Meeting the world [semi-open]

OOC: I'm open to the idea of others joining Wrenpaw and Mosspaw (once Moss posts). However, pm me first before jumping in. I want this to be a chill topic with apprentices just hanging out and talking. Not getting into issues of boundaries besides just acknowledging it.

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For the first time since she became an apprentice, Wrenpaw had a day off training. She decided she wanted to wander around the territory by herself. She had always wanted to see more of the Thunderclan area as a kit, but of course she never would have disobeyed and left camp. Wren wanted to become a warrior as soon as was appropriate. She believed in doing the noble thing, and becoming an honorable warrior once she had the chance. And she wouldn't do anything to ruin that.

But all her thoughts of what was to come aside, she was still just a young apprentice and she could appreciate the time of life she was in now. Especially on days when she didn't have responsibility and could go explore on her own. Today she had made it over to the river, and was enjoying the view of the water. She got lost in her thoughts of watching the river pass and see all the life skirting around inside of it.

It was a warm, sunny day in green-leaf -- full of things to do -- but for once, Mosspaw didn't feel like doing them. A very rare occasion that had Mosspaw checking his reflection in the stream as he passed by -- just to make sure it was really him, of course. He always had energy for doing things -- even boring ones!

But prey was plentiful, the elders sleepy and neither talkative or willing to share stories, and Tinytip busy caring for her newest litter. Silverfang was out hunting and patrolling as usual, but while Mosspaw could join her, it didn't seem right. He liked talking to cats, and being on patrol -- but being hissed at for being so chattery prickled at his pelt a little too much.

Sure, he could go up and bug random warriors -- Mosspaw did that enough as a kit -- but as an apprentice reaching his tenth moon, he'd learned. It was still fun (don't get him wrong) but they tended to snap at him. The only cat who really liked talking with him was Chillpaw, who was busy with his new medicine cat duties -- too busy to hang out, even! And so the little black tom had to spring out of camp on his own instead, energy buzzing listless in his paws.

It only hit him when he reached the Thunderclan border, walking the border towards Sunningrocks, what he was feeling.

Mosspaw was lonely.

The little black tom slowed his skipping pace, looking down at the glitter of the wide river border -- remembering the shimmer of Cherrypaw's eyes, as the tom bowled her over in his enthusiasm. Everyone seemed to be annoyed by his energy, but not the ginger she-cat. Oh, the patrol they met on was a mess to Spotfur but Mosspaw could only feel a swell of warmth at the thought.

"It's too bad I can't just go see her," he mewed, flicking his tail. He'd considered it before but Silverfang would tear his ear off -- and Cherrypaw's Thunderclan friends probably would, too. His gaze shifted longingly to the other side -- smelling sharply of pine and forest. He knew it probably wasn't a good idea, but part of the tom couldn't help the hope -- maybe if he waited, he'd see Cherrypaw! It was nearly sunhigh, wasn't it? That would be exciting!

And kind of stupid -- but the little Riverclan tom didn't think of anything but Cherrypaw's tinkling purr as he leaped into the river. If he was going to wait, he wasn't going to do it in the hot land! The water was cool and refreshing against his warmed skin. He went smoothly along with the current, letting the rushing river carry him -- and much faster than most streams in their territory! At least if he didn't see Cherrypaw, it was a good, exciting swim -- and it got him out of camp! But -- as Mosspaw's green eyes picked up from foxlengths upriver -- he wasn't the only one getting out alone!

It's another apprentice!

Mosspaw's reaction to the sight of another cat was instinctive -- he just threw his weight to the side, and with the ease and agility of practice, swung his paws to grip the rocks of the Thunderclan riverbank.

"Hi!" the little black tom mewed, half his body still submerged in the river -- his upper half dripping with shimmering droplets as it gripped the rocks. He caught his breath with quick gulps, eyes sparkling -- the young tabby was super close to the river! "I'm Mosspaw! Oh! You're Thunderclan, right? What are you doing so close to the water? Are you fishing?"

Mosspaw didn't realize Thunderclan cats fished! But the tabby had been staring at the river until Mosspaw sprang from the water -- what else could she be doing?

A little part of him tingled -- the part that reminded him of how Silverfang demanded to never to cross the border -- but Mosspaw wasn't. He was still in the river!

OOC: aaah, I'm sorry this is took so long! >u< I really wanted the Mosspaw jumping up from the river, and the transition ended up being a lot of Cherry/Moss buildup.

Wrenpaw jumped at the sound of the other cat. She had been lost in her thoughts...well, she hadn't really been thinking. Just staring into the water watching the creatures inside it. But she had missed the large creature in the water that had come near her!

Wren gasped and almost cried out before she caught herself. The Riverclan cat hadn't come any closer after announcing his presence, so he wasn't attacking. But she became fearful that he might be angry that she was coming so close to his territory, even if she hadn't crossed.

"Ah...uuhhh, um, uh, hello, uh, hi. I'm, uh, Wrenpaw", she stumbled over herself. "Um I was just looking in the water. I wasn't doing anything." Did he ask her if she was fishing? What kind of question was that? He knew she wasn't Riverclan. "Uh, no. I wasn't fishing, I think your clan is the only one that really fishes. I've never learned. Although I'm a fairly new apprentice. I was just watching the fish move along the stream, they're so peaceful. But I didn't cross your border, I'm not in the river." Hopefully this apprentice was alone and hadn't come with a patrol. She didn't want to cause any trouble with another clan. "Um are you fishing?", she asked Mosspaw.

OOC: no problem, I'm not even on every single day, so it's all good