An Apprentice. [hare & speckled]

[Darky [Megan]]

Speckledclaw was feeling lonely.

Usually she took such feelings as signs of weakness and thus ignored them as best as she could, but the feelings she'd stored in the back of her mind over the months had begun to get to her.
She felt a surge of motherly longing. She missed the training sessions she used to have with her father and wanted to douse herself in nostalgia by teaching an apprentice--

The word slipped into her head before she knew it.
An apprentice.

That was what she needed. Speckledclaw was sure of it.

Speckledclaw could see clusters of cats in the area, chatting and sharing prey. She spared a brief glance at the Boneyard before sitting down onto the dusty sand. Then the warrior looked around properly, eying possible candidates.

[sol]

Harepaw bounced toward Speckledclaw, her short, light toned fur fluffed up. She was usually polite and quiet but being a young cat, sometimes energy just flowed through her. Running her tongue over her muzzle, she plopped down almost on top of the older cat's paws. "Sorry, Ma'am," she apologized, muddy eyes wide. The fur along her shoulders was bristling with excitement; this cat seemed to be searching for something and Harepaw adored helping others. Leaning toward Speckledclaw, she twitched her ears. "Looking for someone? Can I help?"

[Darky [Megan]]

Speckledclaw's ears perked and light flowed into her eyes as a light-coloured cat bounded up. The warrior eyed Harepaw, sizing her up. I can't be hasty. Things like this require time to sort out. She thought she would test the cat first. Speckledclaw smiled at the she-cat, a sort of funny lopsided snarl (Speckledclaw didn't have much practice with smiling).
"Before you do anything for me," she said, "I'd like to know your name."

[Ten]

ooc|

"Speckledclaw smiled at the she-cat, a sort of funny lopsided snarl (Speckledclaw didn't have much practice with smiling)."
--x

XD That's awesome.

[Darky [Megan]]

ooc
"XD That's awesome."
x3

[sol]

"Harepaw!" the apprentice exclaimed, stubby tail twitching as much as possible. "What's your name?" She scooted back somewhat, stirring up sand around her paws. Her stomach rumbled but she ignored it; food later, help this cat now.

[Darky [Megan]]

"The name's Speckledclaw," replied the warrior, thinking that the cat before her was possibly a little too hyperactive for her tastes. Hyperactivity could be controlled and if it was done correctly, it would certainly be a good help in battle as an energy source.

Speckledclaw picked up the sound of Harepaw's rumbling stomach. Giving her another snarl-grin, Speckledclaw said, "It seems you haven't had lunch. How'd you like to follow me on a hunt? A few lizards should keep you and me going."

It was taking the warrior a bit of effort not to lapse into her usual snappish tone, but the sharp quality of her voice was seeping through bit by bit.

[sol]

A lopsided frown replaced Harepaw's grin. This cat, Speckledclaw, had an edge to her. At the sound of a hunt, her ears stood straight up and her tail wagged in a way, covering itself in bits of sand. Now that she thought about it, her paws were aching for a good run. "Alright," she answered, attempting to calm her tone. Choosing her words carefully, she continued, "Then we can discuss things, am I right? You are looking for someone, but not just anyone." Harepaw's ears went back as she mewed, "Correct?"

She was desperate to help others, but a part of her wanted something in return. Not much, just a companion or mentor. Speckledclaw might want to be her friend, but only, she realized, if she could calm herself down. Older cats aren't too fond of energetic, fidgety young cats, she reminded herself.

[Darky [Megan]]

"That's right," Speckledclaw replied, bluntly, unwilling to reveal her true motive. She wondered what the reason behind Harepaw's sudden change in expression was, and why, when the cat next spoke, her tone seemed to have dulled.

There was nothing wrong with the change in her tone. Speckledclaw liked the sound of it. It sounded quite a bit more sensible.
The warrior sniffed the air and her ears gave a sharp flick. "This way," she said, and began to move in that direction, knowing that Harepaw would be pn her tail.

"So tell me, Harepaw, do you have much experience in hunting?"

[sol]

"Not much. I can catch lizards pretty okay, though. If I'm starving or hunting for someone else I like to believe my determination gives my paws wings," she mewed, her tone lightening a tad towards its usual happy sound. "What about you? Well, you're a warrior so you probably have a bunch of experience. How many rats ave you caught?" Harepaw followed obediantly, oval-shaped paws lifting from the sand in a spring-like way with each step. Her long whiskers twitched, her nose seeking the odd scent of the lizards.