To Belong to LeafClan [Lionhearted]

[Fablie]

[[Tags: Lionhearted. Sorry for taking so long! Foxpaw's 9 moons old, but I assume the proper thing here is to go back to when he was first apprenticed?]]

Foxpaw strode into the clearing. It was morning, but the sun was already bright above the LeafClan camp. The ginger-furred cat glanced at the freshkill pile before remembering; as an apprentice, he wasn't allowed to eat until he'd hunted for the kits and elders. That's right! thought Foxpaw excitedly. I'd better find Laurelheart so I can train and keep up with my sister! With that, he zipped to the entrance of the Warriors' Den and took a tentative step inside. Perhaps his mentor was still asleep? He suddenly realized she might already be out on a dawn patrol -- if only he hadn't stayed asleep so long! "Laurelheart?" he whispered into the darkness, soft, golden eyes blinking as they adjusted to the darkness. He waved his tail and backed out, turning around to wait in the middle of the clearing. Cats were moving around him, going about their duties; it seemed a wholly different experience from being a kit. He was mostly overlooked, though a few stopped to nod encouragingly at the large apprentice. He wondered where his sister was; when he'd woken up, her bedding had been empty already. He felt a tinge of embarrassment at the idea that she had woken up before him, and was probably already training.

[Lionhearted]

The sienna tabby she-cat had been so excited for her first day as mentor that she'd woken up too early; the sun wasn't up yet, and the dawn patrol hadn't been sent out. Instead, she paced the clearing, anxious to get started.

Morning-high came, and Laurelheart decided to wait in the warriors' den. Padding there, she saw Foxpaw peering into it.

"Laurelheart?"

"Right here!" she said playfully behind him.

[Fablie]

[[I'm very sorry for taking so long! Thank you for waiting. U_U]]

Foxpaw nearly jumped before turning to see his mentor's green eyes peering cheerfully down at him, contrasting with the dark brown masque of her face.

"H-hi!" squeaked the ginger apprentice, bowing his head submissively as he looked up at the warrior. He was large for his age, but at the moment he wasn't feeling that way at all. It took a minute for Foxpaw to realize how pitifully he was coming across, but he promptly straightened himself into a more dignified posture once he did. He was determined to do his best, and he tried to let his face and stance reflect this; he wanted his mentor to think well of him, after all.

"So, um," began the tom quietly, "what will we be doing first?" He immediately regretted his words after saying them, for as they came out of his mouth, what had been an innocuous question had suddenly sounded demanding and impatient to Foxpaw's ears. Please, let Laurelheart not see it that way, he thought, sending a silent prayer up to StarClan. That was how it worked, right? If you wished for something hard enough, the cats up in StarClan would hear you, right? Surely his mother would want to grant his wish, even if no one else cared...