“Ah, thank you.” Sproutwhisker remarked, smiling, “Riverclan has always been such a nice place, very beautiful in newleaf when the flowers are beginning to bloom.” A few lightened raindrops fell onto the black-furred warrior’s back, making a shiver run up his spine. “I love water and all, but not when it’s so cold and dreary like this.. The river water is so relaxing and warm when it’s the right time in the season. Perfect for fishing and sunbathing on the sandy bank.” Pinewhisker chuckled and shook his head at the tom’s words. “With that kind of talk, it’s like you're trying to persuade us to stay in Riverclan.” He teased his friend and the older warrior shared the other tom’s amused chuckle. “One can only wish, my friend, but I know your place is in the marshlands.” Sproutwhisker looked to Needlescar at her questioning word. “Noirepaw - she’s my new apprentice, been training her for about two moons now. I’d introduce her to you, but I wouldn’t know where the curious little one ran off to.” He could only hope that none of the Shadowclan apprentices were picking on her, but the warrior felt like she could handle herself quite well already.

The brown-furred warrior nodded to Needlescar, smiling with delight. “Yes, sounds like quite the long time indeed, doesn’t it?” He remarked, his ears twitching, “I’m glad that our friendship still stands after all these moons, it truly means alot to me.” He soon grew quiet and felt his muzzle grow warm at her friendly nuzzle that the she-cat gave him now, his tail twitching behind him. Her next statement made Pinewhisker laugh a little though. “Yes, that is true - one of the few things that we have in common.” The lean tom said, “Such a conscience.” Pinewhisker then nodded to his friend’s act of hospitality and took a bite of the fish as Needlescar did as well, the taste was rather interesting and different, much more than what he was used to, though there was a very slight resemblance of the taste of a frog within the prey that he now ate. Sproutwhisker was glad to see the two of them eating and was delighted by Needlescar’s words. “At least now you can say that you’ve tried it.” He mentioned, “In hindsight, I should’ve broughten you a vole or even a shrew, but I was curious to see your reaction to fish. Windclan cats are disgusted by them, as I’ve heard some say from encounters from them.” The small tom-cat settled into a comfortable position in the clearing with them, licking one of his paws in a sense of content atmosphere.

“I remember a time where there wasn’t so much drama in the forest.” The Riverclan warrior commented, blinking at the two of them, “There was a sense of peace and all seemed right in the world - for awhile, at least. It’s a shame that things have to revolve around war so much now, I’ve never been much for violence.” Sproutwhisker was a polite, calm tom that never wished to fight or anything and he had never yet taken part in a clan battle, even though he was reaching 35 moons old now, nor did he want to. He gave a lighthearted yawn and a tired smile rested on his maw. “You know those young ones.. Always trying to act like they are the toughest around.” Sproutwhisker remarked, his whiskers twitching on his muzzle, “I usually don’t get involved in arguments like that anyways, but I do keep my apprentice from being a bully - though she never has been, thank the stars for that.” A low rumble of thunder seemed to wash over the sky above them, making every cat go silent for a few moments before the chatter continued. “Truly unique, in my opinion!” The black-furred male said, his icy blue eyes flickering to Needlescar as she spoke of his apprentice, “She is such a determined little apprentice too, never gives up.” Both Pinewhisker and Sproutwhisker looked at Needlescar, sympathizing for the she-cat and her concern for her own apprentice. “I’m sure that they’re fine.” Pinewhisker murmured to her, giving the she-cats ear an affectionate lick, “If they are as strong as you, they have nothing to fear.”

Newtpaw was surprised by how nice he was being towards her, hearing the other apprentices lightened purr. “I wish I knew where he was though..” She murmured, shaking her head and looking down at her paws for a quiet moment, “Maybe he found someone much more interesting to talk to or something..” The small apprentice gave a slight disappointed sigh, but forced a bright smile and put all bad thoughts away for now that things were much better in the situation they were all in. She scooted over closer to Lobsterpaw, feeling a bit nervous being out in the open with all these cats - these Riverclan cats probably thought she looked so strange in appearance and it made her self-conscious inside. Newtpaw then broke away from her thoughts due to the other apprentice’s question and she looked at him, smiling down at her, but something seemed ever so off in his expression. She couldn’t put her paw on it, so he decided to not dwell on such a thing as this. “Hmm.. Well, I do like training with my mentor, Brightfluff and pretending that I’m a mighty warrior with Lionpaw!” The apprentice purred, thinking of the first time she met the tom in Shadowclan on the first day being an apprentice, it seemed like a long time ago, but in retrospect, it had only been about two moons or so.