Suspended by Tangled Strings (open!)

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Well, you couldn't say it wasn't an interesting day. She couldn't complain in that respect. Besides, it wasn't a bad day. Just unusual. Good, really. A chance to know her Clanmates better.

If only her timidness wasn't back in full force. But then, she still felt playful. Maybe they could race each other, or have a jumping competition. Or would they think that was too kittish? Maybe, but she doubted it. They were still apprentices, after all.

They'd all just sort of run into each other - she'd been hunting, and the other two...well, she didn't know. But they were all sitting together now, having met up only seconds ago. And why not? They were all Clanmates, around the same age. Her memory was fuzzy, but if it served she was about four moons older than Peachpaw and two moons older than Swiftpaw. Although that made her the eldest among them, she didn't feel like it. She was quite happy to not be in charge, even though she was talking first.

"So, guys, whatcha wanna do? We could have a hunting competition, or race, or just talk, y'know? Just don't challenge me to a territory trivia contest - I'll lose for sure." She groaned.

"Man, almost six moons here and I still mess up. Pathetic, eh?" She said, grinning in a wistful way.

The spotted she-cat knew she was babbling, but she couldn't help it. She liked cats. Liked talking to them, despite her timidness. It was probably her recklessness, which showed up despite her beingtimid. Well, she admitted, she was only timid around Crowclaw, really. Crowclaw, and important cats like Cedarstar and Rabbitstep. Even Sandstream. And cats from other Clans.

She grinned ruefully. That made the list rather long.

[Tonners]

A faded pawprint here, a rock there, a tree over yonder, probably with an owl just waiting for a fluffy, orange and white snack. Peachpaw had woken just before the sun was up all the way, but it wasn't until the rays had warmed a little and sought after her in her nest in the den that she had dared to leave. Since then, she had made circles around the camp, avoiding (but not trying to look as though she were!) other cats awake in the camp. Gradually, those circles had grown, as she took in every step, crack, and grass tuft that she could wiggle her whiskers at. Periodically -or, every ten rabbit hops, if you wanted to get technical- she looked back to the camp. Breathless for a moment, she found relief most times, seeing it was still well in sight.

It was a beautiful day, a fine day, to get out and familiarize herself with home. She could imagine every season, with some exceptions- like having a friend and not feeling so... Strange.

It was such day dreaming that led her into almost bumping into something too familiar smelling to be a rabbit, too rounded and small for any fox she had seen. Of course, after the three had all found one another, she had puzzled over whether or not she should appologize, and how to come about it, for so long that she couldn't remember which one she'd nearly walked right into. So much for being observant.

The ginger and white had seen the other two in camp, and knew their scents well from the den, new as she was. Both had been in the clan longer, and both were older, she was certain. The young cat looked sheepishly from one to the other, relief from ear to tail that Palepaw had spoken first. Peachpaw had to concentrate on what she was saying, her heart beat so loudly. She was almost afraid they might hear it. At the sound of some sort of contest, her heart sank a little; she would surely fail a race, because she liked moving slowly. A hunting competition, well, she knew how to hunt, and was good at it. Her rounded ears perked a little at the thought. The idea of talking caused her to shift her weight in unease, but the idea of an awkward situation in accidently hunting the same prey as one of the others quickly made it shift back. And, well, she needed friends- badly. She sorely missed her old companions; what was the point in being in a clan but being alone?

Darkly hued, shy eyes went to and fro between the other two apprentices; she wasn't sure if she wanted to meet their gazes or not. I don't mind talking, Peachpaw replied softly, each word said with a sort of thoughtful placement. Almost frantic, she searched for something else to say, until she took an unsteady breath, and refocused on what Palepaw had said. I haven't been in the clan long either, she said, her shoulders rolling a little in a feline shrug. If cats could, she may have chewed her lip: Had she said too much? Too little? What else should she say? How could she keep the conversation going? But, no one answered, so she closed her muzzle, and waited, nervous as ever. Well.. It wasn't two leg science.. But I guess I tried. Right?

[/size]

[rixyfish]

Swiftpaw kept her dark eyes glued to the patchy ground. She listened while the other two cats spoke, trying hard to place a name to each voice. She knew she wasn't the only one of them not Clan-born, but did the other two know her name? Oh, man, wouldn't that be awkward? A bit more frantic than before, she pushed farther back into her horrible memory for any sort of name she could offer up. But, what if she got it wrong?

"Then you'll look like a big idiot," she mumbled quietly to herself.

She sighed and gave her head a quick shake. They were probably waiting for her to say something. Oh, man.

"I, uh, I don't know," she finally managed, sneaking a quick glance at the other two apprentices. The louder, more relaxed-looking one seemed older than both she and the quieter one. How was that for observant?

She laughed at herself. Not very good at all, actually.

"Uh," she said quietly. "Are we, like... I mean, is this okay? Are we gonna get in trouble? Should we go back? They probably need us around camp..."

But what was the fun in that?

"Or, uh, I guess we could just stay here."

[Cloud of Diamonds]

It was strange, really - to feel almost instant affection for cats she barely knew. They were just so cute. Perhaps she had little right to say that, and they might not like that thought, being almost as old as she was, but the multicolored apprentice did think of them as small and sweet.

Peachpaw, for example - so shy. She reminded Palepaw of how she had been in her first moons in MeadowClan. Although she'd technically been born in ForestClan, she barely remembered either the journey or the place of her birth. Besides, MeadowClan was where she'd started to train as an apprentice, while her parents just sort of drifted away from her. They were there, certainly, but distant somehow - she felt more on her own than anything. Probably because although Whiteheart and Grayheart had both chosen to leave, they didn't much like MeadowClan or the rogues and loners in the Clan with them and often complained of their old life. She realized that she felt more grown up than she had in a while. True, Crowclaw terrified her, and there had been some mutterings of tension lately - but all in all things were good.

And hopefully, they were about to get better.

She looked at the ginger and white MeadowClanner fondly, before answering, "Okay, Peachpaw. Maybe we can just talk for a while, that's good. Of course, it's also up to Swiftpaw." She said, nodding towards the black and white cat.

Her brow furrowed as she took the ten moon old feline's question seriously. Yes, they probably were - heck, he-who-must-not-be-named would probably eat her alive - but why not enjoy their last meal before going to StarClan, eh? Her recklessness almost scared her. As it often did. But then, she never learned, despite the insistent voice telling her she was stupid. There were so many more pleasant things to be distracted by. Namely, company.

So, she answered in a good-natured voice, "Probably, Swiftpaw, but I don't think they'll kill us if we stay out just a little while. Don't blame you for asking, though - my own mentor scares me to death. How bad's Tigertail? Can't be as bad as Crowclaw - you should hear him." Assuming a cold, angry tone, she meowed, "Disgraceful, Palepaw, just disgraceful. A hundred more times, practice! And that goes for tomorrow, too!" Then she she couldn't help snorting. Well, she was exaggerating a bit.

Still, if only they really knew how close that was to the truth..she shuddered very slightly. But still kept a smile on her face - it was hard to think of dark things, here and now.

[Tonners]

Concentrating on her breathing, she imagined what it must feel to be like Palepaw- she could picture that. A calm, collected, perhaps playful and adventurous apprentice full of questions- the only difficulty in figuring out what to ask first. The energy made her heartbeat quicken in the nervousness and excitement, and she stole quick, analyzing glances at the older female while Swiftpaw spoke. Peachpaw felt rather awed by the apprentice of many colors, so full of life. Like nature? she wondered fleetingly. Her own clan had its typical colors, as these clans seemed for their strengths. That's what it is, right? Or beliefs? What if I'm in the wrong one! Her relief that Swiftpaw didn't seem to be after any competition sort of thing hardly helped the unease the crept around her paws, and up her legs, settling like a burden over her shoulders.

It felt heavier at their words, and the younster's eyes widened, echoed like a loud noise, causing her ears to halfway lay on the sides of her head. While Palepaw spoke, she slowly, shyly glanced at Swiftpaw here and there, almost holding her breath. What would Swiftpaw think? Would they get in trouble? Ooh, that would be the worst! her thoughts wailed. And the whole clan would know! Palepaw had a mentor.. And Swiftpaw, too. Would that lessen the penalty? That they're known and valued? Ooh, I certainly hope so, she thought. She looked curiously at Swiftpaw again. While a fellow shy-seeming apprentice made her feel less alone, it scared her twice as bad. Swiftpaw would probably be harder to know than Palepaw, and Peachpaw would have trouble opening up as well. Let alone that she now knew another in Meadowclan was quite possibly just as shy as she.

Peachpaw nearly jumped out of her skin at Palepaw's impression. Oh no! We're in trouble! And yet, she saw in a mere three quick glances around, there was no one there. Gosh, she mewed, embarassed, Cr-Crowclaw sounds awful! Shaking herself to try and lose the chills she had gotten, she looked at Swiftpaw, waiting to hear about Tigertail. Eyes still wide, she whispered, They're not all so fightening, are they? Crowclaw, Tigertail, she added to herself, unable to help a small shudder. Maybe Tigertail just means big. Fluffy, striped. Maybe this Tigertail just has the bravery of a tiger. That wouldn't be bad, would it?

[rixyfish]

She trembled slighty. Why were they both looking at her? She didn't really have much to say about her mentor. She barely even knew him. She probably wouldn't even have remembered his name if... That other cat hadn't said it. All he ever did was tell her what to do, and she'd do it. Wasn't that how it was supposed to go? You obeyed your mentor, right?

"No," she finally said, forcing her voice to stay steady and not shake. "I uh, I don't really talk to Tigertail much. I mean, he's nice I guess but, uhm, we mostly just do like, uh, training-type stuff and uh, you know. Stuff like that."

She shrugged. That was probably the most she'd said at one time since she joined the Clan. Much to her surprise, it wasn't as bad as she thought. She was actually... Relaxing a little.

Swiftpaw sighed and glanced over her shoulder into the trees. She hadn't really meant to run into these two, though she partly blamed herself for being so distracted that she didn't hear them coming. Not that they snuck up on her or anything. They didn't. She just wasn't exactly in the mood for company and wanted to get back before Tigertail realized she'd been gone since early morning.

[Cloud of Diamonds]

OOC: Peachpaw doesn't have a mentor? o.o She needs one, and there're only a few Meadow cats open: Dappledflower, Foxflower, and Littlewhisker.

BIC: She felt a bit disappointed, but then, what had she expected? That they would be instant best friends? That was silly. Things like that didn't just happen. They had to be worked on, carefully moved through and done with caution, but also free and natural.

Thus the delicate balance of friendship.

So, though nodding at Swiftpaw's words, she replied to Peachpaw first. While trying to push down the fear she had of Crowclaw and not scare the little she-cat.

"Ah, he's not so bad. I just like to exaggerate, 'cause it's fun although it's rather pointless and silly. But then, we all like to do pointless and silly things sometimes, right? And gosh, I wouldn't know. Lemme see if I can remember everyone else's mentors..."

She screwed up her yellow eyes in an attempt to remember.

"Jaypaw's is Mistystream, Shrewpaw's is Cedarstar, Sootpaw's is Gingerstripe, Fawnpaw's is Sandstream of course, and Minnowpaw's is Rabbitstep. I think that's right. Well, Mistystream and Gingerstripe I don't know much about, but Cedarstar is definitely scary and Rabbitstep is kind of scary, and Sandstream's just weird. At least, I think so."

Cedarstar and Rabbitstep were just naturally scary because they had positions of power. There was also that powerful leader...ness Cedarstar seemed to radiate. She couldn't ever imagine him backing down or giving up. But it also made him scary. And Rabbitstep, of course, was scary not only as number two in command, and when he'd scolded her on that patrol...and that dandelion was fuzzy...she stared at it for about a minute in happy blankness before she remembered with a jolt that Swiftpaw had said something. Trying to conceal a guilty look, she answered.

"Oh, okay." Which left a slightly awkward pause. "Well uh, if you still wanna go back to camp, you can. I might wanna get going myself..." she trailed off with a slightly blank expression herself.

[Tonners]

OCC: Nope.. I was kinda hoping it'd happen at the apprentice ceremony for the kits, but doesn't seem like it. Should I have Peach single out one of the warriors to follow around? Lol. I wasn't quite sure how it works here with apprentices/warriors yet.

Swiftpaw's mentor looked a little less challenging in her mental picture, although Tigertail was one of the many she had yet to meet. The black and white she-cat seemed to be relaxing, despite her talk of leaving. Peachpaw watched her look back toward camp, and then quickly looked down at her own paws. What if I'm making her uncomfortable? she asked herself. In her mind's eye, though, she mentally traced the path she had figured out, back to camp. It was a few rabbit hops from the main trail, and had no weight but her own to bend the grasses beneath her paws. Peachpaw liked that it hide her from view, and she had long been cautious and graceful, totally in control of her figure. The rather hefty built apprentice was slow, maybe, but rarely faltered.

She realized suddenly that she had not seen Crowclaw, either. He was one of the few that she had not seen yet; she only had a faint idea of who a few of them could have been. The others' faces flashed through her mind, though, as well as the fact that her own had not been matched to a warrior. Her head dipped down in shame, loss, and uncertainity. Surely, Palepaw realized now that Peachpaw didn't have a mentor. It was maybe only a matter of time before Palepaw asked her about it. I'm new, yet, she mused. It's not really that surprising.

But as the others moved the conversation on, Peachpaw suddenly wanted to talk about it. Fear streaked through her like a rabbit making a mad dash away from a hunter. I need a mentor, and they can tell me how to get one! she thought. They'll know what I should do, she hoped. She shifted her weight a few times. She had to say something before they all left, she may not get another chance. But still, Peachpaw had not said she hadn't a mentor. Calm down, Peachpaw! she ordered herself meekly. Think! They won't understand if you just start babbling. They'll think you lost it!

The bicolored apprentice took a deep gulp of air, and another. Pushing herself up a little straighter, she imagined her size, despite her youth. How- How do you get one? she asked softly. One what, Peach, one what! A mentor, she added quickly. How did you get a mentor? What should- she paused, almost asking, you do, but stopped. Its obvious you don't have one. Just be honest, Peach. Honesty always, remember? What should I do to get a mentor? Does Ce-Cedarstar choose for us, or do you sort of... Here, she trailed off. She really was not sure what would be acceptable. Should she find a warrior that was without an apprentice and pledge herself to them privately? Or go to Cedarstar? That idea made her fur prickle in fear, and gulp nervously. Hopefully, Palepaw and Swiftpaw had a better idea!

[rixyfish]

Swiftpaw tilted her head to the side and angled her eyes in the younger cat's direction. She listened, curious, as the other apprentice stammered and struggled around her words. So, at least she wasn't the only uneasy one here. It struck her as odd that one could go so long without a mentor. But, how long was 'so long'? It wasn't like she kept record of how long each cat lived in the Clan. That would be really creepy anyway.

She gave her head a slight shake and redirected her thoughts. "Uhm." She paused and cleared her throat, then continued. "I don't, uh, really know. I... I haven't, uhm... I don't really know how I got paired with Tigertail. But, uh, maybe you could ask..." Oh no. What was the leader's name? "Ce-Cedarstar. At least, that's what I would do." Probably.

In truth, she had no idea what she would do if she were in a situation like this one. She might get scared and run away. Then what would everyone think of her? She'd never, ever be able to come back to the forest and she'd be stuck in some tight, smelly Twoleg home with nothing but Cleo and the toms-- if they were even still around --to entertain her.

Entertain her? Ha. Where had that come from? They never even wanted her around in the first place. They were probably glad she was gone. No more pesky what's-her-face up our rears.

She felt a tiny pang in her chest, hurt by how little her own mother and brothers cared about her. They thought she was worthless and dumb. And annoying.

Well, she'd show them.

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Luckily, the black and white cat's words popped her out of her la-la...ness.

Now what had Peachpaw said? Something about not having a mentor...which was very strange. Cedarstar, from what she'd gathered, was very responsible and wouldn't do something like that. But hey, all cats made mistakes. Even the scary ones.

"Um...well, Cedarstar just assigned mine when I was six moons, which was pretty much around when MeadowClan was first founded. I guess Swiftpaw's right, I can't think of anything better to do." She shrugged.

This conversation really needed a change of subject. So give it one.

"Speaking of what we should do, I've been wondering. Cedarstar hasn't held any assessments in a while - do you think he will soon? I mean, we've all been training well. I hope that if we have one I can show I'm ready to become a warrior." Her yellow eyes grew anxious. She did want to become a warrior, badly. But at the same time, she enjoyed being an apprentice, a lot. It was hard. But being a warrior meant that she'd escaped Crowclaw forever...gah. She shook her striped head. Begone, foul thoughts!

Man, where did you go to get courage these days? The spotted she-cat wondered.