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Post by Crowzerplorodon on Apr 7, 2009 14:17:58 GMT -5
The soft murmurings of sleeping cats had brought Blackpaw into a half asleep slumber. His green eyes were almost completely closed, lidded with sleep. His flanks rose softly and were almost unnoticed between the darkness of the apprentice den and the tom’s pitch black fur. And despite how much it looked like the young cat was sleeping, he wasn’t really, just forced into a dazed rest by others.
That and he was just lazy.
He had gotten up early for the Dawn Patrol that day, returned with nothing to report, then settled down in the apprentice den to catch up on the sleep he had missed. Blackpaw was a little surprised when he saw other apprentices still resting, but put it up to their mentors for not training them, despite that it was close to Sunhigh.
His instincts told him that it was past Sunhigh now, and that he would need to get up soon to spend the rest of his day doing something. He hadn’t gotten any sleep sadly, but he could manage. It wasn’t like he would die if he ran on slightly less sleep than normal for a day. With a long yawn, the black tom cat pulled himself out of his mossy nest, shaking off the few pieces that cluck to his short fur. From there he moved for the exit of the den, flicking his tail before leaving the cover.
It did not take long for his green eyes to adjust to the light outside his den. The trees above made it difficult for the sun to reach this far down, providing the forest with a safe cover of shadows. Only a few cats could be seen from where he stood outside his den, and Blackpaw gave them each a respectful, if a little mocking, nod.
Before moving forward to find his mentor, Blackpaw turned back into the den, gazing at the still-sleeping cats before shouting: “Wakey-wakey, it’s past Sunhigh you big furballs!” He didn’t stay to see if he succeeded in waking up anyone, just scampered off to the freshkill pile to eat.
From the pile he picked out a fresh-looking mouse before he headed back to the apprentice den to eat it. A few bites and the mouse was gone, Blackpaw sending a prayer up to StarClan in thanks for the food. Like most FogClan cats, Blackpaw made sure to always thank the cats above for the prey that the clan ate, to show just how grateful he was. In the five moons he had lived with the clans, it had become normal to do it, and Blackpaw felt almost empty when he forgot to.
A moment after he finished his prayer, the black tom gave him fur a few quick licks, before heading off to find his mentor. Now his day really started and something told him it was bound to be a good one. |
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Post by Slug on Apr 8, 2009 18:26:11 GMT -5
Russetfang peaked an eye open at Blackpaw's yowl; the fog of sleep glazing his eye. "Say what?" He yawned, stretching-- wincing when his back popped. "Who needs'cha wake upff?" He muffled into his nest. "Certainly not meeph." But he stood anyways-- feebly, may I add-- and hobbled out of the Warriors Den, tail drooping and eyes half-lidded; dragging his paws slightly.
The sun was shining-- if only barely getting through the tree tops-- and fog littered the ground today; creeping here to there and there to here, moving around at will, but slowly. Russetfang scanned his shadowed suroundings, managing to catch Blackpaw nod at him before he yowled something to the other apprentices, confusion crossing the crippled tom's face. Then promptly the apprentice darted for the fresh-kill pile, picking a-- mouse? Yes. Mouse from the little mountain of dead prey.
Russetfang stopped watching Blackpaw after that, tending to his own duties by reinforcing Fogclan's defenses-- it seemed that was the only thing Russetfang was good at these days. With a sigh, Russetfang started fixing a bramble wall, which had a couple of branches sticking outward, like claws ready to snag any passing cat.
Russetfang didn't want his fellow clanmates to get hurt, now did he?
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Post by meg on Apr 28, 2009 0:02:10 GMT -5
One amber eye cracked open. "Morning!" The black tom moaned softly. He didn't want to disturb anyone else. Anger was one thing he didn't deal with well. Slowly, he heaved himself onto his paws. It isn't so bad, his optimistic side reasoned. Nightfoot stretched out one black-furred leg, slowly doing the same with the others. He heard a crack.
Yet it wasn't his leg. It sounded more brittle, and Nightfoot didn't feel any pain. He froze despite his common sense. "A whole nest - no, scores - of rogues, come to dispatch us!" Nightfoot muttered, terrified. A wave of terror hit him. How many cats lives would be lost in the battle? Would they even win? Could they, against so many? Cautiously, with his claws unsheathed, Nightfoot peeked out of the warriors den.
There were no rogues. No knots of cats screeching as they clawed each other's pelts. No wails of kits, or battle cries. Simply Russetfang patching the bramble wall. Relieved, Nightfoot took a deep breath and sheathed his glinting claws. No threat lay in camp. In fact, it looked almost peaceful with so little cats there. Nightfoot trotted out of his den, a wary gleam still lingering in his amber eyes.
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Post by Crowzerplorodon on Apr 28, 2009 15:09:46 GMT -5
A glance around the camp told him his mentor wasn't up. Or maybe Ashfang just wasn't in camp. The apprentice felt himself sink just a little -- he had been looking forward to training as soon as he had gotten up. Blackpaw quickly returned to his normal posture though. It wouldn't look good if he was caught being upset.
Another glance around camp gave him a strange feeling in his stomach, seeing how Nightfoot and Russetfang were the only other cats awake. The camp seemed so empty -- Blackpaw almost shivered. Almost.
"'Morning Nightfoot!" The apprentice called before padding over to the wall where Russetfang worked. "And you too Russetfang." Blackpaw watched as Russetfang worked for a moment, before attempting to mimic the tom in patching up the wall. |
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Post by Slug on Apr 28, 2009 19:08:40 GMT -5
Russetfang nodded his head in Nightfoot's derection, a silent good morning from the usually loud, joyous tom, who was too engrossed in his work to give an actual greeting. Today was just another day, now that the russet tom thought about it. Uneventfull, boring, the same. Russetfang had a non-exciting life-- if you don't count the day he had taken the great fall... ugh. Some memories are best left alone.
Ears pricking at Blackpaw's voice, Russetfang turned to the source and faced the black apprentice with a smile on his muzzle. "'Mornin', Blackpa'!" He sang, suddenly perky, his eyes gleaming. Then he promptly returned to his work, smile widening when Blackpaw joined him in his duty of reiforcing the camp. "How 'as your mornin' been so far, Blackpa'?" The crippled tom inquired between a mouthfull of carefully held bramble twigs.
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Post by Crowzerplorodon on May 1, 2009 15:29:49 GMT -5
"Boring, Russetfang." The apprentice answered honestly, watching how the older tom worked the branches into the wall before making his own attempt. The bark felt strange in his mouth, and Blackpaw did his hardest not to let his tongue touch it. "Ashfang is asleep or somethin', and I wanna train!"
Even though Blackpaw found it perfectly fine to stay back and defend camp, occasionally weaving branches and brambles into the walls, he still could not wait to become a warrior. To be on the front lines of battle and doing all he could for his clan, for FogClan. That's what Blackpaw wanted, he couldn't get it if his mentor was no where to be found, though.
The apprentice let out a soft purr when he finally got the branch to stick in well. Maybe he'd finally get the hang of this. |
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Post by Slug on May 2, 2009 9:51:36 GMT -5
Russetfang gave Blackpaw a thoroughly aghast look, petrified at the thought of boredom. Russetfang hated being bored, and he hated being unable to do... anything! He felt for the apprentice, he really did, but perhaps he could make his boredom...
Disappear?
Shaking off his horror, Russetfang pondered on this matter. What could he do to make Blackpaw feel better? Was there anything he could do to take Blackpaw's boredom away? Russetfang may be a warrior, but waking Ashfang was... quickly taken out of the question. He certainly did not want to anger the older warrior, if there was any anger to be spent.
Suddenly, an idea dusted away the cobwebs in Russetfang's brain.
"I could take you huntin', Blackpa', if you want'a." Russetfang suggested, broken tail quivering as it twitched. "O'course, you dun gotta if you dun want'a." He added shyly, looking at the ground as if it was the most interesting thing he'd ever seen. "Just a' idea. I thought... nevah mind!" He purred a weak laugh, returning to his pile of bramble, snatching one up with his maw before shoving it ungracefully into the entrance wall.
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Post by Crowzerplorodon on May 2, 2009 10:18:29 GMT -5
Blackpaw tilted his head slightly at the look Russetfang gave him, thoroughly confused at what the warrior was trying to express. After a moment he gave a slight shrug and went back to work on weaving branches into the wall. The apprentice stared at his work for a minute, feeling prouder than he probably should, before Russetfang spoke.
"Hunting?" The black cat repeated. "Hunting sounds great!" It would give him a chance to go out and actually do something, instead of weaving. Not that protecting the camp wasn't important or anything.
"I'd love to go hunting with you, Russetfang." Blackpaw let out a purr before swishing his tail on the ground. |
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Post by Slug on May 2, 2009 14:34:44 GMT -5
"Hunting sounds great!"
Russetfang gushed, his skin heating under his fur. "Really?" He said, grinning widely, revealing rows of fangs. This was great news! Finally, something to do other than reinforcing the camp! It was nice and all to show that you cared for Fogclan's safety... but it got old and Russetfang wanted to prove, just because he was crippled, didn't mean he had to stick to the camp!!
"I'd love to go hunting with you, Russetfang."
Russetfang could only beam at Blackpaw, grinning wider than ever before. Great news indeed! Then suddenly, his grin disapeard, his whiskers drooped, and his shoulders slumped. "I hate to break this to you, Blackpa', but... I can't really hunt. For obvious reasons. Is it okay if... I just tag along?" He asked gently, taking in the situation like it was fragile glass, ready to be shattered. Russetfang inwardly scolded himself. How could he forget something like this?
Was it just Russetfang, or was his memory growing worse? Or... had he really gotten use to his "issues"? Nevertheless, Russetfang could only hope, but he wouldn't blame the apprentice if he didn't want to hunt with him. Afterall, crippled toms are...
Boring.
/Lame. D:
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Post by Crowzerplorodon on May 2, 2009 14:50:46 GMT -5
Blackpaw kneaded the ground eagerly, ready to go out hunting with the warrior. His small ears twitched back and forth, as if he was already listening for the prey he would hunt. The apprentice was so lost in the thoughts of going out into the woods that he almost missed what Russetfang said. Almost.
"I hate to break this to you, Blackpa', but... I can't really hunt. For obvious reasons. Is it okay if... I just tag along?"
The apprentice looked back up at the larger cat. "You can't hunt?" He repeated, not understanding why. Then he remembered why. Blackpaw's ears flattened in a bit, feeling sorry for the warrior before they perked again. There was no way he was going to feel gloomy because of this!
"Oh, right. It doesn't matter, it's boring to go by yourself! And besides, you could... I'unno, work on ways to hunt better." |
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We have a cbox again and we're opening the place up as a closed, members only rp