Tougher Lions and Faster Sparks (P)

[Sparkpaw]

(Lionpaw )

Sparkpaw was already enjoying his time as an apprentice. His nest, which he made himself, was comfortable enough, but he still needed some feathers. He padded out to the fresh-kill pile, searching for a bird. He spotted one close to a good looking mouse, and took it back into the apprentice den. Plucking a bird definately did not sound like the most enjoyable job. He started right away, taking the feathers from the chest and tucking then nicely into his nest. The underbelly feathers were suppose to be softest, so that's what he used, the underbelly feathers. Once it looked like he had enough feathers, Sparkpaw stopped to pull feathers from beneath his teeth. The bird probably would've tasted good, if he felt like pulling anymore feathers out from the gaps. He choked on one as he swallowed, gagging as it went down. Sparkkit gave the bird a disgusted look and padded away, leaving it alone beside his nest. Hopefully someone would come by to take it away.

[Lionpaw]

There wasn't much of a difference between the nursery and the apprentices' den, as far as Lionpaw could tell; they were roughly the same size, the nests were the same, if fewer in number, and nothing stood out as particularly different about the den. Nevertheless, the newly named apprentice was excited as he passed through the entrance for the first time. This symbolized a new time in his life, one where he would no longer be bound within the confines of TreeClan's camp. As he looked about for a place to put his nest, he noticed Sparkpaw assembling his own, and he trotted over to see how his friend was doing. "Hey there!" he called cheerily, a smile growing on his muzzle. "How do you like the new den?"

[Sparkpaw]

Sparkpaw turned his head as he noticed an apprentice padding toward him. He recognized the cat imediately, and responded, "Hey, Lionpaw!" He smiled back at the flame-colored cat. "I actually don't think the nursery and the apprentice den are too different, just that we have a lot more freedom." Freedom, something Sparkpaw couldn't get enough of. He loved being able to walk outside without any limitations. His life already felt better. "I haven't been running since the ceremony a day ago, getting a little rusty." He grinned, a mischievous look forming on his face. "Last time I practiced, I darted right out the camp entrance."

[Lionpaw]

Lionpaw nodded in agreement with the other tom; he'd just been thinking much the same thing. Hearing Sparkpaw's next statement, he felt a smile growing upon his muzzle as well. "Yes, I remember. Though I find it hard that you, of all cats, could get rusty at running," he replied with a laugh, thinking back to their game of tag; he'd only kept the score even thanks to his quick wit, and would certainly have lost had he tried to match Sparkpaw's speed with his own.

[Sparkpaw]

Sparkpaw continued to grin, and glanced down at his paws. "Well," he meowed, flexing his claws into the dirt, "I guess your right. I don't think I could get rusty at running, but climbing would be a huge weakness." As he was talking to Lionpaw, he noticed that his voice, as well as Lionpaw's, had grown deeper since kithood. Of course, he was growing older, taller, faster, and more mature.

[Lionpaw]

Lionpaw shrugged; he doubted climbing would truly remain a hindrance to Sparkpaw, considering he could rely almost solely upon his speed while hunting or fighting. "Be that as it may, I'm sure your mentor will teach you to climb before too long," he said aloud. "Hopefully," he added with a purr, "My mentor can show me how to run a bit faster."

[Sparkpaw]

Sparkpaw's lips parted with a smile. Running, the adrenaline it gave him made him feel like he was flying, He wondered if anything gave Lionpaw the same sensation of being free from everyone and everything, forgetting the past and present as wind pushes against your fur. "Hopefully.." he replied to Lionpaw slowly, "I can learn how to climb, but that's not my biggie. I could care less if I could climb or not, but I would love to see the views from the top of a tree."