Falling in Every Direction [c]

The sun was still fairly low in the sky as Muddypaw set off along the Thunderclan border. He was up early, much earlier than any cat (especially him) should ever be, and alone, which he probably shouldn't have been either. Technically, he was still an apprentice, even if he was older than the large majority of his den and didn't have an official mentor. Not that he didn't love Primroselight being his stand-in mentor, but it made him wonder if maybe his training wouldn't have had as many gaps in it if he had been given a different mentor from the start. Or Dawnhawk just not doing all that things that he did. That definitely would've come in handy as well.

He had considered practicing his climbing. Despite being seemingly amazing at everything, Primroselight still had her flaws as a warrior - she refused to let her feet leave the ground aside from a quick hunting leap, and often had to search for another warrior to take over Muddypaw's climbing lessons. He still wasn't too sure how much he liked the trees himself, but it might've just been the nervous look that crossed his mother's face whenever she head anyone leap into the branches. Maybe without her here it would be less nerve-wracking.

Claws sank into the soft wood of a nearby tree, and Muddypaw hauled himself up, only making it to the first branch before having to stop for a breather. He was probably around three tail-lengths off the ground, and when he looked down he was surprised to find that he wasn't that scared. Yet, at least. With his lungs feeling like they were working properly again, he reached a little higher, briefly balancing on his back legs with his front two reaching up the trunk. Very soon, his moment of confidence was shattered. A sudden breeze caught the branch beneath his feet, swaying it every so slightly.

Yeah, no. Not today.

His mind immediately changed, he scurried back down the tree trunk. Or at least he tried to. A still unsheathed claw caught on a not in the trunk, sending him more tumbling than actually being in control of his descent. He was also sure that he had hit several branches in his very short fall that were certainly not there before.

Oof.

He was slightly winded when he landed on the ground, but luckily not seemingly hurt. Even though he was now lying in a heap on the forest floor, he was a little proud of himself; he, a mere apprentice, had managed to prove and old tale wrong - Skyclanners didn't always land on their feet.

However, the small smirk that had crossed his face soon vanished when he glanced upwards. There was another cat staring at him. Who had probably witnessed the entire thing. Ah. When he looked a little closer, he realised that he didn't recognise her at all, which meant she probably wasn't related to him, and therefore not in Skyclan. Another pause let him know something he was not expecting, but certainly dreading.

He had landed splat right on the Thunderclan border. Probably couldn't have aimed it better if he tried.

Fallen oak was just there, and Muddypaw couldn't believe he hadn't even seen it.

Without moving from where he lay on the floor, he glanced up at the tabby she-cat again. "Er, Hi? I'm Muddypaw!" He realised how stupid he must look, but really could not gather the energy to move.

Songpaw had been wandering farther these days. Since her father's death, she'd grown more reclusive, and the multi-toed apprentice seemed to withdraw into herself. She'd always been a bit odd, perhaps a bit too dreamy and absentminded, but it seemed nowadays she couldnt focus on nearly anything very long. At maybe an hour past dawn, Songpaw left camp, and told the guard where she'd be at. Lionfoot, the cat on guard, had told her to be back by sunhigh, or he'd come searching for her.

She was about to turn around and head back to camp, perhaps catch a mouse or two on the way back, when rustling caught her attention. "Hello? Is some cat there?" She called, tilting her head and taking a few steps closer to the SkyClan border.

Songpaw glanced up after hearing a crack, but hadn't been prepared for what happened next. When a fluffy brown apprentice fell from the sky, only mouselengths from her whiskers, she squealed and jumped back, looking at the tom in concern. He smirked, and she gave him a puzzled look. "Hey! Are you alright!?" She asked, concern etched in her tone. Her brows furled and she reached out a paw. "I'm... Songpaw. Yeah, that's- thats my name."

Inwardly, she cringed. Why was she being so awkward?

"'Course I'm fine!" Muddypaw said quickly, standing up and brushing the off the leaves that were clinging to his pelt. As much as he enjoyed lying on the floor, it was a bit strange to have and entire conversation and only see someone upside-down. "I promise not all Skyclan cats are that terrible at climbing trees. Just me! Oh... and a maybe my mum, but she doesn't really go up them much anyway, and she's really great at other things." He soon stopped himself when he realised how much he was rambling. "So are you in Thunderclan?" He asked, even though it was pretty obvious from where Songpaw had come from. Well, you can never be too sure.