[Deleted]

    Applewhisker was surprised to say the least, she had been hoping to spend some quality time with Oakblaze. In all the time they had known each other they had never actually been alone together, a given with the crowded nature of the apprentices den. She hadn't been so interested as an apprentice to get to know his den mates in more intimate ways, she had been tied up trying to deal with her mentors' bad attitude and slightly abusive ways. Applewhisker was thus overjoyed when Oakblaze agreed to spending time together, thinking he understood the concept of 'just us'. Oakblaze did not. He hadn't had the same struggles Apple had coming up as an apprentice as he was a giant goof and always would be, but he adored his mentor as far as she could tell.

    So that's where the evening had ended up as Applewhisker knew her former denmates completely, barring character traits kept as the quietest of secrets, she couldn't say she knew all the warriors that well. Upon realizing this fact it seemed to be Oakblaze's all consuming mission to see the best cat in all the clans spending time with his Ratfur deprived friend. What truly surprised Applewhisker was during all the times she had crossed path with Oak's mentor she had never thought to herself 'he's the best thing ever'. It might have been unfair as far as she could tell as Blackwolf wasn't a fan and perhaps that had rubbed off on her, but she was positive she had in no way ever let that sadistic bastard have any sort of control over her final character with his unruly upbringing.

    "Well I suppose..." She finally said snapping out of her own thoughts, realizing she had trailed off for a surprisingly long amount of time after Oakblaze had propositioned they go meet Ratfur. Flashing a unsure smile and trying to keep the look of disappointment out of her eyes she was ready for what would most likely turn into an awkward evening. Luckily for her, and this was one of her favorite traits of the goof she adored so unquestioningly, Oakblaze would never catch on that she was less than happy. He had a heart of gold, was always in good spirits and was most likely the most genuine cat in all the clans; Applewhisker loved all of his character so much she would never be truly upset when he completely missed the point.

    How could she be? If Oakblaze didn't do something downright silly on an hourly basis he wouldn't be the cat Applewhisker was sure she was in love with. The love scared her though, she knew about his feelings for the medicine cat apprentice... anybody who watched would realize his hints of affection were about as subtle as tail growing out of a cats forehead. She was also positive that Featherpaw was having none of it, she hoped more than anything spending time with him would give her the opening to steal Oakblaze's damn goofy heart as he had stolen hers.

Fate Admin
Phoenix

[Phoenix]

I'LL BE KING UNDISPUTED, RESPECTED, SALUTED

He had naively come to expect that his duties as a mentor would end after the 6 moons – or in his case, a horrifying 10 moons – of actively putting an effort into attempting to cram any semblance of knowledge through his apprentice’s thick skull. However, it became very clear very quickly that what he had hoped for was not the case. Oakblaze had miraculously managed to become a warrior (Ratfur still wasn’t entirely sure how it had happened, but he suspected that Ravenstar did not want NightClan to have the record for the single longest apprenticeship in recent clan history) but he continued to cling to his former mentor with the tenacity of a burr. Day in and day out, the younger tom consistently appeared by his side as though he were still an apprentice. Ratfur, who had a habit of making himself scarce, was beginning to wonder if Oakblaze spent all of his time tracking down his elusive mentor instead of performing the warrior duties that he himself frequently shirked.

Admittedly, the hero worship had at first been a pleasant break from the constant criticism he usually faced, but as the moons stretched on, it had become increasingly irritating. He needed time to himself, and with the younger tom following him like a shadow, he was never alone. On occasion, he had thought himself the victim of a group of bored StarClan cats – “wouldn’t it be hilarious if we stuck a completely useless cat in a clan where he would be surrounded by those who loathe worthlessness?” “oh yes, let’s give him an apprentice and see what happens.” – but Oakblaze was on an entirely different level. If he had not already assigned the position to Blackwolf, Ratfur might have mentally accused his former apprentice of being a shade sent from the Dark Forest to torment him for some undisclosed reason. Of course the new warrior, blissfully oblivious as always, never seemed to have any doubts as to whether or not his former mentor appreciated the constant attention.

And so, it was with an air of resignation that he regarded Oakblaze and Applewhisker as the pair approached. Evidently whatever beings that lurked in the sky decided that he deserved the lovely company of both of NightClan’s most effective Blackwolf-deterrents. Bright green eyes flicked away, returning to the frog resting half-eaten between his paws. Perhaps they would walk past him if he ignored them, he mused wistfully, though Ravenstar would sooner befriend Lionstar before Oakblaze ever managed a task a simple as overlooking his former mentor. But one could dream.

Ratfur | NightClan | Warrior | Be Prepared - Lion King

MY TEETH AND AMBITIONS ARE BARED

[Fate Admin]

Don’t got no master plan, I don’t got nothin’ at all. Please don’t think less of me.
The chips are in the air, I cross my fingers when they fall, and make the best of each.

---

Oakblaze was more than pleased that Applewhisker was becoming such a good friend. He loved having friends, the more the better! Though he was still kind of confused the other cat. At first he had thought Applewhisker was a tom, he, or she… had smelled like a tom. But he was often wrong about a lot of things so when Applewhisker told him she was in fact a she-cat he had no reason not to believe her. It was still a bit confusing, but it made Applewhisker upset if he called her a tom so he tried really hard not to. It was getting easier.

It was only natural that he would want to share his super awesome mentor with his friends, and when Applewhisker had asked him if he wanted to do something with her today he had quickly agreed and suggested they see if Ratfur wanted to spend time with them as well. He had been sure to tell her how smart his mentor was; he knew lots of things and never ceased to amaze Oakblaze with the extent of his knowledge. He was sure he was the best mentor ever in all the Clans. He also happened to be the first friend Oakblaze had ever made, beyond his siblings, and that counted for a lot, even if he didn’t realize it was a very one-sided friendship.

So when Applewhisker agreed to his plan, he bounced in place excitedly and glanced around the dimly lit camp for any sign of his mentor. He brushed past Applewhisker, flicking her with his tail to follow him, as he spotted the dark tom in the middle of a meal, “There he is!” He trotted over to where Ratfur lay, grinning like the fool he was, “Hey Ratfur! Have you met Applewhisker? I mean we’re all in the same Clan so you know her and stuff but have you met her? She’s my friend!” He crouched playfully so his muzzle was closer to Ratfur’s ears, half whispering as if sharing some sort of secret with the older tom, “I told her how great you are so I thought she might like to be your friend too!”

---

I’ve got a little confession, I don’t know what I’m doin’, but if you want you can play along.
Maybe I’ll wake to find that I went and blew it, but ‘til I do I’ll keep goin’ strong.
I make it up as I go.

[Deleted]

    Applewhisker followed her energetic friend, who she was beginning to suspect was part rabbit, and before long they had spotted their target in the secluded camp. He sat alone, which was no surprise to Applewhisker, and as they approached his body said 'meh' but the energy he gave off said 'oh god please, no why?'. This gave her pause, as she wondered if it was really a good idea to agree with Oakblaze's ideas when he knew not what he was doing even one as harmless as seeing his former mentor. "H-hello..." She greeted him warily doing her best to sound warm and friendly, she had no problem being friendly towards any cat in Nightclan, bar her former mentor, but Applewhisker was nothing less than terrified this was going to end in disaster. Not for Oakblaze thank god, she knew that he would be blissfully unaware as the rest of them watched a disaster unfold in slow motion.



    "I know we are aware each other, but I don't think we've ever taken the time to know each other." She started more confidently hiding any sense of doubt in her tone, even if the one she actually cared about would never detect it. "Oakblaze is a pretty great tom..." She said giving him an affectionate flick with her tail, "And he has so many good things to say about you."