Gathering Cats

[Poizuun]

Deep within the leader's den, Owlstar reveled in the dark, not wanting to be disturbed by anyone unless there was a rabid fox in the camp. She had spent the entire night going over every warrior and apprentice in the Clan, debating which cats would be appropriate to bring with her to the gathering. Where most leaders don't put much thought into the cats that they bring with them, Owlstar went over each cat's personality and fighting skills before she decided. It was important to have non-confrontational cats (she could handle that herself), but still ones that had good enough fighting skills to hold their own in case something broke out.

She blinked, feeling like her eyes were covered in sand. A night without sleep wasn't good for her, but by mid morning, she had come up with her decision. Rising to her paws, feeling the joints pop and strain back into place. She gave a quick stretch and then ascended into her Clan's camp. The black and white she-cat scaled the roots that covered her den until she was looking over the cats that were bustling about as they should be. Owlstar opened her mouth and released a deep yowl in order to get her Clan's attention. "I have decided who will be accompanying me to the gathering." Her golden eyes scanned the crowd, her stare heavy and dominating. "They will be Smallfoot, Hailstorm, Finchpaw, Silverflower, Duskheart, Smoketail, Spottedstream, Mousenose, Willowpaw, and Firepaw. Be ready to leave at my signal." With that, she leapt down and moved back into her den for a nap in order to regain the energy she lost with her all-nighter.

[Rolo]

Frostpaw had heard the announcement, just managing to dash through the entrance in time to see the leader head off towards her den. She thanked her luck that she was going to be able to speak to her before the gathering started, dashing after her.

Her goal remained clear in her mind. She would get Owlstar to see how bad Rowanheart was as a mentor to her and get her to understand that they needed to go their seperate ways. The future of her state of mind depended on it. She would ask to be a warrior... she could fight and hunt as well as any adult cat... and if that failed she would simply ask to switch mentors. Surely Owlstar couldn't hate her for that?

She paused for a moment, slowing as she reached the centre of camp. How in Earth's name would she go about this? She didn't have the best relationship with the leader... how ever could she turn things around enough for Owlstar to talk to her seriously?

However, she felt to hurried to let her thoughts and doubts consume her for more than a split second and she bounded over to the leaders den. Sitting outside of it, she did not hesitate for even a moment before softly calling;

"Owlstar? May I speak to you?"

Her tone was calm, tinted with a seriousness and innocence she hoped the leader would appreciate. She had figured that the she-cat would not appreciate her barging in... and if she wanted to show that she was 'respectful and rule-abiding' warrior-material, acting as a 'loyal warrior' would was essential.

[Poizuun]

Just as Owlstar had curled up and released a deep sigh, closing her eyes when a soft voice alerted her to a presence outside of her den. Her golden eyes flashed open and she couldn't contain the growl as she stood up and walked to the entrance to the den. She stuck her head out into the sunlight. Immediately she focused on Frostpaw, who was the obvious owner of the voice.

The black and white she-cat subconsciously sized up the apprentice and could tell that there as a serious matter about to be laid out before her. So much for an afternoon nap. Rather than inviting her into the burrow, where they were more than likely going to be cramped and uncomfortable. Not to mention being in almost complete darkness. Instead, Owlstar sat down, shifting her front paws slightly as her short tail wrapped around her body. "Something seems to be troubling you, Frostpaw," She tried to keep the agitated tone out of her voice, but couldn't exactly tell how good her acting skills were. "What can I do to remedy this?"

[Rolo]

Frostpaw listened attentively for the leaders reply. When she came out of the den, she bowed her head 'respectfully' as she had seen the warriors do. When Owlstar replied, she could hear the slight annoyance in her voice. It was well-masked, but it was obvious to Frostpaw's keen ears. She cursed her luck... she had hoped the she-cat would be in a good mood. Now she would have to be even more cautious.

"I know it's not my place to... decide on these things but..." She started hesitantly, her hesitation half-real, half put on. She looked up into the leader's eyes, giving her a look that she hoped looked mature rather than desperate. "I... I think you should consider making me a warrior."

She paused for a moment, collecting herself. She wasn't used to putting such a... reign over her voice... usually she just spoke bluntly with little regard to how others would take it. Speaking like this... with such a refined and polite tone... it was like a forgotten art.

"I've been an apprentice for many moons now..." She said honestly, "I'm practically an adult. I've trained for a long time... I can protect the clan with ease and I can hunt. I know what the warrior code involves too... and I think I'm mature enough to be a warrior."

She paused again, realising that that speech could come across as overconfident and immature. Hastily she added, in an equally cool tone. "I know me asking is... not the norm... I'm sorry for that, but I..." She swallowed, "Rowanheart doesn't seem to recognise what I can do."

[Poizuun]

Owlstar listened intently to Frostpaw's plea, nodding slowly at the proper moments. As the apprentice spoke, the tempermental she-cat couldn't help but let her anger slowly rise. She'd had no sleep and now Frostpaw was trying to do her mentor's and leader's job?

Her tail swept through the dust quickly, stopping when it was directly behind her, the tip twitching sporadically. The large she-cat shifted her shoulders testily, eyeing the apprentice with a fierce, heavy stare. "If your mentor believes that you are not ready to be a warrior, then I'm going to have to trust his decision." Her ear flicked as she chose her next words carefully. "Frostpaw, there are other apprentices in this Clan that also probably think they are ready to be warriors, but they are not coming to me to ask for their warrior ceremony, are they? No, they are waiting for their mentors to say that they are ready and then their mentor will come to me and I will assess them. Just like it has always been." Her gaze travelled across the camp, watching cats carry on their duties, some casting glances at her and Frostpaw, probably wondering what they were talking about. "If I let you be a warrior at your request, I would have to let every apprentice be a warrior at their request, and then we would have apprentices becoming warriors after just a couple of moons. I cannot make you a warrior until Rowanheart thinks that you are ready."

[Rolo]

Frostpaw's heart sank and she visably shrunk back. The words were like salt in her wounds... they caused her physical pain. She could see her chances slipping away, a future laden with Rowanheart's brutal accusations getting closer and closer. She couldn't bare it... it made her feel lost and afraid. Rowanheart would NEVER think she was good enough... if the leader would not even consider her being a warrior without his opinion, she would remain an apprentice for the rest of her life. She could not face a future with Rowanheart preaching at her... she just couldn't.

"But..." She mumbled, her voice trembling slightly, "I..."

She swallowed, feeling nervous for the first time in moons. She knew now that there was no way of going about this without admitting what Rowanheart had done.

She sighed.

"I know you're not going to like hearing this. You're going to think I'm the problem... that I'm lying to help myself." She said frankly, "But... I beg of you, please, consider it properly."

She looked pleadingly into the older cat's eyes, "Rowanheart hates me. He admitted it himself... he told me I couldn't speak to Finchpaw because I am a 'danger' to him. He doesn't like that I don't believe in Starclan... so he will never like me enough to say to you that I have enough skills to be a warrior. He doesn't believe I can do anything... he will spend the rest of his life training me as long as I keep my beliefs..."

She trailed off, before stating, "Please, Owlstar. Test me yourself... I'll prove to you that I can be a good warrior."

[Poizuun]

Owlstar breathed a heavy sigh. This was not an easy-to-please cat. She closed her eyes for a few moments, then flicked them open, landing her heavy gaze on Frostpaw, conveying just how not-in-the-mood she was for this. "Frostpaw, if you can talk Rowanheart into allowing you to be assessed by both him and myself, then do it. I am not making the decision without word from your mentor since I have not seen your skills. Now if you'll excuse me, I have things to take care of." She stood, turned and padded back into her den where she curled up and finally fell asleep.