keeping up (o)

[Deleted]

Forestpaw was sitting in patch of shade, ripping through a gray squirrel. It was nearing the end of the day, so the camp was pretty full. 'I wish I could catch something like this.' He thought, swiping a tongue over his muzzle. 'But I'd rather learn on my own than from Hornetstripe. She's such a pain.' He grumbled at the thought, taking a few glances around to make sure she wasn't nearby.

Soon the squirrel was reduced to just a few bones and scraps. He pushed it to the side and straightened up, beginning to groom his chest fur. With his head down, he didn't notice when a cat approached him.

[Harepaw]

"hey, uh, you missed a spot," harepaw pointed out as politely as he could, paw outstretched to gesture towards the fresh splatter of blood on the other male's chin. "sorry if i'm intruding on you," he quickly added with a shy smile. "it's been a while since i've, erm, since i've really talked to anyone outside of saying hello." the spotted apprentice ducked his head down, trying to keep his spindly form as much as possible. he was the farthest descriptor of scary, but harepaw wasn't taking any chances. he wanted someone to talk to.

[Deleted]

"Hey, uh, you missed a spot." Forestpaw leaned back, narrowing his eyes when a paw was outstretched toward his face. He turned away, quickly licking a paw and wiping it over his chin. He shook out his head fur, glancing back when Harepaw kept talking. "Yeah, I can tell." 'What a way to start a conversation. I bet he has no friends.' He couldn't imagine going up to someone and pointing out a stain on their fur. It was just so impolite. Forestpaw sighed, starting to groom his chest fur again as he waited for a response.

[Harepaw]

harepaw flinched a little at the apprentice's flat tone, but he found it in himself to laugh a little breathlessly. "sorry," he apologized again. "i guess my.. social skills are a little rusty. well, more than i thought they were." the spotted cat's yellow-green eyes flicked away from forestpaw, down to his paws then up towards the sky. "i'm.. uh, i'm harepaw, one of the oldest apprentices currently. i've been held back a lot." why he decided to throw out information so carelessly, harepaw didn't know. maybe he just wanted forestpaw to like him. for anyone, really; harepaw found himself so isolated and alone, it was hard to go back to that again.