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 Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2016 8:59 am
 
Shadowstone nodded, just because these cats didn't want to stay within Dawnclan, did not mean they could take some of the territory with them. The abandoned...? The black furred tom looked at Forestfern. Was that... Had that been the direction he'd dropped Leafpaw off at? He couldn't remember. Ever since he last saw the apprentice, he had repeatedly told himself to just forget it. To just not think about where she was when he turned around so he wouldn't see. And eventually, his mind just stopped dwelling on it and with time it became sort of a fuzzy thought. Which, was good for his promise to the apprentice; but he felt guilty about not telling anyone. But he brushed it off as Forestfern continued speaking.
Admittedly, he actually hadn't considered the possibility of scents. Where has his mind been? Oh yeah... Shadowstone shook his head. "Yes, I suppose that makes sense." He murmured, making a mental note to see if he could be on that patrol. He wasn't sure why, but he just worried for their leader - Shadowstone knew the tom could take care of himself. He just worried, he supposed that's maybe just who he was.
A small hum sounded from him as Forestfern mentioned Starclan and he sighed. Why were they so quiet about this? Shaking his head, he looked back over to Stormstar as the tom spoke after a long pause. Green eyes widened at his leader's words. He was going? But, no. "What?! But..." Shadowstone clamped his jaw shut to hold back any other protests that threatened to push through. Releasing his breath in a sigh, Shadowstone nodded slowly; knowing it wasn't wise to argue when their leader had a set decision.
Escort? He could do that. "Just Forestfern? Or is Flarepaw joining the trip? I think Flarepaw would benefit from it; Starclan might want to show something to her." But in the end, it wasn't his decision - so he left his suggestion in the air.
"Alright. Be careful." Shadowstone turned and began padding out before pausing and turning his head to look at the brindle tom. "It's a stealth scout, right? So the two of you will just see what you can find and that's it? No drastic decisions?" Why did he worry so much? He felt like a parent at times, not because he thought their leader needed it - because Starclan knows Stormstar was perfectly capable. Maybe it was Starclan's way of showing him a desire to have kits? They were cute little bundles.
As a result in the turn of his thoughts, Shadowstone was thinking about kits as he was walking out of Stormstar's den. Would he make a good father? The more he thought about it, he realized he now wanted it.
Shaking his head, Shadowstone pulled a small piece of fresh kill; leaving the better pieces for his clanmates, and settled down to eat and, as Stormstar said - to rest up for the journey to the Moonstream.
suan cai Stormstar - I hope you don't mind Shadowstone being a bit of a worry kitty.
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2016 6:18 pm
"Flarepaw will come along as well, it would be a good lesson to her on the other duties medicine cats perform." This time, Forestfern made sure her tone left no room for argument. She knew Stormstar was not fond of her apprentice. The clan would fare fine without a medicine cat for a night. Besides, it would be a good thing for Flarepaw to see.
When the conversation ended and they were dismissed, Forestfern returned to the clearing. She paused briefly to tell Iceleap to go hunting - she didn't need the warrior's help, and frankly, did not want to deal with the she-cat's hovering as she worked a little too hard to live up to Stormstar's wishes. Her own apprentice, it seemed, was still in the den. For the moment, she just needed some air though. Spotting her sister, she trotted over to the fresh kill pile, and picked a piece big enough for them to share. She settled next to her littermate, offering the prey after taking a bite.
"Geeze I can feel the tension on you. More bad dreams?" Petalfall mewed softly, grateful to share the prey as she pressed her pelt more firmly against Forestfern's.
"The opposite. It's been quiet. We're going to the Moonstream tonight. Flarepaw and I. And Shadowstone." Forestfern admitted after swallowing thickly, trying to ignore how the prey felt like dirt on her tongue. Petalfall purred, pressing against her more before taking another bite of the prey.
"They'll probably tell you something cryptic that just leaves you more frustrated. Don't let it claw at your belly too much. It's not like they'll ever actually take territory by force from us. And if they try, they're going to remember where they learned their fighting moves from." Petalfall kept her tone light, passing the rest of the prey to Forestfern before beginning to groom her sister's head. Forestfern let a quiet purr rumble in her chest as she finished the prey. Through half closed eyes, she watched Cloverlush and Maplefeather with a small pang, grateful to the other warrior for sharing with the she cat. Frankly, Forestfern had a small soft spot in her chest for Maplefeather. The she-cat had saved Grasskit's life, given him the love of a mother and family he wouldn't have had otherwise. She could respect that.
But she had still tried to run away, so she had to be punished. Even if it was a bit cruel, she could understand the thoughts behind it. Not that a nearly starved she-cat was going to be much use to the clan... Her thoughts were interrupted by her sister finishing with her pelt and nudging her up.
"Don't think so hard on everything, Forestfern. Go get some prey to Flarepaw, and get some rest before tonight. If you go in with a more settled mind, you'll be able to absorb the words of our ancestors better." Petalfall affectionately touched a nose to Forestfern's forehead, "I'll stay up and guard the camp tonight. If you need some company when you get back, I'll be ready." Forestfern nodded at her sister, before watching her pad back out of camp, probably off to get more hunting done.
In the mean time, Forestfern padded back to her den. She was grateful for having spent some time with her litter mate. Of course, Petalfall didn't quite 'get' what being a medicine cat was about. But having the support and easy confidence to talk to helped bring some peace of mind.
She found Flarepaw among the herbs, sorting and clearing out any that were getting old.
"Flarepaw, we're going to be going to the Moonstream tonight to convene with StarClan. I'll clean the rest of this up. Why don't you get some prey for now and then rest up?" She suggested, letting Flarepaw out before getting rid of the garbage. When she returned to the den, she curled up in her nest, giving Flarepaw a more thorough run-through of the night's itinerary, before settling in for a nap.
She awoke just as the sun was setting, the sky outside still a faint grey. She stood and stretched, making sure there were no scraps of moss in her pelt, before making sure Flarepaw was awake. When they were both ready, she padded to the camp entrance to wait for Shadowstone.
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 6:09 am
After finishing his small meal, Shadowstone licked his paw and drew it over his face a few times; thinking about what Starclan might reveal to Forestfern or Flarepaw. He hoped it was good news, but he supposed he would take any news as opposed to not knowing. He realized that he didn't really enjoy not knowing. Padding around camp for a moment, Shadowstone finally made his way to the warriors den to lay down for a quick nap so he would be alert while escorting Forestfern and Flarepaw to the Moonstream.
Green eyes blinking open, he padded out of the den with a yawn; surprised to find it was already sunset. Shaking his pelt, he trotted over to where Forestfern was waiting. "If you've been waiting long, I apologize." He murmured respectfully.
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2016 9:56 pm
"No, not long at all. Ready to go?" She asked, waiting for the deputy's nod of assent, before leading them out of camp and north toward the moonstream.
((Sorry for the short post. More will be written at the moonstream thread so we don't eat the camp))
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2016 12:29 pm
Ravenstrike watched Harespring go, some part of her longing to go with her. The slump to her kit's shoulders didn't escape her attention, nor the way she looked at her with vague aversion, leaden down by some sort of sadness, before turning away. Guilt somersaulted through Ravenstrike's chest. She'd done so much wrong by Harespring, the doubt that she could ever make it up to her holding her firmly in place. What else was she to do but respect the walls that had been put up as a result?
As the last tail of the dawn patrol swished through the barrier entrance, Ravenstrike picked herself up. She was considering slipping out of camp to channel her inner turmoil into something productive when dark movement in the corner of her vision demanded her attention. "Good morning Ravenstrike." She blinked rapidly, surprised to see Stormstar padding up to greet her. "Hello to you too, Stormstar," she ventured, meeting his pleasantry equally, but not without some bewildered hesitance. She, just like her clanmates, believed Stormstar to be a number of things, but amicable had never been on that list. "Care to join me for a walk? Forestfern mentioned some rogues giving her trouble at the abandoned Twoleg nests where she gathers herbs. I want to see if those degenerates are so brave when you and I pay them a visit." Her whiskers twitched in bemusement. Breezy had also never made the list. Still, she reponded in kind, humor flavoring her words as well, "Scenic strolls through crumbling Twoleg nests and instilling fear in the hearts of cats? How could I ever turn down an offer like that." She padded forward with him, headed for the entrance to camp.
+
Maplefeather was just preparing to get to her paws when a shadow loomed against her eyelids. She blinked her eyes open, greeting Cloverlush with a warm meow. The smell of prey swarmed her senses, invoking a growl like no other from her stomach. She considered whether she should flush over it, but decided that, no, she would not be embarrassed. If this was the punishment she had to bear for getting her mate and kits out of DawnClan, then she'd bear it with pride. "Thank you, Cloverlush. It is a good morning, isn't it," she purred, swiping her tail familiarly over the her clanmate's shoulder. 'Is she still your clanmate if you no longer identify as a DawnClan cat?' She outwardly screwed her face up before she could think better of it. Hurriedly pushing the thought deep, deep down to dredge up later instead, she let her gaze fall to the mouse. 'It was offered. This is allowed.' Still, she hesitated before asking: "Would you like to share?" Blame clan traditions, embedded in every cat her age on a soul deep level. She stooped to take a bite and gestured to the piece of prey with her tail, welcoming the other calico she-cat to an equal portion.
"Did you sleep well?"
Fragmented images of Fawnpaw's face, stricken with horror, as Cedarmask and Grasspaw streaked away flashed through her mind's eye. It was all she could dream about lately. The wretched, infuriated screeching for Cedarmask to let her go, let her go--'let me go!' Maplefeather blinked away the remnants of her dreams. "About as well as one may imagine I'd be sleeping," she meowed somewhat pointedly. It was no secret to any cat in camp that she'd stayed behind so her family might escape. It was also no secret how much she clearly missed them. Nor that she meant to join them if ever given the chance. Which was why she wasn't given any. "Mostly just thinking about my kits," the light, airy tone was quick to smooth any feathers she may have inadvertently ruffled. "It is the curse of being a queen for a good many moons. Kits tend to have a monopoly on your mind."
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2016 7:15 pm
C L O V E R L U S HCloverlush nodded. "For this time of year, I think it is. Considering everything that's transpired." She murmured, watching the she-cat look at the mouse. "Oh no Maplefeather, that's all yours. Thank you though." She purred, sitting down and curling her tail around her paws. She had picked the mouse for the she-cat, and she was going to eat all of it. She'd decided the moment she began walking to the pile.
The calico warrior hummed in response to Maplefeather. "Oh I can imagine." Eyes softened in sympathy. "You remember Duststrike? We'd been planning on kits - it wasn't even a for sure thing and it was taking up most of my thoughts." Cloverlush tried to keep her tone light; but as always when she spoke of her lost mate, her voice fell slightly. "I can only imagine how much actually having kits would effect your thoughts." She meowed.
"I'm sorry you had to leave them." Cloverlush lowered her voice down into a whisper so another cat wouldn't overhear her hushed apology.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 11:45 am
 DαwnClαn Lєαdєr
ᴡʜᴇʀᴇxx DawnClan camp
ᴡɪᴛʜxx Shadowstone and Forestfern > Ravenstrike
ᴏᴏᴄxx Meka I'm moving the other half of my post to the Dawn/Flood border.
xxx◢ Stormstar said nothing when Shadowstone asked about taking Flarepaw and Forestfern quickly interjected with a confirmation. His medicine cat did not have many faults, but this certainly was one in his mind. She seemed desperate to have this apprentice, though the little thing was vastly unsuited for the job. It disgusted him, but out of respect for Forestfern he didn't interject. He was asking her to do his bidding, so if she wanted to drag her little kittypet along with her that was her decision. For now.
The big brindle tom flicked an ear at Shadowstone's flurry of questions, more amused than annoyed. That tom would make an excellent father. "That's correct, Shadowstone." He met the deputy's gaze evenly, a mix of affirmation but also a gentle reminder that he didn't require anyone to worry about him.
When he approached Ravenstrike the minute longing look she sent after her kit didn't escape him. He stored this for later use as he addressed her, his long tail brushing the ground slightly. If he'd noticed her surprise at his lighthearted tone he didn't show it it. Though he did purr with amusement at her reply. "Wonderful. Somehow I knew you'd be the perfect warrior for the job." He turned to pad out of the bramble tunnel with her.
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2016 4:22 pm
Skywhisker padded out of the nursery after Glimmerkit. Her kit was six moons, but she could feel the moment she'd informed Stormstar of Glimmerkit's... Difference, that he was a bit wary of her. He'd held back Leafpaw from becoming a warrior, would he hold back his daughter from becoming an apprentice? She hoped not, but she supposed there wasn't much she could do about it. Skywhisker just decided to make sure her daughter didn't think there was anything wrong with her because it was taking so long.Glimmerkit bounded out ahead of her mother, skidding to a stop to lift her muzzle to scent the air - she didn't want to bump into something right after emerging from the den.ooc;; so I wasn't too sure how to go about posting their 'first post' but I wanted to start, so this happened ^^;
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Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2016 4:51 pm
Padding along in the brisk morning air with Harespring was a quiet affair, at least so far as action went. It seemed for now that FloodClan was still keeping to their word.
"This next gathering ought to be one for the record books, depending on how Lynxstar swallows the rejection of his 'offer', eh?" He commented conversationally, pausing only to mark his scent now and then. Feeling Sunwhisper rolling her eyes at him, he glanced back to see both she cat's reactions. Sunwhisper twitched her ears at him, in a way that could mean she agreed, or else dogs had landed on the moon. He looked forward again, narrowly avoiding walking right into a holly bush. Sunwhisper trotted around him, and he caught the hint of her disjointed purring as she passed.
"I could make you check the elder's for ticks still, you know!" His grousing was met with a flick of a yellow tail-tip, even as she crawled through the underbrush. He shook his head, letting out an affectionate sigh at her behavior. "The respect I get around here." His tone was light this time, a purr of amusement trailing his words.
"Hey, are you okay? You seemed a little... Distracted while you were sitting with Ravenstrike earlier." His tone was more serious this time, some genuine concern leaking in. He knew Harespring's past with her mother was one of the more unique tales of a DawnClan warrior, but today had seemed like there was an exceptional division lying there. He knew it wasn't his place to pry, but with Sunwhisper wandering ahead like an excited apprentice out for the first time again, he thought it kinder to at least try to reach out while the moment was available.
--~--
Petalfall padded back into camp a little more pleased with herself then before. This time, she held a squirrel and two mice in her jaws. They weren't the plumpest prey, but given the season, she was just pleased with herself for having dragged them in at all. Setting her two scraps on the pile, she glanced for Sparrowpaw. Upon seeing her apprentice come out of the elder's den, she purred.
"Hey Sparrowpaw, thanks for taking care of the elders today. We'll get some battle training in tomorrow after the morning patrols, okay?" She offered after approaching the she-cat. She did feel a little bad for having not grabbed her in the morning, but the elders needed tending to, so at least it had worked out. Besides, she would make it up to her. "Did they at least have any good stories today?" She added, distracted by a noise at the mouth of the nursery. She glanced over, seeing Skywhisker and Glimmerkit emerge.
She couldn't help her mixed feelings that washed over her, even though she quickly glanced away. Soon Skywhisker was going to start demanding apprenticeship for the kit, and while thankfully Sparrowpaw put herself out of the running, whatever cat has to try and train her would have their paws full. Redbriar might make a good mentor, seeing as he'd worked with a disabled apprentice before. Then again, Sunwhisper was mute, not blind - her condition was far less of a hindrance. Regardless, it would be a long time before the kit proved useful to the clan. Though with how the entire litter had fared, Petalfall couldn't help but think StarClan was punishing Skywhisker for something.
"Make sure Skywhisker and Glimmerkit are fed as well before you take some prey for yourself, alright? And try to get to sleep early, I'm going to want you up at dawn." She mewed to her apprentice, before finally going to sit off to the side and watch the clan come in from the day.
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Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2016 8:46 pm
DαwnClαn Lєαdєr
ᴡʜᴇʀᴇxx DawnClan territory and surrounding area (twoleg nests)
ᴡɪᴛʜxx Ravenstrike
ᴏᴏᴄxx Turning over the day in DawnClan! This post is continued from
DawnClan and FloodClan Border
xxx◢ Stormstar strode back into the camp, looking preoccupied. He scanned the clearing to check on his clan before padding straight into his den without eating. This day had been a long one and he had a lot to mull over before his body gave in to its weariness.
Stormstar opened his eyes to the next morning, not remembering having curled up to sleep the night before. He raked his claws over the side of the den before heading out into the morning light in search of Shadowstone. "Any word from StarClan?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2016 3:28 pm
Shadowstone awoke with a yawn and exited the den into the brisk air. Giving his pelt a light shake to warm up, he sat down to look around the camp at the cats who were up; Forestfern's words from Starclan clear in his mind. To the medicine cat, he would seem like he was looking to suspicious behavior - but he was pretty sure that he was the second cat. He'd known the direction he'd left Leafpaw in and hadn't said anything. Did that make him unfit to be a deputy of his clan? He shuddered at the thought. He loved Dawnclan with his whole heart. He just hadn't wanted to cause unnecessary conflict; and he couldn't help but promise the small she-cat anonymity.
Dipping his head in a respectful greeting, Shadowstone sighed. "Unfortunately Starclan didn't have much to say." The black pelted tom meowed. "From what Starclan had told Forestfern, I'm assuming your scouting turned up something?" He meowed before remembering one more thing to say. "It would seem that Floodclan has a place here, according to Starclan." Shadowstone informed, glancing around the camp for a moment before looking back to his leader.
"One more thing..." The deputy lowered his voice a bit, not wanting to worry anyone. "Once Floodclan gets a foothold, it seems they won't be easy to stop."
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Posted: Tue Nov 29, 2016 7:55 pm
Forestfern had felt dead on her paws, padding back in to the camp in the middle of the night. At least it seemed nothing had occurred while she was gone, the blissful silent of the camp a welcome homecoming. She waved her tail in goodnight to Shadowstone, before leading Flarepaw back into their own den. She barely had time to settle in her nest, before she was fast asleep.
She walked with Mosspelt in her dreams, in silence. His presence was a comfort, even after all the moons she'd passed outside his care. It was nice, still, to take in the moonlit glow of a calm night under the stars with him once more, the sounds of the stream at their side the only sound to be heard.
When she woke, she was grateful for the peace. A sense of comfort filled her, leaving her optimistic that things would be alright. She stood from her nest, shaking out her fur and giving herself a quick groom, before peering out into the clearing. It seemed Stormstar had already pinned Shadowstone, so at least he would know the noise wasn't good. Still, she knew her leader wasn't one for cowardice, so she also padded over to the two tom's, catching the end of the conversation.
"Doestar's warning was a bit more specific - 'Be weary if it comes to battle. Dawn comes and goes, but it's difficult to stop the flow of a flood'. I still think we can keep them out of our territory, but I doubt they'll be going away any time soon." She too kept her voice low, not wanting to disturb their clan mates. But Stormstar had a right to know.
"I'll spend the day gathering herbs and making sure Flarepaw is drilled more in how we tend wounds, and Iceleap as well so I have an extra set of paws in emergencies. We'll be ready no matter what comes." She added after a pregnant pause, trying not to let her leader's silence affect her. When he was loud, he was intimidating. When he was quiet, she couldn't help but be concerned. Only StarClan could know what was possibly going on in his head at that point. When she was dismissed, she padded back to her den, prodding Flarepaw awake so that they could begin their unique hunt, before also fetching Iceleap. For once, the warrior would be helping more than hurting, and having an extra set of paws that knew to tend to wounds just in case wouldn't be anything to complain about.
She lead her trio out of camp and into the forest, hoping to find what she needed.
--~--
Petalfall woke at dawn to the sound of her name being called. At being requested for the dawn patrol, she nodded. She stood and stretched briefly, before lightly prodding Cloverlush with a paw, doing the same to Cliffstrike.
"Shadowstone wants us to head out on the dawn patrol." She mewed gently to each cat, before stepping out into the early dawn light. She flared her nose and twitched her ears as the sudden shock of the chilly morning assaulted her senses. Irritably ruffling out her fur, she padded over to the apprentice's den, she gently pawed at Sparrowpaw's shoulder, trying to wake her as kindly as she could.
"We're headed out for the dawn patrol, come on." She mewed to her apprentice, backing out of the den once she was sure she was awake. With every cat she would need woken, or at least the attempt made, she padded over to the entrance of the camp to wait for everyone so that they could head out.
--~--
Sunwhisper, for once, woke before Redbriar did. glancing over and seeing her mentor sleeping, she shrugged. Sometimes he would be sluggish. Normally, she would take the opportunity to wake him solely out of spite. For whatever reason, she was feeling kinder this morning, and left him be. Instead she padded out into the clearing, pausing to stretch a bit. She glanced around, wondering for a moment if it would be worth it to find another cat for a hunting patrol. She decided against it after a moment, knowing it wasn't that worth it. With Redbriar as the only tom who understood her, and her own heritage being the sort that Stormstar wasn't fond of, she had few friends in the clan.
As she padded out of camp, she couldn't ignore the small clutch in her chest, even as she dipped her head politely while passing Stormstar, Shadowstone, and Forestfern. She padded ahead, out into the pale grey of the leaf-bare sky. She couldn't help but think the snowy days would be coming soon. Her day was going to be a long one, she could already tell. She headed for the trees, hoping some squirrels would still be scampering for nuts underneath the canopy.
Her mind wandered as she padded along, only partly focused on the task at paw. She couldn't help the festering resentment at Stormstar that seemed only to grow in her chest as the moons pressed on. The seeds of division he'd planted in the clan had fully bloomed, driving away most every non-ShadowClan bloodline cat. It made warriors avoid those 'not like them' and left her as a mostly solo-act, with only Redbriar for company. And had she not been his apprentice, she was sure she wouldn't have him either, given how easily he slid into the old ideologies. Only pure ShadowClan cats were worthwhile in DawnClan. She couldn't say why she'd decided to stay.
'Because you know even though Lynxstar would take you in, you'd have just as many friends as you do here. No one wants to deal with a cat who can't talk.' The thought left a bitter taste in her mouth, even as she tried to quash it. She shook her head, realizing she'd managed to almost pass the border without even noticing, she was so lost in thought. She sighed, the sound hoarse as it drew out of her mouth. She turned around, beginning her hunt.
It was well after sun-high by the time she finally padded into camp, with only two squirrels and a mouse to show for her troubles. It wasn't much, but it would feed the clan, at the very least. She dropped her clutch on to the fresh-kill pile. She glanced around, spotting Maplefeather across the way. Something in her chest softened just slightly. 'I'm not the only reject in the clan.' Moved to pity by the thought, she picked up the mouse again and padded over to the former queen, placing the mouse in front of her. She gestured lightly at herself, Maplefeather, and the mouse, the closest version of 'Would you like to share?' she could manage.
--~--
After a late dusk patrol, Redbriar hadn't managed to wake as early as he would have liked. Part of him wanted to blame his age, though he truly wasn't that old, in retrospect. He supposed, as he woke to a nearly empty den, that the cold had simply taken its toll on him, the chill of leaf-bare sinking its fangs down and leaving him sleepy. He sat up, shaking bits of moss from his pelt, before padding out into camp.'
The first sight that greeted him was Sunwhisper offering Mapleshade some prey, apparently wanting to share it. Part of him wanted to walk right over and rake his claws over her ears for associating herself with that traitor. Why, of all cats, was she trying to branch out with Mapleshade? She had abandoned their clan with her mate, and only came back because they had forced her to. Surely, she would abandon them again if given the opportunity? And there his former apprentice was, trying to make friends with her. He felt the hair on his spine raising, and he knew if he stayed he would make a move he'd regret. Instead, he moved for the entrance of the camp, intending to hunt until his pads fell off, or at least until he could manage not to scold his apprentice like a kit.
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Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2016 2:36 pm
Spottedkit spent the morning in the queens den, sleeping in. The night before she was bouncing up and down about the idea of becoming an apprentice: Who was going to be her mentor? What was the first thing she would learn? Things like that rushed through her mind and she ended up staying up most of the night because of it. When she finally woke up and saw the sun high in the sky, she was frustrated with herself. Her ears twitched back and her tail flicked angrily back and forth as she found herself eating a vole.
After finishing it, she looked around to find Stormstar, and when she did she nervously began creeping towards him. Not wanting to interrupt his conversation, but interested to know if he remembered what day it was.
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Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2016 3:50 am
Stormstar had already left the clearing in favor of his den when Ravenstrike pushed her way through the bramble tunnel. The bits of sky visible through the tree branches overhead were dimming, and cats were beginning to disperse into their dens. She searched Maplefeather out from among the cats, her eyes settling on the calico she-cat determinedly. She was seated with Cloverlush, as steadfast in her waning state as ever. Padding over, Ravenstrike prepared to steal the cat away from the other warrior.
+
Maplefeather had been grateful to every single star above her head when Cloverlush shook her head to her offered share of the mouse. It hadn't taken her long to scoop the rest of the scant meal into her jaws. "Oh I can imagine." She blinked at the other she-cat, her emphatic, knowing tone ringing true to her ears. "You remember Duststrike? We'd been planning on kits - it wasn't even a for sure thing and it was taking up most of my thoughts." Her facial muscled were promptly stunned, looking on at Cloverlush under a different light. "Oh. I'm so sorry, dear." "I can only imagine how much actually having kits would effect your thoughts." She looked away, her throat constricting with emotion. The warrior prolonged a paused. "I'm sorry you had to leave them," she breathed, looking at her with sincerity. Maplefeather made a strangled noise--a choked down sob. She closed her eyes, looking away. "So am I," she mewed, her voice rough with emotion.
"Excuse me, Cloverlush, but could I steal Maplefeather from you?" Maplefeather turned her eyes on Ravenstrike. Irritation prickled her pelt. The dark she-cat had been Cedarmask's former mate, and Grasspaw's mother. She hadn't deserved to be either. As Cloverlush dipped away, Maplefeather held Ravenstrike's gaze, squinting cautiously. "I just thought you should know..." Ravenstrike looked away. "I went out with Stormstar today and we saw Cedarmask. He's alive and in FloodClan. I assume that means your kits are too." Maplefeather blinked rapidly, stunned, before relief washed over her. 'They made it!' She curled her tail in delight. But then, something Ravenstrike had said urged correcting.
Just as the other cat was turning away to leave her be, she spoke. "Our kits." Her paws stuttered. She glanced back. "What?" "Grasspaw was yours once, too. You haven't forgotten, have you?" Ravenstrike looked lost, like maybe she had. Maplefeather could only catch a glimpse of the remorse that flickered in her eyes before she turned back away, and left without a word. She looked on, a mixture of irritated and sad for the other she-cat. 'It's like she'd just.. given up on herself.'
It was on this note that Maplefeather returned to her nest in the warriors den. Secluded to the edge of the branches, as though the other warriors didn't want to even risk brushing pelts with her. It was fine, though. She didn't much want to associate with the majority of them anyways. Settling down, she felt the effects of her imprisonment physically wearing on her. She hadn't even done much but eat a bit of prey and talk today, but her body felt as though it had padded six hundred thunder paths. Sleep didn't hesitate to take her.
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Patrolling with Redbriar and Sunwhisper was a lighthearted activity. Harespring wallflowered her way through most patrols, and this one was no different. She generally kept her responses short or non-verbal, content to keep to herself. But the banter between the mute warrior and her old mentor did drag a number of snorts from her throat. Even if Harespring wasn't sure whether she liked Sunwhisper all that much--she was one of the clan's weakest links, in her personal opinion--she had to admire how the other cat got along. And couldn't help the pang of envy over her relationship with Redbriar. It was the sort of familiarity she'd never had with Cedarmask.
"Hey, are you okay? You seemed a little... Distracted while you were sitting with Ravenstrike earlier." Harespring met the warrior's eyes evenly, considering. "I'm alright. She's just... Ravenstrike, you know? And I don't understand her. It makes for a healthy amount of frustration." She flicked her ears, dismissing the subject. "There's nothing much more to say. Thank you, though," she added, nudging his shoulder with hers graciously. "I appreciate the sentiment of your concern."
+
The new day was just as chilly, if not more, as the day before. Ravenstrike had woken when the dawn patrol had been roused. Harespring was waiting for her outside the den, offering a chance to go hunting together. She'd considered passing it up, but one look over Harespring's shoulder at Maplefeather, sitting outside Forestfern's den and staring straight at her, had her following her kit out into the forest.
Their hunt was a quietly efficient one. Harespring was startlingly sharp, her focus leading her astray from their joint course for a number of catches. Ravenstrike managed to bring down a squirrel scrambling up a tree to its nest as well as two lone shrews scrabbling in the waning undergrowth. When there seemed enough prey for their jaws to carry, they padded home, Ravenstrike eking out a few compliments that went largely ignored.
Back in camp, they dropped off their catch and Harespring left to groom herself. Sighing, Ravenstrike curled her tail around herself, closing her eyes against world. 'Another day of waste.' She shuddered from the cold, now steeping into her that she was still.
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Maplefeather woke early once more. Her switches between restless and exhausted were wearing on her. Overhearing Forestfern planning to take Flarepaw and Iceleap out herb hunting while she was grooming her fur flat, she decided to loiter near the medicine cat's den to offer assistance. However, she was, of course, passed by. She watched them go off into the forest with a jolt of nostalgia and envy to her heart. She missed the forest more than she cared to admit aloud.
Her attention was claimed by Sunwhisper when the silent warrior padded up to her with a shared offering. Purring with thanks, she nodded and let the other take the first bite before she allowed herself one.
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Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2016 8:24 pm
⁙⁙ SPARROWPAW ⁙⁙ DawnClan Apprentice ⁙⁙Taking care of the elders was one task that Sparrowpaw was not eager to do as an apprentice. Those old cats smelled funny and were always forcing her to stay longer than she wanted, telling her tales of when the four clans existed. So it was with great relief that Sparrowpaw finally wormed her way out of the elders' den and out into the clearing. No sooner had she done this than her mentor padded up to her. Sparrowpaw purred in greeting. "Oh, it's no big deal, the elders are pretty fond of me, I guess!" she mewed, even though to her it really was a big deal. Why was she always stuck with that job? But her spirits soared at the mention that they would be out training tomorrow during the dawn patrol. Having not really payed attention to what Petalfall said after, Sparrowpaw twitched her tail and tilted her head. "S-sorry, what was that?" She didn't really have the patience to wait for her mentor to repeat herself however, especially as the movements from the nursery distracted both her and Petalfall.
Sparrowpaw suppressed a groan at Petalfall's request that she make sure the queen and her kit were fed. She knew that it was warrior code to make sure they ate before she did, but her stomach grumbled unpleasantly, and the smell of the fresh prey was tantalizing. So without another word to her mentor, she bounded over to the freshkill pile, snatched up the fist prey she could (which happened to be a squirrel) and plopped it down in front of Skywhisker. "Here ya go!" she exclaimed before hurrying back to the prey and picking up a fairly plump mouse for herself. By the time she settled down to eat, her mouth had been watering profusely, and it was as if she were in StarClan when she took the first bite. It didn't take long to finish, but in that short amount of time, she'd felt the exhaustion hit her, and she didn't hesitate to make her way to the apprentice den, snuggling up close to Silverpaw and drifting off to sleep.
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The next morning, Sparrowpaw woke to the prodding of Petalfall. She moaned her displeasure at having to wake up so early, but obeyed nonetheless. She heard Oakpaw mock her under his breath. "Oh yeah, laugh all you want. You'll be sorry that your mentor didn't take you out as often as Petalfall does, 'cuz I'll be such a good fighter that you'd never stand a chance." Oakpaw scoffed, and lied back down, mumbling something about not having to worry about taking on such a little runt. And though the comment struck a bit of a nerve in Sparrowpaw, she attempted to laugh it off, and instead playfully batted at his ears, perhaps a little too roughly. Oakpaw snarled in annoyance and jumped at her, sending them both tumbling out of the den. Their scuffle was much rougher than Sparrowpaw was used to, and she was losing horribly, but she was stubborn and fought back. That was until they rolled right into Shadowstone.
Oakpaw rushed back into the apprentice den and Sparrowpaw was left to press her ears to her head and appear even smaller than she was. "Sorry, Shadowstone..." she mumbled, not daring to make eye contact. The little apprentice didn't waste time in hurrying to the camp entrance where Petalfall stood waiting. "Let's go," she mewed impatiently, glancing over her shoulder at the deputy. The she cat didn't wait much longer before heading out of the camp, feeling very hot even in the chill morning air.
⁙⁙ CLIFFSTRIKE ⁙⁙ DawnClan Warrior ⁙⁙Cliffstrike woke with a start, hackles raised and teeth snarling. Once his eyes adjusted to the dim light and his nose picked up on the familiar scent of Petalfall, he relaxed, shaking out the bits of moss that clung to his black and grey fur. The tom made his way out of the den, giving a little shiver at the lack of warmth that his body had grown accustomed to in the warrior den. He sat near the entrance of the camp, tail curled around his paws, shoulders hunched to keep out the chill, thanking StarClan that he was born with thick fur. His gaze fell upon Stormstar talking in hushed voices with Shadowstone near the leader's den. A prickle of jealousy cut through Cliffstrike as his yellow eyes narrowed at the deputy. That should be me reporting to Stormstar, he thought irritably. That big ball of fur is doing nothing to further our leader's plans. I could do much better.
Recently, Cliffstrike's mind had been occupied with how he could get closer to Stormstar, to gain his unwavering trust. Right now, the warrior was nothing but another cat in the clan. He wanted to prove his loyalty, but how? Simply doing the duties expected of every warrior wasn't enough. He needed to do something more. His thoughts were interrupted, however, as he watched a couple of the apprentices crash into Shadowstone. He chuckled darkly, amused at the stupidity of those kits. He knew he wasn't all that much older than them at only 24 moons, but he felt so much more mature and experienced. Then Petalfall, Cloverlush, and Sparrowpaw joined him at the entrance and they headed out for the dawn patrol, Cliffstrike doing his absolute best to be on high alert for anything he could report back to Stormstar.
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