Wakey, Wakey

In the dead of night, when the stars were shining, the cat who would likely have the hardest time sneaking decided to try. Despite her bright fur, Cloudykit sneaked into the Apprentices' Den and made her way to one of two very familiar cats. "Shadowpaw?" she whispered, lightly prodding the apprentice. "Shadowpaw, are you busy tomorrow? I wanna talk to you. Right now. Pleeeaaase?"

Shadowpaw slowly got up and looked at the apprentice. "I don't think so... Let's talk outside-- I don't think we want to wake up other cats." She stood up and stretched.

"Thanks, Shadowpaw," she whispered. Cloudykit bounded out, careful not to jump on other cats. She sat outside and sat, looking at her paws. "I just wanted to ask you a few questions," she said softly.

Shadowpaw followed Cloudykit out of the den. She sat on the opposite side of her friend. "Okay."

Cloudypaw let out a deep breath, then looked at Shadowpaw. "Are all those things true? Will I never fit in here and never do well?" she asked.

"What?! Are you kidding me? I think you have a lot of potential in fitting in here and doing well! You probably have more potential than some other cats here." Shadowpaw responded in her powerful tone. "Don't mind what the other idiots say, as long as you believe in yourself, you will do just fine."

"And...will Bearmask believe in me?" Cloudykit asked. "I mean... Badgerkit was right, she's not my mom. I've never had a mom, and she's all I've got. She doesn't have a tom hanging around like the other queens, so can I call her my mother?"

"You can call her mom if your heart tells you so. A good mother is a mother who will be there for you no matter what-- remember that," Shadowpaw responded to the kit calmly.

Cloudykit sat and pondered over the answer for a few moments, then looked up at Shadowpaw with more enthusiasm and cheer. "And you believe in me, right? Because you're my friend?"

"I believe in you because I think you have great potential," Shadowpaw replied and slowly blinked her olive-green eyes.

"But you're my friend, too, right?" Cloudykit asked, blinking her own bright yellow eyes. "Please be my friend! All I have is Bearmask right now..."

"Yes, of course I'm your friend." Shadowpaw responded with a purr. She reached over and licked her friend's ear in affection.

Cloudykit purred furiously for a few moments and rubbed her head against Shadowpaw's leg. She then backed up and looked the apprentice in the eye. "Do you know if Bearmask is doing anything tomorrow? I should tell her, too!"

"I don't know to be honest," Shadowpaw responded in a calm manner. She looked down at Cloudykit.

"Should I let her sleep, then, and tell her in the morning?" Cloudykit asked. "I just don't want to keep you up too long in case something comes up."