As Ryepaw emerged from the apprentices den, the vibrant energy surrounding the small apprentice was almost visible. Her ginger tabby calico fur shimmered in the golden rays of sunlight, adorned with ivory undersides and brown burning-like spots that added to her unique charm. With a playful bounce in her step, she trots along the edges of camp, her wavy fur swaying with each movement, and a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Easily distracted by the sights and sounds around her Ryepaw paused, and she takes a moment to investigate a fluttering butterfly on a freshly bloomed flower or a rustling leaf. Her excitable nature was almost infectious.
After a few pauses and circling nearly halfway around the camp, finding a spot to sit and observe the camp clearing, Ryepaw plopped down with a content sigh, the smile still sewn into her features as her purple-blue gaze scan watches the daily go-abouts of her clanmate. A paw raises, claws unsheathed, using them to comb through the long furs on her cheeks.
The calico tabby had worked her way through brushing out her cheek furs, and even some of her chest when the sound of paws nearing her drew her attention away from herself. Ryepaw’s unique and bright gaze turned towards the other apprentice as she approached, letting her paw fall back to the ground below so she could sit more proper. Her typical casual smiled expression warmed, and she offered a polite nod of her head.
A paper thin ear flicked as Morningpaw stumbled over her words, and she let out a soft giggle in response. While Morningpaw tried to explain her stutter, Ryepaw blinked a few times, her smile unfaltering as she watched the apprentice closely. “Oh, hahah! Then yeah, it’s a grootiful day!!”
For a moment, Ryepaw is sat staring at the other apprentice with a blank expression, aside for a small smile. After a moment, she bats her lashes, before stirring in her spot to shake out her fur some. “How are you doing, Morningpaw?” She asks, her tail tip flicking back and forth where it sat just in front of her front paws, her ears angling towards the other apprentice as she awaited her reply.
Morningpaw yawned and stretched luxuriously in the late afternoon sun. She had just finished a good bout of training with her mentor and Featherpaw. The small gray tabby apprentice might look scruffy and harmless, but she packed a punch. It was still a mystery where she’d picked up her innate battle skills, but there was no doubting their efficacy on the field.
Deciding against a nap, though the thought was tempting, she instead made her way over to one of her denmates who appeared unoccupied.
“H-hello Ryepaw. Grootiful day isn’t it?” She grinned, realizing her slip a few seconds after it had actually happened, but was still powerless to do much about it.
“Ugh, I started to say great…then I thought no, beautiful and I said both..” Her ears flattened in embarrassment. You’re beautiful, her mind supplied, but she tamped down on that unwarranted compliment. The situation was awkward enough already.