RiverClan Territory

[lone]

Originally Posted by Airabelle

Wildpaw looked on proudly as Shadepaw toppled over and fell into the mud, then rolled a few fox-lengths. She wasn't expecting him to be caught that off-guard. Still, however badly she wanted to gloat, she kept her mouth shut until Shadepaw told her that she had earned his respect. At this, a wide, menacing smile spread across the small Apprentice's face, teeth white and gleaming in the sunlight. "Lovely." she purred, using the same word her father had used when something worked out in his favor.

Wildpaw shuffled about a little to keep her paws from sinking into the mud, and twitched an ear. "Is that it? Or are we going to keep sparring?" She was enthusiastic about learning to fight, especially since her sparring partner had been an Apprentice for longer than she had and probably knew far better moves than she did.

Minnoweye will be impressed next time we go out to train, if this keeps up. she thought to herself. Her mentor's sharp, yet unseeing eyes flashed in her memory for a moment, followed by the warm green gaze of her former mentor, Fernflower, who had died. Fernflower had been like a mother to her, but she wasn't one for battle training, or fighting in general, and that seemed to have cost her.

"Keep going."

Shadepaw mewed through gritted teeth. Despite being impressed-- and respectful-- of the apprentice before him, he hated to be beaten. Almost everyone knew that about him, and almost everyone refrained from doing so. And yet in an instant, this she cat had knocked him over. Wonderful. He leapt to his paws, and then in the next instant aimed for her chest, leaping through the air. His goal? To pin her. Perhaps knock some of the wind out of her, that would show her who was boss. Of course he didn't really want to hurt the younger cat. Just show her a thing or two. That would be fine, right? No one would care. No one would miss a scruffy apprentice if things did end up going downhill, though. But him? Oh, everyone would miss him. There would be crying, and worrying, and fretting all around. No one would be able to go on without the handsome black tom for long. Of course not! He was Shadepaw. The most powerful apprentice in at least a hundred moons. Or... since whenever Bucknight had ruled, surely the tom must have been a powerful apprentice as well. Shadepaw wished that he were as strong as the former, now dead, leader. But he wasn't. And he never would be, he would... constantly be working at it. Hoping that the blow would knock her over, Shadepaw seemed to hang in the air forever. At least it felt that way to him. Time itself was always so slow when he moved. And yet he never saw his opponents move out of the way, but he was off anyways. If only he knew what side they were going to move to. Then he would always win.
　

[rascalcats]

Originally Posted by Lonestar23

"Keep going."

Shadepaw mewed through gritted teeth. Despite being impressed-- and respectful-- of the apprentice before him, he hated to be beaten. Almost everyone knew that about him, and almost everyone refrained from doing so. And yet in an instant, this she cat had knocked him over. Wonderful. He leapt to his paws, and then in the next instant aimed for her chest, leaping through the air. His goal? To pin her. Perhaps knock some of the wind out of her, that would show her who was boss. Of course he didn't really want to hurt the younger cat. Just show her a thing or two. That would be fine, right? No one would care. No one would miss a scruffy apprentice if things did end up going downhill, though. But him? Oh, everyone would miss him. There would be crying, and worrying, and fretting all around. No one would be able to go on without the handsome black tom for long. Of course not! He was Shadepaw. The most powerful apprentice in at least a hundred moons. Or... since whenever Bucknight had ruled, surely the tom must have been a powerful apprentice as well. Shadepaw wished that he were as strong as the former, now dead, leader. But he wasn't. And he never would be, he would... constantly be working at it. Hoping that the blow would knock her over, Shadepaw seemed to hang in the air forever. At least it felt that way to him. Time itself was always so slow when he moved. And yet he never saw his opponents move out of the way, but he was off anyways. If only he knew what side they were going to move to. Then he would always win.
　

Wildpaw was expecting Shadepaw to strike first this time, but nothing could have prepared her for the swiftness of his attack. His blow to her chest knocked the wind out of her, but she was able to keep the momentum of her roll going so she could avoid being pinned. Heaving for breath, Wildpaw attempted to lay some blows onto her opponent's shoulders, but the lack of air in her lungs made her moves sluggish.

Grunting with effort, Wildpaw dropped back onto all fours and backed off, holding her tail in the air as a sign of surrender.

"Let me... catch my breath..." she puffed. As much as she hated to "retreat" from a battle, she knew that, in some cases, she had to in order to avoid severe injury or death. If Fernflower had taught her one thing, it was that.

Even as she tried to work some air into her lungs, Wildpaw kept a close eye on Shadepaw. She wasn't sure if he would respect her surrender, or if he would attack her again, while she was weakened.

[lone]

Originally Posted by Airabelle

Wildpaw was expecting Shadepaw to strike first this time, but nothing could have prepared her for the swiftness of his attack. His blow to her chest knocked the wind out of her, but she was able to keep the momentum of her roll going so she could avoid being pinned. Heaving for breath, Wildpaw attempted to lay some blows onto her opponent's shoulders, but the lack of air in her lungs made her moves sluggish.

Grunting with effort, Wildpaw dropped back onto all fours and backed off, holding her tail in the air as a sign of surrender.

"Let me... catch my breath..." she puffed. As much as she hated to "retreat" from a battle, she knew that, in some cases, she had to in order to avoid severe injury or death. If Fernflower had taught her one thing, it was that.

Even as she tried to work some air into her lungs, Wildpaw kept a close eye on Shadepaw. She wasn't sure if he would respect her surrender, or if he would attack her again, while she was weakened.

Of course Shadepaw would respect the fact that she surrendered. After all, that too, took courage... he knew she must be wondering what he thought. Obviously; they might be equals, but he was still the one making this plan. He was still the one with the idea. The dream. The vision. The one who would be carrying it out to the best of his ability... with her, don't forget, his mind reminded him. Oh, of course. How could I forget? he thought, a small smile creeping up along his maw. It was eerie. And looked as though he were planning something not at all pleasant. Of course it would look that way; for Shadepaw was not the most pleasant of cats, and anything he was planning couldn't be too good. "Let me know when you're finished." He mewed in a cool, calm voice. There was no trace of concern. Mainly because there was no concern felt. She would be fine! Obviously. She wasn't hurt at all. Not that he could tell, anyways. And besides, if she was actually hurt he would either send her away (with much disappointment) or take it easy on her. It would be her choice. Her chance to show him how much she could take before she cracked... or, as he preferred to think of it, how little she could take. Later would be claws unsheathed. There would be no mercy shown. He hoped she realized how lucky she was he wasn't keeping on right this moment.

[rascalcats]

Originally Posted by Lonestar23

Of course Shadepaw would respect the fact that she surrendered. After all, that too, took courage... he knew she must be wondering what he thought. Obviously; they might be equals, but he was still the one making this plan. He was still the one with the idea. The dream. The vision. The one who would be carrying it out to the best of his ability... with her, don't forget, his mind reminded him. Oh, of course. How could I forget? he thought, a small smile creeping up along his maw. It was eerie. And looked as though he were planning something not at all pleasant. Of course it would look that way; for Shadepaw was not the most pleasant of cats, and anything he was planning couldn't be too good. "Let me know when you're finished." He mewed in a cool, calm voice. There was no trace of concern. Mainly because there was no concern felt. She would be fine! Obviously. She wasn't hurt at all. Not that he could tell, anyways. And besides, if she was actually hurt he would either send her away (with much disappointment) or take it easy on her. It would be her choice. Her chance to show him how much she could take before she cracked... or, as he preferred to think of it, how little she could take. Later would be claws unsheathed. There would be no mercy shown. He hoped she realized how lucky she was he wasn't keeping on right this moment.

Wildpaw only took a moment to recover, knowing that if she took too long, she would lose the respect she had just earned. So, she stood for a few moments, taking deep, labored breaths, but once it was somewhat under control, she straightened. Her chest was still heaving, but not as badly as it had been, and she set her jaw, determination clear in her eyes.

"I'm finished." she meowed. "Let's go again." She flexed her claws within their sheathes, reminding herself not to let them slide out just yet, however much she yearned to. She had a hunch that they would be practicing with claws soon enough, and now she should just focus on getting a feel for Shadepaw's tactics.

I can't go for his legs again; he'll know what I'm doing the moment I spring. But the rest of his body is so powerful... I could blind him with dust... no, it's too muddy to fling up. The space is too open to surprise him... Wildpaw ran over tactics of her own in her head, but each one she thought of, she could come up with a well-reasoned argument for. Finally, she gave up. She'd just have to see what Shadepaw did first.

[Fel]

Originally Posted by RedHead

Shellfeather's brilliant blue eyes continued to widen as Rabbitpaw told her all the events that had happened while herself and Spicepaw had been away. When her kit was done explaining, Shell looked up to the sky, closing her eyes. "All this time, I was worried Riverclan would be so different when we got back." She opened her eyes and looked at Rabbitpaw again, a smile spreading across her face. "Looks like I was right, but it was a change for the better!"
Shellfeather purred, her tail waving in the air happily. "And don't worry Rabbitpaw! Spicepaw and me are here now, you won't feel alone any longer!" Spicepaw had been sitting silently by her side, and now he spoke up. "So, dad's leader now? And Cricket's the Medicine Cat Apprentice. You must be proud." He meowed, not much emotion in his voice. Shellfeather leaped to her feet and started walking towards the camp again. "Well I'm very proud of both of them! I'm going to go see Russetstar right now, congratulate him, catch up with him, meet this cute Shellkit, congratulate Cricketpaw..." Shellfeather's voice trailed off as she walked farther away. Spicepaw looked at his sister, his yellow-green eyes showing a hint of amusement. "We better follow her." He meowed. From Rabbitpaw he had sensed something was off in the air, and he wanted to make sure his mother would be safe. Spicepaw got to his paws and followed Shellfeather towards the camp.

"...Yeah, I'm proud. It's been a bit lonely by myself, though-- it's like everyone's all so busy." Rabbitpaw smiled awkwardly, but as Shellfeather bounded towards camp in a flash, her fur stuck up in alarm. Dad's going to freak out! She was worried for him- he was always so stressed, and this would only help to make him feel even worse at a time like this. She had to help him through it, though it looked like there was no stopping this cat, so she'd have to let her mother run. Glancing over towards Spicepaw with a rather confused expression, she could tell that he'd gotten nicer on the 'trip' he'd been on with Shellfeather- she would have to end up getting used to it. Though they'd still have Applethorn as the grump of the family, and of course her exiled aunt Thornfrost as well, she expected him to be a lot meaner than he really turned out to be. "Alright, I guess we should get going- it's nice to have you back, though. I thought you two were going to end up being gone forever." She remarked to her brother before sprinting towards her mother, blue eyes sparkling in worry.

She's going to be miserable when she finds out that he had to move on, that he fell in love with his best friend- but Russetstar is going to be miserable as well. Even I'm a little spooked- they suddenly left us all alone with no warning signs at all, and now they re-appear with even more surprise?

[Panic]

@Whisperingheart

Bigpaw padded in the territory, enjoying the warmer weather. She glanced around, looking for any sign of prey.[I]I want to come back with a mountain full of prey!"Yeah, I'm not heading back to camp until I catch a LOAD of food!" she mewed to herself.

[Whisperingheart]

His paws tread lightly as the tom carried a vole in his jaws. Only thing he had found so far today. It was kinda disheartening. However he was hoping that fishing from the river might be more forgiving. Even with the warmth in the air the sun was blocked by a large cloud. Maybe I should have just gone with some others. He thought to himself.

It wasn't long before the lilac and ginger tom came across the scent of another cat. They must have just been here. Curiosity overwhelmed him and he began to follow it right up until his yellow-green optics spotted the young apprentice."Yeah, I'm not heading back to camp until I catch a LOAD of food!" He heard her meow out to no cat in particular and a slight chuckle emited from him. Dropping his vole he called out to her "Would you like to join me in some fishing?"

@Fenris

[Cosmo]

[QUOTE=Whisperingheart;238689]His paws tread lightly as the tom carried a vole in his jaws. Only thing he had found so far today. It was kinda disheartening. However he was hoping that fishing from the river might be more forgiving. Even with the warmth in the air the sun was blocked by a large cloud. Maybe I should have just gone with some others. He thought to himself.

It wasn't long before the lilac and ginger tom came across the scent of another cat. They must have just been here. Curiosity overwhelmed him and he began to follow it right up until his yellow-green optics spotted the young apprentice."Yeah, I'm not heading back to camp until I catch a LOAD of food!" He heard her meow out to no cat in particular and a slight chuckle emited from him. Dropping his vole he called out to her "Would you like to join me in some fishing?"

@Fenris[/QUOTE
Doesong, smiled at Adderfeang and Bigpaw .She padded up to them."If you are going fishing, you're not going without me! she teased.

[Cosmo]

[QUOTE=Whisperingheart;238689]His paws tread lightly as the tom carried a vole in his jaws. Only thing he had found so

[Whisperingheart]

[ignoring all previous posts. Continuing from Warrior den exit.]

It wasn't long before the tom was trotting up 'his hill with a glance cast back behind for his companion. It was only once he reached the top that he came to a halt taking in the beauty of the sunrise. Its soft light illuminating the earth they lived on. Its soft orange and pink glow reflecting on the river's surface.

He didn't say much of anything but the view was spectacular this morning. He reclined onto his haunches simply taking it in.

@Little Bird