[center][h2][b][i][color=EC8A27] Owleye: SunClan Camp [/color][/i][/b][/h2][/center]

[center][b]Interacting with:[/b] [@Smystar99]'s Spottedfire[/center]

Owleye gently licked Spottedfire's shoulder as she spoke, draping his tail across her back. The larger tom enjoyed the warmth from Spottedfire leaning into him, but felt no small level of guilt at feeling a bit of happiness during such a sad time. He listened intently to Spottedfire, knowing that it must have been so difficult to have been with Badgerclaw during the accident. 

[color=EC8A27]"You can't blame yourself, Spottedfire,"[/color] he meowed softly. [color=EC8A27]"You're a good Warrior. It was simply Badgerclaw's time, StarClan must have a reason,"[/color] he finished. It felt lame, like a meaningless platitude, but Owleye had to believe that StarClan had a plan for this, a reason for such a seemingly senseless death. 

Or else...what could he believe in? If not in their ancestors in StarClan, watching over them?

He mrrowed very softly at her bringing up the memory of when they snuck out to help a loner, and Badgerclaw had punished them, though it was clear he hadn't wanted to. [color=EC8A27]"Yes, I remember,"[/color] he replied, sadness washing over him once again. 

Spottedfire's spark and energy had always drawn Owleye. He was a quieter, solid tom, who never would have felt bold enough to sneak out of camp without Spottedfire urging him on. [color=EC8A27]"That feels like such a long time ago, and yet somehow, like it was only a sunrise ago,"[/color] he added. He sighed deeply, his amber eyes bright with sadness. [color=EC8A27]"Poor Silverstar. It must be so difficult having to choose the next Deputy."[/color] 

Idly he wondered who it would be. Fleetingly, briefly, he thought it might be him. The thought was terrifying, but also sort of thrilling. He would be honored to be singled out by Silverstar for such a high calling. But he knew that it wouldn't be him. He served his Clan solidly, quietly, in the background, and those weren't the traits needed for a Deputy. And yet...the thought vaguely intrigued him. 

He pushed it aside, and rested his head on his paws. [color=EC8A27]"Thank you for sitting with me, Spottedfire,"[/color] he said softly, his voice a quiet, shy rumble. [color=EC8A27]"How is your Birchcloud handling it?"[/color] he meowed, concerned for the Medicine Cat. He knew the Clan leadership worked closely together, so it must have been difficult for Birchcloud to hear that his sister was near an accident, let alone try to save the Deputy and not be able to, as the damage was too severe. [i]It must be StarClan's plan...[/i] Owleye thought to himself again, trying to console himself more than anything else. 

[center][h2][b][i][color=ACE39C]Mintfur: SunClan Camp > SunClan Border[/color][/i][/b][/h2][/center]

A small-framed dilute calico she-cat slipped out of one of the the Warrior's Dens, trying not to be noticed. She wasn't sure where Mosspoppy was, likely somewhere sitting vigil for Badgerclaw. Mintfur's heart was deeply saddened by the sudden death of the Deputy. Having lived in SunClan all her life, she had known Badgerclaw fairly well, and couldn't imagine Silverstar leading without Badgerclaw's kind, steady presence by her side. Her light green eyes showed anxiety, and she hoped any clanmates that saw her attributed this to the anxiety of the unknowns when it came to the new Deputy. 

Unfortunately, Mintfur had quite a lot else going on in her mind at the moment. 

She slipped around the camp towards the tunnel exit, keeping her eyes downcast. Everyone around her seemed wholly focused on Badgerclaw's vigil, and it was relatively easy for Mintfur to slip out unnoticed. Once she had gotten a few paces away from the camp, she took a deep breath, looking up to the sky for reassurance. [color=ACE39C][i]Oh StarClan...[/i][/color]she thought to herself. [color=ACE39C][i]Please stay with me. Please.[/i][/color]

Mintfur picked up her pace as she wove in and out of the trees, losing herself in the familiar sounds of her territory. She heard a mouse scurrying past, and instinctively crouched down, keeping her pawsteps slow and light. The mouse didn't suspect a thing, and Mintfur was able to catch and kill it quickly, burying it near a tree root. [color=ACE39C][i]That'll be nice to bring back to camp. I've just been out hunting, needing some space to sort my grief. That's it.[/i][/color] Feeling a little better at having a plausible excuse for her journey at this hard time, Mintfur continued on, her thoughts scattered and confused. 

She felt anxious, and terrified, and excited, and...all sorts of things. 

[color=ACE39C][i]Don't think about that now. Just keep going. You're almost there.[/i][/color] She slowed as she approached SunClan's border, testing the air to see if she sensed any other cats. She was alone, for now, and she approached a particularly dense patch of bushes and squirmed her way inside. From here, she could see the border and surrounding territory, and settled down to wait for the cat she was meeting, desperately hoping no one back at camp thought much of her absence, especially Mosspoppy.