As they entered the camp, Bluefur turned around, looking at her apprentice "I shall take you on a one more patrol later today. I would like to see how capable you are when it comes to hunting. Until then, take your time to rest." Gelidpaw responded with a nod, and watched as Bluefur padded away.
"So" he turned around as he heard Redpaw speaking "Would you like to get something to eat? Don't know how about you but I'm starving." He mewed brightly as he stretched a little. Gelidpaw shrugged "Fine." He said, aiming at indifferent tone but failing as it came out just as eager as he was feeling. However, black cat could bring himself to regret it when met with Redpaw's happy smile "Great! Let's hurry or others will take all the best pieces of pray." He mewed. And, as a playful shine appeared in his eyes he darted forward "Race ya!"
Gelidpaw didn't even try to hold back a grin "You're on." He mewed as he dashed after the tom. Redpaw was bigger and stronger than black cat, but Gelidpaw was lighter and more agile. Still, dappled tom had a head start so it was pretty much obvious he would be the winner. He reached the fresh kill pile first and turned back to the black tom with a smug grin "I won."
Gelidpaw soon joined him, sending him an unimpressed look "Yeah, it wasn't really fair." He huffed, a bit grumpily. Redpaw just shrugged with a chuckle "No one said it will be." he stated simply, before taking the biggest mouse in a pile and walking away, his tail high up. Gelidpaw followed him with his gaze before rolling his eyes with a small huff, trying to hide a small smile. He bowed down and took a piece of pray for himself before following Redpaw.
Two toms walked side by side for a moment, trying to find a quiet spot to eat before their attention was caught with a meow "Hey, Redpaw! Come here, sit with us!". Following the voice, Gelidpaw soon noticed the group of young cats sitting at the edge of a clan. One he recognized to be Willowpaw from earlier, but two other she-cats were unknown to him. Redpaw though was visibly pepped up to see them, as he padded in their direction. Gelidpaw followed him, eying the cats cautiously.
One was a pale gray, tabby she cat with green eyes and the other one snow white with blue eyes. He watched the first one smile at Redpaw as the tom settled beside them. Then her gaze moved to him, and he seemed the question in them "It's Gelidpaw, right?" the voice was soft and calm. Just like the smile she offered him "Nice to meet you. I'm Brindlepaw and this is my sister, Frostpaw" she stated nodding towards the other she cat. Gelidpaw gave them small nod, still standing there awkwardly. Those cats all seemed nice but… Gelidpaw could help but feel a little nervous around them. They were strangers after all.
Redpaw seemed to notice that though as he offered smaller tom a gentle smile, before glancing at others "Gelidpaw isn't really a chatty one." He stated simply "But that's fine. Willowpaw will talks enough for all of us anyways." He purred teasingly, chuckling a little at the offended gasp of a she-cat in mention "Excuse me, if I'm trying to be welcoming!" she hissed, the outrage clear in her voice " One can't even open their mouth without being judged! It's really annoying you know that…"
They all just sat there for a while eating, with a quite grumbles from still offended Willowpaw from time to time, when Frostpaw spoke up "So, Gelidpaw…" tom couldn't help but bristle a little as attention was brought back to him "I was wondering. You were a kittypet right? How was it? I mean, how the life looked back there?" she asked her blue gaze intently on him.
He thought about it for a while… how was it? Good question. He didn't really thought about his past life since he joined the clans. As a matter of fact he didn't want to think about it. Because it meant nothing. It was gone. Something he never could go back to. And after what he have seen here, didn't really want to.
But the memories sparked something in his memory, the image of a cold river crossing his mind. He shuddered, banishing the thought… it was all gone now.
"It was… forgettable." He stated simply, focusing back on his mouse "Nothing one goes back to." He finished simply. He didn't see the questioning glances the she-cats gave him, or the look of sympathy mixed with pity appearing on Redpaw's muzzle.
"…I see." Frostpaw murmured after a while, clearly not quite satisfied with the answer. The support came from, no surprise, Willowpaw "It makes sense." She sated, her voice eager as always after she nodded her head thoughtfully "I mean, I heard they all do nothing but sleep and eat some gross stuff. That sounds sooo boring." She talked, her voice sure and knowledgeable "No wonder you decided to leave." She was clearly too proud of her reasoning to notice the flat looks Redpaw and Gelidpaw gave her.
"Yeah… that was it." Gelidpaw meowed, his voice deadpan.
There was a moment of silence before Brindlepaw spoke again "That reminds me…" she looked at the black tom again " You said… during the gathering… Something about Tigerpaw attacking you then." Her green gaze studied him "Was that true?"
And just like that the atmosphere grew heavy. All the cats attention turned back at the small black tom. It felt crashing. Suffocating. But black tom's gaze stayed cold and firm as he meowed "Yes." Green gaze became even more intent "…Why? Why would he do that?".
Gelidpaw started back at her, his gaze unmoving "And why do you think I know?" he stated with flat voice.
"Because there has to be some reason." She insisted, her brows furrowing "He wouldn't just… attack the cat… Would he?" for a moment there he saw her gaze growing conflicted. Inquiring. He wanted to say something but was cut short a harsh voice.
"What is he doing here?" Gelidpaw didn't even need to look the way to know Tigerpaw was glaring at him, from across the camp.
"He is eating. You know, putting food in his mouth." For the first time Gelidpaw was honestly grateful for Willowpaw speaking. Her voice was casual although having a challenging edge to it "You should try it. May keep you quiet for a while." Well, that was a fine thing to hear. He heard Redpaw snickering quietly beside him, while he himself smirked a little. He glanced at the brown tabby only to find him with a furious expression on his muzzle. To his amusement though, Whitepaw standing behind him was also fighting back a small smile "Come on, Tigerpaw." He meowed instead, as always calm "Let's follow the advice and get something to eat already." He purred, obviously amused. Tigerpaw seemed to consider this before sending last glare Gelidpaw's way and padding towards the fresh kill pile, Whitepaw following him.
Willowpaw brought back their attention with annoyed huff "My, I hate how stuck up he is." She grumbled, annoyed though obviously quite proud of herself "Just because he is apprentice longer than us doesn't give him any right to boss us around. He's just a mean furball, that's what he is." She stated with a firm nod "As I said before, good job with beating him up Gelidpaw. He got it going, after being so rude, especially the way he treated Spottedpaw…" there was a sudden shine of realization and the she-cat was immediately on all her fours " Oh my, I completely forgot! I was going to get some food for Spottedpaw since she was really busy with all that medicine cat stuff lately!" she meowed her voice panicked as she was about to go to the fresh kill pile. Gelidpaw looked at her and then his gaze darted over to Frostpaw and Brindlepaw who still seemed to be following him with somewhat distrustful eyes, before he made a a quick decision.
"Wait." The black tom stood up "I will do it. I was planning to visit Spottedpaw anyway." He meowed truthfully, already making his way to the fresh kill pile. Willowpaw sent him a bright smile as she sat back down, clearly happy to be relived from the responsibility " See? I knew we are going to get along. " and gave him a words of thanks as Gelidpaw walked away. He acknowledged it with a small nod and a faint smile, before turning away.
What he has said was partly true… but on the other hand he just wanted to get away. From questions. From inquiring gazes.
As he approached the fresh kill pile and took a piece of plump mouse in his teeth, Gelidpaw cast a glance to the group of apprentices. They were doing fine, visibly enjoying each other's company, sharing jokes and stories. There was no sign of tension, the lingering feeling he could feel while he was there… because, despite all the kind words and smiles he could feel to some of them he was still a stranger. Maybe he was always going to be.
With that he turned away, heading to the medicine cat den, his brows slightly furrowed and shoulders hunched. He missed two pairs of amber eyes- one filled with worry, as they glanced at him across the camp and the second ,fiery while glaring from the shadows.
Gelidpaw walked into the medicine cat den, immediately hit with the familiar scent of herbs. It felt… somewhat calming in a bizarre way. Walking he soon laid eyes on dappled pelt. Spottedpaw was sorting out herbs, her gaze focused but calm. As she noticed him entering, she looked up, ears twitching.
"Hey- I mean, hello Gelidpaw!" she meowed, smiling softly before a pinch of worry clouded her eyes as she looked at his chest. The scratches from the clash were still there, and although they already started to heal Gelidpaw assumed it still didn't look best, if Spottedpaw's look was to tell anything "How are you feeling?" she asked, going for a calm even voice… and failing only a little.
Gelidpaw shrugged "I had it worse." He stated matter-of-factly, setting down the mouse "I brought you some food, since Willowpaw said you might be hungry."
Spottedpaw smiled at him rolling her eyes "She almost forgot, haven't she?" she laughed with a sight, though there was clear fondness to her words. One that was very unfamiliar to Gelidpaw when speaking of a sibling.
"Well, thank you for your help. I could definitely use a meal." She meowed, sitting down to eat. Gelidpaw gave her a small nod, before looking away for a moment. He seemed to be collecting his words, somewhat awkwardly. "I… also wanted to thank you." He stated finally looking at her. Spottedpaw looked up from her meal, in mid of munching a piece of mouse "For what?" she asked, her words slightly muffled by the food in her mouth. Gelidpaw sent her an unimpressed look before sighting "For… stepping in. And saying what you have said back then." As he spoke about the battle her expression slowly turned more serious. He continiued " And for healing. And, I guess for all of it in general." He shrugged again, looking down, feeling somewhat exposed. Venerable.
Spottedpaw looked at him for a moment, her gaze thoughtful before speaking up "It was a right thing to do. All of it." She meowed, her voice firm but calm as she looked at the tom. Gelidpaw looked in her eyes for a moment. They had the very same quality as Redpaw's to them- a trustworthy, unwavering gaze. Filled with warmth but also determination.
For a moment he hesitated but then he found himself asking the question " Spottedpaw… do you believe me?"
She tilted her head, questioningly "Believe what?". He held her gaze "About Tigerclaw attacking me. Do you believe that's the truth." At that words, shadow crossed Spottedpaw's face. For a moment she seemed tense, something hard to name in her gaze "…Yes." She meowed finally, her voice hushed but firm "I do."
Gelidpaw nodded, thoughtfully. He felt relieved to hear that. To know that at least few cats believed his words to be true. To know when it would came down to that again, he would have someone behind his back.
He looked at Spottedpaw again, and allowed himself a small smile, his gaze softening "…Thank you."
And they so they sat in silence. But it wasn't a tense one, filled with unspoken questions and suspicions. It was the one with a small, but strong bond of trust shared between the two. A rust that needed no words to bring comfort.