Mist had taken it upon herself to do the checkups upon the rumors of a sick apprentice and to see if they would be having a second fox join them in the Marked Den with the warrior who had already come down with a chill. That left Twilight woefully frustrated with few duties to his own but to rest curled on his grassy bed, the soft fluff of his long tail resting over his dark paws as he closed dark eyes, ears pricked listening to the distant wail of the wind and the snow outside. Council forbid the storm seemed only to be building, and it seemed they would be holed up at least the rest of the day if not the next if it didn't let up and cease anytime soon.

Already all but the minimum necessary patrols had been cancelled, else Twilight might have been out there himself bearing the brunt of the leaf-bare punishment to feed his clan, but already they had gotten what fresh kill they were going to and the clan had been told to retreat collectively to the warmth and safety of the dens before sickness or injury could happen upon any more of their warriors. Surely there had been no reason to worry about the borders at least, if Burrowclan and Lakeclan were getting even half of the force of the beast that drove them indoors, they were hardly under pressure of any trespassing or prey-thieving. This was no weather for attacking, and even the most ambitious fox could see it was far more risk then it was worth.

There should have been no shame then, given the circumstances, for his inaction, but still Twilight felt restless. What was best was that he take the time upon himself and this Council given respite to rest and be renewed for when they could properly hunt and patrol again. But the cold had seeped into the earth, and his fur fluffed out around him to try and counter-act that, his eyes may have been lidded over but he found himself despairingly short of sleep and dreaming.

Even the slight sound of paw steps in the tunnel adjoining caught his attention, and Twilight silently flicked his ears to better catch it, noting the return of his fellow leader. She was likely checking on the sick warrior before heading back to her own den. He already knew their condition, he had been checking it regularly enough to know they were still sleeping and steady. With time they should recover, the rest had really done the trick along with a couple herbs, and they needed only to make sure he stayed in the den and didn't go running off too soon.

Then, to his surprise, Twilight heard steps approaching him. He lifted his head as Mist entered his room of the den, dark gaze scanning her, the visit unexpected and the flick back of his ears showing that as he blinked at her, studying her. A hint of suspicion lingered in his gaze, his eyes seeming to look past and beyond her with a glazed distance, as though unsure to be reluctant or distrustful of this sudden appearance or not. His tail flicked away from his paws as he shifted in his nest, shifting himself to lay on his paws and stomach rather then his side as he eyed what he presumed to be the offering of welcome and peace Mist held in her jaws, waiting for Mist to explain herself and propose whatever was clearly on the tip of her tongue.

She rocked back and forth on her feet, uncomfortable perhaps, or simply nervous, neither of which seemed to fit the picture of Mist he knew before others. Even her voice was hesitant, but Mist's offer at least seemed straight forward enough and to have no strings attached to it. For a moment he frowned, closing his eyes, then with a deep breath in and a sigh, he let himself smile, eyes opening again with a gentle friendliness that gazed just past her. He wasn't so blind he didn't notice the slight trembling of Mist under her thin fur, and he inclined his head as she nudged the rabbit forward. "Well, come lay down then. You look freezing, is the storm getting worse? We hardly need a second sick fox"

A teasing edge to his smile slightly, though faint, Twilight leaned forward to take the rabbit in his own jaws and pull it next to him and before his nest, waiting pointedly for her to find a place to settle herself before starting. "Your den too cold to be alone?" He questioned, curious what impulse had brought her to him. He hadn't eaten yet, but he was capable of sneaking outside to take his own meal, that could hardly be what brought her into his den. And certainly he didn't imagine it was comfort or attention. Not anymore.

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Nyxie | wc: 821 | Notes: Can't fine a template I like yet that works right :u