Silence Speaks {Stormwind}

[coyote]

A pair of bright yellow eyes gazed out from the shadows at the edge of camp, surveying the cats of VertigoClan as they went about their duties. Silentpaw settled down and tucked her creamy white forepaws beneath her chest, lying her chin on the ground as she stared. She was bored, but she would never admit that. She wanted a mentor, and she wanted to become a working par of the Clan, but...she didn't want to mention it to anyone. How did she know she was even ready for a mentor? Her paws itched to be moving, and her muscles were screaming to be trained. Okay, StarClan, she thought, glancing up at the sky. If you get a warrior to come over here, I'll bring it up. How's that? Having made her deal, she settled down and waited in silence, her black fur blending in with the shadows, and only the white tip of her flicking tail making her visible.

[cat]

A single silver cat left from a rather empty den, looking around with a pair of calm green eyes. A slight wind ruffled the she-cat's smudged pelt as she parted her jaws slightly to take the scents it. No scent of sickness filled the camp, nor the smell of blood. Cat blood, that is. The medicine cat grinned slightly; all seemed to be well with the camp as far as she was concerned. Yes, there was the usual petty arguments and such, yet in her area of expertise nothing seemed out of order.
Suddenly her stomach rumbled, and it was then that Stormwind realized that she hadn't eaten for some time. With all the queens giving birth, the gathering, and Darkfog's severe injury, she had only taken a couple of bites of vole. Padding forward across the quiet clearing, the feline's eyes brightened as she came across the well-stocked fresh-kill pile. Selecting a small mouse, the medicine cat raised her head and scanned for a place to set herself down. Soon enough she saw a young apprentice sitting by herself. Stormwind flicked one ear as she recognized Silentpaw, the young apprentice without a mentor whom Stormwind had only heard speak a few words. Deciding to be friendly, the well-built she-cat padded toward her, eyes bright. "Greetings Silentpaw." She meowed, sitting a couple of tail-lengths away.

[coyote]

No cat was coming. Silentpaw closed her eyes and was preparing to drift into a disappointed sleep when she heard a voice. Glancing up in surprise, she cast around for the cat who had spoken, before her bright yellow eyes came to light on Stormwind. Oh...she's not a warrior, she thought in disappointment, struggling to keep the feeling from showing in her eyes. It wasn't that she didn't like Stormwind but...she was hoping for a warrior.

Sitting up, she wrapped her short tail around her white forepaws and gazed at the medicine cat. "H-hi," she stuttered, as was her habit. She didn't feel quite as nervous around the medicine cat as she did warriors, Lynxstar, and Lilythorn, but she was still nervous. What did this cat think of her? Did Stormwind think she was ready for a mentor? Maybe I'm not, she thought self-consciously, ears flicking back uneasily. Maybe that's what Lynxstar is trying to tell me. Maybe I won't ever get amentor! "N-nice...day." I wish I could leave the camp, she added in her mind, not so bitter as she was sad. "Things fi-finally c-calmed down." She couldn't imagine how busy the medicine cat had been recently; this was the first time Silentpaw had seen her take some fresh-kill in awhile.

[cat]

Stormwind saw disappointment flash in the young cat's eyes, though it quickly vanished. Flicking one ear, the medicine cat wondered why Silentpaw seemed sad that it was her. Perhaps she had done something wrong? Yet, it couldn't be her. This was one of the first times she had talked to the apprentice. For StarClan's sake, this was possibly the very first time really. The times as a cat talking to a young, blind kit didn't count. Stormwind could remember her as a young kit. Even then she was practically silent, leaving the medicine cat to wonder if she had been mute. But, no, she wasn't. She was just quiet.
Shaking her head slightly, she put the mouse on the ground and waiting, blinking in the light. "I don't mean to disturb you. Would you mind if I ate here?" She asked. Yes, she knew well she didn't have to have permission, especially from one so young. Yet, Stormwind always felt a flash of irritation at those that just sat down and starting talking loudly beside some cat that clearly wished to be alone. Kits, the whole lot of them at times. She thought, sighing.

[coyote]

"No you...didn't disturb...disturb me," Silentpaw mewed quickly, alarmed. Had she insulted he medicine cat? "You...y-you can eat...here." Why was Stormwind asking for permission anyway? She had every right to eat wherever she wanted to.

Silentpaw slunk into silence again, lying back down and resting her chin on her forepaws. She couldn't help but train her ears for any sound of another set of paws...maybe the paws of a warrior. But...it felt wrong, wishing for another cat when there was already one sitting next to you. After a long, drawn-out discussion with herself in her mind, Silentpaw sat up and looked nervously over at Stormwind. "I-is Darkfog okay?" she asked, speaking the first thing that popped into her mind. She had heard of the cat's injuries, but had never been brave enough to ask what was going on. She didn't like bothering cats but...since Stormwind was already here....Her eyes widened in alarm. But maybe something had gone wrong! Maybe Stormwind didn't want to talk about something like that! Oh, why had she even spoken?

[cat]

Stormwind nodded, sitting her rump down with a careful sigh of relief. It seemed that she was always on her paws these days, hardly getting any rest. In fact, her nights were filled with tossing and turning quite often. Stormwind wasn't sure why, but she didn't know why her ancestors had been silent for so long. Her dreams had been filled with her walking through an empty forest. Calling her family and ancestor's names over and over again, only to be greeted by her echoes. Too many times she had woken up, gasping for air and filled with a hopelessness that only she knew in her heart.
But, during the day, the medicine cat appeared calm and collected, with no trace of the long nights showing in her eyes or pace. Settling down with her paws tucked under her chest, the took a small bite from the mouse. Wiping it's remains from around her muzzle, she looked up at Silentpaw with a smile. "He's doing all right. His wounds are healing just fine. Though he might be better by now if he didn't run around camp all day." She meowed, a flash of irritation crossing her face as she looked toward the nursery. Even now she wondered if that dark pelt moving around in there belonged to him. "Though, I can't expect to keep him away from his kits." She added cheerfully, deciding not to mention the fact that Serenewinter may not take to seeing him happily.
At the thought of kits, Stormwind looked back toward Silentpaw and watched her with a silent gaze. The young cat had been out of the nursery for awhile, yet she hadn't been taught anything. Strange. The she-cat thought. "Who's your mentor?" She asked suddenly, a small gleam of worry in her gaze.

[coyote]

"T-that's good," Silentpaw managed, looking up in time to catch the irritation on the medicine cat's face. At the cat's next words, Silentpaw lowered her eyes to stare at the ground, ears flicking back unhappily. She didn't want to complain, but she had to answer, so...."I...don't have one. M-maybe Lynxstar...thinks I...I'm not r-ready," she mewed, so quiet that she wondered if Stormwind had heard her. She looked up suddenly, alarmed again: what if Stormwind told Lynxstar she was being impatient! Eager to keep that from happening, she added quickly, "I-I'm not...I mean I can...I can wait if...if that's what...L-Lynxstar wants...I-I just want t-to get out of c-camp for awhile."

[cat]

Seeing the little cat bow her head and mutter a few sad words, Stormwind felt a pang of sympathy. Lynxstar hadn't given the poor she-cat a mentor yet? She knew the leader was busy, yet apprentices going through the days without training was not good at all. It was nearly neglect.
Suddenly not that hungry anymore, she pushed away what little remained of the mouse and stood. In a minute the corpse was safely buried with nearly no evidence it had ever been there, save for a couple of drops of blood. Licking the last traces prey from around her muzzle, the medicine cat looked at Silentpaw thoughtfully. "I'm sure she knows you're ready. Maybe she's just busy." She assured the young warrior-in-training. Hearing her next words, the medicine cat smiled. This she could do something about. "I'm have to go pick up herbs. I'm low on tansy and poppy seeds. Would you like to come with me?" She invited with a smile.

[coyote]

Silentpaw relaxed at Stormwind's calmness, her tail-tip twitching in relief. She looked up in surprise when the medicine cat offered to take her out of camp, and could not hide the spark of excitement that flickered in her eyes. This wasn't exactly the kind of "out-of-camp trip" she had been hoping for, but who was she to complain? She was going out of the camp! Jumping to her feet, Silentpaw mewed quickly, "Yes! I-if th-thats okay?" She glanced toward the entrance to the camp and back at the medicine cat, praying to StarClan that Stormwind would not take back her offer.

[cat]

Stormwind chuckled at the sudden burst of energy in the young she-cat. She couldn't help but think back to the days of her own apprenticeship when she too loved the thought of just getting to leave camp. Excitement at every sound, eyes wide to catch every interesting sight. Oh, how it had been then! Before the days of MaliceClan where cats didn't travel alone and glanced over their shoulders fearfully. No, those days were over.
Shaking her head, the medicine cat laughed. " It's perfectly fine. Besides, no cat would dare try to stop me from taking an apprentice out. I'm the medicine cat." She meowed, suddenly lifting her head. A challenge in her eyes and her tail curled arrogantly, she pranced forward a couple of steps before laughing. A humorous glint in her eyes, she looked back and signaled with her tail for Silentpaw to come.

[coyote]

Silentpaw stared at her in amazement, impressed by the she-cat's confident, imperious nature. Why couldn't Silentpaw be so sure of herself? She sprang to her feet and bounded after the medicine cat, short tail held high and ears pricked forward in excitement.

A world of scents bombarded her senses as they left the camp, and Silentpaw had to stop in her tracks in order to take them all in. Rabbit, rock, wind, tree...it was nothing she had never smelled before, but now...standing outside of the camp, on the bare rock of VertigoClan territory...it all seemed so much more exciting! Calming herself down, she glanced over at Stormwind and mewed seriously, "W-where do we f-find t-tansy and p-p-p-p-poppy seeds?" P's were especially difficult for her to say, and her ears flicked back in embarrassment.

[cat]

Stormwind blinked at the apprentice before taking a deep breath. Tansy and poppy were not far from them, she was sure of it. Anyway, she knew a place where both herbs could be found. Luckily, it was not far from where they were.
Looking to the young she-cat, she smiled gently and gave Silentpaw a lick between the ears. "It's okay. And, anyway, they can usually be found against the rocks. This is the best place for them, for the wind tears exposed leaves apart." She explained, flicking her tail. Looking at the sloped landscape she leaped forward, strong leg muscles carrying her to the next jutting rock. Landing with a grunt, she turned to look back at the apprentice, worry sparking in her eyes. If the apprentice hadn't been out of camp much, she'd have to keep a close eye on her. Suddenly, in her mind's eye, she thought of an image a few days back, with the crumpled Darkfog against a tree, his blood spread across the plain above him. Shuddering, she banished the memory, lashing her tail and digging her claws into the rock. She wouldn't let that happen to Silentpaw. "Try to stay on the rocks by leaping on them. It's easier to keep your balance." She called, swallowing.

[coyote]

Bright yellow eyes watched the she-cat jump agilely from rock to rock, and Silentpaw gulped slightly. Would she be able to do that? Can't turn back now, she decided, narrowing her eyes and tensing her muscles. She took a few running steps and then leaped to a jutting rock a few mouselenghts from where Stormwind was. She landed heavily and stumbled a little, but lashed her thick tail out and managed to keep her balance. Blood pumping harder than ever before, she glanced up at Stormwind with eyes full of excitement. Never before had she felt this way!

Setting her sight on another rock, Silentpaw sprang forward, landing with a grunt and nearly losing her footing as a back paw slipped off the stone. Mewling in surprise, she pulled herself up so that she was standing firmly on the stone, then glanced back at Stormwind again. Maybe I should slow down... she thought. I'm not very good at this.

[cat]

Stormwind watched anxiously as the apprentice leaped from rock to rock. Though she hadn't done it much, her true VertigoClan nature and blood showed through, carrying her through the air as though she had practiced. Stormwind relaxed slightly as the apprentice looked at her. Nodding encouragement, she braced herself. Eyes widened slightly as the apprentice began to slip and she leaned forward to leap to the rescue, but then Silentpaw was able to pull herself back up.
Stormwind focused on another stone, leaping from her perch with practiced ease. Looking at Silentpaw, she smiled slightly. "You're doing fine." She praised, purring slightly.

[coyote]

Silentpaw nodded, and watched Stormwind's next bound. I'll never be that agile! she thought in amazement. Leaped to another rock and another one, getting a little bit better as she went. She was glancing back to see where Stormwind was when she caught sight of a shadow running across the ground several tail-lengths away. Silentpaw stared at the shadow, then up into the sky, and her eyes widened in amazement. What a big bird! It was...it was huge! "Stormwind, what is that!" she mewled, too excited to stutter or be nervous. "What IS that!"

((It can be whatever you want lol ))