Apologies, Gratitude, and a Revelation

[Babylonranger]

It had been a few days since Harepaw and the other Whisperclanners who'd left camp to avoid the greencough epidemic had returned from their self-imposed, half-official, temporary exile. The young apprentice was slowly coming to terms with her decisions and realizations from this time, and felt that she needed to talk with Thrushstar, if he'd allow it and had the time.

Hesitantly, the large, light-brown she-cat approached Thrushstar's den. She'd not expected, in her heart of hearts, that the white and ginger tom would be the leader upon the group's return, and she was a little nervous about his reaction. She hadn't exactly given him a chance to respond to her argument when she'd left, after all, and she'd been less than kind towards Adderfoot which - given Thrushstar's friendship with her father - would likely make Whisperclan's leader more likely to see her in a negative light.

Grimacing worriedly, Harepaw steeled herself, ignored her fluttering stomach, and padded up to the entrance to Thrushstar's den. "Thrushstar?" she asked, yellow eyes blinking to adjust to the semi-darkness. "May I speak with you?"

Lionhearted

[Lionhearted]

"Thrushstar? May I speak with you?"

The ginger-and-white leader turned, flicking his ears in surprise at the arrival. Ah, Harepaw. One of the ones that left. He would've given two mice to say she was coming back to "apologize." I would've talked to her anyway, but if she's realizing and regretting her decision, I might as well go easy on her. She's still young. His gaze turned cool as his eyes roved over the apprentice, and he stepped forward.

"Hello," he said in his most polite but detached voice. He didn't want to seem intimidating, but at the same time he wanted to imply that he was still slightly frustrated with her somewhat rash decision. "You may talk to me anytime, Harepaw. What may I help you with?"

[Babylonranger]

Relief threatened to flood Harepaw at the Whisperclan leader's words but she took hold of her senses quickly. Just because Thrushstar was willing to listen to her and allow her into his den for a talk did not mean he was ready or willing to forgive the light-brown apprentice for her actions.

"Thank you," she said, stepping cautiously into the ginger-and-white tom's den but still staying close to the entrance. Harepaw felt her brown-and-white tail begin to flick in a nervous tic, so she sat and curled it around her dark stockinged paws. May as well get it over with. "I would like to apologize for my words and actions during this past season. I truly did believe that it made sense for a group of healthy cats to stay away from camp in a reverse quarantine. The sickness spread so quickly and what my sister suggested made sense. I thought it would be something like a long patrol." Harepaw looked down, ears twitching morosely. "I'm sorry. We shouldn't have left, certainly not sprung it on you and Fangstar without warning." Though, to be honest, she suspected neither tom would have taken the idea well anyway.

"I would like to thank you for looking after Adderfoot, though. I was worried about him." For several reasons, not least of which was how he would react to finding out his only living 'son' identified as a she-cat.

((Ooc: I should note that this does take place before she's bitten by the fox.))

[Lionhearted]

Thrushstar blinked at her, his gaze turning hard briefly. "Thank you for acknowledging and voicing your opinions truthfully," he said, his yellow-green eyes softening. "I trust you now, and I think that you are capable of proving your loyalty again. And you have. So, expect your new name at the next ceremony." The sides of his mouth quirking up in a smile, he stood up and dipped his head. "It was a pleasure getting to know Adderfoot. He is a very nice and noble warrior. You're lucky to have him as a father. If you have nothing more to say, then you are dismissed."

OOC: Shall we end the thread here, or do you want to continue?