Post by LιθΠΗΣαRτεD on Sept 27, 2015 3:44:09 GMT
Thrushpaw faced Foxpaw in the clearing, his eyes narrowed in concentration, his face scrunched up. Across from his, Foxpaw's eyes were clear with determination and focus, but he looked, at the same time, extremely calm.
Then, instantly, the two toms simultaneously leapt at each other, teeth bared, and clashed in the middle. Both sprang apart with a grunt, and backed up warily. Foxpaw darted in and swiped at Thrushpaw's shoulder, but he dodged and Foxpaw caught air. Hissing in frustration, the russet-ginger tom dipped as Thrushpaw's paw came down upon his head, and slammed onto empty ground.
"You ought to pick different opponents. You two know each other's moves and thinking extremely well."
Both spun around to see Icestar standing at the entrance of the hollow. Scrambling to him, they dipped their heads in respect. Icestar sat calmly, his blue eyes flickering from one apprentice to the next.
"There's more cats in the Clan waiting to practice," he said, amused. "I am aware that you two are the best in the Clan. But sometimes you need a challenge." Eyes gleaming, his ears twitched, as if waiting. Both toms looked to the side, trying to interpret the leader's implication.
Finally, Foxpaw got it. "Icestar, will you practice with me?"
The large white tom smiled, standing up. "With pleasure," he said. Thrushpaw glared at Foxpaw incredulously, but backed up hastily. No! Now I will never be as good as him!
"And Thrushpaw, I think you may do well with a bit of training, instead of waiting and watching."
"All cats of the Gathering, be ready to head out!" Icestar yowled from the clearing. Thrushpaw shot out of the apprentices' den, fully awake. Yes, finally! He'd been waiting for this day ever since Icestar's announcement of it. The full moon hung, fat and silver, in the sky, almost shimmering. Icestar's white pelt glowed in the darkness, and pairs of eyes stared at him, waiting for his signal. "Let's go!" With a flick of his tail, the large tom turned and pelted out, followed by his warriors.
Thrushpaw ran up to the front, eager to be one of the first ones there. His flanks began to heave as the journey grew longer, and he was forced to slow down and walk, pushed to the back as the cats who had conserved their energy padded past him, talking cheerfully. A river scent grew stronger, and StormClan warriors began to mingle with WhisperClan ones. However, the moment the first StormClan cat padded towards them, Goldenfox had to shout out what he'd been stomaching the entire quarter-moon.
"You fish-pelts crossed the border!"
Instantly, howls of protests rose among the StormClan cats; many hissed aggressively and arched their backs. Icestar whipped around, looking furious and frustrated.
"Who said that?" he called out angrily. No one said a word. "You know who you are! This is a Gathering, and I expect my warriors to behave! You are not upholding our pride by doing this!"
Goldenfox looked uncomfortable at Icestar's words, and Frostberry rolled his eyes. Thrushpaw decided to avoid them, and hung back, falling in step with Birchpaw and Featherpaw.
"Hey," Birchpaw said cheerfully, but emptily.
"Hey," Thrushpaw replied.
"Too bad Foxpaw isn't here," Featherpaw teased her.
"He didn't want to go," Birchpaw said. "Well, Shadowfox isn't here either! So you can't stare at him."
"Well, you and Foxpaw stare at each other so much--"
"We do not! We're just friends! And those were staring contests!"
"And I'm Icestar! Why would Foxpaw waste his time doing that?" Featherpaw retorted. Thrushpaw mumbled incoherently and left the two sisters at their playful banter. Those two need to get over their stupid crushes! And how does Foxpaw get a she-cat before me? StarClan help me, I must be dreaming!
The tension between WhisperClan and StormClan was still high. Thrushpaw peered around, hoping to see Rosetail amongst her new Clanmates. He couldn't see her, and disappointment welled inside him.
The Pond of Truce neared, and he saw that it was empty; they were the first two Clans there. Icestar and Goldenstar headed for the leaders' rock, and Thrushpaw sat at the shore, waiting. He did not have the energy to look for Rosetail again. And I'm not sure if I want to.
"Ah, you two have beat me!" said a warm voice. Whitestar crossed the stream deftly, with a light leap of his long legs. Thrushpaw's heart leapt with excitement; LeafClan had arrived!
"Hey," growled a gravelly voice behind him. Turning around, he saw a scrawny, fawn-brown tom glaring thorns at him. His scent told Thrushpaw that he was of LeafClan, Willowpaw's Clanmate. Denmate too, by the size of him.
"Hey," Thrushpaw replied for the second time.
"You're Thrushpaw, right?" continued the brown tom, stepping closer. "Weaselpaw. Stay away from Willowpaw! You're not her Clanmate!"
"She's just a friend," Thrushpaw said, frowning. Great StarClan, he jumps to conclusions. "I only met her once. And our Clans don't even border, so what's the point?"
"If you two ever grow close," Weaselpaw pressed, ignoring Thrushpaw and leaning in, "just think before you do anything. And tell her... I know her little secret." his breath stank and Thrushpaw took a step back.
"Whatever," he snapped, feeling defensive of himself and Willowpaw. She has a secret?. "It's not going to happen. Get lost."
"Already am," Weaselpaw said lazily, strolling away. Thrushpaw had not blinked when another voice, this time feminine and friendly, called him.
"Hi Thrushpaw!" Willowpaw slid up beside him, and he purred in greeting.
"Hey," he said in a much friendlier and enthusiastic tone.
Willowpaw blinked for a second, then leaned in, too, pressing her muzzle close to Thrushpaw's ear. "My father visited," she breathed. "Thanks for pointing him in the right direction."
Thrushpaw nodded. "He seems nice."
"He said you were 'okay,'" Willowpaw replied. "He was asking about toms my age that I knew, and he liked you by far. But all the apprentices in my Clan are jerks. Especially that Weaselpaw."
"Just met him," Thrushpaw said without thinking.
"Oh? What did he have to say?"
"Uh..." Thrushpaw kneaded his paws nervously. "Nothing much. He was pretty curt," he replied, inventing wildly. Willowpaw nodded in understanding.
"I know, right? He never says anything, but when he does, it's always really rude. Or threatening."
Tell me about it! Thrushpaw kept his muzzle shut. What was Willowpaw's secret? Bravado?
"You're quite tonight," Willowpaw said gently, touching his shoulder with her tail tip. "I thought you could talk to me."
"I can," he said, feeling warm at her friendliness, "but I don't have anything to say."
"I'm sure you do. But I have things to say." Leaning in, she whispered, "I'm worried about Bravado. They're smelling his scent everywhere, my Clanmates, and just yesterday I was sent out on patrol to search for him. What am I supposed to do? I can't stop him from seeing me! He's really stubborn!"
"Tell him to roll in some lavender, or strong-smelling fern," Thrushpaw whispered back, thinking back to the time he and Foxpaw snuck out when they were kits. Willowpaw pondered at this, but nodded.
"That's a good idea. But his white pelt--!"
"Smear it with mud, or something," Thrushpaw suggested.
Willowpaw wrinkled his nose. "I can't believe he'll actually go through the trouble just to see his daughter. He knows how hostile Clan cats are. Especially LeafClan cats! Whitestar's getting frustrated that we can't find Bravado."
"I thought Whitestar was pretty chill."
"He's still leader! He can't just sit back and give Goldenflame all the work to do. Our Clan would've died by now. Besides, he would've learned something from Silverstar's reign."
Thrushpaw shivered at the mention of the former dictator. She had been dead for a couple moons before he'd been born, but the tale was still fresh in many senior warriors' heads, and her story was still passed down from the elders. "So I assume you go intercept him everytime?"
"Yes, and I've told him to go, for his own safety; but I think he's going to join the Clan now or something! Great StarClan. Anyway, it's getting cold." Willowpaw shivered, perhaps somewhat exaggeratedly.
Thrushpaw, afraid to take the implication wrong, yet hoping to get it right, moved closer. The two apprentices huddled together comfortably under the stars.
Season: Early leaf-bare
"I'd really like to know who that dumb loner is," growled Stonepaw from nearby, as the circle of apprentices ate. Thrushpaw, who had enjoyed his conversation with Willowpaw, had distanced himself from them, and was eating to the side. No one noticed his absence.
"I hope he leaves before they catch him," Emberpaw said softly, "I'm sure he's just looking for a place to stay."
"And Whitestar's not going to let anyone in!" Cinderpaw hissed. "Do you think he would after all the fox-dung with Silverstar?"
"StormClan said that they're also smelling the scent," Birchpaw added. "Oh, I'm sure he's harmless if he moves around all the time."
"No, he probably hunts on the land!" Brownpaw crowed, standing up. "We must find him before he starts to take too much of our prey!"
"Sit down," snapped Stonepaw. "Stop jumping to conclusions."
"He's right," Birchpaw said, frowning at her brother, "calm it." Brownpaw looked uncertain, but settled into an uneasy crouch, his eyes narrowed. Thrushpaw's heart pounded; would Icestar take Bravado in if he ever showed up? How could he live with the knowledge that his daughter is in an enemy Clan? If Bravado got caught, would he get in trouble by association? Just take your daughter's word and leave! he thought. You're making all our lives uneasy, especially yours! You're blinded by your family who rarely even interacts with you. They've got their loyalty set-- find yours.
Then, instantly, the two toms simultaneously leapt at each other, teeth bared, and clashed in the middle. Both sprang apart with a grunt, and backed up warily. Foxpaw darted in and swiped at Thrushpaw's shoulder, but he dodged and Foxpaw caught air. Hissing in frustration, the russet-ginger tom dipped as Thrushpaw's paw came down upon his head, and slammed onto empty ground.
"You ought to pick different opponents. You two know each other's moves and thinking extremely well."
Both spun around to see Icestar standing at the entrance of the hollow. Scrambling to him, they dipped their heads in respect. Icestar sat calmly, his blue eyes flickering from one apprentice to the next.
"There's more cats in the Clan waiting to practice," he said, amused. "I am aware that you two are the best in the Clan. But sometimes you need a challenge." Eyes gleaming, his ears twitched, as if waiting. Both toms looked to the side, trying to interpret the leader's implication.
Finally, Foxpaw got it. "Icestar, will you practice with me?"
The large white tom smiled, standing up. "With pleasure," he said. Thrushpaw glared at Foxpaw incredulously, but backed up hastily. No! Now I will never be as good as him!
"And Thrushpaw, I think you may do well with a bit of training, instead of waiting and watching."
"All cats of the Gathering, be ready to head out!" Icestar yowled from the clearing. Thrushpaw shot out of the apprentices' den, fully awake. Yes, finally! He'd been waiting for this day ever since Icestar's announcement of it. The full moon hung, fat and silver, in the sky, almost shimmering. Icestar's white pelt glowed in the darkness, and pairs of eyes stared at him, waiting for his signal. "Let's go!" With a flick of his tail, the large tom turned and pelted out, followed by his warriors.
Thrushpaw ran up to the front, eager to be one of the first ones there. His flanks began to heave as the journey grew longer, and he was forced to slow down and walk, pushed to the back as the cats who had conserved their energy padded past him, talking cheerfully. A river scent grew stronger, and StormClan warriors began to mingle with WhisperClan ones. However, the moment the first StormClan cat padded towards them, Goldenfox had to shout out what he'd been stomaching the entire quarter-moon.
"You fish-pelts crossed the border!"
Instantly, howls of protests rose among the StormClan cats; many hissed aggressively and arched their backs. Icestar whipped around, looking furious and frustrated.
"Who said that?" he called out angrily. No one said a word. "You know who you are! This is a Gathering, and I expect my warriors to behave! You are not upholding our pride by doing this!"
Goldenfox looked uncomfortable at Icestar's words, and Frostberry rolled his eyes. Thrushpaw decided to avoid them, and hung back, falling in step with Birchpaw and Featherpaw.
"Hey," Birchpaw said cheerfully, but emptily.
"Hey," Thrushpaw replied.
"Too bad Foxpaw isn't here," Featherpaw teased her.
"He didn't want to go," Birchpaw said. "Well, Shadowfox isn't here either! So you can't stare at him."
"Well, you and Foxpaw stare at each other so much--"
"We do not! We're just friends! And those were staring contests!"
"And I'm Icestar! Why would Foxpaw waste his time doing that?" Featherpaw retorted. Thrushpaw mumbled incoherently and left the two sisters at their playful banter. Those two need to get over their stupid crushes! And how does Foxpaw get a she-cat before me? StarClan help me, I must be dreaming!
The tension between WhisperClan and StormClan was still high. Thrushpaw peered around, hoping to see Rosetail amongst her new Clanmates. He couldn't see her, and disappointment welled inside him.
The Pond of Truce neared, and he saw that it was empty; they were the first two Clans there. Icestar and Goldenstar headed for the leaders' rock, and Thrushpaw sat at the shore, waiting. He did not have the energy to look for Rosetail again. And I'm not sure if I want to.
"Ah, you two have beat me!" said a warm voice. Whitestar crossed the stream deftly, with a light leap of his long legs. Thrushpaw's heart leapt with excitement; LeafClan had arrived!
"Hey," growled a gravelly voice behind him. Turning around, he saw a scrawny, fawn-brown tom glaring thorns at him. His scent told Thrushpaw that he was of LeafClan, Willowpaw's Clanmate. Denmate too, by the size of him.
"Hey," Thrushpaw replied for the second time.
"You're Thrushpaw, right?" continued the brown tom, stepping closer. "Weaselpaw. Stay away from Willowpaw! You're not her Clanmate!"
"She's just a friend," Thrushpaw said, frowning. Great StarClan, he jumps to conclusions. "I only met her once. And our Clans don't even border, so what's the point?"
"If you two ever grow close," Weaselpaw pressed, ignoring Thrushpaw and leaning in, "just think before you do anything. And tell her... I know her little secret." his breath stank and Thrushpaw took a step back.
"Whatever," he snapped, feeling defensive of himself and Willowpaw. She has a secret?. "It's not going to happen. Get lost."
"Already am," Weaselpaw said lazily, strolling away. Thrushpaw had not blinked when another voice, this time feminine and friendly, called him.
"Hi Thrushpaw!" Willowpaw slid up beside him, and he purred in greeting.
"Hey," he said in a much friendlier and enthusiastic tone.
Willowpaw blinked for a second, then leaned in, too, pressing her muzzle close to Thrushpaw's ear. "My father visited," she breathed. "Thanks for pointing him in the right direction."
Thrushpaw nodded. "He seems nice."
"He said you were 'okay,'" Willowpaw replied. "He was asking about toms my age that I knew, and he liked you by far. But all the apprentices in my Clan are jerks. Especially that Weaselpaw."
"Just met him," Thrushpaw said without thinking.
"Oh? What did he have to say?"
"Uh..." Thrushpaw kneaded his paws nervously. "Nothing much. He was pretty curt," he replied, inventing wildly. Willowpaw nodded in understanding.
"I know, right? He never says anything, but when he does, it's always really rude. Or threatening."
Tell me about it! Thrushpaw kept his muzzle shut. What was Willowpaw's secret? Bravado?
"You're quite tonight," Willowpaw said gently, touching his shoulder with her tail tip. "I thought you could talk to me."
"I can," he said, feeling warm at her friendliness, "but I don't have anything to say."
"I'm sure you do. But I have things to say." Leaning in, she whispered, "I'm worried about Bravado. They're smelling his scent everywhere, my Clanmates, and just yesterday I was sent out on patrol to search for him. What am I supposed to do? I can't stop him from seeing me! He's really stubborn!"
"Tell him to roll in some lavender, or strong-smelling fern," Thrushpaw whispered back, thinking back to the time he and Foxpaw snuck out when they were kits. Willowpaw pondered at this, but nodded.
"That's a good idea. But his white pelt--!"
"Smear it with mud, or something," Thrushpaw suggested.
Willowpaw wrinkled his nose. "I can't believe he'll actually go through the trouble just to see his daughter. He knows how hostile Clan cats are. Especially LeafClan cats! Whitestar's getting frustrated that we can't find Bravado."
"I thought Whitestar was pretty chill."
"He's still leader! He can't just sit back and give Goldenflame all the work to do. Our Clan would've died by now. Besides, he would've learned something from Silverstar's reign."
Thrushpaw shivered at the mention of the former dictator. She had been dead for a couple moons before he'd been born, but the tale was still fresh in many senior warriors' heads, and her story was still passed down from the elders. "So I assume you go intercept him everytime?"
"Yes, and I've told him to go, for his own safety; but I think he's going to join the Clan now or something! Great StarClan. Anyway, it's getting cold." Willowpaw shivered, perhaps somewhat exaggeratedly.
Thrushpaw, afraid to take the implication wrong, yet hoping to get it right, moved closer. The two apprentices huddled together comfortably under the stars.
Season: Early leaf-bare
"I'd really like to know who that dumb loner is," growled Stonepaw from nearby, as the circle of apprentices ate. Thrushpaw, who had enjoyed his conversation with Willowpaw, had distanced himself from them, and was eating to the side. No one noticed his absence.
"I hope he leaves before they catch him," Emberpaw said softly, "I'm sure he's just looking for a place to stay."
"And Whitestar's not going to let anyone in!" Cinderpaw hissed. "Do you think he would after all the fox-dung with Silverstar?"
"StormClan said that they're also smelling the scent," Birchpaw added. "Oh, I'm sure he's harmless if he moves around all the time."
"No, he probably hunts on the land!" Brownpaw crowed, standing up. "We must find him before he starts to take too much of our prey!"
"Sit down," snapped Stonepaw. "Stop jumping to conclusions."
"He's right," Birchpaw said, frowning at her brother, "calm it." Brownpaw looked uncertain, but settled into an uneasy crouch, his eyes narrowed. Thrushpaw's heart pounded; would Icestar take Bravado in if he ever showed up? How could he live with the knowledge that his daughter is in an enemy Clan? If Bravado got caught, would he get in trouble by association? Just take your daughter's word and leave! he thought. You're making all our lives uneasy, especially yours! You're blinded by your family who rarely even interacts with you. They've got their loyalty set-- find yours.