|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 16:54:44 GMT -5
Dragontooth brushed his brother's grey face with his overly bushy tail. "Nothing, It just makes me annoyed that Marblepaw is clearly ready to become a warrior but isn't yet..." He perched on a rock and waited for Mistedstar to appear from his vantage point. ------ Marblepaw crept into the Medicine cat den to check up on Thunderpaw, it worried her how he was so skinny. Leaf-bare was fast approaching and he would have to fatten up fast, maybe he should have the whole fish...
|
|
|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 17:02:34 GMT -5
It occurred to Mistedstar that it was night.
And that unfortunate realization stirred a great fear in her stomach. "StarClan, Charcoalstar. I was supposed to be back at camp moons ago, darnit. And you've--you've--" She hissed with frustration, lashing her tail, angry at herself for letting the thing happen.
Charcoalstar's eyes were sad. "Are you going to blame me, Mistedstar? What have I done?" There was a challenge in those words, stretching her, asking her to think deeper, be better than that.
She sighed. "You're right, Charcoalstar. You've made me happy, that's what you've done. I'm sorry. But we've got to get back."
He nodded to her and touched her flank with his tail before leading the way through the darkness back towards the river and the place where they had left the fish. His breath rushed calmly through his strong lungs, encouraging Mistedstar to relax as well. What was done was done. And they were going to have to face the clan.
But what was done was done.
---x
Together they carried the fish back to camp. Mistedstar's pelt was hot, embarrassed, but she was encouraged by the fact that nothing seemed to pull Charcoalstar down. Even though this was her fault (or at least that much she thought) he would take responsibility if she needed him to. Drawing in a breath, she finally raised her eyes and waited for whatever humiliation was to come. /I'm sorry, Marblepaw./
|
|
|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 17:10:48 GMT -5
Dragontooth hopped down the rocks and padded up to the two returning leaders. "Nice fish you two got there. It looks like it's very heavy..." he muttered through slitted eyes. He worked hard to keep his fur flat, but he was angry that the leaders seemed to have forgotten the clan and their duties.
|
|
|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 17:19:56 GMT -5
Charcoalstar glanced to Mistedstar, uncertain of whether she wanted to talk first. Yeah, she probably did, but that might not be the best approach. She was too stressed out, too upset over it. He cut in before the words could come to the other leader's mouth. "It is. A wonderful catch, Marblepaw," he rumbled, seeking the young she-cat out. "And I think on that note, it's time for a certain ceremony?"
He raised and eyebrow and sprint up into hightree, tail swishing, strangely cheerful.
"Cats of DayClan, gather below Hightree for a clan meeting! Its time that one of our apprentices be rewarded for all her hard working." His tail twitched and eyes scanned the crowd, searching for opposition, objection. "Marblepaw, you have trained hard to learn the ways of our clan under Mistedstar. Mistedstar, I trust you are satisfied with your apprentice?"
She pushed back all the embarrassment and frustration from earlier and clearly, proudly meowed, "I am."
"Then by the powers of StarClan I grant Marblepaw her warrior name. From with moment on you will be known as Marbleclaw. The clan welcomes you as a full member of DayClan." At a lull in the cheering, he proceeded. "There is another cat who must be recognized. Newpaw! You are ready to be made a warrior as well. From this moment forward you will be known as Newflight. The clan welcomes you as a full member." The tom's eerily green eyes dropped to Dragontooth for a moment, questioning, challenging, and then he hopped down from the tree to join his clan.
|
|
|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 17:35:01 GMT -5
After a few heartbeats he sought the orange tabby out, the firmness gone from his eyes and apology replacing it. "Dragontooth, I know Mistedstar and I have been foolish tonight, but I promise you this will not happen again. If it ever happens again, I swear, I promise you can do what you think is best for the clan and I won't hold it against you." He smiled, a faint effort at becoming "friends" again, and lightly tapped the tom with his tail.
With half closed eyes, the flame colored warrior watched quietly besides his brothers as the clan listened to the ceremony. He cheered with his fellow cats as they all welcomed the two new warriors. He tensed up a bit when Charcoalstar singled him out but his strength flared when the black cat promised him power. Dragontooth's eyes flashed with emotion and fire. He felt the power of Charcoalstar's words and knew that he would uphold them if necessary.
Marbleclaw's eyes glimmered as she sought out eye contact with Newpaw, /Wait.. she reminded herself. Newflight!/ She felt so alive and happy. He caught her eyes and the two friends were alone in their held gaze as the fact that they were now grown Warriors sunk in...
|
|
|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 17:40:40 GMT -5
Ethre's eyes gleamed sadly as the others received their warrior names and her clanmates cheered. Her tail flicked glumly, a half-hearted attempt to look cheerful. /But at least he's got his warrior name, at least he's happy./ She swallowed the disappointment at being excluded in more than one way from the ceremony, weaving through the crowd to find Newflight. A purr finally rumbled in her throat as she realized one thing. /Tonight he will be silent as well./
Mistedstar ducked her head and slipped quietly past the cheering cats into the leader's den. She crept to the darkest corner, circled and tried to sleep. Time passed in moons, slowly. Eventually Charcoalstar crept into the den, licking her on the shoulder once before settling down at the opposite end of the den. He didn't want to annoy her or upset her so late. They both just needed to rest and move on from their error.
---x
|
|
|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 18:36:52 GMT -5
Newflight broke away from Marbleclaw's gaze and turned to find Ethre. He knew that she must be upset about being left behind as an apprentice. He found her and he pressed his forehead into her side as a purr rumbled deep within him. After a blessed number of minutes, he tore himself away from her and ambled to the bramble-passage to sit vigil with Marbleclaw. He struggled to remain silent as he watched her drag the biggest fish had ever seen over to Thunderpaw. She clearly was giving it all to him.
|
|
|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 18:52:44 GMT -5
Thunderpaw raised his head groggily, tail flicking with hope as he scented Marbleclaw's scent. Was someone finally paying him a visit? His eyes grew large as he saw the amount of prey she was carrying. What on earth did she intend to do with that? He was afraid to guess, afraid of being right, because if he was--Great StarClan, that she-cat was insane. "Hi Marblepaw," he hesitantly meowed, eyes glued to the massive catch of prey.
-------------
Marbleclaw dropped the fish at the wide-eyed tom and sat back panting. That fish was heavy! She flicked her tail from the fish to the apprentice in order to show that it was all for him.
The tom grinned awkwardly, disbelieving. "Come on, Marblepaw, are you serious? You honestly think I can eat /that/?" He laughed, shaking his head slightly. After a moment, his eyes resting on the she-cat, he sensed something was off. He was missing something. He blinked at her, eyes asking and curious. Was something going on?
Thankfully, Willowrain entered the cave before Marbleclaw broke her vigil. Her eyes laughed as she murmured, "Thunderpaw, you better eat that fish. You need to fatten up for leaf-bare. Marblepaw is Marbleclaw now... she can't talk until the morning." She bent over and took a couple bites before pushing it all at the tom's paws. Licking her whiskers, the medicine cat crawled into the nest lined with the ancient two-leg blanket Smoakyeyes brought here long ago....
|
|
|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 18:55:54 GMT -5
Thunderpaw grimaced, looking a bit shocked. He had never been told to eat, but StarClan, if they weren't going to leave him be until he did, so be it. His head jerked up as he heard of Marbleclaw's name. Disappointment flashed a moment in his eyes. and then joking jealousy. "Aw man, Marbleclaw, really?" He chuckled. "Congratulations." The black tom's eyes followed Willowrain, and he opened his mouth in mock alarm as she took a bit. "I thought it was all mine," he sarcastically meowed, placing a paw protectively over the rest. With a grin, he bit into the soft flesh. "Thanks Marbleclaw."
|
|
|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 18:57:45 GMT -5
Marbleclaw grinned and licked Thunderpaw quickly on the forehead before trotting out to join Newflight for their night vigil. The full moon yawned above them and silverpelt glimmered cheerfully overhead. Some even seemed to move across the sky.......
|
|
|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 19:04:31 GMT -5
Charcoalstar knew something was wrong, even before he was awake. The nonsensical cloud of dreams melted back into something dark and nightmarish a moment before the cold air rushed in and his eyes blinked drowsily out at the day.
Day.
Day.
His pelt prickled all over, and with a sense of urgency he leapt to his paws. His eyes flashed to Mistedstar, and, seeing that she was deeply immersed in sleep, began to panic. Great StarClan! They seriously hadn't--they hadn't--Oh, yes they had. Wait, had they? Charcoalstar blinked at the colored sky, feeling disoriented. Was it dawn? He felt like he had slept for so long. The tom wanted to believe that it was dawn, but his body just felt off. Something was definitely wrong.
An idea. Marbleclaw and Newflight. Were they just getting off vigil? His eyes searched the camp, heart sinking when he realized the truth.
Yeah, it was dusk.
Immediately the tom thought of Dragontooth. /StarClan! I hadn't meant t be such a disappointment! How did this happen?!/ He searched the camp for the orange tabby, not sure if it was too late to ask for forgiveness. Perhaps they'd gone too far.
|
|
|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 19:55:17 GMT -5
Dragontooth was fuming. His pelt blazed and his eyes crackled as if they held thunder. Since his pelt was already fluffy normally, he looked quite ferocious, almost as if he were on fire... The leaders didn't come out at dawn. They didn't come out at sun high. They didn't even come out as the sun began to decline. All day he had organized a patrol to check to border, two hunting patrols, and had renovated the apprentices den into the new warriors den since there wasn't anymore room for the two new warriors on the rocky hill above the cave. He had seen to it that the perimeter of the camp was restocked with lots of insulating leaves. In short, he had "taken over" and had worked to clan to everyones benefit. No one opposed him, stood up, or otherwise resisted his newfound "position". Now as Dayclan settled down for the early night, the furious warrior perched on his rock, hidden underneath the shadowy limbs of a pine tree. His glowing eyes bored into the dark and silent den underneath Hightree. Now, he just had to wait.....
|
|
|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 20:00:14 GMT -5
Charcoalstar swallowed as his eyes settled on the orange tabby. Dragontooth sure had his ambitions, he sure had his agenda, and he evidently didn't know when he was going to far. Or maybe he was trying. As the tom surveyed the camp, Dragontooth's work was obvious. And it did little more than make the black leader feel sick to his stomach with inadequacy. The tom had been planning on a simple apology, even though he had been doubtful of that's effectiveness, but now...But now a statement had been made, it was as if Dragontooth had intended on shaming him, from Charcoalstar's perspective. What could be said?
All the things, left undone, building up. One day. And Dragontooth had done them all. Wasn't that saying something?
Slowly, the black-furred leader padded towards the ambitions tom. "Dragontooth," he softly meowed. He wasn't looking for forgiveness. He wasn't expecting it. "We've been bad, haven't we?"
|
|
|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 20:10:34 GMT -5
The fire-pelted tom glared deeply into the tom before him. "It appears so..." he rumbled. "It makes me wonder if you and Mistedstar are worthy of your nine lives and the title of leader..." His words dropped like poison. He knew, deep in his bones, that what he was doing was right. His parents back at Fittsgerald's cave had taught him the warrior code and the long winding stories of the clans.... The first Dayclan. Dragontooth was determined to do whatever was necessary in order to make the last of the clans prosper... But his idea frightened him, he didn't enjoy being mean or fierce or whatever he was being... he just wanted to put the clan first, like his leaders clearly hadn't.
|
|
|
Post by Frisby on Apr 22, 2011 20:14:09 GMT -5
Charcoalstar swallowed. He hadn't expected Dragontooth to be so outright. "What are you suggesting, Dragontooth? StarClan appointed us." He licked his lips, clearly anxious nonetheless. Surely slipping up once or twice didn't merit /this./ He was also afraid, concerned about Dragontooth's eagerness to lead. He had done well so far, but Charcoalstar had never been easy around such intense, aspiring cats. They seemed dangerous.
But was their own laziness, their lacking, equally dangerous?
Dragontooth's words dragged on him pulled down his spirits and hollowed the emotion from his eyes. What could be done? He just felt miserable. Obviously Dragontooth wanted the position for himself, and he accepted responsibility for the day with such vigor--Everything seemed to point to the fact that Dragontooth really just knew what he was doing. And they didn't.
|
|