Spring cleaning <3

[Swirlpaw]

(For Cloverstar , if you wish to post that is <3)
Swirlpaw was feeling rather unsure as she wavered hesitantly outside her leader's den. Her sightless eyes saw only darkness, yet she still appeared to be staring into the confines of the den as she stood, one paw raised. Her tail flickered uneasily, though she still felt the drive to enter. Perking her ears, she called out a greeting in a hesitant mew. When no reply came, she tested the air, taking in her leader's scent carefully. It was seemingly stale, giving her the assumption that the she-cat was not present. The sun was warm on her back, and so she wouldn't be surprised if the warrior had headed off hunting in order to clear her head.

Feeling slightly more confident with this thought, she twitched her ears and padded into the shady den. She had to use her nose to locate Cloverstar's nest. Not that it would have been that hard anyway. Tentatively, she rolled up the dirty bedding and carried it out of the den. She soon arrived with clean bedding and replaced it where she'd taken the original from. Once in place, she turned on the spot a few times until she'd created a suitable sleeping spot for the feline. She then trotted off to a trail she'd scented before. It wasn't long before she found some scattered feathers wedged in between some rocks. She purred in delight and carefully took them out, bounding back I order to line the nest she'd made. As she re-entered, she caught cat scent, and subconsciously dipped her head to them. As she breezed past, and began to line the nest, she realised her mistake. The cat she'd bowed her head to had been the leader. Swirlpaw glanced up awkwardly and shuffled out of Cloverstar's way, murmuring a hesitant greeting. If only she could have seen her. Yet alas this was not so.

[Cloverstar]

(Swirlpaw, you're technically powerplaying since your post implies Cloverstar isn't in the den at the start and then arrives later, but I'll let it slide for this thread.)

Tail waving behind her, Cloverstar padded back to camp with a mouse in her mouth and an ache in her paws. After staying out late last night, she figured it wouldn't hurt if she took a bit of a rest before going back to the territory. She paused to place the mouse atop the freshkill pile, unable to hold back a yawn as she headed back to her den. Hopefully, she'd be able to get some peace and quiet.

Or maybe not. She blinked in surprise when she came to a stop at the entrance. An apprentice was cleaning out her nest. Swirlpaw, wasn't it? She recognized her from the previous ceremony. She watched awkwardly for a moment, not sure how to announce her presence, since the she-cat was blind. It was when Swirlpaw bowed her head and then seemed to realize she was there that she spoke.

"Ah--hello, Swirlpaw." Cloverstar hoped she sounded friendly. "I'm sorry if I scared you. You can go back to your work, I won't bother you."

[Swirlpaw]

(Whoops. Was half asleep when I wrote that part, sorry...)

At the mention of scaring the blind apprentice, Swirlpaw glanced up indignantly, lashing her tail slightly. "I was not scared. I knew well you were there" she retorted sharply, getting carried away with herself. She was so used to cats thinking she was useless, or didn't know they were there. She hated it! Suddenly her ears fell back in shame and she shook her head, forcing her tense muscles to relax. "I'm sorry for snapping. You have fair point in your concern. And I do not doubt you serve no bother" she murmured gently, bowing her head ashamedly at her previous rudeness and shuffling her paws almost anxiously. Her leader deserved better than sharp tongued responses from jumpy apprentices' who served little contribution. Especially after the warrior had just hunted for her clan a top of everything else. Shaking her head again, she muttered under her breath before returning to the nest and busying herself with finishing it off.

Her mind buzzed with doubts as she went about her self inflicted task. Occasionally she'd lift her head, as though casting a glance at her leader, despite her inability to do so. Unfortunately, she realized that making Cloverstar 's nest for her served little escape from the stare on her back. Without turning to face the warrior, she lifted her head and twitched her ears toward the penetrating stare. "I sense you watching me, is it that you wait for my leave?" she questioned, twitching her whiskers as she turned to face her leader, satisfied the nest was to the best of her ability. She moved out of Cloverstar's way, knowing full well it would be very rude to shove past her.

[Cloverstar]

(wow this is late af)

Cloverstar couldn't say she was surprised by the response, although the quick apology did take her a little off-guard. It was sometimes disconcerting to remember what effect her status had on others--intimidating when she saw herself as anything but.

She wasn't sure of what exactly to say, at least without sounding odd in her mind. It was when Swirlpaw spoke again that she replied.

The tabby flicked her ears. "It's fine," she answered a little more lightly. "If you're done, take your leave. You can take your time."

She paused. "I was planning on going back out later, a little farther," she added. "Would you like to join me then? "

[Swirlpaw]

Swirlpaw noticed her leader seemed more surprised than the apology that the apprentice's original response. This caused her to sympathise for the she-cat. She knew well it was only the tabby's position that made her seem so intimidating. Swirlpaw had to admit, she did feel nervous in her presence, but she was feeling less so than before as they spoke to one another, despite their lack of dialogue.

As the silence dragged on like a claw, the apprentice wondered briefly if she ought to speak again. She considered an apology, but she knew it would resort to the same wordless surprise in reaction. And there wasn't much else she could say -or do for that matter- that wouldn't seem odd, or out of place. Fortunately, Cloverstar seemed to have found some words in response to her follow up comment after all.

"Yes. I believe I have done as best as I can here" she decided, bowing her head slightly to Cloverstar's before moving forward slightly to slide past her. She didn't know why she'd been so worried about 'shoving' past her. The path was certainly wider than it had first seemed. She was about to exit the den and head out into the clearing when Cloverstar's addressed her again. The apprentice twisted back round to face her and offered a gentle smile."Of course." she responded, her tone softer now, but still respectful. "Thank you" she purred, though she wasn't really sure what for.

(Do we make another thread then? Remembered to tag this time, don't worry about late replies)

[Cloverstar]

(I'll make the new thread.)

Cloverstar found herself smiling a little, even though she knew Swirlpaw couldn't see it. She had to remind herself sometimes it wasn't as hard to socialize as she thought it was. Maybe she was just too self-conscious, or maybe it was simply easier to focus less on that and more on who in general she was talking to. But maybe that kind of thing didn't change--she'd been even jumpier, if anything, when she was Swirlpaw's age herself.

But that'd been a long time ago, and the circumstances had been far different. Remembering it only brought up certain other memories, some of which were too painful to contemplate. She thought briefly of Harley, but she pushed the thought away as quickly as it'd come. Not now.

"Alright, see you then," she answered, hoping she still sounded cheerful. She fought back a loud yawn at the end of it, although some of it escaped. With that, she took a few steps forward and, with a thump, flopped into her nest to nap.

[Swirlpaw]

Swirlpaw blinks slowly, curiosity dragging at her almost as much as the pause did. However, she shook it offered and smiled again before bowing her head and bounding away, heading for the apprentice's den to see if she could find someone to talk to in the meantime. Yet she soon found herself flopping, almost pathetically, I to her nest for a bit of a nap, closing her eyes with a sigh.

(Bye thread! And yes, can't wait for the new one <3)