[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

- - -

He could not claim to know the leader's brother particularly well, as he was overshadowed by the golden-furred tom in almost every way, even down to appearances, for Sprucefur boasted a coat that was not nearly as thick nor impressive as his brother's. Perhaps that was one of the qualities that drew him to the warrior. While Wormpaw couldn't claim to be outshone by his mentor, particularly to the extent that the other tom was, both of them shared a connection to the leader and the rare ability to not be completely comfortable with its existence. Though the whole "second apprentice" business with Lionstar had been cleared up and their relationship was improving, the younger tom still wasn't quite sure what to think about his mentor. A large part of him wanted to form a warm bond with the leader similar to the one the golden tom shared with his first apprentice, but at this point, a smaller piece of him doubted that anything like that would ever come into existence between the two of them. There was such a long history of awkwardness between them, and it was a little challenging to overlook.

Perhaps it was that issue that had him relaxing when he had recognized the approaching figure as the lighter-furred warrior rather than his golden brother. It wasn't as though Lionstar was a bad cat, and Wormpaw would have been the first to claim otherwise; even though he was often overlooked, Sprucefur was just as pleasant a cat, and the uncomfortable air that followed him and his mentor around vanished whenever interacted with his leader's brother. For anyone who stopped and looked, Sprucefur shared some qualities with his brother, which were admirable in Lionstar but under appreciated in the warrior, and he couldn't help but feel bad for the warrior who generally seemed to handle the unintentional insult with grace. Perhaps it was also that which he liked about the other tom.

Rising from his sitting position on the edge of camp, the apprentice moved forward, meeting the newcomer half way. "Good afternoon, Sprucefur," He greeted the warrior politely, dipping his head. They were not particularly good friends, though he was one cat Wormpaw wouldn't mind having by his side if they ever reached that point. Undoubtedly, there was a reason for Sprucefur to seek him out. A patrol, perhaps, or maybe Lionstar was looking for him because of something he'd missed in their lesson that morning. "Did you need me for something?"

- - -

Fawn

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

[Fawn]

Sprucefur greeted the apprentice in his usual manner of cool friendliness, tail half at attention, his emotions always seeming a little more muted then that of his flirtatious, charming sister. "Afternoon, Wormpaw. Just thought you might like to go for some hunting." There was more than one reason for the dim-hued tom to want to take the younger striped apprentice out on a hunting trip; the first being that he felt a certain connection with Lionstar's student, fully aware of the shared awkwardness they felt by being in the big guy's shadow.

Sometimes, when a star shines so brightly it illuminates everything and everyone looking at it, cats tend to forget that even a star has a shadow, a dark part that never feels the warm glow or radiance.

Secondly, what with all of this business with foxes lately, Sprucefur wasn't about to let anything bad happen to the young, well-meaning tom. He considered him a lot more tolerable then most of the current TreeClan apprentices, and would be kicking himself later if Wormpaw fell victim to those ginger bushy-tailed vermin and he hadn't lifted a paw to prevent it. The day would come when he too got his own apprentice - Sprucefur just hoped to StarClan above that it wasn't one of Lionstar's offspring, which while he appreciated the trust, he wouldn't appreciate the discomfort - and the young warrior was inwardly wishing they would bear some resemblance to Wormpaw in personality.

”Let's go before we get any unexpected company,” he mewed, alluding to how their last hunting trip had been turned into a trio thanks to a particularly rude, outspoken she-kitten he dared not name. They hadn't gotten along very well, himself and that kitten, and he would've liked nothing more than to avoid a repeat of their last hunting excursion.

Well, there was always a chance of bumping into Appleshade while out and about, as that cat always seemed to have a knack of showing up wherever there was something of great interest happening – not that he considered this little excursion to be anything to shout about it. A nice comfortable hunting trip. That's all he wanted; no tag-a-longs, no last minute hunting patrol assignments from the deputy, and no Clan meetings suddenly being called that they had to attend.

b8c7d8

[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

- - -

Admittedly, relief did flicker through him when Sprucefur's answer did not include the name of their leader; a moment later, an onslaught of guilt and self-disgust bombarded him. He shouldn't think that badly about his mentor, who was only trying to repair things between them. It was that guilty relief he felt when he could avoid interacting with Lionstar that would only prolong the awkwardness that characterized all of their conversations and lessons. As he worked past the remorse that had filled him and tried to think of ways to prevent that reaction from constantly occurring, the younger tom gave the older one a small smile. "That sounds like a good idea." Very rarely did the clan ever have enough prey where they could be comfortable for a week or so and not have to send out any hunting patrols or rely on warriors taking the initiative and going out by themselves. As always, he was glad to help when he could.

Ears flicked at his reference to Seedpaw, though he made no comment about it. He had not been oblivious to the way Sprucefur seemed to dislike the other apprentice, and this comment only confirmed the distaste he had seen on their last hunting trip together. While he might never admit it, he personally preferred cats like the tom beside him to the she-cat, who was probably out training, but because Seedpaw had always seemed to enjoy tagging along with him, he had learned to tolerate her and know what to expect from the far more outgoing and loud feline. Quietly obliging the warrior, Wormpaw directed his paws toward the entrance to camp, his tabby fur soon blending in with the shadows of the trees as they moved into the open forest beyond. Opting to wander further away from the busy area, where it was still highly likely that they would be stumbled upon and joined by unexpected company, the apprentice strode deeper into the trees. "How have you been today, Sprucefur?" Yellow-green eyes glanced up at his companion as he asked the question. His sense of duty wanted him to remain as silent as possible except for asking the necessities, but the other tom had wormed his way into Wormpaw's heart. Because of this, his fondness for the other tom outweighed the productivity and the question made its way past his lips.

A moment passed before the obligation to the hunting patrol, momentarily quelled, rose up again, and he added, "Also, do you have any place in particular you wanted to hunt or is anywhere fine?" If they weren't currently meandering through the territory in which they would attempt to hunt later, then he could continue to talk and only feel minimal guilt at alerting the nearby prey to their presence.

- - -

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

[Fawn]

Sprucefur stepped away from what could be considered the main road going into TreeClan's camp, the grass a little worn down in areas due to so much traffic over so many moons. Pleased that Wormpaw was relatively at ease with him, the pale shadow of their leader led the way towards the less damaged area of the forest - though much of it was still recovering - indicating his path was closer to NightClan's scent border. He had no intention of crossing over it, but if he and Wormpaw were going to carry on a conversation, then it wouldn't hurt to let those foxhearted thieves know that there were cats in the area - cats who were capable of deterring a few sourpusses who got too brave.

A multitasker of sorts, Sprucefur seemed intent upon doing three things at once - chatting amicably with Wormpaw, keeping an eye out for foxes, and using his appearance and his voice as a deterrent for NightClan warriors - but was doing them in such a seamless, subtle way that it was almost hard to pinpoint, and only those who truly knew his character would be aware of what he was doing at all. "I've been well," replied the cool-hued warrior, shaking a fallen leaf from his coat that had tumbled down from a large, towering oak - a constant reminder that winter was coming. He cast a curious eye upon Wormpaw, his tone easy-going though with a note of sympathy underneath; "Dare I ask how things are going with you and you-know-who?"

He wasn't kicking the hornet's nest just for spite, but for a genuine curiosity as to how the two of them had been getting along as of late; from what he could observe, after that whole Feathercloud situation had been resolved (back when she'd been Featherpaw) some of the tension had indeed eased from Wormpaw's shoulders whenever Lionstar was present, but the two of them still weren't exactly the picture of a warm and fuzzy mentorly bond. They were awkward, like cousins who had just met for the first time and found out they had nothing in common. But were forced together due to either family or courtesy.

Entirely grateful that his relationship with Nightmaple had never been in such a tattered state, Sprucefur watched the younger tom, noting how well camouflaged he was for their particular type of territory; of course if they ever needed a reconnaissance mission into NightClan territory, Wormpaw certainly fit the criteria. Sprucefur mentally snorted. What are you on about now? Secret missions into NightClan territory? Well rumor was it that after the ferocious fight at the border against NightClan, that Ravenstar had lost a life. According to an accurate source, however, two NightClan warriors had carried away their injured leader and were keeping mum about whether or not she'd actually lost one of her nine.

Sprucefur would've loved to know that kind of information, always curious where the leaders sat in terms of longevity, especially the leader of a certain Clan that seemed to have a personal vendetta against his own.

[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

- - -

Acknowledging the warrior’s decision with a slight nod, the apprentice fell back slightly, letting the larger cat take the lead of their small patrol. It did not take him long to recognize the area as that which bordered NightClan, and if he peered into the tree trunks off to his side, he could almost see the break in the tree line where their solid, dry forest transformed into the slightly marshier lands that the other clan called home. Pine trees, their boughs always green and hanging near the ground, grew in abundance across the imaginary line, and they cast shadows across the territory, making it very easy for his mind to concoct some nonexistent, hostile warriors lurking beneath every tree. It set Wormpaw a little more on edge, and his level of awareness heightened; however, he could comfort himself with the fact that Sprucefur was there, and even if he didn’t seem as intimidating as his brother, the sight of another warrior, especially one who resembled their leader, would stand a better chance at dissuading any attacks.

The smile that had found its way across his features at Sprucefur’s response to his inquiry faded slightly with the tom’s question, and yellow-green eyes slid away from their counterparts to scan the trees around them. It was clear who You-Know-Who was; between the two of them, it could be no one else. Had it really been that obvious, before, that he and his mentor had been so uncomfortable around each other? Was it still clear? Worry flickered through his mind. He didn’t want to make Lionstar look bad, and he knew that some cats – namely a spotted apprentice – already had a fairly low opinion of their leader. If the golden tom’s own apprentice clearly did not want to be around his mentor, then what would that mean for anyone else? Any issue he had with Lionstar was purely between the two of them, and guilt curled in his gut at the thought that his actions could reflect on something completely unrelated.

”Not bad, I guess,” Wormpaw responded quietly, shoulders lifting in a brief shrug. ”I mean, it’s not like we’re fighting or anything – we’ve never really fought or disagreed – but things have sort of become… stagnant.” It was the best word he could come up with to describe the way their relationship had ceased to evolve after the ground-breaking revelation where Lionstar had explained his intentions. He had not expected to instantly repair things with the golden tom, but even though improvements had occurred, they both seemed to be stuck in this rut of awkwardness. Wormpaw did not quite know how to break it, and it seemed as though his mentor was just as stuck; any attempts generally seemed to result in widening the gap. ”It’s just awkward.” Willing the older tom to understand, the stripped feline glanced up at Sprucefur, who seemed to similar to Lionstar yet entirely different. What had convinced him to say as much as he did about his mentor – and the other tom’s brother – was beyond him, though perhaps he simply wanted to talk with another cat who could relate with him. Crimsonpaw spewed out insults toward his mentor, and everyone else could understand, but they couldn’t understand.

- - -

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

[Fawn]

Sprucefur could definitely understand. The paler hued warrior let out a small humorless sort of laugh, the kind that stayed in his throat rather than fill the air between them; "I know exactly how you feel. Imagine what happened when Lionstar found out he had half-siblings? Those were fun moons." That had been the single most awkward stretch of time in Sprucefur's entire life. The previously happy, perfectly sound young Lionstep had been minding his own business when, like a lightning bolt from the blue, the truth had come out and suddenly Lionstep's incredible deputy father, Badgerstripe, had a black mark on his record.

Three black marks, actually.

On one paw, Sprucefur could certainly understand how his older half-brother must've felt finding out about his father's infidelity and the three kits that had resulted in Badgerstripe's straying, but on the other three paws, Sprucefur had suffered so much awkwardness, such a distorted feeling of not-belonging that he was pretty sure the older golden male had gotten the better deal. After all, Lionstar's mother hadn't abandoned him when Badgerstripe had died; not to mention Lionstar had actually known his father.

Sprucefur could barely remember him, something like a tall, hazy outline from his earliest moons - it was probably just configured from the depths of his imagination, wanting so badly to have an image of a father he never knew.

But it wasn't all bad.

The paler shadow of TreeClan's lion shook out his fur, deciding to give the younger feline a little hope for the future, throwing in a small smile. "It's not that bad though, Wormpaw. It's going to suck now, but later on, you'll be glad you didn't have such an easy time of things. Awkward situations like these tend to make you stronger rather than weaker." If he can get through his apprenticeship without screaming from how uncomfortable it is, then he'll come out a pretty tough little guy. Not to mention it would give Wormpaw a little more experience when dealing with other cats; not every cat was one he was going to get along with, though Sprucefur considered the apprentice likeable enough, and sometimes you just had to grin and bear it.

Or in Wormpaw's case, grimace and bear it.

On the thought of cats he couldn't seem to interact with in a constructive, progressive way, Sprucefur slowed to a stop near a tall sycamore tree. "Did things with Feathercloud get better, at least?"

Quit using him as an excuse to see how Feathercloud's doing. Why don't you just go and ask her yourself, furball?

Because Feathercloud would hardly have an interest in Lionstar's not-so-great half-brother; not when she was too busy standing in the glow of her 'great mentor's glorious StarClan-given virtues.


Dialog/Thoughts: b8c7d8

[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

- - -

Sprucefur understood. How he knew that exactly, Wormpaw was not sure, but he was firm in his belief that the warrior beside him, a paler copy of his noble mentor, understood. Perhaps it was the tone with which he had spoken those words, or perhaps the short laugh simply indicated far more than words ever could. His opinion of Lionstar existed more in the realm of sensation than actual words, more indescribable and vague than an emotion which one could easily sum up in a few pretty phrases. Someone had to really feel it to truly be able to relate, and peering up into the other pair of yellow-green eyes, the apprentice trusted that his companion spoke the truth. One side of his mouth quirked upward in a small smile as he nodded slightly.

His growing fondness for Sprucefur only multiplied tenfold when the warrior continued. Swallowing, Wormpaw accepted the older tom’s words of wisdom, head ducking again as his ears flicked somewhat awkwardly. As guilty as it made him feel to be agreeing – he was hardly denying Sprucefur’s claims – that training with Lionstar wasn’t the more enjoyable activity, it was impossible to ignore the warmth that spread through his body. He appreciated the warrior’s efforts, and returned the small smile that had accompanied his words. ”Thanks, Sprucefur,” The apprentice spoke quietly, voice soft. ”I’m gla— It’s nice to have someone who understands.” He wasn’t particularly glad, he had realized, that the other tom could relate; if he could help it, then Wormpaw would have made it so Sprucefur could have avoided the discomfort and was just as unable to understand as the rest of them. Because turning back time was, regrettably, impossible, the apprentice could do nothing but appreciate the warrior’s willingness to talk.

Said warrior’s next question should not have come as a surprise, but with his mind stuck firmly on Lionstar as the apprentice tried to figure out ways to mend the bond between them, he was unprepared for what felt like an abrupt change of subject. ”Feathercloud?” Wormpaw repeated dumbly, gaze distractedly leaving the nearby tree to seek out Sprucefur’s once more. An image of the silvery she-cat drifted through his mind’s eye, replacing the golden tom who had prowled through his consciousness thus far. ”They have.” He nodded, backing up his point. Of course, he had been quick to forgive her lengthy apology when she had offered it, and none of the previous awkwardness existed between them. She seemed incredibly willing to make things up to him – he still believed that there was nothing to make up that he hadn’t done himself, but if it pleased her to think otherwise, then he would play along – and Wormpaw had gladly accepted the offered friendship.

- - -

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