Retro threads never say die (private)

[[What plot / time period would you like to start with? :) I feel like such a pushy friend for dictating most of the plots. Freedompaw taking Jadekit to the Owl tree? Or something else / later?]]

The cold, bitter wind was easing up around ThunderClan camp, but most of the younger and older cats still kept their fur puffed out for warmth.

Jadepaw's emerald eyes blinked open and took in the brilliant, snow-white fur of her best, and so far only, friend that had allowed and helped the grey kitten to sleep in the Apprentice's Den. You really couldn't beat being friend's with the former leader's child... Well, not that it really mattered -- ThunderClan was filled with so many cats, mostly young, that nobody kept much track of the less-than-loud ones.

As her pink nose breathed in the comforting scent of Freedompaw, the kitten's mind flitted to her imaginations of what the world outside ThunderClan camp would look like, smell like... FEEL like between her claws.

Hoping the new apprentice would remember their idea to go on a picnic of sorts, and being 99% sure she would remember since they could finish each others' thoughts, Jadekit simply smiled sleepily and whispered a nearly inaudible "You ready?!"

Her thin, grey ears perked with excitement and anticipation, but the intelligent kit knew she had to wait for the apprentice to rise from the nest first, to help mask her own scent from those sleeping.

Just as her cheerful friend uttered the first syllable of "tails", the grey kitten stumbled over a pebble and her tiny body brushed against an a random sleeping apprentice!

She instantly froze, before her shoulder even hit the ground, as if holding her breath and being perfectly still would somehow stop the assaulted cat from waking. Had Freedompaw heard the nearly silent gasp of air that the shocked kitten swallowed when her paw hit the stone?

The golden-colored, random apprentice rolled over onto her back after a delay long enough to wake up somewhat and realize that something had hit her. But, with so many dang apprentices stuffed in this one den, surely they were used to things, and even den mates bumping or stepping on them, right? Jadekit thought to herself, trying to keep herself from panicking.

As the older she-cat lay belly-up, blinking at the kitten who was now standing and shaking next to her, it seemed like time stood still, for no cat moved or said a word for quite a few seconds. The usually extremely talkative Jadekit was reduced to a quiet "Meep!" of surprise, humiliation, and fear. As the golden apprentice slowly came to her senses from a wonderful dream, she narrowed her brown eyes, trying to figure out what was before her. The random apprentice knew it was a kitten, of course, but in that haze right after waking, it hadn't dawned on her quite yet why something felt wrong about what she had woken up to. Then, her sunshine-colored face scrunched up with some recognition and recollection and she grunted the first question that comes to any creature that's woken up, "Hunh? Wha--?"

Jadekit smiled sheepishly, back legs still frozen in a crossed state from how she had awkwardly risen to her paws. "Hi... Hi. Sorry. Yea... sorry to wake you," the kitten stammered, trying to be polite and unconsciously trying to lull the apprentice back to sleep.

[[Obviously, you can play the random apprentice if you want or ignore it completely. I just wanted to see how Jadekit would react when the inevitable happened. LOL]]

Once safely outside, Jadekit sheepishly asked and confirmed at the same time, "I did get clumsy, didn't I, Freedompaw?" Her green eyes were near tears as she thought aloud, "This... this could get you in big trouble couldn't it? If anybody else finds out..."

The sensitive grey kitten didn't want to sleep by herself in the Nursery, but yet, she didn't want such a great apprentice to get punished for harboring a... a... fugative!

Twisting her head to look around camp for any cat who might be giving them questioning glances, she asked meekly, "Do-- do you still want to got out to the Owl Tree with me? Will you get in trouble?" Tilting her head to think for a minute, Jadekit asked the apprentice a related question that wasn't quite so sad to think about: "Have you ever been in such trouble you got punished, Freedompaw?... I don't think I have... Now that I think about it."

The poor kitten was just having a hard time of a beginning to a bad day, much like her roleplayer was.

Happy to once again have something confident to lead her around with an emotional security blanket of orders, the grey tabby smiled and nodded agreement as she followed behind her white men-- friend. She had to remind herself that since she was being "held back" in training / clan promotions, she was unlikely to have a mentor. Jadepaw knew it wasn't a slight against her, just a simple math fact of their being more young cats than older cats to train them! Besides...

"I'm still very happy we're friends, Freedompaw," the kitten purred to her BFF, voicing the remains of her thoughts aloud. As they made their way to the entrance of camp, Jadepaw continued with, "Yeah, I'm not sure how you and the others handle soooooo many cats around... sooo many others to interact with, read and respond to their different body signals... all on a daily basis! I'm going to have to learn a lot if I want to keep up!"

She giggled cheerfully as her friend led her out of camp.

AT her friend's instruction, Jadekit nodded and affectionately rubbed her head on the white shoulder next to her as they walked along. "Woooowwww...." The kitten drew out the word as she attempted to take in all the trees and vast expanse of snow-littered land. "It's so, so... BIG out here!"

Jadekit smiled, her green eyes filled with wonder. Then she turned to the apprentice and chuckled as she added, "That must be the thing EVERY young cat says first! But, you just can't imagine it from inside the nursery!"

Shortly after joining ThunderClan, and before meeting Freedompaw, Jadekit had been coerced into going on an excursion outside camp by some other young, stupid kits, but by the time they escaped the camp border, they were too exhausted and scared to even look around!

Always one for new, or old, conversation topics, she asked as they traveled, "Freedompaw? How long do you think it took you to learn, to memorize all the places OUTSIDE camp?" The kitten was once again overwhelmed by the idea of what growing up entailed.

As the tree came into view, a tiny grey tail shot up with excitement. "Look, Freedompaw! That must be the tree," her voice exclaimed with a squeak. She started prancing around, excited to see and explore something new. Jadepaw was so lost in the jubilation of exploring and her day-dreams about how the great Warrior ancestors of the stories used this place as a training ground that she completely forgot about the dangers that lurked in the shadows.

In the distance, an ominous "Who-who-whooooo," sound floated on the light wind.

[Short posts these days; sorry for any disappointment.]]

"Meep!!" came the grey kitten's trademark squeak from both the surprise of Freedompaw's sudden intensity and the surprise at being nearly bowled over by the white feline. Her green eyes grew wide with concern as she squeaked, "What?! What's wro--"

She was interrupted by Freedompaw's answer, which made her gulp down a considerable amount of her own fear that hadn't been there a second ago.

Jadepaw turned obediently and let herself be led back the way they came, but at a noted brisker pace. Only after they were safely away from the sounds and smells the of the large birds did Jadekit quietly protest, "We didn't even get to see the tree, Freedompaw." It was more of a pout, than a protest, and it would not create a grudge, but the build-up of excitement made the usually docile kit voice her disappointment.

"Thanks for protecting me though," she added with a sigh. "I hope I can do the same for you, one day," the grey kitten purred, warm with the happiness of friendship above all else.

[[Looks like this scene is ending. Feel free to choose and change to the next scene / time period whenever you want. ;) Freedompaw offering to be Jadepaw's mentor? Or Freedompaw's pregnancy? Anything's fine with me. ]]

[[Sure.]]

The grey kitten didn't look much bigger, but she FELT a lot bigger now that the ceremony was done. She padded away, content that nobody was following her with too much fan-fare. Jadepaw sighed, mostly happy, but with a grim realization that she wouldn't get far without a mentor...

And these days, ThunderClan, well -- all the clans -- Rustlepaw had told her last they met that he didn't have a mentor either, was short on the ratio between available mentors and those young cats that needed mentors.

So, the she-cat trotted, with an additional bounce for happiness at her new status, towards her favorite place: the Canvas.

Grey cheeks turned slightly red as a smile spread between them at the first call of her new name. She was trying to not let it become a big, not let it go to her head, but... a *little* enjoyment couldn't hurt, could it?

"Oh, hiya Freedomwings!" purred the apprentice as her friend rushed up. The slightly young cat nussled the older one in greeting.

Upon hearing the question, Jadepaw's face wrinkled up with disgust and she snapped: "No. Are you trying to rub it in?" There was no raised voice, but the tone said it all -- the young cat's emotions were running high, her head was spinning with how Clan life seemed to move and flow without her. ... Without even noticing whether she contributed or not. And so, that unusual biting answer was the result.

The apprentice sped up a little, trying to get to the big tree -- the place where she could climb high above the camp and pretend, for just a few minutes, that life was as perfect as she always projected it to be.

With emotions and adrenaline so high, Jadepaw never considered that the question might have led to something cool... Reaching the canvas area, the filled-out she-cat lept onto the first branch with ease and slithered about halfway up the tall oak tree without much effort at all.