honeywell [C]

Silverpaw

It'd been a quarter, maybe half-moon since all the prey had fled from the marsh. Maybe even longer... Silverpaw had lost track of the days. He'd been more focused on pushing himself through every day, trying to find what prey he could to bring home. With Pineblossom's kits growing faster and faster every day, his resolve sharpened, urging him to persist through any ache or exhaustion to hunt. Patrols had started scouting the Carrionplace, filthy infestation-riddled scour. Silverpaw had neglected to join them, adamant in his refusal to set paw there, but he was beginning to think he would be faced with no other choice soon. But just as that consensus reached him... so did another.

Leopardstar wasn't strict on allowing apprentices passage out of camp. So long as they returned safely and caused no trouble, it was an infraction she could turn a blind eye to. Silverpaw was near to being a warrior, anyway; tall now, filled out, an expert in ShadowClan's teachings. He was waiting only on the name to be bestowed upon him-- he felt more like a demoted warrior than an aged apprentice most days. If any one of them had earned the right to traverse their territory unsupervised, it was him. Unoccupied, he decided the lapse in duties was a sign he was meant to pursue his ideas, and slipped silently out of camp with the red sunset as his only guide.

Making his way to the Highpine was easy. Silverpaw had been there countless times on patrols already, even a few times himself-- this was no different. SkyClan was a returning point of fascination in his life. And though they'd looked ragged at the most recent Gathering, something kept them fed. Something that would do better in ShadowClan bellies.

The sun had finished its descent as he walked, and the moon peered over in its place. Everything had been dipped in black, highlighted with soft silver; it was his preferred element, and all of SkyClan were likely to be asleep. Still, he couldn't forsake due caution for good timing. He'd have his pelt ripped off if he was caught, and he wouldn't allow that to pass. That in mind, Silverpaw lifted his nose to breathe in deep, ears turning forward to strain against the silent wood... and was surprised to catch a scent. More than the woody richness of SkyClan's land, but something fresh; a singular cat, moving. Before long, he could hear their pawsteps overtop brittle leaves, echoing like thunder in his ears.

He could have left. It would be more sensible to back away, slink into the shadows and await the unintended sentry leave... but Silverpaw held his ground. Curious, he drew closer to the border as the pawsteps grew louder to wait right at the edge of it. A demure little smile settled on his muzzle and he lifted his chin with preemptive regard, head tipped ever-so-slightly to the side. He had encountered one friendly SkyClanner at the border before, willing to entertain his energy... he was sure he could get lucky again. And if he performed really well... he wondered if he couldn't do more.

Silverpaw

A pair of green eyes, brighter than his own, melted out of the growing darkness. With them came a gray body and a sudden cry of alarm. Silverpaw's expectant smile faltered and he took a quick step backwards. Had he really looked that frightening? He felt a little sorry for making her scream like that, but then, he wanted to laugh at her too. Did every cat she ran into at the border earn that reaction, or was it the late hour that made him seem so fearsome? Shaking his head, Silverpaw dismissed the moment's startle along with his private questions. That easy, pleasant smile returned, and he stepped forward to resume the spot he'd been waiting in as the SkyClanner shook off her own brief fear.

Once she'd seemed to determine he was no threat, she talked, tongue racing from the moment her jaw fell open. Silverpaw let her go on, taking her in while he listened. She looked about his age-- younger, though --with bright, naive eyes, and mouse-brained enough to treat him like a denmate. He wanted to be annoyed with her incessant talking, her foolishness, but he found it hard to. She reminded him of himself, fresh out of the nursery. And when every other word out of her was flattery, he figured she could go on until she could pass out. He couldn't find any anger at all, when she took it upon herself to try guessing his name.

Silverpaw lifted onto his pads immediately, chin raised and tail starting to wave behind him. He felt more aware of his recent height than he ever had, looking down at her with his neck stretched out. Pride rolled off his pelt in waves. She thought he was a warrior! Silverpaw's soft grin stretched into a proper beam, pointed teeth wide on display. All ulterior motives were forgotten as he fixated instead on the thrill that sent through him. "Oh, don't apologize," he purred to her faltering laugh, "I'm really enjoying listening." Silverpaw took a casual step closer. If he wanted to, he could spring across the border; spring at her, just to start a fight. Silverpaw blinked twice and shook his head to clear the thought. "I should be the one apologizing, really. I didn't mean to frighten you. I just-- well," he gave a sheepish laugh of his own and scuffed the ground with a paw. "Yeah, I saw you coming. I got curious... I mean, we don't run into others at the border very often. It's always nice to hear a fresh voice, isn't it?"

With that set, Silverpaw did a little turn, long-furred tail waving in a flourish before curling happily over his back as he settled to face the SkyClanner again. "Those are quite handsome names you guessed. I'm a little envious you came up with them..." He'd considered lying to further stroke his ego, but with no way of knowing what name Leopardstar would honor him with, there was potential for trouble in the future. With a little sigh, his broad smile fell and Silverpaw looked down at his paws. "I hate to tell you you're wrong, but... I'm not quite a warrior yet," his head snapped back up, wolfish grin returning in force, "but I'm impressed! I'm very close to my ceremony. It'll come any day now." He rolled his shoulders and stretched out, spine stretched and hips low. Though lack of food had thinned his coat, made thinner in places around his ruff from the scratching, the rising moonlight illumined him: his pale body was bright, and light wove through the dark cape stretched across him.

"My name is Silverpaw," he answered finally, holding himself posed for a few moments longer before drawing back into a more relaxed stance. "I wonder, could you guess my warrior name based on that? I'll tell you if you're right, the next time I see you." He squinted warmly at her. He wanted her to assume they were already friends, lest her training catch up with her and she remembered hostility. He was already enjoying reveling in her attention; he didn't want it spoiled so early. Silverpaw made a little, "Oh!" and put on a face of surprise. "Guess we both forgot our manners." He laughed again, soft and airy. Taking another step forward, he stood right at the line dividing their territories before settling into a relaxed sit. "I must have missed your name. Care to share?"

Silverpaw

To no surprise, his effortless charm worked wonders on Bubblepaw. Silverpaw's tail swept back and forth to stir the crackling leaves, evidently pleased with himself. "Fighting is such a waste. Of time and energy!" He agreed emphatically, however much the claim made him want to laugh. "Warriors are so quick to threaten drawing claws... I'm glad you see the value in having more allies than enemies." Her ceaseless smile was met with one of his own, lop-sided and waggish. Whatever internal battle underwent the brief flash of uncertainty in her eyes couldn't have been too difficult, as she comfortably leaned in to listen--and to continue chattering away. When she tested the name he'd provided, the slow, awed way she said it made Silverpaw's pelt sear.

"Only really skilled hunters can catch the marsh birds. Considering they're my favorite quarry... I just might pass that on to Leopardstar." Silverpaw squinted warmly. In truth, he thought Silverbird a ridiculous, soft sounding name. But... her other suggestions were admittedly decent. Some of the investment in his eyes was earnest, now. "No, no- not dumb at all! I took you by surprise, didn't I? But either way--Bubblepaw is perfect for you," he purred. "Bubblepaw. It has a bounce to it."[/color] He popped the b's on repetition, bringing a playful lilt to the syllables of her name. Silverpaw mirrored the tilt of her head and the persistent smiling.

She mentioned siblings, though he couldn't recall noting any SkyClanners with such a starkly simple pelt as hers. Whoever they were, Bubblepaw was more importantly related to their leader. Despite her hurried explanation Birdstar showed no favoritism, and their relation was distant, Silverpaw felt an envious little twist wondering what being it was like, being leader's kin. It curled into a fully realized pang at her following question, combated only by the rush of pride with thinking of recent additions to his family. (His family. Always a quiet marvel.) "I do," Silverpaw answered easily. He had to swallow and take a deep breath through his nose before continuing, "My mother is Pineblossom, and my father is Forestbreeze. They're both respected, senior warriors of the Clan. They've just had kits, too--all healthy, and growing fast. One of them's a nuisance," he laughed from low in his chest, "but they're good kits."

She did not need to know he was adopted and had woken up dead next to the only blood family he'd known. He'd thought, too, that she didn't need to know of the brother he'd lost--and he did not want her pity--but her sympathy... Silverpaw bowed his head. The innocent warmth in his features faded, turning downcast. His ears fell and he drew in on himself. "I did have an elder brother... His name was Honeylight." The breath Silverpaw took was shaky; the shudder a small play for effect, and he was in some way grateful it wasn't natural anymore. "He was my mentor, but... his time to join StarClan came early. A fox surprised us in the territory, and, well... I'll say it was a long walk back to camp."

Silverpaw blinked a few times. He wasn't sure what had pulled earnesty out of half-honesty. It sat heavy and cold in his chest. He swallowed once and shook out his pelt. Just like that, he was bright again: laughing nervously, with a sheepish little smile and wide, fluttering eyes. "Oh, I- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring us down." He scuffed the ground and shuffled a bit on his paws. Then, came a sudden dare: all casual, Silverpaw shuffled forward, treading paw over the border to resettle right at Bubblepaw's side. "I guess talking to you is just that easy," he purred with a friendly whisk of his tail across her flank. "I'm glad I ran into you, too. I think your company is the best I've had."