[meraki]

Originally Posted by Lonestar23

Pausing his grooming, the tom glanced up to see Nettlepaw staring at him. He had never spoken to her directly - however, he had heard stories of the partly mute cat who resided in SkyClan. Never before had he heard her say a word. And he sincerely doubted that he ever would. "What are you staring at me for?" His voice came off as accusing, although he had meant it to be a generally curious question. The tom wasn't one who spoke a ton either. So how were they supposed to have a conversation? How could they have one anyways, when Nettlepaw didn't speak? Why doesn't she talk? It was a question that was playing over and over in Nightpaw's mind. Now, one thing about the tom was that he was considered a bully. He was considered the type of cat that you would stay away from, if you had what was considered a disability. The type of cat you wouldn't want to cross paths with. "For real though, I don't even know who you are, so why are you-" Nightpaw's voice had risen to an aggressive level, and he stopped when he realized the she cat wasn't even looking at him anymore.

What had she wanted? Why had she been staring at him? He really wanted to know, but at the same time... he wasn't sure that he would ever find out. See, with a cat like Nettlepaw, or at least a cat who had her particular condition, Nightpaw was pretty sure you wouldn't be able to get much information out of them. Since Nettlepaw couldn't speak. Or, what was it... she could, but she wouldn't. Stubborn - much like Nightpaw himself, although it seemed the black tom had missed the point entirely. "I'm Nightpaw. And I'm pretty sure I've heard of you - you're that mute cat, aren't you?" Again, his voice sounded scornful. As though he were above Nettlepaw because she was mute and he wasn't. Whether she had the ability to talk or not didn't matter, because she didn't talk.

Even if she stammered, it wouldn't make the black tom feel so frustrated. He hated having things out of his control. And this was a number one thing that he couldn't control, the way that someone else talked. Or, didn't talk, rather. At least she wasn't friends with that grey idiot. It would make him furious if she decided to run off with someone like that weak apprentice... or soon to be warrior rather. Nightpaw might not have seen Azulpaw lately, but he still hated the tom with every fiber of his being. And he was certain that Nettlepaw would feel the same way if she met him. He was such a smart mouth! Perhaps if things were different, they would be friends. But if things were different, Nightpaw would be ruling the world and there wouldn't be any other clans.

He didn't like the other clans. Didn't trust them. He believed them to be sneaky and suspicious and awful. Nightpaw's yellow eyes fixed themselves on Nettlepaw, not quite thinking about whether or not she would be uncomfortable by this. Then again, rare was the occasion when the tom really thought of others. He wasn't thoughtful. The word wasn't in Nightpaw's vocabulary, and he certainly wasn't going to be thoughtful towards a cat whom he had just met... in this case, Nettlepaw. Besides, the sting of heartbreak was still fresh and it was ten times harder to try making a friend with a broken heart, wasn't it? That's what it seemed like to Nightpaw. Yes, so much could be different... but it wasn't, and the tom didn't have the energy to try and make it that way. Besides! He liked the way he was. There was nothing wrong with some arrogance now and again, was there?

No.

Absolutely not.

Words- harsh words shook Nettlepaw from her thoughts on the birds. They sounded scornful, and at first, she couldn't be sure if the words were directed at her, or another. She flinched noticeably at first, her first instinct was to hide or protect herself, but Nettle quickly processed this before she could hide. The large, black cat she'd been looking at earlier must have noticed her gaze. And now he spoke.
His voice was deep and rumbling, with the potential to be very powerful. He spoke with pride and arrogance, something Nettlepaw never wore around her neck. He seemed to be annoyed with her, though it was to her surprise that he knew of her; or at least of her name and what was considered a disability.
Is that all I'll ever be? Nettlepaw, that mute cat?

It hurt. It hurt and she couldn't doubt that. He sounded angry at her, and she couldn't figure out why. The way he looked at her, like she was lower than him. Like she simply didn't "count" as a cat because of her disability. Nettlepaw knew he might not have meant it that way on purpose, and maybe he just had trouble controlling his emotions, but it didn't matter. He- of Nightpaw, as he'd introduced himself, was just like everyone else. They were confused by her, weirded out, freaked out, maybe. But now he was looking at her, and by the look in his eyes, he was annoyed. Angry, too. Nettlepaw had gotten rather good at reading cats, mainly because she had to figure everything out herself, unable to ask questions.
Why are you mad at me? She wondered
Did someone hurt you too?

Not wanting to be there too long, with this cat she didn't even know growing frustrated with her, Nettlepaw got to her paws. She was noticeably smaller than most cats her age, thinner too. She cast a glance over at Nightpaw one last time, her expression exhausted, fed up, and hurt. Nettlepaw then turned and padded out of the apprentices' den, and into the grassy clearing.

(sorry it's so short! shall we move to the clearing?)