[attr="class","mouths1"]
A voice finally reached the young tom's ears, but it was no warrior ready to take him out into the territory. Instead, it was a younger apprentice, a snowy molly with tabby points. Lilacpaw. Glancing up from his grooming, the tom studied her. From what he knew, the pair had very little in common. She was a gentle, hesitant young apprentice, absolutely nothing like her mentor. He could say nothing for her dedication to her clan, or even her aptitude for hunting and fighting, but he guessed she probably liked making friends more than she liked working for her clan. However, she had faced loss just as he had. Her sisters had died in the same fire that took Owlpaw.

Perhaps she might understand him? Doubtful.

Either way, the tom flicked his tail, giving a nod in greeting. His eyes were clearly disinterested, but he did not ignore her. "Good morning, Lilacpaw." Greeting given, the tom returned to grooming. With smooth strokes, he dutifully neatened the fur along his shoulder, setting the ringed dapples back into their proper place. His eyes, however, showed his grooming was only an absent focus. Ospreypaw's attention continued to rove the camp, taking in the rising sun gleaming through the trees surrounding them, and the soft sleepy sounds of his clanmates. Occasionally, he spared the smaller molly a glance.

Despite himself, the young tom found his thoughts wandering over what she thought of him. Normally he would tell himself he did not care. However, he had to acknowledge that their opinions would matter, one day. He would be deputy eventually, should there come a day where he would outlive Briarsong's deputyship. Lilacpaw may just look to him for orders one day. Unlike Newtpaw. His tail flickered at the thought of the younger leader apprentice. Honestly, she was a pain in the tail sometimes. How anyone expected them to be friends was beyond him.

Finally, Ospreypaw paused in his grooming and studied Lilacpaw in full. There was a slight hint of a question in his golden eyes. However, the tom did not say a word, instead merely watching her in silence.

[attr="class","lying1"]✎ simonwho, notes