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Post by Pantherpaw on Jun 2, 2007 9:42:54 GMT -5
An almost silent, hardly noticble breeze shifted through the camp, punctuating the soft breathing of many sleeping cats. Every now and then there would be a yelp, or a sharp meow, the sounds of cats dreaming. But then they would fall silent, and the stillness of nighttime would once again cave in. Most cats would be asleep now. They had duties they had to perform in the morning, when the sun returned to the sky. However, one cat was not amoung those wasting away the night.
He sat outside of the apprentice den, hidden in the shadows. A large head lay upon two over-sized paws, as a night-black pelt rose and fell in the pattern of breathing. Two hardly-blinking, crimson eyes stared out onto the dark Shadowclan camp. A sharp exhale escaped from his maw, and a long, graceful tail flicked through the dirt. Fools. Spoke the berating thought, as the apprentice lifted his head slightly. You sleep the night away...there is so much to be explored as the night wears on.
As these thoughts entered Pantherpaw's mind, he began to rise, his over-sized body stretching out to relax the muscles. Yes, exploration was best done in the night time, where a cat like himself could sneak from camp, unnoticed, and go into the woods. And so, he stayed close to the ground, and began to move forward. He wasn't sure if anyone was guarding the camp on this night, though he was sure there was. It was to be expected, afterall.
Still, this apprentice was used to breaking rules and such, and knew the best places to sneak away. However, even he had some trouble seeing very well in the dark. And so, when he tried to move into the woods, he was surprised by a sudden latching on his fur. He tried to move forward, and couldn't. Then he tried to move back, and couldn't. And thats when he realized...
He was stuck.
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Post by winterleaf on Jun 3, 2007 21:01:26 GMT -5
The tip of a lean and sleek, silver-blue tom twitched slightly in anticipation. Wide, emerald orbs glittered among the reeds that grew near the vast lake as they watched a semi-plump mouse, seemingly snoozing peacefully on the damp dirt.
"GOTCHA!" Legs like springs, the tomcat leapt with a triumphant yowl before his claws pierced the prey's neck, killing it instantly. Darkstep wasn't on a hunting patrol, but had realized that he enjoyed hunting more when he was off duty than when he was on it.
Darkstep's big paws got to work burying the mouse, and when he looked up he noticed the tom laying beside some twigs. He blinked once in slight surprise since he had believed he was the only one out there, but a grin soon appeared.
"Hi, Pantherpaw!" he meowed in his ever-enthusicastic way. "What brings an apprentice out here?"
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Post by Pantherpaw on Jun 4, 2007 14:45:30 GMT -5
The one comfort that the apprentice had was that he could not be seen. He had time to free himself, he need not be caught in this embarassing situation. At least this is what he thought. He realized how wrong he was when a loud yowl split the air, followed by the scent of fresh-kill. Another cat was out...hunting.
Pantherpaw sniffed the air, trying to identify who it was. Hopefully it was part of his own clan...how horrible would that be, being caught by an enemy cat! But, luckily, the scent carried to him on the breeze was definetly Shadowclan. Unfortunatly, with his underdeveloped skills, and because of the heavy fresh-kill scent, Pantherpaw could not figure out just who it was.
Until they spoke. Quickly, he spied ahead, and was soon able to make out a shape. When the cheerful words hit his ears, he realized who it was. Darkstep. The tom cat seemed pretty happy, and calm, and obviously didn't realize that Pantherpaw was stuck. Well, it was better to keep it that way.
"Uhm. Hi, Darkstep. I, ah, I just wanted to explore a little bit. I wasn't going to go far..." Came the reply. Pantherpaw's meow was muted, quiet, he was obviously not used to speaking so much, at least not out loud. His tail, hanging on the ground, flicked once. Would the warrior realize he was stuck, and alert the camp, bringing everlasting embarassment onto the apprentice? "Uh, that sounded like a good catch, Darkstep." Pantherpaw added.
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Post by -.NighTSighT.- on Jun 6, 2007 20:20:29 GMT -5
"What's wrong Darkstep? Do you want to wake the entire Shadowclan?" The rough voice of Khansoul spoke, as a lean orange cat appeared from the shadows. His yellowish eyes shinning in the night, he caught the movement of a cat nearby. His claws unsheathed dangerously and instinctively-- he had been in a night patrol by himself; too distrusting by the sudden appearances of the rogues on Shadowclan, but he retracted his claws as he realized, by scent that it was merely a Shadowclanner. Lightly but determinedly did he walk toward the dark shadow, and his eyes narrowed as he recognized Pantherpaw, "You know the warrior code, an apprentice shouldn't be out at this time, and without the supervision of a warrior. Something could've happened to you..." His whiskers twitched with irritation and impatience, "Worse than getting yourself stuck that's for sure, ironic, isn't it?" He sat taking a deep breath, and curled his bushy orange tail around his body, his yellow eyes staring expectantly at the apprentice.
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Post by Pantherpaw on Jun 7, 2007 14:56:56 GMT -5
Pantherpaw's hope that he would get out of this situation unembarassed, without getting into trouble, and unscaythed vanished as a rough voice spoke from the corner. In the darkness walked the orange cat, the warrior Khansoul. As the berating, irratated words came, Pantherpaw couldn't help but hang his head, his ears flattening. He didn't meet Khansoul's, nor Darkstep's eyes, but instead staring at the ground, feeling his head grow hot.
"I'm sorry Khansoul. I-I couldn't sleep, so I thought I'd explore a little...I wasn't going to go far..." Pantherpaw mumbled, blinking slightly. This was just wonderful. Not only was he stuck, but he had gotten caught. Could this situation turn out any worse?
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Post by winterleaf on Jun 7, 2007 16:30:30 GMT -5
"Calm down, I'll help you out" Darkstep rasped in his usual harsh and cold voice. The dark tom heaved towards the apprentice and pressed his muzzle over his flank in the attempt to flee him without harming him. "How did you get stuck anyhow?" he inquired, lifting his eye brow curiosly. He bowed hastily at Khansoul catching a glimpse of his orange pelt. "Help me out will ya'?" he mumbled below his breath quite smoothly.
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Post by -.NighTSighT.- on Jun 7, 2007 17:16:38 GMT -5
His yellowish eyes still stared expectantly at the dark silhouette of the apprentice, and his eyes did not live him when he shook his head slightly to inform Darkstep that he was not about to help. His rough voice spoke in a murmur, "Pantherpaw must get out by himself." This times his eyes did leave the apprentice and turned to his dark clanmate, "Shadowclan's cats cannot afford any weak cats..." He gave a quick scanning look at the shadowy surroundings were the apprentice had stuck and meowed, "...and I believe Pantherpaw can get out of this. The more obstacles you face the more experience... besides a little independence wont go bad, if you decide to explore by yourself, you need to solve your problems alone-- if you take the risk to go off alone, let it be that you may handle the situations favorably, to your own interest."
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Post by {Jade on Jun 8, 2007 14:59:08 GMT -5
JadeEyes formed in the shadows behind the few cats. Her green eyes blinked, getting used the the pale shine from the moon. She stretched her legs and appeared almost at once by Khansoul's side. Her eyes looked mysterious with the moon's glow refelcting within and a smile crossed her mystic face. She sighed deeply before speaking her words, "What happened now?" she groaned. She had sensed danger in the shadows and had come to investigate.
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Post by Pantherpaw on Jun 8, 2007 16:47:04 GMT -5
At first, if only to avoid any further embarassment, Pantherpaw was happy to accept Darkstep's help. But as Khansoul began to speak, that happiness vanished. The warrior was right, of course. What was he thinking? He needed to get out himself...he couldn't accept any cats help. It was practically a Shadowclan code...take care of yourself. If he was ever going to be a strong warrior, the fighter he wanted to be, he had to learn to take. care. of. Himself.
"I can get it." He said to Darkstep, trying to not to snap, like he wanted to. The other cat was just trying to help, afterall. Pantherpaw stopped his struggling for a moment, and tilted his head, his tail thrashing behind him.I can do this! He snarled at himself, before he began wiggling, instead of pushing like before. Slowly, he began to move forward, and with a glimpse of fury in his eyes, aimed towards the bushes surronding him, he pushed his way out of them.
"I did it!" He said, his voice still soft, but more full of energy then it seemed possible for the introverted apprentice. He looked to Khansoul, hoping to get some kind of praise.
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Post by -.NighTSighT.- on Jun 8, 2007 17:26:52 GMT -5
In the orange warrior's muzzle the slight trace of a weak smile formed as Pantherpaw made his way out, but he kept it to himself, without a word to the apprentice, Khansoul just gave a brisk nod of approval, then turning his head to his mate murmured, "Don't worry, we couldn't handle." He gave Pantherpaw a slight searching look, and then referring to Jadeeyes meowed, his tone softer and the roughness of his voice banishing only when he spoke to her, "How are the kits doing?"
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Post by {Jade on Jun 11, 2007 17:11:20 GMT -5
Jadeeyes smiled, "Oh they are doing fine." she said happily. Then she spoke at a low whisper, "But I think Virtuouskit can go into shadows. I hope she never finds out.." she cried in a low voice. She put her head against her chest, "Its all my fault," she whimpered.
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Post by -.NighTSighT.- on Jun 11, 2007 17:18:21 GMT -5
Khansoul's yellowish eyes widened in alarm, his only daughter... no! He couldn't let that happen. He gave Jadeeyes a soft lick on the head, "Don't worry let's just hope she never finds out."
"Momm-a." A squeal came from a tiger striped kit, he looked at his both parents with wide red eyes-- just like those of his uncle, Bloodyheart. He frowned, "Du sscaped!" He turned to the apprentice and his head tilted in wonderment, "Whod you?"
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Post by {Jade on Jun 11, 2007 17:20:38 GMT -5
Virtuouskit padded over her head held proudly. "Whad Cont I know Daddy?" she asked.
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Post by Pantherpaw on Jun 11, 2007 18:49:02 GMT -5
Pantherpaw couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed like he would not be getting into the trouble he thought he would. Khansoul seemed more worried about his kits...which further fed Pantherpaw's admiration for the warrior. He seemed so cold...but he obviously cared a lot for his little kits...and his mate. For a moment the apprentice envied the couple...but it was gone in a second. He was happy being how he was.
His ears twitched as a small voice entered the fur there, and he turned, meeting the eyes of the small kit that was speaking. "I'm Pantherpaw." He told the kit, puffing out his chest a bit, trying to act important because of his apprentice status. "Who're you?" He asked, not remembering the kits name.
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