No, not the questions. They weren't kits, they were apprentices, damnit. This was only making things worse. Antpaw makes an especially annoyed glare towards Beepaw. He didn't know who this was, and frankly he didn't care, but this cat was immediately going on his disliked list from now on... until he hears Goldenpaw.
Broodypaw? If what Beepaw said was just annoying, than what they said was just an insult.
"I'll rather stuff your mouth." He snarls, "Feels like that would be more effective. And who are you then, Mr or Miss Happy Rainbow Sunshine? Are you glad sleeping here in the elder's den after our nests got soaked?"
Alpinepaw was eating ants on the ground. She liked the taste of ants. Now that she is an apprentice, she has to eat them in secret more. She thought, "Good thing I am in the corner. Hardly anybody will notice me here."
The young kit looked up at all the cats who were in the den. She watched them intently. After a few minutes of cat-watching, she proceeded to walk to a cat who was doing nothing. "Hello there! I am Chasmkit, what's your name?" Chasmkit asked.
Suddenly, his white paws felt weighed down as he paused in his tracks, feeling planted to the earth below as his chest also felt heavy. A strange sensation rippled through his glossy pelt, the fur on the back on his neck fluffing up slightly. What was this strange feeling? Guilt? Shame? He was not accustomed to thinking about how his actions could affect others. As the gears began turning in his silver and striped head, it just occurred to him that Shockhoney was not simply "others", but rather, a friend. It was easier for Creepingpaw to deny the potential existence of a friend, rather than admitting it and becoming vulnerable. But now wasn't the time to continue analyzing, it was clear by her reaction that his prank had hurt her. And, for once, he genuinely felt bad.
His luminous green eyes widened as his gaze locked onto Shockhoney, swallowing the frog in his throat as he prepared himself for what he was going to say next. Feeling his clenched jaw part slowly, Creepingpaw took a deep breath and closed his eyes and flattened his black ears against his head before he exclaimed, "I'M A MOUSE-BRAIN!' without any warning. Opening his eyes to a brief, awkward pause of silence once his voice rang loudly through the den, before he took another breath and sheepishly mumbled, "I... I'm s-sorry." He purred in a hushed tone, his stare faltering suddenly as he stared down at his paws and felt the waves of embarrassment wash over him.
Oh… that was… that was quite the apology. Shockhoney blinked at her friend for a couple of moments, safe to say that she was a bit stunned at the combination of his loud declaration and sheepish apology. By now, her irritated expression had fully disappeared, replaced by a slow but steadily growing mirth.
“You’re such an idiot.” Shockhoney purred brightly, amusement coating her tone as she attempted to push his shoulder gently - even if the motion didn’t impact anything at all. There was no heat behind her words — it was a gentle, teasing jab. Oooh, she was soooo tempted to never letting him live that down, but the inner tiny merciful Shockhoney in her held her back because… it’d felt like a genuine apology.
“I forgive you.” Creepingpaw looked remorseful, and Shockhoney wasn’t going to make fun of him for that. She averted her attention from his green gaze to look around the crowded den, hiding a smile. “If you forgive me for the… Cattail Pond stunt as you called it.”
Turning back, Shockhoney paused to stretch out her limbs, maw parting on a yawn. After straightening, her turquoise gaze fell on Creepingpaw once more. “Anyway, I came in here to help you build a new nest. Since I figured you don’t have one right now.”
Oh… that was… that was quite the apology. Shockhoney blinked at her friend for a couple of moments, safe to say that she was a bit stunned at the combination of his loud declaration and sheepish apology. By now, her irritated expression had fully disappeared, replaced by a slow but steadily growing mirth.
“You’re such an idiot.” Shockhoney purred brightly, amusement coating her tone as she attempted to push his shoulder gently - even if the motion didn’t impact anything at all. There was no heat behind her words — it was a gentle, teasing jab. Oooh, she was soooo tempted to never letting him live that down, but the inner tiny merciful Shockhoney in her held her back because… it’d felt like a genuine apology.
“I forgive you.” Creepingpaw looked remorseful, and Shockhoney wasn’t going to make fun of him for that. She averted her attention from his green gaze to look around the crowded den, hiding a smile. “If you forgive me for the… Cattail Pond stunt as you called it.”
Turning back, Shockhoney paused to stretch out her limbs, maw parting on a yawn. After straightening, her turquoise gaze fell on Creepingpaw once more. “Anyway, I came in here to help you build a new nest. Since I figured you don’t have one right now.”
What just happened? He couldn't believe he had put on such an embarrassing display. Feeling as though he could melt from the heat of his shame, the mortified tom continued to stare down at his white paws, claws flexing into the earth from his tension as he braced himself for what he anticipated would come next. Creepingpaw was used to being alone, so if he was alone once again it wouldn't bother him too much. What he struggled to grapple with was this unfamiliar, uncomfortable feeling that he hurt someone he... cared about?
She had said something earlier, but the buzzing in his brain and hearing his rushing blood pound in his ears was at it's height and it flew right past him. And it wasn't until she brushed his shoulder lightly did his lift his head up to meet her oceanic eyes; his nervous gaze gradually soften as he heard her utter an acceptance of his boisterous apology.
Slowly blinking, he simply silently nodded with approval at her proposal to put these incidents behind them. Meeting her gaze once more, he raised a brow as she revealed her reasoning for being here. Ah, she had come in here to help him build a nest in the first place... He couldn't help but feel like a jerk, but it was all behind them now right? His softened, neutral expression instantly brightened as he feigned a pout and took a dramatic, deep and longing sigh, "The only help I need is getting my old bed back..." He paused, feigning yet again another dramatic sigh of longing, "It had so many feathers..." meowed through his playfully fake pout before cracking a smirk, hoping he had convinced her to help him find feathers for his nest.
What just happened? He couldn't believe he had put on such an embarrassing display. Feeling as though he could melt from the heat of his shame, the mortified tom continued to stare down at his white paws, claws flexing into the earth from his tension as he braced himself for what he anticipated would come next. Creepingpaw was used to being alone, so if he was alone once again it wouldn't bother him too much. What he struggled to grapple with was this unfamiliar, uncomfortable feeling that he hurt someone he... cared about?
She had said something earlier, but the buzzing in his brain and hearing his rushing blood pound in his ears was at it's height and it flew right past him. And it wasn't until she brushed his shoulder lightly did his lift his head up to meet her oceanic eyes; his nervous gaze gradually soften as he heard her utter an acceptance of his boisterous apology.
Slowly blinking, he simply silently nodded with approval at her proposal to put these incidents behind them. Meeting her gaze once more, he raised a brow as she revealed her reasoning for being here. Ah, she had come in here to help him build a nest in the first place... He couldn't help but feel like a jerk, but it was all behind them now right? His softened, neutral expression instantly brightened as he feigned a pout and took a dramatic, deep and longing sigh, "The only help I need is getting my old bed back..." He paused, feigning yet again another dramatic sigh of longing, "It had so many feathers..." meowed through his playfully fake pout before cracking a smirk, hoping he had convinced her to help him find feathers for his nest.
It was like Creepingpaw’s regret was a tangible thing, and Shockhoney could feel it in the air. This thought only made her grin. Huh. So he had a heart after all. She could tell Lavendersong aaaaall about it later. Just relaying… information to the mentor. (Read: gossip). Creepingpaw didn’t need to know that though.
Turning back to the apprentice who was older than she, Shockhoney backpedaled towards the den exit. “What are you waiting for, then!” She called over her shoulder before leading them out. “Let’s go!”
For whatever reason, they wouldn’t be able to retrieve the nest right then, but a subconscious part of Shockhoney’s mind had tucked away the information that Creepingpaw enjoyed feathers.