Without the Stars {p--Spark}

[Aloepaw/Andri]

He was having a terrible week.

First, Amberflash abandoned him out in the middle of the territory. During a snow storm no less. Second, Willowpaw tore him apart in a fight, which he almost died from. It wasn't his fault Amberflash wouldn't give him any battle training, so Aloepaw could actually defend himself. In his family, a pair of claws was the only way to survive. Aloepaw was going to get himself killed.

He had so many scars from his scuffle with his sister. His whole body ached. And every night, now he worried about either Amberflash jabbing the air out of his lungs, or Willowpaw and Brightpaw suffocating him with moss.

...Tch. His head hurt. And he suddenly wasn't hungry. With a groan, Aloepaw pushed the rabbit towards a nearby nest, not even a single bite in his former dinner. "Here. Eat this for me." he grumbled, only giving Sparkpaw a glance, before he winced from his head pains and turned away. "...If you don't want it, give it to someone else."

[Sparkpaw]

Sparkpaw was still jittery from his first day of being an apprentice. He knew he should be getting some sleep since he had training the next day, but it was taking too much effort to keep his eyes closed. The orange tom was just about to slip out of his nest and try and sneak out of camp for a run when someone pushed a rabbit in front of his muzzle. Huh? Blinking, he turned to the other tom, his yellow eyes immediately widening as he spotted the scars and wounds he bore. "Woah, what happened to you?" he mewed, tipping an ear to the side and sitting up in his nest. I didn't hear about FireClan getting into a battle? Maybe it was a fox? Or a rouge? Leaning over, Sparkpaw took a curious sniff at one of the wounds worryingly, "have you seen a medicine cat about these?"

[Aloepaw/Andri]

At the stranger apprentice's question, Aloepaw gave him a glare. He just wanted to get rid of his rabbit, not start up a conversation. "Mind your own business." he snapped, feeling a flash of aggression in his veins for a split moment. He raised an unsheathed paw threateningly. "Got it?"

Except at the apprentice's next question, Aloepaw seemed to pause. He had already considered going to Grayshade and Honeyfur. But since the wounds were inflicted by a family member, and a Clanmate at that, Aloepaw figured he better not. If they got infected, oh well. Then he'd actually have more of an advantage in exiling Willowpaw.

"No. But they won't kill me." he grunted. 'Doesn't mean they won't hurt....' He eyed the stranger now. "Shouldn't you be asleep, like everyone else?"

[Sparkpaw]

Sparkpaw didn't flinch at the other apprentice's unsheathed paws, instead he leaned forward, all the more intent on figuring out what had happened to him. "Oh no, mister. You're not getting ride of me that easily," he stuck his tongue out and then smiled, "you're my clanmate, if someone, or something, attacked your that is my business!" Or at least I'm making it my business, he thought, knowing guiltily that he was a little more driven by curiosity than actual clan loyalty.

The orange tom tried to hide his shock at the fact that the other apprentice hadn't even seen a medicine cat yet. "Really? How about when infection starts to set in? If you don't get those wounds treated theres like, you know, a bazzilion percent chance of that happening. And it's just a oneway pass to CloudClan from there," he tipped his head to the side, then glanced down at the rabbit. Good rabbit, looks fresh enough. I wonder why he gave it away? If he's not eating either then he should definitely see a medicine cat... although Sparkpaw was being a bit pushy there was a part of him that was genuinely worried for his clanmate.

[Aloepaw/Andri]

Aloepaw's eyes narrowed dangerously as Sparkpaw continued to pry. He leaned closer, teeth appearing in a threatening way. "And what if I attack you?" he warned darkly, half feeling up to her. With his defeat from Willowpaw, and added fire for revenge, ripping this younger apprentice to shreds was rather tempting to Aloepaw. And he had been training himself since his loss. They were probably at the same battle level.

"Would you just mind your own business, mouse-brain!" Aloepaw snapped. "I don't care if they get infected! I'd like them to, then I can actually get that brat exiled!"

He scowled at Sparkpaw. "Plus, stop pretending like you care. You don't even know me, pipsqueak."

[Sparkpaw]

"That would be stupid," Sparkpaw mewed bluntly, "but go ahead if you want, it's not like I'm gonna fight back." He studied the other apprentice carefully, wondering if he'd actually attack--and what Oceanstar would think if he saw that Sparkpaw had gotten into a fight during his first night as an apprentice. I'm sure he'd understand, he decided, making sure to brace himself a bit incase the tabby actually decided to attack. 

Sparkpaw ignored the park about "minding his own business" and focused more on the "that brat" bit. "Brat? So it was another cat that attacked you? Which clan were they from?" The fur on the back of his neck pricked and his eyes narrowed. How dare any other clan try to attack a FireClan cat! Although he hoped it wasn't an IceClanner, he'd hate for their to be bad-blood between FireClan and Batpaw's home clan. 

"Well duh I don't know you, that's the whole point of talking to you--so that I get to!" he grinned mischievously, "and you know what, I've decided something! Me and you, pal, we're gonna be the best. of. friends." 

[Aloepaw/Andri]

Aloepaw rolled his eyes, sheathing his claws. "You're no fun, then, pipsqueak." he hissed. Like Aloepaw was going to get in trouble for a one-sided fight. That wouldn't be very smart to do, especially since his warrior name should be received soon.

The tomcat sighed deeply in annoyance. CloudClan, this cat was annoying. He should have never offered him that rabbit. Aloepaw should have just thrown it out or something. Was there anyway he could end the conversation without having Sparkpaw still interested in who attacked him? "They weren't from another Clan, the brat lives here." Then, his eyes gleamed maliciously at the younger apprentice, and he leaned closer. "They sleep in this very den, too. Right beside you, maybe. You probably pass them every day. They'll probably attack you someday soon, tear you apart like they did to me. Leave you for the crows...." Hopefully Sparkpaw was scared now.

His expression became incredibly bored at Sparkpaw's orders. Seriously? His best friend? Tch, this tomcat was not anywhere near his type of friend. "You want to be my best friend? Are you kidding me?" Aloepaw sniffed, tail lashing frustration. "...You can only be my friend if you do the same things I do." he purred now, wondering how much of a rebel he could turn Sparkpaw into. "Prank cats, like to fight, stuff like that. Maybe if you do what I say, like my little servant, I'll someday let you in on the secret of who attacked me."

[Sparkpaw]

"Wha--hey! I'm totally fun!" Sparkpaw puffed up his chest, "I'm am the funnest of the fun! The Leader of FunClan! I just don't see the point of getting into a fight with you. I mean, you're my clanmate, and you're already injured. Plus I don't really have any battle training, I mean, it is my first day as an apprentice... either way it wouldn't be a fair fight," he pouted a bit and then smirked softly, yellow eyes gleaming, "if I'm gonna fight you it's gotta be on equal terms!" 

Sparkpaw fluffed up when the other tom told him that the attacker was from their own clan. He couldn't fathom ever attacking his own clanmate! They sleep here..? So... they're another apprentice? He was tempted to look around at the nearby nests, but knew that doing so would give Aloepaw the satisfaction of knowing that he had gotten to him, if just a little bit. "Pfft, like anybody'd harm me," he mewed, forcing a nonchalant tone, needing a moment to gain back his usual confidence, "my face is too pretty to mess up," he grinned goofily, putting on a "pouty face" and blinking rapidly in Aloepaw's direction before bursting out into a fit of giggling. Yeah! Who would dare hurt me! he stifled his laughter, knowing that even if he got attacked his mentor, Oceanstar, would make sure his attacker was brought to justice. Or, at least, he'd like to think Oceanstar would do that for him. He had a lot of admiration for the older tom.

"Nope! You! Me! Best! Friends!" Sparkpaw mewed , then flinched, realizing that there were sleeping cats around him. Oops. The orange apprentice listened to Aloepaw's terms of friendship. I'm not too sure about the whole "servant" bit but... the tom narrowed his eyes, smirking excitedly, "sure, I'm up for a challenge."

[Aloepaw/Andri]

Aloepaw stared at Sparkpaw in an extremely bored way. Oh jeez, he had met the comedy relief. Greeat. With a deep sigh, the apprentice steeled his anger, willing himself not to blow up on the freaky tomcat. "You're a weirdo. What are you, two moons old? Talking about FunClan and fox-dung like that?" Aloepaw sneered. "And fighting isn't about being on equal terms. What, think you're gonna run out into the battlefield and ask around who is equal to you in stength? Pfft, some cat is going to cut your throat if you try to pull some equal strength rules during a confrontation."

His eyes widened a bit in anger. "I want to harm you!" he hissed, with an frustrated roll of his eyes. Aloepaw barred his fangs at Sparkpaw now. "Stop acting like an idiot! Do you see any strong warriors makin dumb jokes and faces like that? If you ever want to be a warrior, you should grow up already."

Bur finally, his eyes gleamed as Sparkpaw agreed. His anger dissipated, and Aloepaw gave a mocking smirk. "Fine. We can be best friends, as long as you promise you're loyalty to me, and only me. The terms go for me as well. We get equal benefits, since you're so stuck on fairness." he teased, flicking his tail at Sparkpaw's shoulder. "You fight for me, I fight for you. Sound simple enough?"

[Sparkpaw]

"Well someones clearly not a warrior of FunClan," Sparkpaw mumbled under his breath, pouting slightly. His ears flattened a little at Aloepaw's words. "In a battle you fight 'cause you have too--it's beat or be beaten. I may have never fighted--um, faught? anyone before, but I know that theres a different kind of strength that comes to you when you're life's threatened," he glanced to the side, not really liking being all serious, "but this isn't a battle, at least it doesn't need to be, 'cause there's no need to fight."

The fur on the back of Sparkpaw's neck pricked at the tom's tone. "Well I haven't seen many strong warriors that are all that happy with their lives," Sparkapw grumbled. Maybe Oceanstar, now that he thought about it. "Besides, I can be serious when I want to be," he huffed, "it's just not all that fun. And it's not like being serious is gonna magically make me an adult. Times doesn't work like that," he groaned and flopped onto his back. Serious talk was a pain. 

Sparkpaw rolled to his side and looked up at the other apprentice. "Alright!" he mewed, beaming, too excited to give the promise much thought. He didn't really realize the extent and consequences of commitment he'd made. He was just happy that Aloepaw had agreed to be his friend. Oooh we should make one of the fancy blood-pacts! Like they do in the stories!

[Aloepaw/Andri]

Aloepaw sneered, "Clearly."

He didn't say anything towards Sparkpaw's talk about battle. Obviously the apprentice had never been in one himself, but neither had Aloepaw. They both just figured and heard from others what it was like. Tch, Aloepaw wished FireClan was at war with someone... everything was too peaceful.

The brown-and-black tabby rolled his eyes. "Being serious makes cats respect you. Respect earns you power and followers. If you're always acting like a mouse-brain, or just most of the time, no one is going to depend on you for the serious stuff." he growled.

At Sparkpaw's happiness, the tomcat's smile faltered a bit when he realized... just how much work this apprentice needed. Aloepaw didn't want to be caught dead with such a fool at his side. Not until Sparkpaw was no longer a fool anymore. And that would take time and effort. "Yeah, yeah... whatever. You should really not act like a child, though. At least not around me." That's a start.

[Sparkpaw]

"Cats depend on me!" Sparkpaw mewed, puffing up a bit, "Mothkit, Palekit, Rosekit, Ivykit, Blank-kit, Cascadekit..." the orange tom listed off the names of his baby sisters. He didn't know if it was "cheating" to count family, but he knew for sure--or at least he thought he knew for sure--that the little kittens looked up to him, and that he would always be there to stick up for them. He thought of naming a few of his friends as well, like Firepaw and Batpaw, but he wasn't too close with them, and he didn't know how much they actually relied on him. "And you can depend on me too, y'know," he didn't know if Aloepaw actually would. The little apprentice grinned, "that's what besties are for, right?"

The orange tom pouted, "well, technically everything I do is acting like a child since I am a child," he puffed his cheeks, "but I get what you mean. No more silly Sparkpaw! Serious Sparkpaw activate!"