Soulpaw kept her amber eyes on the path ahead of her as she padded through the forest on the way to Shadowclan’s little stream. It was the best place to collect the softest moss, and it was where she and Zinniapaw were sent by their mentors to replenish the elders’ bedding. Soulpaw knew she couldn’t be the only cat who hated that part of apprenticing. The elders’ den always smelled sort of musky, and its inhabitants would usually do nothing but poke fun at the little apprentices. At least it got her out of the camp, though, and this time the two were intrusted to go on their own. She padded through the territory alongside Zinniapaw, stealing awkward glances over at her as they walked. Soulpaw wondered whether Zinniapaw had ever been sent out of the camp on a task like this before, for her it was the first time. It seemed like some sort of test, Silverscreech had showed her many times how to get to the stream and Zinniapaw had likely been shown the same route; this almost seemed like a test of their navigational skills and sense of direction rather than a simple moss gathering.
Soulpaw couldn’t tell if Zinniapaw knew where she was going, but Soulpaw was following the faint scent of flowing water and fresh mud, ears pricked as she awaited the sound of the trickling stream. She didn’t know what to say to Zinniapaw, she had always been awkward with the other apprentices. She felt she didn’t really fit in with many of them, she didn’t like to play and joke around as much as some of the others. She let Zinniapaw’s natural confidence lead them towards the little stream, quietly waiting for the silence to break.
♡Zinniapaw/Shadowclan/Apprentice♡
It had been an exciting task for the apprentice. Zinniapaw was finally getting to carry a task on her own for once. Her mentor Ryefield had decided to partner her with the newer apprentice Soulpaw to gather moss. Not more than a moon before Zinnia had been the new apprentice in the den. And now here was Soulpaw. Quiet and seemingly disconnected somehow.
The fluffy ginger apprentice had pranced along the path, her green-gold eyes making sure Soulpaw was still nearby. The ginger apprentice could feel the uneasiness of the awkward silence between them as it hung heavy in the air. It wasn't that Zinniapaw didn't want to talk to Soulpaw, but she just didn't know how to start a conversation quite yet. Zinniapaw was social with her half brother Ferretfuzz, and enjoyed talking to the warrior's in camp. But she still had not figured out how to talk to the other apprentices much herself. Everytime she tried, they usually acted a bit awkward. Most likely from her mother's reputation in the clan and rumors. Tension between her half siblings and mother was still highly apparent in the clan, and she saw how much that tore Silverscreech apart. But there was nothing the apprentice could do.
Smelling the dampness in the air, Zinniapaw grew more excited by the second. Stopping, she turned towards Soulpaw flashing a bright smile. It was her attempt to break the ice between them. “I can smell the river coming up soon.” She mewed casually. Her mind quickly drifted, her own body tense as the word “river” left her mouth. Lowering her ears a little, she shifted her paws nervously. “When we get there…just try not to fall in the river…” Her voice quickly gave away the uneasiness she felt about being so close to it, despite her excitement to take on this task. Zinnia still felt guilt for her brother's apparent death as she watched the river sweep him away underneath its crashing waves. She did not care to lose someone else in her clan to the same fate. Trying to turn the subject in a different direction, Zinniapaw sat for a short rest and cocked her head in thought as she observed the black apprentice. “How do you like being an apprentice so far?”