The devotee and the philosopher (MistxBright)

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Brightnose's eyebrows rose. The ivory furred cat was unusually thorough and composed. How delightful, thought the calico. Perhaps she even shares curiosity like mine. "Thank you for that information. I find it rich in detail and very satisfying, indeed. And even more gratitude comes from the knowledge that there is juniper there! The shoots must be young, or perhaps dying, by now, but I am glad I now know of their existence. You astound me with your blessed preciseness, Mistpelt." Her dark colored tail swished slightly in excitement. She had thought she knew the location of most every herb in her territory, but apparently she was wrong. Brightnose usually hated to be wrong, but this time it was to her advantage. And a bonus to her knowledge, sure enough. And how polite the deputy was! Some cats got angry with her for questioning them so. Simpletons. The FogClanner could not imagine not wanting to share knowledge. It was a pity there weren't more cats like her; intelligent, aloof, and curious, but not prying. The medicine cat felt she might even want to hold a conversation with the she-cat sometime. After all, you didn't need to know a cat to like them. But then....she remembered her suppressed liking for Finchpaw. But he was so curious, so clever...so young, yet so well-trained. Except for that one incident...but then, Brightnose knew he had reason to scorn her feelings. She did so herself, she mused, lost in thought.

[Spec]

Likewise, Mistpelt's long tail, darkened with glossy black rings swept across the ground, towards her paws. Every thought remained perched precariously upon the ledge of her mind, every detail pronounced and alert in her presence. She doubted that Brightnose suspected such a response from her, but she was the deputy. Such things that required a decent amount of keenness and explanation came second nature to her. Words formed on her maw and she merely spoke what Starclan intended her to speak, every syllable, every breath, it all held meaning, importance. To deny something she would utter was...unimaginable, really. The pressure of knowing that some of her clanmates were unseeing to her greater goal became apparent with each day, with the rising sun to the setting moon as it dipped just below the horizon. Even as the exchanged a bit of polite banter, the ivory furred she-cat's paw had already shown signs of healing. The dull throb that bit deeply into her tows no longer plagued her as it had moments ago, and the moist caress of burdock cushioned her step. She would be fine in no time. Mistpelt was almost taken aback by the sudden excitable state the medicine cat suppressed from herself, excitable as a newly named apprentice...whom she should humor with the exact curious formality and politeness shown previously towards her calico clanmate. “You're welcome, Brightnose. And thank you. Starclan had indeed blessed and honored me with such traits.” The smile that crawled upon her face was brief, but outwardly sincere as she inwardly kept a rather calculating and cold facade, shielded from view. As a medicine cat, she should have known where every herb in their territory took root, even shoots barely recognizable, but recognizable all the same. A subtle black mark scratched along her name and rank as Mistpelt's mind judged, but still...her sea foam eyes only glittered passively towards her enthusiasm and nodded once more, shoulders rolling absently.

[Cloud of Diamonds]

A common occurence, the medicine cat was interrupted from her mental meandering by the speech of the cool-faced she-cat in front of her. No doubt Mistpelt wanted to leave now, she thought. It was almost a pity. The deputy was, well, not quite likable in a friendly way-but then, she did not need to be, and such things were hardly a priority with the calico. Yet she was almost certain that the deputy probably wanted to leave the den by now and return to some other activity. It was curious, the FogClanner thought, how one at first was so desperate to come to her den, yet so soon longing to leave it. If she had been the emotional type, she might have wistfully reflected how unfair it was that it was more her skills than she herself who was needed. But she was not, and when this thought now ocurred to her it rather pleased her. It meant, she realized that she was more able to pick and choose her relationships, since she could visit any cat she liked provided they were in camp, and also that she was more free to persue her love of philosophy. Her whiskers twitched in appreciation of this satsifying realization. She'd felt something like this before, but never had it been so defined, having such a shape in thought and form in her mind. So poetic I am, thought the self-satisfied, tricolored feline. "You are most welcome yourself, Mistpelt. It is not everyday one gets to talk to a cat such as you. But I expect you are probably getting bored, sitting here. You may leave if you like." But a thought struck the patched she-cat, one she simply must comment on. "Indeed, as you say, StarClan have blessed you with such traits, most likely....I wonder, does StarClan give us certain gifts for their own purposes, or to do with as we like?"

[Spec]

The day was growing old, so to speak. Duties would need to be given, and without a deputy to give them, it would fall to the task of Owlstar to announce dusk patrol and so forth. Mistpelt loathed that idea, and threw it away straight out. She should learn to stop rooting around in places that weren't her 'type of catch' and learn to fully perfect her own duties and things she was entitled to accomplish. Snorting under her breath, she refocused upon the medicine cat, ready to bit her farewell. Perhaps she would stop by sometime when she wasn't injure or sickly, it could hurt, after all. Brightnose made for interesting conversation, and at times, grating, it challenged her mind in healthy doses. Nothing like a brain teaser...she mused thoughtfully. Her dismissive words were all the ivory she-cat required to take her leave. Her shoulders rocked forward, rising to her paws. With a half yawn her toes flexed forth ivory claws, testing the tension in her bad paw to see if the pain still remained. It was present, but it was faint, dust in the wind against a more powerful figure. She bent her head in the direction of the entrance, her back slowly angling – before Brightnose spoke once more, almost in a hurried fashion, she assumed. She returned to attention as soon as the words left her mouth. It wouldn't do to simply walk out on her whilst she was still in her speech. Mistpelt fought back a wicked grin. That would be rude. Optics snapped into acute focus, scrutinizing her words for all their worth. What was she rambling about now? What sort of question is that to ponder, the truth in which she inquired? As a medicine cat, she should be wise in the ways of Starclan, not mimic a witless apprentice. Still, such a question, however moronic it was, deserved a guiding paw, the truth of the matter in a firm reprieve. “Everything we are is molded by Starclan. Every trait, positive or negative has meaning and purpose for their divine Will. Of course, many think they are following their own, independent will, but all our actions are based on what Starclan means for us to accomplish in our lifetime.”

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Brightnose pondered the deputy's words, eyes now closed. Was it true? There was no reason for it not to be true. But if it was true, then many questions arose from it. Also several realizations, one of which was that the medicine cat had not realized the depth of Mistpelt's faith before. And how did she have such confidence in her answer? Had she spoken with StarClan herself? If that was true, it was quite unusual. She herself rarely got dreams from StarClan.

The calico shrugged. It was curious, but certainly no reason for concern. And besides, it was Mistpelt's business and hers alone. And why would the deputy lie? After all, Owlstar wouldn't have chosen her if she didn't trust her. So, it probably was true. After all, she mused, it would be a good way to determine that no cat would have too much of anything.

"How interesting. Thank you for your answer, Mistpelt, I found it most illuminating. Perhaps, indeed, this explains StarClan's ability to give nine lives." Which was something Brightnose herself had always doubted. But now it made sense. She remembered some cat - most likely Owlstar - explaining the process to her once. She'd listened with polite skepticism then, discarding it as just an interesting curiosity. However, the ivory she-cat's words went some ways towards justifying the possibility of that. It made sense that if StarClan could mold cats' personalities, they could certainly alter them so to give them new lives, all in one body.

[Spec]

Her expression upon her face wasn't reprimanding, but intently passive, reverent, actually, with the greatest desire to guide the medicine cat back onto the path of righteous. It would seem that Brightnose had no idea of the deputy's vision, nor did she even receive it herself. This unnerved her, a rather unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach, but her words (although a bit cryptic) encouraged her to have faith in the medicine cat's abilities. Of course, she would need a lot more learning and coaxing to get her back on track, but there was time for that later. She had to get back to her duties, it was nearly time to send out the next batch of patrols! She nodded wisely to her words, her tail settling a bit of distance from her body before she continued out of Brightnose's den, careful to avoid any type of unscratched ground or stray branches or thorns that might have fallen from the foliage surrounding them. But all that met her pads was the soft reminder of cool earth, healing soil to seal her wound and the dock to promise a clean recovery. She waved once with her tail, indicating that she was indeed leaving her presense and threw some words over her shoulder, not particularity caring if Birghtnose heard them or not. “Farewell, Brightnose. Blessings upon you.” Came her lingering goodbye, disappearing to return to her wanton clan.