Lionpaw hadn't expected to be out of camp again so soon, mainly because no warrior cared enough to actually take him out into the territory. But when he saw Dunepaw sneaking out into the territory alone he couldn't ignore the intrigue that pushed its way into his mind and had to tag along.

Apprentices weren't allowed to leave the camp without a warrior, so what reason did she have to put herself at risk for punishment or possibly even demotion? Whatever it was Lionpaw felt entitled to know. He certainly didn't have anything better to do, and if any cat asked he could just lie and say he was worried for her well-being.

So he followed after her, making use of the stealth crouch Larkstar had shown him. Lionpaw was confident he wouldn't be spotted by the lumbering feline, crawling a sizable distance behind her and making sure to keep his scent downwind. He snorted to himself as Dunepaw tripped over a branch, almost giving away his position. It was obvious by now that Dunepaw wasn't trying to hunt anything, nor did she have enough wits about her to be patrolling the territory. So then, what was she up to?

Lionpaw was determined to find out and so continued to trail after the unusually large apprentice until suddenly she began to speak to herself aloud. From what he could glean from her words it sounded like she had hurt someone she cared about, a littermate perhaps...

Their journey continued on after that until finally Dunepaw stopped at the frozen banks of the river. Lionpaw sat and waited in some nearby bushes, but when nothing of interest was happening he abandoned his hiding spot and walked up to stand behind Dunepaw. He coughed to reveal his presence before getting straight to the point of his inquiry.

"What do you think you're doing out here?" He said with a sense of authority that had no business being there.

"And what in the clans were you talking about earlier? You didn't... kill someone... did you?" He hesitated before asking about the last part, unsure if Dunepaw was the type to 'silence' others for poking around in buried matters. She had mentioned harming someone beforehand, so Lionpaw wouldn't have been surprised if she suddenly jumped at him for snooping around like this.

Not that he was scared or anything! If it came down to it Lionpaw would fight like all of LionClan to defend himself... and most certainly win, of course!

@Kass

--- Image credits go to SableSteel; Author of Clangen ---

"Well, uhm... I can assure you that I have no plans of harming my own birth clan," Lionpaw was suspicious. He didn't trust Dunepaw's vague answers and rhetorical questions, and to say the least it unnerved him. He had to take a moment to think of what to say-- unusal for a chatter-box like him-- in hopes of not setting the feline off.

Lionpaw liked to think he was as noble and selfless as a true warrior ought to be, but if push came to shove and he found himself in a position of life or death... with the life of another's hanging in the balance of his paws... Could he be pushed to save himself over them?

Well, he supposed it'd depend on whose life was on the line. A loner, a rogue, even a kitty-pet's life meant little to him: Same for those from other clans. But from what this she-paw was getting at it was clear she hadn't just killed some random outsider, but rather someone close and dearly beloved.

"Killed or be killed, huh? I can't say that 'killing for our kin' and actually 'killing' our kin could be considered the same thing..." Lionpaw took a hesitant step forward at her offer to sit, though put a good distance between them. The fur on his neck stood on end as he reluctantly sat a tail-length away from Dunepaw. Lionpaw was younger and undoubtedly smaller than the she-paw, and sitting so close to her revealed that blatant difference in size.

"So... who exactly is this friend your visting? Is it the one you killed?" Her wording was just vague enough for Lionpaw to miss the meaning. It left him unable to discern whether the friend in question was alive or not, and Lionpaw-- being his usual inconsiderate self-- didn't stop to think that his words might offend the she-cat.

@Kass (- forgive his rudeness! It takes a while for him to warm up to others. he also has like zero filter on what he says :facepalm: -)

--- Image credits go to SableSteel; Author of Clangen ---