tell me, is this how we're supposed to live? [c]

As Nightpaw headed out onto the territory, he recited the list of herbs he was in search for under his breath. The stocks had dwindled in the weeks it'd taken him to find his footing, and he was determined to fill them once more - before leaffall came and threatened the poor plants that his Clanmates so relied on. His green eyes were narrowed, his gait steady as he searched the muddied marsh for the herbs he needed. Marigold, burdock, juniper... All names that were familiar to him now, and the spots in which they grew were growing familiar still.

So focused was he that he scarcely heard the sounds of the nature that surrounded him. Proud birdsong faded into mere background noise, the gentle rush of a weak breeze through the branches barely even reaching his ears. Predators were of little concern to him when he was focused like this; perhaps he hardly realized just how vulnerable he was when he was alone like this. He might as well have been named vigilance for the way he was always on alert, but not now. For once, he had let his guard slip. His duties were more important.

Then, as if on cue, the peace of the forest was interrupted by the sharp crack of a branch behind him. Nightpaw was finally torn from his own thoughts, and his eyes widened with fear as he whipped around to face the noise. One would assume it was just a Clanmate, but after he'd seemingly found himself on Wolfpaw's bad side, that was barely a reassuring thought. "Who - who's there?" His claws unsheathed subconsciously, but realistically, he didn't stand much of a chance against the seasoned apprentice - if it was him. Who else would sneak up on him like this?

Nightpaw's pelt smoothed almost instantly as Fishpaw ducked out from a patch of ferns and he was met with twinkling green eyes instead of the cold amber eyes he'd been expecting. Thank StarClan. Had he gotten his fur all ruffled for no reason? The prospect of talking to someone new didn't even scare him as much anymore - lately, a select few things really scared him, and everything else only made him fairly nervous. That was progress, at least. Soon most things would only make him a little nervous, he hoped.

It's just me, the tom called out, and even though Nightpaw didn't know a 'just me', he still forced his claws to slide back in. A few deep breaths, and he was surprised at how easily he was able to ground himself. This cat clearly wasn't a threat. "S-sorry, I thought you were... ah, someone else, is all." He licked his chest fur as though to smooth it, though it was really a super secret technique he'd developed to hide his embarrassment sometimes. "Hedge's friend, huh?" Nightpaw's voice sounded far-off as he thought. That didn't technically mean anything, because Hedgepaw was (somehow) related to Wolfpaw, but he still figured he could trust the tom. He had seen the pair together a few times, now that he thought about it - but he was always too busy to join their fun.

"Fishpaw. Huh. Yeah. I havent't gotten the chance to properly introduce myself. I saw - well, I heard your ceremony, from my den. Welcome. I'm Nightpaw." He tried to match Fishpaw's warm smile, but it came out a bit more uncertain and nervous than he'd hoped. "Ah, sorry. I wanted to head out to gather a few things, but... well, being the only medicine cat, it makes me nervous. Like someone's gonna just, y'know, fall over if I leave camp for a heartbeat. So I try to be fast." As he grew more comfortable with this near stranger, his words seemed to flow more freely. The shyness in his gaze seemed to fade into familiarity. Clearly, if Fishpaw was going to hurt him, he would've done it by now. Unless...

"That Wolfpaw didn't enlist you, did he?" Accusation rang so suddenly in Nightpaw's tone that it stunned even him, and his ears flattened against his head if only for a moment. That's probably mousebrained. "I mean... nevermind. Sorry, I'm just, uh. Paranoid." Still, even as he cleared his throat, he regarded the energetic tom with faint suspicion, as though he very well might jump at him at any moment. As Fishpaw pointed out the danger of walking around the marsh alone, Nightpaw glanced at his surroundings - as though just now realizing where he was. He shrugged. As concerned as he was about everything, ever, Nightpaw had never really worried about wandering the marsh alone - as long as he stuck somewhat near camp. Predators did very much exist, he couldn't forget. "Huh. I suppose it is dangerous. Well, I haven't died yet, anyway, but you can accompany me if you'd like." He offered, tilting his head in question.

The mention of Heatherberry - the other medicine cat - gave him pause. Even as Fishpaw sympathized, the medicine cat apprentice shifted a bit uncomfortably. "Ah, yeah. I try not to think about it too much." Especially since it was my fault. "I'm okay. I like dealing with herbs and stuff a lot more than any warrior things. Keeps me busy, and keeps me from thinking about her too much." That was a lie. It did keep him busy, yes, but every moment spent in the medicine den or even near any matter of foliage brought him countless reminders of Heatherberry. A beat of silence passed between the two toms, and then Nightpaw spoke again, his curiosity getting the better of him. "What was life like? Before you came to ShadowClan?" He'd never met a real rogue before, and he'd been wondering about it since Fishpaw had joined their ranks. He'd really never even met many cats outside of ShadowClan. Outsiders fascinated as much as scared him.