RiverClan Clearing

[lone]

Originally Posted by Dipper

The scent of smoke still clung to Fawnpaw's pelt as he emerged from the apprentices' den and yawned in the sunlight, then stretched. A scratchy throat and sore muscles seemed par for the course after his journey into ThunderClan with the rest of Lionstorm's 'aid patrol' or whatever humanitarian label he was giving it, plus the distinct lack of a nest wasn't helping either. Upon raising his eyes to the clearing and seeing Amberpaw among the cats gathered, he gave his fur a decent shake -- although it did succeed in freeing the bits of grass and dirt, the heavy linger of smoke wasn't going anywhere. Hopefully she wouldn't mind too terribly, and he inwardly promised himself he wouldn't overstay his welcome and subject her to it for that long. Simply a quick chat would be sufficient.

But during his approach, the reminders faded to be replaced by the little stirring of excitement of talking to a friend, who he noted appeared to be caught in her own thoughts. "Hey," he greeted, managing a crooked smile when he realized he'd forgotten. Curious, he inquired, "...What were you thinking about? It's fine if you don't want to say, it just seemed like you were really distracted."

Her thoughts taking over the majority of her attention, Amberpaw neglected to hear Fawnpaw approaching at first. It was probable that she wouldn't have noticed him at all if it hadn't been for the smoky scent that followed. Her thoughts were sluggish to suggest 'fire,' and by the time Amberpaw had connected the scent to the deadly natural disaster, she'd already seen Fawnpaw. "Oh, hey!" She smiled back at him, thoughts of Frozenpaw momentarily leaving her mind. It didn't take them long to return, however, especially once Fawnpaw asked what she'd been thinking about.

"What? No, it's not personal or anything-- I just met someone nice the other day, that's all." She paused for a moment. Most of the older apprentices knew each other; perhaps Fawnpaw had met him? She hadn't been an apprentice long enough to connect with all of the others her age, and she supposed it depended on how many were in the den at any given time. Some cats certainly had more friends than she did, although the cats she had met were enough for her. It was good to have a few close friends, right?

"Have you met Frozenpaw, by any chance? You guys are around the same age, I thought you might've hung out a few times," She mewed, tilting her head to the side. The smoky scent still clung to his pelt, and Amberpaw made a mental note to ask about it later; she hoped he was alright. Smoke generally meant fire, but she'd also heard some apprentices went over to ThunderClan to help with the rebuilding. Perhaps he'd just gotten mixed up in that?

[The Flying Pizza]

Originally Posted by ~Silverkit~

Splashpaw walked back into the camp with another sneeze. She had a smile on her face and seemed very cheerful but it was a bit obvious it was fake. She tried not to let Poolpaws words get to her but it was almost impossible.
@Spider-Leap

"Are you okay?." Shadowpaw flicked his tail tip over her shoulder gently.

[Fawn]

Originally Posted by Lonestar23

Her thoughts taking over the majority of her attention, Amberpaw neglected to hear Fawnpaw approaching at first. It was probable that she wouldn't have noticed him at all if it hadn't been for the smoky scent that followed. Her thoughts were sluggish to suggest 'fire,' and by the time Amberpaw had connected the scent to the deadly natural disaster, she'd already seen Fawnpaw. "Oh, hey!" She smiled back at him, thoughts of Frozenpaw momentarily leaving her mind. It didn't take them long to return, however, especially once Fawnpaw asked what she'd been thinking about.

"What? No, it's not personal or anything-- I just met someone nice the other day, that's all." She paused for a moment. Most of the older apprentices knew each other; perhaps Fawnpaw had met him? She hadn't been an apprentice long enough to connect with all of the others her age, and she supposed it depended on how many were in the den at any given time. Some cats certainly had more friends than she did, although the cats she had met were enough for her. It was good to have a few close friends, right?

"Have you met Frozenpaw, by any chance? You guys are around the same age, I thought you might've hung out a few times," She mewed, tilting her head to the side. The smoky scent still clung to his pelt, and Amberpaw made a mental note to ask about it later; she hoped he was alright. Smoke generally meant fire, but she'd also heard some apprentices went over to ThunderClan to help with the rebuilding. Perhaps he'd just gotten mixed up in that?

Her warm greeting soothed the irrational fear that never truly went away no matter how close he was with someone, the reassurance that their friendship wasn't surviving on pity. She actually liked talking to him, and that was nothing short of a miracle for Fawnpaw, who often felt detached from his clanmates. "Oh yeah?" he questioned, verging on teasing as he tipped his head at the disclosure, briefly wondering who she might be referring to but jumping to the assumption that he likely wouldn't know who they were, given her rather vague method of revelation. Jokingly, he went on, "Do I have competition? Y'know, I bet whoever it is doesn't smell nearly as amazing as I do." The suggestion was so exaggerated and scoff-worthy that he couldn't contain a mild chuckle.

When he heard the name 'Frozenpaw', the immediate effect was a wavering of his playful mood and the dissolution of his assumption that she'd met some unknown mysterious feline. Frozenpaw was quite familiar to him. "Oh," he blurted, tone off, when he remembered it was his turn to talk. "Yeah, I... uh, I do know him. I'm not sure about us being around the same age," mind spinning with the surge of emotion connected to his and Frozenpaw's recent interaction, he have no idea why he chose to pick out that detail of what she said when it was near-irrelevant, "since he's... kind of old to be an apprentice, um-- sorry, that's not really on topic."

An inhale later, Fawnpaw had recollected himself but was visibly stiffer than before. "That's honestly neat, you guys finally having a chance to meet. Frozenpaw is really great to be around." It had been tough to get through that, word choice carefully picked, as he skirted around his own relation with him. He didn't want to ruin it for Amberpaw when they were entirely separate matters.

[~Silverkit~]

Originally Posted by Spider-Leap

"Are you okay?." Shadowpaw flicked his tail tip over her shoulder gently.

Splashpaw looked up at Shadowpaw. "Um yeah! " she said, trying to sound reassuring. "Um what did Poolpaw tell you?" She asked, almost instantly regretting it.

[The Flying Pizza]

Originally Posted by ~Silverkit~

Splashpaw looked up at Shadowpaw. "Um yeah! " she said, trying to sound reassuring. "Um what did Poolpaw tell you?" She asked, almost instantly regretting it.

"She told me to stay away from you.i told her no." He snorted with disgust. "Plus...I like spending time with you."

[~Silverkit~]

Originally Posted by Spider-Leap

"She told me to stay away from you.i told her no." He snorted with disgust. "Plus...I like spending time with you."

Hearing that made her feel lot better. "I like spending time with you too" Splashpaw said with a smile.

[The Flying Pizza]

Originally Posted by ~Silverkit~

Hearing that made her feel lot better. "I like spending time with you too" Splashpaw said with a smile.

(Yikes he's blushing hard..)

His face was red with embarrassment. He licked his chest fur self continuously.

[~Silverkit~]

Originally Posted by Spider-Leap

(Yikes he's blushing hard..)

His face was red with embarrassment. He licked his chest fur self continuously.

Splashpaw blushed and looked at her paws as they fell into a awkward silence. After a few moments, she put her head on his shoulder with a tired yawn. A few minutes later, she was fast a sleep.

[The Flying Pizza]

Originally Posted by ~Silverkit~

Splashpaw blushed and looked at her paws as they fell into a awkward silence. After a few moments, she put her head on his shoulder with a tired yawn. A few minutes later, she was fast a sleep.

He smiled and gently lied down, careful not to wake her.

[~Silverkit~]

Originally Posted by Spider-Leap

He smiled and gently lied down, careful not to wake her.

(Time skip?)