kindred spirits // p

[Ashfall]

Beechroot

It was just after dawn when Ashpaw had decided to go out and practice his hunting. Well- more like practice his stalking. He'd had poor luck so far in terms of actually finding prey to practice on, but he thought that was a good thing. Better to get the stance right now, then wrong on a piece of valuable prey later. Besides...it was a good distraction from all the drama. And he was out of practice.

He managed to successfully pounce on a leaf about twenty-something times when he decided to take a break. It was halfway through that break when he realized that he wasn't quite alone- somebody was approaching. 

"Morning!" he greeted cheerfully, despite all the reasons he probably shouldn't have been able to. He tipped his head to the side. "What're you doing out so early? I didn't think many other cats liked to be out here at this time unless they were on patrol."

[Beechroot]

Beechroot emerged from the bushes. He dipped his head to the apprentice. "Good morning." He shook his head at the younger cat's comment. "Crystalbird didn't need me this morning, but I always wake up early just in case." He thought about the troubles the deputy was having with the rebels and frowned.

Beechroot shrugged and blinked down at the apprentice. "I just thought it was peculiar that an apprentice would want to start their day so early. My own is currently sleeping." He cleared his throat and looked off to the side. "It's fine that you're alone. I just wanted to make sure you didn't run into any trouble."

[Ashfall]

"Does she...usually need you?" Ashpaw asked, before he could stop himself. He was genuinely curious- what could the deputy want with a warrior so often? It might have been an insenstive question, though. Probably had something to do with all the rebel stuff going on. "Ah- nevermind. You don't really need to answer that. I was just wondering."

"I've always liked the morning!" Ashpaw meowed happily. "It's quiet, and not too hot out. And the sun is kind of pretty at dawn, too, so..." He shrugged, then tipped his head to the side, confused. "Trouble? What kind of-" He realized a moment too late what Beechroot was referring to. "Oh. Right. I- I don't really think I need to worry too much. I'm not exactly..." He struggled to think of the right word. "...as...public...as most of the others." He was quiet for a moment.

"Are they...really hurting other cats?" he asked, uncertainly. He'd heard rumors, but he didn't want to believe them.

[Beechroot]

Beechroot shook his head. "Not..usually. I just prefer patrols over hunting." He didn't mind answering all of Ashpaw's questions. Beechroot was one of the loyalists, and he wondered if Crystalbird was picking loyalists over neutral cats to preform clan duties.

When Ashpaw started to suggest at the rebels, Beechroot sighed. "Yes, unfortunately, they are hurting other Treeclan cats. They are blinded by their passion." He just stared at Ashpaw, trying to figure something out. "Two is a good number. Their group is small. We are safe as long as we stay together."

[Ashfall]

Ashpaw's ears lowered a little bit when Beechroot told him that they were attacking other clanmates. "Things are pretty bad, aren't they?" he said, quietly. They must have been, if the rebels were ambushing their own clanmates. Maybe he had known that- he just hadn't wanted to believe it. There wasn't really any way for him to ignore it, now. He just wanted to help end it all. What could he do, though? He was an apprentice.

"I guess I'll just stick with you for now, then, if that's all right," Ashpaw nodded. "I'm Ashpaw, by the way!"

[Beechroot]

Beechroot preferred to not talk about how fierce and ignorant his clan-mates were being. He was hoping it would end soon. "I'm Beechroot." He smiled down at the younger cat, enjoying his enthusiasm. He finally realized what was going on. "Your mother is Sorrelpatch, correct?" He paused for a moment, thinking about how he had no litter-mates. "She is my mother as well. Which would make us...brothers."

[Ashfall]

After hearing his name, Ashpaw quickly made the connection between Beechroot and one of the warriors who had spoken up at the meeting. He couldn't help but feel like he was forgetting something else about him that he should have remembered though, until Beechroot brought it up. Brothers! Somehow, even with so many siblings, Ashpaw often forgot he had any. "I guess we are!" Ashpaw said, visibly brightening a bit. It was a nice thought. "I hadn't really thought about it too much before. It's nice to meet you."