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Post by coyote on May 30, 2009 0:38:38 GMT -5
Silentpaw dipped her head modestly at the medicine cat's words, but inside she was glowing with excitement. She needed a mentor! She watched Stormwind tugging at the bush, then glanced down at the bright red juice that had stained the snow-white fur on her paws. She raised one paw to her mouth, and was about to lick it before she realized what she was doing. Gasping, she threw her paws back down and strained away from them, as if she could take her paws off and walk away from them. "W-we gonna w-wash j-juice off?" she mewed, glancing down at her forepaws with distaste. It was a weird sensation, having a juice that could kill her soaking so innocently into the fur on her paws. |
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Post by cat on May 30, 2009 0:48:28 GMT -5
The branch finally cracked, but this time Stormwind was prepared. Rearing up as the branch gave way, she spun, keeping her balance on her back feet. This time, when she was thrown into the air, she landed gracefully, back paws first. The plant fell with a dull thud beside her, causing the she-cat to smile victoriously. All that remained of the deadly plant was scattered leaves and a broken stump that had no chance of growing back. But, as she realized, they would need to dispose of the branches.
About to pick up a branch in her jaws, the medicine cat realized with a jolt that Silentpaw's front paws were covered in the berry liquid. Frowning she hurried to the she-cat's side, only to find with dismay that her paws had traces of the red liquid too. Growling with irritation, she sighed before nodding. "Yes, we must. We'll go to a small stream that leads out of the territories; that way, no one'll suffer because of us. Then we'll clean this mess up." She meowed, glancing at the scattered bushes.
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Post by coyote on May 30, 2009 0:52:00 GMT -5
The medicine cat's agility once again amazed the large apprentice, and she was speechless or a few moments. At Stormwind's words, Silentwend stared at the branches, then at the other cat. Should she make the suggestion? It wasn't really her place but...."Sh-shouldn't we...take br-branches first? Th-then i-if we get m-more juice o-on our p-paws, it's o-okay...?" |
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Post by cat on May 30, 2009 10:27:04 GMT -5
The medicine cat looked between Silentpaw and the branches, a small frown crossing her face. Though she knew the branches needed to be dragged away as soon as possible, the juice on their paws was dangerous. If either of them forgot.... Stormwind shuddered. Biting her lip, her eyes were indecisive as she meowed, "That might be good Silentpaw. I'm just worried that we'll forget and lick our paws...Besides, I'm trying to remember a place where I stored the berries like this. I haven't been there in a long time..." She meowed, troubled for some odd reason.
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Post by coyote on May 30, 2009 11:50:31 GMT -5
Though her intention span was longer than most young apprentices', Silentpaw was still starting to lose interest in the bush. As Stormwind was speaking, she scrambled onto a flat rock and cast her gaze around what she could see of VertigoClan territory. This section was mostly rocks--a steep, rocky slope that, if it were to lose its footing, a cat might tumble down for many fox-lengths before finally coming to a stop.
There were many little cracks and small caves dotting the area, and as Silentpaw watched, a small rabbit sprang from one of these caves, no doubt waking to look for some clover to nibble on. The other cracks seemed empty, or at least their inhabitants were asleep or already out. What if she found a fox in one of them! Wha if she saw a badger! The thought was terrifying and exciting all in one, and she sprang back down and joined Stormwind. "What's in those cracks?!" she asked, excitement again allowing her to speak without stuttering.
((Maybe they could hide the branches in a cave and, like, cover it with some rocks or something?)) |
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Post by cat on May 31, 2009 14:14:55 GMT -5
Stormwind turned to look in the direction of the apprentice's gaze, wondering what in the name of StarClan she was talking about. Leaping onto the rock using strong muscles, she flicked her tail, scanning the landscape. Her view hesitated on the rabbit, yet she knew now wasn't the time to hunt. Besides, her hunting skills were not as great as most of the clans; she knew the chances of catching it might not be very good. Finally the medicine cat caught sight of the cracks and, getting an idea, she grinned. "Usually just prey. But, if nothing's in there, we can hide the branches there. No one'll find them then." She meowed, leaping back down. Quickly she grasped one thick limb in her mouth, eyes sparkling. "Come on!" She ordered, words muffled. |
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Post by coyote on May 31, 2009 14:22:10 GMT -5
The young black apprentice scrambled down from the rock and grabbed two small branches in her small mouth. They were heavier than they looked, and she dragged them slowly in the direction of Stormwind, determined not to have to drop either of them. There were a few berries still stuck to the branches she was holding, and one bright, round berry was stuck to the part of the branch right in front of her eyes. Silentpaw's gray-green eyes crossed as she stared at it, and she wondered if deathberries tasted good. They sure looked good. Things that killed you could taste good, right? She decided it must taste delicious, and wished she were immune to the poisonous berry. Then I could eat tons of delicious berries whenever I wanted! she thought, waving her tail in approval of this. |
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Post by cat on Jun 2, 2009 13:28:04 GMT -5
Stormwind traveled in silence, wondering about the destroyed bush. What if there were other bushes around? She couldn't possibly hope to destroy them all! Yet she wanted to, had to. If an unknowing apprentice ate a few berries and died, she would never be able to forgive herself. The only known cure was yarrow, and even then it didn't work all the time. The medicine cat winced as she remembered, when she was an apprentice, a warrior bringing in a kit who had eaten a death berry. She had watched her mentor in horror as he struggled to save the young kit's life. There was nothing they could do though; the kit was too far gone. That was the first death Stormwind had seen, and the only one from death berries. She was determined not to let it happen again.
Shaking her head clear of memories, the she-cat slowed as they came to the cave. Though her smell was hampered somewhat by scent of sweet berries, she could tell nothing was in it. Lifting one paw to tentatively push at the stones, she assured herself they were stable. "Let's put them in." She meowed, the sound muffled by the branch. Carefully she pushed it in, using her stained paws to push it back as far as it could go. There was no way she was going to let anyone walk into the large crack; it might fall any second. |
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Post by coyote on Jun 2, 2009 18:24:15 GMT -5
They were walking, walking....Stormwind stopped suddenly, and Silentpaw nearly ran right into her. Jumping backwards, she looked around and saw that the medicine cat had found a crack in the rock. Good place! She waited as Stormwind put her branches in, then the young apprentice crept up to the crack. Why wasn't Stormwind going closer in? She crept forward and shoved her branches in there...pushing them as far back as she could. Pretty soon, Silentpaw found herself half inside the rock, just her rump and tail sticking out. When she began to back up...she found that she was stuck. Like, really stuck. For some reason, her wide shoulders went in fine, but couldn't come out as easily. "Stormwind!" she mewled, struggling rapidly to free herself. She was staring the deathberry bushes in the face, and some of the berries were so close that a simple lapse of attention and a carelessly opened mouth would wind up in..... |
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Post by cat on Jun 3, 2009 15:36:19 GMT -5
Stormwind blinked as she watched the struggling apprentice. Now how in the world had Silentpaw gotten herself stuck? Stormwind hadn't expected that. She was able to fit fine, yet she didn't let her shoulders go past. Sighing, she remembered the apprentice hadn't had training, and therefore didn't know to watch the size difference between small spaces like this and herself. VertigoClan cats were already larger than the other clans because of their terrain. They had to be; if they were too small, they wouldn't be able to survive the harsh land and it's unforgiving weather.
Turning to the apprentice, she padded behind her and lightly grasped the lashing tail with her teeth. Being careful not to bite down hard enough to hurt, she began to pull. "Push with your paws." She called, voice muffled by the fur. |
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Post by coyote on Jun 4, 2009 9:42:31 GMT -5
Oh, how embarrassing! Silentpaw thought unhappily, squirming helplessly in the rock. She heard Stormwind's muffled voice, and she flailed with her forepaws to try to find a place to push. Her large paws connected with a sturdy rock, and she pushed as hard as she could. "Yowch!" she mewled as the medicine cat bit down on her tail, but she kept pushing, and found herself slipping out....all of a sudden she was free, and she fell backwards into Stormwind.
((oh man, sorry x.x I'm really really museless)) |
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Post by cat on Jun 4, 2009 12:56:12 GMT -5
Stormwind's eyes widened with surprise as the she-cat flew back into her. She was hit with a grunt and rolled, coming to a stop a few feet away from the tunnel. Raising her head, she shook it, trying to clear the dizziness. Well, didn't expect that. She thought, climbing to her feet. Lashing her tail, she tried to clean some of the dust off of her pelt, but it was rather useless. Now, instead of a silver and white cat, she seemed to be more...brown. Raising a paw and shaking it in disgust, she wearily meowed, "Sorry about your tail. Now, let's go get the rest of the branches. And no sticking more of your head or paws in, hear me?" Though she sounded tired and a bit annoyed, a purr of humor was also located within the tone.
Ooc: Yeah, me too. >.<
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Post by coyote on Jun 5, 2009 9:56:58 GMT -5
"Sorry," Silentpaw mewed quietly, glancing down at her forepaws. She padded off to the branches and grabbed another mouthful, returning to push them into the crack again. This time she was careful not to go in too far, but she almost got stuck a second time. Springing back into the open air, she spun around to face Silentwind. "H-herbs?" she asked, suddenly remembering the whole reason the medicine cat had taken her out of the camp today. |
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Post by cat on Jun 5, 2009 14:06:17 GMT -5
Stormwind stood by the entrance of the small cave, watching as the apprentice trotted back toward the branches with ears flattened and tail lowered. Feeling a pang of regret, she flattened her own ears slightly. I didn't try to be harsh. She thought, eyes narrowing. For a moment she looked sad, but as Silentpaw came back across the slanted slope with the rest of the limbs stuffed in her mouth, the she-cat perked her ears and hid the regret. Green eyes filled with approval, she watched as the apprentice pushed the branches so far back that sunlight didn't even shine on them. "That's right Silentpaw." She murmured, leaning forward slightly with one paw raised as Silentpaw seemed to get stuck again. But, no, she wasn't. Flicking one ear with relief, she nodded at the next words spoken by the younger she-cat. "Yes, the herbs. They aren't far at all." She meowed. Scanning the landscape, the medicine cat narrowed her eyes as she looked for the green among the gray and yellow that made up the slope. Ah, there it was! Not that farther down, in fact. Padding towards the nearest rock, Stormwind hesitated on it's smooth surface before looking back at the apprentice. "See that green? That's where we're headed." She meowed, pointing with her muzzle towards the large rock with a green plant nestled against it's side, protected from both wind and snow. Then, once again, the silver smudged she-cat was leaping from boulder to boulder once again, looking quite content as she roamed her mountain home. Suddenly the she-cat paused; was someone yowling. Looking back at the not too far camp, she realized that Lynxstar was calling, but for what reason was unknown. Glancing back at the herbs, she realized they had to hurry. "Come on!" She meowed slightly impatiently, leaping from rock to rock faster than before. |
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Post by coyote on Jun 9, 2009 22:04:10 GMT -5
Silentpaw heard the call a few seconds after Stormwind, and she pricked her ears up in excitement. This would bee the first meeting she would attend as an apprentice! Bounding after Stormwind, she came to a stop beside the green patch and tilted her head to one side, studying the plant curiously. Would they dig it up completely, or just take the leaves, or what? |
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