[o] in a torn up town

[Barrensong]

Barrenpaw slipped into the apprentices' den, still nervous of where to settle in the den. Usually, it was just that she would stay beside Applefall in the nursery, but the queen was not allowed to move into the den with her. She had to grow up.

Sighing, the white apprentice started making herself a bed, choosing one of the back corners to reside in. The back. That way no one would really notice her. There were not much cats that she knew - though the majority that she knew were around her age. Would any of them even befriend her here though? As kits, it was natural to quickly jump on the bandwagon of creating friends, but was that the same as now?

Once she was done with what she thought was a decent enough bedding, Barrenpaw sat on it, wondering who she could talk to, well, not actually talk, but still. Who would even interact with the mute anyways?

[Deleted]

Treepaw yawned as she slipped into the apprentice den. Another day of successful training. Padding in, the tabby noticed how the den was getting more...full. There were more nests than usual, and all cluttered. Carefully watching where she put her paws, Treepaw made her way to her nest near the back of the den. 

The apprentice was about to settle down and try to take a nap. Her joints and muscles ached from battle practice. But, she didn't settle down because an unfamiliar scent wafted over. Probably one of the new apprentices that has one of these cluttered nests. Better go say hi. Blinking, Treepaw stood up and walked over to Barrenpaw. "Hello. I don't think we've met. Either that, or I have a bad memory. I saw your ceremony. You're Barrenpaw, correct?"

[Barrensong]

Barrenpaw watched as an apprentice, looking like she was due for a ceremony, in particular carefully made her way into the den, about to call it a day, but instead, came to the back. To her. She could not believe it. 'You're Barrenpaw, correct?' Someone knew her name!

Her eyes were nervous, but she nodded, answering her den mate's question. She was now Barrenpaw, no longer Barrenkit, but honestly, changing one's name could be forgetful at times. She quickly sniffed the other apprentice, trying to remember her scent. "Aren't you tired?" she wanted to ask, staring at the she-cat's shoulders.

Though she was unable to speak, Barrenpaw looked at the apprentice, wanting to know her name too.

[Deleted]

Treepaw tilted her head. She had no clue why the apprentice wasn't responding, but decided to just go with it. At least she nodded, showing that her name was Barrenpaw. Treepaw looked around, trying to follow Barrenpaw's gaze. "What are you looking at...?" She trailed off as she noticed that the other apprentice was looking at her shoulders. "Ha! Do I look stiff? I just got back from battle training. My shoulders ache a bit, but I'm fine." She purred, and turned her head to give one a swift lick.

Deciding to sit down, Treepaw wrapped her tail around her paws. "So, how's being an apprentice? Have you trained yet?" She asked, right before realizing that this she-cat didn't know her name. "Oh, and my name's Treepaw."

[Barrensong]

Treepaw. What an ironic name because this was Treeclan. She chuckled a bit, finding a pun in the name. Her thoughts told her to stray away from the shoulder, and look somewhere else, but Treepaw caught on pretty quickly. 'It's just because she's wayyy older.' she thought.

How nice it was to have someone around who seemed to understand her. Battle training. Just by hearing that, she was totally alert. How she longed to enter a battle and call Treeclan's victory, it would be the greatest accomplishment in the young cat's life, but Dustypelt did not yet teach her anything. She wanted a lesson, and she wanted one badly now that Treepaw was speaking about aches. A day's hardwork was better than a day's worth of nothingness after all. She smiled in approval of Treepaw. Barrenpaw liked her.

When questioned about her own training, the white apprentice huffed out a small sigh, and then looked at the corner of the den, trying to hide her shame. She was speaking to one of the senior apprentices after all! The embarrassment it was, meeting someone who was practically done with training when you have not yet even explored the territory.

She then gave Treepaw a shrug, thinking that there was no big in her situation.

[Deleted]

The tabby she-cat had no idea that Barrenpaw was chuckling at her punny name, but smiled anyway. It made her happy just to see others happy. She could tell that Barrenpaw was lost in thought, perhaps thinking of what future training would be like, or what her warrior name would be, or how battle training was. Treepaw still didn't understand why the she-cat was silent. She didn't seem  shy. But, Treepaw stayed silent. It would be rather rude to ask someone why they were quiet.

Green eyes flickering toward the entrance, her gaze softened as Barrenpaw sighed. "I'm guessing you haven't been trained yet? Don't worry, you will soon. Who was your mentor again? Like Dustedpelt, or Dustyfur? I can't quite remember. My own mentor is Lotuspetal. She's pretty nice." Treepaw meowed, recalling their training session. I'd wish I had trained earlier, before I fought the badger when escorting Nightingale. But, I had a different mentor at the time. I wonder if I'd had Lotuspetal back then, I wonder if she would've trained me... But no. She couldn't blame it on her former mentor, it wasn't their fault. 

Treepaw shook her head, fluffy fur whipping back and forth until Barrenpaw was in her eyesight again. She smiled, glad to see that she was smiling, too. Maybe we'll be new friends. She quietly waited for the mute she-cat to reply, glad to be talking to her than taking a nap like she was going to do.