mayday, fire! - p

[Thistlepaw]

(Private for Firecall)


Thistlepaw shifted uncomfortably in his nest, hanging on tightly to sleep. He shut his eyes firmly, curling up in a comfortable sleeping position. Bright sunlight still filtered through his eyelids, persistently. With a groan of annoyance, he pried open and eyelid and glared at the entrance of the den. It appeared to be nearly the time of day when the sun was at it's highest, and bakes the earth with it's bright warmth, especially during the warm time of year. Thistlepaw sighed, opening his other eyelid and rolling onto his stomach.


That was what happened when you have nothing to do, he supposed. Without his usual training, he stayed up late at night, pondering and inevitably worriying, and slept the rest of the day. It was the stressful preparation for his assessment, no doubt, that had been ruining everything since Flamewhisper's late training session.


Thistlepaw shifted his rear end, crouching in the worn-out moss of his nest. When he looked around, he only saw other cat in the den, his gaze passed over the cat quickly as he scanned the den. The tom payed no attention as he stood up, crunching loudly across the many unused nests in the apprentices' den. 

[Firecall]

Firepaw hadn't been able to sleep after seeing his father. The large russet tabby's fur prickled as he heard a crunch behind him. His moss green eyes flashed open in surprized.

[Thistlepaw]

Thistlepaw turned, surprising quickly for how tired his paws felt, and sore from all the growing he done lately. His pale eyes met soft green ones, stretched wide enough he could see the color from the other side of the den. A russet colored apprentice stared at him, looking startled from the looks of it. 


Thistlepaw groaned silently to himself, cursing his luck. He had hoped not to talk to any cat today, feeling grumpy from sleep, or lack thereof, and the constant stress he had been feeling lately. It was even hard for him to face the fact that he was a grown cat now, still youthful, but he wasn't an apprentice in education anymore. Thistlepaw had learned all he could be taught, but it didn't seem like enough to him. He had always had a sharp memory, but now it was failing him. 


Snapped out of his thoughts, he breathed an unhappy sigh. I suppose I have to apologize for waking the poor cat up now. Thistlepaw ducked his head and spoke quietly. "Sorry, for, erm, waking you up and all. Do excuse me." He frowned down at the moss.

[Firecall]

"oh pardon me, you have nothing to apologize for, I was awake already" he said dipping his head in respect before glancing upwards yet again. Getting a better view silhouetted by the moonlight firepaw was able to properly see the tom in front of him. And he was actually quite cute.

[Thistlepaw]

Thistlepaw breathed a silent sigh of relief. Maybe he wouldn't have to talk after all, as it seemed that the cat hadn't been too bothered. However, he felt inclined to talk, it felt like a relief from his silence. Was he really that lonely? It was an odd feeling for him, he knew he had never been in desperate need of company since he was a bored kitten. Thistlepaw decided it was likely the stress getting to his head, nothing more. Everything that had once been for him had seemed to pass after all.


Thistlepaw cleared his throat, searching for words. They seemed to come out quicker than he had expected, and he felt taken aback by his own actions. "Say, since you're awake, want to share breakfast together?" He felt his insides churn a little and felt a little less hungry than he had before.

[Firecall]

"why thank you very kindly!" Firepaw purred carefully padding over to the other tom with a smile. He was a very nice guy.

[Thistlepaw]

Thistlepaw was extremely relieved, once again. What would he ever have done, if he had been declined? It wouldn't be surprising, since he had woken him up with his his clumsiness and proceeded to asking him to do something he would deem uncomfortable.

Thankfully, the apprentice seemed quite nice. Perhaps his luck wasn't too terrible, after all. He did seem to have gotten better at talking. Was that a good thing? Thistlepaw never particularly liked being alone, but that was it was, and he didn't think at the time it could be changed. No hard feelings, it was simple. He had never thought that he might have been a happier cat, had he braved speaking to cats more comfortably. 

It was hard to tell whether this was better, or worse than it had been before. Either way, this morning had changed Thistlepaw more than he had expected. He hadn't even left the apprentice's den yet, or faced a real conversation. It didn't scare him anymore, he knew he could do it.


"Oh, don't thank me. I'm a bit of a loner, honestly. It's a nice day, however and I've had a change of heart." The words felt odd on Thistlepaw's tongue. The lightheartedness of the way they sounded, spilling out of mouth completely instinctively.

[Firecall]

"well that's good to hear" firepaw purred

[Thistlepaw]

Thistlepaw could hardly believe it. What had happened to him? He could have never imagined putting his thoughts in words, verbal words, that actually came out of his mouth. It felt so natural. To his own disbelief, he actually felt better.


"Thanks." He couldn't suppress a smile of delight, as he picked his way out of the den. Thistlepaw glanced over his shoulder at the russet tom from the entrance-way. "Coming?" He called, still smiling brightly. He wondered if he looked like a mouse brain, and probably did. 

[Firecall]

"on my way " he laughed trying to step over his den mates until he reached thistepaw

[Thistlepaw]

Thistlepaw giggled, letting it spill out of his mouth. It still didn't feel quite right, but it brought a warm, light feeling to his heart and he appreciated it in his own way. He realized that it was more than his instincts that were controlling him now, it was him. This really was himself, unleashed. 


He felt a swell of gratitude towards the russet tom, the one who's name he didn't even know. If he hadn't been there, Thistlepaw may have never been able to get over his stress. It was still there, he was aware, but with the company it served as a positive distraction


Thistlepaw slipped out of the den, welcoming the sunshine that dappled the fur on his back. It felt warm, and comforting that particular day. He took a moment to pause and give his limbs a good stretch, as well as his sore back and neck. Once he felt a little better, he turned back to the fresh-kill pile that sat restocked in the center of the familiar FireClan camp. He was thankful for the early patrols, perhaps the ones he would someday be on. It wasn't a bad feeling. Thistlepaw knew he should give back to his Clan, even if it was hard.


He felt a little guilty, but it was no matter. Thistlepaw wasn't procrastinating what would come, rather setting aside for a time when he would be able to serve his Clan to the utmost, as a warrior. 


Thistlepaw recalled the prey he had invited the apprentice to share, and turned to the russet tom. "Excuse me. Let's eat, then." He tilted his head, offering to the russet tom. It felt natural. A task indeed, but one he welcomed. 

[Firecall]

firepaw nodded picking up a mouse "i believe we haven't been properly introduced" he said "i'm fire paw"

[Thistlepaw]

Thistlepaw nodded, politely. "Good to, meet you, Firepaw." He meowed, while selecting a vole from the pile. He decided he'd rather not waste, as he wasn't very hungry.


Probably just the stress, getting to him, although he thought he had heard from somewhere that as young cats grew they gained appetite, in order to grow stronger. He shrugged it off, deciding he probably was done growing. He felt too big already, and compared to some toms in his Clan, he was still scrawny.


As he took a dainty bite from the vote, he remembered it was required he introduce himself as well. Thistlepaw cleared his throat awkwardly, forcing down his half-chewed piece of vole. "My name's Thistlepaw." He sounded scratchy when he spoke, not yet recovering from the vole. His cheeks reddened.

[Firecall]

Taking small bites firepaw nodded "what a nice name"

[Thistlepaw]

Thistlepaw felt himself swell with pride at the apprentice's compliment. He had always thought his name to be unfitting, a name for a bold, powerful warrior, quite the opposite of himself. Though he had never met any such "Thistle's", he knew that they were sharp and painful as tearing, slashing claws. Quite the opposite of me. 

"Oh, thank you! So is yours..." He paused, thoughtfully. "Firepaw is a very brave name." Thistlepaw had never seen fire, but he knew it was an uncontrollable substance, a very powerful one.