private don't ask, don't tell / hawkpaw

[spicepurr]

@HAWKPAW

It's the end of the day. Spicepaw stands by the edge of camp, waiting for some of the other daylighters to join her on their walk home. A part of her almost thinks of asking to stay there for the night, but - Edenberry needs her. She can't just... abandon her sibling. They're supposed to be there for one another, through thick and thin, after all! And though this is both too-thick and too-thin, the chimera she-cat does not think she should be able to bow out so easily.

Her tail taps the ground as she sees a familiar mottled pelt heading towards her. Hawkpaw. She heard that he had passed his assessment, one that she had failed (she thinks purposefully, but in the moment she reminds herself that her actions are not meant to be definitive. Sometimes cats do not do well. Sometimes she does not do well.) Her tail twitches again.

"Hey," she chirps. Whether he meant to talk with her or if he was heading off on his own, she doesn't ask. The daylighter simply smiles, dipping her head, "I heard about your assessment. You did well then, yeah?"​

 

[HAWKSPINE]

Hawkpaw hadn't intended to converse with Spicepaw as he approached the edges of camp, but he's grateful for her company as she calls to him. He makes a noise of agreement, plumed tail waving at her comment; it's close enough to praise that he appreciates it. Hazel eyes squint happily, a purr bubbling in his throat.

"Even the hunting! I didn't think I'd get that. Now that I've passed, I never have to catch another bird again." Hawkpaw sighs, satisfied, his tawny ears twitching. For a moment, he's lost in the bliss of it, as if the sun itself has decided to alight upon his fur. While it's good that he's learned to navigate with limited vision in one eye, he can't wait for a life of ... less hunting, even if a warrior would be expected to do more. When he opens his eyes again, they land on Spicepaw once more, and he sobers slightly. His muzzle dips slightly, looking at the daylight apprentice.

"I, uh, heard you failed yours ... You wanna talk about it before you head back for the night?"

​

 

[spicepurr]

He talks in this sort of bouncy way that makes Spicepaw smile a little more, though in actuality she doesn't notice it. To her, this is yet another mindless conversation with her Clanmates, all in order to keep up whatever lie or ruse that she must. Her short tail thuds against the ground in a slow rhythm as she speaks, "Shame. I do believe most SkyClanner's prefer birds for breakfast," a pause, and she nudges her nose in the direction of the warrior's den, "Adderswipe once told me that he eats a sparrow every morning, because he thinks it makes him jump further, or something." Is there truth to that? Would Hawkpaw bother to ask?

He doesn't, at least not immediately. Instead, he provides a more somber conversation. His eyes flicker from excited and borderline cocky to almost... saddened. Spicepaw feels her chest pull slightly, and she presses her lips into a forlorn smile too easily. "There's not much to say about it. I... missed a jump, is all. It scared off my prey..." more than once. Surely Momowhisker is onto her. She tries to not think of it, "Maybe I should pray to never catch a bird again," she jests.​

 

[HAWKSPINE]

Spicepaw's story earns a purr of laughter from the tortie tom, squinting with the force of it as it bubbles out of him. That sounded like a kit-story! Just believable enough to maybe be true, even if Spicepaw's tone drips with cynicism. But ... maybe Adderswipe was onto something! Hawkpaw would just have to test that theory at some point. He would, of course, return to Spicepaw with his findings, becoming more resolute on the idea with each second that passes.

"Maybe he'll get you to try for a mouse or something next time." Hawkpaw suggests, pity creasing scarred features, catching the forlorn smile that he's met with. His tail curls, catching Spicepaw's ankle, a brief touch of comfort. "Depends on who's overseeing you, I guess. Hopefully you get Twitchbolt, or maybe Greeneyes; they're the nicest lead warriors."

​

 

[spicepurr]

Again, he is far more energetic than she, but as they continue to talk, Spicepaw cannot help but grow more fond of his eccentric behavior. Perhaps it's the conversation about nothing that draws her attention. Not about Edenberry nor the mysterious illness that plagues them - just training and assessments. She feels bad for lying to him, but what use is telling him the truth anyways? It doesn't get her any closer to a happy life, she doesn't think.

"A mouse would be easier," she agrees. Ground-scrounging prey always are. As the conversation meanders, Spicepaw follows it dutifully. It's lead warriors, next. "I was thinking Figfeather," she posits. "With her leg, and all - I figure she's a little more forgiving with climbing, y'know?" The cinnamon and cream chimera isn't sure what to say next. Twitchbolt and Greeneyes are for sure the nice councilmembers, whilst Slate and Silversmoke are evidently not.

She hears a chirp behind her, and her cinnamon fur rustles as she turns to see the daylight party leaving. A pout forms in her expression, only shortly, before she turns back to Hawkpaw. She almost wishes to stay the night, to stay in the normalcy he provides (that, frankly, any cat can gift her.) But... Edenberry needs her. Spicepaw smiles, "I've got to go," she says. In the same manner of wanting to stay, she almost invites him back to her home, all before remembering the same roadblock. "Thanks for talking with me, Hawkpaw. Same time tomorrow?" She jests, but she hopes he says yes.​