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"If you could only see yourself talking," Larksparrow purred suavely. "Both of you. Foxheart, you say we should respect Darkpaw no matter how temperamental she is, but if we exclude personality and actions that do not merit respect what are we left with? We are left respecting a cat for her birth! Your argument contradicts itself! Then Darkpaw says that all cats deserve respect yet she insults a warrior far older and more experienced then herself. As for how many times your stuck up for Plumpaw, I could count those on one paw, but your insults about him could barely be counted by the stars in Silverpelt."

Turning to the first cat to return unsuccessfully, slightly pleased that Shadowclan wasn't the first to slip up, Larksparrow mewed, "Thunderclaw, I'll see to you in just a moment. Do you think you need poppyseed or is the pain bearable?"

"Brightheart, I'll be using up some of my horsetail and goldenrod, so if you could fetch some or borrow from Cinderpelt that would be wonderful. I believe I have enough cobwebs for now."

"I'll be sure to get some chervil in there too then, but the horsetail should also help. I piled up some moss near the back of the den but I haven't had time to sort it into nests. You can settle wherever you feel comfortable, provided it's not on top of the herbs."

Unsure of what to say to Tuxedopelt, Larksparrow simply brushed her tail against his flank for comfort. It was brave of any cat to dive into a battle of words with that apprentice. Why couldn't she just get out of her sight for a bit? Darkpaw was like a bur, stuck to her pelt and just as annoying.

Brightheart lingered until she was sure Larksparrow needed no more herbs. Then the spotted she-cat was off. Herbs were not easy to find in leafbare, but she didn't want to deplete Cinderpelt's supplies, so the extra work was worth it.

She dug some horsetail out from under a pile of leaves where it had been wintering. The goldenrod was more difficult. She backtracked to Fourtrees, dropping off the horsetail on the way, and guiltily crossed into WindClan territory, where she snatched up a mouthful of goldenrod and quickly ran back. WindClan wouldn't mind if the herbs helped save their cats.

Picking up both herbs, she slipped inside the temporary den, the darkness briefly blinding her. She found her way to Thunderclaw by scent; dropping the herbs in a pile next to him, she sat down, adjusted enough to see him crouched in the moss.

"How are you feeling?" she asked gently. He would have to start the conversation. What he wanted to talk about, Brightheart had no idea - but she would be there to hear him out.

"No, I'm not saying that." he said, striding towards the exit. "I'm saying that you should give her a chance, or atleast try to remember when she gave you one. C'mon, Plumpaw. By the end of this, we'll need lots of fresh-kill for WindClan when our patrol comes back with them!" He bounded off.

That was true...hadn't she tried being nice to every cat when they visited, after meeting Foxtrot? Yes...she had been giving every cat a chance, to see if they were anything liek her rolemodel. And ever since Tearpaw left, she had been acting more respectful towards all ShadowClan cats- even towards Larksparrow. She nestled down, not guilty about teasing Plumpaw all the time. He was a duck, and what she did was an attempt to toughen him up to be a hawk. Of course, that wouldn't happen. He was the only real example she had. He desreved it for not trying harder to be a tough cat. "I did stick up for him, more than stars could be counted." she muttered, loud enough for only the sharpest could hear. "I only insulted him few times, compared to playing, defending a praising." She did not think of herself as a great cat, nor beat up on, but alone. Alone, and obviously despised for speaking up for herself. Atleast, that's what the many cheated-out-of-fresh-kill-because-other-cats-want-to-annoy-her types of things meant. Only StarClan allowed Stargaze to comfort her sometimes, and now she was in a worse state from Foxheart. "Larksparrow only picked him as a favorite because he accepted honeyn and he can't smell her. Ebonypaw's a jerk, and thus, she hangs out with a pompous." she continued to herself, in the low voice. "I can't even argue right anymore, because everyone thinks they can beat me." she grunted, still low. In a louder voice she said, "If I have a reputation like this now, I'm sure the both of you weren't much better than I am, as apprentices." It wasn't a rude comment but an acknowledgement. "I'm going to be better than this from now on, becuase I don't want to end up having the fewest friends in the Clan," she had looked at Tuxedopelt, "nor having a sharp tongue, a strange scent, and only friends with 'pure' cats." This was shot at Larksparrow. "I'm going to be a great warrior, that wins many battles, and become deputy someday, maybe even succeed Moonstar, Chaosstar, or Foxtrot, when he's leader. I know enough, I've hunted enough, I've patrolled enough....I've lived enough to know I have a good chance. A better one than, a, please excuse me, old cat, or Flamepaw, please excuse that, I don't know him that well, but still...I have Stargaze and Ravenstone on my side, and that means something." Of course, visits from those StarClan cats meant almost nothing in truth- they just visited her in dreams to play and talk with her, like elders sharing stories with kits. If that was possible for Starclan.
But Stargaze had meant something, so did Ravenstone: two cats that had been known as great. That had to mean something good if they visited her.
((Just tell me if I'm not allowed to do that. >> ))

(('Kay. I'm not saying Darkpaw's 'special', just that her grandparents are weird and visit her, if not her mother and siblings, no matter what, or she thinks they visit her, when they're just dreams. XP ))

(Little dreams like that are fine, with Darkpaw having a rough time and all. Don't expect them to visit her forever though :3

The guideline here is that everything Ravenstone and Stargaze say is coming from grandparents encouraging a cat they love. For example, it would be perfectly natural for them to tell Darkpaw she will be a great warrior- any family member would wish that heart But you can't use that line to "prove" that your cat will "definitely be the greatest warrior in the forest" because "Starclan predicted it" or something.

I hope that made some sense >.<

It's also alright for both of her grandparents to have been well known warriors, but they would pretty much be the only Starclan cats you may allude to that were extremely notable cats. Remember, not every warrior can have a deputy or the greatest hunter in the forest or something as a parent, some cats simply were average as well.)


"The apprentices all are vastly different. They don't seem to be as united as denmates were in our times," she responded to Tuxedopelt.

Larksparrow snorted at Darkpaw's comment about when the other cats were apprentices. She couldn't speak for TuxedoPelt, but she had followed every command her warrior mentor gave her as if her very life depended on it, and though she hadn't been extraordinary she had been on wonderful terms with her clanmmates.

"A mother must love a kit that wishes her parents dead so she could become leader," she added in a lowered voice after Darkpaw's comment.

Larksparrow stiffened and then completely froze for a moment as the image of four cats silhouetted against a setting sun filled her vision. The strong scent of Thunderclan was all around her, and then a fifth shadow darted to join the other cats.

"Don't get too comfortable," she mewed to Thunderclaw. "I think I may have just had a sign for you to rejoin your patrol."

She wandered over to the herb stores and began to assemble what Thunderclaw would need for traveling.

Brightheart winced, although she was proud of Thunderclaw's final decision to help the kittypets. lt sounded like ThunderClan was struggling in their search for WindClan. Were the others having this much trouble? She tried not to feel hopeful - WindClan needed to be found, whoever did the finding.

She smiled at Thunderclaw when Larksparrow spoke of her vision, glad to see brightness come into his eyes. "If someone had been hurt, she would say it right away." she tried to comfort him, hoping it was the truth. He seemed awfully worried. The look reminded her of how she felt when Cloudtail was in danger.

"Thunderclaw..." She blinked. Then she changed her mind. "If you still need to talk after the patrol I'll be willing to listen. But for now, good luck!"

"I suppose your right." Thunderclaw calmed a little, but still looked twitchy. The moments Larksparrow took to get herbs and such seemed like hours.

When Brightheart spoke again it took a moment to register. He turned to her finally and smiled lightly. "I'd like that Brightheart, I'm very confused about something and I need an explanation, but it will have to wait until I get back, hopefully I won't come back without Windclan this time." Thunderclaw purred he was sure Starclan wanted Thunderclan to find Windclan, why else would they send a vision to get Thunderclaw back on the patrol. No, Thunderclaw didn't think himself special he just thought that Starclan wanted that strong willed patrol together once more.