[Phoenix]

If there was one thing he admired about TreeClan, it was their resiliency, and the recent inferno had proven to him that his clan was very resilient. So soon after the blaze, and already most of their camp had been rebuilt, extra warriors were remarking the borders, and the apprentices were being sent out to train once more. This quality instilled a deep sense of pride in the young tom, and though he would have been far more content had part of their territory not been reduced to ashes, Wormpaw had a habit of looking at the silver lining. Out of the devastation came stronger bonds formed between clan mates, and memories of the way everyone, surrounded by smoke and dancing flames, had pulled together and united to survive warmed his heart.

A small smile touched his lips as he pointedly avoided thinking about those who had perished. He had done what he could to help and offered condolences, despite being deeply shaken by the experience himself. Though he had managed to escape relatively unscathed – sparks and flames haunted his dreams – his mentor, and TreeClan’s leader, had not. Yellow-green eyes glanced up at the large, golden tom padding alongside the smaller figure. Thick furred and powerful, Lionstar seemed invincible.

But the leader also confused him, and Wormpaw had a hard time sorting through his conflicting emotions about said tom. He had not forgotten that incident with Grayowl, which had done considerable damage to his opinion of their leader. In addition, Lionstar’s decision to take on a second apprentice had bothered him to no end, particularly after he had seen Featherpaw’s reaction at the ceremony. Knowing that his siblings had wanted the privilege, the small tabby had never considered becoming the leader’s apprentice. The guilt of taking the coveted position from his brothers and the knowledge that he was not nearly as grateful for it as he probably should have been churned in his gut. Perhaps it was one-sided, but Wormpaw did not enjoy conversing with Wavepaw and Wildpaw as much as he had before. He also avoided Featherpaw whenever possible, not even wanting to remind the she-cat of her mentor’s betrayal. The whole apprenticeship left a sour taste in his mouth.

That was not to say that Lionstar was a bad teacher. Wormpaw thought it nice that he took time out of his numerous responsibilities to train an apprentice when it would be just as easy to hand the duty over to another warrior. His gaze flicked up to the tom once more as they passed through the entrance to camp. A sudden pattering of paw steps caught his attention, breaking the silence that had fallen in the lack of conversation, and the tabby paused, body mostly obscured by Lionstar’s larger form and the shadows falling across the forest. Heart sinking, he recognized the silvery pelt of Featherpaw as the she-cat raced toward the pair. Guilt flooded him and he shrank away, hoping desperately that she would race past, that she had not come to talk to her mentor. Please don’t see me.

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:999999]Featherpaw[/smear:ffffff]

~~~~~~~~~

"She might have a temperament, that one, but she can be such a doll sometimes."

The voice from the elder's den cause a smile to flash upon the silver she-cat's face as she trotted away. She'd just finished bringing the elders new bedding, along with some prey, and the compliment brought a warm flush to her. Silver tail flicking to and fro as she squared her shoulder and lifted her head a little higher, the silver apprentice continued on her merry way. She was in one of her good moods, feeling light as air, as though nothing could possibly bring her down. She was considering heading out of camp to do some more hunting. She might as well. Lionstar didn't seem to be about at the moment. She hadn't seen him at all, in fact. She wondered how long he was planning to delay her warrior ceremony, fully intending not to let the fact she was the oldest apprentice in her den drag her down. Nothing will drag me down today!

She couldn't have been more wrong. Little did she know, the moment her ice blue eyes caught sight of her mentor heading out of camp, she was in for a crushing end to her happiness. Her ears shot up and her pace quickened as her excitement rose. She was soon bounding towards him, her paws light as they hit the ground. She had grown in the past few moons, approaching what was assumed to be her full height. She was tall, and lithe, with sleek silver fur that caught the light as she moved.

With a grin on her features, she called out after her mentor. "Hey Lionstar! You going out hunting? I was thinking of doing that too! Mind if I tag alo-" It wasn't until the younger apprentice hesitated in his movements, apparently due to her approach, that Featherpaw noticed Wormpaw. His sudden appearance from behind the older tom cut her words mid-sentence and brought the silver she-cat's movements to a grinding halt. Her claws dug into the earth as she skid to a stop, and for a brief moment, everything was clear. The crushing blow of disappointment, anger and sadness swamped her, dampening the excitement that had been shining in her gaze. Her tail dropped, hanging at a funny angle as she stared at Wormpaw.

She averted her gaze after an instant, her blue oculars hardening as she regained her composure. She rose to her paws, tail raised above her as she spoke up with false cheerfulness. "Oh never mind. Forget I asked. Carry on." Though at first glance she might seem totally fine, it was clear to those who knew her well that her smile, which was usually easy-going and lit up her features, was forced. It didn't reach her eyes as it normally did, in fact, it didn't stretch past the corners of her mouth. Her eyes were cold, and her body posture was too rigid to be real.

"Have fun." She said simply as she stiffly moved to turn and walk away. So much for a good day.

[Fawn]

Lionstar TreeClan || 39 Moons || Tom

After this hunting session I'm going to need a few poppy seeds. There wasn't a single inch of the warrior's golden and black-ticked body that wasn't sore to some degree. The worst was his back and shoulders, where he had taken the full brunt of the toppled tree before Thunderclaw and Rowanpaw had dug him out and life had flooded back into his body. Inwardly cringing as every muscle protested it's use, Lionstar concentrated on not thinking of his nice soft nest waiting for him in the partially reconstructed leaders' den (he was repairing it himself, making the other more important dens a priority over his own living quarters), ignoring any awkwardness that existed between himself and his second apprentice, Wormpaw. "We'll hunt in the Wildflower Meadow today, and if you aren't too tired after that I would like you to help with the reconstruction." He mewed, voice calm though with an audible rasp due to frequent time spent in the worst parts of TreeClan's partially destroyed campsite, inhaling the ashy remnants in his efforts to rebuild. The forest, the Clan and the golden tom would all recover in due time; golden gaze flitting down to the small tom, he watched with slight bemusement as Wormpaw took to almost hiding behind him, the pleasant, excited voice of Featherpaw causing Lionstar's ears to swivel in the direction of his approaching first apprentice. Expression warming - as it did whenever he saw her, though a mixture of irritation was still present due to her most recent escapades into the Mountains - Lionstar meant to greet her with a pleasant mew. What's gotten into her? It was as if she'd taken one look at Wormpaw and just... shut down. Brow creasing, the golden tom let out a small scoff at the hasty verbal retreat, not about to let her escape. "No way, Featherpaw. I'm sorry if I haven't been my most attentive lately, but if I'm not mistaken, there seems to be something bothering you. Both of you." Before he could give them much reason to argue or dismiss themselves, Lionstar beckoned both apprentices into the outskirts of the forest with a quick sweep of the tail - the singed bits already starting to grow out. "Come. Let's have a little talk, Wormpaw, Featherpaw." I should've been paying better attention. Look at the both of them! Mood blackening at his own negligence, the tom's expression grew a little surly, the cogs and gears of his mind all turning and clanking together as he finally assembled the puzzle. Featherpaw's feelings were hurt, in his acceptance of a 2nd apprentice - she must've felt as though she was no longer good enough, when that couldn't have been further from the truth. And poor Wormpaw... How many times am I going to put this poor cat in an awkward position? First there had been the Grayowl incident... and now this - he must've made the young tom feel sorry and awkward towards Featherpaw, having unintentionally put a rift between the two apprentices before they'd even had a chance to be friends. He would have wanted Featherpaw to help Wormpaw through his training, like an older sister or almost a junior-mentor, not avoid the smaller, cerebral tom as though he were carrying the plague. And Wormpaw... Was there anything he could do to help things be a little more comfortable around each other? If anyone had any ideas, he was all ears.

[Phoenix]

It was as if a switch had been flicked. One instant she was excited and eager to join her mentor hunting and the next she seemed to deflate, with all of the energy draining from her as if someone had pulled the plug. He could almost feel the disappointment flowing from the silver she-cat at the sight of his small form hiding behind the larger, golden tom. Though they were far from an insult, her words nearly made him wince, and the guilt twisting his heart grew. Wanting to volunteer to leave and let Featherpaw spend time with Lionstar – he was her mentor first, after all – Wormpaw flicked his gaze away away, yellow-green eyes finding his paws. If he could have been sure that acting on his desire would not hurt Lionstar in some way, he would have gladly done so; however, there was no guarantee for that, so he reluctantly kept his mouth shut.

Where Wormpaw would have been more satisfied letting Featherpaw walk away and attempting to find some way to help her later, Lionstar had a different opinion, and the tabby tom glanced up at the leader just in time to see him beckon the two of them farther into the forest. Hesitating for a moment, he glanced back at the she-cat before obeying the older tom. He had a feeling that he would not appreciate this little talk very much, if only for the constant guilt he would feel at watching the interaction between Featherpaw and Lionstar, knowing that his presence was the likely cause for any tension between the two. Though not dragging his paws, he made no effort to rush after the leader, quietly reluctant to participate in the conversation to come.

Clueless as to what to say to alleviate any of the guilt on his chest and the tension in the air, the apprentice walked in silence. Yellow-green eyes scanned the surroundings as he padded along, resting on everything but the two cats accompanying him.

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:999999]Featherpaw[/smear:ffffff]

~~~~~~~~~

She had been so close to getting away. All it would have taken was a few powerful bounds, and she would have been free to go and sulk somewhere. Before she had the chance, however, Lionstar's voice was ordering her to follow him. Her shoulders tensed and she outwardly flinched, hesitating in her movements. For a moment, she stood with her back facing the two toms, her tail drooping again. Her ice blue eyes stared straight ahead of her, and for an instant, she contemplated running away. But what would Lionstar think about that? Surely it would be seen as some form of cowardice if she did something like that. Instead, the silver she-cat forced herself to take a deep breath and turn away from the apprentice den. She'd wanted nothing more than to go and talk to her best friend in the world. The younger, smaller silver she-cat always seemed to be able to brighten her day a little bit.

Blue eyes flicked over the form of Lionstar's second apprentice, glancing off of the tall golden tom, and focusing on the path ahead. Her paw steps were stiff, deliberate as she moved forward with her head held high. She stayed behind Lionstar, following him wherever he chose to take them. As she moved, she found herself constantly swamped with various thoughts, disappointing thoughts, thoughts about what she could possibly have done to have disappointed her mentor enough that he would take a new apprentice while still training her. He'd picked Wormpaw as his second apprentice before she'd made the rash (and admittedly pretty stupid) decision to go after Ironpaw in the mountains. What had she done?

She followed her mentor until TreeClan's golden lion came to a stop in the spot he'd chosen. She glanced down at the ground, her forepaw raised for a moment as she contemplated finding some sort of excuse to allow her to walk away from this. Eventually, however, she gave up and lowered herself into a seated position. It took another moment or two before she could lift her cool gaze towards the older, golden tom, awaiting whatever it was he was about to say. What will this... Little talk hold for us all?

[Fawn]

Lionstar TreeClan || 39 Moons || Tom

Lionstar took them as far as the sparkling brook before turning around, having used that time to gather up his thoughts like seeds that had fallen on the ground, trying to bring a little organization to the chaos inside his head right now. "Let's clear the air a little, shall we?" Still standing, he gestured for the both of them to sit in front of him, as equals, not rivals for his instruction, first looking to the smaller skinny brown tom and then to the pretty gray she-cat who was more warrior than apprentice, just by the looks of her. "Featherpaw, by taking on Wormpaw as my second apprentice, was by no means an attempt to make you feel bad or give you the impression that you've somehow disappointed me or let me down." Lionstar flicked his tail. "In fact, it's because you were doing so well that I took on a second apprentice; you were so close to warriorhood, that there was little left to teach you." The golden tom's eyes met Featherpaw's, gazing at her with a sincere kind of sternness, as if to squish any further anxieties from taking her over again. "The way the timing worked out, Wormpaw and his littermates became of age before you had been made a warrior, and because I thought you might be able to offer him a supportive, almost mentorly paw to help him along with his training as well, I thought nothing of taking on a second apprentice." If there was one thing all three of these cats had in common, it was a lingering sense of guilt. Lionstar had felt an oceanful of it when Featherpaw had disappeared, having connected the dots that it was possibly due to him taking a second apprentice that had caused her to dash off in the first place - before she'd returned and clarified her reasons for him. He'd been able to slip into a much happier state from that point forward, able to find equilibrium now that what was lost had finally been returned. On the subject of guilt, and willing to allow Featherpaw to process all he'd just told her, Lionstar's gaze settled on Wormpaw, having spent enough time training the youngster to know when Wormpaw was feeling uncomfortable - which was more often than not, unfortunately. "You don't need to feel bad over this, Wormpaw. You are guilty of nothing. I apologize if I've unintentionally put you into an awkward position what with this whole 'two apprentices' decision." Extending a small curt nod to the little tom, Lionstar was hoping to smooth things over a little with both young TreeClanners. Though the two of them didn't have a great many common interests, he liked to think that they could at the very least, get along, and Featherpaw would be able to show him the ropes and perfect his techniques when Lionstar found himself too busy to do so himself. In fact, now that he was still recovering from his ordeal and the camp needed so much reconstruction, Featherpaw's help would be needed now more than ever. Cracking a small smile, Lionstar ignored his aches and pains, losing a little of the stiffness of his dialog to lighten the mood a little. He didn't mean it to sound as though he were scolding her - simply laying down the facts, though his tone might've been a little sharper due to just how battered and bruised he felt. "If either of you have anything you'd like to ask me, or share, feel free to do so. I'm all ears." He mewed, extending a gentle opportunity for either of the two to get anything off their chests, while they still had a few moments.

[Phoenix]

Wormpaw
and you ask me what i want this year
and i try to make this kind and clear
just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

- - -

Even as he paced quietly behind Lionstar, wishing to no end that he could sink into the ground and hide away for a few days, the tabby feline could not deny the curiousity that had joined the dread curling in his guy. For all his hesitation, a small part of him, the piece that did not want to apologize and flee, wondered what this upcoming conversation would entail. He had his guesses, but none of his topic ideas made for a particularly pleasant conversation.

With the gentle stream trickling beside him serving as background noise, the tom lowered his haunches to the ground, hind legs folding beneath him as he sat at the leader's gesture. As soothing as the sound of the water was, it did nothing to calm the rush of emotions within him, which resembled the crashing waves of a raging river in comparison. The soft touch of such a gentle stream had little effect on the powerful force rivaling it. In the brief silence that ad fallen, the sound of the brook filled his ears, and with a slight turn of his head, he could see the water, glistening in the sunlight. If only he could simply float on like a leaf would on the liquid surface, carried away from the guilt and troubles by the stream...

The explanation of a golden tom brought him spiraling from his thoughts and back to reality with a harsh thud. Upon hearing the she-cat's name, yellow-green eyes found his paws once more, watching as they idly drew a pattern in the dirt. Despite his determination to study his paws, Wormpaw found himself casting a brief, sideways glance at Featherpaw to see how she was handling this sudden onslaught of information. In particular, his own mind had latched onto the way Lionstar had hope they could enhance each other's learning - Featherpaw by teaching him, and himself by having the information delivered to him from a different perspective - and with his heart sinking, he realized, upon reflection of their behavior toward each other, just how short of the mark they had fallen. The two could barely stand in the other's presence, let alone successfully communicate in a natural, amicable manner. His tail flicked, and shame caused him to shift slightly. He could have tried harder to befriend Featherpaw, if only to prevent Lionstar from feeling the sting disappointment that he must have felt toward this outcome.

Reluctant yellow-green eyes were raised at the sound of his own name, their owner swallowing as the golden leader continued speaking, this time addressing him. If the announcement that Lionstar believed him guiltless had not struck him speechless, the apology would have. It was not often that a cat apologized to him - usually it was the other way around - and to absolve him of all guilt while placing the blame completely on another cat's shoulders was unthinkable. He swallowed again, wide eyes shifting to rest on the stream beside him as he struggled to restart his mind. Wormpaw had no idea what to do. How was he supposed to react to this? What should he say? Lionstar would be expecting something in response; he had to do something. A hesitant "O-Okay" escaped his lips, forced out by some other part of his consciousness that had maintained control of his body. But the instant the word was spoken, he snapped his jaws shut with a click, wishing he could take it back. He didn't want Lionstar to take all the blame, but he also didn't want to directly contradict the leader and risk hurting him by insisting that part of this whole mess was Wormpaw's fault as well.

And there was the leader, the subject of his continuing consternation, sitting there blissfully oblivious to the turmoil his explanation, intended to have the opposite effect, had caused within his younger apprentice. Lionstar invited them to speak, gave the two of them the opportunity to rid themselves of any worries. Wormpaw blinked, wondering idly if he was becoming slightly hysterical. As if there was anything he could say; he regretted the single word he had already, mistakingly uttered. As if he could regain enough control over his whirling thoughts to even form a coherent sentence.

- - -

i wish everyone was loved tonight
and somehow stop this endless fight
just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

[BlooRey DVD]

[smear:999999]Featherpaw[/smear:ffffff]

~~~~~~~~~

The older, silver apprentice flinched at her leader and mentor's words. Her usually tall figure seemed to fold in on itself upon hearing the reason that Lionstar had taken on a second apprentice. She realized she hadn't been thinking clearly, and had not gone about it in a mature way. She had immediately assumed that he'd taken on Wormpaw because he had deemed her not worthy enough of his time. And here he was, admitting to her that it had been exactly the opposite. The silver she-cat was suddenly swamped by an overwhelming sense of shame, causing her already shrunken frame to buckle further, her head tipped downwards to stare at her paws. Her silver paws were gently kneading the ground, her embarrassment written over every inch of her. Even her tail, which was usually so expressive, dancing about to give you insight on how she was feeling, was completely motionless. She let Lionstar finish speaking to Wormpaw, choosing to let herself dwell in her self-pity.

When Lionstar invited them both to speak, Featherpaw didn't move at first. She remained in her guilt ridden state, almost expecting Wormpaw to raise a point on how terrible a she-cat she was. Honestly, the usually hot-headed she-cat would probably not have held anything against Wormpaw had the words been brought into existence. She certainly hadn't been conducting herself in a proper manner since Wormpaw had been named an apprentice.

When no words were exchanged, and silence stretched out between the three cats, Featherpaw's bright blue eyes squeezed shut for a moment. Slowly, she began to unfold her crouched position, rising to her full height. The tall apprentice straightened herself, her ears swivelling forward to banish the laid-back appearance they had adopted since Lionstar had began talking. Her tail curled in on itself before unfurling as thoughts swam through her head.

Suddenly her eyes snapped open. They weren't as sharp as they usually were, still littered with the sense of guilt she'd been feeling as of a few moments ago. When she began speaking, she wasn't quite sure what she was saying, she only knew that it was important for her to get it out.

"I want to apologize. To both of you, but mainly to Wormpaw. I realize now that my actions were completely unacceptable. They were the furthest thing possible from the actions of a warrior. Instead of speaking about it to you, Lionstar, I took it out on Wormpaw and myself, fully believing that you'd chosen him because you no longer saw me as able enough to be your apprentice. I've been selfish and stupid since you were first named an apprentice, Wormpaw. I'll be the first to admit that I did not react as I should have at your ceremony, and if I could go back, I would cheer the loudest, I guarantee it. If I could take away the entirety of my unacceptable behaviour towards you, know that I would do it in a heartbeat. I could have helped you, but instead all I've been doing is avoiding you. Avoiding you because of the thoughts in my head. You're my Clanmate and I hardly know you. I haven't spent the amount of time I should have to get to know you. I understand if you find that you cannot forgive me for my stupidity, but... I just wanted to make sure that you knew how guilty I feel in regards to my actions. If, by some StarClan given miracle, you find yourself able to offer me the honour of your forgiveness, I promise that I will be a better example, and maybe even a better friend to you."

Her blue eyed gaze went from Wormpaw, slowly gliding to Lionstar. She didn't say anything to him, but the way she was feeling was written in her gaze. Her icy blue eyes were darkened by her guilt, and they didn't have the same sharpness they normally carried. Without saying a word, she was pretty much begging Lionstar to forgive her. She wanted to be his apprentice again. She was close to becoming a warrior now, but until that time, she wanted to return to being his faithful, and slightly hot-headed student.

How could I have been so stupid?

[Fawn]

Lionstar TreeClan || 39 Moons || Tom

Almost instantaneously, Lionstar's expression softened, and he met her gaze with a thawed one of his own, accepting her apology wholeheartedly. This was hardly an unforgivable offense. She was still young and since the death of her sister, she had been an 'only child' of sorts, and Lionstar was admittedly more like her father than her own paternal kin. You've grown up so much, Featherpaw. Though Wormpaw had thus far remained utterly silent save for a single word, the golden mentor did not feel as though their statements hadn't reached him - Wormpaw was the type to absorb and observe rather than outright speak his mind, he was a quiet, introverted sort of feline which was a direct opposite to his hot-headed outspoken little lightning-flash, Featherpaw. He was not judging the two based off of each other, but had accepted each one for their unique personalities, strongly believing that each of his apprentices - both old and new - could make TreeClan proud, if given enough time and dedication. "You are forgiven, Featherpaw." Lionstar mewed, leaning forward to rest his muzzle on the top of her head for a few heartbeats, her soft ears brushing against either side of his dark golden face, a low purr rising up out of the patriarch's throat. "You'll always be my apprentice, you know," he whispered, "no matter how big you get." Drawing back into his stiff-shouldered sit from before, Lionstar tried not to visibly wince - his injuries making that entire gesture of forgiveness something with a great deal of physical backlash - his muscles screaming at him to never do something so risky again. It was worth it, however, it would erase Featherpaw's seemingly boulder-sized guilt that looked as though it might seriously crush her if he did not speak up and assuage her worries for good; ready to start anew, just as the forest was forced into a cycle of rebirth after that disastrous fire, Lionstar was willing to open up a fresh chapter in their respective apprenticeships. What was going through Wormpaw's mind now, with his own words spoken and Featherpaw's rather emotional pledge to do better and her acknowledgment of her wrongdoings? Lionstar would've given up his share of the fresh kill for the whole day to know that. It wasn't that Wormpaw was particularly mysterious or somehow out of the rather expansive bounds of Lionstar's ability to read others, it was more like... Lionstar was standing at the edge of the water, unwilling to make any assumptions in one so young, unwilling to delve too deeply into the waters of Wormpaw's mind – not for fear of what he might find, but for fear of upsetting the young tom further. He felt as though he were walking on ice with him sometimes, and that every single step forward was one that would send him plunging into the icy waters of dissonance, of disconnection with the one cat he was trying his hardest to reach – Lionstar would have to move gingerly, until he could be more sure of his footing. Perhaps it was better to let Wormpaw make the first move, instead of forcing Wormpaw to act by his frequent attempts to initiate some kind of friendliness or kinship between them? Maybe Featherpaw would have better luck solidifying things between himself and his apprentice.

[Phoenix]

Wormpaw
and you ask me what i want this year
and i try to make this kind and clear
just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

- - -

As the last of Featherpaw's words disappeared into silence, he blinked. What else could he do? His mind seemed rather slow when it came to processing the large amount of information he had received, as though physically weighed down by the leaden thoughts of guilt that had for the first time been spoken between the three of them. Of course he could forgive the she-cat - what right did he have not to when he was just as guilty of avoiding the issue as she? how could he blame her for being put off at the apparent insult of her mentor taking on a second apprentice? - and it had never crossed his mind to simply refuse to accept the apology and hold a grudge. That thought in itself was a rather odd idea; what could he hope to accomplish by continuing the negative feelings between them?

Nothing good, he decided firmly as he watched the exchange between mentor and apprentice with warmth in his eyes. The strong bond of trust and friendship - perhaps so far as to claim a platonic love - that Featherpaw and Lionstar shared had taken a beating when he came along, and it meant more to him than either of them could know to see it restored to what it should have been. Unbidden, a small smile worked its way across softening features. It was not the need for forgiveness that warmed his heart, but the outcome of the endeavor, where the burden that had weighed heavily on the shoulders of the she-cat and the tom before him were finally lifted and both were absolved of any lingering guilt. It was the sight of mentor and apprentice, one with his chin resting gently atop the head of the other, that cleared his mind of the turmoil all of the apologies had caused. This, the act of helping others and resolving conflicts, was what he loved. It was all that mattered.

With a sudden clarity, he realized that the placement of blame in this particular instance mattered little in the great scheme of things. He was bound to disagree with what Featherpaw or Lionstar thought, for they tended to ignore the part where he was just as guilty as the rest of them, if not more, for he had avoided the issue whenever possible instead of attempting to reconcile the two. The blame would fall where it fell, regardless of what each of them believed, and if the easiest way to smooth things over was to let each of them - incorrectly - place the blame solely on themselves and make peace with the fact, then he thought he could handle it. He, at least, would be aware of the truth.

The moment ended, and abruptly it became his turn to react. With his mind much calmer than it had been for the past few weeks, he rose to his paws, taking a slight step toward the she-cat. "Of course I forgive you," He reassured her earnestly with a touch of awkwardness, as though he had little experience in this particular area. Wormpaw was still not quite sure what there was to forgive. There was little to be gained by arguing the point, but it was not as though he had approached her and tried to talk to her at every turn; he had no right to refuse her apology when he was guilty of the same thing. "I didn't make much of an effort to befriend you either, and for that I'm sorry."

To Lionstar, he had no idea what to say. The older tom was not without his good intentions, and it was clear that he had never meant for any of this to happen. He held just as much against the leader as he did Featherpaw, which was to say nothing, but lacked a way to express it. In the time he had spent with his mentor, the older tom's attention had been divided between two apprentices and Wormpaw had never made any real attempt to get to know his mentor - another one of his failings. As a result, he did not have the warm bond that Featherpaw and Lionstar shared to fall back on, and in the place of his confusing emotions toward the leader was nothing. But he couldn't feel nothing toward his mentor. Wormpaw blinked and flicked an ear. He didn't know. Glancing up at Lionstar, he offered him a faint grin and an awkward duck of the head, green eyes drifting away from the gold ones soon after.

- - -

i wish everyone was loved tonight
and somehow stop this endless fight
just a chance that maybe we'll find better days