Russetpaw had nearly been able to fall asleep, finally, when his ears flicked at the sound of someone trying to talk to him. He blearily opened his eyes and lifted his head from his paws, raising an eye ridge. Badgerpaw had been shifting around ever since the rest of the clan had turned in for the night, he didn’t mind, he wanted to stay up for a little while tonight, but he’d hoped no one else try to say anything to him. Everyone had been cranky ever since Leafbare started, and they started to get even more short of temper ever since Watersong passed. Sure, he was the oldest apprentice now, but that would mean nothing if an argument broke out.

He looked up at his fellow apprentice, his whiskers twitching in amusement. “I’m Russetpaw, remember?” he whispered, a chuckle in his voice. “You must’ve been apprenticed recently, huh?”

Russetpaw raised an eye ridge at the tom, shifting in his nest so he could look at him properly. Gossip? That was more for the other apprentices taste, he wasn't really interested in the business of anyone else. That wasn't to say he didn't occasionally heart small parts of their conversation.

He tried to remember what he heard earlier that day during training, shifting up into a sitting position. ”Well…” he started. ”From what I heard from Frogpaw after the gathering, apparently Ravenstar and Lynxstar are going to some meeting with each other. Frogpaw said that Ravenstar might try to get Lynxstar back for ambushing them on his territory.”


Ioana003

Russetpaw watched the younger tom fidget nervously as he spoke, looking down in thought. It wasn’t uncommon for apprentices to not have a mentor for a while, especially since there weren’t too many Fire elementals in RiverClan to begin with. There was Reedtail, but he was already mentoring Furzepaw.

Plus, he didn’t think Reedtail would be a good mentor to Badgerpaw anyway. Not with that attitude.

He stayed silent for a moment as he pondered what to say, but Badgerpaw changed the subject before he had a chance to speak. So antsy. His ear flicked at the mention of the disappeared cats, it’d been a while since he’d thought about them. Watersong was still representative of RiverClan, it seemed so long ago...

He shook his pelt to rid himself of those memories. Watersong told him to keep looking to the future and that was what he planned to do. ”I dunno,” he mewed at last. ”I don’t think they just disappeared, at least. They might’ve left, who knows. I just know that ThunderClan was angry and so was DarkClan. I hope we don’t have to deal with their problems.”

Ioana003

Coldpaw

Coldpaw yawned and glared at Badgerpaw, a smaller cat who was nothing in size compared to herself. Shaking her head, she stretched her paws and opened her eyes, her nap disrupted. 

"Favorite activities?" laughed Coldpaw, the sarcasm obvious in her tone. "All we've been doing is training and hunting. Not anything THAT interesting." Coldpaw's long tail swept defensively over her scar on her leg, hiding her insecurities as she spoke with the younger apprentice.

"Anyways" she continued, sitting upright and bringing her paw over her ear "Let's go do something. Hunting, running, swimming, you name it." Her yellow eyes gleamed with curiosity and wonder, for she was ready for an adventure.

Badgerpaw

Even in the shadows of the den, anyone could see the young tom jump at the new voice that came up from the crowd of presumably sleeping cats. As always, his nervous side showed itself first as his back remained arched. Although, he was curious as to why the fellow apprentice suggested to go out this late. Maybe it would be good for him, maybe not. He didn't like how the cat looked at him, though.

Alas, Russetpaw spoke before he could break the news to the bored feline. Not only that but, even if he wanted to go out, he couldn't brave it. After all, his father was guarding the entrance.

His head hung downward and his tail drooped. At last, the apprentice sat down, suddenly appearing exhausted. Yet he did not feel so. Sadness is what he felt. And loneliness.

Surrounded by others, Badgerpaw couldn't feel farther from them. Even if Pebblefoot did what Badgerpaw thinks he did, he was still his father - cold as he is. And yet... He never felt like one.

@blaze clouds

Badgerpaw

Like terrified mice, the silver and white tom's paws scrambled backwards as the she-cat approached. If he hadn't known any better, he'd had hissed in fear. Suddenly, his lost mind was back in the present - and was backed in a corner.

As the apprentice took her leave, the young tom looked at the cat next to him, his eyes wide and filled with panic. Would they really try and go out this late? Would he- No, should he follow? For StarClan's sake, the cat who hated him the most was guarding the entrance! Surely, he couldn't go out.

Desperate for help, Badgerpaw's gaze fell on Russetpaw with pleading eyes. He didn't speak - only awaited an answer.

@blaze clouds

Russetpaw’s eyes shifted between the two, before he sighed and got to his paws. His assessment was soon, he’d overheard some warriors gossiping today, so if he went, he had the excuse of scouting for possible hunting spots and had decided to bring Coldpaw along for extra eyes. It would make more sense if Badgerpaw came as well for a light source, but he wouldn’t force him to go if he didn’t want to.

As for Coldpaw, it was clear that she simply didn’t care, if the fact she had disappeared from her previous spot hadn’t been an indicator.

With a roll of his eyes, he squeezed past Badgerpaw, wiggled underneath the spot Coldpaw had gone through and hurried behind her. ”If my assessment gets delayed because of this, it’s gonna be on you!” he hissed with a grin.

(My tag if @/Twixie901)