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Post by Pantherpaw on Jun 10, 2007 18:54:32 GMT -5
It was a calm, nice day, with the newleaf sun shining down on the forest. Leaves rustled in a slight breeze, casting moving shadows along the ground. The chatter of birds could be heard throughout the area, and mice scuffled underfoot. They were completly unaware of the threat to them that lurked in the shadows, his glittering white pelt disguised with the dirt of the forest floor. Two mismatched eyes watched on unlucky creature. Every now and then the eyes would close in concentration, creating a solid black line through each of them.
Suddenly, the silent predator pounced, piercing claws running the rodent through. It had no time to react, not even to make a noise. The white creature bit deep into its neckline, killing it swiftly and silently. Then it lifted its head, holding onto the limp mouse in its jaws. It was a hunter of prey, ruler of the forest. It was a cat. Hawkmask, the Thunderclan warrior.
He quietly cheered himself on, and began to pad away, closer to his own territory. His bushy white tail flicked back and forth, ignoring the wonderful scents pouring away from the mouse. It was for his clan, not for him. His eyes glanced around, wondering if any others of his clan were out and about.
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Post by {Snarky} on Jun 16, 2007 18:49:35 GMT -5
Swiftcloud stepped out from behind the brush, a few stray leaves and clumps of dirt stuck to her pure white fur. She dipped her head in greeting, her sky blue eyes sparkling in the strong sunlight. She took a hesitant step toward him, shaking her pelt free of the unwelcome burdens before meowing quietly, "Nice catch."
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Post by Shiningstream on Jun 16, 2007 20:43:18 GMT -5
"I agree." The second voice belonged to Shiningstream. The young warrior was sitting on a rock jutting out from a swath of bramble bushes, observing the her Clan mate with interest. It had been a while since she had been hunting with a crowd; she gestured her tail below to a vole and two starlings that she had caught on a solo mission. Letting the sun catch her gleaming pelt once, Shiningstream leaped down in one fluid motion, as if she were wading through water, next to Swiftcloud. "Anyone like to share?"
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Post by {Snarky} on Jun 18, 2007 8:10:23 GMT -5
Swiftcloud smiled. "Thanks...but I'll pass." She rasped a tongue over her fur quickly, making sure it laid flat. She caught Hawkmask's two separately colored eyes with her own shining blue ones, dipping her head to him with a small smile. She turned to Shiningstream and dipped her head before turning and leaping back through the ferns.
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Post by Pantherpaw on Jun 23, 2007 22:24:43 GMT -5
Hawkmask was startled by the sudden voice, although not frightened or concerned. After a moment he recognized the she-cat, Swiftcloud. Hawkmask layed his catch upon the ground, purring slightly. He went to speak, when yet another voice broke through the forest. His eyes caught sight of Shiningstream as she lept down to the other cats, her voice also full of praise. "Thank you both, but it wasn't as impressive as it might have seemed. The mouse was unaware of me." He said, trying his hand at being modest.
His mismatched eyes flicked to Shiningstream as she continued on, and he purred again. However, once again, as he began to speak, Swiftcloud did so first. With her words came a grateful rejection of Shiningstream's offer, and then the she-cat was off. Hawkmask was a bit surprised at her sudden departure, but he thought nothing of it. Prehaps she had her own hunting to do. Instead, after she had departed, Hawkmask looked once again to Shiningstream.
"I, however, would be honored." He told her, grinning slightly and walking over to her and her catches. "A fine trio of prey." Hawkmask commented, dipping his head to his fellow thunderclanner. "It seems to me that you are a fair hunter yourself."
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Post by Shiningstream on Jun 24, 2007 14:44:59 GMT -5
Shiningstream purred, turning her head to her back to give herself a modest wash. It was nice to get a compliment every once in a while... "Thanks. I try to remember what Bramblestar taught me as an apprentice." Once again, Shiningstream slightly missed her apprentice life, always traveling with the Clan leader, being about as nosy as the next cat when it came to Gatherings and Clan news. And then, Shiningstream felt more confident as a warrior, trying her best to become deputy one day...
"Anywho," she began, bending down and taking a bite of her vole, "how was your day?"
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Post by Pantherpaw on Jun 25, 2007 8:34:40 GMT -5
Ah, Bramblestar had been her mentor then? Well, that certaintly explained her skills. If only Hawkmask had been as lucky. Even as this thought passed through him, he shook it off. That wasn't the way to think of your own mentor, he concluded, and let the thought pass. Instead, he reached down and took a bite of one of the small birds she had caught. The flavor leaked into his mouth, and he savored it.
His tail twitched at Shiningstream's question, and he swallowed the prey in his mouth. "It's been pretty uneventful. I've been out here most of the time, hunting and the likes. I've caught a nice amount of prey...it is running well today." He said, grinning slightly and taking another bite. Once he was finished with that one, he looked at the she-cat curiously. "What about your day?"
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Post by Shiningstream on Jun 25, 2007 16:22:22 GMT -5
"Oh," Shiningstream began thoughtfully, swallowing a thick wing section. "Okay, I guess. I mean,"-she gestured with her tortoiseshell tail humorously to her catch-"I think the prey is getting a bit too slow." Shiningstream sat down, curling her tail around her paws as she gazed at Hawkmask, uncertain of what she was trying to get out. She took a tentative step forward, feeling her whiskers twitch.
"Listen..." she mewed, "do you ever think... I mean, hope actually... Ah! I'm rambling." The she-cat licked her paw, drawing it over her ears, embarrassed. "Do you ever have any dreams about your life in ThunderClan? Like, I can't really explain. Do you understand?" It would be a miracle if he wasn't irritated with her yet.
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Post by Pantherpaw on Jun 25, 2007 19:33:50 GMT -5
Hawkmask swallowed the last bit that he had eaten, and leaned back, sitting on his haunches. He stared at Shiningstream, not in aggitation, but in curiosity and thoughtfullness. Buying for time, he licked one paw and drug it over first one ear, then the other. "Well..." He paused, tilting his head as he thought. "If you are speaking of hopes...things I want in my life...I can't say I think of that too often. I would like to have standing in Thunderclan...but truthfully, I am happy to just be in our clan."
Hawkmask then shuddered slightly, and stood on all four of his feet. "Well, I do have regular dreams. I dream of a cat I know but don't at the same time...a cat from my past maybe? He talks to me." He shook his head slightly, grinning. "But now I'm rambling. Why did you ask, Shiningstream? What are your hopes?"
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Post by Shiningstream on Jun 26, 2007 16:55:18 GMT -5
Shiningstream stood up again, about to blurt something out, but then thought better of it, deciding to tell him later. It wasn't common for Shiningstream to share her opinions or wants with another cat... not even with Moonflower, one of her best friends, or even Thistleclaw, the cat she used to love... Why did she feel so comfortable around Hawkmask? Was it because he was enthusiastic to listen, or was he just being polite...?
"I know this sounds, well, a little too ambitious... but I'd love to be Clan deputy one day." Immediately Shiningstream sat down, washing her tail, looking for something to change the subject when all of a sudden she remembered her earilier outburst. "You mentioned dreaming about a cat you didn't know. Odd as it seems, I understand where you're coming from. I often dream about this she-cat I never meant... or at least never remembered."
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Post by Pantherpaw on Jul 2, 2007 21:38:12 GMT -5
Hawkmask paused, looking at her, then let out a soft meow. It was not teasing or mocking, just a simple laugh. "I think many, many cats dream of one day being a deputy, and then leader, of their clan. As long as that ambition does not lead you to crime...then it is normal. Personally, I've never thought about it...I'm content in my standing. But maybe you will make it someday..." He stopped, and drug his tounge across his leg.
"I believe the cat I see is someone I should know...but I just can't figure it out. It sounds like it is the same for you."
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Post by Shiningstream on Aug 4, 2007 10:35:08 GMT -5
"I think so too," agreed Shiningstream. Her embarrasment was beginning to ebb away after Hawkmask gently dealt with the she-cat's ambition. He did say it could be natural... Oh! Don't think about that! Focus on the new topic.. "But my dream's are always so strange. For some reason I keep heading towards the outskirts of RiverClan territory... Then I round this bend of trees and I always end up at this small rickety Twoleg shack." Shiningstream lashed her tail in frustration. "I forget what happens next, but somehow I get this image of a huge, old ginger she-cat with green eyes."
Shiningstream began to twitch her body, feeling an odd wave of excitement. In a more inquisitive voice she mewed, "If you don't mind me asking..what are your dreams like?"
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