Private the songbird's first meal [ pricklepaw ]

[howlingkit]

Howlingkit brushes a paw against her cheek, smearing her first bite of the trout across her misaligned teeth. The embarrassment of such a messy meal heats her ears, and the molly truly has the thought of, maybe I don't eat, for a short, sparing moment. She knows it isn't viable, and that 'not eating' will only ruin the chance at life she's been given. But this... is just an opportunity for the other kits to pick on her again. The molly stares at the trout, and the trout stares back at her, and she doesn't have to wonder where her appetite has gone.

A form of curly, chocolate brown fur enters her vision, and almost immediately the cream tabby perks up again. It's been a bit since she's seen Pricklepaw... their mentor seems to work them to the bone and further. It almost scares her for when it's her turn to be an apprentice (though, to be true, what doesn't scare her at this point?) They seem to be busy, yet the young molly raises a paw to partially wave to them, and then calls a somewhat loud, "Hey - uh, Prickle -!" Her speech has gotten better with practice, though improvements could only be seen in short stints.

Regardless, with their attention attained, the molly gestures to her meal, "Y'wanna... share this with me? I- uh... gettin' full, is all," she lies quietly, simply hoping that being joined by them will spark her want to eat again.

@pricklepaw

 

[pricklepaw]

x

The days have been long and exhausting, seeming to bleed into one another as the chocolate-furred apprentice patrols alongside their mentor. Crescentmoon is a good mentor, patient for the most part as Pricklepaw is expected to learn skills they'd never gotten a chance to hone until now. Snagging fish from the water and walking long distances are both difficult to pick up on, and they find themself lagging behind more often than not. They'd intended to return to the nursery at the end of each day and visit Howlingkit, maybe even bring her their first real catch, but so far things haven't turned out the way they wanted. Pricklepaw is lucky if they even get their own meals eaten before falling asleep in their nest. But today, as they head back toward their nest after a rough patrol, the waving of a paw catches their attention, and they turn to look at Howlingkit just as she calls their name. "Hi!" They chirp in response, fluffy tail waving behind them in excitement as they trot over to join her.

When the kit asks them to share, they tilt their head, ears flattening slightly against their head. "Oh, uh… I'm not s'pposed to eat 'til the kits 'n' queens eat first," they respond, their tone carefully even. They're an apprentice now, and even though their stomach rumbles angrily—even though it feels as though a pit has been clawed out of their abdomen—they pad over to their friend's side. Settling down until their belly rests on the ground, they aim to bump their head softly against Howlingkit's shoulder. "If I eat with you though, maybe it's allowed." And they'd also get to share a meal with their friend—the fish looks good, but Howlingkit also looks kind of lonely, and she's more important than just a fish.

OOC —

PRICKLEPAW

THEY/THEM, RIVERCLAN APPRENTICE
✼ stocky, fluffy chocolate and white apprentice with thick fur hiding their eyes. oblivious and naïve, yet determined to do the best they possibly can as an apprentice.
✼ enhanced sense of smell ; gets nauseous easily
✼ sibling to branchpaw, hollypaw, saffronpaw, skypaw ; adopted by pikestar
✼ mentored by crescentmoon
✼ peaceful or healing powerplay is allowed ; appreciates physical contact
✼ played by foxlore