Alone All the Way -p-

[Hickorypaw]

Sparkpaw

Hickorypaw was finally an apprentice and she wasn't sure how to feel about it, which was odd for her. Even as a kit she had been oddly confident in herself and those around her. A 'natural leader' her father had called her, but that seemed like an awful lot of pressure and she wasn't so sure. The dark tabby was busy standing on her hind-legs, leaning against the nursery. She'd noticed the day before that there was a small hole forming and wanted to fill it before too much wind or rain could get in.

She had a mouthful of moss and was struggling slightly to get it into the hole. When Hickorypaw noticed someone padding by she signaled then with her tail and spat out the moss. "Could you help me with this, please?"

[Sparkpaw]

Sparkpaw snapped his head to the side as someone addressed him. He tipped his head to the side, taking a second to assess her situation before vigorously nodding. "Of course!" he mewed brightly, taking the piece of moss and standing on his hind legs so he could fill in the gap. He was short, shorter than most cats his age, but he was still able to reach the gap with relative ease.

The orange tom smiled warmly once he had finished the task, not having anything else to do and yearning for some company. "I'm Sparkpaw--you look a little familiar, are you one of the new apprentices?" he flicked his tail towards the hole, "it was awfully nice of you to get that hole fixed, by the way. I knew that there was a draft in the den! Firepaw had called me crazy for it, but I'm sure it's just because she was sleeping on the other side of me and I was blocking her from the cold," he rolled his eyes in a playful manner.

[Hickorypaw]

Hickorypaw purred with relief as another apprentice heralded her plea for assistance. She dropped back onto her paws, hind legs aching from holding the position for so long. She watched Sparkpaw fix the remainder of the hole with relative ease quietly. When he finished she flashed him a grateful smile.

"I know you," she purred. "You're my father's apprentice." She'd made a point to notice Sparkpaw, wondering what it was Oceanstar had seen in the tom to mentor him himself. Her ears twitched bashfully at his praise and she ducked her head, accepting it humbly. Taking compliments had never been a strong suit for the aloof tabby. "I didn't have much else to do. I noticed the hole yesterday and thought it'd be awfully uncomfortably to sleep with. I was half afraid I'd just make it worse." She laughed and gaze the hole a scrutinizing glance. "Lucky you were here to help."

Realizing that she had yet to introduce herself Hickorypaw nodded, tail waving. "Yes, I'm one of the new apprentices. Hickorypaw is my name. Thank you for your help again, Sparkpaw."

[Sparkpaw]

Sparkpaw's eyes widened in surprise. "You're one of Oceanstar's kits?" he mewed. Now that he got a better look at the she-cat he could see that she shared her father's eyes, he was surprised that he hadn't noticed it sooner. "I heard he had a some kits recently, but I didn't realized they were already apprentices!" he grinned, "I meant to pay you guys a visit when you were still in the nursery--guess it's a little late for that, huh? Gosh, I feel old," he stuck out his tongue playfully, thinking it a little funny that there were cats that had gone through their entire kithood during the span of his apprenticeship.

"Hickorypaw? That's a nice name. It's a pleasure to meet you as well," he smiled in a relaxed manner, one of his ears quirking questioningly to the side, "are the other new apprentice's all your siblings?" He wondering if family was a sore subject for her; it hadn't seemed so, but he was beginning to find out that a lot of cats in his clan had family issues. 

[Hickorypaw]

Hickorypaw raised her chin slightly at Sparkpaw's surprise, unable to help feeling a little proud. The fact that her father was the leader didn't make anything special she knew, but she still enjoyed being recognized. If she wanted her own respect though she'd have to earn it. "I am." She confirmed. "He and Fawnskip are my parents. My siblings and I were all made apprentices yesterday." The fact that Sparkpaw had been intending to visit was warming. She wished he would have, she could have had another friend and it would have been great. "If you're old, I'm a goat," she retorted with a giggle.

Sparkpaw seemed to have a lot of energy, his name fit him well. He was kind too which was nice. "They are! Swiftpaw, Plumpaw, Kitepaw and Pipitpaw," she recited with a nod. "It's sad I wont get to share a nest with Plumpaw, but she seems happy." Being chosen as the medicine cat apprentice was such a big deal and Hickorypaw was so happy for her sister, but she couldn't help missing her. "Is there anything I can help you with Sparkpaw? You helped me after all, I have to return the favor."