will tell you what i've done for you

fifty thousand tears i've cried

• ooc:
• "speaking" | thinking | action

 

[Quailstep Quailstep]

​

QUAILSTEP

Quailstep followed, but soon enough her pace evenly matched Brightnose's paw for paw. They hadn't been Sun Guards for very long, and even this friendship was sort of new to them both, but it seemed the stars had determined their fates were intertwined in this way.

It was a reassuring way to look at the promotion, honestly. Because if Quailstep was being honest, the disagreeing piece of fresh-kill wasn't the only thing causing her stomach to twist. They could barely focus on the silent forest, but snapped back to attention as Brightnose confessed that she had a secret. One that could possibly threaten her position as a Sun Guard. And of course, Quailstep nodded.

"I won't tell anyone," she mewed. "Promise. But uh, so long as we're talking about secrets... I have one of my own to tell you. One that... also could cause some gossip. And would look really bad since we just got promoted, I-"

Yeah, she couldn't hold it in. This moons-in-the-making secret was ready to burst out.

"IthinkI'minlovewithHawkstar!" she mewed, her words rushed and alarmed, despite her whispered tone. "Ah! Sorry, I should've let you go first..."

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[brightnose!'s icon brightnose! brightnose!]

BRIGHTNOSE ──

skyclan | sun guard

​

Brightnose lets out a small sigh of relief when Quailstep nods and says they won't spill her secret, and she's inclined to trust her words. Quailstep hasn't let her down thus far, and she feels very close with her Clanmate despite having only been friends for a short time. She's just about to open her mouth to speak when Quailstep admits that she has a secret of her own.
Oh? Brightnose tilts her head, listening as her friend speaks, then blurts out their feelings quickly enough that it takes her a moment to piece it together.
In love…? With Hawkstar? Brightnose ponders this for a moment, and suddenly, she's able to put two and two together. No wonder Quailstep is always looking at their leader with such an intense gaze when she's turned away, and speaks about her with such admiration and giddiness. And Hawkstar herself had even smirked a little when she'd said Quailstep's name during the last meeting… It makes so much sense now… Almost smugly, Brightnose gives her paw a lick as she sits, wrapping her tail around herself.
"And here I thought I was the scandalous one… stars, Quailstep, you sure know how to pick 'em!" She chuckles, a little mrrrp that rumbles in her chest. It's clear that Quailstep is embarrassed enough just admitting it, so she'll try not to tease too much… for now.
"Your secret's safe with me, but just know I'm rooting for you! You and Hawkstar would make a really cute couple, now that I'm imagining it."

Clearing her throat, she returns to the topic of her own secret, albeit briefly. "Ironically, I was also about to tell you about a cat that I like… she's, uh, not from SkyClan, though. She's a RiverClan cat." Her expression morphs into a sheepish smile, her heart fluttering in her chest at the mere thought of her beloved mate - she can call Coyoteclaw her mate now… right?
"Her name is Coyoteclaw, and she's the most beautiful cat I've ever seen… I've been meeting her at night for a little while now. I can't help but feel a bit guilty when I tell my Clanmates that I'm just going on a hunting trip, but I guess you understand how I feel since you're ~in looovee~ with Hawkstar…" Okay, maybe she'll tease just a little bit - if only to distract from the way her ears have turned red!!

now i will tell you what i've done for you

fifty thousand tears i've cried

• ooc:
• "speaking" | thinking | action

 

[Quailstep Quailstep]

​

QUAILSTEP

Quaistep can't stop the embarassed groan that leaves her mouth at Brightnose's teasing. They sit down as well, paw covering their muzzle and eyes squeezed shut.

"Brightnoseeee, c'mon! They're so much cooler than me and ugh! If anyone else found out they might think... they may think I didn't earn this position!" Nevertheless, they bump shoulders with the other cat. "Thanks, though. It's... ugh it's totally embarassing having feelings!"

Thankfully, she doesn't have to dwell on her own love life for long. Brightnose's confession is... surprising to say the least!

"A RiverClan warrior?" she asked in a hushed tone. All things considered, there were worse options. ThunderClan, for one. If Hawkstar ever found out about that... They shuddered at the thought. Quailstep hadn't really met any RiverClan cats - she was familiar with the names of the notable cats - Pikestar, Frostmoth, Jinglemoon - but her patrols never really took her there. And the code didn't explicitly forbid relationships with other Clan cats, but they'd also never had other Clans around... Aaaand there was the teasing again. Who knew Brightnose could be so sassy!

"Okay, okay, mousebrain," she purred. "Tell me more about her! There's got to be more to her than just a pretty face, right?"

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[brightnose!'s icon brightnose! brightnose!]

BRIGHTNOSE ──

skyclan | sun guard

​

Brightnose nudges Quailstep in turn, purring with amusement at her embarrassment. She stills, however, when prompted to speak more about Coyoteclaw, and though she gladly does, her whiskers twitch with shy sort of infatuation.

"You're right - there's much, much more. For starters, her voice... I could listen to her talk all day," she sighs. "She's got such a charming accent, and the way she speaks paired with how she carries herself makes it obvious how confident she is. She's generous, too - she caught me a fish fresh from the river, and she made it look so easy! She must be one of the most skilled fishers in RiverClan. Maybe the whole forest. And those claws of hers, stars, it's no wonder that 'claw' is in her name... I'd feel sorry for any cat dumb enough to try and pick a fight with her." Her tail twitches excitedly as she imagines Coyoteclaw swooping in to save Brightnose from some kind of danger, looking to her with those gorgeous eyes and saying something like "I'll protect you, love..." a small squeak escapes her at the thought, completely lost in her own imagination. She seems to realize this, however, when she glances back at Quailstep; she had almost forgotten that she was saying all of that out loud, and she probably sounded like an apprentice squealing about their crush.

"Ah, sorry! I got carried away, didn't I?" How embarrassing... "But really, she's so lovely that I don't think any words could do her justice. I might have a small bias, though." Idly, she wets the fur on her paw and swipes it across her face, letting the cold air offer some relief from the way that her cheeks burn.

now i will tell you what i've done for you

fifty thousand tears i've cried

• ooc:
• "speaking" | thinking | action

 

[Quailstep Quailstep]

​

QUAILSTEP

They listened intently as Brightnose described the RiverClan warrior who'd become the object of her affections. Pretty, kind, skilled... maybe she and Brightnose had more in common than she'd originally thought.

"You sound very fond of her," she mewed with a chuckle. "I'm happy for you, Brightnose. Really happy." They licked Brightnose's ear affectionately.

"Let's just try and make sure next time, someone else doesn't catch you coming back with such a meager catch!" What? They couldn't help but tease a little bit.

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[brightnose!'s icon brightnose! brightnose!]

BRIGHTNOSE ──

skyclan | sun guard

​

Brightnose's smile grows as Quailstep licks her ear, purring affectionately at the gesture. "Thank you, Quailstep… it means a lot to me, really."
Of course, her lack of embarrassment is short-lived due to Quailstep's teasing; she did have a point, though. It wasn't often that one little squirrel was all Brightnose had to show for herself, even now with leaf-bare approaching.
"Yes ma'am, I'll try harder next time." She sits upright and dramatically places a paw over her chest as she says it, her playfulness evident in her voice.

Now that she's gotten past the initial nerves of the situation, she feels privy to learning more about Quailstep's own love for their leader, and she gets comfortable as she looks to her friend from the corner of her eye.
"But enough about my love life. I've got to know, how did you end up falling for Hawkstar? There must be some story behind it, right? Did she say or do something that made you realize your admiration was something more?" It's been a long time since Brightnose has engaged in any kind of talk like this, and she shivers slightly with excitement. How exciting it is to be the only cat in SkyClan that knows about this little love story between Hawkstar and one of her loyal warriors...

now i will tell you what i've done for you

fifty thousand tears i've cried

• ooc:
• "speaking" | thinking | action

 

[Quailstep Quailstep]

​

QUAILSTEP

Quailstep playfully shoves Brightnose at the jest before licking her cheek affectionately.

"C'mon now, Brightnose, we're both Guards now, don't treat me like I'm the boss of you!" They laugh and sit beside their friend, expectant of the question that follows.

"I mean, its not so much a story as it is... well, I've just always admired her. And Flowercloud and I were friends growing up, so when she became deputy I just... it's not that I got to spend more time with Hawkstar, but more that I'd notice her more often." Quailstep paused, drawing aimlessly in the dirt with her paw. "And then after the journey, something... changed. Being here, it kinda felt like I could be more than what I was before. Not that I couldn't be confident back home, but... we all had to change, so why not let myself feel more than just respect for her?"

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[brightnose!'s icon brightnose! brightnose!]

BRIGHTNOSE ──

skyclan | sun guard

​

Brightnose purrs contentedly as Quailstep licks her cheek, and she gives her fellow warrior a few licks over the top of her head in response, leaning closer to her as she listens to her talk about how her feelings for Hawkstar have changed over time.

"Mm." She nods, letting Quailstep's words linger in the night air for a short while before she speaks. "That makes sense, actually. I think the journey changed a lot of things in that way - it definitely changed how I view things, and how I feel about my Clanmates. I think I came out of it okay though, all things considered." She smiles at her friend - maybe it came to be later than she would have wanted, but a true friendship is something that Brightnose is thankful to have, and something that she may have struggled to find if SkyClan had never left the gorge. She had always been so close with her sister that she hadn't really paid much attention to anyone else. Maybe Quailstep experienced something similar, the journey having allowed her to view herself and her Clanmates in a different light - Hawkstar, in particular. StarClan has always had a funny way of bringing cats together, so perhaps the journey was just another example of that. "It seems like you did, too - you know, aside from your huge crush on our leader. But who knows? Maybe now that you're a Sun Guard, it's Hawkstar's turn to notice you more." Now wouldn't that be interesting? Oh, how Brightnose wishes she could set something up between them, but she doubts Hawkstar would fail to see right through any attempts she would make. She'll just have to watch from the sidelines and hope that Hawkstar will notice the way Quailstep looks at her, for now. If that smirk on her face during the recent meeting had been any indication, maybe she already has noticed.

now i will tell you what i've done for you

fifty thousand tears i've cried

• ooc:
• "speaking" | thinking | action

 

[Quailstep Quailstep]

​

QUAILSTEP

Quailstep curied her face under her paws.

"Brightnoseeeeee," she whined. "I'm in love with her but oh, StarClan, I have no idea how I'd even react if she felt the same way towards me." Quailstep had never had a signifcant romantic relationship, and even only had little crushes here and there! What was a cat meant to even do in a relationship? Let alone a relationship with their leader? Hawkstar was always so busy - surely romance wasn't high on her list of priorities.

"I don't exactly have a lot of experience in the love department," she admitted with a laugh.

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