A day (Open)

[**Liz**]

Darkpaw sat alone in the sunlit clearing, sunning himself in quietest part of sunhigh. The burning skin underneath his fur was becoming red, and he shifted uncomfortably so as to warm his other side.
His ribs rose and fell slowly. His sparkling eyes were misted as he lay, deep in thought.
Without a mentor, he was useless to the clan. It had already almost been a quarter of a moon since he'd joined. Ravenstar will apprentice me when the time comes, he assured himself.
Cats passed him by without a word, or a second glance.
Darkpaw felt very nervous in this new clan. He didn't know any cat and had no other apprentice's to talk to. All of the warriors were busy with other news and organizing the patrols. He was the only cat not busy with a task.
He suddenly felt very alone...

[Sasha]

A gray she-cat passed by the sunning apprentice, barely meeting his eyes as she passed. Stargazer didn't know who this cat was, and as Silversun would have pointed out, she shouldn't have cared. Instead, she paused as she passed, her head snapping back over her shoulder to watch the young cat. He looked nervous and lonely; they were easily recognizable traits for her as she, before meeting Silversun, had felt the same way.

Stargazer was a new cat to the clan, but knew the names [at least scents] of almost every cat in the clan. She had to, Silversun had forced her to. But this young tom she didn't know, and watched him. So as not to seem suspicious, Stargazer bent her chest to the ground, stretching and sneezing before rolling to her side, resting in a bit of shade. She lay her head down and closed one eye, still keeping the other yellow eye open, watching.

This was not an uncommon thing for Stargazer to do, really. She wasn't very outgoing, mainly shy and quiet, letting her friends next to her do the talking for her. However, in the silence of the camp, Stargazer pressed herself to speak.
"Hello, apprentice." She smiled warmly.

[**Liz**]

Darkpaw was begining to drift into a light sleep, but was suddenly jerked into awakefullness and forced to look up as a sweet scent came his way, carried on a warm soft breeze. He thought nothing of it at first. But suddenly, the shy grey she-cat warrior stretched and lay down in the shade a few mouse lengths away.
He rolled over so he would lay on his belly, letting the suns warmth soak his back fur. He could feel the she-cat staring at him, no doubt sizing him up and judging him already.
He felt the fur rising on his neck in alarm. What if she talked to him? he suddenly felt nervous and excited. But mostly, he dreaded the fact that there was a strong possibility he would mess this up.
He watched her out of the corners of his eyes. She looked interested in speaking to him, but remained silent.
Darkpaw relaxed a little. It didn't look like she was interested enough to speak to him.
But, suddenly...
" Hello Apprentice." She smiled.
Darkpaw jumped up in alarm. His tail fluffed out, neck fur rising. But one look at the she-cats soft expression told him that she was no threat, so he forced himself calm.
" H-hello..."
He shuffled his paws in the dust, studying the small clouds as they wafted around his large feet, in order not to make eye contact. Introduce yourself, stupid! he chided himself harshly like this all the time.
And it worked, too.
" Uh- Hi-sorry, I'm Darkpaw." He muttered, looking back down at his paws. He suddenly felt very stupid.

[Sasha]

She lifted her head as he replied, tripping over his words. She felt the urge to laugh, but her smile widened instead. What a sweet little thing he was!
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Darkpaw," she nodded with respect. Stargazer's tail snipped from one side to the other. Kit! She thought angrily. Why would you go and nod to him? Silversun always tells you that's a thing for Elders and Leaders and Deputies. Pah. She glanced about without moving her head, her eyes swift and careful not to seem nervous.

Stargazer blinked back to the apprentice. Her smile had faltered at her thoughts, but she put it back on again. "I'm Stargazer." She introduced, digging her claws nonchalantly into the soil. After a bit of silence, she looked back up at him. "It's a busy day," she said, her eyes following the trees as they were showered with wind. "How have you held up?"

[**Liz**]

Darkpaw sat in the dust looking back at the she-cat nervously. A small beetle crawled over his fore paw. He watched it go for a couple of heartbeats, then turned back to he conversation.
Stargazer seemed like a nice enough cat. She remained lying in the shade, looking up at him with soft eyes.
It looked like a busy day, except he didn't know what to do around the camp. He felt very stupid. This cat probably could tell him everything, but he didn't want her to know he himself knew nothing.
He nodded back to her, but didn't smile. He had only smiled once his whole life.
" Hello Stargazer." His voice was deep, for a young cat. Although, it was likely to get deeper as he matured. " I've been...OK today, I guess...though," he couldn't stop himself, " I don't know what to do, because, well-I don't have a mentor..." He trailed off, looking dumbstruck at what he had just said. " As in," He sighed, and added more slowly " I don't know what jobs are appropriate for apprentices to be participating in..."
Stupid...

[Sasha]

"Ah, well." Stargazer rolled to her side, looking away from him to think. A mentor-less apprentice? She glanced back at him. "Well," she repeated, rolling back to her stomach. "Seeing as you probably can't go hunting..." she stopped to think. Apprentice. Apprentice? Silversun would know what to do, she thought, but didn't let worry show on her features. She wasn't worried, persay; but she was supposed to know these things, wasn't she? Dang. She hadn't been an apprentice for very long. Learned the clan ways and, pop!, become a warrior. Dang.

She glanced back at the young tom, thoughtful. She watched cats as they passed, noticing another apprentice as she picked up a bit of food, taking it torward the Elder den. Ah-hah! "I'm sure there are things for you to do in camp," she shrugged. "Bringing food to the Elders and Queens..." Stargazer left the sentence wavering, rolling her eyes up and off to the side, shrugging. "Things like that. I wasn't much of an apprentice," she chuckled.

[**Liz**]

Darkpaw nodded sadly.
" I already fed the elders and the nursery and I replaced all the moss while the other apprentice's were training..." he flicked his tail in the direction of the apprentice's who, after having been rejected, looked as lost as Darkpaw had been. Suddenly it dawned on them, however, that they now had time to rest and relax. Darkpaw turned back to Stargazer and sighed.
" I've been stuck in camp for a quarter of a moon now, all I want is to go outside and learn to hunt, but-" he hesitated. " I haven't been assigned a mentor yet." His eyes clouded with thought. He imagined himself and his mentor, maybe a strong tom like himself or a she-cat with sharp mind and tongue. He looked back at Stargazer, and their eyes met for a moment. He tilted his head to one side, trying to see what was hidded in her silvery face. What would she be able to teach me? he wondered.
" Would you be able to take me on a patrol today, so I can learn the territory?" He asked, praying to Starclan she wouldn't reject him.

[Sasha]

"Everything's taken care of, eh? That's a good amount of work for one cat to do," she smiled. "I'm immpressed. And surprised. Ravenstar is usually fairly quick to give apprentices to warriors. Perhaps our Leader is waiting to find one who will fit you?"
Stargazer listened to him as he spoke, her smile widening. Excited for education! I'm sure his mentor will he happy to have that.

Stargazer's eyes widened slightly at his question. Patrol? She wished Silversun were there; Silversun knew the land better than Stargazer. "I suppose I could," she said absentmindedly. Her tongue flicking over her bottom teeth brought her back to the conversation, and she nodded, sitting up. "I could," she repeated. Stargazer faced the tom, but her eyes searched wildly for Silversun; her friend was nowhere in sight.
No, it'll be fine, she thought. I'll be fine. Nothing will happe. It's a nice day. I'll be fine.

[**Liz**]

Darkpaw straightened with pride. She complimented him! He was complimented by a Thunderclan warrior, and was so excited. " It wasn't that hard. I mean, I got some good stories from the elders, and the kits are a lot of fun. I enjoyed it." He added modestly. Stargazer smiled. She smiled a lot. But as he asked his question he saw her hesitation and, for a moment, prepared himself for some disappointment's. But, to his relief she agreed.
" I cannot thank you enough Stargazer." He dipped his head. " I just need someone to show me around the territory, don't worry," he added, seeing her hesitation again. " I am a fair good fighter. I won't let anything harm you." He thought this as an odd statement. He was the apprentice! Great Starclan, he thought, I hope I haven't offended her!
He shook his head and stood.
" Where to first?"

[Sasha]

At his statement, Stargazer laughed. "I feel safer already," she grinned, rising to her paws. Where to? What's closest? She wondered, beginning to lead him out of the camp. She paused at the entrance, tipping her head back, inhaling the scents into her half-open mouth. The stale scent of twolegs hit her harshly, and she motioned to her left. "I could show you Twoleg Path," she shrugged. "It's the closest."

The gray warrior led the young tom through the undergrowth, weaving her way torward the path. As they got closer, the undergrowth became less and less dense, and trees were few, and the bushes were chopped. The pathway was marked by irritatingly-bright blue markers, and she paused near one. "This is Twoleg Path," she began, recalling everything Silversun had told her. "Supposedly they use this path to get to the lake, and they only really come around in newleaf. Silversun says she's seen a couple twolegs wandering here even when it wasn't newleaf," she added, shrugging. Not completely throwing caution to the wind, she lowered her muzzle and sniffed. Stale. Good.

[**Liz**]

Darkpaw clung to every word as they examined the twoleg path. He smelt a faint scent as he listened. It didn't smell like any cat, or fox or bdager nor dog...it must be twoleg. He voiced his opinion and Stargazer nodded. Still listening, he examined the sky. The moon was visible a little way away from the sun, from where he was standing. He would remember that sight forever. Suddenly he heard a name.
" Silversun?" He asked, sniffing one of the markers. " Who is Silversun?"

[Sasha]

A fine youth, she thought, he'll make a fine apprentice. Stargazer peered down the twoleg path as he studied the sky above them. With his head held up, looking at the faint moon, she was reminded of herself. A jolt went through her, and she shook her head. Stop it, Star.

Stargazer turned slightly, motioning toward the lake and Sky Oak. She opened her mouth tos peak, but he cut her off with a question. "Silversun?" She asked, turning toward him again. "Oh, Silversun. She's one of my only friends, my best friend. She treats me like a sister; if it weren't for her being around, tough as she is, I'd be dead and gone long ago." She purred absentmindedly. She sounded content, but a shiver went down her spine as she'd said those words, shaking her to leap forward. Stargazer acted as if nothing had happened, leading him to the smell of water. "Come on, I'll show you the lake and Sky Oak."

She stood on the bank of the lake, staring up at the tall, probably old, tree before them. "Sky Oak," she said simply, pointing her nose to the top branches. "There's a great little burrow around here, too," she said. "It's nice and cool in the summer, and keeps you warm in the winter if there's more than one cat with you, I've heard. Never personally been in the burrow myself," Stargazer told him. "Never a need."

[**Liz**]

Darkpaw nodded. "Silversun...?" he muttered. Where had he heard that name before? " I'd like to meet her sometime. It must be nice to have some one like that in the clan." He added. Darkpaw followed Stargazer toward the lake. The smell of fresh water called to him. He hadn't had a drink all day and his throat was itching for the fresh, cool water. He bounded forward, lapping up the cool liquid. He felt it slide down his throat and, as the case was when cats got dehydrated, felt it deep in his chest and stomach.
Refreshed, he stood and padded over toward Stargazer, lowering his head apologetically that he had run off so abruptly. His tail dragged in the dust. His eyes were averted.

Darkpaw, as she explained the Sky Oak to him, felt a sudden wave of panic. There was something sinister about this place, Darkpaw didn't know what. His confusion kept him grounded, although all he wanted to do was flee. He racked his brain, over and over, trying to figure out what it was about the Sky Oak that made him feel like this...
He suddenly began shaking, his head swiveling from side to side, eyes wide with fear.
He muttered, loud enough for Stargazer to hear, but mostly directed to himself.
" I-I know this place..." Darkpaw crouched down, shivering. " This was where I came, to bury Shiverpaw when she was killed..." He closed his eyes with pain as he remembered that night;

Bleeding and weak, he had dragged the body of his best and only friend across territories. Shiverpaw was still breathing by the time they had reached the large Oak and found the burrow. He had tried everything, but Darkpaw was no medicine cat, and Shiverpaw died at his side that night...

A sudden voice jolted him into reality once more.
Darkpaw looked up at Stargazer with large, sad eyes. His face was dark with painful memories.
He gasped for breath.
" I-I'm sorry..."

[Sasha]

Stargazer turned sharply as he bolted, spinning to search and see if anything had frightened him. She heard him lapping up the cool, clear water and turned, smiling with relief. Thirsty, she thought. I can handle that. The gray warrior followed him, bending low to take a few sips of water before returning and waiting for the thirsty apprentice to finish re hydrating himself, chuckling.

As she began to explain, her mouth opened wide, breathing in a change in the young tom's actions. He seemed nervous, almost frightened. As he spoke, her eyes widened.
"Oh, Darkpaw," she purred sadly, pressing her nose comfortingly against his shoulder. His eyes closed and he seemed to slip into his thoughts. Stargazer pulled away, watching him. "Darkpaw," she said quietly, nearly a whisper. "Darkpaw." Stargazer repeated, louder. It seemed to break him out of the spell he was under, poor thing, she thought.
"There's no reason to apologize," she said. "I've buried friends and family, enemies even. It's hard to get over. I understand." Stargazer added. "If you...ever need to talk about...it..." her sentence faltered, and she herself nearly crumbled, sitting against the tree.
What was she thinking? If he talked about it, she'd talk about her own life, too. that wouldn't work. What an idiot you are, she thought angrily. Don't be stupid, Star! Silversun said so, you can never be too open. What kind of warrior would that make you, if you spilled out yourself as if you didn't have a place to put them? You cannot. Absolutely cannot.

[**Liz**]

Sighing, Darkpaw sat beside Stargazer, feeling suddenly weak. The grass felt cool underneath his paws, it had suddenly began to rain.
" Thank you Stargazer. If I ever need to talk..." He trailed off, and did not know what else to say, so he just pressed his muzzle to her gray shoulder in thanks.
He opened his jaws wide and yawned massively. Sometimes it felt good to yawn.
" I know death happens...it's just...I think I loved her. We made plans for after we were warriors, that we'd have kits and raise kin." He looked to the sky once more, lost in thought eyes flooded with pain. " But, anyways, we should explore more. Thank you for taking me out today." He bowed his head. " After we're done here, I need to work on learning the clan cats..." He dug his claws into earth absentmindedly, as if it were too stressful and he were too nervous to do it. But it had to be done if he were to become a full Thunderclan warrior.
But he couldn't help but notice Stargazers seeming reluctance to talk about her life. In respect, he wouldn't ask, although she seemed torn between a want to talk and a need to be silent. He looked over at her, her yellow eyes gazing up at the sky, studying the moon.
That must be why she's name Stargazer, he thought.
" Shall we go explore? I'd like to visit the boundaries and know the different clan scent markers." He added hopefully. There was nothing more emberrassing or dangerous than accidentally wandering into another clans territory.
Suddenly, he heard a voice.
"Hello Star, who's this?"