Mossballs and Mouse Bile (Nomnom)

[Trickle]

-Kinkpaw-

Today Kinkpaw had been given the duty of getting the ticks out of the elders fur.  It would be an understatement to say that it was his least favorite part about being an apprentice.  He could handle any other tasks just fine and he absolutely adored training.  but this, this was none too pleasant.  The apprentice always found himself wanting to get sick when he felt the mouse bile on his paws and when the scent reached up to tickle the inside of his nose.  Some tickles were nice, this one, however, was the exact opposite.  Luckily, the curly coated tom was only assigned to do one of the elders while a few other apprentices worked on the others. 

Kinkpaw had finished with his duty soon after he had started, but his paws reeked of the bile.  One time, the first time he had been tasked with this, he had tried to lick away the left over oils from his paws and ended up with some nasty breath for a day or two.  So now he was in search of a puddle or anything he could wipe his paws off with.  Unfortunately, the greenleaf weather had gotten rid of any water in the camp.  but, there was a small pile of mossballs outside of the apprentice den.  That'll do!  He thought to himself, bounding over.

He quickly grabbed one and started wiping off his paws on the sightly damp plant.  All that oil was coming off like a charm!  Soon he was rubbing his paws on it fast enough to tear away some little particles of it.  but, the moss became slippery with the bile and suddenly slipped out from under his paws, flying at high speed towards a leopard furred apprentice.  Kinkpaw quickly shouted, "Watch out!" And watched, waiting for disaster to strike. 

Tagged: nomstar 

[nomstar]

Ryepaw emerged from the apprentice den. She looked over at where some other apprentices were taking care of the elders. For once I'm glad that I still can't train! Even though she could put weight on her paw and run pretty well, Robinstrike and Bluewing said that she wasn't ready yet. The bengal apprentice stood and observed the camp. Why can't I do training? Shadowpaw had been teaching her some moves, but she still had only been out in the forest once. I must be the only apprentice to have done no training! Just then she heard a cry of, Watch out! before a mossball flew at her. She gasped and ducked just in the nick of time as it passed over her head and leanded a few ail lengths away. Angrily, Ryepaw turned her hazel gaze on to Kinkpaw, who was standing and staring at her. What was that for? She mewed, You.. just threw that at me? 

[Trickle]

"Ahh... Sorry Ryepaw!"  He quickly trotted over to her, his ears burning with embarrassment.  Usually the young cat was good at being able to keeo things in control.  but, it seemed as though the mossball had a mind of its own this time.  "I, uh, didn't throw it at you! It slipped.  You see, I was trying to get the mouse bile off of my paws and I guess it just got too  slippery.  It... ran away."   Kinkpaw sat down a little ways away from her.  He cringed, thinking about what she might have done if it had hit her right in the face.  Odds are he would have lost both of his ears.

Then he remembered something and blurted out, "I heard you hurt your paw, how's it doin?"  He blinked curiously, "Clearly it's bad enough to where you can't pick out the elders ticks."  He mumbled bitterly, thinking for a moment she was lucky to get of the chore.  Then again, he didn't envy her too much.  Having to limp around camp and do nothing sounded absolutely dreadful. 

[nomstar]

She glared at him. Did it just slip? I wonder... She had never previously interacted with Kinkpaw and part of her was interested to get to know him. Tghe other part wanted to cuff him over to ear. I guess it was an accident. but the she heard his bitter tone. Her fur bristled. How would you like to be stuck in camp for more than a moon? I've never even done any training! She turned away as tears filled her eyes. I just want to be a normal apprentice. She whispered. Ryepaw stood up and shook her pelt out. Sorry for being to injured to be an apprentice. She mewed as the bengal she-cat padded away to sit alone on the other side of the clearing. I wish Shadowpaw was here. He's my only friend. She looked back over to where Kinkpaw was. He however will never be my friend.

[Trickle]

Kinkpaw was slightly taken aback by her reaction. He had not intended for her to get upset by what he said, he thought he was just making casual conversation. He had half the mind to snap back at her, but that just wasn’t like him. And as soon as he saw the tears well in her eyes he felt bad for even thinking about snapping at her. Her saddened tone and sudden departure had made him feel even worse. For a moment, he watched her walk away and set down on the other side of the clearing to mope around. The curly furred apprentice shook his head, ”Whoa whoa whoa Dramapaw.” He rose to his paws and trotted after her. No way was he about to let her have a pity party for herself. ”You are a normal apprentice.” He affirmed as he reached her.

He sat down next to her, not too close and not too far. ”Being injured doesn’t make you weird. Being injured makes you, uh, injured?” He scowled at himself knowing that that was probably not the most enlightening fact he had ever brought up. ”I mean, sure, you might fall behind a little in training. but, if you work hard you’ll catch right up!” Kinkpaw leaned his head to the side and looked at her from a sideways angle. The new perspective gave him an idea, ”I can even help you!”

[nomstar]

She looked up in surprise as Kinkpaw came over to her. What does he want? She listened to what he had to say. A light dawned on her. Then I'll get ahead again! She looked at him. but first you have to prove yourself to me. She had a playful glow in her eyes. I'll show him that I'm a proper apprentice. Then without word or warning, she lept at him, smiling for the first time in a while. 

[Trickle]

Kinkpaw looked at her encouragingly as she finally turned to face him. Once again, she surprised him by tossing a challenge in to the air. ”How am I-“ He didn’t even finish. That seemed to happen to him a lot. He could count the times that he had been cut off by another on his paw, but he felt that at this rate he would lose track. Without any warning Ryepaw had leaped forward, bowling him over. The surprise was enough to stop him from moving out of the way. He had let out a started sound, but it was soon changed in to laughter. ”Oh you’ve asked for it now!” Kinkpaw scampered to his paws and away a little distance. Then, he lunged forward aiming a playful swat towards her shoulders with both paws, standing up on his back legs a little.

[nomstar]

Ryepaw bowled into him before skidding across the floor. She ducked underneath him as he stood a little and pushed up, aiming to unbalance him. Ryepaw was glad to discover that her paw was only aching a little as they played. After this I'm going to go and tell Bluewing that I'm better now so that I can go and train! She thought brightly, all of her previous gloom had dispersed and she was left feeling bright and happy.

[Trickle]

Kinkpaws tail whipped back and forth, this was fun! He had not rough housed with anyone outside of training with Sparkleap, so this was more than a welcome change! Plus, it seemed as though he had made a new friend out of Ryepaw. She was already much happier than she was just a brief minute ago. "So, did that prove it to ya?" He mewed playfully, once again batting towards her ear.

[nomstar]

She purred. I guess so. Ryepaw smiled and bounced around him. What re we going to do now, mentor? She teased, flicking her tail against his back. She stopped and stretched, glad that her paw only ached a bit. She lay down and looked up at Kinkpaw with a questioning look. Does this mean that we are friends? I've always wanted lots of friends. She closed her hazel eyes and sighed. Kinkpaw is nice. I was wrong about him before. 

[Trickle]

Kinkpaw let out a mrrow of laughter as she called him mentor. He flicked his tail back at her, ”I say that we should…” He scrunched up his face as he thought about it for a moment. The curly furred tom wasn’t exactly sure what to do next. but, he was pretty hungry after doing the chores he was assigned. ”I say we should get something to eat! It is a good idea to keep up your strength. Isn’t that right, little apprentice.” He stuck his tongue out at her for a moment before bounding off towards the fresh kill pile. Kinkpaw glanced back at her, a silly smile on his face.

He stopped at the pile and plucked up a small mouse. He had not gone hunting so he decided it would be best if he took something small so the others had more to eat. The mouse he had was a bit scrawny, but it would still taste good. That much he knew. Kinkpaw turned around to look at Ryepaw and then trotted to a shady area to settle down and eat.