The ocean is in my soul,
And it's pulling me back to shore.
I'm letting go of the weight that's dragging me down.
And it's pulling me back to shore.
I'm letting go of the weight that's dragging me down.
.
Her fur fluffed out against the bite of leafbare and a soft huff slipped from the black-and-white molly as she padded alongside Willowburn. Frost gnawed at her whiskers and the cold felt like it had crawled somewhere beneath her ribs and stayed there. " It was... Weird, innit? " she finally managed, voice low, brows knitting together as she glanced at her friend. Her ears flicked back, uncertain. " Did I speak outta turn, Willow? Ye gotta be honest with me... Did I speak too sharply? Too hot? " She paused, frustration crackling through her like ice breaking on the river as she stamped her paws against the frozen ground. " I jus'.... " Words tangled. A sigh dragged out of her chest.
" Moons. MOONS have passed since Adder-- " She nearly choked on his name, as if it were thorns in her throat, ears pinning flat. Silence held her for a heartbeat. " I... " She halted, turning fully toward Willowburn, the wind threading through her long fur. " ... I feel like there's so much in RiverClan tha' still needs polishin'... " she whispered, disappointment and worry weaving together. " I ain't a fool. I know m'boy looks like his pa. But he ain't his pa. An' yet... Th'way Pikestar talked t'him... " Her jaw tightened, breath shaky. " It was like he weren't seein' Rushingtide at all. Like he was fightin' Adder. Really Adder. "
Her tail lashed once, not with anger but with wounded bewilderment. " I didn't think I'd have t'watch th'shadow be dragged over m'kits anyway. " The concern in her gaze deepened, turning inward. " Is Pikestar well, d'ye think...? Or is somethin' cloudin' his mind? " She exhaled, then looked back at Willowburn and softened, pressing warmth back into her voice as if smoothing fur after a storm. " An' ye did a fine job, by th'way... " she added, a small but honest smile touching her maw. " Yer a good Life Guard. Steady an' direct. The clan's lucky fer it, truly. "
Speech, thoughts/emphasis