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Post by Dusk on Jun 22, 2011 18:41:53 GMT -5
Dunepaw
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain
I like watching the puddles gather rain
'What is it about early evening that just draws me out to hunt?'
There was just something about the not-quite-dark of twilight that always tempted the tom to venture out of the camp and hunt. He'd tried to resist the pull before, but it was always too much to resist. There was some sort of allure - maybe he was the only one who saw it. Rather "sensed" it; for the tug was not merely drawn in by what the eyes viewed, but what his ears and nose picked up on as well. The cool air was always pleasant to the apprentice; his fur being so dark it held in midday heat to an uncomfortable level. The plants too, just smelled sweeter after the sun fled. It was rarely as loud, less to startle the tom and potentially ruin his hunt. Insects hummed and buzzed in a cacophony of sounds, but together they melted into a not unpleasant melody in the background. Twilight was... relaxing. Maybe that was why the apprentice always hunted at that time. It was something that served extremely well to soothe easily frayed nerves.
'Not to mention the sky looks nice....'
Indeed, the sky was brilliant; stars sat on a many-hued blanket of blue and purple... plus some orange sitting on the horizon. It looked even more spectacular with the lake reflecting the overhead scene. Truly, Dunepaw would be content to simply sit there for the rest of the night and stare, wide-eyed, at the infinity above. If the situation allowed for it. It didn't. 'Focus, you fluff-brained tom,' he chided mentally. After a moment longer, the dark-furred cat wrenched a golden gaze back to the short-grassed turf. The wind turned, and the cat took a quick sniff. It served both as a caution and a hunting method. Foxes liked to roam the hilly land in the dark, and the last thing the feline wanted was to become cub-nurturing vixen's meal. A hungry fox would eat anything, even a wiry bag of bones like Dunepaw.
Pulling his jaws shut, the tom cocked his head in surprise at the scent that flooded his nostrils and bathed his tongue. Plover. Almost immediately the tom turned to go search elsewhere, he had more trouble with catching birds than he did catching alerted hares. Besides, for all he new it was a dead plover; they weren't usually out on the moor after sunset. And yet... some part of his mind nagged at him. Why not go check? If it was dead, it was dead; he could hunt somewhere else after. If it was alive, he could at least try to catch it. 'At least try. What would your mentor say if they found out you hadn't even attempted a catch?' The apprentice frowned at the mental battle, finally setting out in the general direction of the smell.
He was in luck. Limping to a stop and crouching down behind a heather bloom, Dunepaw eyed the brown-feathered bird. The bird was either stupid or extremely confident of its safety, drawn out from its usual place in the trees to consume some worms and insects drawn out of the ground by the cool air. All alone, it was oblivious to the presence of the nearby feline watching it with a hungry glare. So close, yet so far. Mere tail-lengths in front of him, yet that was more than enough space for the bird to take flight and get away if the cat pounced now. There was an infuriating lack of cover in the remaining space between himself and the plover, though. The apprentice shifted in annoyance, the bird practically mocking him as it lifted its head and cracked the carapace of an insect in its beak. The cat finally backed out of the heather and circled around, desperately preying to Starclan that the wind wouldn't shift. Now climbing uphill, the tom worked his way towards the bird again, its back to him. Silence. Perfect silence. His pelt served him well in allowing him to blend into the night. He was a spectre, a shade that would end this bird's life. He stopped, tensing as the bird raised its head again and looked around briefly.
'Birds have bad night-sight and terrible smell. It'll miss me, it'll miss me.'
The plover ruffled it's feather's against a particularly cool wind and looked as if it was making to take of. Dunepaw leaned forward eagerly as it unwittingly took a step towards the crouching Zephyrclan cat. Now. Dunepaw leapt, and the plover spread it's wings to take off. Too late. The apprentice took a swipe at the bird with his good paw, his claws catching in the feathers and dragging the bird down as he landed. A flash of teeth and it was over, the plover's final shriek pf pain and alarm cutting off abruptly as it's spine was severed. The call echoed on the empty moor, though. Raising his head with prize in jaws, the cat briefly wondered if anyone else had heard the alarm. Well, it didn't really matter. The tom began limping his way back to camp, an uncommon spring in his step this evening.
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Post by Dawn on Jun 22, 2011 20:07:47 GMT -5
* SPLASHPAW
[/size][/font] She didn't sign her name
I wonder,
if that's a little secret that she keeps?
A pelt that would normally appear at best a dull gray caught the fire of the blazing sun and became a radiant silver. Thick, sharp stripes glowing a fainter, darker color, though not all that close to the black of the night sky, they flexed over muscle as their owner moved slowly and carefully. Though from back the she-cat, who was small and delicate in feature, seemed to be completely gray, to her front smooth, sleek white fur clung. She didn't look like much of a Tempestclan warrior, Splashpaw thought, as she studied her features in the reflection of a small puddle. She couldn't tell as many differences as her hard eyed clanmates could, but she still noticed it. The softness in her pelt, the warmth in her beautifully colored blue-green eyes, her small, feminine build; she didn't know that these were what set her apart, but she felt how she was different. Though she shared kin with the deputy herself, who was indeed one of the strongest warriors she knew, Splashpaw was far too different in personality, so much softer, so much more curious. Sometimes I think Dreamfeather hopes I'll grow out of it. The small tabby thought pleasantly of her cousin, studying her reflection for just a moment more before she padded off along the lake's edge.
It wasn't quite midday, but it was far from evening. There was still a period of warm, blissful time, cooler than sun high, before the sky would darken and become bright with the colors of sunset, then rich with the colors of twilight. This time, Splashpaw knew, was perfect for exploring. She could never get away from her kin and mentor during the day, and it was likely that she would have duties in the morning, but after all of the work was done was perfect. Cats hunted solo or sat about camp sharing tongues, growing sleepy as it drew nearer to night. None would notice the little misfit she-cat as she slipped away from camp to roam about the territory, and today, the lake. Splashpaw seemed to recall that their was a rule about being able to go around the lake without being challenged, but she couldn't remember it exactly. What did it really matter, though? The territory around their stretch of lake was unclaimed, so she could explore as far as she liked without getting a sniff of another clan cat.
And so, with this in mind, she began to calmly pad alongside the lapping water, never noticing when she drifted outside of her clan's scent markers. Her mind was utterly absorbed in, well, everything. She watched the gentle waves, mesmerized by their continuous flow toward her, and Splashpaw wondered occasionally what caused them. Was there something in the middle of the lake that pushed out at all sides, causing tiny waves to crawl up over the sandy earth, which her silver paws now trod? She didn't know it, but the golden sand was caused by the very same tide, wearing down on rock for centuries, probably before even the first Tempestclan kit was born. Splashpaw scarcely noticed as the sun crept across the sky, having been closer to evening than she anticipated. She did note, though, when it began to sink behind the mountains and bright, fiery flares lit the clouds, swirling indigo and amber, beautiful. She settled to watch it as it set, until the light had left mostly, and the sky was dimmed mournfully so, already longing for the sun's warmth. Any other cat would have at least turned back by now, if not hurried to get home; but she didn't really register the time that went with it, for she was too wrapped up in her exploration, and so she began walking again.
Another thing she hadn't noticed was the sloping hills not far from the beach, stretching away and hiding cats from view. She had crossed into Zephyrclan territory a while ago, plodding along, until she stopped tiredly and gazed across the lake and wondered if Tempestclan was so far from here. Splashpaw was lost with her mind, tail flicking and leaving tiny indents in the sand, for her tail tip was very thin, like the rest of her lean body. She was roused from silence when she heard the loud, harsh alarm call of a bird, though, and the fur along her neck bristled as she gave a soft noise of surprise. The gray tabby turned to gaze away from the lake, toward the direction where the bird's death cry had come.
Where am I?
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Post by Dusk on Jun 22, 2011 21:25:05 GMT -5
Dunepaw
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain
I like watching the puddles gather rain
The young tom was practically glowing with pride at his catch as he made his way across the moor. Perhaps some of the sable tom's joy was unmerited. It was only a plover, after all; if a large one. Just one bird. And after getting around all the pesky feathers, it wouldn't make much of a meal when compared to a good, plump hare. True, it would easily feed a cat; a hare, though, could feed two or three depending on just how big it was. And a hare had no useless fluff to work around before getting to the flesh. Overall a hare simply would have been more impressive for most cats. But for Dunepaw that it was a flying creature was more than enough reason for him to be happy. After all, with a gimp paw, he found birds trickier than most types of prey to catch. And so he found himself extremely satisfied. Even if others in the camp weren't particularly impressed, the apprentice had his own contentedness to lean on.
Perhaps there was still time to go back to the lake and enjoy the twilight for a little while. He corrected his course so that he was headed towards the large body of water. Now that he'd hunted, there was no massive need to go straight back to the camp. The others knew he might be out for a few hours, his outings had become so regular. And no one really cared so long as the tom didn't wear himself out to the point that he could no longer perform his apprentice duties. Besides, who would argue over a bit of extra fresh-kill. One cat wasn't about to drain the territory of prey any time soon. The tom considered the hunting as a form of working off extra energy in a positive fashion. Some cats shared tongues. Other patrolled the territory, or simply went for a run. Dunepaw hunted. To each their own. The lanky cat liked that philosophy. 'If every cat thought like that, maybe we'd have less fighting.' Less fighting, that'd be nice. Clan cats, loners, house cats... if certain individuals would learn to put aside their prejudices then the world would be a better place wouldn't it?
The tom paused abruptly as he felt water splash around his paws, the surf tugging gently at the fur on his toes. Lost in his thoughts as he'd been, the clan cat had failed to notice his progress from turf to sandy shore and now to water and dark mud. Blinking at his reflection, the tom grinned lopsidedly at the ruffled tom staring up from the water. There were light brown feathers caught in the fur around his cheeks and jaws, they must've gotten caught there in the brief scuffle between himself and the bird. The tom limped a few paces away so that he could put the plover down without getting bitter mud all over the bird. As he paced back to the lake, he happened to glance down the shoreline, and stopped to gape at the form of another feline looking cautiously at the moor.
'Stupid cat, so busy gloating you don't even notice there's another cat nearby.' Grimacing for a moment, Dunepaw headed towards the cat. The wind was blowing off the lake towards Tempestclan land as usual, making it useless for the apprentice to try and scent the cat first. And in the fading light, he couldn't easily make out the other cat's features. He assumed it was a she-cat, or an apprentice age cat, judging by their size. Truly, they were rather small, even compared to Dunepaw; who, while tall, was still rather skinny. Still, closing the distance, the tom realized that this was no Zephyrclan cat. At this revelation, some cats would immediately chase the intruder from their territory. Others wouldn't even give them the chance to run. The more level-headed warriors might sit and let intimidation do its job. Dunepaw... asked the obvious question.
"Who are you?"
The she-cat -and the tom had now gotten close enough to see that the stranger was a she-cat- clearly didn't belong. And yet, it wasn't as though she was stealing prey. Dunepaw was loathe to do anything rash. Leave it to the hot-heads to make stupid demands without allowing for any sort of explanation first. Beside, this was the first new cat the apprentice had met since the last Gathering. Curiosity and the enjoyment at seeing a new face, combined with his rather pacifist nature, served as more than enough to keep the sable tom's claws sheathed.
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Post by Dawn on Jun 23, 2011 10:17:57 GMT -5
* SPLASHPAW
[/size][/font] She didn't sign her name
I wonder,
if that's a little secret that she keeps?
Fear became a heartbeat. Worry became a pulse. Her heart was loud in her ears. The small silver tabby crouched, the fur along her back risen to full height as she stared off in the direction of the bird's death call. It had been killed, just now, and it's killer was nearby; more likely than not a clan cat, hunting for a clan, not Tempestclan. Splashpaw wanted to run back to camp, but she reminded herself that she was a Tempestclan apprentice, a warrior in training. Besides, her curiosity was too great for her to run now. Scent markers couldn't be smelled here, as the pristine water lapped at her paws and made them a dark gray, the color of a storm cloud. She didn't know at all where she was; but she would guess this was probably Zephyrclan territory, from what she remembered. She was far from Tempestclan boundaries now, and she should have run, but instead she stood her ground. Well, sort of. She crouched her ground, anyway, her bellyfur brushing against the ground, damp. Splashpaw knew it would be sandy when she returned to camp, if, hopefully, she did indeed return to camp. But that didn't matter right now- a cat was getting closer... the wind blew toward her, ruffling her chilled silver fur, and she scented this cat, who she could clearly tell by smell was a tom.
She had barely heard him, of course. But she hadn't known why until now, when a tom that was extremely thin stood in front of her. His legs were far longer than her's, his coloring ranging from the rich hues of midnight to soft, vole brown shades. At first his eyes, which were clearly intelligent and glowed handsomely, seemed only to be gold in hue. They were the color of the sun that had painted the clouds in it's grace, before it sank behind mountains of blue and green; the weak lights of it's last warmth. But then, as this lean, moorland apprentice drew in nearer, so that he could study her in turn, she caught a gleam of aquamarine, of fresh, warm green, in his appraising lights. Her own eyes a mixture of soft blue and harsh sea colors, she stared back, having to tilt her head upward a little, as the newcomer was taller than her, in her small form, and perhaps a bit older than her.
He was definitely one of the cats she had heard of, had not yet seen at her first gathering. The flighty, calculating Zephyrclan warriors, the fastest cats in the forest, who chased down plump hares and fed well on them. But then, why is he so small? She had seen a rabbit in their territory, getting it's Newleaf pelt, and it seemed fairly plump. In fact, when Hailghost, her cousin, had caught it, it had fed at least two full grown Tempestclan warriors. Indeed, they had eaten well, so why, if Zephyrclan lived off these big footed animals, did they seem so small? The cats who shared Splashpaw's den with her, the other apprentices, would surely have looked huge in comparison, though she did not, for she was so delicately built.
Who are you?
He was not threatening, hardly a scrap, but she had respect for how he handled himself, admired the way he showed no fear of her, his curiosity in the question. It seemed he truly wanted to know, and for a moment she wasn't sure what to say. Splashpaw wasn't normally a shy cat, quick to befriend others, but this was her first meeting with a cat from another clan. "Splashpaw..." She murmured, stricken by the faint moon showing in the sky, casting everything in a tranquil silver light. She realized that he may not know her clan, so she added that quickly too, subdued. "Tempestclan. Who are you?"
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Post by Dusk on Jun 23, 2011 17:03:55 GMT -5
Dunepaw
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain
I like watching the puddles gather rain
His eyes were finally adjusted to the changed level of light; forms once indistinct sharpened into clear shapes. Now he could see the she-cat with ease. First thing he noticed were her eyes; brilliant, multicolored orbs of ocean green and blue, with hints of yellow and other rich green shades mixed in. As a kit, Dunepaw's mother had told him that the eyes were one of the first things you could look at to see another cat's feelings. More reliable than body language, which could be faked if necessary. And now as he looked down slightly at the smaller she-cat, he saw no true threat in her eyes. Only a cautious curiosity as she observed the tom in front of her. No fear... nor anger. That was a nice change.
Splashpaw... Nice name. For a brief moment the tom wondered at the origins of it. Why "splash"? It wasn't as though any of the cats were reliant on water for many resources. True, everyone needed water to drink, but no clan cats were particularly likely to go swimming. Then again, who was he to question a name? Dunes were nowhere in sight, unless one decided to count the windblown piles of sand the occasionally formed on the shoreline. The sable-furred apprentice didn't. The tom blinked as he realigned his thoughts to the trespassing she-cat. Why was he so scatterbrained today? First completely failing to notice strange smells, and now just letting his thoughts drift off into trivial matters. His moment of "brilliance" with the plover was long forgotten.
'Focus, Dunepaw. Listen she's saying something else.'
The tom blinked again. And once more.
Tempestclan
Tempestclan...
"Tempestclan?" the tom said, his tone laced with faint disbelief. Instantly he regretted his question, but it had been instinctive and the inquiry had flown from his muzzle before he could think. The thought of this silver tabby - small and petite and overall friendly looking - being an apprentice of Tempestclan was just so unbelievable an idea the tom had to ask. She simply didn't look the part! Tempestclan cats dwarfed most Zephyrclan cats, minus those abnormalities that one way or another ended up being above average in size. They were aggressive, angry, spiteful brutes. Quick to pick a fight. Zephyrclan and Tempestclan territories didn't even connect properly, separated as they were by both the glacier and the lake. So in truth, it was logical that Dunepaw assumed he'd heard the other apprentice wrong at first. And you're supposed to believe everything you hear about an "enemy" clan? Grimacing, the tom chided himself and took a calming breath. "Ahh... sorry, he murmured turning his face down to stare at damp paws, ears burning with embarrassment. "I didn't mean... Umm, what I meant to say was -" He sighed and met Splashpaw's gaze, shaking off his discomfort as he raised his head. 'Just start over, fluff-for-brains.'
"I'm Dunepaw, Zephyrclan apprentice," and as he spoke his clan's name the tom glanced sharply over his shoulder to observe the rolling hillside, cast in silver from the pale moonlight filtering between lazily drifting overhead clouds. There was a haunting beauty in the moonlit moor; short grass and flowering plants were outlined white silvery-white light. But long shadows broke up the otherwise serene scene, shadows that could hide anything. No feline silhouette appeared on any of the turf-topped crests, but if anyone came along there would be severe reprimands for both cats. The silver-gray tabby might not get the same easy reception from an older warrior. As for himself... Dunepaw shook the thought away. Why ruin a fine night with thoughts of punishment. "You're... sort of far into Zephyrclan territory. At least I think you might be. To be truthful, the feline wasn't too sure of the rules regarding lakeside areas. Yes, the Tempestclan cat standing before him was well past the scent markers, but did the shoreline belong to any one clan? If a cat went wading just off the beach, were they on claimed land? The lazy tide of the lake still washed occasionally around their paws, tugging determinedly at their feet and the surrounding grains of soaked sand; as though if it did so enough times the two young cats would be pulled further into the shallows.
After a few moments spent staring at the shallows, the lanky tom shrugged. "Then again, maybe not." Dunepaw's words drifted rather quiet from between black lips, spoken mostly to himself as an afterthought. Privately the tom hoped there was no rule. It wasn't as though the slightly younger she-cat was stealing prey, and Dunepaw enjoyed the fresh face.
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Post by Dawn on Jun 23, 2011 21:00:00 GMT -5
* SPLASHPAW
[/size][/font] She didn't sign her name
I wonder,
if that's a little secret that she keeps?
She tried not to notice as he studied her, not what one would call a once over but deep curiosity. Splashpaw hadn't encountered a cat with whom she had shared eye contact with for so long before. Everything about this moment was mystifying. She was moonstruck, by the beauty of the evening and the interest she held for her new found companion. Of course, he was not yet friend nor foe, but she could tell there wasn't a lot to be afraid of, just as he could. But they were from different clans, very different, and they could not quite be friends, either. Soon they could meet in battle, and they wouldn't be able to stand back and let the other pass. This overwhelmed her with thoughts of fighting in her first battle. What clan would it be against? Tensions were high everywhere, especially with the newcomer in their clan. The others wouldn't like it, she knew that much by what Dreamfeather had said. But who would object the most, who would wage war against their powerful clan? She hoped it wasn't Zephyrclan. Splashpaw would hate to fight him, and she had hardly just met him, didn't even know his name yet.
The lanky tom was blinking in confusion at her, his golden eyes vanishing for a moment only to reappear. This made her confused, too, and the small she-cat lifted her head to look at him, though still not eye to eye, with his height advantage. Tempestclan? Was all he said, puzzled. Why not? The shoreline that connected their clans was unclaimed land, at least until she got here, so it was easy to reach if a silly young apprentice decided to set off on a long adventure without telling any of her clan members. It would have been harder for her to be at the lake side if she was from Vertigoclan, and impossible if she was from Celestialclan; she would have had to cut through Vertigoclan or Tempestclan territory, neither which would be very appealing to a young, fresh cat. Splashpaw had to admit, she didn't excel at fighting. Maybe Flareheart could get it into her, though.
She cocked her head to the side as he paused in thought, seeming as if he hadn't heard her correctly, but then apologized slowly. He seemed genuinely sorry, turning his brilliant sun gold eyes toward his paws. She looked there too, whiskers twitching, and noted how the wet golden sand clung to his much darker paws. She understood, now, why he had seemed so astonished. Comparing herself to her cousins, Dreamfeather and Hailghost, she was very different. For starters, they were both large, and their pelts rippled with muscles. They towered over her, Hailghost massive with his long gray fur. They were in control at all times, it seemed- neither of her cousins seemed to show much of what they were feeling at any given time. But she, well, she didn't know just HOW different she was. How different she would seem to this Dunepaw, who had probably grown up hearing about the most blood thirsty clan in the forest, Tempestclan. It was pretty true, too, but still. Not all of her clan mates were the same.
"It's okay, I get it... Dunepaw." Splashpaw murmured, smiling lightly as she used the name of the Zephyrclan apprentice. She was referring to his fumble with her clan. What he said next came as a surprise to her, but she didn't say anything. Am I really that far into the territory? I can't scent any markers. It was true, the water washed away border markers this close to the lake. How could any clan claim the wet, ever changing sand? It was as unclaimable as the sun and the sky itself. If Splashpaw could fly, then she could soar over all of the territories and no cat could say she didn't have the right. But yet, it was a claimed territory; the blue sky above them, the azure ocean, belonged to the birds. Cats could never fly among their winged prey. Flight was something she could only ever dream of.
"I didn't realize... I was just following the lake edge from our boundaries." It was easy to talk to him, when she shouldn't even be here. Splashpaw wondered why that was. Perhaps it was just good to get away from the stern Tempestclan members for a while, to see this fresh young tom, so full of life and thirst for knowledge.
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Post by Dusk on Jun 24, 2011 10:07:01 GMT -5
Dunepaw
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain,
I love watching the puddles gather rain.
The precise difference in height between the two cats didn't register immediately with the bony tom, uncommon as it was for him to be the larger. The apprentice was accustomed to having cats be either just the right height -as it was among most of his clanmates- or larger, leaving him to cock his head slightly upwards. The assumption had become so ingrained in the tom that he failed to realize he'd been glancing down to make eye contact with the silver-washed tabby before him. Only when he raised his chin for a moment and found his eyes peering between the twin peaks of two ears did the dark brown tom realize just how much shorter Splashpaw was. The realization struck and the tom instinctively sat, relaxing his posture so they could be eye to eye. It was a trivial matter, really, but Dunepaw still felt the urge to carry out the action so that one needn't look up to the other or vice versa. Some part of Dunepaw's mind rationalized that the act brought a small semblance of equality between the two cats.
His gimp paw -and he knew that it was gimp, despite the word's sometimes derogatory connotation- ached dully as he sat. He'd been on his feet far longer than usual, and the relief that came when he removed the weight from his front paws was obvious. As thoughts of the time flitted quickly through his thoughts, the apprentice briefly wondered if his longer-than-usual absence had yet been noticed by any cats. Runningfox might go looking for him soon, being his mentor and all. Then again, maybe not; for all Dunepaw knew the young warrior was off flirting with another she-cat again. Inwardly, the tom shrugged. Right now he'd just try to enjoy the company he had. He was glad the other apprentice had been quick to forgive his earlier social stumble.
As the she-cat voiced her surprise at her whereabouts, the tom felt relief flood readily through him. His eyes brightened and any lingering suspicions of Splashpaw's reason for being there faded. This was no invader, just a curious apprentice like himself. 'Or a really good liar...' The tom ignored the little voice of paranoia that whispered in the back of his head. The surprise in her voice was just too earnest; the ready widening of the eyes that let more of those rich greens and blues shine through; that slight, momentary stiffening of the body and minute turn of the head. It just couldn't have all been so easily faked. And at the relief the tom felt a stupid grin rise, unbidden, to his face. "Well, around here I guess the boundries are rather neglected." Indeed, the cat couldn't even say for sure that anyone bothered to mark around the shore. Loose sand that was constantly eroded didn't hold a scent for long, anyways. He'd just assumed that there was some sort of unspoken agreement about the border lines.
The more he rationalized, the more sense it made. Tempestclan and Zephyrclan territories didn't really touch, after all. Between the two there was a strip of unclaimed and unwanted land caught between the glacier and shoreline. Useless for hunting and utterly lacking in shade, it was just another place to use up energy in traversing when one could be doing something far more productive. No cat wanted to be bothered with managing such a pointless area; the carrion birds were welcome to it. Dunepaw had crossed it once in pursuit of a particularly fast squirrel, and only realized after he'd made the kill that he was no longer on Zephyrclan land. A brief flare of panic had been soothed by his mentor when the tom gave explanation about the "no-man's land".
"The more I think about it, the more I think this might just be neutral grounds." No point in not voicing his thoughts when they seemed harmless.
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Post by Dawn on Jun 27, 2011 22:51:59 GMT -5
* SPLASHPAW
[/size][/font] She didn't sign her name
I wonder,
if that's a little secret that she keeps?
As the small silver tabby gazed at her new acquaintance, Dunepaw, he shifted slightly and seemed to look her over again, as though he was really noticing her size for the first time. Yes, Splashpaw was pitifully small for a Tempestclan apprentice. But she was young- there was hope that she would grow into her family's large, lanky form. For most cats in her clan, or even outside of it, it took a while to register that she was so small. It went against the very essence of her family, so much so that she almost felt like a disgrace, especially with Dreamfeather and Hailghost as her cousins. Dunepaw seemed too polite to say anything about her size, though. Instead, as he looked slightly down on her from his tall, thin frame, he seemed to relax and then sat. This brought him to a lower level, and since he was quite small already, she and Dunepaw were now on the same level. His golden lights met her vivid blue and green gaze, and it felt easier to carry on a conversation. Of course, it probably wasn't the best idea to sit here talking to a Zephyrclan apprentice. He was an outsider, thus an enemy- she was on his territory, thus an intruder- and it was getting dark, so cats would probably notice her absence. And yet, time after time in her mind, she couldn't get herself to rise from the sand where she stood, to rouse herself from her daydreamer state and pad back home. To be cruel to him, when he had shown her only indifferent kindness. It wasn't rebellion that held her to the spot, nor was she particularly stricken to meet him now; it was, above everything else, curiosity. Splashpaw wanted to know everything about him, even more than the rest of his clan; knowing him was worth more than hearing any story from her clanmates, whose opinions could easily be biased. Then again, only a cat from neither clan could give an opinion, but who's to say that wouldn't be biased too? That's the reason it's called an opinion. Everybody has a different one.
She hadn't noticed his paws before that, but now she took in every aspect of the cat called Dunepaw. She didn't spend a lot of time studying it when she saw it, his gimp paw; that would seem rude, and in a way she didn't want him to know that she had seen it. That might mean he would think she judged him for it, and she really didn't. She just wondered about it; Splashpaw had never seen a cat with a paw that worked with a gimp before, she hadn't been out much besides her clan. If she had been younger, stupider, she might have blurted out 'what's with your paw?' but of course she couldn't be that rude, would probably say nothing about it unless he brought it up first. And really, what was the point of speaking about it? It was just a paw, and it seemed to work fine for him.
As a rather dumb look overcame the tom sitting opposite her, Splashpaw's eyes glinted. It was a genuine look, not a forced smile at all. She enjoyed seeing it there. "It was my fault, wandering too far into unclaimed territory, not your clan's. The water washes away scent too fast, anyway." She hadn't spoken much up until then, a bit shy at first, but finally she gave more than necessary. Well, to her an apology was needed, but to others in her clan it might not be. He was silent, seeming to be thinking about the same thing she was; the rules about the boundary. Both of them wanted to talk to each other, clearly, to expand their knowledge of the other clans. To have a friend that recognized them at gatherings, maybe. She was a bit of an outcast in her clan- maybe she would feel more comfortable with Dunepaw, who seemed so different than any cat she had met before. Her thoughts that he wanted to know about her, too, were confirmed when he told her what was on her mind; that the lake edge was a neutral boundary. "It's probably like that so clans can pass through on the way to the gathering." She meowed, whiskers twitching thoughtfully. The young tabby apprentice couldn't wait until her first gathering. She gazed for a moment across the dark lake, back toward Tempestclan. Will I be kept back from the gathering if they find out I stayed out to talk to an outsider? Having a sudden thought, though, she looked back at him and smiled. "Have you been to a gathering yet? I haven't."
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Post by Dusk on Jun 28, 2011 19:42:59 GMT -5
Dunepaw
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain,
I love watching the puddles gather rain.
As time passed and careful words left lips, the veil of caution was lifting away with growing ease. It was becoming more than obvious that neither cat had anything to fear from the other, not that said knowledge hadn't been clear from the start. Well, it had been clear that the two apprentice hadn't had the slightest intention to attack each other at least. A shred of doubt may have lingered in their minds that the other feline might intend to glean some useful information about their opposing clans to use in the future, but there was no interest in spying among them. They were just two young cats happy to meet a fresh and friendly face.
Dunepaw liked to think that, anyways. The sable tom saw nothing to contradict his train of thoughts. Splashpaw seemed too kind to mean any form of ill will; he was struck again by the stark contrast between herself and the common depiction of Tempestclan cats. 'Never again am I going to listen to what the others say about other clans.' There was too much spite and tension between clans. Too much bad blood likely to twist anything well beyond cold, hard fact. Some fit the description, without a doubt. He'd met one or two and been repulsed by their brutish behavior, but there could be exceptions too. Clearly, though, not all information could be considered reliable.
It was my fault...
A small frown twisted on the dark-furred muzzle of the cat as the soft words drifted to him. His golden eyes narrowing ever so slightly as the muscles in his face pulled downward. Fault and blame, fault and blame. Did everything have to be someone's fault; someone always be the one to blame for something going wrong? The need cats felt to blame another often led to more trouble than good - if there was any good to be found in blaming others at all. Maybe just the lifting of a burden from one set of shoulders to another, but that was a pitiful sort of good. Wasn't it blame that cats used as an explanation for sickness and prey shortages? Battles between clans so often started thanks to blame based only on mere suspicion. Dunepaw inwardly shook away the thoughts as Splashpaw continued speaking, the thin apprentice having given no sign of replying to her at first.
The silver tabby looked away, glancing across the eerie black waters of the lake in the general direction of Tempestclan territory. 'Is she heading back then?' At the thought, Dunepaw felt an odd sadness strike him; it was intermingled with confusion that came immediately after. Why so disappointed to say goodbye to an apprentice he'd just met? She was so pleasant to talk to, just enjoyable to be around. He let his own eyes trace the rippling waters momentarily before refocusing on Splashpaw as she spoke and smiled abruptly. "A gathering?" He echoed dumbly, for a second able only to marvel at the happy look lifting on the petite tabby's face. Then he snapped back into focus.
"I mean - I've been to one, back in my first moon as an apprentice," the tom amended. Thoughts flitted quickly back to memories of a chilly, drizzling night. "It went by rather fast, actually. Not the best weather and little to talk about, the leaders brought things to a close quickly." Belatedly the tom realized how disappointing this might sound to a cat with only images of a gathering brought on by imagination. He was quick to add on to his former statement. "It was still interesting, though! The journey especially, and I've never seen so many cats gathered in a single place."
ooc. Sorry for the less-than-average post. My muse still hasn't returned completely.
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Post by Dawn on Jul 10, 2011 18:37:40 GMT -5
* SPLASHPAW
[/size][/font] You're a beautiful wreck now you're out of control
You're a perfect disaster, the road to catastrophe
Something struck her, and Splashpaw studied the apprentice with even more wonder. When she was young, just a kit, one of the apprentices had scared her by telling her bad things, after a fight at the border with Zephyrclan. The cat, a young tom, had told her in a boasting tone that Zephyrclan cats were vicious and cruel, small but calculated with teeth that tore kits apart just for fun. It seemed so stupid now; that didn't even fit the stereotype. Still, it had scared her of going too close to the Zephyrclan border... Or, at least, knowingly. But that was another thing- He hadn't run off. When she had confessed her fears to her cousin, after being nervous to go on her first patrol as an apprentice with Flareheart, he had reassured her. Hailghost had told her that Zephyrclan cats were like frightened little rabbits, too small to notice, and afraid of conflict. Dunepaw didn't seem at all afraid of her, even if he had been a little surprised that she was from Tempestclan. Splashpaw's whiskers twitched, recalling his expression; as if he had been out on a hunt, and expected a bluebird but instead caught a vulture. Her clan had a reputation for being bloodthirsty, that wasn't difficult to find out. But he hadn't run off. Sure, maybe that had something to do with her pitiful size, but he was cool and collected, and seemed only ready to avoid conflict and keep from stepping on other's toes. I wonder about what Hailghost will say, when I tell him he's wrong? But of course, she wouldn't mention the encounter to either of her cousins or her father, Rivershadow. There was no need to talk about a bit of harmless fun, was there? The warrior code had nothing against friendships in other clans.
That was why there were gatherings, to bring the clans together. Dunepaw reminded her of that as he repeated what she had just asked of; gatherings. Her eyes took on some of the moon's brightness as he told her he had been to a gathering. In his first moon? I've only been an apprentice for two moons. Just like I thought, he's older than he looks. "Really?" Was all she managed to say, having a bit of a dumb tone herself. It wasn't that hard to believe that he had been to a gathering and she hadn't. Dreamfeather once mentioned that Voidstar thought less of she-cats as warriors, and she wasn't the most impressive apprentice, so it wouldn't be any big surprise that she wasn't his first choice. Dunepaw was probably fast, with his long legs, and caught a lot of prey while still managing to be a good fighter. She wished that she was a stronger fighter; that would make Voidstar and Flareheart proud.
The golden eyed feline seemed to be remembering his first gathering, as her mind wandered about dreams and aspirations. She was a little put off by his description; her first gathering was what she looked forward to most at this point, as it came before her warrior ceremony. He mended that, though, commenting on the journey and, as she imagined, all of the cats, congregated in one area. "That's too bad..." She murmured once he was done talking, feeling more disappointed for him than herself. "You'll get to go again soon though, right?" Hope that she would, too, made her ears twitch slightly in anticipation, a smile returning. "I can't wait to meet all of the other clans!" If he wasn't like she was told, Vertigoclan and Celestialclan must not be, either, right? So it would be a complete surprise to meet them and try to guess who was who before she was close enough to scent them apart and make opinions on them.
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Post by Dusk on Jul 11, 2011 20:22:22 GMT -5
Dunepaw
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain,
I love watching the puddles gather rain.
There was still a trace of regret lingering in the scrawny tom for having been so careless with his words about his one experience with a gathering. He should have thought his words through before just spouting them out like some mouse-brained kit; ready to say whatever they thought regardless of possible repercussions. Luckily, though, it seemed the Tempestclan apprentice wasn't too affected by his first, bland description of a gathering. At the very least she didn't appear to be dismayed or anything, though maybe Splashpaw was just skilled at keeping how she felt well hidden. Oh well, it was too late now. The words were said and done and once released they couldn't be retracted like one sheathes their claws. Dunepaw still wished he just hadn't said anything so thoughtlessly in the first place, though. At least he'd realized the mistake and given a hasty addendum.
Some part of the apprentice's mind was still working over the silver tabby's statement of having never gone to a gathering. 'She doesn't look like a fresh-made apprentice, and I didn't get that sort of vibe in the first place...' Didn't leaders typically take newly made apprentices to gatherings precisely to announce them to other clans? It was a show of power, really. A way of bragging and saying "Look at us, we've got more fighting age cats now so don't try anything funny." The realization made the sable feline's pelt heat up slightly with embarrassment; it seemed hindsight had a way of creeping up on you in the worst of times. He recalled his own feelings of pride and elation when Swishstar had announced his apprenticeship to the other clans at his first gathering. The other clan cats had seemed happy enough for him, but the cheering had been more or less the same for other announced apprentices as well. Maybe there had been some frowning faces in the crowd as well. In light of that revelation, though, Dunepaw had to wonder why the Tempestclan leader would fail to take an apprentice to a gathering in their first moon of training. He considered asking about it, but then again, perhaps that would be pushing things too far. After all, they were just two cats who'd happened to meet on unsure grounds.
The tom gave an ever so slight twist to his head as she asked after his going to another once-a-moon meeting, eyes darkening as he considered the option. "Well I certainly hope so, he said with a small chuckle. ”After all, now that summer’s nearly here I’m sure things’ll be a lot more eventful and the gatherings will last longer than those that took place in early spring.” Things had been a bit too eventful in Zephyrclan. He wondered at how the other clans would react when they learned about Swishstar’s death and Paintedstar coming to power. Would there be joy or grief? Would the others give their sympathies, or begin plotting at how to strike the clan while its new leader was getting a grip on her newfound responsibilities?
'Come on, Dunepaw. Now you're just being paranoid again.'
Besides, there were some positive happenings too. Like the number of new apprentices. The apprentice den had quite suddenly gone from pitifully empty to brimming with active young cats within only weeks, it felt. The gears driving his mind momentarily ground to a halt as he put together his former thoughts with this new one. His brow furrowed. "I doubt I'll being going to this coming gathering, though," he said with a slight frown, brow crumpling into a shallow "V". Zephyrclan has a bunch of fresh-named apprentices. My leader'll probably choose to take them over myself." The gears started turning again, and Dunepaw broke free of the temporary stupor. He shouldn't linger on the subject.
It didn't take much coaxing for the tom to leap eagerly onto the other's latest statement. He nodded, recalling his own excitement at meeting apprentices from other clans; even though it had been such a short gathering he'd still been able to socialize somewhat. "I got to talk with an apprentice from Vertigoclan for a bit. Her name was...Lionpaw." The name came back easily enough once he recalled the golden she-cat's massive size. "Didn't seem to match what I've heard from my clanmates."
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Post by aero ❥ on Jul 19, 2011 10:31:25 GMT -5
{ R } UNNINGFOX
Bright yellow eyes searched the horizon for a familiar silhouette, a dark shadow that should have been creeping across the rolling moor thirty minutes ago. His apprentice was late. True, the tabby hadn't given a specific time to be back, but surely he knew curfew was dusk? The young warrior was responsible for the even younger apprentice. He could have been snuggled in his nest by now, or flirting with some bored she-cat that had nothing better to do. But, no. He was standing outside camp waiting for a cat that he somehow knew wasn't in a rush to get back. Alright, alright. His fuse had been rather long for Dunepaw, but the events of the day had seared the entwining mental fibers down to a short nub. It was only a matter of time before the big bang. The only thing holding back the whirling explosion was the possibility of the black cat being in danger. A fox, just rising from his slumber, scouting the hills for an easy meal? The apprentice would make a simple target. After all, he did have a twisted paw.
He could see the scene in his mind, the dark tom not paying attention, maybe watching the distance or stalking a hare? The russet pelt of the hungry fox low as he turned the hunter into the hunted. Runningfox winced at the ending result when the predator snapped thin Dunepaw's neck with a deadly fidelity. Practiced precision. Ugh. The image made him sick and sent a new wave of parent-like worry, impatient irritation, and prickling anger over him. When I find him! His warm yellow eyes smouldered as he lurched forward, long powerful legs falling into their mundane routine. He was all out running across the shadowy moor, front paws reaching their full extension as they gripped the ground and dragged him forward, hind legs un-tucking from his pale belly to kick off from the slightly damp ground and the entire process repeating again. His muscles rippled under his short pallid orange fur, tabby stripes catching the last rays of sunlight, looking rustic and fiery with their gleaming shine. He was so healthy and handsome it was hard to believe he lived the rugged life of a clan cat.
What made a clan cat a clan cat anyway? His body was on auto pilot as it worked to run and scent Dunepaw at the same time. His mind absently lingered on the current question. Was it warrior blood? Something you were born with that could never be removed or replaced? Or was it a state of mind, a will and drive to grasp a sense of both belonging and freedom? He had warrior blood, pure as any. Was it different then, say, a kitty-pet's blood? They both bled, so was there a noticeable difference in the scarlet that seeped from their wounds? Thinking about it, he had a warrior's state of mind too. He liked his freedom but felt an indescribable sense when it came to his clan. Technically, the only freedom a clan cat cherished was that of being free of two-legs. That was enough - for him at least.
His rapid pace slowed when his nose picked up a trace of his lost apprentice. It was a few hours old, but this meant he had a start. Opening his mouth, he prowled the grassy hillside for any more clues to the tom's whereabouts. He came up with nothing visible, but his scent glands detected another fresher trail close by. Putting himself on it, he began tracking. Much like a dog he kept his head low and ears pricked, the two points slightly swiveling at subdued noises that only lasted a moment. It seemed his path curved towards the lake, in the direction of the glacier. What in Starclan is he up to? He pushed onward, anger blooming as he neared the unsuspecting cat. Slacking off no doubt! His instinct to surprise the thing he had been hunting overtook him, so he crouched and worked his way uphill to the tall moor grass that gently sloped down to the nebulous waters and sandy beach. On the millions of grains of sand sat his apprentice, the sun gone and moon the only provider of light. But he was not alone. In front of him stood a rather puny cat, female by petite build. They looked relaxed and comfortable, by the looks of it sharing a conversation.
"Well call me a bird and give me wings!" And watch me peck some sense into that bee-brained head! Never in his twenty six moons would he have ever guessed humble Dunepaw would....
A) Break the warrior code to meet a she-cat
B) Have that she-cat be decently pretty
C) Be so stupid as to have the meeting in plain sight
Of course Runningfox automatically assumed they had planned this out, had been secretly coming here for the past moon maybe. Dunepaw had lost his mentor, this might have been his way of coping with it. The chance that the two had met solely by fate and hadn't chased one another off didn't even cross his mind - surely the dark tom wouldn't just let a random cat (she-cat or not) come so close to Zephyrclan's border for no apparent reason? Shaking his head in disgust, the handsome tabby decided it was time to act.
"And what do you think you're doing?" He had left the concealing grasses to approach the pair from an angle, a sort of blind spot. His velvet vocals churning out a low growl; somehow it still managed to sound alluring. As he neared the two smaller cats, his nose twitched with Tempestclan stench. A bit frail for Tempestclan. Maybe she had been a runt, and either way it just made his job simpler. He towered over both apprentices, though unlike Dunepaw Runningfox actually had some muscle to him. She looks harmless enough. And very young at that - Must be a new apprentice. Immediately he knew what he would do. I'll scare her a little, teach her not to wander. It'll help her later. Might as well turn some of the bad into good, right? His warm yellow eyes stared down at her, hardening as he came to stand beside the other tom. "Dunepaw," He spat the feline's name. "I'm going to give you ten seconds to explain your excuse for conversing with this...enemy. Your time started five seconds ago." Nope, the handsome warrior wasn't cutting any slack tonight.
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Post by Dawn on Jul 19, 2011 13:05:31 GMT -5
* DREAMFEATHER
[/size][/font] I'm at war with the world
'Cause I ain't never gonna sell my soul
Irritation had begun earlier, before even dusk. Sure, Dreamfeather wasn't her mentor. Sure, other mentors might let their apprentices- or young, wayward cousins, for that matter- stay out past dusk. Not the deputy, who took being the much older cousin of Splashpaw almost as being a step in mother. The young silver tabby's mother had died very early, and had never been around for Splashpaw, much like Dreamfeather's own mother, Russet. But this only seemed to set her little cousin apart even farther than before, rather than causing her to strive toward something greater and become responsible. Instead, Splashpaw was out late in the evenings. Flareheart never seemed to keep a good enough eye on her, and so she took to exploring, always just a little too curious about what was on the other side of the border, what lay past the heart of Tempestclan loyalties. Probably she had gone and went too far, and decided just to sleep out somewhere, thinking it too late to return home... That fool. Sometimes I wonder... is she really Rivershadow's daughter? They didn't need another disgrace in the family, but Dreamfeather went to great bounds to make herself think differently of Splashpaw. It wasn't just because she wanted to protect her kin, the trueness of their blood. It was because she cared about her, and wanted her to be safe and do what was best, not make a mistake that could change everything. Oh, Blazepaw's ghost! What if she was attacked by a border patrol, or ran into some type of predator?
And so that was when the tall, lean deputy had began her journey, and had picked up the scent trail of Splashpaw. Boiling slowly in her own anger despite the cool evening air, she had padded along wordlessly. However, as she raised her head from the ground, tasting the air, Dreamfeather noted how close she was to the Zephyrclan border. Fear overwhelmed her anger. She wasn't afraid of the clan, of course, knowing she was easily twice as large as any warrior she might meet at their border. No, it was fear for her kin, so young and small, not trained in battle, that bit at her. The silver bengal picked up into a run, and as she neared the border, water splashing at her paws, she distinctly smelled three other cats. One was familiar... it was Splashpaw. There was no blood in the air, but there was a tenseness that frightened her further, and, blue eyes cold, Dreamfeather stopped where she was. She crouched low behind a tall clump of grass growing from the wet sand, just within ear shot. It was easy to smell that the other two cats were not what she hoped. She had presently daydreamed that the other smells were unrecognized Tempestclan scents, that she was simply doing what most battle hardy apprentices did, scouring about in bands, that she had even made friends with the other cats, which were very different from herself. But no, the scents were of two Zephyrclan cats, one darkly colored and the other a more brilliant orange, one that seemed to recall the dying rays of sunlight even under the clear night sky.
Some of the words carried to her. The warrior of the three was angry; he sounded young to carry such a stern tone, and appeared small but full grown, at the beginning of his warrior moons. And what do you think you're doing? For a moment, she thought that he spoke to her- but then, something else struck her. Splashpaw had met a male apprentice, not much older than her, at the border. A harsh growl broke loud in her throat, and there was no sense in hiding any more as she leaped from the grass and stalked over the soft sand. The gray tabby whipped around to gaze at her with frightened green eyes as she did so, but Dreamfeather couldn't do anything to soften her cold ice gaze. "How could you betray Tempestclan this way, Splashpaw? How could you betray our family?" Her tone was sharp as claws and fangs, ringing out over the confused voices of the moor. The young warrior had towered over both small apprentices... Now, her eyes gleaming deadly ice, the deputy loomed over her cousin, gaze penetrating. Taking into consideration, barely, the other cats present, she lashed her head up to stare viciously at the shorter but well built tom, and the small, young apprentice. She could hardly tell which of the three she was angriest with. The bengal bit back a curse, then drew a deep breath.
Her words frostbitten, even worse than the angry they had been before. She had cooled down, and that didn't help things much at all. Dreamfeather, bristling, now meowed softly, "What in the name of the dark forest is going on out here?"
* SPLASHPAW[/font] She didn't sign her name
I wonder,
if that's a little secret that she keeps?The young female turned sharply to gaze at the Zephyrclan warrior, her heart beating faster. He was much smaller than a warrior of his age would be in her clan, and as she had little experience with the other clans still, she assumed he was a very young warrior, perhaps just a moon after his ceremony. Still, he was bigger and older than her, and though he seemed to have quite a swollen head, taking this like a play in which he was the star, he was still dangerous. She was afraid of what her clan would think, befriending another clan... what he would do, and if Dunepaw would blame her... Splashpaw didn't look much like she belonged to Tempestclan, that had been noted. Small, delicate, sleek, patient. But now, trapped with two Zephyrclan cats, her Tempestclan blood reared up unknowingly. She had never been in a situation like this before. The young apprentice snarled and backed away from the others, so that she stood apart from them. Splashpaw felt adrenaline rushing through her body, and she was about to defend the other apprentice, who, at this particular moment, seemed to be on her side of the game. But then, a familiar, deeper growl, one that was sickeningly familiar, split the tense air. If she had been afraid of the consequences of the tom catching her, she was horrified now as silver fur glinted under the moon. A cat that was not only the deputy of her clan but also her cousin, Dreamfeather, padded toward her with blazing blue eyes. The gray tabby turned to stare almost pleadingly at her, the two family members sharing a look as the deputy approached. "Dreamfeather, I-" She was cut off as the she-cat, clearly sharing blood with her despite her differing gaze and markings, hurled an accusation. Frustration and anxiety made Splashpaw's fur stand on end, making her appear at least slightly bigger in comparison to her tall, muscled cousin. How many times she had felt a pang of jealousy that she would always be tiny when she stood beside the deputy, or her father. Now I'll probably never even become a warrior. She thought despairingly, pinned by the deputy's gaze. "It's my fault! I was just along the territory that was unclaimed..." Her words caught in her throat like sour prey, as she took a stumbling step back into the circle of cats. The only thing that could make things look grayer now was for Voidstar and Paintedstar to show up and declare war on each other's clans for a simple, stupid mess up. "And I didn't realize I was in Zephyrclan territory. Dunepaw confronted me, but neither of us knew if I was allowed to be within a fox length of the lake or not... I think so... There was no reason for us to fight. So, I was just saying I had better get back to Tempestclan." She made up for the supposed conversation that it had appeared they were having, but also left out that they had really been talking as friends. And what was wrong with that? No one was on the other's boundary, and the warrior code said nothing about not being friends with other clans. It allowed it, as long as loyalties remained with their clans. Well, she didn't see herself being more loyal to Dunepaw than her clan. There was no need to start a big fight just to prove it. [/blockquote] [/size] |
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Post by Dusk on Jul 20, 2011 19:12:38 GMT -5
Dunepaw
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain,
I love watching the puddles gather rain.
"And what do you two think you're doing?"
'Dang...'
It wasn't a particularly eloquent thought to think of at the first moment at being caught disobeying clan rules. The little inkling of doubt that they'd be caught had been fulfilled, though, and disappointment at its realization stole all forms of higher thought processes from the tom. He inhaled sharply before turning reluctantly to face his mentor. The pale tabby certainly looked wrathful, but something about the air he was putting on didn't seem right. This wasn't how Runningfox typically acted, and the little facade didn't serve to faze the younger and smaller apprentice much. If anything it just spiked Dunepaw's frustration. Of all the days for the warrior to choose not to go off flirting with some she-cat, this was the most inconvenient. And was he truly trying to scare off Splashpaw? That wasn't fair! There was no need for ridiculous antics like scaring off an apprentice. This was the sort of thing that caused rumors to fly about the clans and prevented others from being capable of more than paranoid suspicion.
Irritation spurred the leggy tom into responding with impudence and lent a barb to his words. "You don't need to be so harsh, Runningfox. Splashpaw's not doing anything wrong, she just wandered onto Zephyrclan territory because the border isn't marked out around here." With a pang the tom realized that so readily supplying a name to the clan cat standing next to him probably didn't assist in justifying his situation. If anything it just inflamed whatever ideas had already formed in the mentor's mind. Too late now. Fleetfoot never would have reacted so harshly. The memory of his former mentor soured his thoughts and steeled the thin apprentice. The feline gritted his teeth and stepped forward to take whatever reprimands would come from the warrior. He should have encouraged Splashpaw to leave earlier, instead he'd let curiosity get the better of him and now he didn't want the petite tabby to suffer for his self-indulgence. Although, the she-cat seemed to be handling the situation surprisingly well, the tom realized when he glanced at the other apprentice for a split second. Had she seen through the warrior's false wrath too, or was she confident Dunepaw wouldn't let anything happen? 'Don't get such a hot head, the tom berated himself as the latter idea formed. What in the world was he thinking, believing a she-cat who'd barely known him for less than one evening would have any large amount of trust in him. He bit back a sigh and waited for his mentor's response. What would it be as punishment? A moon assigned to the elders and doting on the queens? Confinement to camp? He couldn't see the situation getting much worse.
"How could you betray Tempestclan this way, Splashpaw?"
What was that phrase he'd heard before? 'When it rains it pours...' It certainly seemed to apply well to the current situation. The tom jumped as the new feline spoke, cold and harsh and every inch the threat that Runningfox failed to be. He caught a flash of guilt and fear in those blue-green lights of Splashpaw's before she too whipped about to face the stranger. If a member of the same clan had such a reaction, then this feline was truly a force to be reckoned with. So this other she-cat was related to the apprentice? But they seemed so... different. Not polar opposites, perhaps, but Dunepaw certainly wouldn't assume they shared blood at first glance. A second look, though, and he caught similarities -albeit miniaturized in the case of Splashpaw- that he hadn't noticed at first. They were subtle but there. The shape of the ears and head, the generally similar build... Indeed, now he saw it in full force. Dreamfeather... why did that name sound so similar. The young cat's golden gaze was intense as he stared at the bigger feline. Ahh! The Tempestclan deputy.
'Oh dear, of all the cats to come along and see this.'
The apprentice grimaced and gave a small huff as he listened to Splashpaw give a hasty explanation of their reason for being near the lake. They shouldn't have to justify themselves in the first place, although he was glad that the she-cat made a point to leave out their idle chatter. Still, she didn't have to pretend the blame should all fall on her shoulders. He took a deep breath and stepped forward, adjusting his stance so that he could look at both adults without too much trouble. "There're no clear markers around here. Go ahead and sniff around to your heart's content, you'll end up with your nose full of scentless sand." What was he doing, being so forward? Trying to draw attention from being zeroed in solely on Splashpaw, he guessed. The tom could feel his own fur bristling slightly in a pointless attempt to shield himself from any angry gazes.
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Post by aero ❥ on Jul 20, 2011 22:41:21 GMT -5
{ R } UNNINGFOX
Under his lackadaisical persona, deep inside the lavish body of an uncrowned king, rested a slithering volume of untapped umbrage and violence. It percolated every so often, when he encountered other clan toms or got into a bad enough argument. In battle was a good example. Here under this piece of moon and next to these lapping waters; snapped back at by a cat he had had nothing but concerns for; and looking down on a little hissing she-cat (who might as well of been kit-like to him) his brow twitched with a rising discomfort. His warmly hardened yellow eyes chilled to a glowing lemon ice, slightly narrowing. His tongue only held because his rearing temper was fumbling his words. His head turned slightly as a large figure leaped from nearby grasses, Runningfox instinctively becoming tense. His tabby fur bristled, claws unsheathing so fast he didn't realize they had sprung from their sockets until he felt the sand seep between his spread toes.
His sudden aggression was triggered by the cat because he had thought the newcomer was a tom, but to his surprise the muscular body was topped with a feminine face, and soon it became clear who had made her entrance. "How could you betray Tempestclan this way, Splashpaw? How could you betray our family?" The sharp accusation reminded him of lectures he had endured, but somehow watching from the outside was different. More personal. He averted his cool gaze, feeling as if he shouldn't be hearing anything between the two Tempestclan cats that was being exchanged. "What in the name of the dark forest is going on out here?" Finally, someone talking some sense! His eyes were once again on the three other cats, flickering from face to face with a guarded, hostile stare.
"It's my fault! I was just along the territory that was unclaimed..." Her pause agitated him, and his ears folded back threateningly. "And I didn't realize I was in Zephyrclan territory. Dunepaw confronted me, but neither of us knew if I was allowed to be within a fox length of the lake or not... I think so... There was no reason for us to fight. So, I was just saying I had better get back to Tempestclan." Dunepaw had used the smaller she-cats name freely too, like his tongue had spoken it before. Her explanation was hazy, too many loose ends to it. The Zephyrclan warrior still doubted the fateful chance of them happening upon one another. "There're no clear markers around here. Go ahead and sniff around to your heart's content, you'll end up with your nose full of scentless sand." Runningfox looked down at his apprentice. Is he....defending her? His mind was set on the idea that the two were meeting each other here on this scentless sand, but he couldn't stay silent forever. But, maybe it would have been best.
"And you're going to end up with a nose full of mouse bile stench for the next moon when we get back to camp!" His growl was real and for once no false anger was present in his jagged tone. It was 100% furious, not missing a beat of irritation. "No matter who claims these lands, you have no excuse for being outside of Zephyrclan territory and certainly no business wandering the moor past dusk." He leaned in closer to the dark furred tom, looming over him with an unstable air that he might attack him for even a hint of cause. "I was worried about you, came out here expecting to find a bloodstain and some tufts of your fur and the foul scent of a fox. Instead you're sitting here calmly telling an enemy cat to return to her territory." His burning glare switched from Dunepaw to Splashpaw without hesitance. "You," He recoiled from his apprentice to step dangerously closer to the innocent grey tabby. "You're deputy took time out of her busy day to track down her missing kin who was pointlessly roaming close to another clan's border. You're taking time away from a patrol, a cat with a concern, Voidstar himself when you make her hunt you down." He shoved his face into her's, not concerned that the powerful cat next to her could give a good fight. "You standing here takes time out of even my night." His tail was lashing now, breath hot and smelling like spices. Spitting in disgust he feverishly stepped backward, eyes locking with a beautiful blue set. "Dreamfeather, I apologize for my apprentice's actions and hope your clan-mate keeps herself far from Zephyrclan borders," His lip raised in a near-snarl. "Because this is her warning that she won't get off so easy."
The deputy's beauty took an edge off his whirling temper, seducing some of his normal self back to the surface. His eyes were no longer chilled but hadn't yet melted; but his posture was back to normal and was neutral in temperament. By morning he wouldn't even remember this outbreak of ferocity, only the recollection of being slightly angered. What he would remember was encountering Tempestclan's fine deputy and the thought of why she couldn't be in Zephyrclan instead. So unfair...
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