FITZGERALD
Something has changed—and Fitzgerald isn't sure if he can bear the thought that maybe it is himself who changed.
It is... not a bad thing, he decides, when he considers Hawkstar padding beside him. The mighty, scary Hawkstar, who had turned her nose up at him for every one of his mistakes, is now tolerant of his existence. Her praise at that Clan meeting still echoes in his mind. Teaselfeather's training had gone well, better than he had ever expected. Not even his indirect involvement with Flowercloud's demotion stings that much anymore.
And most importantly, his body has stopped aching for the gentle pets from his owners. Fitzgerald is still Fitzgerald, of course, so it's not like he has foregone all need for reminiscing, but that no longer sets him back. Even if he cannot win over every single one of his Clanmates' approval due to his previous status of daylight warrior, Fitzgerald doesn't deem himself an outsider within outsiders now. The gentle sunshine of greenleaf warms him pelt and energizes him.
"Do you think we can expect another downpour soon?" he asks Hawkstar, who he had dragged with him for a little patrol. Fitzgerald happily skips over forest debris—branches that had gotten broken apart from sudden and heavy thunderstorms. "I really don't want to be caught in the middle of it again." Just a few days ago, he had been on a private outing when the sky had decided to break open. Now without an apprentice, Fitzgerald has been trying his best to busy himself in other ways... but that day, he had to force himself under giant tree roots to avoid getting swept away. Not very productive. At least he is making up for it now.
Suddenly, the hop in his step comes to a halt. Fitzgerald's eyes widen as he sniffs, audibly and very loudly, trying to get all his senses to cooperate. "D'you smell that? It's not another Clan, but... cats, I think."
It is... not a bad thing, he decides, when he considers Hawkstar padding beside him. The mighty, scary Hawkstar, who had turned her nose up at him for every one of his mistakes, is now tolerant of his existence. Her praise at that Clan meeting still echoes in his mind. Teaselfeather's training had gone well, better than he had ever expected. Not even his indirect involvement with Flowercloud's demotion stings that much anymore.
And most importantly, his body has stopped aching for the gentle pets from his owners. Fitzgerald is still Fitzgerald, of course, so it's not like he has foregone all need for reminiscing, but that no longer sets him back. Even if he cannot win over every single one of his Clanmates' approval due to his previous status of daylight warrior, Fitzgerald doesn't deem himself an outsider within outsiders now. The gentle sunshine of greenleaf warms him pelt and energizes him.
"Do you think we can expect another downpour soon?" he asks Hawkstar, who he had dragged with him for a little patrol. Fitzgerald happily skips over forest debris—branches that had gotten broken apart from sudden and heavy thunderstorms. "I really don't want to be caught in the middle of it again." Just a few days ago, he had been on a private outing when the sky had decided to break open. Now without an apprentice, Fitzgerald has been trying his best to busy himself in other ways... but that day, he had to force himself under giant tree roots to avoid getting swept away. Not very productive. At least he is making up for it now.
Suddenly, the hop in his step comes to a halt. Fitzgerald's eyes widen as he sniffs, audibly and very loudly, trying to get all his senses to cooperate. "D'you smell that? It's not another Clan, but... cats, I think."
