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Post by Alias on Jul 14, 2009 21:13:57 GMT -5
Skypaw
as cool as the crisp morning air A lone figure padded briskly along the edge of the water, pale ivory fur gleaming in the sunlight. He could smell the scent of CascadeClan clearly on the other side of the stream, but as long as he didn't cross the border, no one could accuse him of doing anything. Except getting herbs, Skypaw thought to himself, somewhat nonchalantly.
Briefly sniffing the air as he walked, he rifted through the various scents, searching for the one he was looking for. Watermint, mallow, and whatever else he might come across, which was unlikely. After all, he could smell things a lot farther away than he could see, and so far, there was only watermint. It was a boring job, rather menial in his standards. The young tom didn't see why he'd been sent out to collect more when their supply had plenty. I'd much rather be somewhere else practicing some battle techniques. If no one's going to teach me anything other than herbs, I might as well just surrender if a rogue pops out of a hole. |
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Post by Fernpool on Jul 15, 2009 7:57:18 GMT -5
Fernpool padded out, tail first, from behind a clump of tangled, weedy hedge grows. Wiggling her tail like a kit and swaying her behind with it, she managed to work her way out of the hedge grow and sat planting her tail on the ground with a bit of a huff. It was a particularly goofy sight and Fernpool would have laughed if there had been another cat nearby. But seeing as there was none, she proceeded to huff a little before beginning to groom her ruffled coat and pull out the burrs that had wedged their way into her glossy coat.
Tugging on the last, particularly tough burr, Fernpool grasped it between her teeth and pulled harder. It came free a painful amount of her fur. She let out a small mewl of distress and sighed, dropping the burr on the ground. Digging a small hole, she swept the burrs into it with her tail and covered the hole once more so that no other cats would step on them by mistake. Then, shaking herself out, Fernpool licked her chest flat and padded down to the stream that created Cascade Clan’s border with both Vale Clan and Mire Clan. Right now she was on the side near Vale Clan and could scent them from her spot but there was no scent of the rival clan in her territory, so she didn’t mind.
She bent over and began to lap up a few mouthfuls of the cool, clear water. It was warm outside this early new leaf day. Shaking her head again, Fernpool slid into the water and wadded lightly up to her chest and until her paws were off the ground. Dipping under, she submerged completely in the water and spotted a fish swimming by. Surfacing again, Fernpool wadded back to the bank on her side of the river and laughed. Shaking herself out, the young medicine cat began to lick her streaming, water soaked pelt.
Fernpool was just shaking her head again and reaching to clean behind her ears when she heard a rustle from across the river. By now the sun and her grooming had dried Fernpool’s pelt and she plainly shook it out as if shivering before she stood to see who it might be. A strangely colored kit padded into view on the Vale Clan side. His pelt shone a brilliant, but odd, ivory color and she could just barely see a few darker splashes across his back and ears.
“Skypaw!” she called happily. Fernpool felt much like a kit at the moment and did a small bounce at the sight of the Vale Clan apprentice. Flicking her tail from side to side, she smiled and waited to hear his reply. The last time Fernpool had seen Skypaw, he had still been quite young. She had seen him near two-leg place before the story got around that the mighty warrior Whitefur was his father. It had been a brief glimpse and encounter, and at the time Fernpool hadn’t heard the story or known anything about the kit and she doubted he remembered her at all. In fact, she hadn’t been more than an apprentice herself at the time.
Laughing to herself, Fernpool pranced in place, once again feeling much like a kit herself, and did another small bounce as she looked at Skypaw. |
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Post by Alias on Jul 15, 2009 17:20:59 GMT -5
Skypaw
A warm laugh caught the young tom's attention, and he whirled around to face the source of the noise. The scar on his face stretched slightly as his electric blue eyes narrowed. He quickly located the calico she-cat sitting on the opposite banks of the stream. CascadeClan. Breathing in the air, the mixed scents of various herbs drifted toward him, it quickly dawned on him that it was only Fernpool, another medicine cat. Being that it was only his first moon as a medicine cat apprentice, Skypaw still had not made the customary trip to the Fallingstar Waterfall on the half-moon.
But her scent seemed vaguely familiar, as though he had come across it before, moons before. He thought back, rifling through all of his memories. With a jolt, he knew why. Once or twice, when he had just left his family, he'd seen glimpses of the calico cat in the forest.
“Skypaw!” The medicine cat apprentice stared back, somewhat suspiciously, across the water, expressionless. He seldom revealed any of his thoughts, let alone what he was feeling.
What does she want? Skypaw wondered, watching as the CascadeClan cat bounced about, impassive. I hardly know her, and nor do I need to know.
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Post by Fernpool on Jul 15, 2009 17:33:06 GMT -5
Fernpool saw a look of familiarity cross the young toms face and she beamed hopefully. “Do you remember me?” she asked eagerly swishing and prancing again. The early morning was giving her energy and Fernpool couldn’t help but move around. As a young medicine cat, she was only 19 moons old and still just as agile as the apprentices. She dearly hoped Skypaw might remember her; it would be fun to talk to him and have some base of conversation. |
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Post by Alias on Jul 15, 2009 17:53:30 GMT -5
Skypaw
Eyes narrowing even further, Skypaw said nothing for several moments, only gazing at her with his usual nonchalance. "Yes," he mewed at last, voice cool. While the other she-cat seemed unable to sit still, he remained standing, unmoving. It was clear that Fernpool was eager for a conversation, but he saw no real need for it. The apprentice couldn't help but wonder, with a flash of suspicion, what she was up to. If she thinks I'm going to say something else, she's got another think coming.
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Post by Fernpool on Jul 15, 2009 18:04:06 GMT -5
Fernpool saw another look flash across Skypaw’s face that made her stop and cock her head worriedly. Boredom and anger; a dangerous mix. What was wrong? Was he alright? Sitting, Fernpool decided she ought to try and act as she did while mentoring. Sitting, she curled her tail over her paws and smiled. “I’m glad,” she said and nodded calmly. “Are you alright though? You seem unhappy.” She purred worriedly. Perhaps seeing her brought back unhappy memories. Fernpool sighed and wished she could comfort the kit. The stream was in the way though. Looking back and forth she came up with an idea.
“Wait, before you answer Skypaw, come down here. I can’t hear very well over the stream.” She said and flicked her tail to the right. Padding down stream a little bit, she stopped at fallen log that was acting as a bridge over the small stream. Padding across half of it, she sat again and curled her tail over her paws. Of course, Fernpool could hear perfectly but it would close the gap between them that was worrying her. Hopefully Skypaw would comply. |
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Post by Alias on Jul 15, 2009 20:33:34 GMT -5
Skypaw
He flicked is ears, growing annoyed at all of her pesky questions. What did he know about her except that she was the medicine cat of a rival Clan? What did she know about him? Skypaw regarded her with concealed suspicion. Not only did he often maintain a detached and uncaring attitude, he was also paranoid. Stiffly, he brought himself toward the tree where she sat waiting. I could hear her as clear as day. Surely she can, too, unless her hearing is impaired. Keeping the doubtful comments to himself, the young tom halted at the foot of the fallen log.
Fernpool was a whole, half-a-stream closer than before. If she still couldn't hear him...
"Unhappy?" Skypaw echoed, his face still--as always--impassive. His whiskers twitched slightly, as though dismissing the thought. Other than that, he said nothing, showed nothing, and did nothing.
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Post by Fernpool on Jul 16, 2009 13:14:03 GMT -5
Fernpool let out a small sigh and padded to the other end of the log. She didn’t leap down because then she would be in Skypaw’s territory, but rather stopped a mouse length away from him still over the river. Shaking her head, Fernpool smiled. “I can see you are slightly annoyed by my questions.” She laughed lightly and gave him a quick lick behind the ear. “You were always a bit of a shy kit when I was able to see you.” She mrr-ed softly moving to lay down on the log. Crossing her paws, she thought about what little she knew about Skypaw.
The first time she had seen him as an apprentice, Fernpaw had been bouncing along on hunting trip, before she became a medicine cat apprentice, not paying attention to where she was going. She had seen Skypaw through a clump of ferns and watched him. Always younger, the kit had a strong air of need mingled with independence that he refused to show. She had often sneaked away from camp to watch the kit play making sure the parents where never in sight. When his brother was nasty, Fernpaw had felt her fur bristle, and more than once she had almost shown herself and sprung to the kits defense.
Shaking her head at these thoughts, she smiled at the newly reformed cat in front of her. “So, did Tornnose send you out for herbs?” she asked hoping to move onto a less touchy subject. “If you like I can find you some and you can spend the time hunting. Then you could take double back to your clan.” she purred sneakily. Hopefully Skypaw would take it as an advantage rather than her offering help. She could tell there was an air of independence in this apprentice and after being bullied as a kit she didn’t blame him. |
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Post by Alias on Jul 16, 2009 20:49:06 GMT -5
Skypaw
The apprentice didn't drop his cold expression, unmoving, even when the she-cat walked across the rest of the fallen log, stopping at the end. In response to her rambling, he gave her silence, staring hard at her with his piercing blue eyes, unblinking. Shy? he wondered, somewhat taken back even though he didn't show it. What makes her think I'm shy? Just because I never react or anything? Skypaw watched her lie down, pondering on what she could be shaking her head about. Don't tell me she's another one of those cats that talk to themselves or something.
"Perhaps he did," the tom said tersely, his tone icy. "And no." Skypaw fell silent once more, and stared at her nonchalantly, half-expecting her to get up and leave.
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Post by Fernpool on Jul 16, 2009 20:59:03 GMT -5
Fernpool wrinkled her nose at Skypaw’s icy tone. Bit of a cold kit wasn’t he? “Alright then, say something else.” She said smiling. “Whatever you like, I’m listening.”
Fernpool wondered about Skypaw’s character. Shy? A bit. Cold? On the outside she was sure. But inside, not so sure. This intrigued Fernpool. She was going to open up Skypaw and make him speak normally as he would without that mask of cold nonchalance. He was such a lovely kit; there was no reason to be that way. At least around Fernpool; the she-cat would love to friend the kit she had watched form afar so many times as an apprentice. |
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Post by Alias on Jul 16, 2009 21:10:24 GMT -5
Skypaw
This time the answer came promptly. "Why?" Skypaw asked, now with a note of defiance. I don't see any reason about why I should. The apprentice continued staring at her. Though his face was empty of any emotion, it was clear that it was a challenge, revealing a tiny glimpse of the more rebellious side to his personality. Why's she so interested in talking to me anyhow? Sure I've seen her once or twice before, but so? Big deal. Am I supposed to befriend any cat who happens to glance at me? I doubt that's StarClan's will. Even if it was, what are they going to do to me?
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Post by Fernpool on Jul 16, 2009 21:36:08 GMT -5
“You are doubting Star Clan.” Fernpool immediately said. “Right now, you are doubting.” Her voice was low; gentle; peaceful as usual but challenging. She could tell the moment his rapid fire answer came and the look that crossed his face. “Why Skypaw?” she asked lowering her voice to a whisper. “You don’t even need to answer honestly. Lie to me right now, but give me a reason.” Fernpool knew he would suspect her, but if her plan played off, she’d know more than he wished her too. |
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Post by Alias on Jul 16, 2009 21:47:02 GMT -5
Skypaw
His eyes narrowed, and he glanced over her again, this time more careful. There was something about her that seemed as though she were probing him, testing him. She hadn't answered his question at all, and he felt the need to do the same. "Why should I?" Skypaw repeated, his long tail waving slowly in the air. StarClan cats are cats who've died. If death brought so much power, why doesn't everyone?
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Post by Fernpool on Jul 16, 2009 22:02:31 GMT -5
"Death then…” she said ignoring all his questions. “Lie to me about death. What are your beliefs on the topic?” there was something ominous about her tone that Fernpool made sure came across. She didn’t want to scare the kit, but she felt there was something more to him. The way to crack him open like a walnut. The way being through his own lies and cold disposition. |
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Post by Alias on Jul 17, 2009 7:18:37 GMT -5
(She can't read his mind T_T)
Skypaw
Huh. So she won't even answer my questions--what makes her think I will for her? By now he knew that Fernpool was trying to get through his detached shell, and he had no desire to help her. Even if the medicine cat somehow did, it wouldn't be much different from how he was now. Plus she was thinking of him as a kit, which didn't help. "Why should I?" His patience wearing thin, Skypaw debated on whether or not he should simply turn around and leave. She wouldn't cross over onto another Clan's territory, and then he could finish collecting herbs in peace.
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