[Deleted]

    Smokefur had been incredibly busy as of late, treating wounded cats after an assault on another clan tended to have that effect. She was lucky to have a competent colleague in Shadowchaser, and she certainly didn't take the help he provided for granted. Together they had weathered the storm, and even so it's effects were still being felt. Diligently the aging she cat toiled away, tending to her duties as the work of a medicine cat never seemed to be finished. Except for in this instance it really seemed as close to finished as it had in a while, and NightClan's medicine cat reckoned she best slink off and take a nap. Just as she had almost made it to her nest Smokefur heard a rustling at the entrance to the medicine cat den, and upon looking back she was greeted by a pair of distinct green eyes. "Privetshade." Smokefur mewed warmly.

Ginger

[Ginger]

The bright young warrior was known for his bouts of clumsiness, and today was one of his worse ones. The smokey tabby tom had stumbled onto a bed of thorns, and his paws were littered with them. Every step made him wince as the thorns dug deeper and deeper into his paws.

And so he made his way to the medicine cat's den to see Smokefur. As he made his way in, she turned to see him, offering him a simple greeting.

Privetshade dipped his head back at her, a sign of respect.

"I s-seem to have c-c-caught myself in th-thorns ag-g-g-gain." The tom showed Smokefur his front paws with thorns embedded in them, embarrassed. This was not the first time Smokefur had to pull thorns from his paws. Especially as an apprentice, Privetshade had always been one to stumble into places he was not supposed to, often making him the subject of pranks. 

But it was okay. Privetshade had a great deal of reverence and respect for Smokefur, and on this day, he had things he wished to speak to her about. Or one thing. Or, one she-cat. 

"I also n-n-need some adv-v-vice." His face turned sheepish. "H-how does one t-th-theoretically m-make a she-cat a-aware of their f-f-feelings?"

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209 words
@poptart

[Deleted]

    Privetshade offered a polite nod before explaining what ailed him, taking a moment to show off his front paws which were riddled with thorns. Although Smokefur found herself feeling bad for the tom, he was very kind, but she wouldn't have said she was at all surprised. Stumbling into thorns was very much in character for Privetshade, it wasn't even the first time this had happened, and she highly doubted it would be the last. The young tom knew the drill however, and as she beckoned him over so she could work on his paws he spoke again. Unlike with the previous revelation Smokefur did find she was surprised this time, cats did not often come to her looking for relationship advice. Smokefur lifted Privetshade's first paw and began to delicately remove the thorns with her teeth, and attempted to use her response to try and distract the tom from the painful process. "Well if you are close enough to develop genuine feelings I am sure honesty would go a long way. I tend to think being genuine is important." Smokefur said between pulling thorns.

Ginger

[Ginger]

Privetshade winced as Smokefur began to take the thorns out of his paws. While this was something he often had to deal with, the pain still felt just as bad each time. The mouse-brains who had told him it would get easier with time did not need to be allowed to train anyone. 

But Smokefur obliged Privetshade, answering his questions and slightly distracting him from the pain. 

Honesty. It seemed easy enough. With any other cat. 

"It's d-different w-w-with her. I f-f-feel like I can b-be myself, b-bu-but I'm scared to t-t-tell her that I'm f-falling for h-h-her."

His tail flicked back and forth. Was it nerves, or was it in pain? Maybe just both.

"I don't w-want to l-lose w-wh-what I have w-with her. What if sh-she doesn't f-f-feel the same way and I s-s-scare her off?"

The moments they had were incredible. She was beautiful and striking, but also naive when it came to love. Privetshade was certain that Brindlemask had little idea how head-over-heels he was for her. What if she just considered him a friend, and never wanted to see him again after he jeopardized their friendship with his confession?

Realizing that Privetshade had gone away from his "hypothetical" situation, the young warrior tried (and failed) to cover up. "H-hy-hypothetically."

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@poptart

[Deleted]

    Smokefur was pleased to see that the conversation appeared to be plenty enough distraction for the tom, even if she caught him occasionally wincing as she removed a thorn. As there appeared to be plenty of work left for her to do with Privetshade's poor paws Smokefur kept the conversation moving. This wasn't difficult for the she-cat in the slightest as she was genuinely interested in his problem, and Smokefur hoped something she said would resonate with him. "Yes of course, hypothetically." Smokefur mewed cheekily in reply, a grin beginning to grace her features. "I don't think it has to be weird unless someone makes it weird." Smokefur began before wrestling with a particularly troublesome thorn. "Confidence goes with honesty pretty well I think. Being honest but letting the other cat know nothing is expected of them is important, and being convincing while assuring them that nothing has to change, if they don't want it to, does help."

Ginger