Budding blooms of friendship [Private]

[Wings]

Originally Posted by Rainquail

"Hello, Duskpaw. I am Halfstone." He gave her a small, almost shy smile. "You look like you could use company. Wod you like to take a walk with me?"
He tilted his head to the side, ear pointing in the direction he'd been headed.
It had been a while since he opened up to a cat; in fact, he hadn't since he was still alive. Which is probably why he was barely remembered, but he held dearly those two that still remembered. The two most important cats in his life.
He needed to open up now, he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon and it would be awfully lonely. And Duskpaw looked like she needed a guiding paw- or at least a friendly face.

[Moving us here! + This is placed when Duskpaw just died and is still in StarClan]

-Duskpaw-

"Yeah... and thanks." She gave the older and a little bit faded tom a weak smile. It was hard to even look happy or smiley or optimistic at a time like this. You just died, lost your family. An annoying kit came to greet you when you first came to StarClan. Life -no- afterlife couldn't get any better!
As the two walked along the seemingly endless territory of StarClan. Duskpaw began to wonder silently, how did Halfstone die? When was he alive? What Clan did he belong too?

[Abyssopelagic]

Halfstone kept his pace slow, as his legs were a fair bit longer than the apprentice's. When she didn't seem to cheer up, he felt a bit disheartened. Younger cats always seemed to have a harder time accepting death.
"Hey," he murmered gently, "have you ever seen a beach? Starclan has it's own version of one, if you'd like to see it."
He saw the questions in her expression. He wouldn't be opposed to answering if she felt like asking.

@Wings

[Wings]

[ @Rainquail ]
-Duskpaw-

Padding alongside Halfstone, she felt comfortable. Something about the tom just clicked with her.
She glanced up at him from her thoughts and gave herself a second before answering. "Sure, I never really saw one. Seastones is too far away from the ocean really to see it and it's not like ThunderClan has any beaches."

[Abyssopelagic]

Halfstone changed directions and motioned for her to follow, a sort of wistful look of his face. "Let's fix that, then. The sand is nice, it's always cool, like it's deep in the night and the sun hasn't been up in a while." A small grin played at the corner of his mouth.
That's how he first saw the beach. His sister had gone on a patrol there and, wanting him to see it, decided they should sneak out at night so he could see it himself. It's not the same during the day, doesn't have the same.... mystique.

@Wings

[Wings]

[ @Rainquail ]
-Duskpaw-

Hearing Halfstone, StarClan felt.. odd. Like it was just some fake world. Constructed perfectly.. which was something she didn't know if she liked. Having a perfect world would get rid of all of the fun things in life. Like running through unknown of what would come next. The new experiences, bad and good.
Nonetheless, following Halfstone, her ears perked up and she could hear the waves crashing down. Excitement sparked in her, something of excitement. Something she had done before she died, "Race ya!" With that she bolted off, claws helping her push off.

[Wings]

[ @Rainquail

[Abyssopelagic]

"Wha-"
Before Halfstone could question Duskpaw, she shot off like a rocket and he gave chase after her, paws pounding into the ground with each steps.
@Wings

[Wings]

[ @Rainquail ]
-Duskpaw-

For a second, just a second, Duskpaw felt like she was back home. Sprinting through this imaginary forest with a new friend. She felt... free. Like with Foxbound. But, soon her reality snapped back when the beach came into view. The race was on! Hearing pounding paws similar to her own behind her, she pushed off harder. Mouth gaping open in a excited smile, she pushed off yet again, trying to get farther ahead of Halfstone.

[Abyssopelagic]

Being larger and heavier than Duskpaw vs her smaller, light frame, Halfstone could only really keep pace with her, so when she put extra effort into it, he allowed her to speed off.
He knew it was futile, but wouldn't make it less fun for her by giving up. He kept his stride the same, but putting extra force to each step, hoping just a little he could seem more competitive.
@Wings

[Wings]

[ @Rainquail ]
-Duskpaw-

The beach grew closer and closer and with every step she was gaining distance on Halfstone. With a quick glance back, she leaped onto the sand, slipping a little bit but, for the most part sticking the landing. It was day time but, the sand was cool? A weird sensation she never actually got used to. But, looking back up at Halfstone, she was smiling happily, "Beat you!"