a new friend(lynxpaw)

[Thorn]

Mosspaw was eating a small mouse in the medicine cats den. The she-cat had been in here after talking to Slushstep. She had been in the cold for quite sometime and the medicine cat wanted to make sure that she hadn't caught a cold. With a loud sneeze the she-cat stood up. She swiped her tongue around her muzzle and spotted another apprentice in the clearing. She tilted her head to the side and couldn't remember seeing him anywhere. The joys of living in the medicine cats den you never see or get to know any of your clan mates.

With a skip in her step the she-cat ran forward towards the tom. She wasn't in a bad mood today so she wasn't going to be mean to him. Instead she just wanted to know his name and perhaps how training was going. She didn't get to experience everything like everyone else because her immune system was so weak. She skidded to a quick halt with a smile on her muzzle."Hi I'm Mosspaw!"

[ceilingwax]

Out of the corner of his eye, Lynxpaw saw a figure come barrelling toward him and instinctively flinched and closed his eyes in preparation for the impact that would surely come. However, at the sound of skidding paws and the lack of a crash, the apprentice opened his eyes, and saw a she-cat, probably another apprentice, standing there. "Hi I'm Mosspaw!" Her words confirmed his guess and, after realizing that he was still turned away and bracing himself, the apprentice grinned ruefully and shifted so he faced the she-cat. Only now did he realize that he did not recognize her, and was glad that she had introduced herself. "Hi, Mosspaw. I'm Lynxpaw," He replied, and wondered why, even though both were apprentices, he had not seen her before. Or at least he did not remember seeing Mosspaw before. Lynxpaw knew from experience that if he wanted to know the answer to something, he would have to ask questions; his curiousity was pushing him toward asking anyway, and he could never not ask questions for a while.

Taking a breath, he gave in to his desire and the questions flowed forth: "I don't think I've seen you before; why? You're an apprentice like me and you're also in RiverClan, so why have I not seen you before? You sleep in the apprentice's den, dont' you? Of course you do, where else would you sleep? But if that's the case, when why have we not talked before? Surely there aren't that many apprentices..." His voice trailed off as he took a breath, and though his tone had been light, he did not consider that he may have overwhelmed the other feline with his questions. "Anyway, I'm Lynxpaw, like I said. When are you going to become a warrior? It's four more moons for me!"

[Thorn]

Mosspaw raised a brow when he said his name. It sounded familiar. Perhaps Aurorastar asked him to patrol once or twice. The brown she-cat was about to answer his first question when he asked another. She parted her jaws to speak again but then question after question flowed out of the toms jaw. She just sat there twitching her tail back and forth and just nodded her head. Mosspaw had a lot of explaining to do. Her silver whiskers twitched. When the apprentice was done a small smile formed on her muzzle."You are full of questions, but I don't mind answering them" The she-cat mewed.

"You haven't seen me because my immune system is weak. I sleep in the Medicine cats den, and no I'm certainly not her apprentice. Most apprentices are on patrol when i'm awake and about. I'm not aloud out of camp often. I train one or twice a weak." she mewed her green eyes alit with a sparkle."Thats why we haven't talked much. We probably did in the nursery since we are about the same age. I'm 8 moons old. She mewed. When Lynxpaw spoke about being a warrior she instantly flinched."I...I don't know. I'm not allowed to train alot. I was told the current new born kits would be made warriors around the same time as me if not before..." the she-cat mewed. Lynxpaw didn't know so it was no reason to get angry.

[ceilingwax]

"You are full of questions, but I don't mind answering them." Only when Mosspaw speak those words did Lynxpaw consider that he might not get the answers to his questions. Even then, the thought graced his conscious for only a moment, pushed away as the she-cat continued on. She slept in the Medicine Cat's den but was not her apprentice? That was an odd idea, but he accepted it nonetheless. However, he could feel his eyes widen slightly at what she said next. Mosspaw trained only once or twice a week? How could she learn anything that way? How could she bear not being able to learn anything new every day? However, she did not appear very bothered by her circumstances.

But she was bothered by his question about becoming a warrior, if the flinch and slight stutter told Lynxpaw anything. Immediately, he felt guilty about bringing up a subject that she was obviously unsure and uncomfortable about. A soft "Oh..." escaped his maw and he glanced down for a moment before looking back up at her, the light, previously dimmed slightly, back and bright in his eyes. "Do you learn a lot in the Medicine Cat's den? Like what herbs do what? I think that would be cool to learn, so every cat doesn't have to rely on one cat to heal themselves. And don't worry about being stuck in camp; we can talk when we're not training and I'm not on patrol. I think that'd be fun, don't you? And maybe we can convince Aurorastar or the medicine cat to let us out on patrol. We can hunt... you can hunt, right?" His last question was more of an afterthought, and was not supposed to slip from his mouth. Clear blue eyes widened as he realized what he had said, and he hastned to apologize, "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to insult you or anything."

[Thorn]

Mosspaw's eyes lightened when Lynxpaw suggested that they would talk and hunt together. Her eyes beaming she nodded eagerly she would love to hunt with Lynxpaw."I learned a lot just the basics I help taking care of cats nothing extreme though. I'm not allowed. I want to have a mate and kits one day so I would never become an apprentice as harsh as that is." she mewed. The she-cat frowned and looked at Lynxpaw.She let out a mroowww of laughter."I can hunt Lynxpaw its okay I would understand why you would think that I'm not offended. I am excellent fisher." her whiskers twitched as she spoke. She didn't want to brag but it was part of her personality."I haven't gotten a cold in awhile so I bet they will let me out tomorrow!"

[ceilingwax]

A spark of jealousy flashed through Lynxpaw when he learned that she knew the basics of medicine cat healing. He knew absolutely nothing. However, he shoved his jealousy down and meowed brightly, "You'll have to show me some of the basics. I bet you know more about healing than most of the warriors in the whole clan." An ear flicked at her words about wanting a family later and life, and he gave her small smile; unsure of how to reply to that, he ignored the comment. "I can hunt Lynxpaw its okay I would understand why you would think that I'm not offended. I am excellent fisher." He let out a quiet, almost inaudible sigh of relief at her words, which ended with a small brag. "I like to hunt too," The apprentice meowed with a grin, "But I think I'm better at hunting the land prey." His tail flicked and his grin grew larger with her next words, "I haven't gotten a cold in awhile so I bet they will let me out tomorrow!" Eyes alight, Lynxpaw meowed, "That would be great! We can go hunt and see who can catch the most prey! And maybe we can go to the borders and see if we can see another clan's patrol. That would be really cool! Oh, and you'll have to show me some of the herbs, too. What do you like doing when they let you out? Do you like swimming? Swimming is ok, I guess."

[Thorn]

This tom was really filled with questions. Mosspaw just listened intently. She was different from most apprentices she felt like she was more mature than others. She after all was at least given a job."You act like I could be the medicine cat." she let out a mroww of laughter."I could survive but I couldn't run a clan. after all I have to have medicine on a daily basis... she stuck her tongue out in disgust. IT wasn't the best tasting things ever. Her eyes brightened at the thought of some competition and let out a warm purr. She would have to win. She was a competitive she-cat. She didn't like to lose would she would willingly admit if she did.

"That will be fun. I will have to catch the most prey so I can show you how well I can hunt." she mewed. A beam of amusement showing through her stature."We should check out those witty Shadowclan cats, I bet your a strong fighter, we could fight them off." her tail was swinging back and forth in a playful matter."I can fight pretty good, I just fight my own way not the clan way." she mewed. With that the brown she-cat leaped forward lading on the tom and batting at him playfully with sheathed claws.

[ceilingwax]

Lynxpaw shrugged, a sheepish grin on his face. Of course he knew that she couldn't run a clan, but his excitement at the possibility of learning something new, that most warriors would not be able to teach, had overriden his common sense. "Yeah, well..." He replied weakly, though the silly grin still stayed plastered across his features. "You still know more than I do about it." At her disgusted expression following her comment about medicine, Lynxpaw blinked. "Do herbs really taste that bad?" He had never had to take any before; he supposed that meant he was lucky. But the young tom had never had a reason to take any either, and he fancied himself too intelligent to go poking around in the medicine cat's den, eating everything he laid his eyes upon. Not only would that incur the wrath of Aurorastar and the medicine cat, chances were that it would not be beneficial to his health. "And what do herbs taste like, exactly? I trust that they taste bad, but do they taste something like fish?"

The prospect of a competition seemed to cheer up his companion, and he let out a small laugh at her words about ShadowClan. "I'm pretty good at fighting," Lynxpaw mewed, allowing himself to brag a little. As a perfectionist, already the apprentice tended to want to run through the same thing over and over again until he got it perfect. "But with you and me together, ShadowClan won't stand a chance. Once they see us, they'll turn--" The sentence ended with a yelp of surprise. He was so caught up in the conversation that Lynxpaw had not noticed the tell-tale signs of a feline about to pounce. Therefore, he was unprepared when Mosspaw tackled him, and he landed on his back with an oomph. Dazed for a moment while his brain caught up with what had just happened, Lynxpaw let a feral grin cross his features. "You're in for it now," He challenged, and started batting his paws playfully back at her, aiming for her chest and face.

[/size]

[Thorn]

Mosspaw kicked her hindpaws into the toms stomach gently she didn't want to hurt him. She took hits to the face and chest. She shook her head and rolled off of the tom. She lowered herself to the ground and her tail was swaying playfully back and forth ready to tackle the tom again. She watched him very carefully edging him on with playful hisses and growls. As she waited for the attack or decided what she would use, which ever came first she decided to tell him about the nasty mush she was required to consume each morning before she was allowed to leave the den.

"It tastes like the smell of crowfood." she snorted while circling the tom carefully."Howlingwind chews it up and spits it onto a leaf and I have to eat his slobber." she mewed. Of course she was over exaggerating about the slobber portion but it was true. Howlingwind chewed up a polstice for her to eat. She circled around Lynxpaw and continued."Some stuff isn't that bad. I could eat Honey all day. It's sweet and tasty. but that other stuff boy I hope you never get whitecough or green cough, grossest stuff ever!" she stuck out her tongue and made a face just thinking about it.

[ceilingwax]

Lynxpaw clambered to his paws when Mosspaw rolled off of him, the silly grin still on his face. Clear blue eyes never left her as she crouched down and he mimicked her movement. Muscles tensed as he waited for her to pounce, fully prepared to dodge the leap and retaliate. However, the expected attack never came and Lynxpaw unconsciously found himself relaxing as they continued to circle each other like lions. "It tastes like the smell of crowfood." Confusion and surprise made the tom hesitate in his circling, missing a step as he wondered what she was talking about. Already, in the excitement of the play fight, he had forgotten the questions he had asked earlier. "Howlingwind chews it up and spits it onto a leaf and I have to eat his slobber." Oh, well that answered his question. Lynxpaw made a face, sticking out his tongue and scrunching up his nose in disgust. "Eww, that sounds so disgusting," He meowed, his tone holding an interesting combination of sympathy and revulsion. "You have to eat that?" They continued to circle and an ear flicked as Mosspaw told him about the joys of honey. "Is honey better than a fresh fish? What about a fresh water vole? They're amazing; they taste like the best thing in the whole world. But I agree, I don't want to get white cough or green cough. It doesn't sound very fun. I think green cough has killed some cats before, but I'm not sure. Still... and I'm not looking forward to having to take herbs either. I know: I just won't get sick!" By this point, Lynxpaw had completely stopped circling and stood still, his excitement obvious on his eager face, tail flicking lightly throught the air.

[/size]

[Thorn]

Mosspaw let out a warm purr as she stood up straighter looking at Lynxpaw. There was a huge test difference between fresh Fish, a Watervole and honey. Certainly, honey wouldn't replace an entire meal, but it was a nice treat once in awhile she had to admit."I will be right back Lynxpaw." The brown apprentice swiftly turned around and padded into the Medicine cats den. She returned with a golden honey comb in which she dropped at the toms paws. Her eyes were beaming with amusement and her whiskers gave a slight twitch.

"It won't replace a meal, but it's very sweet. If your looking for dessert that is. They are hard to find and this is my last one, I want you to have it. Fresh Fish and vole tastes wonderful, I can't say for sure that this tastes better because it's an entirely different taste. Its sweet and smooth and it's one of them things that makes you happy. I don't know why either." she mewed lightly.

[ceilingwax]

Lynxpaw watched his new friend -- he now considered Mosspaw his newest friend -- pad away and curiousity bubbled up inside of him. She was headed back toward Howlingwind's den and he quelled his immediate urge to follow; she had more or less implied that he should stay put. Kneading the dirt with his paws, Lynxpaw's tail swished through the air as he waited, growing more impatient by the second as his curiousity grew. Just when he thought that he could not take any more waiting, the brown she-cat returned, something golden in her mouth. She dropped it at his paws and he bent his head, giving it an inquisitive sniff. A honey comb.

"It won't replace a meal, but it's very sweet. If your looking for dessert that is. They are hard to find and this is my last one, I want you to have it. Fresh Fish and vole tastes wonderful, I can't say for sure that this tastes better because it's an entirely different taste. Its sweet and smooth and it's one of them things that makes you happy. I don't know why either." Raising his head, Lynxpaw gave Mosspaw a broad smile, appreciating her effort. However, it was her last honey comb, and the she-cat had said that she loved the golden dessert. He was not about to keep it all for himself. Pushing it slightly back toward her, he replied quietly, "You can have a bit, too, Mosspaw." Without waiting for an answer, the tom lowered his head again, opening his mouth and taking the first bite.

The sweet taste filled his mouth and the first thought that flitted across his mind was that Mosspaw was correct; it was a completely different taste from freshly killed prey. It was so much sweeter and smoother. Of its own accord, a purr escaped him and Lynxpaw looked back at Mosspaw, clear blue eyes bright and a grin on his face. "It's really good!"

[Thorn]

When Lynxpaw said that the honey comb was really good she couldn't help but let out a purr. She knew it was really good. She used to have them all the time. They were more common in the spring then in leaf-bare but she would have to get over it. New- leaf would be around sooner than she knew it. With a brisk lick her tongue slid over the golden morsel and slid down her throat. It was delecious. It was extra sweet today and she didn't know why. She swiped her tongue around her muzzle removing the stickyness. With a warm purr she looked at Lynxpaw.

"I'm glad you like it Lynxpaw! Honestly you're the only cat i've thought about sharing my things with. No one but you and Slushstep were really willing to talk to me. Of course, there is howlingwind, but he doesn't have much of a choice since I live in his den with he and lightpaw." she mewed. She looked around and saw warriors going in and out."What time did you want to hunt tomorrow? I'm an early bird or an night owl, so it's your choice." the brown she-cat mewed.

[ceilingwax]

Lynxpaw flicked his ears and gave Mosspaw a small, slightly sympathetic smile at her words. It made him sad to think that he was the only cat with whom she even considered sharing her possessions. While he was certainly not the most popular apprentice in all of RiverClan, he could at least hold a conversation with his den mates. And if they were unavaliable, he always appreciated learning something from a warrior. "If you get lonely, you can always talk to me!" Lynxpaw grinned; he had enjoyed their conversation from the start, even though they had really only just met. They could teach each other so many new things as well, for the tom was still determined to learn a little bit about medicine cat lore from Mosspaw and he could help her practice on fighting moves. "And we can always go talk to the other apprentices too, and they'll like you, too, and see that you're worth talking to."

Lynxpaw glanced around camp when he noticed Mosspaw doing the same, and noted the warriors entering and leaving camp. Some carried fish, others carried land prey. Some had eager apprentices following them out, others scowled as said eager apprentices got under their paws. Shifting his focus to another part, he saw kits playing beside the nursery, pouncing on each other as they squealed, perfectly content. "What time did you want to hunt tomorrow? I'm an early bird or a night owl, so it's your choice." Mosspaw's mew brought him back to the present, and Lynxpaw blinked. "Oh, sorry. It doesn't really matter for me either." Lynxpaw paused, then lowered his voice and continued, "But if we want to sneak out, then I think we should go late at night. We can use the shadows to hide in there. But other than that, whenever you can, I guess."

[Thorn]

Mosspaw's eyes widened at the thought of sneaking out. Would she get in trouble from Graystar or Howlingwind? The thought sounded so adventurous and she liked that idea. However, would she be let out of the clan camp again? She thought back and forth between going out when the warriors knew they were out and sneaking out. For some reason sneaking out was winning her over.Mosspaw too lowered her voice before she spoke "sneaking out sounds like a fun idea Lynxpaw. I like the idea." She sat up straight once more and her whiskers twitched with amusement.

Mosspaw's gaze followed Lynxpaw to the apprentices and kits. She would be the first to admit that she was jealous of the cats. SHe wanted to be one of those apprentices that got on her mentors nerves. However, she wasn't able to do so. Perhaps that's why she got along with the older cats. However, she didn't get a long with the younger ones and even that still puzzled her. She caught herself purring when her eyes fell on the kits."I wonder if I was that much of a trouble maker." she mused watching the kits play. She could only imagine.

Her ears flicked at the sounds of heavy pawsteps more cats were coming back in."Night time would be better for you anyways wouldn't it? I forgot that you would probably be training with your mentor during the day." her whiskers twitched and her gaze averted to her paws. "You would get back at around Sunhigh or later wouldn't you? I suppose when you get back I could give you an herb lesson until well you know..." she found herself winking at the tom. She didn't want to give away the big secret after all.