| Lightningpaw |
Lightningpaw still remembered her first visit to Juniper's Rest. It had been a sorrowful one, but insightful none the less. She'd gotten a glimpse into her former mentor's way of thinking, and his blunt honesty when speaking. She'd found it refreshing, back then. And truthfully, she'd even found herself agreeing with his views. On how the graves were there more for the living than for those who now hunted amongst the stars.
There was none of that refreshing honesty in Starry Meadows today, however. None of that comforting revelation. Only the memory of the ShadowClan brute who had so callously, so thoughtlessly killed an apprentice who wanted to do nothing more than run from the flames. It seemed Maplepaw's options had been to die by fire or die by snake, but die she was meant to. Not by StarClan's decree. No. She refused to believe her ancestors would have been so heartless as to plan such a fate for her former denmate. It had been because of
them. The ShadowClan warrior who'd had to resort to further threats and blaming their own leader, because stars forbid they take responsibility for their actions.
That had been what had antagonized Lightningpaw the worst. Ever since she was young, the lithe calico had done nothing but mistakes. Mistakes that had cost others their lives. It would have been easy to make excuses. Claim she had been too young. She didn't know any better. What could be expected from a one moon old kit who knew nothing about the world around her?
She'd never resort to such hypocrisies, though. The oriental shorthair admitted to her mistakes and tried to fix them. Atone for them. She did not hide behind shadows and those stronger in an attempt to be excused from blame. She accepted the consequences, whatever they might be. The ShadowClan tail-licker hadn't had the gall to do as much.
Taking a deep breath, Lightningpaw attempted to calm herself, her tail giving a small twitch, as if trying to rid itself of any lingering anger. Deciding to focus on other things, the medicine cat apprentice turned to look at Cedarpaw, eyes narrowed slightly as she tried to make sure her fellow apprentice didn't try anything reckless once more. The young molly could always appreciate a troublemaker, having been one most her life. She... didn't quite get the chance to go around being her delightfully annoying self anymore, not since having been appointed a different job but... There was a difference between a simple rule break with an adventurous heart and openly disrespecting rules after your own sibling had almost just drowned. The black furred cat had been silent ever since the incident, and Lightningpaw certainly hoped she wouldn't try something as such again, but it wouldn't stop her from keeping an eye on her... at least as far as this tour went... just to be safe.