I'm not Shy (Ravenpaw)

<sup>Jaypaw
Being quiet isn't a crime

Jaypaw sighed. Not the sigh you are thinking of. It was a happy sigh. For once, he wasn't busy with training. For once, he wasn't being pushed around. For once, he didn't have to go on some patrol or be forced to go hunting no matter how much fresh-kill they had. He finally could relax. Besides the twoleg alert, he had no worries. He wasn't going near the ShadowClan border, so why worry about it?

It's been a while since Jaypaw hasn't been stressed out. Since the first day of apprenticeship, he was a nervous wreck. From new things, being busy, and working his butt off, he missed the times when he was a kit. But now he had to wait until he was an elder to be in that happy state again. Unless...

Jaypaw spotted a familiar black figure from his bliss. No, he wasn't just happy when he was in relaxation. It wasn't complete without a certain thing. A certain she-cat.

Since kithood, he had a little crush on her. But there was no doubt she was oblivious to the tiny fact. Even if he shouted it out she wouldn't notice. She was too in the world of being a warrior to be concerned about love. Yet, he wasn't too concerned about it either. He knew he would never be with her. He was too shy, and she was the complete opposite. She was beautiful, smart, brave...why would she fall for him?

Yet Jaypaw was too shy to figure out if she actually would consider it, nor did he want to find out. She would never talk to him again if that happened. He would just have to let her go. At least he could still be around her, for surprisingly she actually talks to him and considers her a friend.

Ravenpaw.

Yes, that's her name. Just the name made him smile. Delaying no longer, he raced toward her, slowing down when he started to get nervous. "H-Hi, Ravenpaw," Jaypaw stuttered, weakly smiling. "I hope your not busy but...can we go to the forest together? I-I really w-want to..you know...t-talk?"</sup>

Ever since Ravenpaw had had that first "training" session with Streak, she had been over joyed. He no longer scared her! Maybe that meant she was no loner afraid of rouges and loners period. But when the thought crossed her mind an image of Lightning entered her mind. She closed her eyes tight, trying to rid herself of his horrifying image. It only made it worse. Her heart began to race, sweat prickled her forehead. And when she thought she would never be able to get rid of Lightning's image, she heard a voice.

"H-Hi, Ravenpaw," The black she-cat opened her eyes as the gray tabby's figure faded from her mind. It was replaced with a form much like her own. A black cat with light blue eyes. Jaypaw. Ravenpaw felt her heart beat rise once more, but instead of fear this time it rose from excitement; happiness. "Jaypaw! Hi! A walk? I'd love to! It's getting boring in camp." The truth was, the small black she-cat was afraid the tabby rouge's image would come back. Jaypaw did a wonderful job of keeping him out of her mind. That's what she liked about this black tom; he made her happy. He made her feel safe.

Grinning she raced toward the slow incline that served as Thunderclan's entrance and exit. Towering, red, stone walls surrounded ThunderClan camp keeping them safe. If a cat didn't know where the entrance was the could fall into the pit. That would mean instant death of the life of a cripple. Giggling she called back to Jaypaw "Race ya!"

<sup>Jaypaw
Being quiet isn't a crime

Jaypaw was surprised at how Ravenpaw's reaction played out. She seemed really happy. Not that she wasn't happy all the time. Unusually happy. Did something good happen to her today? A good catch of prey, a fun exercise with a mentor, or a particular cat? The last guess saddened him when he thought about someone more important in her life besides her family. He wished he was the cause of her happiness.

Jaypaw followed as quickly as he could with his little black legs, casting the thoughts of sorrow away. He wasn't for sure if that was the case, right? So why feel sad for nothing? Maybe it was something else. It had to be. But depression still nipped at the back of his mind, no matter how much he forced it back. At least he wasn't effected by the mere light bite.

Race? Jaypaw was no good at anything, let alone racing. He was always clumsy at everything he did. The only thing he could do regular was hunt, but when he fought he looked like a one-legged badger who was on a rampage. But, for Jaypaw, he wanted to try his best. Maybe it wouldn't turn out so bad, and that way he would feel more confidence in his hunting because he'll know he will have swiftness at his side.

"A-Alright," Jaypaw replied, still a bit nervous. Bunching his muscles, he launched himself forward, giving himself a head start. After that, he ran light-footed as a rabbit fleeing from a predator. I-I...did it! Distracted in his pride, he didn't notice a branch peering out in view, and tripped over the obstacle. Tumbling like a ball of moss, the only thing that stopped him was the trunk of a tree, the friction caused by the collide causing him to flop over, his swift run to an end.

I...didn't do it...</sup>

[/sup]

Ravenpaw was completely oblivious to Jaypaw's hesitation. All she wanted to do was run around and have fun. Some said that once you became an apprentice life would never be as it was like a kit. That, however, didn't apply all that much to Ravenpaw. When she had become an apprentice all that had happened was her dreams came true. This was going to allow her to make more friends, and hopefully get rid of her fear of rouges. As her mind began to cloud once more with the fearsome rouge lunging at her, she heard Jaypaw stumble.

Turning around the she-cat raced back over to her friend. "Oh my goodness! Are you okay, Jaypaw? Are you hurt? Do I need to get Swirl-leaf? Please don't be hurt! I don't like seeing others hurt!" In a panic Ravenpaw's words flooded out of her mouth. She didn't want Jaypaw to be hurt, she hoped he was okay. He didn't break something, did he? Her worry for him soon turned to anger at herself. Stupid Ravenpaw!

"I should have never suggested we race! Then you wouldn't have gotten hurt. I'm so stupid, why do I have to make everything a game? The others are right; I can't even see what's right in front of my nose! Stupid, stupid, stupid!" The black she-cat paced back in forth as she chided herself, once more oblivious to what Jaypaw was doing.

Ravenpaw was furious at herself. Sometimes, like now, she wished she would think before she suggested something. She needs to think. Think, think, think. She was a stupid, mouse brained apprentice if she suggested something so stupid and kit like as racing and end up getting Jaypaw hurt. Here she was, scared of rouges, training a loner, and getting her best friend hurt.

Then Jaypaw yowled. Ravenpaw froze and then turned to look at her black friend. Had he actually just yelled at her? The black she-cat didn't have to think that she had never heard Jaypaw speak up louder than he was now.

Which was good because his words made her unable to think.

Was something bothering her? Well besides being a stupid apprentice who was afraid of rouges, no nothing was bothering her. She meekly sat down and cast her gaze at her paws. She wanted to tell Jaypaw about Streak but she could get in trouble. The less of those who know, the less she or Streak could get in trouble. Shuffling her paws she shook her head "No, nothing is bothering me..." besides being stupid "Y-you know, Jaypaw," Ravenpaw began, almost afraid to suggest it "I like it when you speak up. You have a nice voice. You should speak up more often."

Ravenpaw felt her face heat with blush as she watched Jaypaw's reaction form. She hadn't expected those words to come out of her mouth. But they did, and Jaypaw acted horrified at her suggestion. The small she-cat was about to apologize when he spoke, once more catching her by surprise. "R-really? It's fine if you just do it around me. Who knows, maybe you'll get so use to talking like that around me you'll start doing it all the time!" Her anger at herself before was replaced with pure joy at the fact that she had helped her best friend. When Jaypaw spoke again, Ravenpaw gave a weak smile and nodded. "I know, Jaypaw. You're my best friend after all!" It was true, Jaypaw was Ravenpaw's best friend. Besides Silentpaw of course. But he was her brother so that didn't really count. Lifting herself onto her paws Ravenpaw hoped that Jaypaw wouldn't go on about telling him if something was wrong. "Well, how about we go practice hunting! What all have you and Grayfox been doing?" [bg=799696][atrb=border,0,true]