Chapter Text
Brindleface is in her nest about to have a nap, kits at her belly all snuggled warm, all of them full and sleepy with it. Fireheart is to the side of her, flanks rising evenly in the doze she found him in when she got back. Her ears perk up at the sound of pawsteps; Cloud, back from playing with Cinderpelt, probably.
Closer and closer Cloud stalks over, brushing her fur as he edges by to get to his father.
"Fire?"
The kit is quiet, she'll give him that; his voice as low a murmur as he can make it, possibly prodding Fireheart to wake him.
"Mm?" Fireheart's voice is roughened with sleep, but warm.
"What's Starclan? Cinderpelt mentions them sometimes."
A beat.
"They're uh. A group of very dead, very unhelpful cats that watch over us and speak vaguely in our dreams about. Stuff."
(Brindleface stifles a laugh; stars above, this cat.)
"Oh. Okay."
"Mm."
"Wait- dead?"
"Yup."
"How?"
"Don't ask me, kit, I have no idea. I grew up here but I didn't, you know?"
(Brindleface could hear the shrug in his voice, the hidden bitterness too quiet for kits to hear, and winced a little.)
"Yeah."
"Maybe ask Yellowfang for some stories?"
"She's kinda..."
"What, you scared?"
"No!!"
"Mhm."
A brief shuffling; Cloud, presumably, tapping his paws in thought, as he so often does.
"...maybe a little."
"Want me to come with?"
"Yes, please..."
"Lead the way then, rain-cloud."
(Brindleface listens to them leave, and smiles.)