Sudden Burst of Sunlight [c]

Rainpaw had a bundle of moss clenched tightly between his teeth. He's moving into the apprentice den, something that fills him with both excitement and a bundle of nerves. He's terrified he'll mess everything up somehow, yet determined to do everything he could. And his excitement came with more than just looking forward to learning how to be a warrior. He was getting to be an apprentice with Crookedpaw! They were keeping their promise to become warriors together, which made warmth flood through Rainpaw despite the cool air.

The weather growing colder is part of why Rainpaw has so much moss for his nest. There was still plenty to spare, and Rainpaw knew his smaller size left him vulnerable to the cold. He was not about to get sick again, thank you very much. Especially not now, when that meant falling behind in his studies. That was just unacceptable. No, Rainpaw would prepare for that possibility, and he would make his nest nice and warm. And, of course, stay right by his permanently warm best friend at night.

Which is why, with his teeth still clenched around the moss, Rainpaw asked, "Which one's yours?" as he followed Crookedpaw into the apprentice's den. Only his mouth being occupied made him sound more like Crookedpaw with his lisp, so it comes out more like, "Wh'ch one isth yours?" Crookedpaw had become an apprentice a day before Rainpaw, so his nest was already made. He took the time to take in his surroundings, examining the apprentice's den and noting how it differed from the nursery, absently trying to guess who occupied which nests. Despite the fact that he hadn't really spent much time with any of the apprentices yet.

Crookedpaw

Now that they had both had their apprentice ceremonies, they were both fully apprentices. Crookedpaw was beyond excited. He and Rainpaw were going to be back in the same den, but more than that, they didn’t have to be taken care of by the queens anymore. They had their own nests, and they could have nests next to each other! That way neither of them would feel too alone after they were separated from the queens. Crookedpaw did not enjoy the couple of days being in the apprentice den with no one he was particularly close to. He told himself that he would get to know the other apprentices, and he would…but he also wanted to be around Rainpaw again.

Crookedpaw walked triumphantly over to his nest. “Thish one!” he meowed confidently. His lisp was steadily improving the older he was getting and the more used to his tooth he was. He gestured with one paw to a space he had reserved beside his nest. “You can put yoursh here!” He sat down in his nest and waited for Rainpaw to set down his moss so he could assist in setting it up comfortably for his friend.

Rainpaw nodded, setting down his moss in the spot Crookedpaw indicated. He stared at it for a moment, then adjusted it, then did the same thing again a few times over until he was satisfied with it's position. Only then did he actually start to make a nest out of the bundle. 

Turning his attention to Crookedpaw again, Rainpaw asked, "Have you gone out with Blackbear yet?" Rainpaw did not quite envy Crookedpaw's mentor. Blackbear intimidated him a little, even if he would never admit it out loud. He was still grateful it was Birdchaser who would be teaching him.