would you pinch a friend? [c]

With her apprentice ceremony having completed came with it new den-mates. Many new faces and names to learn, so many to remember and inevitably accidentally forget. She could only hope that she never came off as rude during any of those meetings or mishaps, as it was simply impossible to be able to keep track of them all! Waking up to the sun having finally disappeared past the horizon, her head rose--only to notice almost every other apprentice had already left the den. Unyielding embarrassment coated her cheeks in a hot fury, but a glance around gave her at least one ounce of solace: there was still another cat there.

An urge to greet them filled her small frame, but the process on just how to do that seemed entirely lost. Looking at the other cat with wide eyes, Hollowpaw stepped out of her nest and extended her paw...

Placing it square on the other apprentice's nose. She didn't say anything, or even unsheathe her claws at the gesture. Simply.... rested her paw there. In some sort of greeting.

Crabpaw had been snoozing peacefully, blissfully unaware of the fact that night had begun to fall, and most apprentices had been drawn from their nests. Such ignorant sleep meant the rhythmic rise and fall of his reddish flanks. The tail-less apprentice had become more splayed out as he melted into his nest. Paws stretched in every direction, over the side of his nest, and with his nose tipped upwards just on the edge of the ratty remains of what once had been a beautifully crafted bed.

It was the sensation of a delicately placed pad residing on his nose that caused the tom to suddenly blink awake. Despite being quickly roused, Crabpaw didn't move from his haphazard resting position. Instead of a strong reaction, he merely looked up at her with wide hazel eyes. A she-cat, the one that was new to their den. He tried and failed to recall her name. This was one of the moments that having an overactive and wandering mind did not serve him well. Instead of speaking, her smiled up at her with wide eyes as a purr rumbled in his chest.

This seemed like a friend.