life is beautiful [Milk/Rad]

Though he would never admit it, especially not when speaking of one of his own warriors, but Slatethroat's dark glares were beginning to get to him. He couldn't remember a conversation with that coot without dirty stares, but he still didn't enjoy such disrespect from a clanmate, and he was slightly grateful every time Minkbelly ushered them into different dens.

Today was no different, and Milkwing was shaking out his fluffy pelt as he followed his former apprentice out of the camps thorny entrance. The air was chilly and though he was well protected from the wind and would much rather face gray skies than the sun, he knew that ShadowClan would not be as well fed in the coming leaf-bare.

Shaking his head, Milkwing was caught back on track by Minkbelly's familiar voice. Rolling his bright eyes, he tipped his head. "It's unbearable not being able to save you from the malicious grasps of thorn bushes every time I turn my back."

Milkwing snorted in response, dipping his head. Normally he'd be the one ahead of her- and normally he wouldn't go out exclusively with only one cat, but rather a patrol- but seeing Mink's tail swish behind her as she hurried on her excited business was an enjoyable pastime whether they actually got any work done.

He'd caught the scent only a moment before his companion stiffened, and by the racket ahead it was easy to pinpoint what was making the noise. Milkwing hummed in agreement, whiskers twitching as he reeled in on himself. His stark white fur would be hard enough to hide if ShadowClan lived in thicker forests, but within the pine trees he stuck out like a bird in a beehive. The deputy decided to let Minkbelly make the first move, and stayed a pace or two diagonally beside her with his ears pinned back and waited for her action.

Blinking his bright eyes, Milkwing nodded, "Easily.". He mused that it would be a simple enough job, and he was proud that Minkbelly had thought it up so quickly. Her excitement never failed to encourage, either.

Without another word, he set her plan into motion and quietly padded forward. Doing his best to stay quiet while maneuvering through a thin throng of mostly leaf-less bushes, the albino made a wide arch around their prey. Peering over the underbrush, he finally caught sight of a small chorus of frogs plodding about in a muddy puddle left from prior night's rain. Stifling his flicking tail, Milkwing jumped neatly forward and grazed one of the frogs rumps with his paw.

The prey, along with one or two of its companions, hopped frantically away from their attacker towards the other line of protection. Milkwing herded them with soft punts easily, grimacing at the warm brown water sticking to his paws.

It was easy, as expected, to bunt a couple of the slimy prey on their heads and nip their necks while his partner took care of the rest. As Milkwing watched his bi-colored companion save their mighty catch beneath the soggy soil for later, he slowly drew his tongue over a muddied forepaw. Wrinkling his nose, he quickly decided to finish cleaning up in the stream later.

The deputy caught Minkbelly's bright gaze, and met it evenly, bobbing his head proudly. "You did well too," he replied. "I'm actually surprised at such a haul so close to leaf-bare."

Milkwing was abnormally anxious about the snow coming this year. Perhaps it was this being one of his first leaf-bares as deputy. Yes, that made sense... regardless, he wasn't about to voice his fears towards the younger she-cat, and instead let his pleased grin stay on his face as he scented the air again.