Silentsmoke spent the majority of his time lingering in the nursery, quietly tending to the kits that he fathered alongside Crowleap. They'd quickly become the shadowy tom's entire world, causing him to even lightly neglect his warrior duties to ensure that they (the kits) were well-tended to. He, of course, had an apprentice to train as well, but...well, it was hard to not want to spend every breathing moment with their new kits. They only stayed small for so long, and no mere queen was "enough" to raise them. They didn't just need to be fed, they needed to be loved.

And nobody could love them as much as their fathers.

Silentsmoke had seen to it that the kits were tuckered out and carefully tucked into their nest in the nursery for the afternoon. Camp had seemed relatively slow since the Gathering, one in which Silentsmoke had not attended. He wanted to stay behind and keep an eye on the kits, of course.

...And Quietstorm, who was like a grown kit: irresponsible and impulsive.

Now that Sneezekit, Smokekit, and Specklekit were lovingly put to rest, Silentsmoke picked his way out of the nursery to observe the relatively empty camp. He assumed that most of the warriors were still resting, trying to catch up on the rest that they'd lost from the Gathering. Which provided the black tom with a good opportunity to spend time with Crowleap in camp, where they could have private time without the prying, judgemental eyes. Silentsmoke was never one for private affection- he had too much pride to seem too weak.

...but nonetheless, he did love that dorky deputy dearly.

"I don't like seeing you frown so much. What's going on?" Silentsmoke abruptly questioned the seeming down-and-out deputy as he approached, his golden eyes narrowed into a pair of slits. Slowly, the feather-furred warrior seated himself beside Crowleap, before dropping himself into a laying-down position so that he might stubbornly rest his head on top of Crowleap's. "And don't try to say you're 'fine', I know you. Something's eating you."

He wouldn't let him get out of this one too easily.

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