menace to the wild [c]

Honeypaw

Honeypaw was diligently working on the nursery, and welcomed Mallowpaw's help. He was always happy to assist her with whatever she asked, and she was always thankful for him, but today, Mallowpaw seemed... different. He was working slower, droppping his materials, and seemed distracted somehow. He wasn't his usual bubbly self, and Honeypaw thought it must have something to do with Myrtlekit hissing at him on yesterday's expedition. Now would be a good time to talk to him, she decided. She finished weaving her branch and padded over to the tom, sitting just behind him.

"Mallowpaw," she mewed softly as not to startle him. "Would you like to take a break?" she asked, her eyes glistening with concern as she tilted her head to the side. "I found this really nice spot just outside camp. You'll like it, it's peaceful and beautiful. We could rest there and talk, if you want to." She gave Mallowpaw a knowing blink, and touched his flank with the tip of her tail.

Honeypaw

Honeypaw's tail draped over Mallowpaw's back as she led him, side by side, through the camp entrance. Stepping out into the forest was like a breath of fresh air away from all the hustle and bustle of camp repairs.

"It'll be nice to be away for just a moment," she sighed, suddenly feeling the tiredness deep in her bones. She had barely stopped to rest since they had returned, but she was determined to make a safe place for SkyClan's queens to kit, and comfortable nests for the elders to rest their weary bones after their journey. Honeypaw suppressed a yawn of her own as she lead Mallowkit through the undergrowth. "You'll like this place I found," she whiskered, her eyes gleaming sideways with mischief, "It's a secret, so don't tell another cat, alright?"

The two apprentices had to twist through dense undergrowth, hop fallen branches, and duck beneath the roots of trees before approaching a thick bramble thicket with a small, thin hole just barely large enough for a cat of their size to fit through. Honeypaw smiled at Mallowpaw and pushed her way gently through, parting the thorns so that they brushed satisfyingly along her spine and she disappeared through the thicket.

As they came out on the other side, Honeypaw waved her tail and gestured around her at the clearing before them. It was lush, covered with thick moss, sheltered from the worst of the snow by the thick tangle of branches that weaved together above. Tiny purple flowers popped their heads above the thin layer of snow, petals unfurling in the dappled sunlight as though in greeting.

"What do you think?" she mewed excitedly, "It's pretty good, right?" She padded out into the center of the clearing, where the most sun shone down through the bare branches of the massive trees overhead, bathing her golden pelt in its warmth. There she gestured for Mallowpaw to join her. "It's comfy here, lots of soft moss. Come sit down and tell me what's on your mind."

Honeypaw

Honeypaw's eyes rounded at Mallowpaw's words.
Blessed by StarClan just for you, I bet.
For me? She couldn't stop her mouth from curling into a smile as a purr escaped her throat as she leaned into the young tom's gesture. His fur is so soft, and his breath is warm and sweet. She closed her eyes until he pulled away, flopping onto the ground. Her whiskers twitched and she gently laid herself beside him, looking into his eyes so intently that she could see her own reflection in their blue depths. She almost missed what he said.

"Huh..?" She blinked. "Oh, Cricketpaw and Myrtlepaw? What's going on?" She tilted her head to one side, remembering her little hunting trip with Myrtlepaw where they had become quite close. Cricketpaw on the other paw, was a different story. Much to Honeypaw's dismay, Cricketpaw felt much more distant than ever these days.

Honeypaw

Honeypaw listened fretfully as Mallowpaw spoke, trying to search for reasons why Paledove's kits might dislike the tom. Ever since he was a kit, Mallowpaw had been nothing but kind to everyone. She remembered her time in the woods with Myrtlepaw, and how the she-cat had admitting having ill feelings for her taking over their care after their mother passed away in the mountains. She thought of how distant and cold Cricketpaw regarded her these days, and imagined that perhaps she had a similar reason.

"Mallowpaw, I'm sorry," she mewed softly, "Those two she-cats are definitely a handful. And, not that it'd make you feel better, but it's not just you - they were cold towards me, too, both of them, until Myrtlepaw and I had a talk." She found an acorn and scratched at it between her front paws idly as she spoke. "As for Yewpaw, though..." She knew her friends had a strange, back-and-forth friendship since they were kits, ever since Yewpaw had scratched Mallowpaw's nose. Yewpaw's emotions felt unpredictable to Honeypaw, though he was always kind to her.

"It isn't selfish of you to be Yewpaw's best friend," she assured him. "Perhaps they are just afraid of the same thing you are. Maybe they are protective of Yewpaw, and are afraid to lose him." She was just thinking out loud now, but her thoughts seemed to make sense as they hit the air between them. "They have all been through a lot, with losing Paledove in the mountains. It's been very hard on them. That's what Myrtlepaw talked to me about." She leaned closer to Mallowpaw, hoping that he could find her meaning. Her icy blue eyes gazed into his. "They're all dealing with their own individual storms, Mallowpaw," she sighed. "They are a complicated, moody lot, aren't they? And you are the most kind-hearted cat I've ever met." Honeypaw purred, and flicked his ear with her tail. "I don't believe any cat could ever hate you."

Honeypaw looked thoughtful. "I can talk to Myrtlepaw, if you want. She will understand." She blinked slowly. "And I will keep my eye out for Cricketpaw too. In the meantime, try not to take anything she says too seriously. Her mother had a spiky personality, and it seems as though Cricketpaw inherited that from her. And don't be afraid to stand up for yourself, Mallowpaw." She brushed her tail down his flank in a soothing gesture. "And I'll stand up for you, too. We're in this together! Always have been."

Honeypaw leaned closer still, touching her nose to Mallowpaw's for a moment, before drawing away again, her pelt feeling especially warm for some reason.

Honeypaw

I'm so glad I met you, Honeypaw... Everything will be okay as long as I have you by my side.
Honeypaw purred in unison as Mallowpaw nuzzled her cheeks. Her fur fluffed up and her tail swished happily from side to side.

"You can always tell me anything, Mallowpaw," she purred. "And I promise I will tell you anything in return." Her eyes gleamed when he pulled away from her with such an adorable smile on his face. "Y-You don't have to thank me for that, silly," she purred, giving him a light-hearted headbutt on his shoulder. "You'd have done the same for me, after all."

She got to her paws and shook out her fur, tail high.
"Perhaps it's time we get back, yeah? They might be wondering where we went by now." She nosed him in the direction from which they came. "Remember, don't tell anyone about this place, it's our little secret." With a wink, she led the way out of the glade, and the two would go on to finish up camp repairs.