take it down south // {marten}

[lace !]

Smudgepaw

Why was life being so unfair? Did StarClan really seek to destroy their home and ways of life? They had done nothing to stop the flooding- they had not saved any of the clans. Looking around camp, one could only make out cats of their own clan- although all were mingled into one. ZephyrClan- Smudgepaw's own, had been roughly destroyed and made inhabitable by the recent, violent flooding, which forced the group to take shelter at higher ground. Unfortunately, the only high ground among the forest was located at VertigoClan's camp, made out among higher rocks and ledges. By the look of it, it seemed as if TempestClan and CelestialClan were forced to take shelter amongst the higher regions of the forest, as well.

Smudgepaw could not wrap his head around it. Everyone was mainly sticking to their own, although the pudgy tom could begin to see mingling of some sort. Cross-clan relationships and friendships were generally forbidden, especially with the constant battles and rivalries, although one did tend to make friends at Gatherings, and during Alliances. But it's not like Smudgepaw had made any. He had never been to a Gathering except once- and he hated it. Too many cats, too many scents, and too many bullies.

Bullies.

[/i] If there was one thing Smudgepaw hated, it was bullies. They always seemed to pick on him- and only him. What had he ever done to them? Nothing. In fact, he had never even glanced at some of his foes before. But because of his appearance-they judged and decided he was the right one to ostracize. He never felt bad for himself though- he just became irritated and angry; but he used this power to turn it into motivations and strength. Or he tried, at least. He didn't always succeed, but that didn't matter.

Inact, nothing mattered about the past at the moment. All that did matter was what the clans were going to do about the flooding. He knew the leaders were in a meeting, and that something was going to be done. What that was and when it was going to happen, were a different story. Musing the thoughts, Smudgepaw pawed up a scoop of mud, and made a makeshift-nest in the damp dirt. Snuggling in, he wrapped his tail around his eyes and closed them softly. With luck, no one would bother him, and he could get a nice peaceful rest while everyone else panicked. With luck...[/size][/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Dusk]

Honestly. Just honestly. There were no words to describe precisely how Martenpaw felt about the turn of events these last few weeks besides pure frustration and exasperation. She hardly cared about where she lived; territory meant little to the fiery apprentice, and for one reason or another the ties that typically formed with being raised in a clan had never taken shape for the she-cat. There was no dismay. No sadness. No homesickness at the lack of a homey atmosphere. The only real emotion that manifested itself over the situation was annoyance that the new accommodations were anything but cozy. It was crowded and stuffy and damp and not to mention all the absolutely damnable pine needles that seemed to prick and prod no matter where one stood. Small wonder if Vertigoclan acted like they had a thorn in their side, they practically did! Cats were too busy attempting to keep organized in all the chaos that there had been no time for anyone to order her around, which was nice, but it also meant that the she-cat was bored. There was no need for patrolling and the Vertigoclan stiffs weren't about to let these "invaders" go hunting on the last remnant of dry land nearby. Thus there was little to do but pace and wander aimlessly.

Which was what the red-brown apprentice had proceeded to do right at this moment. A set circuit, the feline followed largely the same path whenever she walked, sometimes deviating slightly and always on the lookout for something to entertain her. It was curious, how the respective clans largely stuck to their own "kind". Here and there, of course, were isolated islands of cats from many clans treating this as best they could like a Gathering. She'd been to a few. Enough to know that, while tensions often ran high between the clans, there were occasions where cats could set aside living differences and treat each other well. That wasn't exactly what she was looking for, but then it was unsure precisely what it was Martenpaw sought out. Just some mental stimulation, really. Something or someone to keep her occupied.

It wasn't uncommon for the cat to let her eyes wander where they liked instead of paying attention to the path, it had become well known enough to her that she needn't fear veering off and crashing down the slopes. So far she'd run into no mishaps. And it was this habit that probably led to the female finding her paws suddenly meeting something quite solid. She cursed as the world turned sideways and she tumbled, quickly righting herself and glaring about to find what object had tripped her up. It was cat. "Fox-dung!" Martenpaw snapped, hackles rising angrily for a moment. "Do you cats just sleep anywhere you want? Nowhere near other "camps" I mean really! Brilliant job on your part." Had this cat been someone she knew or recognized she might - might - have been a little less caustic. As it were, she hardly recognized this muddy scrap.

[lace !]

Smudgepaw

A sharp, brooding pain ricocheted into Smudgepaw's side. It felt as if someone had launched a boulder at his frail body. Hearing the breathy curse of another cat, he uncurled his tail slowly, his eyelids still drooping behind it. Jaw slacked slightly open, the inferior apprentice unfurled himself slowly- taking his time to stretch his tiny limbs. He had just been on the brink of sleep- when whoever it was- clambered over him and roused him violently. His brain scuttling for an answer, he closed his jaw abruptly once he heard the voice of a she-cat in rage.

"Do you cats just sleep anywhere you want? Nowhere near other "camps" I mean really! Brilliant job on your part."

[/i] The she-cat whined. Her voice was like the call of a thousand crows in his ears. Slowly, he slid open his eyes to stare at the culprit of the gritty insult. Much to his disdain- it was Martenpaw. The tom cat felt an itch begin to stir in his stomach as he thought of a rebuttal. "It's not my fault you were too stupid to look where you were going. Did you mother not teach you how to walk? Or are you waiting for your mentor to do that?" He hissed lazily, gritting his teeth slightly for added-affect.

It wasn't as if Smudgepaw was really angry- she had done no actual harm to him other than a startled awakening; although in some cases that would be more than enough. But the instance that she had been rude enough to carelessly fling insults around at him was a menacing thought. Having been pushed around his whole life, Smudgepaw would not stand for that. Swathing his tail, he slowly dragged himself upward onto his paws, bringing one up to comb his ears. He rambled on, flicking his tail rhythmically with his cleaning. "Then again," He finished. "I'm just a brilliant apprentice."[/size][/font][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Dusk]

It was only after venting her initial rage at the stranger that Martenpaw took a moment to think and compose herself. That had always been her greatest flaw. She was impulsive. She did things when she wanted; there was rarely a moment of pause between her brain sending a signal and her body carrying out the action. Her outburst had been no different. Now, though, the long-bodied female took a moment to sniff at the air surrounding the smaller cat. Zephyrclan. At least she thought so, with so many cats in one space the scents started to mingle and be rendered unrecognizable beyond the fact that it smelled somewhat foul. And taking a closer look the she-cat realized she'd also met this tom before. In passing, needless to say, but she still recognized his face. 'What's his name again? Sootpaw or Smeltpaw or --' Smudgepaw. That was it.

She waited impatiently for a response, eyes narrowed to mossy green slits as the other apprentice just raised his head, slowly, petulantly. No doubt attempting to annoy her by acting like her better. "It's not my fault you were too stupid to look where you were going." The she-cat scoffed, sitting momentarily to groom her fur into some semblance of neatness. That was the other problem with this accursed forest: there was just too much foliage for long fur such as her own to be managed well. "I shouldn't have to expect some body to be draped across the middle of a path I typically use. Seriously, just climb a tree or something if your that desperate for alone time." One ear flicked casually as she ran her teeth quickly through her fur, picking out stray needles, but her head shot up as she caught the back end of his comment. "Ma's dead," she retorted with a manic grin, a grating laugh working it's way from her throat. "Been gone since always. Pop wasn't much of a model figure either."

Mentioning the she-cat who had died birthing Martenpaw and her littermates was hardly something she was bitter about. She'd never known the feline, so no tears there. It was always entertaining to see the various reactions after a comment similar to Smudgepaw's. Sometimes sudden embarrassment, occasionally even shame, though the boring one's were the stoics who just rolled with the news. With a snort and a roll of the eyes the female took in his last words. "Brilliant? More like brilliantly girly. Anyone ever mistaken you for a gal from far off, cuz I sure would have?"

[lace !]

[atrb=cellpadding,30,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,background:url(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15865368/nd/00009k2x.png);width:350px;border:1px solid #dfdfdf;border-radius:60px;][style=background:url(http://i46.tinypic.com/294732f.jpg) repeat;filter:alpha(opacity=40);opacity:.4;border-radius:20px;text-align:center;margin-bottom:10px;border:1px solid #ccc;height:100px;] [/style][style=background:rgba(255,255,255,.4);color:#999;padding:10px;font:2.0em helvetica;letter-spacing:4pt;border-radius:20px;text-align:center;margin-bottom:10px;border:1px solid #dfdfdf;]SMUDGEPAW[/style][style=background:rgba(255,255,255,.4);color:#999;padding:10px;font:1.0em helvetica;border-radius:20px;text-align:justify;border:1px solid #dfdfdf;] WORDS 802   TAGS lace & dusk   NOTES badass. The she-cat had not seemed disturbed by his comments. Slightly irritated, the tom flicked his tail harsher. He always failed at comebacks and insults. He had heard numerous ones his entire life, but he could never match them, or even copy them. He always seemed to say them at the wrong time, or manage to mess them up. He hadn't said anything wrong this time, but the she-cat remained unaffected. Anger slowly slithering into the pit of his stomach, Smudgepaw did his best to put on his dagger eyes- staring the she-cat in her own. "I shouldn't have to expect some body to be draped across the middle of a path I typically use." The bitter female retorted, her voice stinging his ears. "Well I didn't know it was your territory. I figured it was VertigoClan's, if any. I mean, we all share it. But what in StarClan's name makes you so damn special?" He hissed through gritted teeth. Why must she be so annoying from the start? A simple "Hey, I'm sorry I tripped on you. Perhaps next time you could lay somewhere else?" Would have been perfectly acceptable. Not that any cat would ever be that polite, but Smudgepaw could still dream. In fact, anything but her whiney voice trailing on and on about insignificant things would have done. Sliding his claws into the soft dirt, the muddy tom snorted softly as the nuisance continued on in her ramblings. "Ma's dead. Been gone since always. Pop wasn't much of a model figure either."

[/i] She spoke, her words sending a slight chill down the ZephyrClan apprentices' back. He pondered the thought for a moment. So her mother was dead, and her father was a deadbeat. Not an ounce of remorse in his stomach, he snorted loudly. "Poor, poor you." He mocked. "Must be so hard. Still, didn't your mentor teach you anything? That's what they're supposed to do, after all." He rebutdtaled. Musing over another insult in his head, he realized the she-cat was once again, speaking.

"Brilliant? More like brilliantly girly."[/i] Smudgepaw sat up straight instantly. His eyes darted over her like a snake. How dare she? He was most certainly not girly. In fact, he liked to think he was quite the opposite. Sure, he was a little on the smaller side, but he couldn't really help that. Size could not measure strength, after all. After flailing violently inside his brain for a reply for a moment, he flashed her his teeth in a not-so-friendly smile. "Girly, eh? Perhaps you've never seen one, then? Because it's obvious you're not. Not with that foul of a mouth. No wonder your father abandoned you. I wouldn't love you, either." He hissed, flashing a small, more subtle smile at the end.

Not feeling the slightest amount of guilt, he wrapped his tail around his paws neatly. After all, she had deserved it. No one dared to talk to him like that. No one. People had attempted in the past, and sure, it used to sting. But now, he was older, and more mature. Or he thought so, at least. He could deal with this little brat- she was like a pesky flea or tick on his ear. A couple flicks, and she'd be gone. Although, He thought. Perhaps I could have some fun...

[/style][style=background:rgba(255,255,255,.4);color:#999;padding:10px;font:1.4em helvetica;border-radius:20px;text-align:center;margin-top:10px;border:1px solid #dfdfdf;]DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE ME ;[/style][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[Dusk]

The long-bodied apprentice gave an inward grin as the Zephyrclan tom began to show signs of irritation. An extra flail of the tails here, a narrowing of the eyes there, it was always nice to get a reaction to her taunts. That was, of course, what always irked her with Jayblue. The tom had quite the lid on his temper and quite the poker face as well. Like stone. She might chip and chip with barbed words but almost never did she get much of a reaction from the warrior. Grudgingly she'd taken a few "notes" from the blue-gray cat, she knew how to keep a straight face herself now. Needless to say it was refreshing to happen across someone who reacted much more... openly. Concealing a smirk, the ruddy feline gave a shrug. "You're right, I guess. Well, that this isn't technically my territory. Although I'd have to say there's plenty that gives me privilege over a scruffy lil' furball like yourself." The she-cat knew not an ounce of humility - in fact she realized that she could be a bit of a narcissist at times - Tempestclan knew that perfectly well. Clearly the brown tabby did not if he had thought to ask such a question.

His underwhelming reaction to the states of her mother and father was less warming to that little niche she reserved for sadism. He'd expressed no discomfort, brushing off the information with a brusque manner that might've suited a Tempestclan warrior better than the wind-heads. Impressive. "Oh yes, I'm sure you would think so. You look like the coddled type whose mother still walks with them whenever they need to make dirt," as she spoke her face split into a toothy grin. "As for mentors..." Martenpaw mused silently for a second. How did she feel about Dreamfeather? They argued sometimes, the deputy gave orders, and the apprentice followed them when she felt like it. It wasn't a bad relationship, though certainly they weren't the kind who would likely remain close companions upon Martenpaw receiving her warrior name."Call me independent. Don't need anybody to hold my paw." It wasn't much of a witty reply, but then she could afford to let a few things slide by.

Quite suddenly the tom had tensed into ram-rod stiffness, like he'd been jolted. 'Ahh hit a nerve have I?' This time the apprentice didn't even attempt to hide her relish as she watched the smaller cat's demeanor change into that of someone well and truly and deeply offended. She could practically see the fire in his his eyes, an angry spark in the hazel that positively shot daggers. 'Heh, if looks could kill...' She'd truly struck something raw with the "girly" comment. She chuckled slightly, resting her weight on her haunches and curling the long tail neatly about her paws. "Y'know," she gave a mock frown, pretending to contemplate her looks, "I think you might just be jealous because I've got muscle and you don't. Tch, both my sisters have more brawn than you and that's saying something because I've always thought of Secretpaw as the dainty one. But you've got her beat!"

She stood and gave a long stretch, claws dragging through the loamy ground. "I don't need love, pretty boy, 'specially not from someone like Shard. I've got enough 'me-care' to last a good long while." A chuckle made its way up her throat and she waited to see where this battle of the tongues would take them.

[lace !]

[atrb=cellpadding,30,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style,background:url(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15865368/nd/00009k2x.png);width:350px;border:1px solid #dfdfdf;border-radius:60px;][style=background:url(http://i46.tinypic.com/294732f.jpg) repeat;filter:alpha(opacity=40);opacity:.4;border-radius:20px;text-align:center;margin-bottom:10px;border:1px solid #ccc;height:100px;] [/style][style=background:rgba(255,255,255,.4);color:#999;padding:10px;font:2.0em helvetica;letter-spacing:4pt;border-radius:20px;text-align:center;margin-bottom:10px;border:1px solid #dfdfdf;]SMUDGEPAW[/style][style=background:rgba(255,255,255,.4);color:#999;padding:10px;font:1.0em helvetica;border-radius:20px;text-align:justify;border:1px solid #dfdfdf;] WORDS 690   TAGS lace & dusk   NOTES short. Scruffy furball? Who the hell did she think she was barking at? Smudgepaw could feel the hairs on his pelt begin to rise. Caught between a rock and a hard place, the tom couldn't decide which to do- focus on keeping himself calm or let loose and tear her apart. With words, of course. Letting his gaze slide to look around for a moment, he wished it could be physically. But now would be a bad time to fight, even though there was bound to be a few now and then. Especially with them all cramped into one, tiny territory and camp like this. Did they even have hunting patrols? Probably not. Focus Smudgepaw.

[/i] He thought soberly, moving his gaze back to the she-cat piercing eyes. He narrowed his own, willing his tail to remain calm at his side as she continued to speak. "Oh yes, I'm sure you would think so. You look like the coddled type whose mother still walks with them whenever they need to make dirt." Smudgepaw could feel his inside roll with laughter. "Do I really? Too bad, cause' mines not around either." He replied, his voice bland but laced with darkness. His stomach was rumbling with the laughter he had swallowed- threatening to reappear at any moment. "Call me independent." "Right." He replied, a bored expression crossing his face.

"You sure you could be independent with clumsy feet like that?" He responded, licking his paw to comb down his ear. Slowly, he let his gaze travel back upward, meeting hers at level, once more. He let his gaze sit and ripen for a moment, waiting for the ignorant female to speak once again. Opening his maw to speak, he shut it abruptly as hers yapped open. "I think you might just be jealous because I've got muscle and you don't." He let it settle for a moment, and brushed the anger away- with quite difficulty. Clearing his throat, he spoke. "Really? I don't think that's what it is. Your ego's bigger than your muscles- I'd take being small any day compared to that." He finished, licking his maw quickly.

"I don't need love. Specially not from Shard."[/i] Smudgepaw stopped and blinked slowly. Shard was her father? Keeping the laugh inside, he rolled his eyes. It explained so much. "Wow, no wonder everyone hates you. They'd hate me if I we're his kin, too." He replied tartly, digging his claws into the ground simultaneously. "Me-care, huh?" He asked casually. "Sounds awfully nice. Too bad you're the only one who gives two shits." He hissed, letting his bubbling anger seethe out slowly. He didn't know why- but this she-cat was getting on his nerves more than expected.

[/style][style=background:rgba(255,255,255,.4);color:#999;padding:10px;font:1.4em helvetica;border-radius:20px;text-align:center;margin-top:10px;border:1px solid #dfdfdf;]DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE ME ;[/style][/td][/tr][/table][/center]