[Deleted]

Fools in love they think they're heroes
Cause they get to feel more pain
I say fools in love are zeros

Yellow eyes pierced through the dusky evening as the dark gray and white apprentice gazed out from the confines of the apprentice den. Grimpaw sat, his fluffy pure gray tail neatly wrapped against his paws as he brooded. The night had brought on dangerously cold winds; winds cold enough for the most loyal of cats to be rooted to the spot and buried in their own fur.

Grimpaw was no less loyal than any other cat. The apprentice would willingly sacrifice his very soul for his clan and intended to spend his entire life in the same cycle. The tom would fight, feed, and fend for his clan until the day his soul could finally be at ease. Such prospects would fill the souls of most apprentices with absolute horror. At 6 moons, most apprentices join the clan ranks expecting a life of adventure, their eyes gleaming with excitement and their stomach practically bursting with butterflies and nerves. Grimpaw did not understand why such excitement was present in his fellow apprentices and more importantly, why it had been encouraged in the first place? The slim gray and white tom felt that, for this reason alone, everyone who encouraged these feelings were cruel beyond belief. All these apprentices have had their emotions hopped up so high and they all expect something so great. Only to be absolutely crushed, Grimpaw thought and his brilliant yellow eyes flashed down to the den floor sullenly. The tomcat felt some sympathy for his peers in their situation. Innocence ... we should really try to squash that out, shouldn't we?

The apprentice flicked his torn ears and peered out the entrance of the apprentice den. It wasn't too far from truth to say that the gray and white tom longed for company. Grimpaw knew, however, not to expect or require such things. As long as Grimpaw was alive and well, such things were merely extra 'gifts'. Not required, not needed.

The tom let out a huff of air, his breath visible and swirling in front of him before fading away.

GRIMPAW

[/color][/right]

[Fawn]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,375,true][atrb=style, text-align: justify; font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px; background-image: url(http://www.clker.com/cliparts/f/2/a/5/12065641911180157450alnilam_Stars_Pattern.svg.med.png); border: 3px solid #021836;][STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 100px; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; float: right;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 70px; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 60px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 45px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=background-color: #4e5f75; color: #d8dee6; border-top: 1px dashed #6d7e96; padding: 1px; font-family: georgia; text-transform: lowercase; font-size: 10px; text-align: right; padding-left: 5px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 90px;]THORNKIT - NIGHTCLAN - TOM - 1 1/2 MOONS[/style][STYLE=text-align: justify; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; color: #d8dee6; background-color: #3b4759; border-left: 3px solid #4e5f75; border-top: 1px solid#4e5f75; border-right: 1px solid #4e5f75; border-bottom: 1px solid #4e5f75; padding: 4px;] It was one of those rare occasions where Thornkit was actually in a good mood. Ever since the death of his parents and the scattering of his siblings (which had all been returned to NightClan, thank StarClan), Thornkit had become a much more serious tom, almost as though he were growing up way too fast. No longer a believer in things like good fortune and luck, he presumed the world now to be a scary place that tried to snatch what little happiness you'd found right out from under you at every chance it got. This was quite an advanced perspective for a kitten of only two moons, but Thornkit was an intelligent little thing, perhaps too intelligent for his age, and a little too protective of Ashkit and Oak-kit, his siblings. Sneezing when a bramble tickled the soft pink leather of his nose, the kitten scrambled out from under a bush to make his way towards the dens on the other side of the camp, his small fluffy buff-colored paws putting him on a beeline for the apprentice's den. Even though the world was a terrible place, Thornkit couldn't help but feel excited to be an apprentice someday soon; that way he would learn all the ways of a warrior and never have to rely on anyone ever again. That way he could look after Ashkit and Oak-kit properly. Spotting a medium-sized gray and white tom lounging in the entrance of the apprentice's den, the buff colored kitten's eyes darted to Grimpaw's legs, as if he half expected the apprentice's claws to suddenly show themselves and chase him away. "Hey." Mewed the little tom-kit casually, his conversation skills rather...awkward, especially for a kitten his age. [/style][STYLE=background-color: #4e5f75; color: #d8dee6; border-bottom: 1px dashed #6d7e96; padding: 1px; font-family: georgia; text-transform: lowercase; font-size: 8.5px; padding-left: 5px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold;]template by falkyrin of btn![/style]

[Deleted]

Fools in love they think they're heroes
Cause they get to feel more pain
I say fools in love are zeros

Grimpaw's eyes fully shut as the apprentice reclined in the apprentice den. While the NightClan world was blisteringly cold, at least the tom could be kept from the wetness of the world just pawsteps from the apprentice den. The cold, however, will never end, Grimpaw mused and drew his gray and white body closer together. The NightClanner had been cursed with a fairly thin pelt with no chance of the development of a substantial coat for Leafbare. StarClan, the tom thought for a moment and would have continued if it hadn't been for the arrival of a furry orange tabby kit.

The tom's blazing yellow orbs watched the kitten suspiciously, who, for the first few moments after plopping into the apprentice den, did not appear to recognize that he was not alone. The gray and white tom was in the process of clearing his throat when he heard the tiny voice of the apprentice greet him in a somewhat amusingly casual tone.

Grimpaw was not, however, amused by the tiny Thornkit. The kit, Grimpaw knew instantly, should not be out and about in camp unsupervised, particularly at his age of only 2 moons. "Shouldn't you be with your mother, or something? You don't belong here," Grimpaw meowed in not a necessarily unfriendly tone, but a tone that suggested pure disinterest with the kit before him. Thornkit was foolish and young, average and unexperienced.

And seeing the kit before him only reminded the tattered gray and white tom of the happiness that was once torn from him.

GRIMPAW

[/color][/right]

[Fawn]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,375,true][atrb=style, text-align: justify; font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px; background-image: url(http://www.clker.com/cliparts/f/2/a/5/12065641911180157450alnilam_Stars_Pattern.svg.med.png); border: 3px solid #021836;][STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 100px; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; float: right;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 70px; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 60px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 45px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=background-color: #4e5f75; color: #d8dee6; border-top: 1px dashed #6d7e96; padding: 1px; font-family: georgia; text-transform: lowercase; font-size: 10px; text-align: right; padding-left: 5px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 90px;]THORNKIT - NIGHTCLAN - TOM - 1 1/2 MOONS[/style][STYLE=text-align: justify; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; color: #d8dee6; background-color: #3b4759; border-left: 3px solid #4e5f75; border-top: 1px solid#4e5f75; border-right: 1px solid #4e5f75; border-bottom: 1px solid #4e5f75; padding: 4px;] The distasteful question that had spilled so carelessly from the older tom's mouth had Thornkit's already fluffy appearance grow fluffier with indignation. Eyes blazing, the tiny scrap looked up at Grimpaw with obvious scorn. "She's dead." Replied the tom frostily, his eyes darting away from Grimipaw's face as though the snowy ground had suddenly grown more interesting. "I belong here just as much as you do." He insisted with obvious defiance, feeling the desperate need to stick up for himself now that he was absolutely certain no one else would. Chh! Who was this gray and white menace to tell him where he did and didn't belong? He had to be brave for his siblings, he had to be the fearless one who didn't shy away when the adults didn't want him around. Not caring how Grimipaw decided to react to his attitude, Thornkit's little fluffy tail twitched with agitation, his temper apparent, his feelings bruised by the painful memories flooding through him at that moment. Some great warrior you are, you don't even know who's alive or who's dead in your own Clan! [/style][STYLE=background-color: #4e5f75; color: #d8dee6; border-bottom: 1px dashed #6d7e96; padding: 1px; font-family: georgia; text-transform: lowercase; font-size: 8.5px; padding-left: 5px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold;]template by falkyrin of btn![/style]

[Deleted]

Fools in love they think they're heroes
Cause they get to feel more pain
I say fools in love are zeros

Cutting yellow eyes peered at the young kit and shown with some lingering sympathy. The gray and white tom blinked and cast his eyes to his paws. My emotions will get in the way of a proper conversation, Grimpaw thought to himself before returning his steely gaze back to the kit. "I am sorry to hear that, Grimpaw responded, his voice somewhat unsure and restrained in how he should handle the kit's news. Of course, Grimpaw had known of the kitten's parents and their death, but simply hadn't been able to place two and two together. It wasn't as if the tom could instantly recognize the face of a kitten who hadn't been in the clan a particularly long time. Grimpaw was startled by his faulty question to say the least. But, the tom did not feel bad for what he asked. It seemed rude of the tomkit to assume that Grimpaw would know of him -- as if he were a clan celebrity, or something.

The gray and white tomcat flexed his right claw against the dirt, as the kit began to speak again. 'I belong here just as much as you do,' the kit squeaked at Grimpaw and the tom heaved a heavy sigh. "Well, if that's the case, then you don't belong at all," Grimpaw meowed hatefully.

It was true -- the white and gray apprentice had always felt out of sorts ever since he was born. Like he was living the wrong life, Grimpaw thought to himself, briefly closing his eyes and recalling how strangely the other queens in the nursery had treated him.

As if he was a monster.

GRIMPAW

[/color][/right]

[Fawn]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,375,true][atrb=style, text-align: justify; font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px; background-image: url(http://www.clker.com/cliparts/f/2/a/5/12065641911180157450alnilam_Stars_Pattern.svg.med.png); border: 3px solid #021836;][STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 100px; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; float: right;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 70px; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 60px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 45px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=background-color: #4e5f75; color: #d8dee6; border-top: 1px dashed #6d7e96; padding: 1px; font-family: georgia; text-transform: lowercase; font-size: 10px; text-align: right; padding-left: 5px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 90px;]THORNKIT - NIGHTCLAN - TOM - 1 1/2 MOONS[/style][STYLE=text-align: justify; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; color: #d8dee6; background-color: #3b4759; border-left: 3px solid #4e5f75; border-top: 1px solid#4e5f75; border-right: 1px solid #4e5f75; border-bottom: 1px solid #4e5f75; padding: 4px;] "Well, if that's the case, then you don't belong at all," Thornkit's baby blue eyes grew wide with astonishment at the older tom's spiteful, dark words. He had the good sense to realize they weren't really...talking about him, more like whatever it was rolling around inside this cat's head. The fluffy buff-colored bundle of attitude cocked his head to the side, looking up at Grimpaw as though he were a very weird new creature he couldn't figure out. "What the heck's your problem? Are you half-Clan? ...Are you part badger? You're part badger, aren't you? That's why you're gray and white!" Thornkit's almost aggressive interrogative style of questioning ended in the full throes of a kit's imagination, the tom's fluffy tail twitching and swaying with the energy roiling beneath his pelt. That must be why he's so cranky! I'd be mad too if I were part cat, part badger. A Cadger? .... Thoughts trailing off, Thornkit didn't know whether to look at Grimpaw with morbid respect and admiration, or pity for the oddity that he undoubtedly was, even before he'd got actual confirmation on the subject of Grimpaw's...species. [/style][STYLE=background-color: #4e5f75; color: #d8dee6; border-bottom: 1px dashed #6d7e96; padding: 1px; font-family: georgia; text-transform: lowercase; font-size: 8.5px; padding-left: 5px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold;]template by falkyrin of btn![/style]

[Deleted]

Fools in love they think they're heroes
Cause they get to feel more pain
I say fools in love are zeros

Grimpaw's yellow eyes shined with the apprentice's frustration as the two moon old kit began to make a game, seemingly, about the apprentice's cryptic words. Missing the point completely. Not that Grimpaw exactly could figure out what that point was. While Grimpaw had had a loving mother and - bless his soul - a loving father, he had always felt unsure of his place in the world and reflected often on the numerous mistakes he had made for a cat of only 9 moons.

Before the tom got too reminiscent, he glanced back at the young kit before him and flicked his torn ear and expressed mild puzzlement. While some cats might be amused by the kit's antics, Grimpaw was simply unsure on how to respond. Joking with him ... Pretending that I am some half badger-cat or something preposterous ... would that really be the right thing -- to coddle him or to add to the horrid concept of innocence? Grimpaw thought to himself briefly, toying with the options and thinking quickly, so to not seem completely construed should he play it off jokingly.

The apprentice gazed at the kit with his yellow eyes and let out a small huff of hot air. The kitten had been through such a rough childhood -- dealing with the loss of his parents, and all. While the kitten was aged young, Thornkit had the mind many moons older than his body. Treating him like a kit when he's been through such things might seem mocking, Grimpaw finally decided and sheathed his paw. "I could ask you the same -- what's your problem? What gives you the right to come bursting into the apprentice den, like you have? What did you expect to find here?" Grimpaw asked, evaluating the fluffy orange kitten with solemn, seemingly unfriendly bright yellow eyes.

GRIMPAW

[/color][/right]

[Fawn]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,375,true][atrb=style, text-align: justify; font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px; background-image: url(http://www.clker.com/cliparts/f/2/a/5/12065641911180157450alnilam_Stars_Pattern.svg.med.png); border: 3px solid #021836;][STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 100px; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; float: right;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 70px; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 60px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 45px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=background-color: #4e5f75; color: #d8dee6; border-top: 1px dashed #6d7e96; padding: 1px; font-family: georgia; text-transform: lowercase; font-size: 10px; text-align: right; padding-left: 5px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 90px;]THORNKIT - NIGHTCLAN - TOM - 1 1/2 MOONS[/style][STYLE=text-align: justify; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; color: #d8dee6; background-color: #3b4759; border-left: 3px solid #4e5f75; border-top: 1px solid#4e5f75; border-right: 1px solid #4e5f75; border-bottom: 1px solid #4e5f75; padding: 4px;] Despite his mature (for his age) responses, Thornkit was far from ready for a philosophical discussion, and was nowhere near old enough to properly come up with a halfway decent response to What did you expect to find here? The little buff kitten shrugged, frowning up at Grimpaw as though he were having a conversation with a creature he wasn't sure was planning on eating him or not. A more innocent, less emotionally damaged kitten would've backed down and ran scuttling back to his mother's side at the method with which Grimpaw spoke to him, but not Thornkit. He wasn't the least bit scared of this ol' cadger, that was for sure! Tilting his head from side to the other, Thornkit seemed to contemplate it a few seconds longer before a yawn had the kitten's jaws parting and the question losing it's seriousness for him. What gave him the right? "My parents," he said simply, as if that were the answer to everything. He wet his paw and rubbed it over his face, as though vocalizing the fact that he had had parents at one point reminded him to follow one of their golden rules - always keep up a proper grooming regiment. "I wasn't really expecting to find anything, just wanted to see if you were interesting to talk to or not." Replied the kitten, not quite giving out his verdict on whether he found Grimpaw to be worthy of a continued conversation. The little tom studied Grimpaw again, his thoughts coming full circle to what GRIMPAW would be expecting to find here, and he almost turned the question back around on the older tom, if he could remember how to phrase it properly. "Do you always just sit here and look grumpy?" [/style][STYLE=background-color: #4e5f75; color: #d8dee6; border-bottom: 1px dashed #6d7e96; padding: 1px; font-family: georgia; text-transform: lowercase; font-size: 8.5px; padding-left: 5px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold;]template by falkyrin of btn![/style]

[Deleted]

Fools in love they think they're heroes
Cause they get to feel more pain
I say fools in love are zeros

The young tom unsheathed his claws and scraped against the ground. The gray and white tom was less than amused by the kit's presence. His gray tail flicked back and forth at a not quite lashing speed. The apprentice was growing impatient -- especially when the kit responded simply by saying that his parents had been what he expected to find here. The kitten had clearly not thought very hard about his words and the tom was somewhat put off by the kit's lack of consideration.

Sheathing his paw, the tom gazed at Thornkit with critical yellow eyes. "And why is it that you let cats who you hardly even knew control you?" Grimpaw questioned the kitten, harshly flicking his tail and drawing up dirt. The apprentice thought back to his father and his father's involvement in his life as a father figure and as his mentor. If only he'd stayed out of it, I would've gotten along much better, Grimpaw thought, suddenly reminded of his torn ear as he stared at the small kit. My father was not there for me. He did not matter. Why should his? Grimpaw wondered.

'I wasn't really expecting to find anything, just wanted to see if you were interesting to talk to or not,' Thornkit added. As if that would help his case -- Grimpaw still felt that the not even 3 moon old kit had no belonging in the apprentice den. Why is it that this kit seems so determined to grow up so fast? Through growing up, all he will experience is more heartache, Grimpaw pondered and observed that apprentice with curious and reflective eyes. The kit was very mature for his age and while he still had the imagination and creativity of a kit, Thornkit had a purpose and a wisdom found only from experience.

The fluffy orange kit then said something very curious to the apprentice. 'Do you always just sit here and look grumpy?' Thornkit asked. The tom flicked his ears and peered at the kitten. His tail lashing hit a maximum speed at this point and the anger and hurt gradually flooded into the tom's eyes. Grimpaw could not comprehend the kits word's, but for some reason they made him upset. I am very truthful. Nothing more, nothing less, Grimpaw told himself. Certainly not, by this kit's terms, "grumpy" Grimpaw added to himself, helping to reassure himself that the tom was perfectly pleasant to be around and that cats even wanted his presence.

"With so little to hunt these days, sitting around idly is as good as anything," Grimpaw simply meowed, ignoring the comment about being grumpy.

GRIMPAW

[/color][/right]
uhg my muse.

[Fawn]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,375,true][atrb=style, text-align: justify; font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px; background-image: url(http://www.clker.com/cliparts/f/2/a/5/12065641911180157450alnilam_Stars_Pattern.svg.med.png); border: 3px solid #021836;][STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 100px; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; float: right;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 70px; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 60px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 45px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=background-color: #4e5f75; color: #d8dee6; border-top: 1px dashed #6d7e96; padding: 1px; font-family: georgia; text-transform: lowercase; font-size: 10px; text-align: right; padding-left: 5px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 90px;]THORNKIT - NIGHTCLAN - TOM - 1 1/2 MOONS[/style][STYLE=text-align: justify; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; color: #d8dee6; background-color: #3b4759; border-left: 3px solid #4e5f75; border-top: 1px solid#4e5f75; border-right: 1px solid #4e5f75; border-bottom: 1px solid #4e5f75; padding: 4px;] "And why is it that you let cats who you hardly even knew control you?" "You say weird stuff." Thornkit responded, flicking an ear in Grimpaw's direction with utter vexation on his little pale-furred face, the tan fluffball lost along the way of trying to figure out Grimpaw's statement. It was possible for Thornkit to make the connection that Grimpaw was talking about his parents, the gray and white tom should've been more specific if he'd expected a decent response out of the tiny soon-to-be apprentice. Not really sure he was having fun with these conversations anymore, but not willing to go back to the nursery, Thornkit laid down and mimicked the older tom's pose, finding that to be more interesting at the moment, than whatever it was Grimpaw was trying to say. The older tom seemed to space out just then, and Thornkit watched, not interrupting as a brief silence fell between them. The kitten leaned forward as though to nibble on Grimpaw's front left paw with his needle teeth had the would-be-warrior's next words not stopped him in his tracks, capturing the kitten's short attention span once more. "With so little to hunt these days, sitting around idly is as good as anything," Thornkit let out a soft chuff, finding Griimpaw's words kind of funny. "Aren't apprentices supposed to train? Is it boring being an apprentice? Fishpaw says it's overrated - but I don't know what that means." Whether the kitten was hoping for enlightenment on the word missing from his vocabulary or just talking was yet to be seen, but Thornkit was still here, so he must've been interested in finishing this conversation or else why would he still be skulking about? [/style][STYLE=background-color: #4e5f75; color: #d8dee6; border-bottom: 1px dashed #6d7e96; padding: 1px; font-family: georgia; text-transform: lowercase; font-size: 8.5px; padding-left: 5px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold;]template by falkyrin of btn![/style]

[Deleted]

Fools in love they think they're heroes
Cause they get to feel more pain
I say fools in love are zeros

The older apprentice observed the young kit with yellow eyes that were gradually losing interest in the kit. At his question, Thornkit could come up with no response. Not even a bad one. Grimpaw thought, peering at the fluffy tan kitten with unsupportive and critical eyes. Grimpaw always believed that a wrong or not particularly well thought up answer was always better than no answer at all.

But, alas, the cat he was speaking to was just a kitten and after reflecting upon his question for a few moments, he found that it was inappropriate for a kitten of Thornkit's age to respond to, let alone understand. Simply, the gray and white tom had sized Thornkit up to be bigger and much more mentally mature than he actually was (though Thornkit was still much more mature than most kits his age).

Grimpaw gave a faint smile to the kitten as he began to chat about something less on the philosophical side in response to his further comment on the kill. Grimpaw was somewhat relieved to push past the concept of Grimpaw's grumpiness, which he still did not understand. 'Aren't apprentices supposed to train? Is it boring being an apprentice? Fishpaw says it's overrated - but I don't know what that means,' Grimpaw gazed at the kitten, pondering his words for a small moment before opening his white flecked muzzle to respond. "I was only recently reassigned a mentor. It a shame to say that I simply haven't been out to train with Blackwolf yet. He must be a very busy cat, like all warriors in this cold Leafbare season," Grimpaw meowed pleasantly, curling his fluffy gray tail at his words. "And overrated means that everyone gets very excited about being an apprentice and think that it is going to be very fun, but most cats find that it isn't as great as it's put out to be,"

[/b] Grimpaw meowed, dumbing down his words for the kitten.[/blockquote][/right][/color]

GRIMPAW

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[Fawn]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,375,true][atrb=style, text-align: justify; font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px; background-image: url(http://www.clker.com/cliparts/f/2/a/5/12065641911180157450alnilam_Stars_Pattern.svg.med.png); border: 3px solid #021836;][STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 100px; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; float: right;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 70px; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 60px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 45px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=background-color: #4e5f75; color: #d8dee6; border-top: 1px dashed #6d7e96; padding: 1px; font-family: georgia; text-transform: lowercase; font-size: 10px; text-align: right; padding-left: 5px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 90px;]THORNKIT - NIGHTCLAN - TOM - 1 1/2 MOONS[/style][STYLE=text-align: justify; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; color: #d8dee6; background-color: #3b4759; border-left: 3px solid #4e5f75; border-top: 1px solid#4e5f75; border-right: 1px solid #4e5f75; border-bottom: 1px solid #4e5f75; padding: 4px;] "And overrated means that everyone gets very excited about being an apprentice and think that it is going to be very fun, but most cats find that it isn't as great as it's put out to be," Thornkit watched Grimpaw's tail, his swiveling to show that he was still attentive to the words coming out of the older gray and white tom's mouth; when the fluffy appendage shifted as Grimpaw curled it close, the buff colored kitten launched himself at it, landing on the tip with a kitten growl. It was more practice than play, as seen by the intent look in the still-kitten-blue eyes of Thornkit, his fluff-lined face pointing up at Grimpaw's to respond. "I don't think being an apprentice is fun - well you get to leave the nursery - it's supposed to make you stronger, right?" The kitten blinked, sitting up, his front paws still on the fluffy tail-tip of Grimpaw, his claws sheathed, of course. Thornkit couldn't remember anyone ever telling him that being an apprentice was fun - then again, his memories of the past couple of weeks were not crystal clear. His parents were dead, the timeline seemed to halt just then, not going back any farther than where it needed to. From what he had learned of this world from that tragedy, Thornkit had gleaned things like becoming a strong warrior were all that mattered, that protecting the cats you still had was all that mattered. Having fun didn't matter. It just didn't. "Can you teach me stuff?" mewed the kitten, his eyes shifting away from Grimpaw's face to the ground, as though feeling shy or uncomfortable directly asking for help or advice. The buff kitten kneaded Grimpaw's tail in a fidgety sort of manner, though with no intention of upsetting or discomforting Grimpaw. [/style][STYLE=background-color: #4e5f75; color: #d8dee6; border-bottom: 1px dashed #6d7e96; padding: 1px; font-family: georgia; text-transform: lowercase; font-size: 8.5px; padding-left: 5px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold;]template by falkyrin of btn![/style]

[Deleted]

Fools in love they think they're heroes
Cause they get to feel more pain
I say fools in love are zeros

Brilliant yellow eyes the color of the moon watched the kitten -- Thornkit -- before him, his whiskers beginning to twitch with interest. Though Thornkit was only a kit and maintained some of the annoying, immature qualities of the average kitten, experience had made him wise, and in some case, unnaturally not kit-like. Grimpaw had simply assumed that Thornkit would not understand the concept of apprenticeship being not fun. Oh, the horror, Grimpaw feigned, bemused with himself before regaining his composure and analyzing Thornkit. 'I don't think being an apprentice is fun - well you get to leave the nursery - it's supposed to make you stronger, right?' Thornkit asked and Grimpaw nodded. Stronger was not really the word he would use in the literal sense -- though the gray and white apprentice did figure that as training went on, a cat would gain some muscle mass. "Apprenticeship teaches you independence, and how to help your clan. If you have a good mentor, that is," Grimpaw told the kitten. Grimpaw was a little unsure how to address Thornkit, still. While he had kitten like qualities and was not used to the philosophical, soul searching questions that Grimpaw longed to ask him, the kitten might also feel offended if Grimpaw withdrew the truth from him.

Thornkit asked a very interesting question, and the apprentice's ears flicked forward with the prospect. Grimpaw was somewhat taken aback that the kitten would ask him to teach the kit, and was unsure if he was properly trained to teach. "I don't think I'm a very good apprentice. I suppose I could ask whomever is in charge of you?" Grimpaw meowed, tilting his head and unsure if he wanted to kill Thornkit's hopes by flat out saying no.

GRIMPAW

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[Fawn]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,375,true][atrb=style, text-align: justify; font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; padding: 5px; background-image: url(http://www.clker.com/cliparts/f/2/a/5/12065641911180157450alnilam_Stars_Pattern.svg.med.png); border: 3px solid #021836;][STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 100px; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; float: right;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 70px; overflow: hidden; height: 100px; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 60px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=border: 5px solid #061220; width: 45px; height: 100px; overflow: hidden; float: right; margin-right: 2px;][/style] [STYLE=background-color: #4e5f75; color: #d8dee6; border-top: 1px dashed #6d7e96; padding: 1px; font-family: georgia; text-transform: lowercase; font-size: 10px; text-align: right; padding-left: 5px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 90px;]THORNKIT - NIGHTCLAN - TOM - 1 1/2 MOONS[/style][STYLE=text-align: justify; font-size: 10px; font-weight: normal; color: #d8dee6; background-color: #3b4759; border-left: 3px solid #4e5f75; border-top: 1px solid#4e5f75; border-right: 1px solid #4e5f75; border-bottom: 1px solid #4e5f75; padding: 4px;] The words Grimpaw spoke brought a slight frown to the buff-colored kitten's face. What if he got a bad mentor? Would he be an awful apprentice, then? Would he be bad at hunting and fighting if he got a lousy teacher? The tom-kit's imploring gaze swept around the whole of the camp - how could you tell who was a good mentor and who wasn't, just by looking at them? Well, even Thornkit was old enough to know that Ratfur wasn't a good mentor. Everyone seemed to look at him with either pity or disgust or sympathy, plus he'd overheard Blackwolf chewing him out earlier for not bringing back anything... "I don't think I'm a very good apprentice. I suppose I could ask whomever is in charge of you?" Thornkit, for a few seconds, could only stare blankly at Grimpaw, not sure who to say was in charge of him. Honestly? He was in charge of himself. Well, there was a queen, Quaildapple who nursed him and his siblings, but he wouldn't go as far as to say she was in charge of them, she was...just there. She wasn't his mother, she just...was. Ears flattening, the kitten seemed to be wracking his tiny brain, seriously considering how best to answer Grimpaw's question. Suddenly, Thornkit was flooded by a familiar, warm scent of a black she-cat who was much older than Grimpaw and Thornkit combined, but had that same kind of warmth and kindness that his mother had had... She always visited them, she always kept an eye of them, she always told them what good kits they were. He liked her, but he wouldn't admit it. "Gracklefire," responded Thornkit, almost nonchalant. He would never replace his parents, and Thornkit felt the need to clarify the situation, desperate to be a loyal son to the parents he was growing up without. "She's not my mom or adoptive mom or whatever. She's just...in charge." There. That was pretty clear, wasn't it? Ears pricking forward again, Thornkit dropped into a kittenish, sloppy hunting crouch, his rump wriggling as he made another attempt to 'sneak up on' Grimpaw's tail. But It's more fun when he moves it... [/style][STYLE=background-color: #4e5f75; color: #d8dee6; border-bottom: 1px dashed #6d7e96; padding: 1px; font-family: georgia; text-transform: lowercase; font-size: 8.5px; padding-left: 5px; letter-spacing: 1px; font-weight: bold;]template by falkyrin of btn![/style]

[Deleted]

Fools in love they think they're heroes
Cause they get to feel more pain
I say fools in love are zeros

Grimpaw's eyes lowered to his paws as he saw Thornkit turn over the new, somewhat dark information that Grimpaw had provided him. As Grimpaw watched, a frown creased over the white and gray tom's features. Thornkit seemed somewhat concerned about the apprentice now -- though Grimpaw was not quite sure if it was something that he had caused at this very moment, or if Thornkit had always been worried about apprentice life. The tom did feel that if he had been the cause of the young kit's stress, it was his job to rectify the situation. "If you train hard, you can still be a great warrior. I lost my mentor a moon ago and I was without a mentor for a long time before Ravenstar assigned me to Blackwolf. I trained hard on my own. I am behind the other apprentices, but not too behind! If you train on your own, you can definitely succeed even will a poor mentor," Grimpaw told the kitten and gave him an earnest smile. Though Grimpaw was not sure if this was entirely true, he did not want to worry the kitten about things that were so far into his future. There were so many avenues for an apprentice to take to become a great warrior that Grimpaw did honestly feel that with effort, an apprentice could make a great warrior no matter the circumstances. If only it was easier said than done, Grimpaw thought to himself and sighed. The gray and white tom felt that while he did practice hard, without the proper knowledge of proper techniques, Grimpaw's hunting skills had been developed through facing a lot of failures. The apprentice had been discouraged a lot because of these failures and had to teach himself to accept the failures in order to grow from them and make himself a more successful apprentice.

Somehow, Grimpaw felt that Thornkit was a kitten who had more spirit and perseverance than himself. The young tom felt that Thornkit, based on his personality traits, should develop into a good warrior. Something stopped Grimpaw from saying so -- the idea of pride. While Grimpaw didn't want to make Thornkit worry about his apprenticeship, he also did not want to suggest that Thornkit would develop into a strong warrior no matter what path he treaded.

Spending no more time on the topic, Grimpaw watched as Thornkit identified the cat in charge of him. The gray and white apprentice had assumed that Thornkit would indicate his foster mother as being the cat in charge of him, but withheld in the slight surprise of the situation as he held the fluffy kitten in his gaze. "I will definitely ask Gracklefire if it is ok. Along with the queen involved with you and your siblings," Grimpaw told Thornkit and felt a little awkward with the lack of connections in Thornkit's life.

The tom stopped to think -- and realize that he and Thornkit were more similar than he had initially realized. Both he and Thornkit were without parents and had felt alone. "I don't see why we can't start training now," Grimpaw meowed uncharacteristically.

He sympathized with Thornkit.

GRIMPAW

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