I think I'll try defying gravity ]

[Kelly]

It was dark as Sootpaw stalked the mouse that scrambled around the tree roots. The sun had just set and stars were dotting the sky already, pinpoints of light far, far away. Or, as Sootpaw saw it, deceased ancestors of his species. Up there was StarClan, and the stars were past lives that had served there time. For a moment, he let himself drift off, just gazing up at the night sky and the soul's that resided in the lights above. Oh how it would be to fly in the sky with them, to be as light as... well, light, and not be held down by the world and the life one was stuck living in.

The gray apprentice growled, startling the mouse, but he didn't care. It wasn't his original purpose, after all. It's not like he would have come out here at night, when it was freezing, just to hunt. No he should be curled up with his fellow apprentices. But the prospect of quiet thinking time away from clan proved to great. Before he new it, he was at the FogClan border that left the clans, close to where he had first found his place within the clans. He closed his amber eyes and sat, resting under a brittle bush and wondering how bad it would be for him to fall asleep out here.

ooc;
This is for FogClan APPRENTICES only. Preferably only one or two more come in, so it stays small. Crow's called a space for Blackpaw.

[Crowzerplorodon]

From his place on the border, Blackpaw looked like nothing more than a fault in the dark landscape. Only the white tuff on his chest stood out. Not even his slight breathing gave him away. The apprentice just stood there, perfectly still, listening as another cat skulked around the woods, disturbing prey as they slept. What mousebrain would be so noisy at this time of night? Blackpaw sniffed the air, only scenting FogClan, and snorted. Of course it would be someone of his clan.

He yawned, stretching his jaws wide, before turning back from the border to where the fresh scent was located. He kept downwind so the other couldn't scent him right away. As he approached, the cat's scent grew familiar until he could put his paw on the tom's name.

Sootpaw.

Blackpaw grinned, torn between asking the tom why in StarClan's name he was out here so late and scaring the life out of him. He chose the latter, naturally, and crept up behind the bush that the gray apprentice was resting under. Luckily enough, no twigs or dry leaves got in his way, and the walk toward Sootpaw went virtually silent. Once behind the bush, the black tom crouched down, stilling his breathing and crawling on his belly so he could feel the swish, swish of Sootpaw's tail through the bush. “Boo,” he hissed through the branches, green eyes alight in glee.

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[Cloud of Diamonds]

It was late and he was tired. But he felt a need to be outside, a kind of yearning for his territory that he couldn't explain. Perhaps StarClan was willing him there for a reason. He'd been hunting, tracking a squirrel from almost next to the camp to far, far away in the territory. He'd been so focused on keeping pace with the animal that when it just got away from him as he tried to catch it, Falconpaw realized where he was.

It was daunting to contemplate going back just then, when he was so tired. So he rested for a bit and just sticking around here for now until he decided to trek back.

Oh, he'd be sure to have punishment ringing in his ears when he got back. When he got back being the essential phrase.

But he wasn't breaking the code, so why not? And it was a chance to see the stars, which he hardly ever got to do. There was something exciting about being away from camp, just the brown tom and the sky and the forest around him. Then he snorted, whickers twitching in self-derision. How silly he was being! He wasn't some bedazzled kit, overeager just for a glimpse outside camp. No, he was here because..it was a good chance to practice his night hunting! Yes, exactly.

So look for prey. He sniffed the ever-growing colder air. There was nothing except the scent of a nearby holly bush and the surrounding oak trees. However, he wouldn't give up. He moved forward a few steps, snapping a stick and wincing, but tasting and sniffing the air nevertheless. No rodents or birds, but...cat! Apprentices scents', he now recognized, who were a bit of a ways off. Sootpaw and Blackpaw, he realized. "Hey, is anyone there?" He called out.

[Kelly]

Sootpaw jumped almost a foot in the air at the sound of Blackpaw's voice. Obviously enough, he hadn't expected any cat to find him so far from camp, let along attempt to scare him. Maybe snap at him for being out so late. But not scare him.

Then again, this was Blackpaw.

He turned and let out a low hiss, amber eyes glinting in anger as he could barely make out the outline of Blackpaw against the dark landscape. All he could see was that annoying tuff of white fur and the apprentice's bold green eyes. “Moron!” He growled, digging his claws into the dirt over and over again. “Of all the mousebrained things one of your status could do, that has got to be the lowest, most kit-like...” His reprimanding was cut off, amber eyes narrowing even more so.

“I take that back. Bringing Falconpaw with you was the lowest thing you could do.”

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[Crowzerplorodon]

His ears flicked backward when he scented another cat approaching. Jeez, it was weird enough the Sootpaw was out here so late. But another cat too? Or maybe it was a warrior, come to find them after realizing they weren't in camp for whatever reason. He sniffed the air, trying to figure out who it was, before dropping it and pushing his way through the bushes so he sat next to Sootpaw, green eyes wide with amusement. “Well, keep the praises coming, Sootpaw. Been needing an ego boost lately,” the apprentice said with a grin, thoroughly entertained at the gray apprentice's over the top reaction. It wasn't like he had actually done something bad.

“Falconpaw?” He muttered, realizing that he must be the other cat outside. “I didn't bring Falconpaw along. Guess he's just as mousebrained as I am and went for a walk.” His tail swished happily. The more the merrier, Blackpaw thought, stretching his neck to call for the younger apprentice. “Over here, Falconpaw!'

[/size]

[Cloud of Diamonds]

The brown tom was seriously annoyed. That gray piece of fox dung over there clearly didn't know the first thing about respect. Sootpaw needed to learn how to have better manners, or he'd find himself missing some skin. Falconpaw had been ready to go challenge him, until reason kicked in and he realized 1. He couldn't do that while another cat was here. 2. He didn't have a good enough reason if he was asked to explain himself. He ground his teeth when he came to that conclusion, but there was nothing for it. Attacking a Clanmte without good cause could get him in serious trouble.

Maybe he'd try to get Sootpaw back later during a practice bout or something. But at least Blackpaw was being friendly. Just like him, the tabby apprentice thought fondly. Blackpaw had secretly taken Falconpaw and his sister on a trip outside camp just before they were made apprentices, and it had been the most exciting thing of the tom's kithood. The almost-warrior was hard not to admire. But Sootpaw...now that was different story. A grin slowly spread on the large FogClanner's face. Of course he'd come over! He'd please Blackpaw and probably annoy Sootpaw all at once. How perfect.

So without further ado, he began to quickly pad in that direction."Coming, Blackpaw!"

[Kelly]

Sootpaw hissed, why did Blackpaw have to be so impossible? The apprentice had honestly never met a cat as annoying as the older tom. And that was saying something, as he did live in FogClan. Yet, despite Blackpaw's annoying ways, Sootpaw found himself admiring the black tom. Maybe it was age that made him respect that other. After all, Blackpaw was older than him. Practically a warrior to! And he was so high in Owlstar's regard – it was shocking that he had not yet been made a warrior. Maybe how lax Ashfang was in his training. Sootpaw had never even seen the two together.

Maybe that's why Blackpaw already walked around like a seasoned warrior. “Ego boost. Right. Your definition of praise escapes me.” His ears flattened as he scooted over, making room for both Blackpaw and Falconpaw. When did his personally outing become an open call for apprentices to crowd around him? Really, all he wanted was some peace and quiet this night. Maybe get a decent night's sleep before he went back to do his apprentice duties tomorrow.

“Must you invite him?” Sootpaw groaned, closing his amber eyes in faint disgust. Blackpaw... he could stand. At times the apprentice was good company. But Falconpaw? Well, the brown apprentice was just not a cat Sootpaw wanted to spend time with.

[Crowzerplorodon]

“C'mon, Falconpaw! Sootpaw here can't wait for you to join us!” He laughed as he spoke, making his words choppy. How he loved the look on Sootpaw's face. It was perfect, that mix of amusement and annoyance. And of course, the gray tom would just have to deal with it. Blackpaw was the senior apprentice here. Plus, he was pretty sure he could take on Sootpaw in any sort of fight the apprentice initiated. “Don't be such a mousebrain, Sootpaw. It's a nice night. Live a little, spend some time with your friends.”

Regardless of if any of them were friends or not. “Why are you out here anyway? It's a little late for a headtrip, y'know.” Maybe, like Blackpaw, Sootpaw had come out here for some late night hunting, in hopes to catch unsuspecting prey. But the tom didn't smell like prey of any sort. Ha, Sootpaw probably had as much luck as Blackpaw did when it came to hunting – none! Or maybe Sootpaw just hadn't bothered with anything. “You too, Falconpaw. Why are you out here?” It was odd that all three of them had come out to roughly the same spot, anyway.

ooc; fail.

[Cloud of Diamonds]

As smoothly as the bulky apprentice could, he padded up beside the two older toms and sat. He'd heard their words as he walked to the pair. Sootpaw. While it was well and fine to be serious and proud (how could it not be? The ideal warrior was, and he was) it was not well or fine to be contemptous of your fellow apprentices, no matter age or experience. He thought wearily of the torments he endured fairly regularly from Firepaw. Ginger mouse-brain. The striped brown FogClanner wondered how Blackpaw put up with the gray annoyance next to him.

Oh. Question time. Well, of course the older tom wanted to know why he was out here. It wasn't exactly normal. He'd tell him why - and try to resist the temptation to challenge Sootpaw to a fight. His amber eyes flashed the gray cat a lightning-quick warning glance, just to be sure.

"I was tracking a squirrel and I almost caught it, but it leaped over the border and I didn't want to break the warrior code."

The hot-headed apprentice didn't like admitting that he'd lost prey, but there was nothing for it. Besides, they didn't seem to have caught anything either, so that made him feel better.

[Kelly]

“Damn well can wait,” he hissed violently, before fading into silence and scotching over to make reluctant room for the apprentice joining them. Blackpaw was so... well, there honestly was no word to describe Blackpaw. The tom was really freaking random. And not in the good way, either. Then again, being random was never, ever a good thing. Oddly enough, Sootpaw found himself enjoying the randomness that Blackpaw presented. It was obnoxious and a hindrance, but, in times like this, when Sootpaw would normally be rather lonely, it brought a sense of... something. A sense of something. Yes, wonderfully put.

“I hardly consider you my friend, Blackpaw,” he said smoothly, completely sincere. “And even less so for Falconpaw.” How could one live a night with friends if the people around him were not friends, either? Blackpaw must really be full of himself. Or derranged. Suffering from lack of sleep, perhaps? Insomnia could do that, and it would explain the apprentice's reason for not being tucked away. “Headtrip?” He scoffed at the word choice. “Memory lane, is more like it. A lovely stroll. Flashing back to times when I needn't bother with annoying buggers much like yourself.” He flicked his tail against Blackpaw's flank, amused to find he was actually joking around with the apprentice. “But yes. Headtripe. Memory lane. Nostalgia, etc. Regardless, it's a night of memories for me.”

Sootpaw fell quiet again, waiting for Falconpaw to settle in and listening to the brown apprentice's excuse for being out here so late with a slow nod. It was right of the apprentice to not cross the border, he supposed. Even if he still didn't explain why he was out so late. “And you, Blackpaw?” The gray tom asked after Falconpaw finished. “You must also be out here for a reason.”

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