As Sootfur didn't seem all that mad, Sandpaw brightened up some. Okay, yeah... maybe things were going to be alright! A smile had started to spread across his maw - that was, until he finished his sentence. 'I know you must have had your reasons...'. Smile faltering and a flash of confusion shooting across his gaze. Sandpaw blinked. No... wait... but he
hadn't. He hadn't had any reason! He had wanted to continue in Sootfur's class. Trying to recall what had happened was fuzzy at best, his memory not serving him well. Swallowing the young tom just nodded, afraid that if he spoke the tight feeling clutching onto his throat would surely do... something bad.
Soon enough his mentor was turning to Honeypaw, who had been apprenticed to - oh no. Dejection was replaced by fear as he now had a name to put to the big scary orange cat; Flameheart. Worriedly, Sandpaw looked at the other apprentice and tried to will her to look his way - but she was soon turning her attention back to the leader. He was going to stick a paw out to poke her when a familiar voice reached his ears. He couldn't help but jerk his head back and step back, almost unconsciously.
"T-T-Thanks," he managed to squeak out, not realizing he was trying to make himself appear smaller with his ears going back and belly sinking to the ground. He stared at Flameheart for a moment or two longer before eventually taking another paw step back and turning away.
He didn't go far, knowing that he had to sit beside his new mentor as Honeypaw was doing. But thankfully Mama was there, and Sandpaw pressed against her leg to get as close as he could to her. As long as she was here, Flameheart wouldn't be able to get him. Pale green eyes looked up to Thrushstar as he continued the meeting and -
oh stars no. Keepers sounded important and... and Flameheart was now
in charge of them?? Sandpaw couldn't help but shake a bit against Mama's leg, curling his tail tighter over his paws.
Announcements continued on and it seemed like Thrushstar was announcing their next deputy - a cat by the name of Bumblebreak. Sandpaw didn't know who that was, but his gaze flickered to a cat with a broad grin - and others calling to them. Some of the voices were loud though, and letting out a squeak the tom ducked under his mother's leg and tried to squeeze his way under her like he was still a kit - except he was already a big bigger than that so he didn't fit as well.
"Make it stop," he whimpered, taking his paws and pressing them against his ears. Today was just.... too much for him. Everything was overwhelming and nothing seemed normal at all...
Somehow the muffled words of the meeting being dismissed reached him and Sandpaw let out a relieved breath. Embarrassment clung to his pelt as he backed out from underneath Mama and looked at her.
"I don't know if I want to be an apprentice yet, Mama..." Whiskers quivering, the young tom looked at her with a pleading gaze, as if maybe she could convince Thrushstar to take it back.
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