Written in the Stars

Lilypaw had taken to a somewhat nocturnal schedule. Her former, daylight-ridden experience was nothing short of disastrous. Missing prey, the harsh sunrays managing to strike through her fur and burn her sensitive (as she had belatedly realized) skin. Due to her advantageous position of being the second-born kit within her clan with such a condition, she had the option of seeking out her predecessor and half-brother, Paletongue, for advice on conducting daily life. However...

Paletongue was a very withdrawn cat. Despite her best efforts to impress him throughout her kithood, she couldn't help but feel as though she was a nuisance. The last thing she wanted was to distract him from his duties, so she found herself learning what worked and what didn't through somewhat painful trial and error. 

Having slept throughout the afternoon, she now found herself wide awake in the apprentice den; too sore to train once more, yet too restless to bother with additional, needless rest.

As though Starclan heard her prayers for something productive to do, Nightclan's leader ducked his head into the den, gazing straight at her. Her head quickly lifted from where it laid upon her paws, posture stiffening in a mixture of rapt attention and obedience. 

"Lilypaw, how about we take a walk?

A walk? She hadn't the slightest clue why, but if Eveningstar asked, there ought to be a perfectly normal reasoning behind it. Nodding eagerly, she stood and stretched out her forepaws before heading to the entrance of the den.

"Is... something the matter?" She asked softly once they exited, peering at him curiously. The normal vitriol of her voice completely gone whilst in the audience of the most important authority figure within the clan. "I haven't been slacking off, if that's what this is about-- my hours may be odd, but I train the hardest out of the apprentices, I assure you!" 

// Tactical

The lack of an explanation caused the curiosity to quickly form into a pit of nervousness, deep within her underbelly. The odd looks he kept shooting at her didn't reassure her, either.

"I'm aware." Lilypaw replied, the response ending more curtly than she would have liked. Starclan, perhaps the others did have a point when they prodded at her tone and temper; if she was getting even the slightest bit short with Eveningstar, of all warriors, it ought to be bad.

"Wait, really? He hadn't..." Trailing off, Lilypaw concentrated deeply. Why hadn't Paletongue told her? Was the topic too sensitive for him, even now? Did he even know what Eveningstar had done for him?

I'm not going to be sent to the Elder's den too, am I...?

Her tail began to lag behind her, deflating as she pondered the miserable potential of her future. Even when he replied, Eveningstar's reassurance felt like a weak attempt at comfort, and she directed her gaze to the mud floor beneath them so he wouldn't see her pitiful expression and twitching whiskers.

Lilypaw always gave her all to prove that she can and will be superior to her clanmates, despite what they may think of her. Even unknowingly, had she passed some sort of test..? If she hadn't trained so hard, would she have been delegated to staying in camp all day, sorting herbs for her brother and cleaning bedding?

"Is that all you wanted to tell me?" Her meow was small, normally venomous tone washed away, as though her enthusiasm had fallen into the swamp waters and drowned like some Oakclan apprentice.

// Tactical