To Close for Comfort

[maddykay]

The river ran steadily, carrying its cargo of
small fish, twigs, and other random assortments of
things along with it. The gurgle and lap of the water
against the riverbank was soothing, music to the
docile cat's ears. Her light grey pelt felt hot in the
afternoon sun and the thought of a swim crept into
her mind. Sliding gracefully into the water, Raindrop
returned to her element. She kicked out powerfully,
propelling herself through the cooling liquid.
As her body temperature went down, she began
to think about the coming months. The creeping cold
characteristic of a winter in the forest could already
be felt in the early morning. Small creatures scurried
more quickly than ever, storing nuts and berries to
be consumed during their long sleep. Birds were
becoming scarce, flying to warmer roosts. The water
itself was cooling at a remarkable peace and Sleekstep
soon found herself a bit uncomfortable in the chilly
water. She headed for the bank, shaking her head to
clear the water from her eyes. As she scurried up the bank,
the river water sliding easily off her sleek pelt, a delicious
smell reached her nose. A small water vole, crouching
unsuspecting nearby, was chewing on a shrivilled root.
Raindrop crouched into the firmiliar position and caught
the poor creature in moments. Swallowing the small
thing, another scent reached her nose. Thunderclan.
She gasped as she looked around. Being slightly
out of it when she left the river, she hadn't noticed
she'd gotten out on the Thunderclan side of the bank.
She had just killed and eaten Thunderclan prey.
Raindrop tripped over her tail in her haste to get back
to the water. This was not good. Not good at all.

[Thorn]

omg may i post here next Post claim! (this is thornpaw just not logged in)

[maddykay]

occ: yeah of course, this is a totally open board. I'd love to rp with anyone

[Thornpaw]

“You do realize that was Thunderclan prey.”

A lithe figure slipped from the underbrush, the gray tabby’s silver fur glided easily under folds of lean muscle. The Thunderclan apprentice was far past due receiving her warrior name, her body itched with irritation. The young cat was a more than a skilled fighter and did more than her share of providing for the clan. Her life was taking a steady decline, she herself becoming more distant and restless towards her clan mates. She felt as though her life was missing something. What annoyed her was that she did not know what it was. She gazed at the Riverclan cat with silent knowing. The cats body was still wet from her voyage across the stream, Thornpaw’s own body was suspiciously drenched, but she planed to avoid that topic. She was not particularly angry that the cat had eaten Thunderclan’s rightful prey, she was feeling a but odd to the rules lately. Now was that disloyal?

“The names Thornpaw.”

[Shiningstream]

"Thornpaw!" Shiningstream meowed, her voice sounding raspy. "Wait up!" The blue-gray tortoiseshell slowed to a trot, letting her fatigue slowly claim her breath, though her tail still lashed in annoyance. Thornpaw had been acting strangely for a while; Shiningstream knew why. She understood how it felt, always waiting for that one opportunity where she wanted to claim a position but seemed so far...

Stop that, she snapped at herself. Be reasonable.

Point being, Thornpaw was upset, and Shiningstream tried to find a reason where it was her fault. Maybe the warrior should have goaded Bramblstar more. Yes, that would work. Thornpaw was a strong, brilliant cat, and hopefully she would grow into a better, wiser warrior. And she was proud to call this cat her apprentice.

Shiningstream wasn't quite ready for the scene that appeared when she stepped through the reeds. Thornpaw had finally stopped, looking irritated but calm, staring at a sleek, drenched gray warrior. She looked hasty, possibly frightened, and the best part: it was a RiverClan warrior. The shock quickly melted from Shiningstream's gold eyes to a guarded, territorial glint. Great StarClan, don't they ever watch where they're going? She waited, watching Thornpaw to make a move to chase out the she-cat, but she didn't seem angry, to Shiningstream's surprise. I better take care of this. That's what a deputy would do.

"Fancy the taste of ThunderClan, I see," she mewed coolly, making her presence known. Her oddly sleek melt rippled like the waves on the river. "I'd be smart and leave before a less merciful patrol comes by."

[Thornpaw]

Thornpaw’s body stiffened at the all to familiar voice. The silver-gray tabby stood and turned to face her mentor. Shiningstream. The young cats looked away, embarrassed to be caught conversing with this Riverclan warrior. But what could she say? She had seen nor heard a trace of her mentor since her exit from camp, who’s to know she had followed her? Oh what does it matter? She had been caught deifying the warrior code. Her mentor was her idol, remembering all of those long training sessions and patrols. She had seemed to forget her loyalty, and let it slip. She was not the bouncy apprentice that had joined the clan so many moons ago. Clan life had changed her, but never had stole her optimism. Some of the old Thornpaw began to shine through.

“Shiningstream, I er…I was just…"

She stumbled over her words like a kit on it first legs. She shot a glance at the Riverclan cat but she still made no move to retreat.

[maddykay]

Raindrop was worried and a bit frightened at what she had done. She looked from one cat to the other, and made a decision. She had instantly liked Thornpaw because she hadn't attacked Raindrop after discovering what she'd done. That kind of mercy and patience was hard to find in the clans nowadays. "The cat was just telling me to leave," she said softly, submissively. "I meant no harm, it was a mistake. I'm sorry." She flattened her small ears to her still wet head, bowing it slightly in respect to the Thunderclan deputy. "Please let me make it up to you." Raindrop continued, giving the pair a small, nervous smile.

[Thornpaw]

Thornpaw’s eyes widened at the Riverclan cats comment. She had made no move to send her away, or even attack because of the prey mistake. Had this cat just saved her from an embarrassing blunder? Yes? She was so frozen she made no move to speak, but she hid her surprise with practiced precision. Thornpaw felt bad about not sharing her dilemma with Shiningstream, but caution held her make. Curiosity killed the cat, right…right? Oh well that doesn’t make sense… The tabby apprentice sneezed, feeling suddenly cold despite the sun warming her back. What was she to do? She snuck a grateful glance in the cats direction.

[maddykay]

Raindrop smiled and walked towards the stream. She did so slowly, intending to portray to the cats who'd found her she didn't intend to turn and run. Crouching low above the water, her slender tail curled and swung back and forth a few times. Her grey coat blew and dried in the wind. Suddenly, in a motion quick as lightning, her paw darted into the chilly stream and out flew a long fish. It was plump, even compared to the fish during times of plenty. Grasping it tightly in her white teeth, she strode back to the pair and laid it at their paws. "I know a bribe is no way to handle these types of things," she said guiltily, "and I don't intend for this fish to wash away my mistake." She glanced at the rather old apprentice before continuing, "But this fish will feed more in your clan than that vole would have. And if it's possibile for some to overlook the taste, I think they'd rather enjoy it."

[Shiningstream]

(Shiningstream isn't the deputy, she just wants to be ^.^)

Shiningstream turned her attention to Thornpaw as she spoke, fumbling her words and looking down in embarrassment as she failed to defend herself. In her apparent surprise, Shiningstream tried to stir the serious, wannabe-deputy inside her to give Thornpaw a look of disappointment or scorn. She had expected her apprentice to drive out the cat in place of her warrior ceremony, not having a light chat.

But still, Shiningstream couldn't bring herself to look mad. How could she? Thornpaw had come into ThunderClan as a loner, and Bramblestar had entrusted her on her first day to depend on Shiningstream as a mentor and friend. Great StarClan, she even thought of Thornpaw as the daughter she never had. The young warrior sighed, looking tired at first, and then regained herself to lick Thornpaw's ear.

Now the RiverClan warrior had spoken, dropping down in the lowest form of submission that a young warrior would give to a superior cat in times of fear. Shiningstream found that odd. This warrior looked no older than herself. Maybe she had mistaken my tone as authority...did she think I was the deputy? Shiningstream felt like she glowing, and considered letting the warrior off completely for the compliment. But that's just not how the warrior code worked.

"Very well," Shiningstream answered, though her eyes were still guarded and her ear pricked for any sounds of a patrol. It would be an odd position to be caught in, and even more complient if the she-cat started to run as she turned back to the stream. Shiningstream watched her carefully, eyes narrowed and claws clenched in case she intended to escape. But the warrior was being honest; in less than a minute she returned with a fish big enough to feed a quarter of the Clan.

"Well, you must be wise enough," she said, refering to the bribery remark. "But I thank you. This is more than enough retribution I thought you'd be willing to share." Shiningstream sniffed the fish before looking up again. "My name is Shiningstream. This is my apprentice, Thornpaw."

[maddykay]

ooc:sorry, my mistake

Raindrop nodded, glad her repentence had been accepted. She sat and wrapped her tail around her paws to keep them from the chill wind that had just picked up. "Nice to meet you. My name is Raindrop." she replied.

[Thornpaw]

Thornpaw smiled. She was happy that they were getting along. Its good to have friend in other clans right? Her fur lay flat once more, comfortable flexing her claws in the soft ground of the bank. The fish looked delicious, its coppery silver scales shone in the sun, glistening with the water that still lay fresh in its body. To be quite honest she had never had fish, let alone caught one. Maybe she could learn one day…yes that would be fine. Thornpaw gave a little purr and shared a greeting with the Riverclan cat. “Nice to meet you Raindrop.” This really was a hilarious position, in Thornpaw’s mind anyway. What would happen if they were caught bye Bonefoot, the clan’s notoriously bad tempered deputy. She shivered with mischief. Wouldn’t that be a sight!

[maddykay]

Raindrop nodded and smiled at the apprentice, also happy they were getting along. She didn't want any trouble, and she was pleased her overture of friendship and repentence had calmed the waters. She was starting to get pretty comfortable talking with these two cats. Even though she hadn't met them before, she knew they'd be friends in the future.

[Nightclaw]

Tigerpaw trotted along the river bank looking for a good place to hunt. She soon found a flat rock, hanging slightly over the river. Perfect! Tigerpaw thought. She slowly crawled along the rock, being careful not to slip off of the slippery edges. Her extended claws on her abnormally large paws were uslessly scraping up and down the rock. After some effort, she had a good grip on the rock, and was ready to hunt. She waited for the right moment to strike. Her paw flashed down, but she was too high up and the fish skimmed right under it, throwing her off balance. "Woah, woah!" Tigerpaw screeched as she lost her grip and fell into the icy water below. Tigerpaw could swim just fine in any normal situation, but this was her first winter as an apprentice, and though she was bigger then many older apprentices, she was less experienced, and the cold water gave her quite a shock. When the shock faded, she swam upwards, her strong muscels propelling her up to the surface, her lungs were screaming. She gasped for a breath, and swam for shore. Once Tigerpaw had caught her breath, she stood and looked around to see where she was. Oh dear StarClan! I'm in ThunderClan! Tigerpaw walked along the bank with her ears down, looking for a safer place to cross back through the river into RiverClan territory. She scented the air again, to make sure no ThunderClan patrols were about, when a scent hit the roof of her mouth. RiverClan! Tigerpaw raced towards the scent, knowing that she would be safer with another RiverClan cat.

Soon she could see Raindrop. She was about to call out to her when she saw Shiningstream and Thornpaw, two ThunderClan cats. She raced out to help Raindrop, hissing and trying to be brave, all the while knowing that she would be no match for even the slowest apprentice in her state. She was just too tired.

[maddykay]

Raindrop's ears swivled quickly around in Tigerpaw's direction a moment before her head did. In surprise, she stood and immediately approached the young, and rather inexperienced, apprentice. "Tigerpaw," she said sternly, "why are you here? You looked soaked to the bone, did you fall in?" Her faced softened and she grew worried as she gazed down at the soaked little cat. She looked worn out. "Don't hiss at them, this is their territory and I'm not in any danger," she poitned out as she gave the apprentice a few licks on the face. Cold water droplets fell onto her small, grey paws as she did so. Raindrop hadn't noticed how much the blazing sun had receeded, making the river even colder than it had been when she first came this morning.