Hakuna Matata!

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Fleetfoot gets up. At first he is concerned that he might have hurt Jitterpaw, but she seems as bright as ever. He blinks and sighs at her. It's typical of her to become bored so fast. Apprentices. If he were her mentor, he might have been more stern and say she couldn't get out of training so easily. But this has been only practice for fun, if you could call it that, so he lets it go. "Don't be so dramatic." Fleetfoot tells her lightly as she pads back over to him. Like her, he begins to clean his fur briskly, silently aware of her stealing glances at him.

Fleetfoot hears her next comment and looks up. He would have been content to keep silent for the rest of the time and not speak of the training, but if she insists..."Actually," he says with a thoughtful glance. "You weren't half-bad." He has to admit he was surprised when this jumpy apprentice matched him blow for blow. "You're very fast, and you'll get stronger as you grow. You just need to learn to keep your concentration from slipping."

He is very begrudging in praising her, but at the same time he can't bring himself to dampen her fiery spirit. However much Jitterpaw annoys him, she also intrigues him. Almost like a burst of color in a black-and-white world, and he has to admit he admires her attitude. Not like he'd ever say it out loud though.

Fleetfoot follows her gaze to the sky. "It's getting late." He points out after a moment.

[Roxie !]

The RiverClan she-cat's russet ears pricked slightly as her pale tabby Clan-mate spoke to her. Her eyes flickered back toward him. There was no condesending tone in his voice, which admittedly surprised her. Perhaps he'd learned his lesson about underestimating her after all. Fleetfoot's voice was gruff and rather reluctant, but Jitterpaw's smile widened all the same. Gazing up at him slyly, she tilted her head to the side. Autumn-colored eyes widened slightly, as if with disbelief. "Wow, Fleetfoot...I think there might have been a complement in there somewhere!" She teased him, flicking her bristly ginger tail against the warrior's shoulder briefly. With an amused purr, the apprentice got up and stretched. "Anyways, thanks. Your sincerity was just incredible!" Though sarcasm edged her voice, it still held its friendly tone, and her gaze softened. That being said, Jitterpaw actually fell silent for a moment. Though they were as different as fire and ice, he actually wasn't so hard to get along with when he wasn't being stubborn.

Her gaze returned to the late summer skies as Fleetfoot spoke once again, voicing her earlier thoughts. The sky was beginning to become tainted with the colors of evening: golden, orange, and wisps of pink. Soon, the first warriors of StarClan would be visible. StarClan had always intrigued Jitterpaw. Would her mother be watching from above? She certainly liked to think so. All that remained of her grin now was a slight, thoughtful smile. But of course, this blessed silence couldn't possibly last--not when she had anything to say about it. "Mmm-hmm! Doesn't seem like we've been out here that long." Her ears twitched as she lowered her gaze to Fleetfoot once again.

"Listen, I know you have tons of 'warrior' things that you could've been doing today. You know; hunting, patroling, sulking..." She shot him a mischievious glance. "But, thanks for training with me today. And...well, ya know, tolerating me! Though I still think your life would be much more enjoyable if you lightened up a little." Jitterpaw gave the reserved warrior a wink, looking out over the misty pool.

"Jitterpaw!"

Jitterpaw blinked as she heard her name being called, her ears twisting back toward the sound behind her. Her jaw parted slightly as she scented the air. "Brighteyes!" She meowed, turning around. "I forgot! Evening patrol! He's leading the evening patrol, and I talked him into letting me come this morning!" Mentally slapping herself, the flame-pelted she-cat gazed expectantly into the bushes beyond. The warrior had obviously caught her scent, and he was probably quite annoyed at having to come find her as well. She flashed a guilty grin at Fleetfoot as the ebony warrior padded toward them.

"Where have you been?" Brighteyes growled at the apprentice. "Shouldn't you have asked Sleetghost if you could leave camp? I had half a mind to leave without you."

Jitterpaw rolled her eyes. Sometimes Brighteyes acted as if he were Clan leader! Still, amusement quickly took the place of her exasperation. She knew he was only annoyed because she'd been late. "Sorry, Brighteyes." She mewed innocently. "I was only exploring. Fleetfoot and I did some battle training!" Giving the tabby warrior a slight nudged, she glanced between them. Brighteyes's sharp orange gaze switched to Fleetfoot as Jitterpaw spoke his name, and gave his clan-mate a quick nod. At least the ginger apprentice had been accompanied by a warrior who could keep her from getting into trouble.

"Have you seen your sister?" He asked Jitterpaw at last.

The she-cat shook her head briefly. "Nope. Not today. I'll bet she's just out hunting or something! She probably doesn't like her mentor following her every move." She pointed out with a giggle.

Brighteyes snorted. "Oh, so you apprentices neglect the warrior code now?" He inquired, although his voice sounded less stern than before. Jitterpaw knew that Brighteyes, while one of the Clan's most reserved warriors, was really just a big softie.

"Can Fleetfoot come with us on the patrol?" She questioned, glancing back at the other tom happily. Brighteyes hesitated for a moment, although he couldn't see why not. His black tail flicking behind him, he turned to the other warrior calmly.

"If he'd like to." Was the only reply Brighteyes offered.

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Fleetfoot sighs as Jitterpaw teases him. He shakes his head in denial, but smirks at her. Can't she just accept a compliment without making a big deal out of it? He snorts and reminds himself to stick with critisism next time. It's never failed him before! He stretches and falls still as Jitterpaw actually stays quiet for a moment. Fleetfoot looks up at the sky, enjoying the peace, though he knows they should probably go soon. He closes his eyes and sits there, letting the wind sweep his fur. But then the apprentice opens her mouth to speak again, and he winces. Fleetfoot holds back a growl and opens one eye to give her a glare. But Jitterpaw manages to surprise him once again with her words.

Fleetfoot sits up and stares at her. "Wow, Jitterpaw...I think there might have been a hint of gratitude in there!" He smirks, mocking her earlier words. Rolling his eyes, he adds, "You're welcome, though."

He sits and regards her for a moment, before someone calls Jitterpaw's name. Fleetfoot instintively tenses, but then relaxes as he smells only RiverClan in the air. Soon Brighteyes pads into the clearing. It seems that Jitterpaw is in a bit of trouble. Fleetfoot struggles to keep his whiskers from twitching in amusement. "Hello Brighteyes." He greets in return when the black warrior nods to him. He knows that Brighteyes is a noble, if not quiet warrior. Also, Brighteyes is older than he is, so it's only fair that Fleetfoot shows some respect. Fleetfoot doesn't say anything else after that. He decides to sit back and enjoy the show. It certainly seems like Jitterpaw has no fear of talking back any of the other warriors either. He thinks as he watches them bicker like littermates. Then his ears prick as Jitterpaw asks Brighteyes if he could go on patrol with them.

Fleetfoot really hasn't planned to go on patrol this evening. He just thought he'd hunt a little bit more and go back to camp. But the battle with Jitterpaw has woken him up, so that he doesn't feel like settling down just yet. He shrugs as Brighteyes turns to him questioningly. "Sure, I'll come." Fleetfoot says as he stands up. He'll just have to pick up the prey he's caught on the way back. He waves his tail in the air and looks around, kneading his paws on the ground. "Where to?"

[Roxie !]

As Brighteyes agreed on the condition that Fleetfoot did as well, Jitterpaw turned excitedly to Fleetfoot. The warrior was silent for a moment, as if considering, and she found herself hoping he'd come along. Sure, he was a stubborn, serious, sharp-tongued young warrior...and she was an exciteable, energetic, and talkitive apprentice. They were like fire and ice, but Jitterpaw made it in her mission to befriend every cat in RiverClan. After all, what was the point of talking if no one would listen? Besides, she was starting to enjoy Fleetfoot's company. Or at least, starting to enjoy teasing him as she did. A grin spread across her face as she anticipated the silver tom's answer, her flame-colored paws kneading the ground impatiently.

Finally, Fleetfoot agreed, and Jitterpaw let out a soft purr. "Good! It'll be fun, I promise!" She told him brightly, brushing her bristley orange tail across his shoulder briefly. True, patrols were just a normal part of everyday Clan life, but she didn't see why it couldn't be turned into an enjoyable experience. Jitterpaw pulled away from the warrior and turned to Brighteyes, her eyes bearing the question that Fleetfoot had just spoken aloud. It didn't really matter to her where they went; the only thing the ginger apprentice was concerned about was using some of the energy that continued to build inside her despite the training she had just taken part in. That was Jitterpaw for you. She nearly never ran out of energy.

Beside her, Brighteyes nodded when Fleetfoot stated that he'd come with them. It was better to patrol in larger groups, he supposed, in case they did encounter a problem. However, it seemed that he'd forgotten to tell his companions where he intended to lead the patrol. "Well, if you two don't mind taking a swim, I thought we'd head upriver, and cross over to Sunningrocks. ThunderClan will no doubt be bitter from the battle, and I wouldn't put it past them to try and steal prey." Brighteyes gave an angry snort at this. Did ThunderClan really think that RiverClan wouldn't notice if they snuck onto the newly reclaimed territory? His fur bristled at the thought, although unease also lurked in his luminous gaze. His first loyalty was to RiverClan, and he obviously felt quite protective over his Clan's territory...but issues with ThunderClan were sometimes hard for the black tom to deal with, since his best friend resided in the rival Clan. Over the moons, Brighteyes had become a very reserved warriors for reasons he would rather not even think of, and had drawn away from most of his RiverClan friends. But Hazelstripe was the one cat in his life who he felt he could tell anything.

Shaking these thoughts away, Brighteyes's gaze hardened again. He couldn't let his Clan-mates see his doubts. "After we check Sunningrocks, we'll head towards the gorge and make sure WindClan haven't been causing trouble." He finished. They could never be too careful; with a new leader in place, the other Clans might be tempted to attack RiverClan. If that happened, Brighteyes would stand before them to show them what a mistake that would be. With a dismissive flick of his long black tail, the warrior turned and began heading up the slope of the waterfall towards the river.

Jitterpaw was only half-listening to the commands Brighteyes gave. The tip of her tail was twitching thoughtfully as her gaze followed a bat across the sky. If the nocturnal creatures were already appearing, that certainly meant that nightfall was not far off. Couldn't Brighteyes get on with it already? With a sigh, she nodded as he turned and began the journey. She made to follow, but cast a mischievious glance over her shoulder at Fleetfoot. "Race ya to the top!" She yowled suddenly, kicking up dirt as she charged past Brighteyes and made for the river.

The black warrior scowled and rolled his eyes. Apprentices.

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Fleetfoot glances at Jitterpaw when she promises that the patrol will be fun. She seems so confident, but he can't help but to roll his eyes. Is everything a game to her? He thinks, half in exasperation, and half in amusement. Patrols weren't supposed to be fun, they were just something everyone had to do. But since Jitterpaw is an apprentice, he understands that she probably takes every opportunity to get out of camp. Including sneaking out. Fleetfoot smirks and makes a mental note to remind Jitterpaw of this occasion once she becomes a warrior and starts to complain about going on patrols.

He listens seriously as Brighteyes briefly goes over the patrol schedule. When the black warrior is done, Fleetfoot nods. That seems to cover most of the borders, because they don't share any with ShadowClan. When they need to check up on ShadowClan, the most they can do is wander past four trees. Maybe they'll run by there on the way to the gorge, but it's Brighteyes's descision. Fleetfoot reminds his wandering mind that the other warrior is the one leading the patrol, and pads after Brighteyes as he heads up the slope.

He has barely gone a few tail-lengths when a flash of flame streaks past him. Jitterpaw calls "Race ya to the top!" and bounds up the hill with tireless energy. Fleetfoot shakes his head and watches Brighteyes scowl as the apprentice passes him as well. Attempting to keep his composure up, Fleetfoot lifts his head and watches the scene coolly. But soon the prickling in his paws is too much. The playful instinct to give chase overtakes him momentarily and soon he is racing up the slope after Jitterpaw. He is bigger and his legs are much longer, but Jitterpaw is agile and has had a considerable head start. Although he gets within a fox-length of her, Jitterpaw still wins.

Fleetfoot sighs and pads past her with a light nudge. Then he jumps onto one of the rocks near the bank of the river and waits for Brighteyes to catch up. "I gave you a head start!" He calls over the roar of the waterfall. His ears twitch with mock annoyance, but there is a rare gleam in his silver eyes.

[Roxie !]

The earth and rock beneath her paws felt as if she were gliding across it as Jitterpaw raced up the slope toward the river. She was a ginger blur, defiant of the gravity that tried to slow her as she headed up hill. Glancing back, the young apprentice noticed Fleetfoot beginning to charge after her. She let out a light laugh that mingled with the roaring of the waterfall; the warrior had finally given in and was allowing himself to relax. Well, it'd be good for him! Jitterpaw turned foreward and raced onward. At last, she reached the top of the great hill. She bounded upriver and skidded to a stop. He sides rose and fell as she struggled to catch her breath--though Jitterpaw was energetic to say the least, that had been a long run...even for her.

The water rose to lap at her paws, so gentle compared to the way it roared onward toward the waterfall she had just passed. She watched it for a moment in the same fascination she always did, before turning back and gazing around in an attempt to spot Fleetfoot. Sure enough, the warrior was not far behind her. "Can he run!" She murmured, her head tilting to the side slightly as she watched him slow finally, and then slip past her to perch on a nearby rock. Jitterpaw sat herself down nearby, the wildfire taint of her pelt mingling curiously with the green of the nearby reeds. A light breeze blew off the water and swept her fur, and she giggled at the sensation--and then at Fleetfoot's words. It seemed he always had to make excuses for himself. Typical warrior pride.

"Yup, you did. Big mistake." She added, her eyes sparkling with mischief as they always did...but especially when she was teasing the silver tom."It's a good thing you weren't born in WindClan. I thought warriors were supposed to be fast!" Jitterpaw rolled onto her back and laughed again, clearly finding great amusement in her own words. Fleetfoot took everything so seriously, and he was so fun to tease. But when a feline like herself took part in some good-natured teasing, it mostly meant that she was taking a liking to whoever she was with. Of course, Jitterpaw took a liking to almost anyone--she was always quite eager to make friends.

She closed her eyes contently, stretching out contently. "Speaking of speed, I'll have moved to the elders' den by the time Brighteyes hauls his tail up here." The she-cat commented, opening her eyes to stare at the sky...only to find a familiar black form standing over her. Jitterpaw yelped and rolled over to scramble to her feet again, her tail twitching nervously. "Oh...heh...hello, Brighteyes!"

Orange eyes narrowed as Brighteyes fixed the disrespectful apprentice with a hard stare, warning her with a sharp growl before flicking his gaze to Fleetfoot. He swore, his Clan-mates acted like kits at times. Which was exactly why Brighteyes never planned on being a father. Although, as far as he could remember, Fleetfoot was usually one of the more sensible warriors. The ebony tom sighed and privately marked Jitterpaw off as a bad influence. Perhaps I should make sure Honeypaw spends less time with her sister. A smirk formed on his lips as this half-serious thought crossed his mind. "Have we managed to compose ourselves?" Brighteyes asked slowly. He curled his lip and turned away, fortunately missing the face Jitterpaw pulled behind his back.

The black warrior began to lead the way upriver, and Jitterpaw followed. The apprentice glanced back at Fleetfoot, her own autumn brown eyes narrowed now. "Come on, Fleetfoot! Don't you know we're not allowed to have fun?" She questioned, her eyes shifting mischieviously toward the warrior in front of her. But Brighteyes would not allow himself to be provoked, and so Jitterpaw was forced to fall into a reluctant silence as the patrol began.

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"It's a good thing I wasn't born in WindClan," Fleetfoot retorts. "Who'd want to spend their life chasing rabbits over a wasteland?" He's mostly just grumpy over Jitterpaw's teasing, which makes him jump right to the insults. He snorts and looks into the water. He'd much rather be here, with the spirit of the river close to his home and heart. Fleetfoot looks up again and rolls his eyes when he sees Jitterpaw laying in the grass. "Then again, if I WAS from a different Clan, I wouldn't have to listen to you babble all day." He jokes as an afterthought. But now Jitterpaw is busy chattering about Brighteyes taking so long. Fleetfoot glances sideways and sees the warrior approaching. He smirks.

Jitterpaw is oblivious and goes on complaining. Fleetfoot doesn't bother trying to stop her. His whiskers twitch with amusement when she finally realizes that Brighteyes is standing there. Brighteyes clearly doesn't find the humor in the situation. He rebukes Jitterpaw with a growl and then turns to him. Fleetfoot's smirk dissappears at once, becoming blank and serious like it usually is. He doesn't want Brighteyes to think he always acted like such a kit. It was only Jitterpaw who seemed to be able to convince his easy-going side to come out of hiding. He dips his head when Brighteyes rebukes him, and scowls at Jitterpaw when the other warrior turns away.

The patrol is moving again. Fleetfoot stays in spot for a moment. It's going to be a long evening at this rate. But he might as well get on with it. He jumps off the rock and pads after his clanmates. They soon leave the roar of the waterfall behind, so it is easier to have conversations. Fleetfoot pads to Jitterpaw's side as they tread the familiar path towards where Sunningrocks would be located across the river. He snorts at her comment and looks down at her. "Won't you ever learn to stay out of trouble?" He chuckles.

[Roxie !]

The pawprints they left in the sandy bank behind them were gentley swept away as the three cats walked onward, so that it was almost as if they'd never been there. Jitterpaw kept her gaze fixed forward as Fleetfoot fell into step beside her. For once, she waited for him to speak...because it seemed as if he were itching to. Sure enough, his exasperated voice broke the silence in the form of a teasing question. The corners of her mouth twitched as she held back a smile, finally tearing her amber gaze away from the path ahead to meet his silver eyes. She let out an incredulous purr, as if she could hardly believe what Fleetfoot was saying. "And become a normal apprentice just like all of the others? Why would I do that?" She asked innocently as they headed upriver.

Jitterpaw shook her head and returned her gaze forward once again. "No, it's fun to...challenge the rules once in awhile. Didn't you ever get into trouble as an apprentice?" This time, she was genuinely curious to know the answer to her question. Jitterpaw's head tilted slightly to display her inquisitiveness. Not being much younger than he was, Jitterpaw could remember Fleetfoot as an apprentice, though she never spoke to him much. It'd only been once he'd became a warrior that they ever really even really socialized with each other, mostly after Jitterpaw had saved him at the Sunningrocks battle. To her, Fleetfoot's past seemed...mysterious, and she found herself thirsty for knowledge.

Jitterpaw's own past hadn't really been eventful except for one horrid incident: her mother's death. It had come out of nowhere, and for awhile it had deeply affected her. But Jitterpaw had her apprentice ceremony coming up at the time, and she had refused to mope when she had her whole life ahead of her. Most would say that Jitterpaw had gotten over the incident with strange swiftness. The truth was, it had affected her more than she had let show. It still did now. A more visible effect of the death could be seen in Honeypaw, whose attitude had changed considerably since. It was why Jitterpaw was so close to her sister. For a very long time, they'd been all each other had.

The pace of the patrol was quick, for Brighteyes set it so. It didn't take long to head up river...at least not to get to Sunningrocks. For RiverClan's territory stretched much further than this, following the water north and splitting with it to meet the gorge that was the WindClan border. Jitterpaw gazed across the river with curiousity as she waited for an answer. RiverClan hadn't been in possession of Sunningrocks for long, and as far as she was concerned, there was still much that could be explored there. Yet another perk of this patrol that her companions didn't seem to notice.

She felt excitement prickle in her paws as Brighteyes slipped smoothly into the water and began to paddle across. Jitterpaw stood at the waters edge and glanced at Fleetfoot. "Looks like you'll have to get wet today after all." The fiery apprentice purred, her tail lashing with excitement as she tested the cool water with one paw. "And if you're gonna get wet, might as well go swimming!" With these words, Jitterpaw leaped freely into the water. She went under with a splash and emerged a moment later. Paddling backward through the shallow water which had calmed considerably as they'd headed upstream, she waited for Fleetfoot to join her.