[Captain]

Originally Posted by Doodle

Owlspark's eyes glowed with affection as he watched his friend. "Of course, what are best friends for?" He paused from his spot, whiskers twitching- a surefire sign he was about to do something incredibly goofy. "Without me, you'd still be- gasp- alone," he declared dramatically. "Oh, the pity." The grin that had been threatening to spread across his features broke out before the tom turned serious. "But really, without you I'd be alone too. I'm so grateful to have you as my best friend, Hawkfeather. I'm not nearly as close with any cat as I am with you, and nothing could change how close we are." He allowed himself to be a tad bit less serious as faint amusement swirled in his eyes. "Even if all the she-cats suddenly realize just how fabulous I am."

The large cat chuckled after Hawkfeather as he recalled telling the other apprentices off. "I think I may have scared them. I'll always remember their wide-eyed look they got each time I snapped at them. I don't think they were used to seeing me so angry- I am the happy cat, after all." Owlspark found himself fighting to keep his eyes appearing happy. He wouldn't tell anyone, but keeping up this facade really did become tiring after some time. But every cat just went on about how he was so cheerful, how he made everyone else happy as well, so he kept acting happy even if something did worry him. He would have a rare moment to himself later, to contemplate what was bothering him, if this was the case. Or, he would go to the very cat he was talking to for advice. Now, the tabby found the smile on his face was true rather than forced. Hawkfeather went on and on about how Owlspark helped him, but he didn't think his best friend truly realized just how much he had helped the tabby as well. He didn't voice this though; it would be nearly impossible to put into words, and even then he didn't think Hawkfeather would really believe him. So instead he just continued with their conversation. "Oh yes," he agreed with the tom. "I'm sure I'm helpful somehow." Or at least, I try to be.

Owlspark's paws began to tingle with anticipation as his friend stood, getting himself ready for their hunt ahead. He smiled when Hawkfeather agreed to his idea of practice mentoring, his grin spreading when the other tom started to agree to more rest. However, as soon as he heard himself referred to as 'Owlpaw', his eyes narrowed teasingly. "You better not be planning some battle training later, mentor, or else I'll be the one teaching you!" While his words themselves could be threatening if said to another cat, the soft bat of his paw on Hawkfeather's shoulder showed that he was just joking around. He wouldn't ever hurt someone so dear to him- in fact, he didn't really want to hurt any cat he knew, even in other clans. Owlspark was right when he had said he wasn't an aggressive cat- he only fought if it was unavoidable, such as if he had to fight to defend his clan.

With nothing left for them to do in the clearing, the cheery tom set off at a trot towards the camp entrance. He turned his head to call back over his shoulder at his dear friend, still goofing around as he said uncannily like any new apprentice, "I didn't realize that training meant I had to get up so early!"

Hawkfeather snickered at his friend’s goofy behavior and mocked his dramatic expression, putting one paw over his face. “Such a pity indeed.” He said, faking a dramatic, expressful tone before laughing and smiling at Owlspark with a twitch of his whiskers, “I’m grateful too, buddy. No doubt about it. We are in it until the end, heck, maybe even after the end - up in the stars.” The tom-cat remarked and held back another laugh at his friend’s words, “I’ll be there to bat them away with a stick. Save some she-cats for the rest of us lonely toms, Owlspark.” He joked, poking his companion with one paw in a playful manner.

“Of course, you terrified them.” He agreed, nodding as he thought back to it, “Maybe you didn’t physically claw their faces off, but you sure sounded like you would.” True as it may be, he wondered if Owlspark once saw him as a coward at any point when he’d never stand up for himself back then. He probably didn’t and the tan-furred male was just putting too much thought into it at the time, but it still lingered in the back of his head as they continued their conversation. Hawkfeather rested a paw gently on his best friend’s shoulder, smiling at him. “I think you’re plenty helpful.” He assured him, “You helped a mouse-brain like me get where I am today and you’ve certainly come far from your own differences. I believe that is the important thing, after all.” The Windclan tom-cat was no expert at anything, but he knew that Owlspark had potential, he was special to him and Hawkfeather would make sure that the older male knew that.

A mischievous smirk spread across the tan-furred male’s maw when he narrowed his eyes at him when Hawkfeather called him ‘Owlpaw’ and immediately, he knew that this would be quite the fun adventure between them. “Oh, I’m so scared.” Hawkfeather teased Owlspark, batting at him with one paw as he batted his shoulder with his own paw. They were basically acting like playful kittens at this point, but there was nothing wrong with that in his eyes. “I bet you couldn’t harm a mouse.” The warrior teased him again, but meant nothing harmful by it. He would bet that Owlspark was great in battle, due to his size and strength. Although, the male had never been in a battle yet himself and never knew how either of them would do against other cats in a fight.

Hawkfeather watched in amusement as the older tom-cat trotted off across the clearing, quickly catching up with his friend with a few strides. He saw Owlspark turn his head to look at him and right away, the younger warrior knew that he was in for some mockingly apprentice-like behavior. “Well, Owlpaw, maybe you’d rather be picking ticks off the elders, hmm?” He said, playing along and flicked the other tom-cat on the nose with his tail, “Nobody likes a cat who complains. Now, come along. We have hunting to do, young one.” This kind of talk made him almost laugh, mostly because Hawkfeather was the youngest between the two of them. He hurried ahead of his friend and into the hunting grounds, "Come on now, don't keep me waiting!"


[ Continued in Windclan Territory ]