The forest is too busy (Frostpaw, OPEN)

[Rolo]

((I do not lie when I say I would like as many cats as possible to join this thread XD I really want to get Frostpaw meeting some new cats, as many as possible. So please join XD))

Frostpaw wandered back into camp, growling to herself. She swore that luck hated her! She had gone out of camp to find some peace, and what had she found? A stalking loner who couldn't provide stimulation for a kit and an actual kit (who, coincidentally, didn't provide much stimulation either.) She wouldn't have been bothered if she'd come across somecat who was actually interesting, but she hadn't. Not only was she now craving some time alone, she was bored out of her mind.

Moving into camp, she moved towards the right hand side of the clearing and seated herself under a large pine tree. Though she could be easily be seen by cats, the area provided cool shade and a patch of grass to sit on. There she stayed, closing her eyes for a moment before beginning to preen herself.

The camp seemed pretty empty for now, she hoped it stayed that way. Maybe it was possible for the camp to be less busy than the rest of the forest, considering how many cats she had bumped into the last few days.

[Crowzerplorodon]

Between messing around with Cedarpaw and training with Ashfang, Blackpaw had never felt more worked. Sure, he knew soon he would be deemed worthy of a warrior name and join the ranks that he looked up to; just the work took him by surprise. This was the first time in days he had been given time to sit and, quite literally, lick his wounds. All his spare time had been spent sleeping and there really was no point and bugging Brightnose for some poppy seeds or marigold or whatever.

Maybe he could pester Finchpaw…

Naw.

Right now, he just wanted to rest. Somewhere shady, where he could relax and maybe chat with some apprentice or warrior. Maybe Russetfang was free? He really liked the older tom. But there was no sign of the warrior in camp and Blackpaw just assumed he was out on patrol. In fact, none of his friends seemed to be out in the open. Cedarpaw was probably out with Stonetail, Sootpaw with Hailstorm. Dovepaw with her own mentor… Mousenose? And he had already decided not to pester Finchpaw.

From the corner of his eye he caught site of a familiar gray pelt. The she-cat seemed to be peaceful, relaxing under the shade of a pine tree. Peace, relaxation, and shade- just what Blackpaw wanted. And perhaps he could coerce Frostpaw to converse with him. Or just sit in awkward silence, it didn’t really matter.

”Heyo,” he greeted with a yawn, taking a seat on the other side of the tree, close enough to hold a conversation, but enough distance to show there wasn’t any real familiarity between them.

[/blockquote]

[Rolo]

Frostpaw smelt the tom before she saw him, hoping silently that he wouldn't disturb her. Perhaps if she kept still, he wouldn't see her and he'd go about his daily business. She wanted to think, she did not want to talk

Unfortunately though, the tom seemed to sense her presence and she heard him come closer. She blinked her eyes open, pinpointing in the black cat just in time to see him speak a lazy hello.

Well, at least the tom wasn't pressing her for conversation, that was a relief. It seemed that if she would be able to get around having a conversation.

"Hello, Blackpaw." She mewed simply as he seated himself a little way away. Her gaze did not linger on him long before she returned to her grooming.

[Whiskers]

Oh my STARCLAN, he was bored!

Firepaw was strewn across the camp floor, dust mussing up his long-furred pelt which he had carefully washed only a moment ago. He didn't care too much. He had cleaned it like, what, a million times today! He seriously felt like his brain was bleeding out of his ears because of the boredom. The only thing he had done was the dawn patrol and Owlstar didn't even bother to go with him. She just sent him on his way like he was an annoying kit, instead of the almost-warrior he really, truly was.

In just a few more moons, his warrior name would be his. Then he could do whatever he wanted. Until then, however, he was stuck in this boring camp with no one to talk to because Finchpaw was being a stupid medicine cat and his dad was being a stupid warrior and all his stupid friends had stupid mentors who actually took them out.

Oh hey, was that Frostpaw?

His attention quickly diverted from his own problems, Firepaw sat up and stared at her silver-white pelt as it moved slowly to Blackpaw. Huh, he didn't know Blackpaw was in either. After a moment (a milisecond, actually) of consideration, Firepaw decided that it was only polite to go say hi. Hopping to his feet, giving his glorious pelt another shake, he strut over to where Frostpaw and Blackpaw were lazing about.

"I see we're all stuck in camp. That's really what sucks about being just an apprentice, huh, Blackpaw?" he grinned at the tom, who he thought was a pretty cool guy, before turning his gaze sharply toward Frostpaw."As for you, I hope you love apprenticeship because you'll be stuck as one for a while. No way are you getting your warrior name with your attitude."

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[Spec]

A single corpse dropped from her jaws, mangled and half removed of skin, while bits of torn feathers dotted her jaws from the catch. Mistpelt licked her lips, swiping her salmon tinted tongue over her lips in a mute sign of her victory. The bird had been a hard and patient catch, but it was large and plump with other small vermin, and had managed to clasp her vice grip jaws upon its throat and ended its life in a single bite. A small scratch, however, lined her chin, where the bird had saved its last ounce of strength to kick at her. The ivory and silver marked she-cat shook herself, from muzzle to tail tip, where it twitched vigorously and lashed once dismissively against the motion. The stray shreds of feather floated from her maw, falling upon the ground where it lay discarded among the fresh kill pile. She cast her sea foam gaze, still clouded by the memory of the hunt gleaming from her orbs. Still, she was satisfied with her provision to her clan, which seemed neglected without her loving care, but even as the warmth of her triumph shone from her eyes, her soul was jagged in thought, always conspiring. Owlstar had forgotten to address her mentoring duties yet again and decided to spend the day idle and worthless in camp. Mistpelt was surprised that Starclan had not smote her down with a heavenly swipe of Their claws on the spot, but like all cats felines of faith, she found no reason to doubt Their choice, and padded forward, trotting parallel into the heart of camp.

Speaking of mentoring, she had not seen Firepaw for some time. But since Owlstar had neglected her apprentice, the young tom was likely to be in camp, or Starclan help him if he somehow wasn't. She immediately expected him to, anyway, make himself useful around camp, either finding some new bedding for the elders, or seeing Brightnose for mouse bile to remove their ticks that she knew gathered and hungered for their blood. So naturally, she was shocked to see three apprentices, including the ginger furred tom in question, placed slothfully around each other, smiling and sharing greeting casually in their pleasure. Barely suppressing a sneer, Mistpelt edged closer to the trio, posture high as her stony orbs glittered in a thinning glower. Involved in this act was Blackpaw as well as Frostpaw, who instantly sparked a sort of displeasure, and couldn't help looking at her without having surges of suspicion flame inside of her. She arrived just in time to catch Firepaw's last lingering remark, edged sharply like a bared fang towards the white furred she-cat. "Now, now, Firepaw...” Her cold expression churned into one of motherly strictness, albeit near teasing with a bemused half smirk tugged her lips, a few fangs bared. As far as she was concerned, his statement was entirely true.”That is for Starclan to decide.” Glancing towards each apprentice individually, she noted every expression, drank in their reactions towards her present, keen eyes always looking for flaw, for ones so young can be easily molded by corruption and guiles of sin. Quick correction meant quick recovery and forgiveness, but let it linger...and it could decay.

[Crowzerplorodon]

He gave a light snort at Frostpaw’s simple reply, but nothing more. It was obvious the she-cat did not wish to speak at the moment. And Blackpaw… wasn’t up for forced or strained conversation. Maybe he’d just mimic her and groom in the shade, take a rest before going back out and finishing his apprentice duties. With another gaping yawn, Blackpaw stretched his front paws out forward, feeling the muscles in his legs tense up before relaxing at the sensation. His eyelids fluttered as he fought off the strong urge to nap that suddenly washed over him. Heck, if it wasn’t for Firepaw making his appearance Blackpaw was sure he’d slip away to dream land right there and then.

“Stuck?” Blackpaw repeating with a lazy, almost deranged look on his face. “This is the first break I’ve had in moons. I’m rather glad to be ‘stuck’ here in camp.” He tossed a lopsided grin as he rolled onto his side, facing the ginger tom with his limbs strewed out. “S’quieter.” Plus it wouldn’t be long until he was a warrior. Relishing in these last few days as an apprentice who was allowed to make mistakes was definitely one of the higher priorities on Blackpaw’s list. He paid little attention as Firepaw addressed Frostpaw, only flicking his ears toward the she-cat to listen for her response. From what he knew of her, she’d snapped back with a smarter comment. Something Blackpaw liked; a she-cat with moxie. Who cares what she believed in? Frostpaw had spark.

Through his half-lidded eyes Blackpaw could see as FogClan’s deputy herself padded into camp, dropping off some prey before turning her gaze (glare, he thought, would be more appropriate) on the camp. As the light colored she-cat made her way over, Blackpaw considered sitting up and looking presentable for the deputy. But as she was just a few pawsteps away, he shrugged off the idea, not bothering to greet her as he dozed back off again. After all, she seemed only interested in Firepaw at the moment. Catching her statement, Blackpaw could only nod in agreement. StarClan would decide when Frostpaw was ready. However, it would be up to the higher positioned members of the clan to actually give her a warrior name. StarClan, while great, could not actually name an apprentice no matter how spectacular they were made out to be. Owlstar and Rowanheart (probably Mistpelt too) would be the ones picking Frostpaw’s time.

Blackpaw felt for the gray she-cat.

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[Cloud of Diamonds]

Falconkit was bored. Cinderkit was asleep, and Birchtail was off getting a drink. He shuffled restlessly in his nest, halheartedly batting at a scrap of moss. No. That was what newborn kits did, and he was nearly an apprentice. Perhaps he could go outside? Surely no one would object as long as he stayed in camp and didn't get under anyone's paws. Getting up and padding to the entrance of the nursery, he heard voices-apprentices', he thought-in camp. He poked his broad head outside, blinking in the light. Wait...was that Mistpelt, over there? Yes, it was. As well as Blackpaw, Firepaw,...and who was that pale gray she-cat again? Frostpaw, that was her name. Hadn't Birchtail mentioned her once? The non-believer. Falconkit was puzzled by the fact that she lived in FogClan at all. Why would StarClan let a cat like that be here? Not that it was of particular interest to him. If StarClan wanted her to go away, he felt sure they could do it. Carefully stepping outside, he padded a few foxlengths and sat down a a badgerlength away from all the cats. "Greetings, Mistpelt," he mewed, dipping his head deeply to her. He gave a respectful nod to the three apprentices. They would be his denmates soon, so it would be wise to be polite to them.

[Rolo]

Frostpaw felt like cursing beneath her breath as she heard a cat wandering towards her. She knew his scent instantly, it was similar to his father's... it wreaked of ignorance. Once again, she hoped vainly that the kit would pass her by, but obviously that was wishful thinking. She would be subjected to numerous insults now, that was even more obvious. She knew that, since she was trying to relax and not pick a fight, one would inevitably start.

As Firepaw began to speak, her eyes flicked open, focusing indifferently upon him. Of course, the little mouse-brain was talking fox-dung about... nothing in particular. A few jibes towards her were littered here and there amon, none of them got her in the worked up in the slightest. In fact, they amused her greatly.

"I'd rather be an apprentice than a mouse-brained follower." She said indifferently, "I don't see the need to prove myself to the members of this clan. It doesn't matter if I have 'paw' at the end of my name or not, I make my own path and if that means staying an 'apprentice' for the sake of my beliefs, so be it."

Frostpaw said this with little emotion, in a matter-of-fact way that did not mock anycat, despite the content of her speech. She was past being fussed by such idiotic attempts to provoke or 'hurt' her.

Despite herself, Frostpaw smirked as Blackpaw discredited the red tom's words so simply. Maybe that would shut the idiot up.

She had just finished her speech when another cat strode into view. What was it with her? Was she some kind of magnet to trouble? Now she had the clan deputy, a cat who quite literally could beat Rowanheart when it came to blindness, glaring her way. Joy, not only did she have the spawn of an idiot on her trail, she had an insane deputy watching her every move.

Oddly, she could feel a laugh beginning to rise up within her. This situation was so difficult yet so ridiculous, she wanted to smile widely... so she did.

"Hello, Mistpelt." She said, her gaze lightly mocking, "If that's the case, hopefully Starclan will see sense soon."

[Whiskers]

Blackpaw's comment made him burn with instant envy. "That's because your mentor actually remembers you exist, Blackpaw. Yeah, I got Owlstar and she's great and all-- but I've only gone out with her once in the past moon," he grumbled, eyes flashing toward the direction of Owlstar's den. Firepaw had tried to suppress his urge to complain, but it was too strong, and it was roaring inside of him. All he wanted to do was whine and he'd whine as loud as he could-- until that badger Owlstar would hear him!

"I always have to tag along with other mentors who only pay attention to me half the time, since they have their own apprentices to worry about. It's better than nothing but it's not good enough! I'll never be a warrior at this rate, and unlike you Frostpaw, I actually wanna prove myself to my clanmates AND to Starclan. It's not fair."

His shoulders slumped as the usual angry spark left his eyes, pathetically replaced with a dejected look of self-pity. It never was fair for him, was it? Why'd he get the short end of the stick, every single time? Looking at his fellow apprentices, he wanted nothing more than to steal their mentors from them, since obviously they didn't know how good they had it. He'd appreciate Rowanheart and Ashfang. Both were great warriors and good solid cats-- and if he had his father for his mentor, he'd finally get some attention...

Whatever.

Firepaw turned to Mistpelt, who he had previously ignored, something he was regretting now. She was the deputy and she did deserve his respect...but he found himself stiff and cold when faced with her now. He didn't want to deal with her.

"Sorry Mistpelt. You're right. Starclan will decide when Frostpaw is...worthy of her warrior name. And they'll do the same for me." He rattled off as respectfully as he could. The apology was empty though. He had no positive feelings for the she-cat and the animosity he felt toward her made it nearly impossible not to make a rude comment in her direction.

As for the kit, Firepaw's attention was wasted on the little thing and so he didn't turn his way at all, merely flicked his tail in a half-hearted greeting.

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[Cloud of Diamonds]

Falconkit suppressed an annoyed hiss. Yes, he was a kit, but still! Didn't he deserve more than a tail flick from one cat? The brown tom felt the fur on his broad shoulders bristle slightly. All this arguement about whether they'd become warriors with StarClan's approval...wanting to make an intelligent comment, the small tabby remembered one of Birchtail's lessons from when he was younger.

"Cinderkit, Falconkit, are you listening? I've got something very important to tell you."

The three and a half moon kit looked up at his mother with big amber eyes recently turned from blue. He was still unused to the suffix now in his name. "What is it, Mama?" he said.

Beside him, the smaller gray kit squeaked,"Tell us! Tell us!"

And thus he learned of StarClan. A Clan of heavenly ancestors, forever guarding the living cats below? It sounded almost too amazing to be true. Of course, he was a bit skeptical of them controlling the fates of other cats. That was a bit too much to swallow, for Falconkit. But the rest sounded plausible enough. They would watch over him as he became the greatest warrior FogClan had ever seen, he was sure of it.

Ah, yes. They who existed after death to forever guard and guide the clans below. How could Frostpaw not believe in them? They were there for every cat's good, or so he'd been taught. But then, Frostpaw was an apprentice and she probably knew more than he did. Who was he, a kit, to judge? But then..surely it wasn't good to talk about StarClan if one did not believe in them?
Falconkit's head spun. But he did have a question, and hoped it was innocent enough.

"But...if a cat doesn't believe in StarClan, doesn't that mean StarClan can't affect them?"

The dark colored kit knew this would seem like a foolish query, perhaps, to Mistpelt. Birchtail had spoken of her with awe and reverence of how pure and devoted the deputy was. But he was a kit; surely his young status meant he would be allowed to ask a question? And the other apprentices...well, he felt they could hardly blame him either, though perhaps they'd think him naive.

But oh how he wanted to know.