Looking over the camp

[beth]

Black and Gray fur nearly meshed together as two similar she-cats stepped into camp. They had just been hunting, and were taking their prey to the fresh-kill pile when one of them noticed the group of cats that were beginning to form what looked like a patrol. After the two cats had dropped off their prey, they sat down to share tounges.

"Graynose, look over there. Does it look like Gingerstar is forming a patrol?" the lighter of the two she-cats said.

"Why, yes it does, Rainfur. Good observation." the other replied, sarcasm dripping from her voice like rain from a leaf. Rainfur batted her sister's ear with her claws sheathed, and then proceeded to stand back up. "I think we should volunteer to go with them!" Rainfur said, all playfulness aside. She was always volunteering to do things for the clan, always doing small things for others. 'Too much,' Graynose thought to herself. But Graynose just nodded and began to get up. They walked, side by side, towards their leader and the small group of cats around them.

"Gingerstar! " Rainfur began, "Are you looking for any more cats to patrol the border? Because, well, if you are..." her voice trailed off and her sentence was left dangling. She was frazzled. Graynose sighed, and finished the sentence for her: "...We'd love to go with you."

This often happened to Rainfur. Her intentions were great, but she was just so very shy. She wanted to do the best she could for her clan, but she wasn't assertive enough to make her motives clear. Graynose, on the other hand, had the attitude of an apprentice given a boring task. Everything was a joke to her, everything was also quite meaningless. And so, the two sisters, different in almost everyway, sat side by side waiting for their leader's response.

[Whiskers]

Gingerstar was about to turn away and just head out of the camp with her small patrol (three cats were better then no cats) when the two sisters, Graynose and Rainfur, trotted her way. She paused, a foot still suspended in mid-air, he eyes taking on a spark of interest as Rainfur began to speak.

Gingerstar! Are you looking for any more cats to patrol the border? Because, well, if you are...

A beat. A timid look of that a mouse would wear stole over Rainfur's face and Gingerstar's fur bristled. She had no patience for cats like this, though she tried her best not to snap at the young she-cat to just spit the words out. But she was beginning to lose interest. Her ear flicked, her tail followed suit, and she licked her paw-- all signs that she had better things to do then this.

Graynose, thank goodness, stepped in. We'd love to go.

Though Graynose wasn't as... focused and dedicated as Rainfur, she didn't stutter or pause or meekly bow out of a conversation. Together, the two did make a good team. Gingerstar was more than happy to bring them along.

"In that case, come along. We're going to check the Fogclan border, and then maybe we'll swing by Streamclan's as well, Gingerstar said, adding the last part as an afterthought. "It will be a long patrol, so keep your energy up."

Gathering her patrol together-- Graynose, Rainfur, Smokestripe, and Badgerpaw-- she turned toward the camp exit and beckoned everyone to follow her with a simple motion of her long, ginger tail.

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[laur]

Kestrelstorm's round, bright yellow eyes scanned the clearing from outside the warrior's den. He noticed his leader, Gingerstar, forming a patrol consisting of Graynose, Rainfur, Smokestripe, and Badgerpaw. He lowered his massive tabby head in shame. "Mousedung," he muttered to himself, large brown paws scuffing in the dust of the clearing, "you're deputy! Wake up sooner!"

The sun's bright rays dappling across his striped back, the tom stood up, shook out his pelt, and lashed his tail. Brown ears swiveled curiously around on his head, taking in the sounds of the dense forest around him he called home. Sighing inwardly, he strode over to the group of assembled patrol cats to speak to his leader.

"Gingerstar." His powerful mew echoed as he stood erect in the dirt, "may I please speak to you? I wish to apologize." To add effect, Kestrelstorm let his thick, ringed brown and black tail droop and his gaze lower to his leader's orange paws. Squaring his shoulders just a bit to face Gingerstar completely, he began again, "I wish to apologize for not assembling a patrol. It is my duty to be helpful to you, and I let you down by sleeping in. I promise it will not happen again."
He quickly turned his head to look at the faces of the surrounding cats before puffing out his chest and placing a determined look on his wide brown face. "I'm ready to do anything you need me to do now," he exclaimed. Swishing his thick tail from one side to the other, his bright yellow gaze fixed on a nearby tree where a fat ginger squirrel leaped off a branch. Perking his torn ears, his gaze traveled back to his leader, eyes locking with hers.

"I can set up a few hunting patrols, if you wish."


ooc:// and now it's my turn to apologize for the crappy literacy i have shown here. I haven't role played in like, 343598 years. I'm a bit rusty. :/ but I'll be better in no time!

[Whiskers]

Another interruption.

Gingerstar paused...again. She felt more of her patience waning, slipping through cracks like sand through a sieve. She turned and saw her deputy, Kestrelstorm. Well it was about time that he woke up and did something useful around here. It had been a while since she had seen him at all, and she was beginning to second guess herself for choosing him anyway. True, he was loyal, very loyal, and he listened to her respectfully. He was also a handsome tom, and though many a cat would argue that this shouldn't matter at all, his appearance did create an image of stability and strength for Pineclan. So there were perks that went along with working with him.

But now was one of those moments that Gingerstar felt like she should have chosen a more level-headed cat...a more...responsible cat. A she-cat.

But at least he was up and ready to go and she would let this little slip-up slide. Kestrelstorm did take the full blame and apologize swiftly for his actions. And she shouldn't hold a grudge for little mistakes... everyone--even her-- made them. Gingerstar flicked her ears and mused over his words with a small smirk on her face. Though she had already forgiven him, Gingerstar did like to make the tom squirm for just a few heartbeats.

"Alright," she finally amended with a dip of her own head. If Kestrelstorm had been paying attention, he would have seen a playful spark in her eye before it was swept away by her hardened gaze. "Your actions were foolish, but I trust you. And I'm sure you'll make it up to me with those hunting patrols you've just promised." And then the spark was back, making her long, white whiskers quiver in anticipation.

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[laur]

Kestrelstorm kept his eyes locked with Gingerstar's as she mused over his words. I'm such a mousebrained fool, he thought to himself with disgust, i need to do better. But I will make it up to her, I know I will. He couldn't help but scuff his large front paw in the dirt to show his anger in himself. He hoped Gingerstar would be able to see how truely sorry he was, for being deputy meant everything to him. It was finally his chance to show what he can do, and he almost blew it already.

"Alright."

Kestrelstorm's round yellow eyes brightened with happiness. He saw the playful sparkle in his leader's eye, and knew he was off the hook for this slip up. His tail swished quickly, he was ready to do anything. He figured it must have been hard for his leader to let him off so easily, and he could tell as her gaze suddenly got darker and hard.

"Your actions were foolish, but I trust you. And I'm sure you'll make it up to me with those hunting patrols you've just promised."

Of course! Anything! He wanted to shout it to her, expose just how much enthusiasm he had for his wonderful job. He knew, however, that he would just look more like a fool than he already did. "Yes, right away, Gingerstar," he responded, a collected expression on his face. He couldn't, however, hide the glint of pure joy that radiated from his glowing yellow eyes. Before turning tail and heading to the warriors den for some cats to go hunting, he asked, "would you like me to lead a hunting patrol myself? Or would you rather I stayed in camp since you will be going." His tail gestured to the cats crowded around them, eager to get out into the forest. His wide face stretched into a little smirk, the joy sitting deep in his belly beginning to expose itself.

"I can do either or!"

[Whiskers]

Gingerstar watched the tom's face light up like a kit when he found out he had won his leader's forgiveness. She almost felt like she was letting him off too easy, or giving him a freebie. But Kestrelstorm had never disappointed her before this and it looked like he intended to impress her further.

His questions was a good one. "Would you like me to lead a hunting patrol myself? Or would you rather I stayed in camp since you will be going" Gingerstar could see it, clear on his face, that he wanted to leave and hunt something. Of course he did-- what cat didn't want to get out of camp every now and then and taste fresh, forest air? It was one of the reasons Gingerstar's patience was waning and why her claws were scratching at the soil.

She hated to deny him such an opportunity. But she couldn't have both the deputy and leader gone at the moment. Though she trusted No-ears to keep everything in order, she wanted to be sure. Gingerstar was many things, and one of those things was thorough.

"Assign a more experienced warrior to the patrol. I want the camp to run smoothly while I'm gone, and I know you can handle that-- when I get back, you can take another patrol out," she decided.

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[laur]

"Yes, of course. No problem, Gingerstar. I'll get on that right away."

His cheerful yet powerful mew boomed from his chest as Kestrelstorm dipped his head to his leader. She was a respectible cat, with her head screwed tightly on her shoulders. She knew exactly what she was doing. In a way, Kestrelstorm felt envious of that quality; though he was usually on top of things, he couldn't help but screw up every so often. Gingerstar never seemed to lose control.

Turning around and pacing towards the center of camp, Kestrelstorm began to list the names of warriors who he might want to go on a hunting patrol. Hmm.. Brightflower? Yes, she will lead the patrol. Kestrelstorm's thoughts wandered to the face of the pretty calico she-cat and her dazzlingly dark eyes. He scanned the clearing, whiskers twitching to catch her scent. She must be in the warrior's den, he thought, I will fetch her soon. Who else to go with her? Brackentail, and maybe Silverheart. An apprentice too, if they want. That's it, he decided in his mind, taking barely any time to think things through, I'll go get them now.

Kestrelstorm smoothed a kink on his shoulder, his bright pink tongue rasping quickly over his broad left shoulder. Then, he bounded over to the warrior's den to alert the cats he has chosen to go on a hunting patrol. "Brightflower? Brackentail, Silverheart? I want you for a hunting patrol! Take an apprentice too!"

[piper]

Brightflower? Brackentail, Silverheart? I want you for a hunting patrol! Take an apprentice too!

A long, fluffy deep brown tail flicked at the sound of the name that went to the warrior who it belonged to. Moments later the browd head of the tom lifted and he let out a long yawn, blinking the sleep from his eyes. Brakentail had just dozed off after a sentry duty for the camp during the previous night. However, he would dutifully answer any call from his deputy or leader. He had been raised to follow the warrior code and would never turn his back on it.

Standing up as tall as he could, he stretched his tired muscles until his legs quivered beneath him. He quickly groomed his chest fur and flicked off the few pieces of moss that clung to his pelt before fixing his gaze on the deputy of his Clan. "Yes Kestrelstorm" he mewed before padding the few feet over to Brightflower and nudging her gently to rose her before heading over and doing the same for Silverheart. "I'll go collect Rowanpaw, meet me outside in a few."

Brackentail slipped out of the warriors den and padded across the clearing towards the apprentices den. He leaned his head inside and peered around for the young apprentice. He quickly spotted the tom beside his sister Foxpaw and could tell from the steady rise and fall of his belly that he was in a slumbering state. The brown and white warrior crept into the den and went over before proding the apprentice in the side gingerly. "Let's go, hunting patrol we leave shortly so don't delay."

He slipped outside once more and padded towards the camp entrance where he sat to wait for the rest of the patrol.

[essie]

There! Finally she'd spotted the mouse she'd been stalking for most of the morning. It had eluded her time and time again, but Brightflower was not going to give up. Not when he was but a few pawsteps from her grasp. She crouched down and readied herself for the pound when something nudged her and voices began to swarm in her head. Immediatly she hissed, and then the mouse was gone and everything went black.

"I almost had that mouse!" she snarled, lashing out at Brackentail with sheathed paws in her confused anger. When she came to she blinked and looked around the den then her expression turned into a sort of pout. "Stupid dreams!" she growled, standing up and looking over at Silverheart then letting her dark eyes shift over to Brackentail and she shook her head.

"Rowanpaw? That lazy lump will be of no use, I would personally ask Fox-" but before she could finish the tom was gone, fetching his apprentice. With another angry hiss she jabbed Silverheart in the shoulder. "Wake up you useless lump of fur!" she nearly shouted, then without another word she lumbered out of the den. Brightflower noticed Kestrelstorm calling names of cats he wanted for a patrol and she stalked over, her eyes clouding with her usual irritation.

OoC:// I'll post for Rowanpaw when I get home.

[laur]

Two large grey ears pricked up as a small tom blinked open his silver-blue eyes. He raised his rather small head, twitched his whiskers, and flinched as he was jabbed in the side by his Clanmate. "Yes, yes! Coming, Brightflower!" He scrambled onto his feet, briskly shaking out his pelt to rid it of the scraps of moss and dirt that may have clambered into his pelt while he slept.

Silverheart swiped a striped paw over his eyes, trying to rub the drowsiness away. He slowly padded out into the middle of the camp, cautiously making his way towards Brightflower and Kestrelstorm. His thin, silver striped tail waved high above his head; Silverheart was doing his best to be cheerful after such a rough awakening.

"Hello," he murmured, catching Kestrelstorm's eye and then looking away, "what is this? Hunting patrol?" Noticing the deputy's nod, he turned and faced the entrance to camp. Swishing his tail through the dirt on the ground, Silverheart sat on his haunches and looked at Brightflower.

"Who are we waiting for?" He questioned, nervous to make eye contact with the obviously grouchy she-cat. He was never one to woo the ladies well. Or any cat at all, really. His plain shyness kept him from being the cat who he really was. Though his opinions never mattered to him, he always had many. Many that no cat has ever heard, or even wanted to listen to in the first place. Waiting for a response from the calico she-cat, he huffed a quiet sigh and watched the wind sway the trees around him.

ooc:// it will be better later, I'm kinda in a hurry. D:

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