Chief & Captain
Vervain was sitting outside, staring up at the full moon, as he mulled over the day's events and his mother's words. He'd noticed Campion hanging around nearby, nervously shuffling back and forth, but he'd made no attempt to call the kitten over. Eventually Campion seemed to have made up his mind and slowly scuttled over to sit next to Vervain.
"Uhm..." He started unsure. Vervain merely glanced at him before turning his attention back to the moon. "Are you mad at me?"
There was a pause.
"I'm sorry for beating you today!" Vervain flinched at the reminder. "A-and thank you for going easy on me! So... I..." He trailed off and then softly whispered, "Please don't be mad with me..."
Vervain sighed, "I'm not mad."
"Really?!"
"Yes." He turned to Campion who was gazing at him with big hopeful eyes. "You did well today." Campion beamed at the praise. He almost looked happier than when his father had praised him. Which was just silly because how could his praise mean more to Campion than that of his father, the Captain of the Owsla? "You'll make a fine officer one day." He added and Vervain swore he'd never seen a kitten so happy in his life.
"Do you think I'll be Captain?"
Vervain frowned, "Don't push it now."
Campion's face instantly fell. Vervain sighed, "But yeah sure, why not?" He conceded. After all, who was he to judge who would make a good Owsla Captain? "If you train enough, that is." He added. Couldn't have Campion getting too ahead of himself after all. The brown kitten seemed pleased by the answer though.
"Hey, when I become Captain, will you become Chief?" Vervain stared at Campion's suggestion. He made it sound so simple and natural.
"I don't think so."
"Why not? We could protect Efrafa together!"
"I..." Vervain wanted to refuse again but Campion seemed so hung-up on the idea that he decided against it. "I'll think about it."
"We'd make a great team, you and I, I'm sure of it!" Campion chatted on happily as if it was already determined that they'd be the next Chief and Captain of Efrafa. Vervain indulged him in his fantasy and even started to believe it a little. Maybe if the two of them work together, they really could keep Efrafa safe forever.
Wouldn't that be something?