April Catch-all

[firealone]

Who: Firepaw and all his various friends (including an open prompt!)
What: Quests, training, feelings jams, etc etc etc
Where: All over the place!
When: April
Warnings: References to cat injury/death in the Exhaustion prompt

(This is a fake cut, there's prompts below!)

Comments

[firealone]

[He moves his head in a figure-eight, not really nodding yes or no.]

Well.. it was different, back home. We would patrol together, but we hunted alone, and most of my duties as an apprentice I did alone. We took breaks during meals, and to sleep, but we only really came together to celebrate an apprentice's first day, a warrior's last day, or a Gathering with the other Clans during the full moon. Usually... well, some of the older cats at least frowned on going out together for something that only needed one cat to finish.

[He pauses, mulling over his thoughts a bit more.]

It is nice, having someone else to talk to while I'm out gathering. I think I've been having trouble with silence since we got here.

[bladeofnymeia]

Hm, I think I can understand. You don't want to spread yourselves thin when one suffices.

[There's logic in it, too. Let the youngest learn on their own, at their own pace, from both success and failure. Have your core group ready and together in case of larger issues. Reduce the risk of injury if a job requires only one.]

It must be strange to hear others insist in cooperation like this...but there is validity to strength in numbers. Even if it's just for collecting mushrooms, and for talking. Working on problems with silence. [A pause.] If it helps you feel better, many people consider me a stoic at home. I'm more just...I don't always know what to say. Or it comes out wrong. So, I end up quite silent, myself.

[She's really gotten to be chattier in Bottlecap Bay, it's nice. She likes listening to her friends talk for ages, but it's also nice to get to put more than a nod or a side comment into the conversation.]

[firealone]

[He nods, taking her words in thoughtfully.]

I used to have a friend back home who was the same. Ravenpaw - I think I mentioned him to you before. He was always pretty quiet, but when he had something to say it was always very smart. I think he just... didn't have much confidence that anyone wanted to hear what he had to say.

[He misses Ravenpaw, and Graypaw. He has many friends here, and plenty to do, but nothing seems to fill the hole where his two best friends go.]

[bladeofnymeia]

[She gives a small smile.]

He saved his words for times where his wisdom was needed.

[She's not nearly as wise.]

I think it just takes experience, doing things in new ways. But it is important not to focus so hard on that and neglect oneself, too.

[Let's circle back to "you look fuggen exhausted bruh"]

[firealone]

[His ears slide back, and he dips his head apologetically.]

Yeah... I'm still learning the balance. It's... easier to focus on other folk. I have been hunting, which is mostly for me, but that takes energy too.

[And makes him worry, constantly, about how others see him.]

I guess after this I should take a nap, huh.

[bladeofnymeia]

[She smiles warmly.] No, I understand - I'm much the same way. But whenever I begin to push further than my limits, I can feel the concern and care of my friends from home in the back of my mind. Even though they aren't here. I've...given them a few too many very close scares.

[That smile turns very sheepish.]

When we finish up, we can go take a nap together. Would that be alright?

[firealone]

[That's a good way to think of it. He can just imagine Graypaw or Bluestar telling him that he looks like yesterday's freshkill, and to go lay down.

But his ears perk up at her offer.]

That sounds like a deal - maybe we can put a blanket over your quills, just in case.

[He'd cuddle with her anyway, but he can't add a lack of self-preservation onto his list of goofs today.]

[bladeofnymeia]

Oh! Yes, please. That's an excellent idea.

[Firepaw can tell he did a good suggestion because Firoza's face immediately brightens. She hadn't thought of that, but poisoning others on accident is always a Concern on her mind. So this is a big relief!]