Post by nyx on Aug 28, 2010 11:31:59 GMT -5
The sun bounced off the trees and through the entrance to the apprentice’s den behaving like a sprightly child just waking up to find its summer. I rolled over; trying to shield my eyes from the sun but it was persistent.
“Might as well get up.” I muttered, rising to my small pale paws and shaking the moss from my bed off of my ginger fur.
“I was wondering when you’d finally get off of your lazy rump.” Purred an amused voice. I looked over to the opposite bed and saw my friend Lovepaw gazing at me in a bemused way.
“Yeah well I was hunting a lot last night.” I muttered rolling my hazel eyes to the ceiling. Lovepaw rose to her paws as well, and mewed,
“Tawnypelt is looking for you. She couldn’t find you last night, so she told me she’d wait till today.” I felt a jolt, what did Tawnypelt want with me? Had I gotten into trouble by my and Slashpaw’s antics? Or had she found out about me leaving camp at night for a stroll to visit the nearby lake?
“Did she say what she wanted?” I asked.
“Yeah, Russetfur wants you on the Mid-Morning patrol.” Lovepaw grinned. “Guilty conscience?”
“You should know! All the hijinx we and others get into!” I gave an mrrow of laughter.
“Well have fun! I have to meet Falconpaw; we are training together with our mentors today.” She replied.
“See you then! And be good!” I yowled racing out of the den.
“Tumblepaw! Why are you making so much racket?! You’re going to scare all the prey from here to ThunderClan!” hissed a voice in my ear. I jumped and spun on the spot only to come nose to nose with Rowanclaw, a ginger tom with a very grumpy disposition towards me. (I have yet to figure out why he is so particularly hard on me. I mean dad and him are somewhat friends!)
“I was just joking around Rowanclaw.” I met his blue gaze, I have been rather scared of him but now I was starting to live up to my family’s stubbornness and tempers.
“You need to behave yourself; you’ll give ShadowClan a bad reputation.” He growled.
“A worse one than it already has?” I joked. Rowanclaw’s eyes narrowed.
“I am surprised Tawnypelt wishes to have Russetfur put you on her patrol. You need to shape up if you want to become a warrior.” He mewed icily.
As he turned away I lost my temper, “Why are you so hard on me?! What have I done that makes you hate me so much?!” I retorted, unsheathing my claws angrily and digging into the dirt. But I had done it, he whipped around; eyes like chips of ice.
“Get back to your work. Now.”
“Yes your majesty.” I hissed and stalked off to look for Tawnypelt. I found her at the entrance, with Russetfur (the clan deputy), Crimsonfoot (my mentor), Spookmask (Crimsonfoot’s cousin), Nightwing (a kind black she-cat), Oakfur (one of my friends; mentor), and to my horror, Rowanclaw (whom had just padded over after telling me off).
“Hello Tumblepaw, nice of you to join us.” Russetfur meowed calmly.
“Hello.” I mumbled somewhat shyly, not having talked much to the deputy.
“We were just about to head out. We will go over the borders, and different parts of our territory.” She continued.
“Okay.” I replied. Russetfur looked into my eyes, still full of fire for a few moments and then turned away leading the little group out of camp. We passed our hunting grounds, Oakfur catching a raven as it took off, the border to the nearby lake (one of my favorite spots), with Russetfur occasionally asking me to scent the area or telling me the basic things one does on a patrol. When we reached our border with the Twoleg place, Russetfur stopped. I had my attention on a passing sparrow and didn’t notice this until I banged into Rowanclaw. He glared at me and I didn’t like the look he gave. I padded to where Tawnypelt stood and looked to the older warrior for guidance. Tawnypelt gave Rowanclaw raised eyebrows to which he shrugged his muscular shoulders; it seemed as though they were communicating without words. I tried to understand this, but just then Crimsonfoot turned to me.
“What do you smell?” she asked. Opening my mouth, I concentrated hard, this was a big honor and I didn’t want to blow it. It was a big opportunity to show what I had learned thus far, as well as learn about the work of the various patrols so that just maybe I could someday lead one myself.
“Eww…Kittypet. And it’s strong.” I wrinkled my nose. The warriors exchanged glances.
“Blackstar will want to know, they’ve always kept their distance so this could be bad. Thank you Tumblepaw, you did very well.” Crimsonfoot replied turning away to Russetfur.
Spookmask, however, sniffed the spot I had searched.
“Only this one, Crimsonfoot, has other smells in it. I can hardly make them out though.” She said.
“Let’s mark the borders, it will stop them from coming over, then we should get back to camp as quickly as possible.” Russetfur responded.
Crimsonfoot looked off into the distance, and I knew what she was thinking. Her sister, Eevee, was a farm Kittypet who Crimsonfoot hadn’t seen since they were very young.
They were pretty close, and Crimsonfoot missed her terribly. Then it hit me, I should go look for the Kittypet intruder! I could hopefully reunite two long-lost siblings, and show my leader what I’m capable of! (Doesn’t everyone have weird notions as an apprentice?)
“Tumblepaw,” Rowanclaw scolded breaking my thoughts, “You should come with us instead of staring off into the distance like an empty-headed squirrel!”
The others had finished marking, and I hadn’t even noticed having been lost in my own thoughts.
“Sorry.” I mumbled in an annoyed tone, sprinting to my clanmates.
“Go easy on her, “Nightwing chided, “She’s only an apprentice.”
“She’s 8 moons old, Nightwing. She’s not a kit and she should learn not to be so scatter-brained. A good warrior pays attention to their surroundings and doesn’t stare off into the distance like they have half a brain.” Rowanclaw retorted. His words stung me; now more than ever I wanted to prove myself. I opened my mouth to respond but,
“Let’s go.” Spookmask intervened, having caught on that I was ten seconds away from getting my fur ripped off. We padded along the narrow dirt path towards camp; occasionally sniffing for the scent of the intruder but none came. Meanwhile my thoughts were forming a plan, whilst the others were asleep I would go look for the intruder and if I got caught I would bring some freshkill back with me; claiming I couldn’t sleep and had been out hunting. No, I don’t want to lie. I will hunt and while I am doing that I’ll keep a lookout for the intruder. I thought. Soon we reached camp and the others filed in to give their report but Rowanclaw blocked my way.
“Please, move.” I hissed through gritted teeth. He ignored me.
“You want to know why I am hard on you? You want to know why you must prove yourself to me? You are half-clan.” He mewed grumpily.
“No I’m not. Mom and Dad are from here.” I hissed.
“Not originally. Your father was from NightClan and your mother from HeavenClan. The two clans were moving and your family got lost. They, their parents, and other various relatives moved here where Nightstar welcomed them warmly. They didn’t all make it however, your uncle Hawknose had Whitecough, one of the reasons your mother’s side of the family decided to move here instead of going with their clan, and he died on the way.” Rowanclaw smirked. It made sense, they way he treated me, how Hawknose died, the dreams I had been having lately about being lost. But I didn’t like him giving me an abridged version of my family history.
“Mom and Dad wanted to protect us.” I realized. “From cats like you saying we aren’t loyal. But I’ve got news for you pal. Hawkkit and I are loyal to our clan and will always be. And Tawnypelt is Half-Clan and you haven’t treated her that way! There has to be more to this story than you are letting on.”
I pushed past him as he mewed, “You should treat those older than you with more respect.”
“You haven’t earned my full respect.” I snapped entering camp.
~That night~
My fellow apprentices were asleep, dreaming sweet dreams; but I couldn’t sleep. I crept out of the den and out of camp; deciding to skip hunting and head straight to looking for the Kittypet intruder. Nighttime had made our territory look more mysterious yet beautiful and peaceful. I felt the fur on my shoulders (which had been tensed since my encounter with Rowanclaw, and his story,) relax as I looked around on my way to the Twoleg place border, however I wasn’t totally calm.
I stopped mid-sentence as the bushes ahead of me moved.
“Who’s there?” cried a voice.
“Tumblepaw of ShadowClan. Who are you?”
“Snakepaw of ThunderClan.” Mewed the stranger. He moved into the clearing, his handsome jet black fur rippling in the moonlight. Then his scent hit me, he smelled like a Kittypet but there defiantly was ThunderClan hidden inside it.
“You’re the intruder? I know you! I had just hoped you had gotten lost….”
“Intruder? And no, I was captured by Twolegs. It is good to see another clan cat. You’re still fiery I notice.” Snakepaw meowed, mischief lighting his eyes.
“Yeah well you don’t live with Rowanclaw.” I muttered. “Anyway, you should get to your camp before any of my clanmates find you here. It is good to know you are safe.” “Alright, and this no-nonsense, non-antics truce is only for tonight?” He grinned.
“That’s right.” I allowed myself a smile.
“Well see you then.”
“Goodbye.” I responded. (Snakepaw was a kind, yet mischievous tom whom I had met at my first Gathering. Whenever we saw each other we teased each other or argued. Lovepaw often said we acted like mates.) I felt the tingling feeling in my paws, (the one I have recently gotten around him,) and I tried to quiet it. It was forbidden for cats of different clans to fall in love, but a crush….well I kept telling myself that it was a loop-hole to the rule, if I did like him that way.
“Midnight Rendezvous by the Twoleg place?" mewed a cool voice. I jumped and not for the first time, was nose to nose with Rowanclaw.
“I couldn’t sleep.” I mumbled.
“A loyal warrior doesn’t flirt with cats of other clans.” Rowanclaw hissed.
“You keep telling yourself that. And I was looking for the Kittypet intruder, not flirting.” I muttered, starting the trek back to camp.
“You should not be allowed to go to some gatherings for a while apprentice. I should speak to Crimsonfoot about your punishment.”
“Punishment?! I was trying to help the clan! I couldn’t sleep so I thought I’d do something useful!” I snarled.
“Curb your temper! I am your elder and-“
“You’re a stupid nasty pathetic excuse for foxdug!” I snarled.
Rowanclaw unsheathed his claws just as another unruffled voice said, “Calm yourself Rowanclaw.” Blackstar moved into the clearing.
Rowanclaw immediately straightened up, claws sheathed, a look of shock on his face.
“We cannot afford to rip the fur off of our apprentices.”
“She was flirting with a ThunderClan cat Blackstar.” Rowanclaw muttered.
“That is not for you to decide.” Our leader mewed coldly. “Get back to camp.”
“As you wish.” Rowanclaw mewed through clenched teeth. He glared at me for a few seconds then skulked away. Blackstar turned to me and I braced myself for more harsh words but none such words came.
“You shouldn’t have sneaked out of camp, it is too dangerous. If something hostile were to come out of the bushes, you would have been killed. Glory is not worth that.” But then his eyes showed a rare twinkle. “But I did the same sort of thing when I was your age. So did Rowanclaw, but he won’t admit it.”I blinked the thought of Blackstar and Rowanclaw as apprentices was hard to imagine.
“We should get back to the camp.”
“Yes Blackstar.”
~To Be Continued~
“Might as well get up.” I muttered, rising to my small pale paws and shaking the moss from my bed off of my ginger fur.
“I was wondering when you’d finally get off of your lazy rump.” Purred an amused voice. I looked over to the opposite bed and saw my friend Lovepaw gazing at me in a bemused way.
“Yeah well I was hunting a lot last night.” I muttered rolling my hazel eyes to the ceiling. Lovepaw rose to her paws as well, and mewed,
“Tawnypelt is looking for you. She couldn’t find you last night, so she told me she’d wait till today.” I felt a jolt, what did Tawnypelt want with me? Had I gotten into trouble by my and Slashpaw’s antics? Or had she found out about me leaving camp at night for a stroll to visit the nearby lake?
“Did she say what she wanted?” I asked.
“Yeah, Russetfur wants you on the Mid-Morning patrol.” Lovepaw grinned. “Guilty conscience?”
“You should know! All the hijinx we and others get into!” I gave an mrrow of laughter.
“Well have fun! I have to meet Falconpaw; we are training together with our mentors today.” She replied.
“See you then! And be good!” I yowled racing out of the den.
“Tumblepaw! Why are you making so much racket?! You’re going to scare all the prey from here to ThunderClan!” hissed a voice in my ear. I jumped and spun on the spot only to come nose to nose with Rowanclaw, a ginger tom with a very grumpy disposition towards me. (I have yet to figure out why he is so particularly hard on me. I mean dad and him are somewhat friends!)
“I was just joking around Rowanclaw.” I met his blue gaze, I have been rather scared of him but now I was starting to live up to my family’s stubbornness and tempers.
“You need to behave yourself; you’ll give ShadowClan a bad reputation.” He growled.
“A worse one than it already has?” I joked. Rowanclaw’s eyes narrowed.
“I am surprised Tawnypelt wishes to have Russetfur put you on her patrol. You need to shape up if you want to become a warrior.” He mewed icily.
As he turned away I lost my temper, “Why are you so hard on me?! What have I done that makes you hate me so much?!” I retorted, unsheathing my claws angrily and digging into the dirt. But I had done it, he whipped around; eyes like chips of ice.
“Get back to your work. Now.”
“Yes your majesty.” I hissed and stalked off to look for Tawnypelt. I found her at the entrance, with Russetfur (the clan deputy), Crimsonfoot (my mentor), Spookmask (Crimsonfoot’s cousin), Nightwing (a kind black she-cat), Oakfur (one of my friends; mentor), and to my horror, Rowanclaw (whom had just padded over after telling me off).
“Hello Tumblepaw, nice of you to join us.” Russetfur meowed calmly.
“Hello.” I mumbled somewhat shyly, not having talked much to the deputy.
“We were just about to head out. We will go over the borders, and different parts of our territory.” She continued.
“Okay.” I replied. Russetfur looked into my eyes, still full of fire for a few moments and then turned away leading the little group out of camp. We passed our hunting grounds, Oakfur catching a raven as it took off, the border to the nearby lake (one of my favorite spots), with Russetfur occasionally asking me to scent the area or telling me the basic things one does on a patrol. When we reached our border with the Twoleg place, Russetfur stopped. I had my attention on a passing sparrow and didn’t notice this until I banged into Rowanclaw. He glared at me and I didn’t like the look he gave. I padded to where Tawnypelt stood and looked to the older warrior for guidance. Tawnypelt gave Rowanclaw raised eyebrows to which he shrugged his muscular shoulders; it seemed as though they were communicating without words. I tried to understand this, but just then Crimsonfoot turned to me.
“What do you smell?” she asked. Opening my mouth, I concentrated hard, this was a big honor and I didn’t want to blow it. It was a big opportunity to show what I had learned thus far, as well as learn about the work of the various patrols so that just maybe I could someday lead one myself.
“Eww…Kittypet. And it’s strong.” I wrinkled my nose. The warriors exchanged glances.
“Blackstar will want to know, they’ve always kept their distance so this could be bad. Thank you Tumblepaw, you did very well.” Crimsonfoot replied turning away to Russetfur.
Spookmask, however, sniffed the spot I had searched.
“Only this one, Crimsonfoot, has other smells in it. I can hardly make them out though.” She said.
“Let’s mark the borders, it will stop them from coming over, then we should get back to camp as quickly as possible.” Russetfur responded.
Crimsonfoot looked off into the distance, and I knew what she was thinking. Her sister, Eevee, was a farm Kittypet who Crimsonfoot hadn’t seen since they were very young.
They were pretty close, and Crimsonfoot missed her terribly. Then it hit me, I should go look for the Kittypet intruder! I could hopefully reunite two long-lost siblings, and show my leader what I’m capable of! (Doesn’t everyone have weird notions as an apprentice?)
“Tumblepaw,” Rowanclaw scolded breaking my thoughts, “You should come with us instead of staring off into the distance like an empty-headed squirrel!”
The others had finished marking, and I hadn’t even noticed having been lost in my own thoughts.
“Sorry.” I mumbled in an annoyed tone, sprinting to my clanmates.
“Go easy on her, “Nightwing chided, “She’s only an apprentice.”
“She’s 8 moons old, Nightwing. She’s not a kit and she should learn not to be so scatter-brained. A good warrior pays attention to their surroundings and doesn’t stare off into the distance like they have half a brain.” Rowanclaw retorted. His words stung me; now more than ever I wanted to prove myself. I opened my mouth to respond but,
“Let’s go.” Spookmask intervened, having caught on that I was ten seconds away from getting my fur ripped off. We padded along the narrow dirt path towards camp; occasionally sniffing for the scent of the intruder but none came. Meanwhile my thoughts were forming a plan, whilst the others were asleep I would go look for the intruder and if I got caught I would bring some freshkill back with me; claiming I couldn’t sleep and had been out hunting. No, I don’t want to lie. I will hunt and while I am doing that I’ll keep a lookout for the intruder. I thought. Soon we reached camp and the others filed in to give their report but Rowanclaw blocked my way.
“Please, move.” I hissed through gritted teeth. He ignored me.
“You want to know why I am hard on you? You want to know why you must prove yourself to me? You are half-clan.” He mewed grumpily.
“No I’m not. Mom and Dad are from here.” I hissed.
“Not originally. Your father was from NightClan and your mother from HeavenClan. The two clans were moving and your family got lost. They, their parents, and other various relatives moved here where Nightstar welcomed them warmly. They didn’t all make it however, your uncle Hawknose had Whitecough, one of the reasons your mother’s side of the family decided to move here instead of going with their clan, and he died on the way.” Rowanclaw smirked. It made sense, they way he treated me, how Hawknose died, the dreams I had been having lately about being lost. But I didn’t like him giving me an abridged version of my family history.
“Mom and Dad wanted to protect us.” I realized. “From cats like you saying we aren’t loyal. But I’ve got news for you pal. Hawkkit and I are loyal to our clan and will always be. And Tawnypelt is Half-Clan and you haven’t treated her that way! There has to be more to this story than you are letting on.”
I pushed past him as he mewed, “You should treat those older than you with more respect.”
“You haven’t earned my full respect.” I snapped entering camp.
~That night~
My fellow apprentices were asleep, dreaming sweet dreams; but I couldn’t sleep. I crept out of the den and out of camp; deciding to skip hunting and head straight to looking for the Kittypet intruder. Nighttime had made our territory look more mysterious yet beautiful and peaceful. I felt the fur on my shoulders (which had been tensed since my encounter with Rowanclaw, and his story,) relax as I looked around on my way to the Twoleg place border, however I wasn’t totally calm.
I stopped mid-sentence as the bushes ahead of me moved.
“Who’s there?” cried a voice.
“Tumblepaw of ShadowClan. Who are you?”
“Snakepaw of ThunderClan.” Mewed the stranger. He moved into the clearing, his handsome jet black fur rippling in the moonlight. Then his scent hit me, he smelled like a Kittypet but there defiantly was ThunderClan hidden inside it.
“You’re the intruder? I know you! I had just hoped you had gotten lost….”
“Intruder? And no, I was captured by Twolegs. It is good to see another clan cat. You’re still fiery I notice.” Snakepaw meowed, mischief lighting his eyes.
“Yeah well you don’t live with Rowanclaw.” I muttered. “Anyway, you should get to your camp before any of my clanmates find you here. It is good to know you are safe.” “Alright, and this no-nonsense, non-antics truce is only for tonight?” He grinned.
“That’s right.” I allowed myself a smile.
“Well see you then.”
“Goodbye.” I responded. (Snakepaw was a kind, yet mischievous tom whom I had met at my first Gathering. Whenever we saw each other we teased each other or argued. Lovepaw often said we acted like mates.) I felt the tingling feeling in my paws, (the one I have recently gotten around him,) and I tried to quiet it. It was forbidden for cats of different clans to fall in love, but a crush….well I kept telling myself that it was a loop-hole to the rule, if I did like him that way.
“Midnight Rendezvous by the Twoleg place?" mewed a cool voice. I jumped and not for the first time, was nose to nose with Rowanclaw.
“I couldn’t sleep.” I mumbled.
“A loyal warrior doesn’t flirt with cats of other clans.” Rowanclaw hissed.
“You keep telling yourself that. And I was looking for the Kittypet intruder, not flirting.” I muttered, starting the trek back to camp.
“You should not be allowed to go to some gatherings for a while apprentice. I should speak to Crimsonfoot about your punishment.”
“Punishment?! I was trying to help the clan! I couldn’t sleep so I thought I’d do something useful!” I snarled.
“Curb your temper! I am your elder and-“
“You’re a stupid nasty pathetic excuse for foxdug!” I snarled.
Rowanclaw unsheathed his claws just as another unruffled voice said, “Calm yourself Rowanclaw.” Blackstar moved into the clearing.
Rowanclaw immediately straightened up, claws sheathed, a look of shock on his face.
“We cannot afford to rip the fur off of our apprentices.”
“She was flirting with a ThunderClan cat Blackstar.” Rowanclaw muttered.
“That is not for you to decide.” Our leader mewed coldly. “Get back to camp.”
“As you wish.” Rowanclaw mewed through clenched teeth. He glared at me for a few seconds then skulked away. Blackstar turned to me and I braced myself for more harsh words but none such words came.
“You shouldn’t have sneaked out of camp, it is too dangerous. If something hostile were to come out of the bushes, you would have been killed. Glory is not worth that.” But then his eyes showed a rare twinkle. “But I did the same sort of thing when I was your age. So did Rowanclaw, but he won’t admit it.”I blinked the thought of Blackstar and Rowanclaw as apprentices was hard to imagine.
“We should get back to the camp.”
“Yes Blackstar.”
~To Be Continued~