break the cycle || open meet-and-greet, return to activity

_「

Hunt, eat, sleep, repeat.

How long has he played by this schedule?

The young male wasn't known to be the most sociable, and after last moon it seemed he only became more stubborn about talking to others.

But why? He had been perfectly fine among his clanmates, even offering a few words to those he hadn't talked to previously. After last moon, Silentpaw could be found mumbling himself, then falling quiet when someone approached. He no longer wandered out at night but that was likely due to the dog problem.

He spent all of the former moon clinging to his favorite spot at the edge of camp like it was his lifeline, crushing dying leaves under his paws and avoiding other members openly.

There had been a glare in his eyes. Silentpaw was usually known for his expressionless gaze, but there had been something bothering the tom that he refused to speak about. But at least now he seemed to be trying to integrate himself more than ever.

Slender cream limbs carried the blue Abyssinian from the base of the tree holding the apprentice's den to a comfortable spot near the center of camp. This would be the first time he actively tried to engage others in a conversation, and he wasn't quite sure how this would end up.

Nonetheless, the lean tom would clear his throat and ignore the brief flash of pain from its misuse. With a slight inclination of his chin and ears turned to either side of him, the ten moon old would call with a quiet and gritty voice: "Who wants to... talk?"

He really wasn't good at this. With a nearly soundless sigh, the young male would curl his tail close to his hind legs and wait for subtle signs of interest and curiosity from the others before he would continue in a slow mumble. "Name's Silentpaw... if you don't know. Ruddypaw's my brother." And that was pretty much it. The apprentice's gaze cast to the side for the moment as he waited for others to show up, falling almost perfectly still after a moment save for the occasional twitch of his ears.

_「

At least the first to arrive was a familiar face– and now he wasn't standing alone like a complete mousebrain.

Cold greens seemed to almost lighten a bit at this realization, and the younger tom would slightly raise his chin from its more submissive stance in order to properly look the warrior in the eye. Silentpaw still wore his impassive expression, but the soft huff of mild amusement that released from his maw would suggest he was actually trying to be a bit... less... himself? Maybe he was finally growing up a little.

His response would be a small shake of his head, taking a seat for the moment while his tail outstretched behind him. "I'm fine." Again, Silentpaw's voice was a soft mumble, but it seemed this was the best way to keep his throat from clawing itself out. Perhaps if he had talked more as a kit, he'd be able to speak casually like any other apprentice of ten moons: it was only a bit deeper than before, and would likely hit a point where it dropped to a thicker baritone– but for now, it was light and youthful like the young male he was growing into.

"Just... bored." Of the same old days he played into. Of the dogs that he wanted to tear into- though he knew better than to just run out. He couldn't even slip out at night any more in the instance that one of those ugly beasts found him. "... Trying to 'play nice.'"

He was certainly not his brother, but he would do his best to make the ruddy tom proud of his changes. Although he still didn't quite like talking, at least he would be able to hold his own in a conversation. Maybe he'd learn some sarcastic quips to toss at Maplepaw.

_「

The excited voice quickly grabbed the ashen tom's attention. Peeking his olive gaze away from Kestrelswoop, he would find himself gazing down at the younger feline curiously. Since when has he gotten taller? It felt like just a moon ago he was this little scrap of fur's height.

"Hi... I'm good. You?" It was the best he could manage. Turning his head to the side for a brief cough to clear his throat once more, he would dip his head in polite acknowledgement of her. "Enjoying, uh... kit... things?"