Smokepaw had been dragged along on a patrol but at the threat of foxes, he had obviously bolted. After running back toward the camp, the tom was exhausted. He hadn't been an apprentice long enough to really develop his lungs for running great distances, so he was now laying on the ground panting, still shaking with fear and adrenaline. He remained on the ground until his breathing slowed. Smokepaw was still feeling uneasy at being away from the camp though, even more so because there were no others around to protect him if a fox suddenly appeared. To make matters worse, the sound of his soft breathing was now so quiet that he could hear every rustle and sound around him in the forest. It was terrifying. A particular rustle and sigh alerted him that he was definitely not alone, and the tom jumped to his feet in alarm. He wanted to ask who was there, but his voice came out as only a squeak. He was embarrassing himself in front of whatever clanmate was there, but honestly oh well. Smokepaw turned around and started running again, desperate to be back at camp where there was a cloak of safety.

Smokepaw didn't register the name or voice until a small body barely landed on his back. He was going to die! The tom completely stopped moving and dropped to the ground, feeling whatever had jumped on him roll off. He panted with his ears back in fear, breathing in sharp little breaths that brought in a very familiar scent. Then he perked up and felt the fear begin to subside. Gingersnap! Smokepaw sat up quickly and turned in one fluid motion, nosing at the tiny she-cat to make sure he hadn't accidentally hurt her. "You're in DayClan!" he cried after a moment, pulling his nose away from Gingersnap. "Why are you here? I just ran away from a patrol hunting foxes! You could have gotten eaten." The idea deeply frightened him. He imagined the red jaws of an angry fox picking up his friend and biting down like he did on a piece of prey and the thought made him sick. He added, "And if you get eaten then who will protect me at gatherings? I'll have to stay in DayClan's camp forever."

He smiled at the nickname and felt already more at ease now that his friend was here. Gingersnap's story about the fire confused him a bit so he chose not to inquire further, deciding he'd probably find out more about it later. Smokepaw hesitantly prodded at her with one paw, trying to get into the swing of having a cat that he could actually be friendly with. The movement was foreign but nice. He hoped Gingersnap wouldn't bite his paw off in retaliation. "Are your parents as scary as you are Ginger?" Then his eyes flew open as her previous statement registered into his brain. He let out a little cry. "You shouldn't tell me secret information! What if someone takes me prisoner and rips out all my claws?? I'd tell them everything!"

(you mean in this thread? im okay w that!)

Sootpaw stood behind her brother, shaking her head in annoyance. Smokepaw had been sent out to catch some prey since he had never caught anything before, but the lousy tom was screwing up the task royally. Sootpaw didn't care for her brother but it made her look bad to have such a coward share her blood. She kept trying to give him tips but it was like he was too frightened to even use his claws.

Suddenly, the wind changed direction and there was a scent wafting in the air toward the two DayClan cats. Sootpaw recognized the smell of SunClan, mainly from her interactions with Discordantmelody. Instantly she tensed up, claws sliding out and stance ready for a battle. From the corner of her eye, she saw Smokepaw stand with one paw curled up near his belly and his nose pointing like some kind of hound. Oh, here we go, she thought, eyes rolling. Now she had to deal with this problem all by herself. But to her surprise, Smokepaw suddenly took off in a cloud of smoke and dust toward the SunClan scent and not away from it.

Her eyes widened immensely and she bounded after him, tail straight as a stick. Smokepaw stopped ahead of her where a tiny she-cat was standing, the size of a large kit. Sootpaw opened her mouth to say something - what exactly she wasn't sure - when Smokepaw spoke instead. "Ginger!" he cried ecstatically, lurching forward to brush against Gingersnap, size probably about to knock her over.

Smokepaw's eyes widened further than he thought possible. "You're coming to DayClan? Forever?" Her words about marriage shocked him and he chose to ignore them for now. What would Banepaw think? That was a bridge he would cross when he came to it and not a moment before then.

At Gingersnap's words, Sootpaw rolled her eyes up into her head. The apprentice turned around, tail relaxed now. Whatever was going on here, she wasn't interested. "I'm leaving," was all she said, a dull tone to her voice. Then she walked away.

Smokepaw didn't even notice her go. His eyes were still on his best friend. "My sister," he replied quickly, mind already thinking about all the possibilities of having Gingersnap here. "She was going to teach me to hunt today but you can instead! Or I guess you want to go back to the camp? I can show you my nest and you can stay there or I can help you make a new one!" His words came tumbling out in excitement. She was going to always be around now! He'd always have a protector!

His head bobbed up and down as she talked. "I want to be really good at hiding," Smokepaw said solemnly. He turned to head back to camp, shoulders raised a little bit with Gingersnap by his side. "Let's go take care of the nest first then!"

Smokepaw nodded solemnly. "Of course I can make your nest for you, but you have to tell me if it's comfy enough." Every cat had specific likes and dislikes in a den. Smokepaw preferred his nest to be closed off and small - a place where he could hide away. But Gingersnap deserved something showy and open. He looked at the leaf pile and began rummaging through it, searching for the perfect ones. Finally, he hooked his claw into a particularly large leaf and whipped around to smile brightly at Gingersnap.

"I want to decorate your nest with this color leaf," he explained, tail swaying back and forth with excitement. "They match your fur! Everyone will know the prettiest nest belongs to the prettiest she-cat."

Smokepaw's ears went back at the shrill shriek, but then they perked right back up. His tail shot out in a straight line behind him. "You want to date ... me??" The tom was shocked. There was no way such a brave and beautiful she-cat would be interested in him like that.

He took a hesitant step back away from her and his voice lowered to a whisper. "Gingersnap ... it isn't nice to joke around like that." Her joking was hurting his feelings. "You know there are a billion other DayClan cats you could be with instead. I can't - I can't even hunt for you. Or protect you. I'll be the worst warrior ever."

Smokepaw was wasting his breath. She knew all of that already. Her question had obviously just been a joke. Defeated, the black and white apprentice gently set the leaf down in front of her and turned, walking away with his tail dragging along the ground. He would go back to his own nest and hide there for the next moon.