Familiarity [P]

[Dewpaw]

( Fallenmist )

Dewpaw was sitting at the entrance of the apprentice's den, though she had positioned herself at a more side angle near it so not to be in the way of any approaching or leaving cats, though it was doubtful that many would be doing such a thing at this hour. It was night, yet she was quite restless, so she was sitting near the entrance so she could get a clearer view of the outside, and the moon and stars shining down clearly with no clouds to block the way. The apprentice thought it would perhaps help to sooth and relax her to see the moon and the spirits of their warrior ancestors in the sky looking upon the land. It might be better then laying restlessly in her nest in a shadowy area of the den. It was one of the first nights of staying in the den as an apprentice, and though it wasn't too much of a change to adjust to, and it didn't come too hard to do it, something particular kept her awake for a while that night, a certain knot of tension throbbing against her chest consistently.

The young cat shook her head and blinked, trying to clear her mind of the thoughts, and feelings, but it did not serve to work much. She began to feel a bit tired, and a little better, so she stood quietly, wanting to be very careful not to wake any of the sleeping cats. For a moment she looked among the nests and sleeping forms, searching for familiarity briefly, for such a thing would be quite soothing, and a relief. She knew a former denmate in the nursery, and her friend she had encountered a couple of times, Fallenpaw, had also been appointed to the rank of apprentice, but unfortunately she hadn't seen the other one around as much since the apprenticeship, yet it was expected since it was undoubtedly a busy time. She once again resolved not to wake any cat if she could help it, however, and began to try to pad soundlessly towards her nest, though perhaps it was a failed attempt.

[Fallenmist]

It wasn't so much as bad dreams or restlessness that kept the youno apprentice awake that night. No. It was more the thoughts wondering through her absent mind. Every attempt at convincing her thought to quite themselves was like a mini argument inside her head, and so she opted to watching the dancing shadows within the sleepy enclosure instead. It was her eyes' turn to wander now, exploring the den in silence, though the dim moonlight meant that there was not much to see. Soft purrs and snores filled her ears, rattling within her head, causing her to shake it every so often to regain focus.

Soft, gentle paw steps interrupted the silence, though her hazy thoughts succeeded in convincing her it was merely a figment of her imagination. That was until the soft padding sounded once more, approaching this time. A familiar scent hit her in wAves, causing a smile to edge itself upon her face. "Dewpaw, is that you?" Fallen whispered gently, waiting in silence for a reply to reach her ears.

[Dewpaw]

Dewpaw started in surprise when a soft meow sounded out among the other various sounds of sleeping cats. She immediately looked for the source of it, her ears pricked, when she realized the cat that had called her name was Fallenpaw, of course. The apprentice immediately relaxed, and let out a small purr, though immediately tried to stifle it, for she didn't want to disturb the other sleeping cats. "Fallenpaw!" She meowed in an equally soft tone, feeling quite a bit of relief to know that the other cat was awake, and it would be nice to talk and converse with her again. She peered through the darkness at the other apprentice, and was able to see the shadowy figure after a bit of squinting.

"Can't sleep either, ey?" She whispered wryly and in an almost regretful tone, her tail flicking slowly back and forth as she glanced momentarily outside of the den, thinking that might be the most ideal spot to have any kind of conversation. "Want to go outside for a bit?" Dewpaw asked hopefully with a small twinkle in her eyes, quite eager to talk with Fallenpaw again, since they hadn't been able to do so since before their apprenticeship.

[Fallenmist]

Fallen allowed a soft gentle purr as she spotted the shadowy figure of her fist friend, smiling as she heard the soft tone of the she-cat's voice as she spoke her name quietly. Pulling herself silently to her paws, the young apprentice cautiously wove in and out between her snoozing companion, disliking the idea of a grouchy apprentice who had just had their tail stood on by a clumsily misplaced paw. Moving in and out out gracefully, purring quietly as she touches her nose gently in greeting to her friend's her whisker's twitching slightly.

At the mention of not sleeping she offered a slight nod. "Just, thinking, I guess..." she murmured, the thoughts and memories crowding into her mind like a thick, heavy fog. She felt like she was somehow split between two worlds and had to pick which one she belonged in. With a slightly downcast sigh she gave a violent, brain rattling shake of her head, swaying slightly as she did so. Pushing the thought to the side for one of the two to pursue later on, or outside the den, she allowed a sweet smile to grace her gentle features. The white moonlight cast a gentle glow across one side of her slim body, slicing across the shadowed den. With a nod, she brushes past her friend, allowing her tail to gently graze her side as she leads the way into the eerie silence of the moonlit camp, seating herself below the ever watchful gaze of their supposed ancestors.
(My muse is on fire today, better not go for a swim!)

[Dewpaw]

(Ah, what a lovely post. Indeed, I would advise against that as well!)

Dewpaw felt a warm familiarity when she and Fallenpaw touched noses, a pleasant instinct that caused her to purr slightly and softly as she returned the friendly gesture. It felt a bit different now that they were both apprentices, instead of young kits, and now it felt different somehow, yet everything in her mind had seemed to become different lately, and it was still pleasant, and soothing to talk to Fallenpaw again. She tilted her head when the other one spoke of not being able to sleep because of thinking, but she certainly felt sympathetic. "Oh?" She meowed quietly and a bit curiously in response, but nodded to the signal to continue outside of the den, as it seemed like a wise decision. The apprentice let Fallenpaw brush past her, and she allowed herself a moment to admire the other apprentice's grace, and confidence in her movements. She herself preferred just doing things proficiently and effectively without much grace in the whole process, with some instincts to help along the way. She noticed that Fallenpaw seemed do things differently in that way, even if was just with little noticeable details.

Dewpaw shook her head for a moment to clear her mind of these thoughts and ponderings, and padded after the other cat, soon out in the fresh air of the clear and rather silent night. She seated herself next to Fallenpaw, looking over at the other one, seeing her friend's form illuminated by the rather clear moonlight. After a few moments of relishing the peaceful night, and the presence of the other friendly cat, she spoke up. "I've been doing some of that thinking too lately." She meowed with a bit of an uncertain tone, then turned her head with pricked ears. "Have you been... thinking about anything particularly lately?" Dewpaw asked tentatively, wondering if it was anything that could be confided, or perhaps rather something that couldn't be, but she was still a bit worried for the other one, and a certain tension that she seemed to carry.

[Fallenmist]

Fallen blinked her slightly dulled blue eyes up at the sky, capturing the glow of the twinkling stars that gazed down from above. A certain memory struck her like lightning, a happy yet slightly fear striking memory. She had been at her master's den, and there was an exciting buzz in the air. Like a blow fly that refused to go away, however it was much more pleasant. She hadn't got much attention that day, but it didn't faze her much as she was merely overjoyed to see them bouncing around and mewling happily to each other. Especially the two kits who seemed to always be yowling at each other. Today they would gang up on the queen and high five when she relented before giving her a suffocating hug of joy. Fallen purred at the memory of this before the thought skipped to the stars, only they erupted from a twoleg box in the camp and sparkled in many different colours, squealing as they went. They seemed happy too. I wonder if I could see them from here? she asked herself, but her master's den seemed ever so far from the clan.

As the thought faded away, the moon and stars together illuminated a glistening tear as it crept out of her grasp and slipped away onto the soft ground below her. The cool night air served to relax her, though the purrs and snores that she could hear ever so faintly were almost suffocating to her. Is this really home now? Or is home still with my master? The young apprentice sucked in a breath and closed her eyes, letting it out once more as a heavy sigh. "Anything particular?" she responded, the thoughts weighing her down, the blue collar around her neck feeling suddenly tight. She took in a breath once more and allowed it to slip out slowly and quietly. "I suppose I have...I guess I just don't know where I belong anymore..." her voice was slightly monotone, with a hint of sadness, not giving anything away just yet. She refused to break down before her friend, or at least right now she did.

(Maybe we should pm permission and make a thread of them visiting her old den, one that continues directly off this thread)

[Dewpaw]

Dewpaw glanced at Fallenpaw again for a moment, then her eyes widened for a moment, and she immediately felt more concern upon seeing a tear shining a bit in the moonlight on the other one's face. She bowed her head a bit, feeling remorseful that the other apprentice was having some kind of emotional struggle, and it was worrying, and caused her to feel sympathy and concern. She purred a bit in amusement at how her question was used in the same way, though it was a short lived amusement. She stared at the ground, and the indentations of pawprints all around on the visible dirt on the ground, studying those for a moment listlessly. "I guess it's been hard to adjust. When I was getting older, I always felt a certain... restlessness, and I thought it would dissolve now, that I'm an apprentice, but... I don't know." She finished rather lamely, flicking her tail in slight frustration and puzzlement, directed towards herself primarily.

"It's just very unfamiliar, I guess. Change isn't so nice, as it is appealing." Dewpaw meowed a bit tiredly, trying to organize her thoughts, put order to the conflicting feelings, and puzzle out as to why it was wrong to feel this way. It was soothing to be with Fallenpaw, however, and she didn't feel so solitary and hopelessly broody. Her ears pricked with interest and she listened attentively as Fallenpaw spoke of what her dilemma was, though it certainly sounded more vexing and troubling. The apprentice's eyes widened for a moment, also feel a bit puzzled. "But... don't you feel like you belong here, in our Clan? We all belong here, in the dependent cycle. I mean... you had to come here for a reason, right, to live together, to have a proper Clan life?"

She stated, for everything in the process of living in the Clan seemed so simple to her, by instinct and a little information was she aware of how life was supposed to go in the Clan, and even though there was always a bit of independent instincts perhaps, she had never considered or wanted life outside the Clan, the comfort zone she could never leave. "I guess it's different though, since you have different roots." Dewpaw determined thoughtfully, and gently rested her tail against the other apprentice's shoulder comfortingly, feeling quite sympathetic of the struggle. "What's it like... where you were born?" She asked in a quiet tone, not quite considering that the other cat might not want to exactly share, but she was curious of it, though was trying to be thoughtful and considerate during the situation.

(Sure, that would be lovely! I would quite like to do this as well, if we attain permission, of course.)

[Fallenmist]

The young apprentice listens to her close friend's response, though it had rather been questioning her question really, not having been expecting an answer. However, she was willing to listen anyway. A nod was her first response to the words, she did understand the feeling of wanting something, more. "I do understand. I was always wanting to explore the world, see the clan's of which I heard many stories about. It all sounded so perfect." she blinked, not really sure what it was. "I do love it here. It's just, I miss home as well..." she she-cat sighed, not even sure which place she should refer to as 'home' anymore. She nodded agreeably with the the following comment. Appealing was right.

Fallen released a sigh and allowed her gaze to wander the deserted clearing, unsure as to what she was feeling, and why. At Dewpaw's next question she sighed. Did she feel like she belonged? Truly belonged? "I...I do! It's just..." she lashed her tail frustratedly and glared at the crowding shadows around them. She suddenly felt as though she were being attacked, or surrounded with no escape. Forcing herself to calm slightly, she took a breath and tried again. "Of course I know I belong. At least, sort of. I love it here and enjoy having all these cats here. It's just. Well, just..." her tail lashed again. "aargh!" her sheathed paw swatted out at the surrounding shadows before her and she leapt to her feet, something striking her thoughts like lightning. "I need to go!" she decided and ran toward the camp exit.

(If they say no, then Dew will stop her. If yes then Dew can follow. I'll ask a leader now)

Edit: We got permission. You are free to reply as you wish Dewpaw

[Dewpaw]

Dewpaw felt a bit assured as Fallenpaw spoke of how she knew how she felt in this situation. It was a comforting thought to have during such situations, and she nodded at the other one's words thoughtfully. It was an understandable urge to want to explore the world, and leave her home, but undoubtedly she missed it too, which was the root of the problem, and she guessed that home was quite a distance from their Clan, which was an unsettling and yet fascinating thought. As Fallenpaw continued speaking, the young cat noticed how the other one appeared to be becoming quite agitated, and she started to feel guilty about asking such questions. So much for trying to be sensitive, she probably had the tact of a rock, or worse. Dewpaw peered at the other one as she trailed off. "Just what?" She asked in a softer, more gentle tone, for she had some kind of idea that maybe helping Fallenpaw voice the answer to examine it and figure out a solution might be the best way to go about it. Dewpaw flinched, however, when the other cat leaped onto her paws, letting out some sort of frustrated exclamation, and then calling that she had to go. She felt quite distressed as her friend began to dash off, and also leapt to her paws with wide eyes, her tail flicking. "Fallenpaw, wait!" She cried out, and took a few dashing steps forward to pursue. She paused, however, examining the entrance that the other apprentice had dashed away out of. She had only went out on the territory once as an apprentice, and it felt unsettling to try to venture out completely alone like this, plus maybe the other one wanted to be alone, and wouldn't like her following.

She just saw her riend's pelt disappear into the darkness and shadows, however, and felt determination to follow the other cat, and try to help her somehow. She felt a bit responsible for upsetting Fallenpaw somehow, and it was her responsibility to try to help now, then, as a friend as well. So she too began to walk towards the entrance, her muscles bunched tight as she crouched a bit for a moment, and then began to dash out of the entrance, taking no more time to eye it nervously. Surely it was alright for an apprentice to go out on the territory now at this age.. and as long as she kept following Fallenpaw's scent trail, she would be able to track the other one alright. It would be a bit difficult, since she wasn't exactly good at differentiating all of the scents on the territory, and tracking, but fortunately the other cat's familiar scent was fairly easy to follow, and Dewpaw tried to do so at a quick pace. She only wondered now, where the other one could possibly going, and if it was to her home, then what would happen if it led out of the territory.

[Fallenmist]

(Would you like to make the other thread now and we just follow along of this one? I could start it if you do not wish to, either way is fine )