Post by Dragon on Oct 13, 2009 1:44:38 GMT -5
“Fawnstep!” Shrewstar barked from the camp clearing, his raspy voice seemed to add to his limited charm.
Despite all of his negative attributes, Fawnstep let out a loving sigh at the sound of his voice. She had been awoken from her slumber by an unceremonious kick to her face by Jetstream who seemed to be running in his sleep. Shaking off scrapes of moss from her fur, she came out into the very bleak sunlight. The air was icy, and she gave a slight shiver. Her blue eyes glanced up at the pine trees, the needles were green as always but in the midst of the endless green there were a few skeletons of trees that once held broad, green leaves.
She looked across the camp, seeing her brother gnawing on a succulent looking frog. She didn’t bother him, for a long time, he had been very distant towards her and everyone else. Fawnstep shook her head lightly; she would have to find the answer to the question someday but not today. Raising her eyes, she saw Shrewstar standing handsomely only a few fox-lengths away, issuing orders in a strong voice.
Stifling a purr, she brushed her head under his chin. A few cats still stared at her for such things as this. Most could not come within a bear’s leap of him and talk straight. Through his strictness, and supposed cruelty he could purr, and love just like a normal cat could.
She heard a pair of apprentices giggle, and she turned around to stare at them with a smirk on her face. Honeypaw and Brightpaw stopped dead, glancing to the side nervously and bundling out of camp in the direction of the training area. Fawnstep chuckled and turned back to Shrewstar, her blue eyes gleaming.
“I’m just putting out patrols, Froglegs is feeling ill today.” The DarkClan leader grunted, glancing over at the Healer’s Den. He looked disappointed at his deputies sudden illness, worry crept over his face as he thought of the plague that had bombarded the clans only a few moons earlier. For a moment, his inner distress and worry showed through his cold outer shell.
Fawnstep stroked his side with her tail, letting out a comforting purr. “I’m sure he’ll be just fine.” She couldn’t help by feeling worry herself. Her eyes sought out the stone den of Silverclaw. She could smell Froglegs, but his scent was tainted and sour smelling. Her tail tip twitched and she turned away from it.
Shrewstar licked her forehead, and lifted his head again, watching a patrol of warriors head out into the forest. “Come on, let’s go patrol the borders.” He murmured, and flicked his tail against her side after leaping toward to the entrance. His eyes gleamed with challenge, as if he was egging her to beat him to the far border.
Loving a challenge, Fawnstep lunged forward, barreling out of the camp, leaving Shrewstar befuddled and left behind. As soon as she had taken tree length’s forward, she paused to look over her shoulder to see if he was coming up. Satisfied as she saw a gray streak coming toward her, she whirled around to continue on.
As they set off, they evened out into a long stride that carried them through the dark forest. The sharp scent of pine needles was everywhere around them, sometimes broken by the fresh smell of a maple tree that struggled amongst the larger, more formidable evergreens. Their gates were not broken through the entire journey, undergrowth was sparse, so they had little break their paths.
When they came close to their destination, Fawnstep leaped onto a fallen pine tree. Sap seeped from the dead tree, as it was moaning its last breath before being taken over by the forest. “It must have been knocked over in the wind storm.” The warrior commented, grimacing.
Shrewstar gave the sticky tree a short sniff, shaking his fur to keep it’s warmth close to him. “Probably, glad none of our warriors were caught beneath it.” He dug his claws into the bark, chips of the tree’s surface flaked off onto the cool ground below. After rubbing his scent onto the log, he peered over into SerpentClan territory. A great split in the earth divided the two territories, though it could be easily crossed.
Fawnstep watched his movements; she fully realized that his nephew now lead them, and that the leader was reckless and easily provoked. She jumped from her perch, and landed next to him. “You aren’t thinking of attacking them, are you?” Fawnstep inquired, her head tilting to the side slightly.
“They aren’t worth it.” He snarled, his lip curled back to reveal yellowing fangs. For a moment, Fawnstep looked at him with quiet fear in her eyes but shook it off. “I’d rather use my time to look after the rogues that seem to enjoy our territory.” Shrewstar let out a billowy sigh, and padded along the border.
Fawnstep followed close behind, sniffing every other tree but not taking her eyes away from the SerpentClan territory. She could feel unknown eyes burning against her fur, war was about to start with their neighboring clan. Mistclan and Serpentclan were going at each others throats, trying to draw blood every moment. “Both of the clans will be weak after war.” She mewed softly, rubbing against the trunk of a very large Pine tree.
Shrewstar grunted, “I suppose.” But a contemplating expression had taken as he fell back next to her, their pelts brushing. “MistClan is getting pretty bold; maybe we could put them even more into their place.” He smirked, as they arrived next to a burbling river that led into MistClan territory. Pausing at the bank, he dipped his head and lapped at the cool water, before tossing a pebble into the river.
The she-cat watched as ripples of water spread across the water, and slowly disappeared. “We could really mess them up.” Her DarkClan pride was ignited as she thought of an easy fight against an already weak clan.
“I like the way you think.” Shrewstar purred lovingly, licking brown ear tenderly. While he could be startling fierce and brutal, he also had a very gentle side that only rose up for no one but Fawnstep. His long tail twined with her, and they went on at an easy pace toward the border of MoonClan. The leader’s ears flattened as a blast of wind struck his face from the barren moor. “Gah! I can’t think of any reason to want to live up there!”
Fawnstep shrugged, scenting the air. “I’m going to have a quick hunt, I can smell a vole nearby.” Crouching low, she took in Shrewstar’s silent nod, and she padded along in the opposite direction they were going. The scent of the prey, flooded her mind and she let her problems just evaporate for this period in time.
The wind swept across her face, and she could see the Vole just a fox-length away. It scuttled in the leaves, sending up waves of sound to her welcome ears. Smiling, she thought this little animal had wondered too far away from its river. Creeping closer, her claws dug into the ground, when suddenly a wide eyed rabbit bolted across her path. Surprised, she leaped back with a choked yowl.
“Foxdung!” Fawnstep spat, suddenly losing sight of the vole and all hopes of catching any prey around here. Growling, she scoped up a pawful of pine needles and flung them across the ground. “I almost had that one.” Whirling around, she tried to find the moron who had caused her prey to get away from her.
She was suddenly face to face with a Bengal tom cat with a calm expression plain on his features. His lanky limbs made him have an odd gate, but he seemed graceful as he descended a small hill. He had misty green eyes that sparkled with caring and indifference to the troubles around him.
“Forgive me.” He apologized; his eyes looked truthful and sincere. The mystery tom stopped right at the border between DarkClan and MoonClan. “I suppose that rabbit just got away from me.” He gave Fawnstep a warm smile; it reflected his eyes in all ways. He sat before her, tail curled over his paws. “I’m Voletooth.”
Fawnstep glanced around and came closer to the border, her eyes looking him up and down. “My name is Fawnstep.” She answered, warily glancing up to the path to where Shrewstar had disappeared to. “You made me lose my vole.” She scolded, but her voice was playful and her blue eyes glinted in the bleak leaf-fall light.
The MoonClan tom chuckled, “Again, forgive me, I thought I was going to get that one.” Voletooth purred, his eyes looking her up and down. But suddenly, with a jerky movement his head flew up and his nostrils flared, “Shrewstar!” He hissed and bolted into a patch of heather, moment s before Fawnstep even noticed his scent.
“Fawnstep?” The raspy voice called, she could not see him yet but it was clear by the sound of his paw steps that he was coming closer. Suddenly, with the brushing of fur on bark, Shrewstar’s lightly scarred face poked around the corner, his ears flicking in the breeze. “What happened to you?” The DarkClan cat gave his thick pelt a shake, he padded to Fawnstep, giving her cheek an affectionate lick.
With a small frown, Fawnstep looked over her shoulder. There was no sign that Voletooth was ever there, other than a weak and lingering scent that was steadily being blown away by the wind. “My vole got away from me.” Her voice was distant and almost uninterested.
“What’s wrong, my dear?” He asked; concern flitted across his features. He looked genuinely worried about her welfare. Shrewstar’s brow creased and he raised his nose to scent the air, as if searching for any dangers. He suddenly went rigid, and his face twisted as if he had smelled something foul. “Voletooth!” He hissed, “What’s he doing so close to our border?”
Fawnstep’s mouth fell open, her whiskers twitching. The shock only lasted a moment before she regained her composure. “D-do you know him?”She asked, nervously, shuffling her brown paws on the ground.
“Know him!” Shrewstar snapped, “We’re related!” He leaped up and down the border, like a mad animal in a cage. His claws scored marks into the moist soil, while his breath billowed in the cold air. Crouching low, he peered over into the windy moor, his yellow eyes piercing and unforgiving.
“How are you related?” Fawnstep asked warily, feeling as if she was treading on thin ice. Her heart thumped in her chest as she hoped with a surprising passion that he was not caught by the angered Shrewstar. She knew he would be beaten down by the much larger, stronger Darkclan leader. A lanky MoonClan cat couldn’t stand a chance against those odds. Nervously, her eyes glanced at where Voletooth was hiding.
The leader whirled around, his teeth bared. “He’s my Great Nephew.” He grunted his tail lashing back and forth with anger. Unhappy that he could not find the offender he whipped around, his features mellowing out slightly. “Come on, Fawnstep.” Shrewstar growled in a raspy voice, he let out a sigh. Licking her neck, he plowed forward with a heavy expression.
Fawnstep twisted her head around to look at the moor. Under the heather, who sparkling eyes peered out from their hiding place. They were shadowed with shock and surprise, the eyes burrowed into the back of her head as she turned away from MoonClan entirely. Letting out an uncertain breath, she pulled away from Shrewstar.
Despite all of his negative attributes, Fawnstep let out a loving sigh at the sound of his voice. She had been awoken from her slumber by an unceremonious kick to her face by Jetstream who seemed to be running in his sleep. Shaking off scrapes of moss from her fur, she came out into the very bleak sunlight. The air was icy, and she gave a slight shiver. Her blue eyes glanced up at the pine trees, the needles were green as always but in the midst of the endless green there were a few skeletons of trees that once held broad, green leaves.
She looked across the camp, seeing her brother gnawing on a succulent looking frog. She didn’t bother him, for a long time, he had been very distant towards her and everyone else. Fawnstep shook her head lightly; she would have to find the answer to the question someday but not today. Raising her eyes, she saw Shrewstar standing handsomely only a few fox-lengths away, issuing orders in a strong voice.
Stifling a purr, she brushed her head under his chin. A few cats still stared at her for such things as this. Most could not come within a bear’s leap of him and talk straight. Through his strictness, and supposed cruelty he could purr, and love just like a normal cat could.
She heard a pair of apprentices giggle, and she turned around to stare at them with a smirk on her face. Honeypaw and Brightpaw stopped dead, glancing to the side nervously and bundling out of camp in the direction of the training area. Fawnstep chuckled and turned back to Shrewstar, her blue eyes gleaming.
“I’m just putting out patrols, Froglegs is feeling ill today.” The DarkClan leader grunted, glancing over at the Healer’s Den. He looked disappointed at his deputies sudden illness, worry crept over his face as he thought of the plague that had bombarded the clans only a few moons earlier. For a moment, his inner distress and worry showed through his cold outer shell.
Fawnstep stroked his side with her tail, letting out a comforting purr. “I’m sure he’ll be just fine.” She couldn’t help by feeling worry herself. Her eyes sought out the stone den of Silverclaw. She could smell Froglegs, but his scent was tainted and sour smelling. Her tail tip twitched and she turned away from it.
Shrewstar licked her forehead, and lifted his head again, watching a patrol of warriors head out into the forest. “Come on, let’s go patrol the borders.” He murmured, and flicked his tail against her side after leaping toward to the entrance. His eyes gleamed with challenge, as if he was egging her to beat him to the far border.
Loving a challenge, Fawnstep lunged forward, barreling out of the camp, leaving Shrewstar befuddled and left behind. As soon as she had taken tree length’s forward, she paused to look over her shoulder to see if he was coming up. Satisfied as she saw a gray streak coming toward her, she whirled around to continue on.
As they set off, they evened out into a long stride that carried them through the dark forest. The sharp scent of pine needles was everywhere around them, sometimes broken by the fresh smell of a maple tree that struggled amongst the larger, more formidable evergreens. Their gates were not broken through the entire journey, undergrowth was sparse, so they had little break their paths.
When they came close to their destination, Fawnstep leaped onto a fallen pine tree. Sap seeped from the dead tree, as it was moaning its last breath before being taken over by the forest. “It must have been knocked over in the wind storm.” The warrior commented, grimacing.
Shrewstar gave the sticky tree a short sniff, shaking his fur to keep it’s warmth close to him. “Probably, glad none of our warriors were caught beneath it.” He dug his claws into the bark, chips of the tree’s surface flaked off onto the cool ground below. After rubbing his scent onto the log, he peered over into SerpentClan territory. A great split in the earth divided the two territories, though it could be easily crossed.
Fawnstep watched his movements; she fully realized that his nephew now lead them, and that the leader was reckless and easily provoked. She jumped from her perch, and landed next to him. “You aren’t thinking of attacking them, are you?” Fawnstep inquired, her head tilting to the side slightly.
“They aren’t worth it.” He snarled, his lip curled back to reveal yellowing fangs. For a moment, Fawnstep looked at him with quiet fear in her eyes but shook it off. “I’d rather use my time to look after the rogues that seem to enjoy our territory.” Shrewstar let out a billowy sigh, and padded along the border.
Fawnstep followed close behind, sniffing every other tree but not taking her eyes away from the SerpentClan territory. She could feel unknown eyes burning against her fur, war was about to start with their neighboring clan. Mistclan and Serpentclan were going at each others throats, trying to draw blood every moment. “Both of the clans will be weak after war.” She mewed softly, rubbing against the trunk of a very large Pine tree.
Shrewstar grunted, “I suppose.” But a contemplating expression had taken as he fell back next to her, their pelts brushing. “MistClan is getting pretty bold; maybe we could put them even more into their place.” He smirked, as they arrived next to a burbling river that led into MistClan territory. Pausing at the bank, he dipped his head and lapped at the cool water, before tossing a pebble into the river.
The she-cat watched as ripples of water spread across the water, and slowly disappeared. “We could really mess them up.” Her DarkClan pride was ignited as she thought of an easy fight against an already weak clan.
“I like the way you think.” Shrewstar purred lovingly, licking brown ear tenderly. While he could be startling fierce and brutal, he also had a very gentle side that only rose up for no one but Fawnstep. His long tail twined with her, and they went on at an easy pace toward the border of MoonClan. The leader’s ears flattened as a blast of wind struck his face from the barren moor. “Gah! I can’t think of any reason to want to live up there!”
Fawnstep shrugged, scenting the air. “I’m going to have a quick hunt, I can smell a vole nearby.” Crouching low, she took in Shrewstar’s silent nod, and she padded along in the opposite direction they were going. The scent of the prey, flooded her mind and she let her problems just evaporate for this period in time.
The wind swept across her face, and she could see the Vole just a fox-length away. It scuttled in the leaves, sending up waves of sound to her welcome ears. Smiling, she thought this little animal had wondered too far away from its river. Creeping closer, her claws dug into the ground, when suddenly a wide eyed rabbit bolted across her path. Surprised, she leaped back with a choked yowl.
“Foxdung!” Fawnstep spat, suddenly losing sight of the vole and all hopes of catching any prey around here. Growling, she scoped up a pawful of pine needles and flung them across the ground. “I almost had that one.” Whirling around, she tried to find the moron who had caused her prey to get away from her.
She was suddenly face to face with a Bengal tom cat with a calm expression plain on his features. His lanky limbs made him have an odd gate, but he seemed graceful as he descended a small hill. He had misty green eyes that sparkled with caring and indifference to the troubles around him.
“Forgive me.” He apologized; his eyes looked truthful and sincere. The mystery tom stopped right at the border between DarkClan and MoonClan. “I suppose that rabbit just got away from me.” He gave Fawnstep a warm smile; it reflected his eyes in all ways. He sat before her, tail curled over his paws. “I’m Voletooth.”
Fawnstep glanced around and came closer to the border, her eyes looking him up and down. “My name is Fawnstep.” She answered, warily glancing up to the path to where Shrewstar had disappeared to. “You made me lose my vole.” She scolded, but her voice was playful and her blue eyes glinted in the bleak leaf-fall light.
The MoonClan tom chuckled, “Again, forgive me, I thought I was going to get that one.” Voletooth purred, his eyes looking her up and down. But suddenly, with a jerky movement his head flew up and his nostrils flared, “Shrewstar!” He hissed and bolted into a patch of heather, moment s before Fawnstep even noticed his scent.
“Fawnstep?” The raspy voice called, she could not see him yet but it was clear by the sound of his paw steps that he was coming closer. Suddenly, with the brushing of fur on bark, Shrewstar’s lightly scarred face poked around the corner, his ears flicking in the breeze. “What happened to you?” The DarkClan cat gave his thick pelt a shake, he padded to Fawnstep, giving her cheek an affectionate lick.
With a small frown, Fawnstep looked over her shoulder. There was no sign that Voletooth was ever there, other than a weak and lingering scent that was steadily being blown away by the wind. “My vole got away from me.” Her voice was distant and almost uninterested.
“What’s wrong, my dear?” He asked; concern flitted across his features. He looked genuinely worried about her welfare. Shrewstar’s brow creased and he raised his nose to scent the air, as if searching for any dangers. He suddenly went rigid, and his face twisted as if he had smelled something foul. “Voletooth!” He hissed, “What’s he doing so close to our border?”
Fawnstep’s mouth fell open, her whiskers twitching. The shock only lasted a moment before she regained her composure. “D-do you know him?”She asked, nervously, shuffling her brown paws on the ground.
“Know him!” Shrewstar snapped, “We’re related!” He leaped up and down the border, like a mad animal in a cage. His claws scored marks into the moist soil, while his breath billowed in the cold air. Crouching low, he peered over into the windy moor, his yellow eyes piercing and unforgiving.
“How are you related?” Fawnstep asked warily, feeling as if she was treading on thin ice. Her heart thumped in her chest as she hoped with a surprising passion that he was not caught by the angered Shrewstar. She knew he would be beaten down by the much larger, stronger Darkclan leader. A lanky MoonClan cat couldn’t stand a chance against those odds. Nervously, her eyes glanced at where Voletooth was hiding.
The leader whirled around, his teeth bared. “He’s my Great Nephew.” He grunted his tail lashing back and forth with anger. Unhappy that he could not find the offender he whipped around, his features mellowing out slightly. “Come on, Fawnstep.” Shrewstar growled in a raspy voice, he let out a sigh. Licking her neck, he plowed forward with a heavy expression.
Fawnstep twisted her head around to look at the moor. Under the heather, who sparkling eyes peered out from their hiding place. They were shadowed with shock and surprise, the eyes burrowed into the back of her head as she turned away from MoonClan entirely. Letting out an uncertain breath, she pulled away from Shrewstar.
end
