ooc: first half is fox's thoughts, everything below the hr line is fox's turn to speak! <3
His apprentice exhales sharply, and the lead warrior exhales himself... in attempt to calm his nerves. He keeps wondering what she is going to say to him, she can have quite the sharp tongue, but he knows she wouldn't try to get herself into more trouble. Her gaze locks onto his, and Foxtail gives her a quiet nod at her request. Alright, he'll hold back his tongue.
His tail swishes behind him quietly, ears pricking forward as she begins to actually speak. That you're sorry? Foxtail wonders if that's the rest of Sunpaw's words, when her voice trails off. She seems to struggle on her words, as if she is doing this on the spot, but she opens her maw again. "I mean... I was kind of... wrong about you." He blinks with surprise as the words reach his ears, but gives her a silent nod that he's listening.
Foxtail holds back a scoff— more of a laugh, honestly— as the next few words leave Sunpaw's maw. Mostly at the mumble that left her maw, but she was quick to recover it. He didn't intend to nearly laugh at her, he appreciates her being genuine with him (in the way she can), but that immediate mumble nearly had him wheeze. Much like her, he recovers himself; he doesn't want her to think he isn't taking her seriously. I know I'm a scaredy-cat, The words don't leave his tongue, I'm not nearly as tough, or bold as other warriors. But the next words that leave her maw, genuinely, catch him by surprise— she thinks he's brave, despite all of that? I never thought about it that way. He always thought he was just doing his duties to his clan, even if it terrified him down to his soul.
The problem isn't only her, she cannot put the blame entirely on herself. He knows out of all the lead warriors, he is one of the most gentlest mentors. Beefang would've put a stop to Sunpaw's attitude far sooner than he had.... Snakeblink would've thrown her at difficult tasks; challenges to keep her mind and body occupied— to name a few. He should've had a better understanding of his apprentice, from the moment she was re-assigned to her. He nods his head with a softened smile, Sure, you can be annoyed with me if I tell you I told you so. Since when did Sunpaw make quick, witty comments?
His gaze softens, as the words he was wondering if he would hear reach his ears. She apologizes, repeating the word sorry more times than he can count. He listens to every word, without opening his maw, and he can hear the rawness in her voice. Especially when she briefly looks down at her paws, and it seems like she had more difficulty saying that one out loud. Not that she didn't want to apologize for it, that one must have more guilt— she was mere inches from his face, from not being able to take it back.
Never, ever, did he want his apprentice to feel so much.... anger (towards him) that they would resort to their teeth and claws. Sometimes he wonders what would've happened if her claws tore into his face.... how much that wound would've stung.
He lets out an exhale as his apprentice finishes up with her thoughts. He feels a weight being lifted off his chest— is it because she apologized for nearly hurting him? For expressing she doesn't hate him? Well, it's for a multitude of reasons... but she realized that he, truly, wants the best for her.
"...Thank y-you for that, Sunpaw." It's his turn to speak now, and the tom opens his shaky maw. "I appreciate hearing all of that.... from y-you." His eyes flash with warmth as he gives her a nod, his tail high in the air... compared to before. "I accept y-your apology." Or, more like apologies.
"I know t-that.... I can come off as a-annoying," He admits it, and he seems to look down at his own paws for a moment. "I-I know my stutter can be... m-much," He had to hold off a chuckle, at how his words ran off. His gaze lifts off the ground, and back onto her. "And t-that I can be... q-quite skittish."
"But what I'm t-trying to say is... it means a lot to me.... h-hearing that from you." Basically, thank you for dealing with him, all of this time? She must've been longing for a mentor who wasn't as soft, as timid— but she grew to understand why Lichenstar placed her with him over someone else. "I've noticed.... h-how much you've been t-trying," Foxtail murmurs, "I'm p-proud of the progress y-you've made."
He lets out a sigh, briefly dropping his gaze for a second. "I'm... I'm sorry too," He begins to mew, trying to find the correct words in his head. Evidently, he too didn't really think this through. "I'm sorry I-I didn't speak to you in p-private," He sighs, thinking back to what all started this rift. "I shouldn't have i-interrupted," Foxtail continues on, "y-your conversation with Owlpaw."
"I s-suppose you're right... that I also didn't understand y-you." He also admits with a sigh, she has a lot more character than she gives off. Sunpaw wasn't as fortunate as her fellow apprentices— she hasn't been surrounded by clan life the moment she opened her eyes. She had to adjust to clan life, leaving behind what she once knew.... without ever looking back.
She's had to work harder than some; to fit in as a RiverClanner as an outsider. He can only hope now, as she is nearing her warrior ceremony, that she feels like she belongs in this clan. "And I'm s-sorry for that."
But I'm not apologizing for the punishment, The words don't trail off his tongue, but he imagines he doesn't have to say this out loud. But it has him thinking now.... Sunpaw has showed a lot of progress within this last moon. She's acted far more like a warrior than she has in her entire apprenticeship with him. But can the same be said about Owlpaw? This punishment isn't one sided, after all.
"I believe y-you are ready...," He speaks out his words carefully, "to have your punishment l-lifted." I did say I'd lift it early, if I saw improvement.
"But, I-I need to speak w-with Owlpaw first." He doesn't want to get her hopes up, and he truly hope he doesn't for nothing.
He knows he should speak to Hemlockshine, it's their apprentice, but the punishment was laid out by him. He can only hope Owlpaw has taken this time to reflect as well. He supposes he'll see.
