Rest and Relaxation [Wither]

[♣[Clover]♣]

The air was cold even though the sun was shining and a thin layer of snow covered the ground. Several trails of pawprints came out of WindClan camp, but only one lead to this particular part of the boulder field. A small pale yellow cat was crouched on top of one of the boulders, her brown gaze focused at something in the snow and her tail tip twitching slowly back and forth. When the time was right, Morningpaw half fell half jumped off of the boulder and onto the mouse that had been shuffling around the snow looking for something to eat. This was one of her favorite places to come. It was one of the medium sized grassy areas and there was a thin stream that cut through a corner of it. It was frozen now, so it wouldn't do much to quench Morningpaw's thirst. She sighed and set her mouse down. Enjoying the still silence, the apprentice looked around to see if there was anything interesting going on.

[♫Wither♫]

Rabbitpaw sped out of the Apprentice Den. His paws made slight crunching noises as they thudded on the snow. Why was he running? Well, Rabbitpaw was running just because he could. No particular reason at all. Now most cats would watch were they were going while they ran, especially if the ground was as snowy as it is. But Rabbitpaw wasn't paying attention; he ran right onto the frozen stream and slipped. Rabbitpaw continued to slide until a clump of snow block his path. He hissed angrily, shaking the snow from his pelt. Rabbitpaw looked around, wondering where he had landed. Rabbitpaw's gaze soon found itself on Morningpaw. Not truly wanting to see anybody, he began to walk away. You never make any friends. That's because I don't want to. We all know that's a load of foxdung! It is not. Is too, you just don't know how to make friends. Yeah, I guess. Exactly, what's the worse that could happen? She might accidently touch me, that's what. She's had a moon longer of training, she can defend herself. Maybe. You can do it, Rabbitpaw! Fine, I'll go. Rabbitpaw padded cautiously over to Morningpaw. Hi. Morningpaw, was it? He mumbled.

[♣[Clover]♣]

Morningpaw jumped to her paws, her pelt bristling with alarm when Rabbitpaw suddenly came sliding down the stream and into the snow. In the moment he'd taken to look around and see where he was, she realized that he was a clanmate and allowed her fur to lie flat. She was just about to call out a greeting when he began to walk away.

She tilted her head in slight confusion and shook her head slightly, sitting back down and looking down to her freshly caught mouse. She looked up and smiled when he came back and spoke to her. "Yeah, I'm Mornngpaw. And you're Rabbitpaw?" she asked, sounding delighted that he'd decided to come back.

[♫Wither♫]

Why yes, I'm Rabbitpaw. I'm glad I got your name correct to. Rabbitpaw opened his mouth the say the things he thought. Yup. He nodded. A bit of anger and annoyance filled his body, but he shook it off. Whatchya doing? Rabbitpaw avoided the Morningpaw's gaze; he stared at the mouse she had caught. He took in his buisness to make sure that everytime Morningpaw moved, Rabbitpaw would make sure that she wouldn't touch him. If Rabbitpaw was going to make a friend, he didn't want to do anything he would regret.

[[Sorry for the crappy post. I'll try to do better on the next one.]]

[♣[Clover]♣]

Morningpaw looked down at her mouse. "I was out for a walk and I figured I'd do a little hunting. I mean, in Leafbare, it's not often a mouse just crosses your path like this," she mewed, sounding vaguely proud. She glanced up and shifted her weight slightly. "What are you doing out of camp?" she asked curiously. All she'd seen was the younger apprentice come skidding in on the frozen stream and her whiskers twitched slightly in amusement. "Do you enjoy sliding around on the ice?" she asked and twitched one ear to show she was joking.

[♫Wither♫]

No, I don't particularly enjoy sliding on the ice. It was cold and I felt somewhat embaressed. He thought. No! Rabbitpaw snapped at Morningpaw. He immedietly felt guilt for his rude remark; she was only joking! But Rabbitpaw's face still showed anger; why he didn't relax, he didn't know. Rabbitpaw continued to glare at her for a few more moments. Eventually he relaxed, if only a little bit. No, I don't. Rabbitpaw mumbled, more calmly then before.

[♣[Clover]♣]

Morningpaw flinched slightly when Rabbitpaw snapped at her. "Alright, don't get your tail in a knot. I was just kidding," she muttered defensively. She looked up at him and sighed softly. "Most cats don't enjoy that. They don't even like snow. But I like the snow, it's good to play in," she mewed in an attempt to change the subject. "What do you think of snow?"

[♫Wither♫]

After hearing Morningpaw's hurt mew, he wrestled out a word he hardly ever used. Sorry. Rabbitpaw managed to choke out. His pride, or whatever it was, would have to come in second from now on. It was like Mud used to tell him, 'You never know what might happen unless you try!' Or was it, 'Wait here, I have to go rearange those sticks.' Either way. What do I think of the snow? Oh, I think it's beautiful! Especially when the sunlight reflects it. Snow is so light and fluffy! Rabbitpaw smiled lightly. It's nice. He mumbled quietly. Snow's pretty. Rabbitpaw actually managed to add on.

[♣[Clover]♣]

Morningpaw nodded to show she'd acknowledged his apology and smiled when he started to talk about the snow. "Yes, it is very pretty," she murmured in agreement, turning her head away from the other apprentice for a moment to glance around at the white landscape. A smile appeared on her face before she looked back to Rabbitpaw. "Even if it is a bit cold," she added to her previous statement as she lifted one of her front paws to warm it against her chest fur.

[♫Wither♫]

C-c-cold! Rabbitpaw laughed. He heaved out a deep breath and laughed as he watched the puffs form in front of his face. It was strange, the only person he got along this quickly with was his older sister. Rabbitpaw felt oddly at ease as he laughed in front of Morningpaw. What made him so happy around her? Who cared? All he felt that mattered was that he could actually laugh in front of another cat! Your nice. Rabbitpaw stated silently. He gave Morningpaw a small smile.

[♣[Clover]♣]

Morningpaw laughed softly when he did and placed her paw back in the snow. "Thank you," she mewed when he told her she was nice. It felt good that he seemed to be a little more comfortable around her than he was before. she wasn't generally a fan of sticking around in uncomfortable situations.

((Short > <))

[♫Wither♫]

Your welcome. Rabbitpaw smiled. I haven't felt good in awhile. He sighed with relief. Not since Mud vanished, I haven't. Rabbitpaw suddenly came at a loss for words; he stared at his paws for the awkward silence. Finally, he lifted his head up and said the first thing that popped into his head. I had a sister.

[[It's fine. I do it too. Like now for instance.]]

[♣[Clover]♣]

"You had a sister? Is she still around?" she asked. She couldn't remember any cats that Rabbitpaw had claimed as siblings, but she remembered he'd come to the Clan when he was young so perhaps he had a sister outside WindClan. "I never had any siblings. I pretty much grew up with the other kits since my mother never wanted me around," she mewed with a slightly sad tone. But she shook her head and looked a little embarrassed when she realized she hadn't given Rabbitpaw a chance to reply before telling her own story. She stayed quiet so that he could speak.

[♫Wither♫]

I dunno. Rabbitpaw admitted. She used to come with mom to visit me. He smiled a bit at the memory. Then she suddenly stopped. His face grew hard in thought. Her name was Mud. Rabbitpaw nodded. You know some say that there are no perfect cats? That's partially true; Mud was totally imperfect. But her imperfections made us the perfect friends. We were completely compatible. Rabbitpaw blinked in astonishment; did he just say that out loud? Did he actually manage to say what he was thinking? It felt really cool; Rabbitpaw grinned proudly at Morningpaw. To be polite, he added: Tell me about yourself. Rabbitpaw asked quietly.

[♣[Clover]♣]

Morningpaw nodded slowly as Rabbitpaw described his sister. Then her eyes widened slightly when he asked her about herself. She decided she would inform him about her beginning in life. "Well, I didn't have any siblings when I was born and my mother wouldn't tell any cat who my father was. He must have been a rogue and I must look like him because StarClan knows I didn't look like my mother. Everytime she looked at me, I expected her to show love like the other mother's did, but she always looked sad like she regretted something," Morningpaw's brown eyes clouded slightly with pain as she recalled her mother. "She hardly ever spoke to me, she never played with me and she'd often just leave me in the care of the other queens while she went out into the forest. It's almost like I didn't have a mother," she mewed and paused for a moment and looked away from Rabbitpaw. "Then one day she left for the forest like normal and she didn't come back." She looked up and flicked her ears to say that her story was finished.