ShadowClan Territory

[Ziera]

// @Pepperkins

Stonefang had been thinking. Between Dawnstar’s rise to power, recovering from being poisoned (voluntarily), and an unfortunate mentor assignment, there was much for him to ponder. Being alone during a moment like this was ideal; solitude was the main reason he decided to slip out of camp and into the depths of ShadowClan territory in the first place. He didn’t care about a little twig snapping. But apparently, someone else did.

In his defense, Stone thought he was alone. Well. Right up until the scent of another clanmate filled his senses: subtle, unique, reminiscent of shredded grass. A voice rose behind him, confirming the new shadowcat’s approach, and Stonefang’s ears twitched. Just fantastic. Really. He couldn’t help but sigh, disappointed the quiet had been so short lived. Clearly time alone was too much to ask of the world.

Stone turned, gait confident and balanced, until his gaze collided with a pair of light green eyes resembling the shade of his own. He noted the tom’s tricolored fur—splashes of cream, ginger, grey—and slim but strong build. Those details, along with the baiting question… ah yes. This must be Windstrike.

They hadn’t interreacted directly per se, but Stonefang kept a mental tally of his clanmates. Their reputations, their intelligence, anything he might use to his benefit should the need arise. Some cats stood out more than others—but this one? Not too difficult to figure out, really. Windstrike was a troublemaker. All in all, useless to Stone for the time being. The grey tabby felt no need to put on a likable persona for him.

Stonefang’s lips twisted into a grin of cool indifference, revealing a row of white fangs. His voice was casual, smooth, if not laced with hints of sarcasm when he responded: “Are you implying I'm to blame for your failed catch? Are you quite sure you didn’t stumble on your own paws?”

Snark wasn’t necessary, but why not? Stone wondered how easy it would be to pull apart this cat’s resolve. Entertainment, however brief, might have to do as a consolation if he couldn't have silence.

[Ziera]

// @Finpaw | @bmkmb

Sparkpaw kept her eyes trained on Talonstone, ignoring the other apprentice’s smile. The warmth in it burned after her snide comment. She would not let Finpaw’s irritating, ridiculous, shockingly resilient kindness get to her. No way. Instead, Spark focused on the task to come.

Thrills of anticipation pricked her creamy pelt as she eyed the stream. How would it feel to be submerged inside? As far as she knew, very few shadowcats learned how to swim. Spark was curious how Talon learned himself, honestly. Spark made a mental note to ask about that later. Still! No complaints leaked from the little she-cat’s maw, which was shut tight with determination. Sparkpaw was ready for this. How great it would be to master a skill most of her clanmates would never learn! And yes, Spark admitted grudgingly, what Finpaw said was true. If she ever got into a situation where swimming was necessary or an advantage, if ShadowClan ever fought with rivercats for instance, the skill could save her life. And take others off guard… which was always fun to do.

Spark noticed how Talonstone watched them—reluctant, almost. It meant something, that look in his blue eyes, but she didn’t press him on it in front of Finpaw. Instead, Talon’s sarcasm made Sparkpaw roll her eyes right on cue. A smile crept over her lips. “I’d try the mud puddle! But only if you demonstrated for us first,” she teased. [The thought of Talon's frosty-white fur drenched in mud was pretty comical.]

Refocusing, Sparkpaw padded forward. She wanted to be first. First in the water, first in the stream. Why? Not only because she was ever eager to impress her mentor, but also because the she-cat really wanted to know what water felt like. It was such a curious, new, and interesting thing to try. Here goes nothing. Spark stepped into the rivulet after planning her first few steps.

The sensation was… weird. Not bad, though.

Sparkpaw started off confident, but slowed down when her paws sunk into the soft, pliant mud that lay beneath a glimmering film of water. She waded in further—then gasped. “It’s cold!” Spark exclaimed, but there was a grin on her face, undermining the dismay. The stream water licked at her belly fur. Spark took it slow, moving further in but holding her ground. She twisted back to catch Talonstone’s eyes as she did so.

The younger apprentice waited for his instructions, yes, but meanwhile, Spark searched inside for what felt natural in this new environment. StarClan! Being in water made Spark feel weightless. It was kind of awesome. And...a little terrifying. If the current was more powerful, if the stream was bigger, swimming might not seem like so much fun. “What now?”

[Caramel]

Originally Posted by Elementals

~Foggybrook of ShC~

The molly was thinking hard about what her and her newly apprentice should do since they just were assigned to each other. Ebony saved them by assigning them on a patrol for herbs which made her squeal with delight. The molly went to shoo out her apprentice wherever in the territory he was at so then they could go on a green adventure which would make her get to know Sparrowpaw better since bonding always helped learned likes and dislikes of a cat.

"Sparrrowwwpawww! We are going on a trip because of our favorite med apprentice told us to soar through the glades! Little herb patrol!" the molly chanted out of rhyme, "go go shall we! Pick anything magical like but the berries. Iris said some of them have yucky poison but I never tasted it so I wouldn't know. I will just trust Iris!"

{ @Goldenmac }

Sparrowpaw had been near the entrance of camp when Foggybrook called him over for herb patrol, Great the most boring one of all he thought, rolling his eyes when his mentor called him. The apprentice got up and yawned before padding over to Foggybrook. Our favorite medicine cat apprentice? Really? I hardly even know her. he thought.
"Were going on herb patrol? And just any herb? Nothing in specific?" Sparrowpaw asked.

[ChillCat]

Scorchstrike picked out a perfect spot to begin. "Now that you are an apprentice, you'll have to learn the basics first. First, the hunting crouch. What you do is get your paws under you, like this, and stay real low to the ground. Then you get behind your prey until you're almost on top of it, them BAM, you pounce." @RussetShade

[~Berry~]

Sunpaw nodded.
I know how to do that I have watched apprentices practice.
Sunpaw copyed and caught a mouse. @ChillCat

[ChillCat]

Scorchstrike grinned with pride. "Good job, but one mouse isn't going to feed all the elders. Try again, the same thing you did before." @RussetShade

[Pepperkins]

Windstrike
[ @Redtalon ]

As far as Windstrike was concerned, he would only be here as long as it took for the prey to filter back out of their dens. He didn't like to mingle with the lowlife considered his clan. In fact, every chance he got to get away from them as much as a dead fox. But as he made eye contact with the warrior, something about his gaze unsettled him. Unsure whether it was just his mind playing tricks on him or whether that was the other feline themself, he broke the gaze, instead glancing around quickly as he played it off.

A low growl rumbled in his throat as Stonefang accused him of stumbling rather than admitting to the crime. One of the many things he took honor in was his corrdination. Deciding he wasn't going to let this nusiance get the best of him, he gave his chest fur a quick lick, his tail lashing behind him slowly. Pausing for a moment, he looked back towards the cat, his signature smirk plastered on his face as he studied them.

He wasn't certain who in the world came out here just to walk around, but apparently this tom did. What was he doing in the first place? He had never been one to take intrest into other cat's business, but perhaps that could play into breaking this warrior down into the kit he inevitably was. This one always seemed to be staring off into the "I'm not sure how it works out there in la la land, but out here botching a hunt can be considered an insult," he finally replied, his lime eyes challenging the other's as he gazed back with a slight glare, "So yes, I am blaming you for ruining my hunt, to answer your question.

Snickering to himself as he tasted the air momentarily, ears rotating quickly to find literally any sign of life other than this fleabag. The sooner he could get out of here the better. Besides, he still had to pick up the previous catches he had buried throughout the territory before any other predators discovered them. Getting up to ruffle the dirt from his pelt, Windstrike gave one more glance over to the warrior as he stretched. "Unless you want Dawnstar finding out about 'the wandering warrior', I suggest you bring yourself along and catch something."

[Oh lawd this is the longest post I've ever written XP]

[~Berry~]

Sunpaw flicked her bushy tail.
She tracked a rabbit and caught it. @ChillCat

[ChillCat]

Wow, Sunpaw was a really good hunter. "Why don't we go back, it's getting late. You can give that to the elders. They'll be real happy." @RussetShade

[~Berry~]

@ChillCat
Sunpaw picked them up and hurred to give it to the elders.