[sleepyyjax]

 

Originally Posted by Fritter

[Tick Paw]
[Purrks- Bewitched/Constant Hunger-Chill of Death-Shadow Fiend-Lyrebirds Lullaby]
[He Him] - [Shadowclan Apprentice] - [8 Moons]

Well, how about that? It wasn’t a stranger nor was he unrecognised, TickPaw felt stuck in how to respond, offering a sheepish smile. He really didn’t expect much of a reaction overall so the whole thing caught him off guard and he found himself keeping a lack of certainty and a smile without any other facial feature to turn to. He wasn’t usually lost for words but he had also never had anycat welcome him back so it was.. new. Unsettlingly new, something he wasn’t sure if he could get used to- so he’d have to note to never go missing again. Tickpaw had missed NewtBelly, both because they were his mentor- and taught TickPaw things he needed to know, but also because from what he remembered of them they were kind. “Thank you.” was all he could think to say, shuffling his paws on the ground as his gaze drifted. Where he had been? And what happened? It was all really a dragging story that he’d gotten lost and stayed lost for a bit, but whether he told NewtBelly the whole thing or a summary left him conflicted. He was desperate to get out of camp and do something.. outside of sitting around! It was all he’d done since he’d gotten back.

“I got lost in the territory and never managed to find my way back.” He’d admit, gaze only flicking briefly upward before returning to his paws.. and the ground and anywhere but up. He’d never really thought on a welcoming return- but regardless it was nice there was some cat who’d missed him. Flicking an ear he met Newt’s gaze, clearing his throat to ask a question or so. “How have you been?” It was an everyday question for conversation- but he wasn’t sure what else to say, what else to ask, had much changed since he’d left? It hadn’t seemed like it. He surely hadn’t been gone for that long. After a moment or so of longer time to process and how to proceed TickPaw relaxed slightly, eagerly awaiting a response.

Newtbelly
he/him | 24 moons
Agatha Kitty, Shadow Fiend, Killer Aptitude T2, Kitty Softpaws
ShadowClan Enforcer

header: @/daragca

So... He'd gotten lost in the territory. The tortoisehsell had to bite back a snarl, that would've been aimed at nobody but himself. His own negligence - if he'd only given the apprentice a proper territroy tour, maybe this would never had hapened. But... He was okay, wasn't he? It didn't look like he'd been harmed, and he didn't seem more anxious than usual. From what he remembered, the 'paw had always been on the quieter side. So, instead of a snarl, a sigh of relief left him. The apprentice hadn't left on purpose, he'd gotten lost. He didn't hate the clan, he didn't hate Newtbelly, and the most importantly, he hadn't given up.

"Stars, I'm just glad you survived out there." It was so rare that he was sincere, but he had a soft spot for his apprentices. He'd be the same way if any of the others disappeared and reappeared. Blame it on his upbringing, he supposed. Perhaps he regretted the lack of teritroy tour, but he knew he'd equipped Tickpaw with self defense skills - and maybe hunting? He couldn't remember if they'd hunted together or not, but he wasn't sure htat mattered right now. Then... How had he been? A small smile escaped him, surprised by the apprentice's jump to small talk. Normally, he would detest that kind of onversation, but when it was with a cat he'd thought he'd never seen again, it was more than welcome. "So much has happend, yet so little." he contemplated, with an ear twitch. Sure, there'd been a whole thing with the rats, snakes, and owls, but other than that, the clan had been rather quiet. "I'm an enforcer now," his tail flickered with pride. He was still shcoked that he'd made it to the position at this age. It had been his greatest goal - he'd assumed it was a surefire ticket to be liked by the clan: to be seen as strong. To get one step further than his mother had. But, of course, after experienceing it for real he knew that wasn't entirely true. ShadowClan cats were strong willed, opinionated. Even Owlthroat's rank had been in jeopardy, if only for a short time. He had to try harder, if he wanted respect - and, perhaps, having this rank so young (well, what he considered young) made it harder.

"I've trained two other apprentices. Silentpaw, who's moved to the role of medicine apprentice, and Stemstone - who became a warrior recently." He purred, words couldn't describe how proud he was of the kid. "Got two more now - Talonpaw and Venompaw. That leaves one open." He gave the 'paw a silly wink an obvious offer for training, if he hadn't already been assigned to another cat. "We had to remove a bunch of snakes and rats from territory, some moons ago - Owls, too..." His tail and ears drooped, suddenly remembering Mossfreckle's unfortunate dissapearence, "They got Mossfreckle, the owls." In the brief interactions they'd had, he'd gained an immense respect for the medicine cat. Herbs were absolutely beyond Newtbelly, those who could harness them so well astonished him. The importance of the medicine cats' job, and their skills, was a hill he'd die on.

What else... "Rookfire was briefly the Medicine apprentice, I'm not sure you were here when he was? An omen - well, they're calling it an omen, but perhaps it was more of a prophecy - called him back to warrior life. Either way, he's back to being an enforcer now. He had to fight Owlthroat to get the rank back." His claws dug into the ground, still displeased that it weren't himself, facing off with Rookfire. It made no sense to him still, but he was aware there were things he hadn't been told. "Ah, but Mudslide resigned, so... They both kept the rank." He shrugged. What a strange situation it was.

He figured that was all that'd gone on. ThunderClan and RiverClan had been at odds, but that was none of ShadowClan's cocern. Let the imbeciles tear each other apart for all he cared, ShadowClan could watch a laugh. The tom licked a paw, and swoped it over his head, flattening the tufts that sometimes poked up. "You learn anything new in your time away?" He wanted to ask the apprentice what had happened, second for second, but it seemed like he was guarding it a little. He got that - there were certain things he'd rather not tell others, too - especially if it concerned his family. So, for now, he'd ask smaller questions.