Life 1:4
Firepaw was never one to wake early, but a certain enthusiastic apprentice decided to ensure both he and Graypaw would not be up late again. Snakepaw, in an act of kittish maliciousness, pounced onto the pair, startling them awake.
"Wakey! Wakey! Sun's up and our mentors are waiting!" Cheered Snakepaw, giggling as the duo scrambled to right themselves after that morning fright. Notably, Ravenpaw, Dustpaw, and Sandpaw were laughing at Snakepaw's antics.
"Never change Snakepaw. Can't let that kittypet keep those bad habits." Sandpaw teased.
"That's kind of rude Sandpaw. How do we know my mother wasn't a kittypet? Besides, blood means nothing in comparison to loyalty. Firepaw just needs some time to establish his." Snakepaw mewed back but a bit of offense in his tone.
"Well… I…" Sandpaw stuttered before Dustpaw chimed in.
"He's got you there. I still don't have to like him though."
"Come on! He's not like you Snakepaw. You might as well have been born clan. He's… an outsider." Sandpaw argued back.
Snakepaw straightened as he retorted. "Exactly! As an outsider, we haven't learned of his motives or personality. Going after him now without knowing anything about him seems foolish. You can hate him all you like but give him some time for you to come up with a better reason for it than being born a kittypet. Afterall, one of the founding codes is to reject the kittypet lifestyle, and what shows that more than leaving the life of a kittypet."
Sandpaw froze for a moment before replying. "I hate when you're right Snakepaw. I'll give him some time, but he better not disappoint."
Firepaw looked over at the strange apprentice who one moment scared him awake and the next defended him to the other apprentices. Firepaw knew the apprentice was far wiser than he looked. His strangeness was only more accentuated by his proud saunter as he made his way out of the den. Firepaw and Graypaw briefly groomed themselves before making their way out as well. Awaiting them out there were the mentors and Ravenpaw who slipped out during Snakepaw's speech. Strangely enough, the one Tigerclaw was giving the stink eye to was Snakepaw instead of Ravenpaw or Firepaw. Firepaw wondered if Tigerclaw also somehow sensed the strangeness of the apprentice, and if so, why hadn't he questioned Bluestar on it?
Today seemed to be an odd one indeed because Bluestar leapt down to rearrange who was training with who for the day. Today, Firepaw would be with Runningwind and Snakepaw instead of Tigerclaw and Ravenpaw. This seemed strangely deliberate to ensure Snakepaw had time to interact with Firepaw. Firepaw shook it off, trusting in Bluestar's judgement. Notably, Tigerclaw looked perturbed by this decision. Firepaw wondered why he seemed so upset. Tigerclaw didn't like him anyways, so why didn't he like that Runningwind was taking him out instead?
Runningwind's group broke away from Tigerclaw's almost immediately. Runningwind started to up the pace, forcing Firepaw into an uncomfortable run. He briefly glanced sideways, worried that Snakepaw would get left behind with this speed only to witness Snakepaw weaving through the undergrowth expertly, keeping an exact breathing pattern to keep from wearing out. Runningwind stopped them after a ways.
"I'm going to admit, I'm new to this whole mentoring thing. Snakepaw and I toured the territory yesterday, but I have no idea where to go from here… So how about some suggestions?" Runningwind asked, clearly nervous about needing to teach two apprentices instead of one.
"How about hunting." Firepaw mewed. "Tigerclaw and Lionheart taught me how to stalk not too long ago. I wouldn't mind trying to use it."
"Ooh! Good idea! I've been dying to have a fresh juicy vole. I swear I haven't had one in forever." Snakepaw excitedly chattered.
"You know we're not supposed to eat while on the hunt, Snakepaw." Runningwind chastised.
"I know. I know. But if I catch one, I can eat it when we get back, right?" Snakepaw mewed, obviously feigning apology.
"Tell you what. Let's make it a little game. We'll all hunt around this area. Come sunhigh, we'll all meet back up here. Whoever has the most prey gets first pick of the freshkill pile." Runningwind answered.
"3, 2, 1, GO!" Yowled Snakepaw quickly before darting off into the grass.
"Are you sure it's alright for Snakepaw to go solo like that?" Firepaw questioned.
"Don't worry. I'm not really competing. I'll be watching you both. Now, you better get a move on if you want to beat Snakepaw." Runningwind answered before stalking off in the direction Snakepaw ran.
Firepaw was a little discouraged that he hadn't gotten any time to really talk with Snakepaw yet, but he liked the idea of the challenge. He was able to bag a vole and a mouse before he realized the time was up. Meanwhile, Snakepaw had his own hunt to go on. In his excitement, he'd made a lot of noise, accidentally scaring a lot of prey animals into hiding. Snakepaw spotted a hare's burrow and crept beneath a bush to watch it, positive that there was a hare inside it. At first, his plan seemed like a dud. Time passed with Snakepaw just watching the burrow, waiting for the hare to make its move. Finally, a twitchy nose poked its way out. Snakepaw's claws peeked through his fur with his excitement. Despite his want to catch the hare now, he waited a couple moments longer. The hare slowly hopped its way out, looking around to see if there was any threats. After a moment, it seemed to have become satisfied and went about foraging. This was Snakepaw's moment. He slowly closed the distance before breaking into a sprint and pounce. The hare made to get away, but Snakepaw had been too quick. He secured his kill. Unfortunately for Snakepaw, he was still rather small, so the hare was almost as big as him. How would he get it back to the meeting point? Snakepaw, realizing the situation, let out a sigh before beginning to drag the hare back to the meeting point. There wasn't time to catch anything else given how heavy the hare was to him. Unnoticed by the apprentice, Runningwind watched, giggling to himself at the sheer comedy of such a small apprentice moving such a large piece of prey. Knowing he had a little time to kill, Runningwind decided to go and catch something for this little competition.
Firepaw got back to the meeting point, having chanced upon an unaware squirrel on the way back and securing another piece. Runningwind, meanwhile, had two mice that he seemed to have caught form the same burrow. Snakepaw was not back yet.
"Snakepaw's not here. Should we go looking for him?" Firepaw asked.
"Don't worry. He's coming." Was all Runningwind replied, stifling a laugh.
Finally, Firepaw got to see what had Runningwind so mirthful. There ahead of them came Snakepaw dragging along a hare as big as him. Firepaw could hear Snakepaw's grumbles from there.
"Come on you stupid hare! I caught you fair and square. Why must you snag on every rock and twig? This thing better be worth at least two." Snakepaw hissed through his teeth, forcing another tug that brought him and the hare to the agreed upon meeting spot.
Snakepaw looked back, proud of his catch and presenting it to Runningwind. Runningwind, on the other paw, saw this as a perfect opportunity to tease his apprentice.
"Well, it looks like Firepaw wins. I came second, and Snakepaw came last." He announced nonseriously.
"What?! Those mice are barely a mouthful. My hare is worth at least three of them. No fair!" The apprentice whined.
"The game was the most prey, not the biggest. Although, seeing as you caught something so big on your own, I could let it slide and say that is worth more than my two mice." Runningwind mewed slowly, savoring the joy that gradually built on Snakepaw's face.
"Yes!" Cheered Snakepaw, only to get interrupted by Runningwind once again.
"That still means Firepaw wins. You better hope he doesn't take that vole first." Runningwind teased.
"Don't worry. I'm more craving mouse anyways. You can have the vole." Firepaw stated quickly, slightly enamored by how youthful Snakepaw acted which completely defied the immortality Snakepaw claim to have.
"Thank you! I owe you one. Maybe I can teach you one of Thunderclan's forgotten techniques to pay you back." Snakepaw mewed appreciatively.
There he went again, somehow defying all expectations. Firepaw still didn't know what to make of Snakepaw, but somehow he just knew Snakepaw would win his friendship.