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Post by Shadowkit on May 7, 2020 1:02:54 GMT -5
Shadowpaw inhaled a deep breath as Larchleap responded firmly to him. She spoke in a way that was reminiscent to how quickly and strongly Rainstar had responded to him when he put himself down, and he wondered why this was the second cat a time was telling him that something which was obviously true, wasn't true.
He did have to wonder what a bunch of cats from Thunderclan would see in him--an apprentice who could hardly hunt, couldn't fight, only knew how to fetch moss and maybe patch up a nest. Thrushsong had been nice to him, just like Rainstar and Larchleap, but why?
She offered him an answer not longer after he started wondering. Thunderclan is different. We are compassionate and brave. We welcome any cat that needs us. Her words echoed in his head, and his mouth parted like he wanted to say something, as his gaze focused up on her while his mind was too busy processing to say anything hastily in response. Before he could find a flaw in her offer of her clan's help, she pushed it a pawstep further.
You can honor her by living your life, for her and for you. It took him aback, and his mouth dropped from being parted into being agape. Honor her by living without her? What did she mean? What would him being here do that would honor his mother?
"That doesn't make any sense," He protested with a frustrated, yet quiet mew, his claws fighting against the floor beneath his paws. Though he protested, he had never been so attentive and focused in on Larchleap, so what she had said had clearly captured him. "You'll help me, so I can honor her by...by being without her? How does that honor her? Why...why would I want that? It doesn't make sense," He shook his head still contacting her gaze with his own as he tried to figure out what she meant, and how it was supposed to be a good thing. It didn't even seem to occur to him that his mother would want him to find something better than whatever was waiting for him in the ShadowClan camp.
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Post by Sand on May 7, 2020 1:52:25 GMT -5
Larchleap could only speculate why Shadowpaw continued to put himself down. It could be due to the way he was treated by Nightscar and his ShadowClan clanmates. But still, to her, it was disturbing. What kind of cat would be willing to treat their clanmate like rubbish? She was trying to make sense of it, but it was clear that she was struggling with it.
Though the black tom didn't have much experience as the ThunderClan apprentices, she thought he had potential. In her opinion, every cat had potential. As for Thrushsong, he had always been an approachable, kindhearted cat. It was no surprise that he treated Shadowpaw politely.
She was being pushy with her words and it was undeniable. Though Larchleap had no qualms about it for she was a believer in ThunderClan. Her mews may have been a bit too much, but seeing how strong she felt about her clan; it was fascinating for sure. However, the sight of the tom's maw dropping open caught her off guard. Had she gone off too far? She hoped not, but seeing his reaction left her to believe she had.
The orange tabby bit her tongue as soon as she thought of a rude remark. Her tail was lashing behind her in frustration without any thought to stop it. "Because I'm willing to bet Dawnstar's watching you from Silverpelt. Don't you think she would want you to become a warrior, Shadowpaw?" she mewed, meeting his gaze. Her tone was firm but slowly grew soft. "She tried to help you as much as she could while she was alive, but... she was a leader too. I think Dawnstar would want you to honor her by becoming something better, instead of whatever may be waiting for you in ShadowClan's camp."
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Post by Shadowkit on May 7, 2020 2:14:36 GMT -5
Shadowpaw went quiet as Larchleap proposed what she imagined Dawnstar would want for him. Dawnstar had gone out of her way to try to train him, since his absent mentor hardly ever gave him the time of day. She tried to give him the skills he was not learning from his mentor, all so he could hunt for himself and protect himself in a fight, even if hadn't been very successful. She...she had wanted him to learn these things.
He looked incredibly thoughtful, clearly considering and working through Larchleap's words. Honor her...by becoming something...better? Imagining himself...better was very strange to him, but what initially hadn't made sense to him was starting to seem sensible in his mind. My father is the only thing waiting for me there, isn't it? He gave a quiet, exhausted sigh, thinking about his own warning to her, that Nightscar would be coming to find him. Larchleap had said it then too, but now, after seeing the firmness of the leader as well, Shadowpaw was beginning to wonder if...if these cats actually could handle the monstrous cat. It seemed unlikely, but...Larchleap emanated confidence and strength, and it was captivating to the ShadowClan apprentice.
"I don't think I'll ever have what it takes to be a warrior," His gaze drifted up from Larchleap, back to the quiet beauty and splendor of Silverpelt. "But...If I have a chance to make her proud..." His voice cracked with sadness, and his unending love for his mother was clear once again. "Maybe you're right, and maybe she would tell me to learn how to be a warrior." He was holding back tears as he looked up at the pelt of stars, trying to envision a future where he was training, really training to be a warrior, to make his mom proud to have him.
"But can I do that...here?" He mewed, his gazing turning back down from Silverpelt, re-focusing once again on Larchleap. "Learn what...what makes a real warrior?"
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Post by Sand on May 7, 2020 22:55:04 GMT -5
Noticing his thoughtful look, Larchleap grew eager as her green eyes widened. It seemed that Shadowpaw had caught on and was thinking everything through. Was it success? Just a bit and she was going to take it as a win. As the sensibility kicked in, she felt pleased, almost fully content with her explanation. She had never considered herself an advocate... or whatever she had done here. Whatever the real term was, she was proud of herself. Confidence shone in her gaze while she watched the tom.
Her confidence was short lived, unfortunately. The moment the black tom admitted his thoughts of becoming a warrior, her face fell and appeared dumbfounded. She was about to speak, but Shadowpaw had (thankfully) interrupted her. Her demeanor changed in a flash and her eyes lit up. "I'm sure she would. Your mother would want the best for you," she mewed quietly. The young warrior was tempted to comfort him, but instead she held back. Now wasn't the time.
Another important detail that the orange tabby hadn't thought through presented itself yet again. How will he train? He isn't going back to ShadowClan, but maybe... she wondered before her ears pricked up, almost as if a theory popped in her mind. "Of course you can! We can even ask Rainstar about it," she declared, almost speaking too loudly due to the energy that radiated through her. "I don't know who she would pick to mentor you, but I'm sure whoever you get... they will teach you everything they know."
The thought of Shadowpaw becoming a apart of ThunderClan made her awfully curious. What would it be like for him and her clanmates? Would it cause any trouble? There were lots of perceptions bouncing in her head, but Larchleap reminded herself to live in the moment instead of the future. He can adapt... We can all adapt.
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Post by Shadowkit on May 7, 2020 23:44:56 GMT -5
Larchleap may have been good at keeping herself in the moment, but Shadowpaw couldn't help but let himself be overtaken by anxiety, by fears about what the future might hold for him. She was promising him a place in ThunderClan--not only safety, but...a mentor, and training, and...
Shadowpaw was caught up in two utterly different dimensions. His anxiety was yowling at him to not pretend he could be worth anything, that any effort put into him was going to be a waste of energy. Then, on the other paw, Larchleap's words were digging deep into him. She had done a good job getting into his head the idea of honoring his mother, of living his life with the goal of making her proud, even if he was still doubting how that could ever really happen.
Was Larchleap telling him that he could become a part of ThunderClan? Was that really what she was telling him? Disbelief filled his mind at the thought, the crazy thought of leaving his father behind, learning in ThunderClan. It seemed impossible, absolutely mouse-brained, but here she was, offering him this future. How was it possible?
It seemed so far away, so improbable, that he had to leave it for now. He took in a deep breath. "I...I don't know what to..." He trailed off, not even certain what he wanted to say. What didn't he...? Did he not know what to believe? What to trust in? What to do? It all felt like a giant puzzle that he just wasn't smart enough to comprehend.
His anxious gaze fixed in on Larchleap. She was giving him so much information on top of all of the fears he was already dealing with. He was processing so much now--she had given him something to wrestle with, something that could seem like a solution, a way to make his mother proud. He didn't know what was the right decision, what would really honor his mother and what would just...tread down the path of failure. Maybe it all would in the end.
The wind kicked up and the thin, malnourished tom-cat started shivering even more than he had been before. "I-It's getting cold..." He quietly murmured, staring up at her, and then down at his own paws as he bunched himself into a small lump of fur to try to combat the growing windchill. He needed time to think about all of this.
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Post by Sand on May 8, 2020 1:17:48 GMT -5
Larchleap had given Shadowpaw too much for him to process and even consider. It wasn't a lot of detail, it was more opportunities that he had to consider and make a decision about. It was an information overload to say the least. She, of course, found it rather simple to choose between the two. But that was Larchleap herself, not Shadowpaw. This was his decision to make and he had to weigh his options.
If the black tom chose to become a part of ThunderClan, she wondered if Rainstar would accept him. It seemed that the leader cared for him and hopefully Ravenfang felt the same. As for Mistythroat, the medicine cat probably didn't hold much of an opinion or that's what Larchleap thought anyways. It was a future, a bright yet complex one, that was at his paws. Why wouldn't he accept it? She could see all the benefits of being a ThunderClan member, but the cons... well, she couldn't think of one.
What if Shadowpaw refused? Wouldn't that mean he would leave ThunderClan and go wherever he wished to? What if Nightscar would find him and finish off what he started? She closed her green eyes tightly, trying to push the thought out of her mind. He was safe in ThunderClan and she felt that both cats knew that. He wasn't safe outside of the forest and that was evident on its own. Again, the reminder of Shadowpaw's choices were back in her mind and the orange tabby knew that it was his decision to make. She so desperately wanted to push him in the right direction despite it being selfish.
The strong wind distracted her, allowing the young warrior to forget for several moments. A shiver crawled up her spine, causing the she-cat to tremble lightly. She noticed Shadowpaw was shivering too, but more than she had. He was malnourished which meant he was going to struggle in the cold. Larchleap glanced at him before turning around to look at the medicine cat's den, which wasn't too far off. "We should probably head in," she suggested while turning back to the apprentice. "I don't want you getting sick from being out in the cold. You can head in first and I will follow, okay?"
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Post by Shadowkit on May 8, 2020 1:51:14 GMT -5
It was hard to make a decision. To the apprentice, it was choosing whether he would abandon his place of birth, as well as his father, against...well, a chance at being a warrior that just seemed...impossible. He was stuck in worry, in uncertainty, and he was trying to take in what Larchleap had told him to fight against those feelings.
When Larchleap noticed that the apprentice seemed cold, he looked back up at Silverpelt, a bit of sadness filling his gaze as he did so. He didn't want to leave, his mother had to be up there in Silverpelt and he wanted her in his sight, but...the wind was biting at his pelt forcefully, and once he looked at the warrior and saw that she was shivering too, he gave a quiet sigh. "Okay..." He murmured quietly, as he started to lift himself up from where he was crouched down on the ground.
He paused for a few moments as he rose up, gazing at Larchleap with his mouth partly open, as he considered asking her why she was trying to help him so much. Since they encountered each other in the territory, she had been particularly focused on trying to get him to ThunderClan, and though he might have been suspicious at first, everything she had said to him so far had seemed to encourage him down a path to get help.
He gazed at her for a few more moments, then turned away from her, towards the medicine cat's den. Even if he didn't know what the right way forward was, Larchleap hadn't given him any reason to doubt her-that was the truth. He set off for the den, taking about three quarters of the path before he glanced back to see if the warrior was following along. He took a breath, taking in their empty surroundings and the silence around them. "Thanks for talking with me. For...explaining the Code, and..." He sighed quietly once again. "I guess there's a lot I don't know, so...thank you for..." He found it hard to say anymore, just pulling his gaze away and saying nothing more.
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Post by Sand on May 8, 2020 23:31:09 GMT -5
It was best that Shadowpaw took his time to heal before making a decision on Larchleap's proposal. She had been quite eager about him joining ThunderClan which meant he had to leave everything he knew, since eh was a kit, behind. She could only hope he would make the right decision for him, based on what he found to be the best course of action.
It was clear to her that he didn't want to head into the medicine cat's den because of Dawnstar, but the weather was making the decision for Shadowpaw. She rose to her paws quickly, shuddering as the wind picked up yet again. The orange tabby's gaze met the black tom's, wondering if something was wrong. She was about to ask him if he was okay, but he soon turned way and headed for the medicine cat's den. I guess he's fine... for now, she thought.
If Shadowpaw doubted Larchleap, it hadn't ever crossed her mind. She was being as truthful as possible though there was some motive to push him to join ThunderClan. She wouldn't dare lead him astray for it felt too immoral to the warrior. She quickly padded after him, carefully watching Shadowpaw as he padded ahead of her. When he came to a short stop and took a breath, she halted behind him. As he spoke, she listened before uttering a word. She hadn't expected the tom to thank her out of the blue, but it was pleasant.
"You're welcome, Shadowpaw, but you don't have to thank me," she responded, padding forward so she was at his side. "I'm sure you'll learn more and more as time goes on. It's normal to not know a lot... I didn't know much when I was an apprentice either." The tabby touched her tail to his shoulder gently before pulling it away. Hopefully she hadn't crossed any of his boundaries by showing some support.
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Post by Shadowkit on May 9, 2020 0:10:03 GMT -5
Shadowpaw turned about to face her fully as she responded to him, feeling a sense of validation from her as she let him know that her experience as an apprentice hadn't been much different. Of course, Shadowpaw knew that most cats were a warrior by twelve moons, but...that wasn't the point she was trying to reassure him on, and he felt a bit of reassurance from her as she said so.
He gave a light smile as she touched her tail to his shoulder, and as she pulled it away he gulped, taking in how much she was putting into assuring him that maybe, if he tried, there could be something for him here. He turned his head to look at his nest, gazing at it for a few seconds before turning back to Larchleap. He blinked at her, about to say 'thank you' again when he rhesitated after having just been told not to thank her. He settled for a wider smile as he gazed at her, before padding towards the nest set up for him, stepping into it and curling down into a ball, giving a quiet sigh.
He glanced around the den, taking a few seconds to see if they had disturbed Mistythroat, before he glanced back towards the entrance of the den. Could he sleep more? He wasn't sure, but the den would at least provide a bit more warmth now that he had cooled himself out of his cold sweat. He couldn't see her anymore, but he looked up at the top of the den. I love you, mom. He thought before he settled his head down onto his paws, letting his eyes close slowly.
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Post by Sand on May 9, 2020 1:36:08 GMT -5
Though Shadowpaw was close to the age of a young warrior, Larchleap knew he could become a warrior. Even if it took a few more moons than the average apprentice, it wasn't his fault; he had been put at a disadvantage by his so-called mentor and Nightscar. The tactics he would learn wouldn't be like ShadowClan's but hopefully, if he chose to stay in ThunderClan, he could adapt to them. Not that she expected him to stay by all means...
Seeing his smile, the tabby smiled back before following him into the den. She could feel the warmth of her nest already which she had abandoned earlier for fresh air. It had been worth it though, so she didn't mind it at all. As he glanced at her again, the young warrior waited for Shadowpaw to speak but nothing came out. His wide smile made her purr quietly in joy and she took her place in her moss nest. Not too far away in the den, any cat could hear Mistythroat snore.
The orange she-cat rolled on to her side and let her head fall on to the nest's bedding. She was tired, but not as much as before. Hopefully she would wake up after dawn so she could find a decent piece of prey for herself and Shadowpaw. If not, she would be stuck fighting an elder for it. Mumbling, she closed her green eyes and let herself drift off to sleep.
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Post by Shadowkit on May 9, 2020 4:20:54 GMT -5
It took a bit for Shadowpaw to let himself slip out of his anxious mind, but eventually he was back to sleep and drifting into the dream world. Dreams still refused to let him be, but what had been nightmares were blurrier, strange walks through a forest of dead trees and, though he swore he could see the outlines of cats in the distance, no cat pursued or presented themself to him.
So it was that he had a slightly better sleep pattern for the remainder of the night. He didn’t sleep like a rock, but when the early dawn light came peaking through the den entrance and announced the sun was rising in the sky, Shadowpaw blinked his eyes open, taking in a deep breath and not giving protest to being awake. Really, he had slept plenty.
He slowly lifted himself from where he was curled up, onto his haunches to sit as the first rising daze hung over his head for a few moments. Then, he lifted up onto his paws, giving himself a small stretch and a strong yawn. Then, he looked around, first to Larchleap’s nest, and then to the medicine cat’s, checking if either was awake, or if he was the first. He still figured he should wake Larchleap before he stepped out of the den, but...it was pretty early. Maybe he could just...step into the air again, on his own?
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Post by Sand on May 13, 2020 23:19:30 GMT -5
Larchleap, being the heavy sleeper she was, was all sprawled out in her nest. She snored a bit here and there, though it wasn't too loud for one to be bothered by. The rising sun had yet to wake her and it didn't look like the warrior was ready to leave her nest any time soon. Her nose twitched as she slept before she stretched out her limbs without knowing. "Mm," she murmured, flipping over.
Mistythroat had been awake for a bit now as the rising sun had awoken him. He had to prepare the traveling herbs for himself and the warrior that was tagging along. He wasn't too far from where Shadowpaw and Larchleap were resting, but he heard the tom moving about in his own nest. He's up earlier than I thought he would be, the medicine cat thought. He had finally finished preparing the herbs and picked the two bundles up with his maw.
As he made his way for the den's entrance, he saw Shadowpaw not too far away. He flicked his long, feathery tail at the apprentice in greeting. "Good morning," he greeted, glancing over at Larchleap, who was fast asleep. It was likely that the warrior would wake up soon, though he wasn't quite sure. She looked like she was in a deep slumber.
"Did you sleep well? I hope I didn't wake you up," the white tom mewed, his voice mumbled by the herb bundles. It may have been hard to understand what he was saying considering he had a mouthful of herbs.
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Post by Shadowkit on May 14, 2020 2:08:36 GMT -5
Shadowpaw first noticed Mistythroat working with his herb bundles, and he quickly nodded to the cat before hearing his greeting. He responded with a quiet 'morning,' glancing behind him at Larchleap as she mumbled and flipped over in her nest. Blinking at the warrior, he felt like it would be a crime against the Warrior Code to wake her from what was clearly a deep slumber.
He turned back to the medicine cat and gazed at him while he spoke through his bundle of herbs. He was struggling to catch every word in his mumbling, but as he discerned the word 'sleep' he had to figure he was inquiring about Shadowpaw's rest. Still, he wasn't certain. "How did I sleep?" He repeated, waiting for an affirmation before he stretched a particularly stiff leg again. "I slept okay," He quietly murmured in response. He gazed up and out of the den at the morning sun that was peeking through. All in one moment, it struck him that he was looking up at the sun from a different camp...without the cats he knew.
"You're...you're going to the...umm, to speak with StarClan, right? You're going to ask about my mom?" He inquired, eager for the result of his quest and what StarClan had to say. Would he see Dawnstar? Some of his eagerness dripped in his voice as he stepped closer to Mistythroat, hoping he could hear better through the herb bundles. "Umm...Can I follow you out?" He quickly added after asking his questions.
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Post by Sand on May 15, 2020 23:23:18 GMT -5
It might have been best for Mistythroat to remove the herb bundles from his maw, but he hadn't thought it through. He was too focused on his trip to the Moonpool. His gaze drifted over to Larchleap momentarily who was beginning to shift in her nest. It seemed to him that the young warrior would be awake soon.
He nodded quickly at Shadowpaw's response, confirming that he meant to ask how he had slept. He was grateful that the tom had caught on to his inarticulate words. "I'm glad you did," he replied, his eyes following the apprentice's out of curiosity. The morning sun looked glorious as it always did, but it felt... different to the medicine cat. Hopefully he would get the answers he was seeking from StarClan.
"Yes, I will be speaking with StarClan today," he confirmed, trying to sound as clear as possible with the herb bundles in his maw. When the ShadowClan tom brought up Dawnstar, he wasn't too sure how to respond. It took him a small pause to provide an answer. "I will be asking for her. Hopefully she has answers for us, and for you."
The long-furred feline gave another quick nod, padding out of the den and into the rising sunlight. He could feel some of its warmth already and he let out a sigh of relief. Mistythroat dropped the herb bundles suddenly, glimpsing at Shadowpaw. "You know, if you want me to tell your mother anything... I can," he meowed, hoping he hadn't crossed any boundaries. "But if it's too personal then you don't have to. I just hope you understand that."
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Post by Shadowkit on May 16, 2020 0:36:36 GMT -5
Shadowpaw listened very intently. Nothing grabbed his attention as much as the thought of a cat possibly having contact with his mother, and when he specifically confirmed he would be asking to see Dawnstar, Shadowpaw sucked in a breath, holding it tight as he tried to figure out whether there were going to be any answers for them. The thought of him speaking to his mother...every fur of his pelt itched at him to ask to come with, to be able to see her himself, but he knew this was only for a medicine cat.
He gulped and followed Mistythroat outside of the den as he nodded in affirmation of his question. He was struggling to process his emotions, but that was nothing knew, and the bigger problem at the moment was his feeling that there was something so much larger than him that he couldn't control and that he was not going to be able to run from forever--whatever it was his father was doing.
Padding behind the medicine cat, he emerged from the den and looked up at the morning sky, a vista that was quite different from the one that he was acclimated to. The partial cover of the trees that sheltered the ThunderClan camp gave it a protected feel, though it wasn't as dark and obscured as his own camp, giving him just a bit more of a cozy feeling.
He stopped as Mistythroat suddenly turned his head to Shadowpaw, causing him to freeze as if he had transgressed in some way--but what the medicine cat offered left the apprentice stunned, his mouth half parted as he didn't know what to say. Offering to bring a message directly from him, to the paws of his mother...
He didn't think too long about how it might have been an infraction on the ruleset given to the medicine cats of the clans. If it gave him a chance to communicate with his mother, he would have given a message to a badger. "Y...you will...?" He stammered, already feeling that the medicine cat meant what he said, but almost having to ask it to give himself permission to accept the offer.
"T-tell her I love her!" He blurted out, desperation ringing in his mew as he ached for another chance to say that to his mother. He wanted her to be here, by his side, so she could hear it herself, but now this was his only way. Yesterday, he didn't think she would ever hear it from him again.
"A-and..." He looked down at his paws, the desperation leaving his voice and being replaced with trickles of doubt. "Ask her what...What I'm supposed to do without her." He shuffled his front paws around, not sure what Mistythroat was going to think of him not having a clear picture of what he would need to do after this. Larchleap had been sympathetic from the start, and she hadn't judged him at all. Would Mistythroat? He couldn't remember what the medicine cat had mumbled to him when he broke the news of his mother's death, but he hoped he wouldn't be judged for his uncertainty now.
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Post by Sand on May 16, 2020 1:18:23 GMT -5
Dawn was one of the most stunning views for Mistythroat and, really, for all of ThunderClan. The way the trees partially covered the sky, its pink and yellow gradient popping out was marvelous. It took his breath away most mornings, but this morning especially, it caused a hitch in his breath.
He had asked Shadowpaw something he shouldn't have, but his personal feelings were too strong to not ask the young tom for his wishes. If StarClan were to punish him separately for it, so be it. His clan and the apprentice did not deserve to suffer because of what he asked of Shadowpaw. He could only hope that Dawnstar would appear in his dreams while at the Moonpool and maybe, just maybe... she would have answers for him and her son. He had prayed the night before, pleading for a way out.
The frozen and stunned look on the black feline's face made his white whiskers twitch in anticipation. It was obvious to the medicine cat that he wanted to send her a message too and he had opened the door to it. "Of course. It's the least I can do," he mewed warmly with a soft look on his pale face. He really wished he could do more for Shadowpaw, but healing and asking for a solution was really all he was capable of.
The long-furred white tom listened to ShadowClan feline attentively, not uttering a word. He was going to make sure he would remember every word Shadowpaw spoke. He then heard the doubt seep into his voice and he tried not to waver. Oh, StarClan... he thought, glancing at the apprentice while he shuffled his front paws. I can only pray that you have something for me. Anything, really. I will take whatever you give me and use it to the best of my ability.
He wasn't too sure of what to say besides the harsh truth that lingered in his mind. That would be too damaging for Shadowpaw, so he settled for something more gentle. "I will be sure to ask her those questions. The moment I get back, I will come for you, is that okay?" he asked, leaning down to push the herb bundles ahead of him. "It might be best to wake Larchleap now, unless there's another cat here you are comfortable with?"
His odd colored eyes scoured the clearing and camp, searching for the warrior that was supposed to join him. If they were a moment late, Mistythroat wouldn't be the happiest cat around. He was impatient to leave. "I have to head off soon, Shadowpaw. If there's anything you need for your wounds or pain while I'm gone, feel free to ask someone," he added. "There's a few cats who know a bit about healing, but Rainstar or Larchleap may be good options."
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Post by Shadowkit on May 16, 2020 4:13:30 GMT -5
It's the least I can do. Mistythroat's reaffirmation was unmistakably positive, and paired with the softness in the medicine cat's gaze, Shadowpaw was left taken a bit aback by his receptiveness. He wasn't acclimated to this type of treatment from a standard clan cat, and while it struck him as really weird and he struggled knowing how he should feel about it...it felt...good.
Shadowpaw was attentive as Mistythroat explained what he would do, then asked if that would be okay. His eyes widened a little, then he nodded quickly. He felt better with the idea in mind that the medicine cat would come find him immediately to deliver whatever answers he found. "P-please," He quietly murmured in response after his affirmative nod.
He glanced back towards the medicine den. He didn't really want to wake Larchleap up, but even Rainstar hadn't emerged from her den yet and it seemed like the warrior he knew was going to be the best option. Looking back at Mistythroat, he listened to the instructions regarding his wounds. None of them were particularly gruesome, and he had truthfully grown accustomed to their presence. Hopefully, he wasn't going to need to waste anymore of the clan's herbs.
Shadowpaw nodded again when he finished speaking. "Thank you," He mewed quietly. "Thank you so much..." His voice dripped with gratitude as he gazed up at the soft-gazed tom-cat. What else could he say? An offer so personal touched him deeply, and the medicine cat topped it off with concern for his wounds. To the apprentice, Mistythroat was going unreasonable lengths to show kindness to him, just like Larchleap, and it was so different than what he was used to.
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Post by Sand on May 17, 2020 1:28:17 GMT -5
Mistythroat was more than glad to give Shadowpaw a glimmer of hope. Though he himself was skeptical of things, he pushed himself in his youth to become more hopeful. It opened new perspectives for him and, in his mind, it also allowed him to connect with StarClan more than before. He turned his attention towards the apprentice, hearing his quiet murmur. He gave a gentle nod before mewing, "I will. No worries, Shadowpaw."
The medicine cat's odd-colored eyes flicked away from the ShadowClan cat and to his den, wondering if Larchleap would wake up on her own or if the black tom would have to wake her up. Either way, the young warrior was the best option for him right now seeing that Rainstar and Ravenfang were both asleep in their respective dens. He knew when he got back from the Moonpool, a meeting would be called once he would divulge his findings. He could only hope that they were beneficial to the clan and Shadowpaw. If they weren't... well, he didn't want to think about that right now.
The gratitude that dripped from the apprentice's voice made the white tom's whiskers twitch in delight. His offer was more than enough, but Shadowpaw's thanks made his eyes glow with recognition. "You're very welcome," he whispered, touching his long, feathery tail to the apprentice's shoulder.
The silhouette of a warrior lingered not too far from them which informed Mistythroat that he needed to leave now. His gaze met the warrior's before he met the black feline's gaze once more. "Have a great day, Shadowpaw. Maybe Larchleap can show you around camp if you feel well enough," he added, picking up the herb bundles that sat at his front paws. "See you later." The tom padded away lightly, and soon reached his company.
It wasn't long after Mistythroat had padded off that Larchleap could sense the sunlight peeking through the medicine cat's den. She let out a groan before turning on to her stomach in her nest. She cracked open one of her green eyes, looking for the now familiar pelt of Shadowpaw's, but it appeared he wasn't there. Panic surged through her chest and her other eye flew open, rapidly scouring the den for Mistythroat. It took her several moments to realize that both toms weren't in the den anymore which meant they were somewhere else. I know Mistythroat was going to the Moonpool... but where is Shadowpaw? she wondered, stumbling out of her nest groggily. She needed to find the black tom and she needed to find him now.
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Post by Shadowkit on May 17, 2020 3:37:53 GMT -5
Shadowpaw's gratitude could not be contained within words--what Mistythroat had offered him was beyond verbalization, and the apprentice found himself unable to say more than repeating his thanks to the medicine cat as he stated that he needed to leave, and that he hoped the apprentice would have a beneficial day on his own.
He murmured a quiet goodbye as Mistythroat wished him a hopeful farewell, and the apprentice wondered if he should get to awakening the warrior immediately so that he could fulfill the hopes that the medicine cat seemed to have for him. It wouldn't really be a bad thing for Shadowpaw to get to knowing the camp quickly, as it didn't seem he would be leaving within a day or two...that was the truth.
He called a goodbye to Mistythroat, feeling grateful for the medicine cat's warmth, as he began a gentle pad back to the medicine cat's den. He stepped into the entrance, his eyes needing to adjust back to the more dim lighting of the den. That being said, the light was still breaking through into the den and it didn't take him too long to readjust.
He stepped into the den, his eyes moving straight towards where he thought Larchleap was sleeping. To his surprise, she was out of her nest, seemingly in an alert stance and more alert than he would expect for a cat just dragging herself out of sleep. "L-Larchleap?" He called very softly as he saw the cat alerted and almost...alarmed out of the nest where she had been sleeping before. His facial features showed his own concern for her as he gazed at her with wide eyes.
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Post by Sand on May 21, 2020 23:06:42 GMT -5
Larchleap felt her heart jump out of her chest when she heard Shadowpaw's soft call. She met his wide eyes with hers, the feline's fur settling down and heart slowing. She began licking at her chest in embarrassment before she glanced around the den, trying to peer outside of it in case any other cats had seen what happened. "S-Shadowpaw! I'm sorry, I didn't realize..." she mewed, meeting his gaze again. "That you left the den. I got worried for a minute and freaked out. I'm sorry, I should have thought before reacting."
The orange tabby sat on her hind paws and curled her tail around her front paws. She let out a sigh of relief before her eyes shifted from the black tom to the den's entrance. The light hadn't fully broken into the den just yet and she wasn't exactly looking forward to leaving the medicine cat's den. She wasn't tired, though getting up and moving around would be good for her even if she didn't want to.
After thinking for several moments, Larchleap's green eyes reached Shadowpaw's. "So, did you sleep okay? Has Mistythroat left for the Moonpool yet?" she inquired.
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Post by Shadowkit on May 24, 2020 3:00:09 GMT -5
Shadowpaw met Larchleap's gaze evenly as he tried to assess the alarm that seemed to be taking the warrior. He pondered for a moment whether it could be because of him, and he concluded that nothing else would really have caused such a reaction in the she-cat. Mistythroat was gone, and what else would draw such a reaction from her? Hoping he hadn't startled her too much, he shook his head and tried hard to look reassuring as she expressed her apology for the assumption she had made.
He felt bad for causing her to awaken into such a startled state, and the guilt showed on his facial expression as he stepped just a bit closer to respond to her. "N-no! It's okay," He stammered, trying to relieve the awkward tension of the moment as she worked at her pelt to mask her embarrassment. "I was just talking a bit with Mistythroat, actually," He murmured quietly. "I...I stepped out with him. I think he's waiting on the cat who is supposed to go with him now," He glanced behind him out of the den, trying to catch sight of whether the appointed warrior had arrived yet or not.
His eyes returned to her, and as he saw she had settled back into a sitting position, he mirrored her, and then lowered himself into a resting position on his stomach for a moment. "Y...yes, I...Slept a lot." He quietly responded. "I guess that is why I'm awake so early. Usually, I don't until..." He tilted his head to the side, looking down at the ground for a moment as he tried to pinpoint when he was usually able to drag himself out of his nest.
It was usually at the behest of his mother, urging him not to let the day get the better of him. If it weren't for the strange circumstances he had ended up in just after her death, he likely wouldn't have made it up anywhere near this early. He decided to leave the statement unfinished, looking back up at her, and gulping as an anxious pit started rising in his stomach.
"S-so...What do I...what am I going to have to do today, Larchleap? After Mistythroat gets back?" His standard anxiety was clear. "D-do I just stay in here until Rainstar orders otherwise?"
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Post by Sand on May 27, 2020 1:37:20 GMT -5
Larchleap immediately felt a pang of guilt in her chest when Shadowpaw stepped closer and her eyes met his guilty expression. She hadn't meant to worry the tom so much that it caused him shame. She could feel the awkward tension in the air but before she could speak, Shadowpaw had beat her to it.
When she heard that he had been with Mistythroat, she let out a sigh of relief. She was glad someone was with the apprentice and he hadn't wandered off alone. She knew he wouldn't leave without anyone's word, but still... she pondered about it. She glanced at him again, wanting to apologize another time for her frightening behavior. She decided she would let it go for now, but if she had a chance to apologize again, Larchleap was going to take it.
"Oh, I'm glad you were with Mistythroat!" she mewed, following his gaze to the den's entrance. She could see the long-furred medicine cat padding away after another silhouette. It had to be the warrior who was going to accompany him to the Moonpool. The feline lowered her voice before meowing, "I hope he finds some answers for us, but especially for you."
The young warrior lapped at her fur yet again, listening to the black tom as he responded to her questions. She was probably being a bit nosy, but she was curious. Her gaze quickly trailed after his while he explained his reasoning for not leaving his nest so early. "It's nice to wake up early sometimes. I don't mind it as much as I used to," she replied. "If you get tired later, we can come back here and rest."
There came the anxiety as always. The orange tabby finished grooming and came to a pause. What could she do with Shadowpaw that wouldn't be arduous? Showing him the camp or even around the few dens that ThunderClan had wasn't a bad idea. She shook her head at him, letting out a low mew that said "no."
"If you're not in too much pain, I had an idea to show you the camp," Larchleap proposed before continuing with consideration to her tone. "As long as you're okay with that! If not, we can find something else to do."
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Post by Shadowkit on May 27, 2020 12:53:59 GMT -5
Shadowpaw couldn't have agreed anymore with the sentiment that Larchleap expressed. In truth, the death of his mother felt a world away, like it had happened in a far away place and he had fled so far away that it wasn't on the same ground his paws were touching now. This, of course, was a distortion of reality. He knew that.
And he wanted so many answers. His face softened and saddened as she expressed her hope that Mistythroat would bring answers for them. His shoulders sagged and he once again seemed to be sinking himself into a low state. He stared at his own paws as she began speaking about the little beauties of the early morning--though he did not understand what they could be. He never enjoyed the process of waking up, and to hear her say she didn't mind that, let alone that she had grown to enjoy her sleep being cut short in the early morning...it sure didn't make sense to him.
He tilted his head and watched her closely as she suggested showing him the camp. He didn't feel personally opposed to it--he would have been interested in seeing another camp even without these circumstances. But he wondered if that was something she was supposed to do. He had heard what Rainstar had said when she had gathered her clan--weren't they going to be suspicious of him learning the camp?
His mind was caught for a moment on whether he was in pain. What did that mean? What was that supposed to mean? Shadowpaw didn't know it, but he was put in a place now where he didn't understand what it meant to lack pain. What it meant to be...outside of this loss. Whatever that meant.
So it all seemed a new norm to him. "I'd like to see the camp, if your clanmates won't..." He took in a deep breath, letting it out through his nostrils. "If it won't make them angry." It was all he knew to say, to hope he didn't inconvenience anymore cats. Of course, members of ThunderClan were going to mind it. What he didn't understand was that they might be wrong. There was a chance that they were wrong about him.
"Do you have....more kits?" He asked quietly, a vague question he posed before blinking a couple times, before he stood up rigidly and starting stammering. "I-i meant-n-not you, but in Th-ThunderClan!" His cheeks went red as he understood how weird it had sounded for him to ask her whether she had kits. He hadn't meant that at all.
He never got to play with the kits in ShadowClan. When he tried to play with them, there was always something to interrupt him. His father ordering him to hunt. Another warrior asking why he was wasting his time with kits. He didn't exactly know if they were different here, but he just wanted to know if there were lots of kits in ThunderClan. He had already met two of the.....outgoing kits of ThunderClan, but he was curious if there were more, and...if he could meet them.
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Post by Sand on May 31, 2020 22:51:12 GMT -5
Larchleap - Seeing the saddened expression on Shadowpaw's caused a pang of guilt in her chest. The moment his shoulders sagged, she couldn't help but feel responsible for his sad state. Maybe it was a step too far to dote on her life.
Larchleap had yet to process the consequences of showing Shadowpaw her clan's camp. It hadn't registered in her mind. She was only thinking of what would be best for them to do. Sitting around all day wasn't going to do either of them any good, so why not? As the black tom confirmed that he wanted to see the camp, her tail flicked joyfully. All that mattered now was that the two of them would have a little adventure of their own. But now she had to be careful with her words.
"If they are angry about it, try not to worry about it. I can handle them!" she mewed confidently, her green eyes shining fiercely. She knew there would be a few cats that wouldn't take kindly to the ShadowClan apprentice wandering in their camp, but she was sure that she could fend them off. She was hoping that Rainstar wouldn't find out or be upset with either of them. If she was... Larchleap was going to take the blame. It was her idea after all.
The orange tabby purred in amusement at the tom's vague question which made his cheeks flush red. She grinned cheekily at him for a moment. "Not yet, Shadowpaw. Maybe one day I'll have kits of my own," she responded before coming to a pause. "I think there's another litter in the nursery besides Briarkit and Seedkit. We can always go check it out-- if you want to?"
As an apprentice, Larchleap had spent her time cleaning out the nursery and sometimes bringing prey to the queens. She had never thought much about having a litter of her own, but now that Shadowpaw had asked... the idea didn't seem too bad. The memories of Briarkit and Seedkit bounding into the medicine cat's den without any permission came flooding back. She was now curious if the apprentice had thought about having kits of his own. It seemed obvious that asking anything about ShadowClan would be inappropriate, so she held back.
"Where do you want to head first? The nursery or take a walk around camp?" she inquired. "Only if you want to see other dens, of course."
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Post by Shadowkit on Jun 1, 2020 1:58:38 GMT -5
Shadowpaw blinked at her. As she promised he wouldn't have to worry, he wondered just how bold Larchleap must be to feel that confident about handling dissent from other cats. If he even boasted of handling one of his larger clanmates, he'd be put down in the dirt--clearly, things worked different in ThunderClan...or Larchleap was extremely bold.
"Are the kits awake?" He glanced behind himself again, evaluating the morning light that was still accompanied by the early chill. It seemed to him that not everyone would have risen yet. "Maybe...We should take a walk around, and not wake the kits up?" He suggested, turning back to face Larchleap again as he spoke quietly, like perhaps the kits would hear him gossiping about them and urge an early exit of the nursery.
She had already assured him that she could handle any other cat, so Shadowpaw kept himself from voicing his doubt, resolving to keep his head down and stay behind Larchleap's much higher confidence. Instead, he channeled his doubt elsewhere. "I hope I'm not forcing you up too early," He quietly mewed, even though she had awaken all on her own. He turned about, taking ginger steps towards the entranceway of the den again. "I can wait if you want to sleep more," He quietly offered, his own polite way of trying to make certain that he wasn't being a bother.
The last day had created a lot of questions, and Leafpaw had next to no answers. The circumstances that brought the terribly cared-for ShadowClan apprentice left her wondering what in the name of StarClan was happening on the other side of the border, but it had only become stranger when Ravenfang was utterly devastated to learn of what was happening. He barely spoke of it, only sharing silence and quiet tears with his surrogate daughter for the most part, but something had impacted him far more than seemed reasonable to her, for being news from another clan. Maybe Ravenfang was just that much of a believer in strict adherence of the code?
But she couldn't convince herself of such a paltry answer. When he finally departed to be alone in the warrior's den, he had only said that he would see her the next day and that they could speak then. Leaving her with a cryptic promise and an overflowing concern for her father, sleep was hard to achieve.
Leafpaw reluctantly drew herself up from her nest after staring outside of the apprentice's den with half-open eyes for too long. She thought she felt Pebblepaw's soft fur against her back, and thus she tried to raise herself up slowly and without disturbing him. Blinking lack of sleep from her eyes, she puzzled to herself how she was going to get through a full day, which was setting itself up to be a long one, with the few brief respites of rest that she had managed to snatch.
Not making a patrol with her friend, or having to pull moss from a nest seemed so unimportant now, when she imagined Ravenfang was in the warrior's den, probably awake with sleep a harder thing for him to achieve than for her. If concern for him kept Leafpaw awake, whatever had driven him to sobbing and dejection for a whole day...
So she quietly stepped out of the apprentice's den, yawning a long and large yawn as she squinted against the morning sunlight that was shining through the trees in patches. A cold wind left her to shiver a bit as she left the warmth of the nest and another cat, and with a grunt of annoyance she looked around the camp, trying to spot if Ravenfang had emerged yet, or if anyone else was awake at all.
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Post by Sand on Jun 7, 2020 1:14:35 GMT -5
( I promise to reply tomorrow, I'm sorry for abandoning this! )
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Post by Sand on Jun 10, 2020 0:56:50 GMT -5
Things did work differently in ThunderClan, more than ShadowClan which seemed to be proven true based on what Larchleap had heard and seen so far. She wasn't afraid to tell her clanmates off either, at least so she thought. It would certainly depend on the moment if she was going to retaliate.
As she listened to Shadowpaw's suggestion, she thought about it for several moments. The only kits who would be up this early were Briarkit and Seedkit. As for the rest, they enjoyed their slumber as much as any apprentice would. "That's a good idea. I think they will be up by then," she replied, making sure to not raise her voice. It was amusing to her that they were being quiet in case they woke up anyone. The nursery wasn't too far from the medicine cat's den, but Larchleap doubted that the kits could hear everything they were saying. Nonetheless, it was cute.
She quickly padded after him, watching the young tom as he gingerly stepped towards the entrance. "You're not, don't worry! After all, I woke up on my own, didn't I? " she meowed cheerfully, coming to a short pause. She slipped out of the den before Shadowpaw and flicked her tail forward. "Let's head on out, the camp won't be too busy right now."
The orange tabby immediately spotted a familiar face, that being Leafpaw's. She had already exited the medicine cat's den and she could see the apprentice glancing around. I wonder if she's looking for Ravenfang or Mottlepaw? she wondered, padding ahead of Shadowpaw. "Actually, wait. There's someone I want you to meet first," she mewed, coming to a halt and facing the black tom. "It won't take long, promise!"
Larchleap bounded off in Leafpaw's direction and every so often peered over her shoulder to check for the ShadowClan apprentice. She was hoping that meeting another cat wouldn't make time as anxiety ridden as he was yesterday. However, she knew that Leafpaw too was in pain like Shadowpaw was. Maybe the two would get along, despite the heartache.
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Post by Shadowkit on Jul 1, 2020 22:46:35 GMT -5
It was tough for Shadowpaw not to think of his absence from the nest being why larchleap had awoken far more quickly than she might have, but Shadowpaw was feeling the grace of Larchleap's patience, and he felt that perhaps it would be better not to push himself being a bother. He gave her a small smile as she slipped out of the den ahead of him and he followed in tandem with her.
"You did." He murmured quietly, letting the smaller semantics go. Following her out and preparing to get a sense of the camp, he was surprised to hear a change of plans, just as he spotted a cat gazing their way and Larchleap began bounding off for the she-cat. His anxiety did spike up a bit, but certainly not as much as coming face to face with the fully grown and capable Thrushsong. The stranger began bounding forward to meet Larchleap, and swallowing the feelings buzzing around in his head Shadowpaw followed behind at a normal trot.
When she noticed her friend coming her way, Leafpaw started off at a bound as well to meet her, stopping just short to avoid colliding painfully. She reached forward and nuzzled Larchleap, and tried to hide the tiredness from her voice as she spoke. "Larchleap." It was a content mew--she hadn't seen her friend, the slightly older cat she had attached to since her stray arrival as a young kit, for most of the last day. "I missed you." She pulled back after a few seconds and her gaze shifted curiously over Larchleap's shoulder, seeing the tom-cat come to a stop a few pawsteps behind Larchleap. As her gaze fixed on him the cat dropped his gaze a bit towards the ground, and with a slight tilt of her head she looked back to her friend.
"This is the cat you saved, right?" She quietly mewed, feeling a little awkward talking about him like he wasn't here--but it was tough when all he did was drop his gaze. "I don't know what happened beyond what Rainstar told us." As she mentioned this, she hoped that her friend was going to explain more to her than the vague announcement from their leader. There had to be more to the story, right?
Seeing he wasn't going to do so, Leafpaw took a step to the side and returned her gaze to the Shadowclan cat. She took in a breath and then started speaking. "I'm Leafpaw," She called louder, and a bit awkwardly, as as she addressed the cat who wasn't even looking at her. "I hope Larchleap hasn't been too mean to you so far. She has the worst bite of all the warriors," She joked sarcastically, not tuned in to how anxious the cat was and how serious of a mood he had been put in.
Shadowpaw realized the cat was addressing him when she gave him her name, and he looked up reflexively and met her blue eyes as she cracked a joke about the warrior standing beside them. In a couple seconds, he had instinctively sized up Leafpaw for how scared he should be. Leafpaw was about his size, maybe barely taller and definitely healthier, better muscled. Her silvery fur was sleek, yet ruffled from just having woken up. But more than anything, she didn't look hostile and the tense Shadowclan cat picked up on the joke which sounded just opposite of everything Larchleap had given him so far.
So, his analysis was that he shouldn't be too nervous. He chuckled quietly, an awkward sound coming from his throat. "I'm Shadowpaw," He quietly answered, glancing at Larchleap after he said this as if he wasn't sure what else he was supposed to say. Thinking of her joke, he glanced back at Leafpaw and pushed a smile on his face. "She hasn't bit me yet," He quietly finished speaking, drawing a light smile from the other apprentice.
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