Burnedpaw walked calmly through the young pines on the ThunderClan side of the border. Lost in thought, pelt fluffed up against the cold, he appreciated the shelter of the trees. He glanced across the border at the reeds and cattails on RiverClan’s land, unsure how they manage to keep their warmth without the forest to break the cold. He could hear the wind rustling the leaves and smell the various scents of the forest, and he knew this was home. Even in leaf-fall, when the undergrowth crunched softly underpaw, he was already growing to know this territory well. So why was he walking around at night near the border? Burnedpaw simply needed to get away from Charredpaw for a little while, the hustle of the clan, he just sought some solitude with his thoughts.
His thoughts flashed back to the Gathering. He remembered how that other apprentice, Cricketpaw, became overwhelmed and needed some time away from the larger group. He empathized with that now. Taking in a deep breath of the pine-scent, letting it clear his thoughts and lungs, then releasing it. Burnedpaw was starting to feel like he could breathe deeply again, letting his shoulders relax a little. He sat against one of the pines, laying his tail lazily next to him, staring up at the stars for a moment.
Was it bad she felt no remorse to sneaking out? It did seem like a shady type of thing to do. But she needed this, to just walk and hunt, and be, alone. Something about the Gathering had changed her, chattering did seem as appealing anymore, but in fact seemed almost immature. Amberdew had come up way to often in her head. Her mother, she really did miss her. Grief was a part of life the shaded tabby mollie was accustomed to, as much as it hurt to admit it.
This is no way to spend your free time. she mused, layered with a pout. The territory seemed bland. No exciting snakes or even birds, just reeds and some bushes and trees.
Trees... She had loved trees once before, hadn't she, when there were just a few sprouts near the camp, what had Amberdew said. "They have their whole life ahead of them. Grow good roots and you too will be unshakable." unshakable, that would be nice, not having to worry about anything knocking you over. It would help with this stupid fear.
The Gathering had proven all she had done to try and fix her fear, was hide it, no amount of being alone could help. Burnedpaw helped... her brain pushed that thought forward, despite her inner emotions denying it. He had helped, and that was the problem, if she went around forging these unneeded relationships, ones that would just hurt her in the future, it- it would be...
What? What would happen, so she makes a friend. It's a friend who can help. I make bad decisions all the time, what will one more do? that was her reasoning! No one would ever let her do anything again.
I already snuck out, it wouldn't hurt to check the borders.
Timidly, the tabby apprentice began to attempt to navigate way to the border, which regrettably took way longer than expected. Slowly, she began to pace hoping no Thunderclan Warriors would come by.
Rustling. Burnedpaw’s ears and eyes flickered over to where he heard sounds from across the border, quickly using his newly found tree-climbing skills to hoist himself up one of the smaller pine trees just in case. Digging his claws in, going just high enough to hide amongst the pines. He wrinkled his nose against the smell, remembering now that he wasn’t too much of a fan of the sharp scent of pines. But his attention was quickly brought back to the sounds across the border as a familiar shape appeared. Burnedpaw watched, quiet and still, as Cricketpaw approached and checked the RiverClan side of the border. He waited long enough to confirm that she was alone before turning and thrusting himself down to the ground with a leap.
“Hey.” He meowed coolly, then realized that he may have startled her. “It’s me, Burnedpaw. From the Gathering.” He added, crouching down to make himself smaller and less threatening like Wavebreaker had done at the Gathering.
Fear was an interesting thing in life. It could mean false fear, like jump scares from friends, or it could be the fear Cricket'Paw felt when someone spoke. Her jump was visible and she let her claws slide out, hissing slightly, facing the voice, she stopped, letting her tabby fur lie flat, it was...
Burnedpaw? What was he doing out? The question was legitimate, but for some obvious reason, she felt she couldn't say anything due to the fact, she was also out. Taking a slow inward breath, she had a tight smile.
"Calm down jumpy Cricket." Amberdew's voice echoed in her head. Nodding, she probably looked crazy as she spoke a few whispers to herself and approached Burnedpaw.
"Hi!" her pause was awkwardly timed. So she just stood there.
Burnedpaw winced slightly when Cricketpaw jumped, blinking slowly at her apologetically. He didn’t really think much of her mumbling to herself, he remembered she was anxious and figured she was trying to calm herself down. “Hey.” He repeated with a wave of his tail, sitting up straighter. “Sorry ‘bout that, you okay?” He asked, his head tilted slightly in concern.
Relieved when he let her calm down, she flattened her fur. "Yes, sorry, you just startled me. I mean, that was obvious, but I'm technically not supposed to be out here." she was blabbing, and blinking, she shook out her fur before nodding and taking in a breath. "Yes, thank you." she wanted to ask what he was doing out here but that seemed a little invasive, besides it's not like either of them were conspicuous about this outing.
Burnedpaw was relieved she seemed like she was starting to relax. He shrugged lightly at her comment about how she’s not supposed to be there. “I’m not either.” He pointed out. “I don’t think either of us will report each other, so it’s fine. Right?” He asked, tilting his head to the side slightly. It wouldn’t make logical sense. Reporting Cricketpaw would expose himself and vice-versa. Charredpaw would also say it would be disloyal to report a friend, surely?
He nodded when she said she was okay. “Good, I’m glad.” He’d feel bad if she wasn’t okay because of him. “Why are you out here?” He asked curiously. He was genuinely curious, and the innocence of it showed on his face.
She nodded gratefully, it seemed both of them had a silent agreement as to not expose the other. "No, I think it wouldn't benefit either of us." she made the comment feeling far more lighthearted than she had in the last few weeks. "Besides, friends wouldn't do that to each other." it seemed like an assumption that they were friends, but she hoped it was the right one.
She nodded gratefully, it seemed both of them had a silent agreement as to not expose the other. "No, I think it wouldn't benefit either of us." she made the comment feeling far more lighthearted than she had in the last few weeks. "Besides, friends wouldn't do that to each other." it seemed like an assumption that they were friends, but she hoped it was the right one.
Burnedpaw chuckled and nodded. "Indeed." All that would do would create problems, for both them and their clans. He'd never be able to live it down if they started something between their clans over this. He nodded again and smiled. "Right." He meowed. "Friends!" Burnedpaw purred as he said the word. It was nice.
"Practice what?" He asked, tilting his head. "Maybe...Maybe I can help?"
Burnedpaw chuckled and nodded. "Indeed." All that would do would create problems, for both them and their clans. He'd never be able to live it down if they started something between their clans over this. He nodded again and smiled. "Right." He meowed. "Friends!" Burnedpaw purred as he said the word. It was nice.
"Practice what?" He asked, tilting his head. "Maybe...Maybe I can help?"
•| Cricket'Paw |•
She couldn't help but feel grateful for Burnedpaw's offer. Odd how nice cats from other clans were. "Nothing much, I really just wanted to see if I could sneak out. But I think hunting might be a weak spot for me." she bit her lip on how vulnerable she seemed. It wasn't every day you just blurt out your weaknesses.
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Quote:
“Nothing is Impossible. The word itself says I’m Possible”
- Audrey Hepburn -
the waters are lit up in starlight [P]
