Now, there wasn't exactly a signed and sealed reason that Timberstrike felt odd towards Apu-- Kiwipaw. He would have to remember that. Why was he finding it so difficult? She was stil the same cat! The same loner he had flirted with, the same one who had looked so... uncomfortable before? Now it was as though they were meeting all over again. Timberstrike was tempted to rattle off a line, but he hadn't flirted in such a long time. He was confident he didn't even remember how. How would he remember how? There was no way. No way at all. A yawn escaped his maw and he stretched out, closing his hues as he did so. This was the most tired Timberstrike had been since he'd become a warrior. And, hopefully, possibly, someday he would have an apprentice of his own to train. Then he would have his own cat to boss around-- no, he wouldn't do that to them. He'd be a great mentor! And he was absolutely, positively sure that Kiwipaw would be just as good.
Once she grew up, that was. She would have to reach his level of expertise. For a moment, the tom was tempted to tell her that-- in a joking manner, of course. He wouldn't hurt Kiwipaw's feelings for anything, not even to be leader. He would never do that. And, now with Snowsong becoming leader, Timberstrike was absolutely sure that there was going to be another new deputy. So much change! He wasn't sure whether it was good or bad. Snowsong becoming Snowstar would be good. Getting a new deputy would be semi-good, depending on the cat. Northpath dying was bad. Zerosight resigning was bad. Wheatfur becoming medicine cat? He wasn't quite sure how he felt about that, but he was pretty sure he didn't look upon it with enthusiasm. Thankfully, he hadn't had to go to the grumpier looking medicine cat quite yet. Which made him feel a little happier. It seemed to lift his spirits just the slightest bit. He had never liked going in the first place, though.
He'd only had to go once when he was a younger apprentice. And, he remembered Northpaw-- the medicine cat apprentice had had a short conversation with him. Not too long. It had been more of a 'hi, how's it going' type thing then a real conversation. And, Timberstrike wouldn't have called them friends. Unlike him and that pretty silver apprentice he had always been hanging around with... Crescentpaw? Had that been her name? He thought that was it. Hopefully he wasn't wrong. His ears pricked up as she spoke, and a smile broke out over his maw. "Well, good! It's really too bad I couldn't have been your mentor--" even though I probably would have been too distracted to train you very well-- "But I hope they're nice. What's their name?" He was praying to StarClan it wasn't one of the younger, newer, more flirtatious warriors. He didn't like the thought of Kiwipaw being alone with a cat like that for hours at a time every day.
Hopefully it was a female feline, or a tom that was more on the quiet side. That would be fine by him. As long as Kiwipaw stayed far, far away from the tom in her free time. He didn't know why he was so protective over her. There was no need to be! She wasn't his. As much as he wished she was... she wasn't. And, if he didn't claim her as his own soon, then it might end up getting out of his paws. Which, to be honest, was the last thing that the brown tabby wanted. He yawned, stretching out once more, before straightening up and gingerly coming to her side. Whether it was his mind fizzling out because of his exhuastion or some crazy surge of energy, he didn't know, but at the next second he was pressed up against Kiwipaw and staying there. And, he liked it. It was comfortable. She felt like the softest cat he had ever been around. And he absolutely loved it. A moment later he pulled away, ears a brighter shade of pink now and pelt warmer then before.
"S-s-sorry."
(Thanks! How was your easter if you celebrate it?)
Kiwipaw reached out with one paw, taking a new stick and fiddling with it, rolling it back and forth gently, this time being careful not to press down on it too hard. She didn't understand why she always got so uncomfortable around him, as she was his friend, and he was hers. It didn't make sense to her. She paused, then pressed hard on the stick, breaking it clean in two. She shook her head, her confusion becoming even more obvious than before. She closed her deep green eyes, then blinked, looking up at the sky. She just didn't get why someone she was such a good friend with made her feel so confused and uncomfortable. It just didn't make any sense whatsoever. Quietly, she stretched her legs in front of her so her belly was against the ground, which was cool and moist. This position was a bit more relaxing and it felt good after her long day, which had been very busy and kind of chaotic, and she needed to rest for a bit, considering she wasn't even done yet. There was still one more thing she had to do, but this was something she was quite looking forward to, as long as she took a break from all of the activity now.
She'd seen so much in the past few moons, she knew that in a way, she wasn't the cat she'd been when she'd first met Timberstrike, Timberpaw at the time. It was all so new and yet, so familiar all at the same time. She'd already seen many cats rise and fall, and now, not a single cat of power was the same as they'd been when she'd joined. When she'd first learned of ThunderClan, it'd been Zerosight, Northpaw, Gyrewind and Ashstar. And now? Kiwipaw had a hard time keeping track of who was what. She was fairly sure it was Snowstar, Fennelnose and Wheatfur, but wasn't certain, although that sounded correct. She flicked her ears, rolling on to her side in an attempt to rid her fur of the hot feeling that tingled beneath her fur. It helped a little, but unfortunately, that only did so much, and it didn't disappear all together, but she was glad that it helped some. Besides, the thing she had to do later would be fun, and she knew it would be good to catch up on family. Stirring from her thoughts, the red and black molly looked over at Timberpa— Timberstrike.
Kiwipaw sat up, gently licking a few scraps of earth off her pelt. It wasn't that she minded, as she liked the way it smelled and felt, but she felt that some of the older warriors wouldn't approve, and she didn't want to get on the bad side of cats higher up than herself. That wouldn't be a good idea if she wanted to try fitting into Clan life. Maybe, once she was more adjusted she could be herself a bit more, but for now, she didn't want any more scrutiny than she already had for being formerly a kittypet and a loner. She wanted not to be known as those, but known as a cat of ThunderClan, and that would take time, patients and hard work. She was a bit startled as Timberstrike spoke, as she'd been so deep in thought that she'd forgotten that he was even there. “Yeah, but maybe it's for the best.” she said, fluffing out her fur and taking note of how he seemed like he'd been about to say more, but she didn't mind. “They are nice. Featherspeckle. You know her?” she asked, remembering the marbled calico molly that was now her mentor.
She watched him, worry entering her eyes. She wasn't sure why, but he seemed kind of on edge and worried, which made her worried. She wanted to ask him if something was wrong and help him, like she'd once done so many moons ago, but it seemed like only yesterday to her, still fresh in her mind. Why that memory of all things had stuck the most in her mind, Kiwipaw didn't know, but, as she looked over Timberstrike, she wondered if he too remembered clearly the day they'd met. Then, as he suddenly pressed his side to hers, the heat flared up then faded to a surprisingly pleasant feeling, all discomfort gone. She wished it could stay that way, but as Timberstrike pulled away, the heat returned, worse than ever. His presence, physical and dense, had been comforting, and she sighed wistfully, her green eyes half closed. She looked him over, still wondering if he felt the same heat she did. “Sorry. . . ? For w-what?” she asked quietly, her voice frailer sounding than she would've liked it to be.
The tom laughed, eyes sparkling. This reminded him of when he was an apprentice. Except Ryver had been way sneakier and had started flirting with him, confusing him until he wasn't sure if he was even a Clan cat anymore. "Awe, c'mon now, Feaths. No one likes a bad sport," He batted at her lightly, though his tone of voice suggested that he was very much teasing. Of course she wasn't a bad sport! Any other cat might have kicked him off by now and would be yelling at him for doing that. The tom did have a playful side, it just... didn't seem to come out very often. And after everything that had happened? It came out even less then before. Yet here was Featherspeckle, laughing and playing with him like they were both kits or young apprentices. Not warriors. But, sometimes Martenthorn thought that warriors were really just mentally kits. A part of them, anyways. A part of a warrior never grew up. It remained sweet and carefree and innocent for their whole life, and he was trying desperately to find that part of himself.
To find it so that he could hold onto it and never let it go. It was like he was drowning, but he couldn't sink. Maybe he liked it that way. Maybe he wasn't quite ready to sink, he wanted to keep drowning until he was ready to let go. When would that be, though? Tomorrow? Next week? In another ten or twenty moons? When he was ready to let go of the past and come to the future? He didn't want to drown as long as he had his new friend, though. At her next words, he put on a shocked and hurt expression. "Cheater? Strong language coming from you," Martenthorn mewed, batting at her again. Feaths. The nickname seemed to suit her, though he had almost called her Feathers... that would have been embarassing, it sounded as though he had forgotten her name. Now if she called him Marty, that would be something to remember. Something that Ryver had called him. Marty the Marten. He remembered her laughing so hard she could barely stand up every time she called him that.
And so he used to go through with it, just to see a smile come over her pretty features. It was like watching a flower bloom right before his eyes. She certainly was a pretty cat; though Martenthorn had seen many a pretty cat with an ugly attitude. Featherspeckle? She was pretty inside and out, a rare occurance that he hadn't encountered too many times. Mainly because pretty she cats intimidated him a good deal of the time and the other part of the time, he was either busy or they weren't pretty inside and out. Though outer beauty wasn't that big of a deal in Martenthorn's opinion. Inner beauty, that was what mattered. That was what Ryver had been missing. No matter how gorgeous the she cat was, without a heart like Featherspeckle's? They weren't as amazing as they thought they were. The tom got off of the she cat, flicking her lightly with his tail as he did so. "Hey, be thankful I didn't show you what I can really do. You'd have a bruised face by the time I was done with you," He mewed with a chuckle.
Of course he would never do that to his friend. He was controlled. In control of his life, at least... wasn't he? Of course! Why wouldn't he be? He was the most in control cat there was alive, and he wasn't afraid to let everyone know it. Purring, he smiled at the she cat. This was what he had missed. This was what he had needed for the longest time, and what she was now giving him. Oh, it felt so good to have a nice friend. The day was getting late now... he could see Silverpelt beginning to come out amid the brilliant colors of the sky, the sun sinking down over the trees. "Silverpelt looks like it'll be bright tonight," He remarked in a quiet voice. He'd heard stories of Silverpelt for a long time... a very long time indeed, and he was looking fowards to joining his warrior ancestors in the night sky. A beautiful, magical place in his opinion. What did Featherspeckle think about it? Was she looking fowards to going to StarClan, once her time came? Or was she, like so many others, afraid to die?
The she-cat had twitched her ears just to make sure that she heard the tom above her correctly. At first she tensed, feeling a slight effect of discomfort, but soon it washed away. Feaths. That was a new one, and quite frankly the feline liked the sound of the nickname. Back in her past, she had been known as Feathery, Feather--Feaths was a new one. So,his comment about her being a bad sport went over her head as she heard the name escape his maw. Again, she tried to figure out this tom. What made him so playful all of a sudden? That made him want to surprise her and leave her confused? Though, the she cat knew this was a close bonding between the two--that was for sure. The confusing part came when his different attitudes occur. And, she thought his tough was what she liked. Oh, no, how she been wrong! And, his awkward side was adorable to her! But, his playful side is what drew her in. She found it pleasant to be around, and as he batted at her, she swiped at him with her own paw, giggling.
Remembering his words from earlier, the she cat did not know how to reply. She wanted to come up with a good nickname for him, as he had done her. She didn't want to call him anything unoriginal, because he deserved original. He deserved a nickname like no other. And, though it wasn't much that she could give him, because she knew he deserved a lot more than he was recognized for. The tom went through so much heartbreak over one she cat. One. All it took was one to break a special tom's soul, and it was sad. Featherspeckle wished she could have a one-on-one conversation with the other she cat, but she also knew it wasn't her business to pry. She wouldn't lure the she cat to jump off a ledge just as she made Viola do--
Realizing what she was thinking, Featherspeckle shook her head. She had to focus on here and now, not trying to plan a death of a she cat long gone in the past. Besides, living for Ryver was her suffering. If Featherspeckle remembered correctly, the other she cat lost her kits, her mate, and everything she loved dear to her. She wanted Martenthorn back, and Featherspeckle was sure that the tom would take back in the other cat. Above all,first love won. Woah, there. Love. She thought of herself as if she were his second love, having Ryver be his first. The idea was plausible, but not at the moment. Featherspeckle was his friend, and she was quite content with that. All the young she cat wanted was someone who was on a steady path, to follow them until she landed on her own. Martenthorn seemed to be the cat fit for the job, and so she would stick by him until it was time for her to take the road less taken.
What's in a name? A good nickname, and one that was completely original for Martenthorn. Nothing that begins along his name. She wanted something unique and quite humorous. That she could only call him. That when he hears this name, he would know that it was the one and only Featherspeckle that was his close friend. And, anyone who would call him this name? Well, that would just be a shame, and she wouldn't know how she would feel about it. She wasn't completely attached where she would feel envious, yet she was a little attach that she would feel unspecial if it chose to occur. All for a nickname. Wow. The she cat realized she had problems, and no wonder she had hard times making friends or even keeping Moose interested in her. Now, she was beginning to know she was terrible, and most likely still was, though she hid this once more when Martenthorn batted at her again, and she was too late to dodge his movements. The feline below him smirked up, ''Well, you hadn't allowed me to prep myself up before you...surprised me. I'm assuming that's what you wanted, eh, Arty?''
Arty?...Featherspeckle did not know if she liked that nickname. It kind of just popped out, without the M. Which made it sound weird, yet catchy at the same time. She cleared her throat, hoping to cover up her self-failure, and emitted out a giggle. ''If you hadn't known, hun, my vocabulary is very tough, thank you very much.'' And as he got off of her, she swiped at him once more with her paw, and rolled around on the grass a few times to stretch out her limbs before she rolled over onto her stomach, flicking her ears and lightly swaying her tail.
Above, she could faintly see the outline of Silverpelt. The brilliant star-filled sky and moon that would soon be making an appearance. She figured the two would settle back into the warriors' den and sleep the night away, but on night like this? She surely wouldn't. ''Yeah, it is.'' She says, and quietly, gently gets up and pads next to him, sitting down, one of her paws hidden by the other. Her yellow orbs stared above, and a small smile graced her muzzle. And, before she could get heavily into the sky, she turned back to him, giving him an incredulous look. At first, she sat there, then got up and walked past in front of him. Surprisingly, even to herself, she gave him a gentle smack with her tail, turning once more to look at him, now that she was across from him. ''Ah, almost forgot about your little comment about bruising my face!'' She sat down, curling her tail around her. Her voice was light and playful, and her eyes held a teasing gleam in them. ''Threatening she cats now are we, Arty? Ah, come on I thought you were better than that, hun. What's next? Influencing kits to not listen to their parents?''She snorted, and looked once at the sky, a sigh coming from her maw. It had been a long day. A terribly long day, and now she was ready to accept the night, and wait to see what tomorrow might bring her.
One thing she did think about was Viola. Was she one of the sparkling stars, looking down at her? And, what about the unborn kits? Featherspeckle remembered hearing that if a queen died, she would give birth in starclan--if she made it that was. It was such sadness to know those kits would never see the light of day...and it was all her fault. If Martenthorn wasn't here at the moment, the feline would have no problem to break down. She had to blink away invisible tears, and she knew if she talked, her throat would choke, hitched on its own. Oh, how she wished she could change time and jump off instead pushing her friend off. After all, Moose deserved to be happy, didn't he? As a cat, there was a right to seek happiness no matter what it was. Featherspeckle's happiness depleted long ago, and now it was an empty hollow with ghostly help. There was no one who really paid heed to this, and if she played her cards well, no one will know about her inner hatred to herself. Within time, the she cat knew she would die. Whether from a broken heart, or inflicting the pain upon herself. Whichever may come first. But, what if this was a starclan's punishment, and just like Ryver, the she cat was suffering from living. Suffering from the pain and bad decisions she had made, and there was no way to go back and change it.
Let the past go. It may come to haunt you, but don't allow it to possess you. Featherspeckle took a quick glance at the other tom, and she wondered for a second what he thought of her, but thought best to not ask this question. Besides, watching a night sky was far better than hearing a thousand words.
(Don't worry, mine will be short as well: Busy with work and on for a short while)
The tiny, starving black cat instantly froze. Or, at least he tried to. His coughs would not let him stay silent, nor stay still. Shakes went through his little weak body, making him only able to drag himself towards the nearest bush as he heard a voice call out. Terrified of this new voice, the black kitten would do anything for the coughs to stop, and to find a hiding place. Remembering Father's terrifying stories about the wild Clan cats living in these forest, Runt guessed the voice belonged to one of them. He was doomed. He was going to die, right here, if it was not by his cold, then by whoever this voice belonged to.
When Wheatfur arrived and attempted to comfort and warm him, Antkit got even more terrified, not understanding what the much older cat wanted, and in his own fear and coughing fit, he did not hear the words spoken by Wheatfur. The small kitten tried to wiggle himself free of the cat's grasp as well as cry out for help, should any non-clan cats be around. However, he failed at both. His coughs simply kept him from moving nor speaking.
When Wheatfur felt the kit try to wriggle out of his grasp he truly understood. He's scared of me, and has never been shown kindness. Not even from his mother. When the tom saw the racking coughs that the tom was inflicted with he froze. He's half-way to deaths door. Wheatfur looked aroun, desperate for some catmint, Colsfoot, anything! The medicine-cat spotted some lavender. Maybe... The tom grabbed a large sprig. he carefully cut it into small chunks using his claws, he nudged it towards Antkit. "It will help. If you eat this, you can leave the territory and find some nice Housefolk to take care of you." He was lying, he would first take the kit back to the camp, let him stay a few days, then take him to the Twoleg place, and find an elder Twoleg who would want a cute kitten. Well, thats what he hoped. He was a former House-cat after all. He even had family there. The tom looked around again, and spotted some rain soaked moss on a tree. he tore a bit of and then brought it back to Antkit. "Its water-soaked if your thirsty, drink from it.
When Wheatfur felt the kit try to wriggle out of his grasp he truly understood. He's scared of me, and has never been shown kindness. Not even from his mother. When the tom saw the racking coughs that the tom was inflicted with he froze. He's half-way to deaths door. Wheatfur looked around, desperate for some catmint, Colsfoot, anything! The medicine-cat spotted some lavender. Maybe... The tom grabbed a large sprig. he carefully cut it into small chunks using his claws, he nudged it towards Antkit. "It will help. If you eat this, you can leave the territory and find some nice Housefolk to take care of you." He was lying, he would first take the kit back to the camp, let him stay a few days, then take him to the Twoleg place, and find an elder Twoleg who would want a cute kitten. Well, thats what he hoped. He was a former House-cat after all. He even had family there. The tom looked around again, and spotted some rain soaked moss on a tree. he tore a bit of and then brought it back to Antkit. "Its water-soaked if your thirsty, drink from it.
The young kit relaxed a little as Wheatfur raised himself to go fetch the lavender, thinking he had seen his condition and would just leave him there for death. However, the older cat came back shortly after, and Runt tensed up. Why would he come back? Was he going to go fetch some more cats to come take them to their camp to eat him? The young kit had only heard bad about the clan cats, and the worst scenarios unfolded in his mind.
When an herb was put in front of him, confusion struck him, followed by fear, then recognition. He knew a bit about herbs himself, having made that into his own little hobby to keep him occupied and away from his family. Firstly, his coughs made his body shake and his vision unable to concentrate about the herb in front of him. Due to not being able to see it, he at first thought it was going to be poisonous. Even though he knew he was on the edge of death, he didn't want it to end this fast. THEN his vision cleared, and he realized it was merely some lavender. Keeping a close eye on the older tom, or at least as much as he could, he reached over and crewed up the lavender, letting it go into his system. He had always thought it to be just a flower that smelled good, so he was a bit confused as to what good it would do him.
When Wheatfur spoke, Runt became confused once again. Housefolk? Territory? He didn't understand what he meant about the first thing, but he sure didn't want to go to some place where he'd have to be taken care of. Being taken care off had so far in his life not been nice. By territory, he guessed the older tom meant the ground he was on. Did these cats have a certain place they were allowed to be, or how was this put together? This young kitten had a lot of thoughts at this moment, but when didn't he?
As Wheatfur then moved to get the water-filled moss, Runt seemed to become somewhat desperate. Water! He hadn't drunk anything since he fell in the river. That had been two days. Wiggling his shaking body over to the lump of moss, his concentration went completely onto the water, exposing himself. But in this moment, his survival instinct told him that this water would save him
The kit noticed Zerosight shifting on his paws. The younger tom wasn't sure if something was wrong or not. Though he was just a kit, he did have a sense of maternity about him -
though that could be due to fact that there was a lot more to the kit then first expected. The grey tom began to open his mouth as he felt that something seemed wrong with the dark elder. It wasn't just the shifting,
but there was something else....
Though he forgot about it once Zerosight began speaking. "Thunderclan?" The younger one squeak. He tilted his head to one side as he thought about the name. And the his ears perked up when the former medicine cat then went on to bring up the matter of his family. "They're not here..." the disappointment was clear in his voice, his dark grey ears flattened and his autumn orbs fell to the ground. The young kit suddenly felt very smaller - even more so than he was - and curled his tail around his paws. He wasn't sure where else to look for them. He had went around his new place and even checked some allies. And he had really believed they would be here.
Why else would he be drawn to this territory?
But he did lift his gaze as Zerosight spoke about bringing him to his leader, who would then know what to do with him. "Gyrestar...?" He mewed. "That's a strange name," the young kit scrunched up his nose as he thought about the name. He never heard a name like it, or at least not that he knew of. "Do all of you have strange names?" The kit questioned. He had always heard stories of the clans. That they were blood-thirsty cats that would eat the bones of other cats - even kittens like himself. Yet the strange warmth that he felt towards Zerosight prevented him from feeling the fear of going to the Thunderclan camp and meeting with the leader. He was mostly saddened by the fact that his family wasn't around more than anything. But the kit was sure that Gyrestar or this stranger would hurt him.
"Oh, sorry!" He curled his tail up as he realized that he hadn't introduced himself. The kit knew that he should probably tell this tom his name,
especially if he was going to bring him to his home in order to go and see the leader. "I'm Northern," he stated simply, and then added a little comment.
"But everyone just calls me North."
Zerosight felt his heart skip a beat, his blind eyes widening at the name. "North?" He asked, even though he knew he had heard right. No, its Northern. Not North. Northern. Don't get your hopes up just to be crushed. The tom took a deep breath in and then let it out slowly, his blind eyes regaining a bit of a calmer look to them. He also relaxed a bit, his hardened demeanor dropping a bit against his best intentions at just the fact that he had a similar sounding name... and a familiar aura surrounding him... and a similar sounding voice when North had been younger... He shook his head, the thoughts clouding his judgement.
The old tom cleared his throat, his tail lashing once behind him. "I guess our names are weird sounding to an outsider. They all kind of have the same format, though. Mine is Zerosight, for example." He meowed quietly, his eyes narrowed as if he was trying to observe the kitten more closely. You might get one too if you stay long enough... The elder chose to leave out what he had been going to say next, figuring it was best not to dampen the kitten's hope of finding his family. Hopefully, he would find them and leave him so that he didn't constantly remind him of the things Zero had lost. However, the tom paused shortly after this thought, surprised at a small pang of sadness at just thinking about him leaving. That's strange. It seemed like another part of him already knew Northern, and didn't want to see him go already.
He let out another sigh, turning his head toward the direction he had come from. "Camp is that way," He croaked, his voice not used to this much strain. It wasn't often that he talked this much all in one time. "Will you be able to keep up?" He knew it was a stupid question with how slow of a pace he had to take to get around this area. But, then again, who knew? Maybe the kitten was tired from how far he had come already.
(Thanks! How was your easter if you celebrate it?)
Kiwipaw reached out with one paw, taking a new stick and fiddling with it, rolling it back and forth gently, this time being careful not to press down on it too hard. She didn't understand why she always got so uncomfortable around him, as she was his friend, and he was hers. It didn't make sense to her. She paused, then pressed hard on the stick, breaking it clean in two. She shook her head, her confusion becoming even more obvious than before. She closed her deep green eyes, then blinked, looking up at the sky. She just didn't get why someone she was such a good friend with made her feel so confused and uncomfortable. It just didn't make any sense whatsoever. Quietly, she stretched her legs in front of her so her belly was against the ground, which was cool and moist. This position was a bit more relaxing and it felt good after her long day, which had been very busy and kind of chaotic, and she needed to rest for a bit, considering she wasn't even done yet. There was still one more thing she had to do, but this was something she was quite looking forward to, as long as she took a break from all of the activity now.
She'd seen so much in the past few moons, she knew that in a way, she wasn't the cat she'd been when she'd first met Timberstrike, Timberpaw at the time. It was all so new and yet, so familiar all at the same time. She'd already seen many cats rise and fall, and now, not a single cat of power was the same as they'd been when she'd joined. When she'd first learned of ThunderClan, it'd been Zerosight, Northpaw, Gyrewind and Ashstar. And now? Kiwipaw had a hard time keeping track of who was what. She was fairly sure it was Snowstar, Fennelnose and Wheatfur, but wasn't certain, although that sounded correct. She flicked her ears, rolling on to her side in an attempt to rid her fur of the hot feeling that tingled beneath her fur. It helped a little, but unfortunately, that only did so much, and it didn't disappear all together, but she was glad that it helped some. Besides, the thing she had to do later would be fun, and she knew it would be good to catch up on family. Stirring from her thoughts, the red and black molly looked over at Timberpa— Timberstrike.
Kiwipaw sat up, gently licking a few scraps of earth off her pelt. It wasn't that she minded, as she liked the way it smelled and felt, but she felt that some of the older warriors wouldn't approve, and she didn't want to get on the bad side of cats higher up than herself. That wouldn't be a good idea if she wanted to try fitting into Clan life. Maybe, once she was more adjusted she could be herself a bit more, but for now, she didn't want any more scrutiny than she already had for being formerly a kittypet and a loner. She wanted not to be known as those, but known as a cat of ThunderClan, and that would take time, patients and hard work. She was a bit startled as Timberstrike spoke, as she'd been so deep in thought that she'd forgotten that he was even there. “Yeah, but maybe it's for the best.” she said, fluffing out her fur and taking note of how he seemed like he'd been about to say more, but she didn't mind. “They are nice. Featherspeckle. You know her?” she asked, remembering the marbled calico molly that was now her mentor.
She watched him, worry entering her eyes. She wasn't sure why, but he seemed kind of on edge and worried, which made her worried. She wanted to ask him if something was wrong and help him, like she'd once done so many moons ago, but it seemed like only yesterday to her, still fresh in her mind. Why that memory of all things had stuck the most in her mind, Kiwipaw didn't know, but, as she looked over Timberstrike, she wondered if he too remembered clearly the day they'd met. Then, as he suddenly pressed his side to hers, the heat flared up then faded to a surprisingly pleasant feeling, all discomfort gone. She wished it could stay that way, but as Timberstrike pulled away, the heat returned, worse than ever. His presence, physical and dense, had been comforting, and she sighed wistfully, her green eyes half closed. She looked him over, still wondering if he felt the same heat she did. “Sorry. . . ? For w-what?” she asked quietly, her voice frailer sounding than she would've liked it to be.
{It was cool, I had a lot of fun! What about yours?}
Featherspeckle? The name sounded familiar, he was pretty sure he knew her... but Timberstrike had never been too good with names. He was having trouble keeping up with his own new name! Irritating, but he supposed he would be able to handle it. Maybe. Possibly. Kind of. He glanced up at Apu- Kiwipaw. It was a unique name, perfect for the she cat, and he wondered how come he was having such a hard time remembering it. It was a pretty name, too... like her. He thought with a sigh. No longer was he an apprentice with a kitty crush on the red and black newly made apprentice. He was no longer going to be irresponsible and carefree, messing around with things like this. She was his best friend, a cat that he would remember forever... a cat that would be there forever. Because when she died, he would probably die with her. There was no way he was going to go on without Kiwipaw with him, without getting to talk to the red and black feline every day of his life.
Perhaps there were a way to let her know how much he appreciated her. If she didn't; and he was confident she did, otherwise, she probably wouldn't seek him out. He knew if he felt unappreciated it would be a chance for him to hide away. A chance for him to escape into a world of fear and feel so unappreciated. A chance for him to get away, forever. Something that he desperately didn't want, but something he knew was unavoidable if he felt unloved. Or unappreciated. But, as long as he had Kiwipaw? He would always feel wanted, and he would make sure that she felt the same way. No question about it. The she cat was going to feel like a princess with the kind of treatment he would like to give her, but he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to or not. When he was younger, there would be no question. But Timberstrike had matured quite a bit, and now? He knew that he was quite a bit shyer then he wanted to admit to himself... or anyone else for that matter.
Realizing he still hadn't answered her question, the tom snapped out of his daydream. Rude much? He thought with an annoyed grunt; not towards her, but towards himself. He needed to pay attention to what she was saying. Her voice seemed to give him a thrill. It was something he hadn't noticed before, something that had just recently arrived with these new and unexplored feelings. He was flying. He was soaring. He was walking on Cloud 9.
He was doing everything that had been considered impossible before, and he was doing it perfectly. That had been his previous dream, but not anymore. Although it was still there, and he could hear the Clan cheering, now he wanted to share everything with Kiwipaw. Maybe... when she was a warrior too, just maybe... he would be willing to share with her what he was feeling now. Maybe he would be ready to let her know. What he would do for her... now and forever. Always. "Uhh... I think I've talked to her before. The name sounds kind of familiar, it's not one I would...forget." From the way he was talking, anyone would think that he was either guilty or liked Featherspeckle... not in a friendly way, either. More like in the kind of way that would make another cat jealous. More jealous then Timberstrike really thought, since as far as he knew, he didn't have a reason to be jealous. Kiwipaw didn't really have any other close tom friends, did she?
And she wasn't the type to fall for the same gender, as far as he was aware. Otherwise he'd constantly be on the lookout for both cats. After their awkward encounter, Timberstrike found himself rather selfishly wanting to be near her again. Selfish because he knew that it probably wasn't right; after all, this wasn't right. It just wasn't. They had to be careful, no longer were they innocent and young... a movement like that could result in him getting that uncomfortable, sticky, warm feeling that flooded to his ears but at the same time made him feel like he was more alive then anything else. Then anyone else. He would always love his friend. Now and forever, always. Too bad she wasn't able to read his mind, it would make things so much easier. At her halting, frail-sounding question, the tom paused for a moment. So... that hadn't upset her? No, she seemed to be... puzzled that he had stopped. And confused that he was apologizing for the moment of contact between them.
"I-- I thought... I thought m-maybe you were un....uncomfortable w-with me being so close like that..."
An unpleasant heat, nothing like the comfortable, warm, soaring feeling he had had just moments before came over him and he lowered his head. Maybe it was time he told her something about this weirdness. This weirdness that he now understood. "Kiwipaw.... uhh... this is kind of awkward for me to ask, heh..." His voice trailed off and he swallowed slightly.
"But have you had any sort of weird feelings lately?"
I mentioned on my profile that I was starting over. A fresh start is best for me right now; I've created quite a few new characters, and they will all be on my site, but not all will be used in roleplay right away. it's likely I'll bring them in more gradually.
The she-cat had twitched her ears just to make sure that she heard the tom above her correctly. At first she tensed, feeling a slight effect of discomfort, but soon it washed away. Feaths. That was a new one, and quite frankly the feline liked the sound of the nickname. Back in her past, she had been known as Feathery, Feather--Feaths was a new one. So,his comment about her being a bad sport went over her head as she heard the name escape his maw. Again, she tried to figure out this tom. What made him so playful all of a sudden? That made him want to surprise her and leave her confused? Though, the she cat knew this was a close bonding between the two--that was for sure. The confusing part came when his different attitudes occur. And, she thought his tough was what she liked. Oh, no, how she been wrong! And, his awkward side was adorable to her! But, his playful side is what drew her in. She found it pleasant to be around, and as he batted at her, she swiped at him with her own paw, giggling.
Remembering his words from earlier, the she cat did not know how to reply. She wanted to come up with a good nickname for him, as he had done her. She didn't want to call him anything unoriginal, because he deserved original. He deserved a nickname like no other. And, though it wasn't much that she could give him, because she knew he deserved a lot more than he was recognized for. The tom went through so much heartbreak over one she cat. One. All it took was one to break a special tom's soul, and it was sad. Featherspeckle wished she could have a one-on-one conversation with the other she cat, but she also knew it wasn't her business to pry. She wouldn't lure the she cat to jump off a ledge just as she made Viola do--
Realizing what she was thinking, Featherspeckle shook her head. She had to focus on here and now, not trying to plan a death of a she cat long gone in the past. Besides, living for Ryver was her suffering. If Featherspeckle remembered correctly, the other she cat lost her kits, her mate, and everything she loved dear to her. She wanted Martenthorn back, and Featherspeckle was sure that the tom would take back in the other cat. Above all,first love won. Woah, there. Love. She thought of herself as if she were his second love, having Ryver be his first. The idea was plausible, but not at the moment. Featherspeckle was his friend, and she was quite content with that. All the young she cat wanted was someone who was on a steady path, to follow them until she landed on her own. Martenthorn seemed to be the cat fit for the job, and so she would stick by him until it was time for her to take the road less taken.
What's in a name? A good nickname, and one that was completely original for Martenthorn. Nothing that begins along his name. She wanted something unique and quite humorous. That she could only call him. That when he hears this name, he would know that it was the one and only Featherspeckle that was his close friend. And, anyone who would call him this name? Well, that would just be a shame, and she wouldn't know how she would feel about it. She wasn't completely attached where she would feel envious, yet she was a little attach that she would feel unspecial if it chose to occur. All for a nickname. Wow. The she cat realized she had problems, and no wonder she had hard times making friends or even keeping Moose interested in her. Now, she was beginning to know she was terrible, and most likely still was, though she hid this once more when Martenthorn batted at her again, and she was too late to dodge his movements. The feline below him smirked up, ''Well, you hadn't allowed me to prep myself up before you...surprised me. I'm assuming that's what you wanted, eh, Arty?''
Arty?...Featherspeckle did not know if she liked that nickname. It kind of just popped out, without the M. Which made it sound weird, yet catchy at the same time. She cleared her throat, hoping to cover up her self-failure, and emitted out a giggle. ''If you hadn't known, hun, my vocabulary is very tough, thank you very much.'' And as he got off of her, she swiped at him once more with her paw, and rolled around on the grass a few times to stretch out her limbs before she rolled over onto her stomach, flicking her ears and lightly swaying her tail.
Above, she could faintly see the outline of Silverpelt. The brilliant star-filled sky and moon that would soon be making an appearance. She figured the two would settle back into the warriors' den and sleep the night away, but on night like this? She surely wouldn't. ''Yeah, it is.'' She says, and quietly, gently gets up and pads next to him, sitting down, one of her paws hidden by the other. Her yellow orbs stared above, and a small smile graced her muzzle. And, before she could get heavily into the sky, she turned back to him, giving him an incredulous look. At first, she sat there, then got up and walked past in front of him. Surprisingly, even to herself, she gave him a gentle smack with her tail, turning once more to look at him, now that she was across from him. ''Ah, almost forgot about your little comment about bruising my face!'' She sat down, curling her tail around her. Her voice was light and playful, and her eyes held a teasing gleam in them. ''Threatening she cats now are we, Arty? Ah, come on I thought you were better than that, hun. What's next? Influencing kits to not listen to their parents?''She snorted, and looked once at the sky, a sigh coming from her maw. It had been a long day. A terribly long day, and now she was ready to accept the night, and wait to see what tomorrow might bring her.
One thing she did think about was Viola. Was she one of the sparkling stars, looking down at her? And, what about the unborn kits? Featherspeckle remembered hearing that if a queen died, she would give birth in starclan--if she made it that was. It was such sadness to know those kits would never see the light of day...and it was all her fault. If Martenthorn wasn't here at the moment, the feline would have no problem to break down. She had to blink away invisible tears, and she knew if she talked, her throat would choke, hitched on its own. Oh, how she wished she could change time and jump off instead pushing her friend off. After all, Moose deserved to be happy, didn't he? As a cat, there was a right to seek happiness no matter what it was. Featherspeckle's happiness depleted long ago, and now it was an empty hollow with ghostly help. There was no one who really paid heed to this, and if she played her cards well, no one will know about her inner hatred to herself. Within time, the she cat knew she would die. Whether from a broken heart, or inflicting the pain upon herself. Whichever may come first. But, what if this was a starclan's punishment, and just like Ryver, the she cat was suffering from living. Suffering from the pain and bad decisions she had made, and there was no way to go back and change it.
Let the past go. It may come to haunt you, but don't allow it to possess you. Featherspeckle took a quick glance at the other tom, and she wondered for a second what he thought of her, but thought best to not ask this question. Besides, watching a night sky was far better than hearing a thousand words.
Arty? The nickname was teasing, fun, and something he had never heard before. Unique. Different. Arty. To be perfectly honest, the tom liked the name. It was perfect. "Oh yes, that's exactly what I wanted." Part of his mind wasn't talking about the element of surprise. He had half-wanted her to play back, and that was exactly what she had done. Though he didn't think of it as her having done it because he wanted her to-- how could she have known that, anyways?-- he thought of it her having done so because she actually liked him. Actually wanted to play with him. This was a new experience for the tom, he wasn't quite used to having cats want to spend time with him.
After all, he was awkward and always unsure... and his past was less then desirable. How could it be anything but? He was a broken cat, with a broken mind. A broken heart. She broke my heart, mind, and soul. Shattered them. Ripped them apart. Shattered. A shattered mind, a shattered heart... how could he put the pieces back together? He couldn't. There was no way to fix a shattered heart, it would... forever be broken. And yet this was a good start on his way to becoming a better cat. Perhaps a shattered heart couldn't be fixed, but it could be patched in a way that would allow him to get a restart on his life. On everything that had happened so far.
And, it would allow him to heal Featherspeckle's as well. Maybe. Two halves make a whole. If he could just... fix it even a little bit, maybe their two halves would click. But right now? All the pieces and fragments were swirling around in confusion, trying to fix themselves before something bad happened, and Martenthorn wasn't quite sure how he was supposed to even begin. And yet, making this she cat as a friend had been a good idea. They would become closer. Eventually. And when the day came that they would be as one-- whoa. Slow down. His thoughts were definitely scrambled. He'd been so shattered, he'd almost forgotten what was wrong with her as well.
Both of them had bad pasts in a romantic area. Both of them had been broken in that area. So what on earth made him think that they would make a good match? Nothing. He didn't have the right to think that. He didn't have the ability to think that. He had been stupid, and foolish, and he was beginning to realize that. Glancing over at her he gave the slightest hint of a smile. But friends... would work. That he could pull off, hopefully. More then anything else he wanted to be friends with the pretty, willowy pelted feline. But he doubted they would ever be anything more. And besides; even if they did, he doubted it would last for very long.
Did he really want to put her through something like that again? Did he really want to put himself through it? Maybe... he thought with a sigh, closing his eyes. There was no stopping the future. At her light hit, the tom laughed and swatted at her with a paw, his paws being somewhat larger then he would have preferred them to be. It only added to his awkward appearance... and made for quite a sight, even when he was just walking. But, Featherspeckle didn't seem to mind. He wondered how come she, like everyone else, didn't comment on his personality or appearance or temperment... or something else about him. Was she blind? He hadn't meant that literally, obviously he would have been able to tell before now, but... still he wondered.
Her words made a purr rumble in his throat and he turned his golden hues on her. "Oh no," He opened them wide in mock innocence. "I would never do that." He added teasingly, before he opened his hues just as wide again. "Next is definitely going to be..." Martenthorn's voice trailed off and he thought for a moment, the tip of his tail twitching. Surely there was something that he could think of. Anything. Aw come on, Martenthorn! He thought in an irritated manner, waiting for his mind to work in a way that would allow him to discover something.
"Teaching kits the best way to sneak out," He finished with a definite nod. Of course he wouldn't actually do that. The tom didn't like the thought of kits sneaking out into the territory, he found it irresponsible that parents didn't keep a close enough eye on their own children and didn't care enough to make sure that they didn't escape. His thoughts kept turning back to the way she called him Arty. Such a cute nickname... it made him feel like he was a young apprentice, getting ready to go hunting with the she cat of his dreams. That escalated quickly-- but the tom didn't seem to mind, he was definitely enjoying Featherspeckle's company.
And, he knew that she would probably be the only one to ever call him Arty. No one else would think of so much as giving him a nickname, let alone such a quirky one as that. But, he loved it. It was sweet. It was short. It sounded like the type of thing that Martenthorn would remember for the rest of his life. And, not only because it was given to him by a friend, but because it was given to him by her in particular. To be honest, he hadn't thought of her as the nickname-giving type. And yet, now they both had special names for each other. Ones that he believed no one else would ever be using and if they did, well... he would come up with another one.
A sigh escaped him and he settled down next to the female. "When-- back with... your friend, and..." His voice trailed off and he stopped. Of course. He wasn't able to get the words out, thanks to his very own special personality. 'Special' meaning messed up, what was wrong with him? "That is to say, did you ever like to stargaze? Just watch the night sky, and Silverpelt..." His voice trailed off. Ryver had never understood the concept of Silverpelt, to her, they had always been just stars. That was something he knew all too well. She was a cat that he wished he had never met, and yet he would never be able to get her out of his mind.
She was always there, smiling. 'Oh Martenpaw. Such an sweetheart, aren't you?' The first day they had met. Martenpaw. He sort of missed the name, just because of the past that it held. But if he had always held onto that, he never would have become an apprentice. No-- he was glad. Glad she was gone. Glad that part of his life was over. And hopefully, now that he had layed everything out on the line for her, she would leave him be. And he? Well, he would be free to do what he wanted to do. Not necessarily meaning that he would be doing bad things, but he would be free to hang around Featherspeckle without fear. He would finally release the past and embrace the future.
I mentioned on my profile that I was starting over. A fresh start is best for me right now; I've created quite a few new characters, and they will all be on my site, but not all will be used in roleplay right away. it's likely I'll bring them in more gradually.
The chilling shriek of a crow broke through the silence that the territory held, making a calico apprentice jump. Her amber hues narrowed in annoyance. Everpaw had come out here today in search of prey. Her mentor hadn't yet taught her much about hunting yet, so that had become another goal of hers- catch a piece of prey without any training. The she-cat only knew a few things about hunting. She knew that you had to be quiet and attentive, and that was about all she knew. That didn't seem to matter to this calico she-cat though, she was determined and ready for anything. Well, ready for almost everything, she hadn't been expecting that crow to be so loud. Stupid crow! Everpaw thought. The bird's cry had ruined her concentration and made her rather flustered. Now she was quickly regaining her face of concentration, glancing around in case something else was going to try and scare her.
Sighing, the calico decided to try and do something she'd seen a few warriors do before. She made sure that she was facing the wind and parted her jaws. It was interesting to see how Everpaw could pick up something by just watching someone. A scent lingered on the wind and the apprentice could taste it well. However, do to her lack of training, she had no idea what animal owned this scent. Still, Everpaw walked in the direction it was coming from, gaining speed the further that she walked. Soon, she was at the point where the animal was on the other side of the bushes. The apprentice halted suddenly and crouched down, bunching up her muscles. This was what was supposed to happen right? Her hunting crouch was okay, but her tail was waving all over the place and her back legs needed to be bent further down. With that, she leapt, letting out a 'battle cry' as she did so. As she was mid-air, her eyes widened in surprise as she saw it wasn't a piece of prey, but rather a ginger apprentice. She shut her eyes tight as she braced for impact.
Amberflame was honestly starting to warm up to her young apprentice. After all-- playfulness could be tolerated. As long as they weren't lazy. Oh StarClan, please don't let them be one of those cats who gives she cats the title of 'lazy nobody.' She thought with a growl. After all, some toms thought females were just for show. For play. To show off, and then to discard. Amberflame was always trying to prove that they were so much more, but it was difficult when there were she cats who were flirting, lazing around, and acting like toms were going to do everything for them. They made her sick. They made her want to scream. And yet she tolerated all of this. Why? Because she knew someday, somehow, they would get what they deserved. Someone would see to it. Someone had to see to it. And she was absolutely, positively certain that someone would. It might take a day or two, however. That was fine by her, just as long as someone was able to prove the toms wrong and she cats right. That was all the pretty feline cared about, after all. Proving toms wrong.
An experience that some might say made her like those cats. But, Amberflame never listened. She wasn't the type to listen. She glanced down at Minkpaw and her gaze seemed to flicker a little, growing just the tiniest bit softer. "Alright. We'll go check out the borders next, but first..." She padded along, flicking her tail for Minkpaw to follow. "Welcome to the territory." She finished. The first part of the territory wasn't too splendid, but once you got a little further away from camp, there were lots of scents and sights to see. Everything was brand new. And, Amberflame couldn't blame her apprentice for being excited back here. There was just so much to do! It made her feel like she should be doing something, always, running around and figuring out things to do. Her expression flickered again as she glanced down. "What can you smell." It was a question, but the feline voiced it as a statement. Odd. But then again, 'normal' wasn't really one of the words that would be used for Amberflame. She was definitely not a normal cat.
I mentioned on my profile that I was starting over. A fresh start is best for me right now; I've created quite a few new characters, and they will all be on my site, but not all will be used in roleplay right away. it's likely I'll bring them in more gradually.
Last edited by lone; April 20th, 2017 at 07:31 PM.
The chilling shriek of a crow broke through the silence that the territory held, making a calico apprentice jump. Her amber hues narrowed in annoyance. Everpaw had come out here today in search of prey. Her mentor hadn't yet taught her much about hunting yet, so that had become another goal of hers- catch a piece of prey without any training. The she-cat only knew a few things about hunting. She knew that you had to be quiet and attentive, and that was about all she knew. That didn't seem to matter to this calico she-cat though, she was determined and ready for anything. Well, ready for almost everything, she hadn't been expecting that crow to be so loud. Stupid crow! Everpaw thought. The bird's cry had ruined her concentration and made her rather flustered. Now she was quickly regaining her face of concentration, glancing around in case something else was going to try and scare her.
Sighing, the calico decided to try and do something she'd seen a few warriors do before. She made sure that she was facing the wind and parted her jaws. It was interesting to see how Everpaw could pick up something by just watching someone. A scent lingered on the wind and the apprentice could taste it well. However, do to her lack of training, she had no idea what animal owned this scent. Still, Everpaw walked in the direction it was coming from, gaining speed the further that she walked. Soon, she was at the point where the animal was on the other side of the bushes. The apprentice halted suddenly and crouched down, bunching up her muscles. This was what was supposed to happen right? Her hunting crouch was okay, but her tail was waving all over the place and her back legs needed to be bent further down. With that, she leapt, letting out a 'battle cry' as she did so. As she was mid-air, her eyes widened in surprise as she saw it wasn't a piece of prey, but rather a ginger apprentice. She shut her eyes tight as she braced for impact.
Sunpaw was out in the territory, alone, a rare occasion for the flirtatious tom. He was practicing his hunting skills, which was one of his strongest suits. The golden tom had caught a bird earlier, buried it, and was now looking for other prey. Being a younger apprentice, only one moon into his training, he didn't know much, but he was a quick learner, and hunting was something he certainly excelled at. Sunpaw lifted his head and parted his jaws, sniffing the air for any scent of prey. All he got was a faint whiff of a blackbird, and Sunpaw supposed it hadn't been here in awhile. He suddenly heard vigorous shuffling behind him. Sunpaw's ears flew up, and he looked over his shoulder right as he heard a fearsome cry. Sunpaw only had tome to notice that the creature was a cat before it barreled into him. The impact of the pounce left the two cats rolling head over tail down a small slope, and landing abruptly at the bottom,
now in a small clearing. Sunpaw opened his eyes, blinking to clear away the dizziness. Once he had regained his senses, Sunpaw's ears flattened, and he looked at the cat who now lay on top of him. Her calico pelt was easy to recognize. With any other she-cat, Sunpaw would've made some flirtatious joke, but this cat was a close friend of his. No need for that here. "What'd you do that for Everpaw?" He meowed, his voice a mixture of anger and amusement. He flicked her with his long tail, rolling his bright blue eyes.
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Re: ThunderClan Territory
