Hello Feline Friends

Yellowfoot didn’t speak to Hazelpaw on the way back, but kept close, letting their pelts brush comfortingly. Clearly the She-cat needed support, but until she was ready to ask for it, The tom wouldn’t push her.

Hazelpaw nodded silently and started to head back to the camp.

“We all make mistakes,” Yellowfoot Replied with a slight smile. They had plenty of prey back at camp anyways, a lot of it thanks to Hazelpaw’s adept talent for hunting. “Let’s head back to camp. Maybe we both just need to rest.”

Hazelpaw guiltily slunk back to her mentor. “Sorry,” she mumbled.

Yellowfoot frowned slightly, looking up to find his apprentice when he couldn’t scent any more prey in the area.

Pinning her ears back, Hazelpaw scented the air, frowning when she didn’t find anything else.

Yellowfoot flinched as he heard a squirrel give a warning chatter, and sure enough, his query escaped as well, fleeing into the deep undergrowth faster than the warrior could hope to run. Huffing and shaking his head in frustration, The tom scented the air hopefully, just in case something was stupid enough to stick around.

(:3)

Hazelpaw was too absentminded and failed to catch the squirrel, said rodent letting out a chittering call of alarm/warning as it escaped.

(Ooh, plot twist!)

Yellowfoot followed after something else he scented, distractedly realizing a moment or two later that it was a mouse scent.

(I didn’t even mean to make anything bothering Hazelpaw XD but now that I have I’m thinking that maybe she’s started getting dreams from StarClan and is actually meant to be a medicine cat)

Hazelpaw followed after a scent trail a squirrel had left.

Yellowfoot was distracted from the hunting by worrying about his apprentice. Sure, she’d said she didn’t feel like talking, but clearly something was worrying her, and he wished he could do more.

Hazelpaw scented the air unenthusiastically.

Yellowfoot padded off as well, hoping the time in the forest would help them both cool off a little after the stressful day they’d had so far.

Hazelpaw sighed and headed off in a random direction.

“Good. I won’t push you though.” Mewed The tom, glancing around them. “I say we go hunt for a little while anyways. That way you can bring your mother something nice and fresh to eat for her and the kits.”

Hazelpaw nodded but was still silent.

Yellowfoot sighed. “You know you can talk to me if you need, right?”

Hazelpaw shrugged helplessly, not saying anything.

Yellowfoot let a concerned frown cross his face. Normally, Hazelpaw couldn’t resist a hunting contest. “Are you alright?” The tom Asked, standing back up and facing his apprentice with concern in his mew.

Hazelpaw pouted at him. “No.”

Yellowfoot shuffled his paws for a moment before having an idea. “Would it convince you I was fine if I caught a mouse faster than you?” He smirked challengingly at his apprentice, lowering his body into a hunting crouch beside her.

“Okay,” Hazelpaw mumbled but didn’t really sound convinced, looking down at her paws.

“Hit the enemy like that and they’ll know not to mess with you.” Yellowfoot purred in reply, leaning in and giving his apprentice a reassuring lick behind the ear. “I’m fine, Hazelpaw.”

Hazelpaw frowned. “But you’re not my enemy.”

“That’s what a battle move is all about,” Yellowfoot grunted, getting to his paws. “And I’ve taken much worse, believe me.” The tom smiled over at Hazelpaw again, showing he really wasn’t that concerned. The most damage she’d done was making him taste a bit of his own blood, after her kick made him bite on his tongue accidentally.