Coldstar found Merrypaw by the river. He had asked her to meet them there for training, but when he finally caught sight of her, he was struck by... well. Her.
Sitting there before him wasn't a kitten or an apprentice anymore. It was like he was peering into the past - seeing Otterwhisker in her prime; a full warrior of Riverclan.
Where had the time gone?
He came up beside her, glancing out across the melted river that gave the clan it's name. It was calm, with slight currents pulling against the few rocks peeking out from beneath the surface. They had practiced fishing extensively since the banks stabilized but the time to teach swimming always seemed to evade him. No doubt she had practiced with her siblings, but he felt a bit guilty for neglecting her.
"Merrypaw. Who gave you permission to go and grow up on me?" He look up - not down - at her, pride shining in his eyes.
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
Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺
Merrypaw stood near the river’s edge, her paws sunk into damp silt, watching the way the current tugged at the reeds along the bank. The river was alive again, and so was she. When Coldstar’s pawsteps approached, she didn’t turn immediately. When he spoke, though, her ears flicked toward him, and at his words she turned with a snort.
"I didn’t ask permission." She shot back with a flicker of a smirk, her eyes meeting his. She straightened slightly, a breeze teasing at the fur around her neck. "I figured I’d grow up first, and apologize later."
But then she caught the look in his eyes and her posture softened. Merrypaw looked away for a moment, pretending to study the glint of light on the surface. Her voice was quieter when she added. "Didn’t mean to rush it. It just… happened."
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Senior 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 Senior Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherpaw, ♀ Sincere Apprentice
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
Coldstar tilted his head in amusement at Merrypaw's revelation. That is how it happened, usually. You blink, and suddenly you've grown older, gotten bigger. Suddenly you have responsibilities.
Still. She was the same cat he had met all those moons ago at the base of the Twinwillows. Still quick on the draw, always ready to take advice. And she had become a skilled warrior and practiced hunter. He wouldn't be suprised if she could easily take Sturgeonpaw in a fight - even with her brother's broad frame.
"I think... everyone feels that way. At one point or another." He spread out his paw and let the current of the river flow between his toes as he spoke. "I... had my misgivings about being deputy at first." He hadn't admitted his doubts to anyone but Nettleplume. Before now, he wouldn't have dreamed of sharing this with his apprentice. But Merrypaw was right in that things had changed. She had grown up - and so had he.
"But I learned. From Boldstar. From Briarfang and Cinderwisp and Nettleplume. And from you. You've taught me so much more than I've taught you Merrypaw."
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
Garden's gem, in sunlight's blaze
༻❁༺
Merrypaw blinked, caught off guard by Coldstar’s words. Her gaze snapped to him, searching his face for some hint of teasing or something to undercut the weight of what he’d said. But there was nothing but quiet sincerity. It wasn’t like Coldstar to say things like that. Not to anyone. And yet… she knew he meant it.
Her shoulders lowered, the tension in them bleeding out slowly as she sat down beside him, letting the wind ruffle through her fur. For a moment, the only sound between them was the water lapping against the reeds, soft and steady.
"You’re not supposed to say things like that..." She murmured, voice thick with warmth. "You’re supposed to grumble and pretend like I’m still some helpless scrap trailing after you."
But the smile that pulled at her lips was soft. Grateful. "I was kind of scared of you at first..." she admitted, turning her gaze back to the river. "You were so… serious. Always watching everything, like you were waiting for it all to fall apart. I heard... you probably didn’t even want an apprentice. But I thought... maybe if I was good enough, if I kept up, you’d be proud. That maybe I could make you happy."
She drew a claw through the soft silt, tracing an invisible line before flicking it away. "So if I taught you anything, I hope it’s that you’re not alone in this. We’re here for you. I’m here for you." Her tail curled lightly around her paws, and she tilted her head, glancing up at him again with a playful gleam cutting through the emotion. "I'm still your favorite, right? Or I’ll tell Otterwhisker."
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Senior 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 Senior Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherpaw, ♀ Sincere Apprentice
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
