Riptide |Open + Hunting|

Like Marigoldpaw (and, she supposed, most of the Clan), Heatherpaw was also feeling lost and lonely. She had taken to hunting as well, using it as a form of escape as much as she could - with no mentor she'd been forced to teach herself, but that wasn't so bad. It gave her an excuse to get out of camp, at least, and her heart ached for the too-young apprentices named as such at the last meeting. It ached for her brother, named a warrior at nine moons, leaving both of his sisters behind as if Flamestar had decided Shadepelt was suddenly better than herself and Cherrypaw despite her sister being mentored by one of the senior warriors of the Clan. On top of that, Crimsoncry was ... gone (she refused, blatantly, to agree with Molly that he had to be dead - even when their search around the cave in had revealed nothing but the scent of her father's blood, she refused to agree that he'd met his end).

"Nice catches," she murmured through a mouthful of fur (the calico had managed to catch a small mouse), but remained silent otherwise. She placed her own prey beside what Marigoldpaw had caught so that they could take it back to camp when they were ready. A silent question hung in the air, the phrase how are you doing? remaining unspoken but implied in the way that Heatherpaw sat down by the other molly.

Sleeping out in the forest had Briarheart in the thick of a lot of the action that happened outside of the camp walls. Even if that action was a mere hunting session, she was privy to it. Perhaps the claustrophobia of sleeping in the warriors den was only a small factor, but hearing the going ons of the forest helped to feed into her self importance and allow comfort to her anxiety.

Three small voices would meet her auds, and they all sounded excited. It was quite heartwarming to see the newly appointed improving and working for their clan. She could only wish everyone was so dutiful as these four.

Shadowed paws would slither their way to join the group, green eyes alight with a small smile and a gracious dip of her head.
"Ladies," she purred in the way of greeting, thin mottled tail swinging behind her.

A small pile of prey was formed between the three, and the normal pleasure in her gaze was amped up.

"Well done! You may all prove to be great hunters yet!" She praised exuberantly. Any apprentice trained by the senior warrior would know she did not give praise lightly if at all. But the scent of sadness and fear was thick in the air... and Briarheart figured they could use a bit of pride and uplifting.
The morose way that Cherrypaw buried her head in Heatherpaws shoulder was testament enough to the feelings of these apprentices, and a small frown would cross her face. She wasn't tall by any means, but Briarheart would drop to her chest beside them, now a group of five in their solidarity. "Now, I may be old," she began lightly, casting a warning glance at the four she-cats nearby that they had better not agree with that statement, "But if any of you need anything, anything at all, please don't hesitate to come to me. It's okay to be scared right now." I know I am, the thought slithered unbidden down her spine causing the slightest of shudders to move her body. As one of the senior warriors of ThunderClan, it was her job to make sure everyone was okay. And in her eyes, these apprentices didn't seem especially okay despite the bubbly facade they tried to push.

The young warrior padded over, appearing not long after Briarheart. Her pretty blue gaze rested upon the pile of prey which lay beside the apprentices, and a warm smile immediately appeared on her maw. "Those catches look delicious!" she purred as she got closer, flicking her tongue over her maw to add emphasis. "I can tell you're all going to be great warriors."

Azalea wanted to ask the apprentices how to hunt - she hadn't been here long, and so the former kittypet hadn't learnt yet. She was used to just eating kittypet food, having everything she needed right at her paws. Food, water, shelter, protection... the life of a Clan cat was clearly a much more difficult life, and yet the snowy furred molly could tell that it was incredibly rewarding. ThunderClan seemed to have a remarkable sense of community, and they all seemed to care for and love eachother very much. The smile on her face grew a little wider as Briarheart offered comfort to the apprentices. These ThunderClanners were just so kind.

Deciding that she would ask about hunting later, the tall she cat sat down beside the apprentices, neatly wrapping her tail around her small front paws. She was more on their level this way, so hopefully the apprentices would feel as though they were equals to her - which they were. Although Azalea was at least a few moons older than these apprentices, she still believed that they were every bit as important as she. Azalea didn't like when older cats looked down on younger ones just because they were 'wiser' or 'had more experience.' She was sure that there was a lot that could be learned from the younger cats in their community as well.

"Briarheart's right. There's a lot going on in ThunderClan at the moment, and I know I might not seem like the best cat to come to as I haven't been here for long, but I promise I'll always have my ears ready to listen, and I'll help in any way that I can," she hoped the apprentices didn't feel as though she was being condescending through her gentle offer - she was just looking out for them. Her light blue gaze very briefly flickered towards Heatherpaw and Cherrypaw, noticing the way that the latter had buried her head in the former's shoulder. Oh, she hoped that they were okay. Hoping to lighten the mood a little, the slender she cat playfully gaze Briarheart's shoulder a gentle nudge. "If you'd rather discuss your problems with old Briarheart here, I completely understand." The young she cat giggled softly, hoping that the senior warrior would understand that she was only joking.

"I felt pain"