day of enjoyment (open!)

[sunfrost]

The dark silver tabby she-cat traced the path of the river, padding alongside it as a leisurely pace around her territory. Her light green eyes watched the river flow whenever she stopped to drink the sight of it in, and then focused ahead of her as she moved on. She had been out since sunhigh, randomly catching prey and fishing as she went along. Of course she went into the water sparingly, as it was nearly leaf bare and she didn't want to catch a cold. Her least favorite season was winter, when she had to avoid her beloved river in order to keep strong for StreamClan. But in the summer, her home with the Clan cats was a wonderful place, as she got to swim as much as she wanted while still being helpful to her Clan.

Snakefang looked up, curious as to what time of day it was. She had caught a couple fish and a mouse throughout the day, and was out for own enjoyment right now. But she couldn't neglect her duty to her Clan. It had been the bargain she had made with herself; in order to live by the river, she would join a Clan and follow their customs. She was also grateful of the sanctuary provided here and unity. But sometimes she looked back at her life with her brother Adder and father Wolf, and missed being as free as she had been. But that was illogical; this was logically the best path to have taken, so she would keep her paws on it and follow it to the end. Whether that end was in StarClan or some other place she would see. Snakefang was a StarClan believer, but she did not respect her warrior ancestors to a high decree.

The warrior paused, the sleek silver shape of a fish catching her eye. She sank into a crouch and padded to the shore of the river, keeping her shadow off the surface. Eyes flicking, she followed the fish's movement, and lifted one paw. Within a second her paw had flashed into the water and hooked around the fish, throwing it out of the river gracefully. Watching the movement, Snakefang tensed and then caught the struggling fish in her mouth like a snake capturing prey, using her fangs to swiftly end its life. The taste of fish filled her mouth, and Snakefang felt her mouth water. She hadn't eaten any of her prey all day. She had taken them back to camp as the piles built up. Should she eat this fish? She dropped it onto the shore and gazed at it, thinking.

[Cloud of Diamonds]

I'm sorry, but I can only deal with three nutty little balls of poof most of the time.

Thought StreamClan's only queen as she slowly traversed her wet, unsavory territory that smelled of rotting leaves. Her left paw ached and her nose was runny, too. Why had she even come out in the first place? Because at least it was quiet out here.

Quieter, at least. If she'd been in the mood for hunting, (and had to) she would have killed a few birds just to shut them up. But not only was she in pain (and possibly getting sick) but her muscles were sluggish and unwilling to do her will today. She was probably getting too lazy back in the nursery, but there wasn't much she could do about that.

Her mind was moving slowly, too, so much that she didn't notice she was close to the river until she'd fallen in it.

Clumsy black paws scuffed as she tried madly to stay on land and not pitch into the swift, cold band of gray before her. The ground was sandy and soft here, her claws digging into it to root herself on the shore. She slipped, plummeting downward - but luckily, her tail was caught on a hanging reed and she only got her left paw wet before heaving herself out. The queen knew she should be grateful not to have fallen in completely, but all she could do was look at her paw with glum yellow eyes as the annoyance of its ache was added to by the fierceness of the cold. Her tail hurt a bit, too, from catching on the reed. Still, it had probably saved her life. She had serious doubts of being able to get out again once she'd fallen in.

How Ottertail would have laughed if he'd seen her. But then he would have laid down beside her to warm up, his friendly brown face gently amused. If only he would visit her. He could help her deal with her kits, her mood, everything...except her thoughts of Fox and Redtail.

So absorbed in her own introspection, she hadn't realized she was smelling a Clanmate of hers until she turned her head and saw Snakefang looking critically at a fish that she'd no doubt caught herself.

Not a bad cat. The black she-cat didn't know her that well, but she didn't know anyone in her Clan well except for Ottertail. He was her only friend. This realization made her groan at her own lameness. She seriously needed to get out of her own head.

"Hey, Snakefang! Want to chat? I promise not to hog the fish."

Not bothering to wait for her Clanmate's answer, so desperate was she to talk to someone, the skinny StreamClanner began padding over to the silver tabby.

[sunfrost]

Snakefang looked up as she heard a splash in the river. Was it a fish or a Clanmate? Watching, she saw a cat appear, struggling onto the bank with the help of a reed stuck into her tail. Instantly the StreamClan warrior felt uneasy. Would the she-cat approach her? How was she, personality wise? Snakefang didn't know her Clanmates all too well because of her antisocial nature, so didn't know what to say. Maybe the she-cat wouldn't even notice her? She seemed focused on her own inner thoughts, and not observant about her environment. If she had been, she would have noticed Snakefang by now. Snakefang returned her attention to the fish at her paws, regarding it critically with her light green eyes.

Hey Snakefang! Want to chat? I promise not to hog the fish! came the sudden meow. The warrior looked up, thinking to herself oh dear as her Clanmate padded over to her without waiting for an answer. Snakefang wouldn't have said no, of course, as she was too nice for that, but the she-cat seemed to need to talk to someone. Logically, any other cat would have waited for acknowledgement, but this one just came. Unless this was her natural personality, there was something going on with her.

As the she-cat padded closer Snakefang recognized Spiderstorm, and meowed a quick greeting. Seeing a chance to get rid of her fish, she meowed You can have the fish if you want Spiderstorm. I don't mind. She sat down, figuring she might as well chat for a while, and maybe even make a friend with someone in her Clan. As she sat down, weariness swept through her. She blinked her eyes tiredly and then straightened, trying to work some energy into her muscles. The cold wasn't helping with her energy level at all, her short fur not a good coat against the chill. She glanced at the river, admiring the way it still flowed, uncaring about the temperature or weather. The only time it ever gave in was in the depths of leaf bare, when ice covered its surface in stone-hard thickness.

[Cloud of Diamonds]

The fluffy black she-cat smiled, grateful that the silver tabby hadn't refused her. Spiderstorm sat down on the hard, slightly damp ground, wrapping her thickly furred tail around her paws. Her expression brightened considerably when Snakefang said she could have the fish. She did want some food. Maybe it was the fact that she was a queen, but she was far more hungry these days - she used to get by on a mouse a day. Still, it would be nice to share prey with someone.

"Great! Let's share it." She bent down, scraped some scales off, and took a small bite so as not to appear rude, savoring the salty-sweet flavor before swallowing. Maybe they were breaking the code by not hunting for the Clan first...but she only felt faint pangs of guilt, not enough to make her stop eating the yummy water-dweller. Now...what would they talk about? Spiderstorm didn't mind gossiping once in a while, but she didn't want to appear shallow to Snakefang. She wasn't sure, but her Clanmate seemed older than her own mere 24 moons.

Maybe she could talk about her kits...she certainly loved them, even Hawk-kit, who wasn't hers. Yes, that was a reasonably safe topic. But she wouldn't gush over them like a mouse-brain, and if the other she-cat wanted to change the subject, she'd let her.

"You know, I've been wondering, Snakefang. D'you think Cloudstar picks mentors really carefully, according to what they're best at and how their personalities might influence the personality of their apprentice, or is it just random? I'd think he'd do it analytically...if so, I wonder what it's like. What do you think?"

That hopefully seemed intelligent enough, and it did voice a curiosity, or rather a concern, that she had. She wanted to mention it to the white leader himself, but was afraid she might seem overly anxious. Then again...well, she'd talk to her kits first, even if they wouldn't really understand what she was talking about, which they might not.

[sunfrost]

Share it? asked the warrior softly. She was surprised at the request, and wondered if she should say no. Weren't warriors not supposed to eat before the queens and elders? Then again, Spiderstorm was eating with her, and she had been hunting all day. With slight hesitation, she leaned forward and took a delicate bite out of the fish. The salty taste of it filled her mouth, and Snakefang felt the hunger in her belly grow. She swallowed hurriedly and barely stopped herself from wolfing the whole thing down. Sighing, she sat back up and licked her lips, savoring the lingering taste of the fish. How big was it? Maybe she would get another couple bites? She glanced at the fish, assessing how much meat was left on it. At least another two bites, she decided. Enough to take the edge off of her hunger.

Her light green eyes lit up as Spiderstorm voiced her concern to her. Discussion! Knowledgeable, intelligent discussion! Snakefang jumped at the chance to exercise her brain. She loved these types of discussions. They weren't meaningless, serving a purpose, and, in Snakefang's opinion, drew cats closer together than if they just had brainless chit-chat all the time. I believe he would choose them analytically, matching up personality to apprentice meowed the dark silver tabby seriously. In the past the mentor choices he's made have usually worked out. Or at least, I think they have. I haven't exactly been here for more than a couple moons.... The she-cat trailed off, wondering what Spiderstorm's own history was. Did she share that feeling of not knowing and newness, the one that Snakefang harbored somewhere close to her heart? Or had she been in this Clan since birth?

Logically it makes sense muttered the warrior, unsure of how to continue her conversation. She flicked her black tail tip uncomfortably against the ground, and then focused her green gaze on the calm river, flowing by as nonchalantly as always. She sought to match that calm in her mind, breathing deeply for clarity of thought.

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Spiderstorm smiled as the silver tabby too ate some of the fish. Clearly she wasn't the only one with an appetite.

Huh, interesting. The tip of the poofy tail flicked in curiosity as the queen cocked her head to one side slightly, thinking, unconsciously flexing and retracting her claws as she thought like she always did. She was so serious it was almost funny...and yet, she seemed sincere. She clearly put more thought into it than even she had. Perhaps Snakefang would make a good mother herself.

Then she gathered her thoughts enough to actually pay attention to what her Clanmate and sad and mulled over it. Matching up personality to apprentice...was Cloudstar really that observant, or did he just make good guesses? She supposed what the warrior said was true...although, to be honest, she didn't pay much attention to that sort of thing. All she knew was that neither Ottertail nor Redtail had apprentices, and she was pretty sure Cloudstar himself did. She wondered if Snakefang had one.

Turning so she wouldn't hit her Clanmate, she sneezed, and then looked back to the StreamClanner she'd been facing with a thoughtful expression, sniffing slightly.

"Huh...I wonder which are best for others, or if he even labels them. Probably, I think it'd be easier that way. I'll take your word for it, as I'm remarkably unobservant," She said, with a slight smile as she laughed at herself a little. The black warrior hadn't felt this light-hearted in moons...

"...I've been here a while, but...I don't really know either..." she trailed off awkwardly. She loved StreamClan, but thinking of the before when everything horrible had happened...she didn't want to go there now, especially when she was feeling pretty decent for the first time in ages.

Making an effort to brighten up again, she managed a grin. "Logically it does, indeed. Let's finish this fish before it gets completely dry." Way to go, Spiderstorm! You win the territory for the amazing save in the conversation! Give this cat a free rabbit!

Thought the queen as she munched on another bite of aquatic flesh.

[sunfrost]

Snakefang nodded, noting that Spiderstorm seemed uneasy through her body language. The change of topic was fine with the dark silver tabby. She looked down at the fish and realized that there was just one bite left. Glancing uneasily at Spiderstorm, she wondered if she should offer the last bite to her. After all, she was a queen, and needed as much strength as possible to care for her kits, who were the future of the Clan. A worrying queen, none the less, needed even more strength. But they were sharing this fish, and out of all fairness Snakefang would take the last bite. The she-cat hesitated, and then reached forward and delicately ate the last bite of fish. She had acted on impulse for once, and hoped she had made the right decision in doing so.

That was a good fish she meowed as she swallowed her well-chewed bite. Thank you for sharing it with me. To Snakefang's surprise her tone was rather friendly. I guess I like this she-cat she admitted to herself. She isn't prejudiced and thinks for herself. Have I made a friend in my Clan? The thought made Snakefang feel at peace in a way. She now had a firmer place in her Clan. StreamClan was not her original home, but it was quick becoming her home. The river was the first stepping stone, and now she had a friend too. Perhaps next she would have an apprentice? That struck her as too monumental to think about, so she pushed the thought away. But more friends? Well, if she had made a friend in Spiderstorm, then it was possible she could make more.

Admittedly, Spiderstorm had taken the initiative to be friends. But there was still potential.

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Again she smiled, thoughts of all her troubles temporarily forgotten. The silver tabby delighted her in such a simple yet such a longed-for way that it made her feel like a flower of happiness was blossoming insider her, so long with rain or sun.

Well, that was a bit of exaggeration. She was happy with her kits, of course, and her mate, but her troubled emotions about Fox and Redtail were so tangled, and her memories of life in the pack still tormented her. And she'd had too much time to brood on them, alone in the nursery. But this start of friendship could be the first step to changing all of that.

It would take a long time, and the queen wasn't expecting it to be easy. Still, she needed to do something to fight her way out of the sad, depressed state she'd been in for so long.

"Well, you caught the fish, after all. And it was good to eat." She'd hardly noticed that Snakefang had taken the last bite; it was only fair, after all. Although that was a really good fish.

Reluctantly, she knew she had better go back to her kits; they might wake up soon. Also, her nose was still runny and the ache in her left paw had diminished while she was sitting, but she had no doubt it would come back while she was walking. The knowledge did not make her eager in the slightest to start moving, but oh well, might as well get on with it.

"Unfortunately, I must return to my kits. But I've enjoyed talking with you, Snakefang; if you're ever done with a patrol and not too tired, you could visit me if you like. I promise not to be as grumpy as I usually am." The fluffy black StreamClanner smiled grimly; she had been rather...not fun to talk to in the past few moons, and this conversation had made her realize that.

[sunfrost]

Just like that, the conversation was over. Snakefang stood, surprised at how easy it had been to take a break and socialize for a while. She was not a very social cat, preferring to be alone most of the time, but Spiderstorm had made talking easy. The little break had rekindled energy in Snakefang's paws; she felt like she could swim the whole length of the stream if she wanted to. The warrior felt ready to continue hunting and fishing for her Clan. Duty called to both of them; Spiderstorm to her kits and Snakefang to her warrior duties. Snakefang was glad to have brought some rest and enjoyment to the queen at her side; it must be tiring to care for kits. Snakefang might never have had her own, but every cat knew the strain in put on the mother.

I've enjoyed talking to you too Spiderstorm half-purred Snakefang. The warmth in her voice was pronounced. I'll have to come visit you and your kits sometime. She dipped her head in another quick good-bye before turning and padding off, following the flow of the stream over land. Her light green eyes, bright as the sun from her good talk with the queen, sought out the sleek form of a fish in the quiet, flowing waters of the stream. New vigor for the hunt settled inside her, and her eyes narrowed in concentration as she tracked the movement of one now, claws prepared to cut through the water in a clear silver strike, bringing death to the fish and food to her Clanmates.

ooc// Thanks for rping with me ^__^

[ink]

ooc// I hope this is still open?

The dainty soft grey paws padded along the stream weaving through StreamClan’s territory. Slowly the young she-cat picked them up, one by one, making her way down the length of long stretch that was unbending. A fluffy ringed tail swung back and forth pleasantly, moving with each step. Although it was an innocent action on the apprentices’ part, it spooked any fish that might have come close enough to the side of the water edge. Featherpaw’s mind was in the clouds again, and the fish went unnoticed easily. Dreams of romping through a New-Leaf field filled with soft colored flowers and grass so tall that the smaller she-cat couldn’t see over the top. Perfect hunting grounds. She thought in silence.

It wasn’t until the strong scent of warm blood caught her nose that the grey tabby maw parted, saliva gathering in the she-cat’s open mouth, that she stopped dreaming of green grass. Two large ears swiveled around like radar dishes, searching for scuffling of a small mouse or vole. It didn’t take Featherpaw long to pinpoint the sound, and instantly, as if the instinct was already imbedded in her brain, she crouched, ready to pounce. She dragged her feet silently along the ground just inching closer to the flutter of a heartbeat to fast to be anything put prey.

Featherpaw was right on top of the prey as soon as her stomach growled a fierceness of hunger. She let out a soft hiss at it and stood, watching the small vole race across the ground. With a soft shake of her head she pounced after it, racing as fast as her little paws would take her. She hadn’t really been paying attention to where or how fast she ran when she ran directly into another cat, knocking her clean on the ground. Get it! She hissed and looked up at the other she-cat, taking in her scent to make sure she knew who it was. As frightened as the little vole that was clearly out of reach now, she scrambled backwards and lowered to the ground in a submissive stance to the elder warrior before her. The large ears she often used so well for hunting flattened a top her small crown and she looked at the ground in shame.