The Testing of Clay [ open ]

[Crowzerplorodon]

Oh how he wanted to tell Ashclaw to shove a mouse in it. It would've been very satisfying if he had, after all, the silver she-cat was bugging the crap out of him. No, correction, everyone was bugging the crap out of him. Which wasn't fair to Tigertail, nor was it fair to the cats he snapped at. But hey, if they all stopped being so intrusive, then maybe he could stop being so damn snappy. That was logic, right? If they stopped asking why he was so butthurt and why he had dropped into depression and why he had lost interest in being a part of MeadowClan, then he wouldn't snap at them to shut up.

"Yer friend must've been a funny, Clay," the warrior said, studying a paw with the least amount of interest he could muster. "Rogues who com'ere are chased out now. S'too late ta' be 'cepted in here wit' open paws. Shoulda come a few moons ago." Which was more or less true. If this young cat wanted to join up a clan, he was gonna have to face a leader. Cedarstar, namely, if he was going to join MeadowClan. And Tigertail didn't know too much about his furry leader, but from what he saw lately, the tom would have some serious doubts about taking in a cat during the middle of a Leaf-Bare like this. "'Sides, this place's just full o' bad things. Dunno if ya' really, truly wanna join."

[ulysses]

Clay looked back and forth from tom to she-cat. She seemed friendly enough, while this tom was someone not to mess with. He shook his head in frustration.
"Listen, i dare you to chase me out!" he threatened, "I'm staying here until your...clan, accepts me!".
New courage was found inside him, Clay had never felt this dead set on something before. This clan was his last hope of surviving, unless he travels to find more. But how many moons till then? And would those strangers be just as hostel?
In a calmer tone Clay spoke, " I may not be that big but I'm willing to help, the forest has made me stronger. Theirs no going back to were i came from, and I'm willing to attempt any test you lay upon me."
Clay stared the two forest cats in the eye, he will not show weakness. Not again.

As the warmth of the early sun disappeared, the leafbare cold had took him by surprise. A chilly breeze had began to enter the clearing and ruffle his fur. Clay shook, this was the life in the wilderness.