[ti]Private[/ti]who dares obstruct me while i am ACCUMULATING NOURISHMENT

[Meow]

Scorchpaw had been sent out on a great and important quest for the day. It would be he who would trek far into the forests of IvyClan in search of sustenance for his clan mates, for, without said sustenance, they would surely starve and meet an unfortunate and untimely end from their unsated hunger. A fire had ignited in his large yellow eyes as he stepped, calmly, carefully, along a forest path, his kittybrows lowered with intense concentration as he listened and scented for any sign of prey. Indeed, it was Scorchpaw’s first sustenance-finding quest on his own, and he would surely bring great honor upon his family on this day… for, if he didn’t bring back a suitable amount of nourishment back for the clan, he would no longer be able to show his face in IvyClan’s hunting grounds for the rest of his life.

Scorchpaw halted his steps as the sound of rustling bushes reached his perked ears. Prey, perhaps? No… this scent was distinctly… feline. But who could it be? Scorchpaw had yet to develop his scenting skills, but he thought he could smell one of his clan mates. The tom glanced over his shoulder as he tried to place where the sound was coming from. “Remove thyself from the foliage that conceals you, friend,” Scorchpaw commanded, waiting for the intruder to step out into the open.

[M'Lady]

She had noticed Scorchpaw wander off from camp on his own, and after receiving countless complaints from Starlingpaw about him, she figured it wouldn't be best to let him meander off by himself. So she went after him, her black and white fur short and sleek, compared to her namesake and her kin. Owlstar was such a clever she-cat, how was it physically possible for her offspring to be as weird as this dude? Owlpaw had no idea.

So she followed, her steps quick and silent as she picked her way over the undergrowth to chase after Scorchpaw. When he stopped, however, she huffed under her breath. By the way he was looking around, he must've finally scented her. Took him long enough, she wasn't exactly hiding. He called her out, in that odd way of his, and she showed herself. Yellow eyes flickering with annoyance, she grumbled out a reply.

"You don't have to talk so formally, Scorch, it's only me." She addressed her denmate, her frustration showing in her tone. She looked him up and down, wondering how he could possibly function with that much fur. Owlstar alone could manage it and still look so elegant, which she had passed on to both Cinderpaw and Smokypaw with ease. This poor thing looked like he was drowning in a puddle of his own fluff. She lashed a black furred tail, her pity soon returning to her earlier aggravation. "What are you even doing out here by yourself? Your mentor wouldn't send you off on your own, would they?" Owlpaw questioned, looking a bit skeptical. If his mentor knew him at all, he wouldn't dare leave the poor thing alone. Scorchpaw was a bit... Odd. No, he was incredibly odd. He must have a lot of his father in him. She sighed, and padded forward to walk by her denmate's side. She would just have to watch him, then. Make Blackheart proud by taking care of one of her more idiotic clanmates.

[Meow]

Scorchpaw's narrowed eyes glared out from the pool of neck fluff that encased his head as a dark she-cat stepped into view. Her countenance was that of his den mate, Owlpaw, who had always struck him as looking far too much like her father, Blackheart. He always had to do a double-take when he walked past her in the apprentices' den, for he sometimes mistook her for the warrior tom.

Scorchpaw held a certain amount of animosity towards Blackheart. He didn't like cats having all white paws... and Blackheart had all white paws. Unfortunately, he could not hold the same distaste for Owlpaw's white paws, for she didn't ask to have white paws. She didn't ask to have Blackheart as her father. Indeed, Scorchpaw was a very forgiving and open-minded cat.

"I simply called thee a friend," Scorchpaw mewed, the serious look on his face not communicating the confusion he felt towards her reaction to his greeting. Was it not normal and polite to request her to show herself when he sensed her presence? Much to his relief, Owlpaw did not pursue the issue further, instead questioning his motives for heading out to hunt on his own. Scorchpaw nodded his head, acknowledging this question she posed to him. "I have embarked on a quest to acquire nourishment for my clan mates in order to bring honor to my family," Scorchpaw answered her in his usual monotone voice, his kittybrows furrowing further as determination coursed through his veins. "Fear not, Owlpaw, for my advisor has not requested that I take on this quest. This is simply the endeavor of an individual seeking to become a true warrior- of his own accord." Scorchpaw's mouth turned up in an awkward smile that somehow made him look even angrier. Though, as she moved to walk by his side, Scorchpaw cleared his throat. "Of course, this is a quest that must be taken alone, Blackh- Owlpaw."

[M'Lady]

The way he talked gave her a bit of a headache. Unnecessary words and complications, it reminded her of the poetry that Rainfur spouted off sometimes. She never really liked it, but Owlstar seemed to, she supposed that was all that mattered. In this case, though, it was a bit ridiculous. It didn't seem like he was putting on any airs, either. Was this just how he was? Rather odd indeed.

When he spoke again, she took a moment to interpret his words, and then quickly shook her head.
"Nuh uh, no way. Warriors aren't meant to go alone, remember? It's why we hunt and guard in patrols." She began, trying to find a way to get through to him in his own language. He was weird for sure, but he was her clanmate. She could make an effort to talk to him, it's what Blackheart taught her. A little flicker of pride echoed in her chest when he nearly called her by her fathers name. She admired her father immensely, hopefully she would be just like him someday. "If you wish to be a true warrior, then you should act like one, yes? My warrior clanmate wouldn't mind company on this epic quest." Plus she didn't trust him to not wander into a fox den by mistake. It wasn't his fault he was like this, she would just try to tag along and keep an eye out for him.

It was most definitely Rainfur's fault that he was like this, but alas, it could not be helped.

[Meow]

Scorchpaw blinked at Owlpaw's first sentence, which seemed to be a refusal to leave him alone. At this point, most cats shrugged their shoulders and left him alone, as he was clearly very capable of looking after himself. Scorchpaw wasn't quite a true male just yet, but he knew that, after completing enough heroic quests, he would rise to become the best warrior that had ever served IvyClan. "Thy reasoning is sound- my eyes have seldom witnessed a warrior alone, and one does not simply head into battle without comrades," Scorchpaw murmured, seriously considering the she-cat's words. Indeed, Owlpaw had white paws, but her words... they made sense. Perhaps this she-cat held true wisdom, even in her youth. With her second sentence, however, Scorchpaw was a little lost. Why was she talking like that? It was too confusing for his brilliant mind to decipher.

"...have thee consumed poison? I can't seem to decrypt thy words," Scorchpaw claimed, the seemingly angry smile turning into a weird grimace. How awkward. "If you wish to join me on my journey, I would request for thee to keep thy speech uncomplicated by unnecessary descriptors, friend, and I would ask that thee work thy hardest to assemble sufficient sustenance for thy clan." Scorchpaw closed his eyes as he turned away from the white-pawed she-cat, knowing he was taking a great risk in allowing a clan mate to tag along with him. One wrong move from her could cause great dishonor upon him, but... everyone deserved a chance. Owlpaw had uttered some wisdom, and Scorchpaw could not ignore the promise she showed. Perhaps they could become true warriors together. "I do not take this risk lightly, friend. I request a vow... a vow that thee will hold back no skill in thy hunt, for I also seek... redemption."

Scorchpaw could still remember the day he joined Rivershine on her hunt. He'd done his best to convince her of her own beauty and fertility, rather than focus on the task he'd been given. "If I do not redeem myself, I fear Rivershine will never accept me as a man."