Redpaw & Honeyglow
A perfectly normal stroll
Heathlands
13
Honey makes the world go round
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
The early newleaf wind wasn’t biting, not quite, but it clung like cold mist to the fur under Honeyglow’s belly as he trudged through the underbrush. His joints ached in their usual slow protest, but he bore it with the same dull familiarity he bore most things now. Nothing about this day demanded speed.
"Careful there..." He meowed, voice gravelly but kind, like sun warmed stone. "The slope’s a bit muddier than it looks."
He offered Redpaw a small smile without stopping. Just ahead, past a cluster of mossy rocks and a wind bowed stump, was his destination: a shallow, sun drenched hollow tucked against the roots of an old, leaning tree near the border to the Thunderpath. It had caught his eye seasons agos and it had since become his favorite place to do absolutely nothing at all.
He reached the edge and lowered himself, slow and deliberate, onto the patchy grass, "Now this is where a cat remembers how to enjoy doing nothing. Take heed, Redpaw." The warmth hadn’t quite touched the ground yet, but he didn’t mind. It would. All things in time. He let his green gaze settle outward. A quiet he hoped would last, at least for the length of a sunbeam.
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherkit, ♀ Sweet Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Nothing at all seemed nice. Redpaw's attention flicked between the elder and the barely defrosted mud that peaked out from the frost-coated grasses.
"I don't know Honeyglow, if I just... sit I'll fall behind." He paused, examining the way he could make melted pawprints in the frozen dirt. Fiddling with something - anything. "Dusk and Dazzle are already so far ahead - Dusk's a great fighter and Dazzle seems so confident at everything." He placed his paw down with some frustration. "And I can't even get hunting right." Palestar wasn't mad at him, as far as he could tell. But maybe she wished she had a more outgoing apprentice. He was pretty different from Sootbounce after all.
"You've earned 'doing nothing'." He looked up at his friend. "Sometimes I wonder if I should just retire early. I get along with you all better anyways."
He didn't often voice his personal concerns. But Honeyglow and Hickorystorm were his friends - they'd known him since he was little. If anyone understood, it'd be them. Plus Hickory always seemed to be going through something similar. It was nice to talk... or whine about problems together.
Characters:
Coldgaze: (he/him) Ruthless Riverclan Deputy
Lawn Gnome: (she/her) Motherly Semi-Feral Shecat
Redpaw: (he/him) Thoughtful Shadowclan Apprentice
Sootbounce: (he/him) Bubbly Shadowclan Warrior
Sturgeonpaw: (he/him) Altruistic Riverclan Apprentice
Sunstrike: (she/her) Anxious Thunderclan Queen
NPCs:
Quailcall: (she/her) Fierce Thunderclan Warrior
Honey makes the world go round
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
Honeyglow gave a soft snort, the kind that ruffled his whiskers more than anything. "Retire early? Stars above, Redpaw. Don't wish your life away." He shifted slightly, careful of his hip, and watched the apprentice play at melting pawprints in the cold earth. A familiar ache. He’d seen too many young cats wear that look - Palestar included.
"The cats that race ahead don’t always know where they’re going. Confidence can be as hollow as a windblown stump." His green eyes found Redpaw’s. "But the ones who stay, who listen and feel things deeply... they’re the ones who end up shaping a Clan. Quiet paws leave deeper roots."
His mouth twitched, the beginnings of a smile. "You’ll catch up to Duskpaw and Dazzlepaw in your own way, and your own time. But even if you didn’t I’d still choose your company over theirs any day. Maybe that's something."
The breeze picked up, and Honeyglow turned his face toward it. Still no scent of trouble. Still quiet. For now.
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherkit, ♀ Sweet Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
