Hollystar stepped up onto the MossStone. She looked upon her cats. She purred. This was the beginning. The beginning of something amazing. Something beautiful. Something strong. This was MossClan.
Shadewhisker stretched out his tense muscles and flicked his eyes up to the MossStone. Hollystar was peering down over her growing clan with a fierce love, much like that of a queen's, in her gaze. He stood up and padded over to the sparse kill pile and nudged a few things around before deciding to go hunt. He beckoned Vixenpaw over with his tail. "Follow me."
Fawnpaw scampered up to her mentor and cocked her head. "Are we going to do anything today?" She looked up at Hollystar, proud to be her apprentice.
Amberstripe rested her head on her paws. She was tired from the rush to build the camp and needed to sleep. Badly.
Vixenpaw trotted over to Shadewhisker. "What's up? Are we going to go train? Are we hunting? I hate hunting. It's so boring!! I mean really, just sitting there makes me fall asleep on my paws! Can we battle train? I like battle training much better than hunting. Can Burnedpaw come? What about Fawnpaw? I don't want to be all alone!!"
Hollystar looked down at Fawnpaw and stood up. "Yes," she meowed, looking around at the camp. "Let's go over to Shadewhisker and Vixenpaw and see if we can train with them." She started over toward Shadewhisker.
Nightclaw padded out of the camp. He had decided to go hunting. No, he hadn't told anyone where he was going. So what?
Fawnpaw nodded, eager to learn and bounded over to Shadewhisker. "Hollystar wants to know if we can train with you."
Shadewhisker silenced his own apprentice with a sharp stare. he addressed Hollystar over Fawnpaw's head, "We are going hunting, com if you like." Amberstripe swept her gaze over the camp, which was emptying fast. She called to Burnedpaw, "we are going to stay at camp to guard; it looks like everyone is leaving."
(hey holly? can some of my other cats from old mossclan find the new mossclan and rejoin? not now, but later in the "story" cuz i miss having wolffur around, and mousetail. i dont rly miss Whirlstorm tho, cuz she had kits and i was tired of being in the nursery lol)
Shadewhisker flicked his tail and darted off into the woods. Then they have to keep up with me. I'm not slowing down for an apprentice.
Fawnpaw smiled up at Hollystar and raced after Shadewhisker, her slender paws drumming the ground in a fast, even rhythm.
Amberstripe was observing Burnedpaw. He was very quiet for an apprentice and was only open to his sister. How can two cats so different be so close as littermates?
Hollystar sped up to keep up with the grey tabby tom.
Vixenpaw bounded through the forest, her hind legs pushing off and sending her far before touching the ground again.
Burnedpaw felt eyes on him. He looked up without expression and blinked at Amberstripe. Then he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Something was slithering toward Amberstripe. It raised up, about to strike when, quick as lightning, Burnedpaw jumped forward and slashed his extended claw down, cutting the snake's head straight off. He turned to Amberstripe, his eyes bright and worried. "Are you okay?" he asked.
Shadewhisker smiled ever so slightly. So Hollystar wont tolerate lazy apprentices either. He glanced back to see Vixenpaw's strides getting longer in an attempt to keep up. At least she was trying. Fawnpaw was struggling to keep up with her shorter legs.
Fawnpaw struggled to keep pace with the other cats, her smaller figure not helping her any in this instance. Then it dawned on her. She stopped trying to take longer leaps and lowered her torso to the ground and let her legs relax into taking short quick bounds. She shot past Vixenpaw and lining up with the two older cats.
Amberstripe's eyes were bright with a peculiar mix of surprise and fear. "Um.... yeah I'm alright. Thanks to you that is." She cuffed her apprentice gently over teh ear. "Thanks Burnedpaw. Without you I would have died from adder poison!" She beamed at the flaming tom cat.
Hollystar let her paws drum across the ground, keeping rhythm with Shadewhisker.
Vixenpaw was surprised when Fawnpaw sprinted in front of her. She narrowed her eyes and sped up to run next to Shadewhisker. She was still bonding, but now it was easy to keep up with the others.
Burnedpaw blinked. His eyes returned to its usual lack of expression. He nodded and padded toward the entrance to the camp. He sat at the entrance and looked out. But every once in a while he snuck a look at Amberstripe to make sure that no more adders tried to sneak up on her.
Shadewhisker flicked his tail to signal a stop. His nostrils flared as he scented the air. The forest was full of prey this time of year and it wasn't hard to find something nearby to hunt. He dropped into a low crouch and let tension build up in his haunches, he sprung and snatched a fat crow from the air above him. "What did I do to successcully catch that crow?" He looked pointedly at the pair of winded apprentices.
Fawnpaw thought for a moment and drew a blank on the technique. She glanced at Vixenpaw.
Amberstripe inched a few paces away from the spot where the adder attacked her and settled down again. Burnedpaw was flicking his gaze back to her every once and a while, checking up on her. She smiled to herself, he was really protective of the clan and it was admirable.
Vixenpaw straightened up. "Well, you had to time the jump right so you wouldn't miss the bird. And you also had to make sure that it didn't see you. So you had to stay still and let the jump build up inside of you, until you couldn't hold on any longer and you had to leap!" She was excited now, her tail flicking and her eyes bright.
Hollystar nodded and turned to Shadewhisker, expecting him to respond to his apprentice.
Burnedpaw fixed his eyes on the entrance. He had seen something rustling in the bushes. He crouched and jumped onto the intruder.
"Ouch!" Spirit exclaimed, trying to struggle away from the clan cat. "Phantom, help me!" She cried out.
"Yeah, that's exactly what I did. Now you do it." Shadewhisker urged his apprentice on.
Amberstripe shot from her resting place and growled fiercely at the foreign cat. "What do you think you are doing in our camp!"
Fawnpaw shrugged sheepishly at her incompetence and focused on Vixenpaw to learn.
Phantom slipped down from a tree and landed on Burnedpaw, squashing him to the ground. His pale silvery grey fur was littered with leaves and twigs and his dark blue eyes glimmered. "Problem solved."
Vixenpaw nodded. She waited, crouching low, as another crow flew toward the sky above her. She tensed her muscles and shot up into the air. She barrel rolled and caught the crow. She landed lightly on the ground and dropped the crow. "Sorry," she meowed. "I showed off a bit."
Hollystar purred in amusement. "It was still an amazing catch." She complimented the apprentice.
Burnedpaw struggled under the tom's strong grip, his eyes still calm but tainted with frustration.
Spirit scrambled to her paws and nodded to her brother. She wasn't going to say thanks; she didn't want to give him the pleasure. She licked her sleek silver pelt clean of dirt and looked up at the black and white tabby she-cat. "Hello!" she purred happily.
Shadewhisker nodded in approval. "The spin was pretty, but skip it next time. Those few extra second could either cost you the kill or the use of you limbs if you fall." He slipped a rare smile to the apprentice. "Good job anyways."
Fawnpaw purred in amazement and beamed at Vixenpaw. "Wow! Great catch! Will you show me how you did that once we are back at camp?"
Amberstripe hissed and shoved the silver tom off of her apprentice. "Are you alright?" She nudged Burnedpaw up to his paws. "You aren't hurt are you? It would be a shame if that fat tom squished you to death!" She purred at her apprentice and laughed. Turning from the fiery tom cat, she glared at the twin silver cats. "Who are you?"
Phantom stumbled off of the young cat and scoffed. "Fat? I'm not fat! My name is Phantom by the way, and this is my ugly littermate, Spirit." He grinned at his sister and shook the mess of leaves from his shining pelt.
Vixenpaw nodded. "Okay. Can we do some battle practice now please?"
Hollystar nodded to Vixenpaw. "Why not? We have plenty of food right now anyway."
Burnedpaw shook himself and stood up. "I'm fine," he told Amberstripe. He then turned to look at the rouges, his expressionless eyes tainted with anger and a bit of fear.
Spirit stopped licking her pelt and glared at her brother with her pale blue eyes. She lashed her tail, meowing, "Take a look at yourself, flea pelt!" She turned her gaze to the Clan cats and smiled. "So, who are you?"
Shadewhisker gave a brisk nod and was beginning to pad away when he threw himself at Vixenpaw, paws outstretched, tail streaming behind him.
Fawnpaw gasped as Shadewhisker flung his grey tabby body at Vixenpaw she moved to help her but a glance from Shadewhisker warned her against it.
Amberstripe peered at her apprentice a moment. He was able to shake it off like it was nothing, he didn't even notice her joke! A scolding retort boiled in her throat, threatening to spill out of her mouth, but she swallowed like a tough piece of kill to wash it away. "I'm Amberstripe and this is my apprentice Burnedpaw. We are members of Mossclan. What are you here for?" She cocked her head sideways in curiosity.
Phantom shrugged off his sister's harsh comment and purred, "well. What do you think we are here for, or are you just a brain dead she-cat?" The pronged words slipped off his tongue like dew drops, guided by a sense of humor like gravity guides droplets.
Vixenpaw's scream was cut off when her breath was knocked out of her by her mentor barreling into her. She rolled with the force of his attack and pushed herself on top. She batted at his nose, then hopped away. She flicked her tail, waiting for another attack.
Hollystar watched the battle calmly, sitting down next to Fawnpaw.
Vixenpaw let herself roll back onto her paws. She lashed her tail, angry now. She jumped out at Shadewhisker, her green eyes ablaze. But she was careless. Her paw slipped on a leaf and she fell clumsily to the ground. She shook herself and stood up, her jaw aching from when she fell. She attacked again, being careful not to slip. She caught her mentor on the side of his head and turned to face him again.
Hollystar looked down at Fawnpaw. "He's testing her skills."
Burnedpaw stood and turned to Amberstripe. "Where shall they stay until Hollystar returns?"
Spirit glanced at the young tom, surprised that he was so calm. "Hmph." She said, wrapping her tail around her paws. "I personally feel insulted that you should keep us locked up like lesser beings."
Shadewhisker barely even flinched as the blow struck. He soared over the ground between them and rolled in midair to land beside his apprentice. He pummeled her back and darted away. He rested his gaze on hers and waited.
Fawnpaw frowned and meowed, "What about me?"
Amberstripe meowed gently, "We don't think of you as lesser, we just can't do anything until Hollystar gets back." She swung her gaze over to Burnedpaw, her grin light and playful. "You can show them around the camp and explain what you know about clan life, while I wait for Hollystar at the entrance."
Shadow sighed and looked over at Burnedpaw. "Why you so quiet and stoic? Trying to impress her? I guess I wouldn't blame you since she is pretty beautiful..." he mused.
"For now, you watch and notice what they do." Hollystar responded.
Burnedpaw almost responded. He opened his mouth, but closed it again and nodded to Amberstripe. His eyes, for once, burned with anger and embarrassment. He turned and padded over to the leader's den. While he did, he calmed himself down. When he turned back around, he was collected and expressionless. "This is the leader's den." He told the rouges. "And the prey pile is there." He flicked his tail toward the pile of squirrels and other small animals.
Spirit nodded, mentally remembering that. She was irritated with her brother's poor behavior, but she decided it was better not to argue.
"Don't be afraid to be on the offense. You could always attack me..." Shadewhisker sat down and lazily began washing his paws.
Fawnpaw wrapped her tail over her paws and watched the pair of cats battle each other.
Amberstripe smiled ever so slightly. At least he showed some sort of emotion this time. She padded away from her apprentice to lounge in a patch of leaf spattered sunlight by the entrance.
Shadow rolled his eyes and said, "Obviously! There is prey there so it must be the fresh kill pile. We are rouges, not kits!"
Vixenpaw relaxed a bit. "No point." She meowed. "You're not worth it." She smiled as she said this, her tail curling mischievously.
Burnedpaw smiled. "It's funny," he meowed. "I can't tell if you dislike me, or you are trying to show me up to flirt with my mentor." Turning to the silver she-cat, he meowed, "Are you getting this so far?"
Spriit smiled and nodded. "I got it."
"Good." Burnedpaw flicked his tail. "This is the warriors' den." He padded over to the large den in the corner. "If you are allowed to join and you pass the assessments, then you will sleep in here."
Shadewhisker frowned. "It was just getting fun too. Your turn Hollystar, let's see what Fawnpaw can do."
Fawnpaw grinned and prepared herself.
Amberstripe unsuccessfully stifled a laugh and spluttered loudly. Her eyes danced with amusement long after the noise had ended. She couldnt help but to think Burnedpaw did that just to make her laugh.
Phantom growled half heartedly. "Way to go kiddo. You passed my tests, you can officially be my friend now!" He ruffled the apprentices fur with a paw, suddenly upbeat and laughing.
(Sure) Amberstripe pushed off of the cool dry ground and turned to her apprentice, "Hey! Burnedpaw, I'm going to go get Hollystar so she can decide about Spirit and Phantom. I'm soooo bored of waiting, ya know?" She grinned at the fiery tom cat and dashed into the thickly wooded forest.
Fawnpaw shrugged off her excitement and stood to follow her mentor.
Phantom rolled his eyes at Amberstripe. 'She seems a bit too upbeat, i wonder what made her that way...' he wondered.
Shadewhisker nodded solemnly and trotted past Hollystar to lead the way to the hollow.
Amberstripe came to a slow stop, twitching her ears. She dropped to teh ground and slipped her paws gentley over the leave, so she wouldnt vibrate the ground, and dove out at a plump squirrel. She picked it up proudly in her jaws and began running again. Suddenly, she barreled into the group of four cats, narrowly missing them. She giiggle at how all of their fur was on end and said, "You guys are such fraidey-mice! Hollystar, there are two rougues... no uh... loners at camp that wish to join us. a brother and sister named Spirit and Phantom. Burnedpaw is watching them now.
Hollystar's ears pricked. She could hear something rustling in the bushes behind her. Suddenly, Amberstripe jumped out. She listened to what she said, then nodded. "Alright. We'll all go back to camp." She followed Amberstripe back toward camp.
Amberstripe trotted happily back to camp to find Burnedpaw still watching Spirit and Phantom like he was supposed to. "Tada, one obidient apprentice and two loners." She purred.
Shadewhisker scoffed at the overly happy she cat. Who needed to be that happy all the time, it was just unnatural. He turned to rake his vibrant gaze over the two silver cats with guarded interest.
Fawnpaw studied the silver cats with interest.
Phantom bounded away from Spirit and Burnedpaw and became rude and harsh in the few quick leaps over there. "Look the useless she cat is back with her posse. An emotionless tom, a queen, and two teeny tiny kits to go with them, how pathetic. The name is Phantom. And I'm sure you are all estatic to meet me in person, since I'm such a wonderful person to be around." He rolled his eyes at the four new cats, eyeing them carefully.
Hollystar narrowed her eyes and looked the silver tom up and down. Then she padded up to him, her eyes ablaze. She stood tall, almost towering over him. "Watch your mouth, young tom." SHe turned to the other cat and dipped her head to her.
Spirit blushed and bowed her head in return.
Hollystar turned to Burdedpaw. "Wonderful job, Burnedpaw." Then she turned back to the new cats. "welcome." She meowed. "I am Hollystar, leader of MossClan. If you want to join us, you must learn hunting, fighting, discipline, and respect." At the last word she glanced at the tom coldly. "And who are you?" She refered to the she-cat.
"I'm Spirit." Spirit mumbled. She was scared but also impressed by this powerful cat.
Vixenpaw watched the two, her eyes bright. When the tom who called himself Phantom spoke, however, her gaze darkened and she held back a snarl. 'How rude!' She thought. 'I hope that my brother didn't have to deal with this all this time.'
Hollystar nodded to Phantom. "Then you are halfway there." She looked him in the eye and continued. "But those are merely the physical aspects. The mental will be much more difficult to master, especially for you."
Vixenaw shrugged. "It's hard to tell," she replied. "It seems like she might, but I'm not sure."
Phantom tail flicked in irritation. Apparently Hollystar didn't realize about his true nature. But he had to wear this false face, to come off fiercer, stronger, to protect his sister. "What will it take to show you that we are ready to join you?"
Fawnpaw nodded in agreement. " She is a good leader, if they truly need our help to survive, she will take them into our clan."
Shadewhisker stretched out his tense muscles and flicked his eyes up to the MossStone. Hollystar was peering down over her growing clan with a fierce love, much like that of a queen's, in her gaze. He stood up and padded over to the sparse kill pile and nudged a few things around before deciding to go hunt. He beckoned Vixenpaw over with his tail. "Follow me."
ReplyDeleteFawnpaw scampered up to her mentor and cocked her head. "Are we going to do anything today?" She looked up at Hollystar, proud to be her apprentice.
Amberstripe rested her head on her paws. She was tired from the rush to build the camp and needed to sleep. Badly.
Vixenpaw trotted over to Shadewhisker. "What's up? Are we going to go train? Are we hunting? I hate hunting. It's so boring!! I mean really, just sitting there makes me fall asleep on my paws! Can we battle train? I like battle training much better than hunting. Can Burnedpaw come? What about Fawnpaw? I don't want to be all alone!!"
ReplyDeleteHollystar looked down at Fawnpaw and stood up. "Yes," she meowed, looking around at the camp. "Let's go over to Shadewhisker and Vixenpaw and see if we can train with them." She started over toward Shadewhisker.
Nightclaw padded out of the camp. He had decided to go hunting. No, he hadn't told anyone where he was going. So what?
Burnedpaw sat in the corner, washing himself.
Fawnpaw nodded, eager to learn and bounded over to Shadewhisker. "Hollystar wants to know if we can train with you."
ReplyDeleteShadewhisker silenced his own apprentice with a sharp stare. he addressed Hollystar over Fawnpaw's head, "We are going hunting, com if you like."
Amberstripe swept her gaze over the camp, which was emptying fast. She called to Burnedpaw, "we are going to stay at camp to guard; it looks like everyone is leaving."
(hey holly? can some of my other cats from old mossclan find the new mossclan and rejoin? not now, but later in the "story" cuz i miss having wolffur around, and mousetail. i dont rly miss Whirlstorm tho, cuz she had kits and i was tired of being in the nursery lol)
ReplyDelete(sure)
ReplyDeleteHollystar nodded. "Of course. After, we can sharpen their battle skills."
Vixenpaw smiled at Fawnpaw. "Hi!" She exclaimed.
Burnedpw nodded and continued grooming.
Shadewhisker flicked his tail and darted off into the woods. Then they have to keep up with me. I'm not slowing down for an apprentice.
ReplyDeleteFawnpaw smiled up at Hollystar and raced after Shadewhisker, her slender paws drumming the ground in a fast, even rhythm.
Amberstripe was observing Burnedpaw. He was very quiet for an apprentice and was only open to his sister. How can two cats so different be so close as littermates?
Hollystar sped up to keep up with the grey tabby tom.
ReplyDeleteVixenpaw bounded through the forest, her hind legs pushing off and sending her far before touching the ground again.
Burnedpaw felt eyes on him. He looked up without expression and blinked at Amberstripe. Then he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Something was slithering toward Amberstripe. It raised up, about to strike when, quick as lightning, Burnedpaw jumped forward and slashed his extended claw down, cutting the snake's head straight off. He turned to Amberstripe, his eyes bright and worried. "Are you okay?" he asked.
Shadewhisker smiled ever so slightly. So Hollystar wont tolerate lazy apprentices either. He glanced back to see Vixenpaw's strides getting longer in an attempt to keep up. At least she was trying. Fawnpaw was struggling to keep up with her shorter legs.
ReplyDeleteFawnpaw struggled to keep pace with the other cats, her smaller figure not helping her any in this instance. Then it dawned on her. She stopped trying to take longer leaps and lowered her torso to the ground and let her legs relax into taking short quick bounds. She shot past Vixenpaw and lining up with the two older cats.
Amberstripe's eyes were bright with a peculiar mix of surprise and fear. "Um.... yeah I'm alright. Thanks to you that is." She cuffed her apprentice gently over teh ear. "Thanks Burnedpaw. Without you I would have died from adder poison!" She beamed at the flaming tom cat.
(Looook I can comment from my tablet now!)
ReplyDeleteHollystar let her paws drum across the ground, keeping rhythm with Shadewhisker.
ReplyDeleteVixenpaw was surprised when Fawnpaw sprinted in front of her. She narrowed her eyes and sped up to run next to Shadewhisker. She was still bonding, but now it was easy to keep up with the others.
Burnedpaw blinked. His eyes returned to its usual lack of expression. He nodded and padded toward the entrance to the camp. He sat at the entrance and looked out. But every once in a while he snuck a look at Amberstripe to make sure that no more adders tried to sneak up on her.
Shadewhisker flicked his tail to signal a stop. His nostrils flared as he scented the air. The forest was full of prey this time of year and it wasn't hard to find something nearby to hunt. He dropped into a low crouch and let tension build up in his haunches, he sprung and snatched a fat crow from the air above him. "What did I do to successcully catch that crow?" He looked pointedly at the pair of winded apprentices.
ReplyDeleteFawnpaw thought for a moment and drew a blank on the technique. She glanced at Vixenpaw.
ReplyDeleteAmberstripe inched a few paces away from the spot where the adder attacked her and settled down again. Burnedpaw was flicking his gaze back to her every once and a while, checking up on her. She smiled to herself, he was really protective of the clan and it was admirable.
Vixenpaw straightened up. "Well, you had to time the jump right so you wouldn't miss the bird. And you also had to make sure that it didn't see you. So you had to stay still and let the jump build up inside of you, until you couldn't hold on any longer and you had to leap!" She was excited now, her tail flicking and her eyes bright.
ReplyDeleteHollystar nodded and turned to Shadewhisker, expecting him to respond to his apprentice.
Burnedpaw fixed his eyes on the entrance. He had seen something rustling in the bushes. He crouched and jumped onto the intruder.
"Ouch!" Spirit exclaimed, trying to struggle away from the clan cat. "Phantom, help me!" She cried out.
"Yeah, that's exactly what I did. Now you do it." Shadewhisker urged his apprentice on.
ReplyDeleteAmberstripe shot from her resting place and growled fiercely at the foreign cat. "What do you think you are doing in our camp!"
Fawnpaw shrugged sheepishly at her incompetence and focused on Vixenpaw to learn.
Phantom slipped down from a tree and landed on Burnedpaw, squashing him to the ground. His pale silvery grey fur was littered with leaves and twigs and his dark blue eyes glimmered. "Problem solved."
Vixenpaw nodded. She waited, crouching low, as another crow flew toward the sky above her. She tensed her muscles and shot up into the air. She barrel rolled and caught the crow. She landed lightly on the ground and dropped the crow. "Sorry," she meowed. "I showed off a bit."
ReplyDeleteHollystar purred in amusement. "It was still an amazing catch." She complimented the apprentice.
Burnedpaw struggled under the tom's strong grip, his eyes still calm but tainted with frustration.
Spirit scrambled to her paws and nodded to her brother. She wasn't going to say thanks; she didn't want to give him the pleasure. She licked her sleek silver pelt clean of dirt and looked up at the black and white tabby she-cat. "Hello!" she purred happily.
Shadewhisker nodded in approval. "The spin was pretty, but skip it next time. Those few extra second could either cost you the kill or the use of you limbs if you fall." He slipped a rare smile to the apprentice. "Good job anyways."
ReplyDeleteFawnpaw purred in amazement and beamed at Vixenpaw. "Wow! Great catch! Will you show me how you did that once we are back at camp?"
Amberstripe hissed and shoved the silver tom off of her apprentice. "Are you alright?" She nudged Burnedpaw up to his paws. "You aren't hurt are you? It would be a shame if that fat tom squished you to death!" She purred at her apprentice and laughed. Turning from the fiery tom cat, she glared at the twin silver cats. "Who are you?"
Phantom stumbled off of the young cat and scoffed. "Fat? I'm not fat! My name is Phantom by the way, and this is my ugly littermate, Spirit." He grinned at his sister and shook the mess of leaves from his shining pelt.
Vixenpaw nodded. "Okay. Can we do some battle practice now please?"
ReplyDeleteHollystar nodded to Vixenpaw. "Why not? We have plenty of food right now anyway."
Burnedpaw shook himself and stood up. "I'm fine," he told Amberstripe. He then turned to look at the rouges, his expressionless eyes tainted with anger and a bit of fear.
Spirit stopped licking her pelt and glared at her brother with her pale blue eyes. She lashed her tail, meowing, "Take a look at yourself, flea pelt!" She turned her gaze to the Clan cats and smiled. "So, who are you?"
Shadewhisker gave a brisk nod and was beginning to pad away when he threw himself at Vixenpaw, paws outstretched, tail streaming behind him.
ReplyDeleteFawnpaw gasped as Shadewhisker flung his grey tabby body at Vixenpaw she moved to help her but a glance from Shadewhisker warned her against it.
Amberstripe peered at her apprentice a moment. He was able to shake it off like it was nothing, he didn't even notice her joke! A scolding retort boiled in her throat, threatening to spill out of her mouth, but she swallowed like a tough piece of kill to wash it away. "I'm Amberstripe and this is my apprentice Burnedpaw. We are members of Mossclan. What are you here for?" She cocked her head sideways in curiosity.
Phantom shrugged off his sister's harsh comment and purred, "well. What do you think we are here for, or are you just a brain dead she-cat?" The pronged words slipped off his tongue like dew drops, guided by a sense of humor like gravity guides droplets.
Vixenpaw's scream was cut off when her breath was knocked out of her by her mentor barreling into her. She rolled with the force of his attack and pushed herself on top. She batted at his nose, then hopped away. She flicked her tail, waiting for another attack.
ReplyDeleteHollystar watched the battle calmly, sitting down next to Fawnpaw.
Burnedpaw watched the cats intently.
Spirit sighed. "We are here to join your clan."
Shadewhisker darted forward and swiped the she-cats paws out from under her, waiting fir a reaction.
ReplyDeleteFawnpaw flicked her ears toward Hollystar. "Why is he doing this to her?"
Amberstripe seethed with anger. "I'm not brain dead! We can't let you join until our leader returns from training. Until then you are prisoners."
Phantom shrugged. "Sure. Whatever, I'll be your prisoner."
Vixenpaw let herself roll back onto her paws. She lashed her tail, angry now. She jumped out at Shadewhisker, her green eyes ablaze. But she was careless. Her paw slipped on a leaf and she fell clumsily to the ground. She shook herself and stood up, her jaw aching from when she fell. She attacked again, being careful not to slip. She caught her mentor on the side of his head and turned to face him again.
ReplyDeleteHollystar looked down at Fawnpaw. "He's testing her skills."
Burnedpaw stood and turned to Amberstripe. "Where shall they stay until Hollystar returns?"
Spirit glanced at the young tom, surprised that he was so calm. "Hmph." She said, wrapping her tail around her paws. "I personally feel insulted that you should keep us locked up like lesser beings."
Shadewhisker barely even flinched as the blow struck. He soared over the ground between them and rolled in midair to land beside his apprentice. He pummeled her back and darted away. He rested his gaze on hers and waited.
ReplyDeleteFawnpaw frowned and meowed, "What about me?"
Amberstripe meowed gently, "We don't think of you as lesser, we just can't do anything until Hollystar gets back." She swung her gaze over to Burnedpaw, her grin light and playful. "You can show them around the camp and explain what you know about clan life, while I wait for Hollystar at the entrance."
Shadow sighed and looked over at Burnedpaw. "Why you so quiet and stoic? Trying to impress her? I guess I wouldn't blame you since she is pretty beautiful..." he mused.
Vixenpaw blinked, waiting, her shoulders tense.
ReplyDelete"For now, you watch and notice what they do." Hollystar responded.
Burnedpaw almost responded. He opened his mouth, but closed it again and nodded to Amberstripe. His eyes, for once, burned with anger and embarrassment. He turned and padded over to the leader's den. While he did, he calmed himself down. When he turned back around, he was collected and expressionless. "This is the leader's den." He told the rouges. "And the prey pile is there." He flicked his tail toward the pile of squirrels and other small animals.
Spirit nodded, mentally remembering that. She was irritated with her brother's poor behavior, but she decided it was better not to argue.
"Don't be afraid to be on the offense. You could always attack me..." Shadewhisker sat down and lazily began washing his paws.
ReplyDeleteFawnpaw wrapped her tail over her paws and watched the pair of cats battle each other.
Amberstripe smiled ever so slightly. At least he showed some sort of emotion this time. She padded away from her apprentice to lounge in a patch of leaf spattered sunlight by the entrance.
Shadow rolled his eyes and said, "Obviously! There is prey there so it must be the fresh kill pile. We are rouges, not kits!"
Vixenpaw relaxed a bit. "No point." She meowed. "You're not worth it." She smiled as she said this, her tail curling mischievously.
ReplyDeleteBurnedpaw smiled. "It's funny," he meowed. "I can't tell if you dislike me, or you are trying to show me up to flirt with my mentor." Turning to the silver she-cat, he meowed, "Are you getting this so far?"
Spriit smiled and nodded. "I got it."
"Good." Burnedpaw flicked his tail. "This is the warriors' den." He padded over to the large den in the corner. "If you are allowed to join and you pass the assessments, then you will sleep in here."
Shadewhisker frowned. "It was just getting fun too. Your turn Hollystar, let's see what Fawnpaw can do."
ReplyDeleteFawnpaw grinned and prepared herself.
Amberstripe unsuccessfully stifled a laugh and spluttered loudly. Her eyes danced with amusement long after the noise had ended. She couldnt help but to think Burnedpaw did that just to make her laugh.
Phantom growled half heartedly. "Way to go kiddo. You passed my tests, you can officially be my friend now!" He ruffled the apprentices fur with a paw, suddenly upbeat and laughing.
Hollystar flicked her tail, standing. "Let's go to the training hollow first."
ReplyDeleteBurnedpaw was confused, but he smiled. "And this is the apprentices' den, where I sleep."
Spirit nodded.
(Can amberstripe go and get Hollystar?)
(Sure)
ReplyDeleteAmberstripe pushed off of the cool dry ground and turned to her apprentice, "Hey! Burnedpaw, I'm going to go get Hollystar so she can decide about Spirit and Phantom. I'm soooo bored of waiting, ya know?" She grinned at the fiery tom cat and dashed into the thickly wooded forest.
Fawnpaw shrugged off her excitement and stood to follow her mentor.
Phantom rolled his eyes at Amberstripe. 'She seems a bit too upbeat, i wonder what made her that way...' he wondered.
Shadewhisker nodded solemnly and trotted past Hollystar to lead the way to the hollow.
Amberstripe came to a slow stop, twitching her ears. She dropped to teh ground and slipped her paws gentley over the leave, so she wouldnt vibrate the ground, and dove out at a plump squirrel. She picked it up proudly in her jaws and began running again. Suddenly, she barreled into the group of four cats, narrowly missing them. She giiggle at how all of their fur was on end and said, "You guys are such fraidey-mice! Hollystar, there are two rougues... no uh... loners at camp that wish to join us. a brother and sister named Spirit and Phantom. Burnedpaw is watching them now.
Hollystar's ears pricked. She could hear something rustling in the bushes behind her. Suddenly, Amberstripe jumped out. She listened to what she said, then nodded. "Alright. We'll all go back to camp." She followed Amberstripe back toward camp.
ReplyDeleteBurnedpaw continued showing the cats around camp.
Amberstripe trotted happily back to camp to find Burnedpaw still watching Spirit and Phantom like he was supposed to. "Tada, one obidient apprentice and two loners." She purred.
ReplyDeleteShadewhisker scoffed at the overly happy she cat. Who needed to be that happy all the time, it was just unnatural. He turned to rake his vibrant gaze over the two silver cats with guarded interest.
Fawnpaw studied the silver cats with interest.
Phantom bounded away from Spirit and Burnedpaw and became rude and harsh in the few quick leaps over there. "Look the useless she cat is back with her posse. An emotionless tom, a queen, and two teeny tiny kits to go with them, how pathetic. The name is Phantom. And I'm sure you are all estatic to meet me in person, since I'm such a wonderful person to be around." He rolled his eyes at the four new cats, eyeing them carefully.
Hollystar narrowed her eyes and looked the silver tom up and down. Then she padded up to him, her eyes ablaze. She stood tall, almost towering over him. "Watch your mouth, young tom." SHe turned to the other cat and dipped her head to her.
ReplyDeleteSpirit blushed and bowed her head in return.
Hollystar turned to Burdedpaw. "Wonderful job, Burnedpaw." Then she turned back to the new cats. "welcome." She meowed. "I am Hollystar, leader of MossClan. If you want to join us, you must learn hunting, fighting, discipline, and respect." At the last word she glanced at the tom coldly. "And who are you?" She refered to the she-cat.
"I'm Spirit." Spirit mumbled. She was scared but also impressed by this powerful cat.
Vixenpaw watched the two, her eyes bright. When the tom who called himself Phantom spoke, however, her gaze darkened and she held back a snarl. 'How rude!' She thought. 'I hope that my brother didn't have to deal with this all this time.'
Phantom didn't shrink away from Hollystar's furious gaze. He felt terrified but refused to show it. "We can hunt and fight." He said evenly.
ReplyDeleteShadewhisker glared dagger's at the two silver cats. No one offended his leader and his clanmates without feeling his wrath.
Fawnpaw flicked Vixenpaw's flank with her tail. "Hey, do you think Hollystar will let them join us after what that tom said?" She whispered.
Amberstripe cuffed her apprentice over the ear gently. "Nice job!' She turned her attention to Hollystar.
Hollystar nodded to Phantom. "Then you are halfway there." She looked him in the eye and continued. "But those are merely the physical aspects. The mental will be much more difficult to master, especially for you."
ReplyDeleteVixenaw shrugged. "It's hard to tell," she replied. "It seems like she might, but I'm not sure."
Phantom tail flicked in irritation. Apparently Hollystar didn't realize about his true nature. But he had to wear this false face, to come off fiercer, stronger, to protect his sister. "What will it take to show you that we are ready to join you?"
ReplyDeleteFawnpaw nodded in agreement. " She is a good leader, if they truly need our help to survive, she will take them into our clan."