[lone]

Originally Posted by Duskflight

If anyone in this clan should know that yowl aside from her mother, it should be Pinepaw, it was distinct in the way it nearly cracked with the excitement that was always in it, the lightness of it, how it was sharp and nearly squeal-like in the beginning but soft at the end as it left her practically breathless. Whenever it was possible Adderpaw liked to try and great her best friend like this, with that yowl and with tackling him, regardless if she actually surprised him or not, she just felt like it was... The right thing to do. The right way to great your closest friend. Especially now that he was an apprentice, her greeting might have even been filled with more excitement than usual.

"Not long, I just snuck right up! You're too easy to sneak up on Pinepaw, if you were an enemy warrior, you'd be sent home squeaking like a kit!" Teased the yellow tabby with a giggle, keeping her friend pinned seeing as how he wanted to try and escape, an air of triumph crossing her face, proud that she was able to keep him pinned. The word that had always haunted her slowly rolling across her mind, Runt, she grinned even more.
So much for being a runt now right?
If anyone dared to call her that name again then she would have to show them who she truly was, what she could do, because she was not some weak cat. Not at all.
It seems she had zoned out whilst pinning him, but was brought back around by his question, her ears perking up and her gaze clearing to look down at him in slight confusion before realizing what was going on and laughing, stepping off of him and giving her pelt a shake.
"I was hoping that you'd actually put up some kind of fight, I guess I just thought I would have to stay there forever!"
Snicking quietly, she sat down and curled her tail over her paws and looked Pinepaw over. "Got any plans today mister big scary apprentice?" Asked the young she-cat with that same smile that caused the edge of her eyes to turn slightly upwards.

Rookpatch didn't miss the flinch and it caused sharp emotional pain to sting into his very heart, nearly causing him to stop mid-sentence and give up what he was saying. Breath hitching in his throat, he did take a pause, clenching his jaws shut and gulping, but there was nothing but a dry click in his throat.
Speak slowly, you can do it. He heard his mate's voice in his head coo to him. Closing his eyes he would take a small breath before continuing on and finishing what he was saying to his new apprentice. When he was finished, he nearly couldn't find the courage to open his eyes and look at Heartpaw, the edges of his lips quivering as if tears were about to sting his cheek. But slowly he did open his eyes to look at her, breathing out slowly. He wasn't going to cry in front of his apprentice.

His heart sank just a little lower as he saw the discomfort written so clearly on the young cat's face and at this point, he had to look away, feeling his nose sting and then his eyes as tears threatened to spill.
Why can't you speak normally you stupid, jittery ball of crowfood? Mouse got your tongue or something? Or are you too scu-scu-scared? The taunting voice from the past jeered in his mind, causing his body to rack slightly, Rookpatch trying his absolute hardest not to burst into a crying mess. It had been so long since this has happened, he had been doing so good, he thought he was actually getting better and yet here he was, on the verge of bawling in front of his apprentice. He wasn't cut out for this, he wasn't cut out for being a warrior.

Heartpaw's voice brought him back and he slowly looked over, eyes glossy with threatened tears, he couldn't tell if she was just trying to be nice to him or was genuinely excited. Sniffling quietly, the male calico simply nodded his head and turned around to lead the way out of the clearing.
I'm not going to be able to do this. I can't speak to her. I can't. His mind thought bleakly.
Why can't I just speak normally? Why can't I be normal? Why can't I do something as simple as talking? Why do I have to be like this?

His mind was a whirlwind again and he found himself wishing to be with his best friend Blazingstar, or to be with his mate, Marigoldrise. But no, he had a job to do. And he was going to do it.

Truth be told, the young tom was slightly embarassed at not having heard the yowl at once-- and acknowledging it, but it felt right at the same time. This seemed like the sort of thing best friends would do. And he and Adderpaw were best friends now-- coming such a long way felt right to him, especially after everything that had happened. And now... since they were the best of friends-- Pinepaw was finally satisfied. It felt so nice to know that there was a cat out there who truly cared about him, and whether he lived or died, and would have his back in battle.
　
Though the chilling words that she had spoken still shook him anytime he thought of them-- I'll give you one more chance. That was all he had, he couldn't blow this, and he couldn't fake it since it wasn't a game to anyone anymore. To any cat who looked at the two apprentices, they probably seemed as though they had been best friends forever. But if only they knew the backstory between them, they would see something much more. Sacred, almost. "It's not my fault you crept up on me and scared me! That's your problem, and if you were an enemy warrior I'd have clawed your ears off!" Pinepaw mewed with a short laugh, and then looked satisfied as she got off of him.
　
In all honesty, sometimes the cheerful tabby was almost too much for him-- but then it was moments like these, when she finally got off, that reminded him what good friends they were. The best of friends, as he would always remember. Pinepaw doubted he would ever forget what one little game had cost him... especially since it had almost cost him happiness, or at least, a chance at happiness. A chance to be a normal kit-- no, apprentice now. And even if the other apprentices hated him, he would have her.
　
The one cat who seemed to understand. And the one cat that he was sure would always be there for him, no matter what.
　
"Hm. It'd be a good idea to stay on your guard, Adderpaw, because--" He stopped and leapt at her, aiming to knock her over. She was larger then he was, but he hoped he had the element of surprise on his side. "I might do something like this!" He cried as he sprang towards her, paws outstretched, claws carefully kept sheathed in an attempt to make sure that no one would get hurt-- especially his special friend.
　
Oh no. Don't cry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't cry! Heartpaw's throat was too seized up to speak, but she comfortingly put her paw on his. "I'm sorry, don't cry, please...I-I didn't mean to upset you, truly I didn't..." She mewed in the softest voice she could manage. Being cheerful and happy didn't seem right here. Whatever she had done, she had just about made her mentor cry-- and that was something that sent chills down her spine and disappointment running through her mind. She went through everything she had said and done-- oh. How angry she had looked? No, not angry-- sad. Or disappointed. Those emotions had been going through her mind at the time, and she guessed they had shown on her features.
　
And now she had hurt his feelings, through looking as though she didn't care. Or as though she were uncomfortable-- she wasn't quite sure. "So! It's Rookpatch, right? And I'm Heartpaw-- well, you already knew that, heh... sorry, I ramble when I get excited, I'm thinking about so many things right now... uhh... oh yeah! Just in case you forgot, I'm Heartpaw-- I already said that though, so you know who I am," The apprentice laughed. It was a goofy attempt to cheer him up-- but she was hoping with everything in her that it was one that would work, one that would cheer the tom up and instead of being sad, he would look much happier. That would certainly make her happy, at least.
　
"Tell me if I'm talking too much for you. I like to get to know cats, heh... so what do you like to do? Hunt? Run? Do you have a lot of friends, or a big family? I don't. I mean, I had a lot of friends, but most of them avoid me nowadays. And I lost my family. It's okay, though-- I know they're watching over me from StarClan. Most of them, anyways." Heartpaw continued to ramble on, knowing that eventually she could get through to the nervous tom and would hopefully be able to make up for the uncomfortable start they had gotten. She was a sweet cat; at least, she tried to be, but it was impossible to be completely friendly and kind all the time, and Heartpaw was a living example of that. Considering how she had completely pushed her best friend away in favor of another cat she didn't know and most likely would never talk to, let alone get to know.