[Fawn]

Lionstar

The crown is getting heavy
But they've written my name in the stars

It had been so many days since they had gone hunting as a family. In the seasons when his kits were young enough to still have paw at the end of their names, he'd kept a wary eye, too focused on keeping them safe to actually enjoy himself as much. Now, there was considerably less worry as he heard the voices of Brackenstride, Ivyclaw and Lilybreeze conversing only a few foxlengths away.

They were arguing over who was going to carry all the prey back to camp, or if they should bury it and send more warriors out to collect it later.

Lionstar chuckled. He could almost hear the eyeroll in Ivyclaw's voice.

"Don't pretend you're tired, Brackenstride. We all know you just don't want to carry back all this prey."

The golden-furred tom scoffed. "What if I am tired? I have an apprentice now, in case you forgot."

"Ooooh right," said Ivyclaw, "I'm so sorry, brother. Apparently training a 'paw gives you the strength of a 'paw! Don't worry little Brackenstride, Lilybreeze and I will handle it."

"I'll show you little!"

When he could take no more, Lionstar stepped between the bickering littermates, the sternness of his gaze incongruous with the amusement in his tone. "You argue worse than Elders over the best sunning spot. Ivyclaw, Brackenstride, carry the prey back between you. Lilybreeze can bring whatever's left."

The two squirrels, a sparrow and three mice shouldn't have been difficult.

While the young warriors were given tasks, Lionstar was left with Honeysong at his side. His graying muzzle gently brushed against hers, a low purr rumbling through as he whispered: "they're good kits, even if they bicker like starlings. Walk with me a while longer, Honeysong?" The aging leader took one step towards the sparkling brook, hoping she wasn't so tired extending their walk just a bit further was out of the question.

As much as he valued the moments when the family was all together like this (truly, it made his soul feel lighter just to be a father figure and a mate for a while, not a Clan leader), there was a part of his heart craving some alone time with the she-cat who owned it completely. The fireflies were out, and the evening had not yet gotten so cool as to be unpleasant.

It would probably be one of the last nice nights of Greenleaf as the transition to Leaf-fall took place.

I've been building up all these kingdoms for so long
It's good to be king

114 Moons || TreeClan || 404 Words || Justice

The last day of Greenleaf. <3 I figured they could walk to the brook and back, then the thread ends with them going to sleep in the Ancient Stump?