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Post by Kitteh on Dec 2, 2012 13:35:13 GMT -5
Tigerheart was left near the entrance to camp as the two sisters placed their prey in the fresh-kill pile. Dawnlight then turned to Tigerheart and flicked her tail, the signal for him to follow. "Adderstripe!" she called out to the elderly medicine cat as they approached his den. "We have a patient for you." A large, ruddy brown cat poked his head out of the tree roots, squinting as he glanced around. "What's that, Dawnlight?" he asked. "Is someone hurt?" His eyes focused on Tigerheart then, taking him in: his broken leg, but also his Ridgeclan scent. He seemed to think for a moment about all this. "Well come on, then," he said to Tigerheart before climbing back into the roots of the tree. Silverheart, who had been observing the situation from a fox-length away, announced, "I'll get Larkstar," and trotted away.
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Post by Psychic Tiger on Dec 2, 2012 14:32:55 GMT -5
Tigerheart limped after the elder medicine, following him into the medincine cat's den. "Thank you for your help." Tigerheart thanked the elder tom in advice as he laid on his side, slowly stretching out his leg.
Swiftstorm entered through the entrance of camp right as Tigerheart disappeared into Adderstripe's den. There was a slight smell of Ridgeclan in the air. Suspicious, the she-cat trotted over to Dawnlight. "Who's that?" She asked through a mouth full of mouse. She sit her kill down before looking at the other she-cat beside her, awaiting her answer.
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Post by Pirate on Dec 2, 2012 18:56:47 GMT -5
Oaktail frowned when the apprentices scented another cat. "Hold on a moment," he said forcefully before they did anything rash. He opened his mouth to take in the scent before creeping forward slowly, staying close to the underbrush. He peered through to see the strange cat in question and sighed inwardly, knowing his sister would want him to try and befriend it. Getting to his feet, he stepped out of the bushes and revealed himself. "What are you doing on our territory?" he snarled, his fur standing on end to make himself appear more threatening. He didn't have to be nice to bring a cat back to camp.
[Uh...Kitteh, a little dialogue from Silverheart toward Larkstar would be helpful XD. I don't want her to magically spawn there. Let's just say she's in her den]
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Post by Kitteh on Dec 2, 2012 22:45:17 GMT -5
[Haha sorry]
Adderstripe quickly gathered his herbs and placed them beside Tigerheart. "How I wish I still had an apprentice," he mumbled as he was putting a salve in the ex-warrior's leg. "A youngster would sure help these aching bones. Dawnlight, be sure to have some kits soon so one of them can be my apprentice, alright?" Dawnlight only laughed at that. "Sorry, Adderfoot, I'm not planning on having kits anytime soon. Try Swiftstorm." "I'm not sure I'll have any better luck with her," he replied. He finished wrapping up the wound with some stiff leaves and stood back. "That should do it," he said. "Stay off of that for a few days, but it should heal in no time."
Silverheart poked her head into Larkstar's den, making sure the leader was there before continuing in. "Larkstar, Dawnlight's brought back an ex-Ridgeclan warrior to camp," she said. "You might want to talk to him." It pained her every moment that vermin was being taken care of, but her duty to her leader was stronger than her hate for Ridgeclan.
Smoke fell into a fighting stance when he saw a strange cat before him, the mouse all but forgotten. He could probably take this cat on without seriously hurting himself. Or so he thought before he saw the other, younger cat behind him, following the older cat's example and trying to look threatening. He was barely older than a kit, but still a threat. "I was only tracking down a mouse," he said. "I mean you no harm."
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Post by Pirate on Dec 2, 2012 23:09:21 GMT -5
Larkstar lifted her head when she heard a cat coming in. She had been meditating, trying to seek guidance from StarClan, but still unable to reach them. That was the one secret she had. After the battle with RidgeClan she had lost all her connections with the cats beyond and had been blindly leading her Clan, trying to do the best she could while their ancestors remained silent. She masked her worry as she shifted her gaze to Silverheart. "Really?" she asked, her voice more curious than concerned, and slightly tinted with annoyance at the way Silverheart spoke to her. She got to her feet and exited her den, making her way to the Medicine Cat den. She stepped in, the faint scent of RidgeClan hitting her and making her fur bristle slightly on reflex. She forced it flat and approached the new arrival. "You must be the trespasser I've heard about," she said, her voice cool but not entirely unfriendly, lacking any of the rage or disgust she felt for their rival clan.
Oaktail's tail twitched in annoyance at the other tom's words. "You shouldn't be hunting here. That mouse belongs to FernClan, along with all the other prey within our borders. If you want to hunt so badly, do it outside our territory," he said snidely. He really should try to be less hostile toward this cat, but he honestly would much rather chase him off than bring him back to camp. He still didn't like the idea of building their Clan up with loners and kittypets.
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Post by Kitteh on Dec 3, 2012 16:34:50 GMT -5
Smoke resisted the urge to hiss and lunge at Oaktail, the hair on his spine beginning to rise. "Fine, I'll just go then," he forced himself to say. He couldn't win this fight. With slitted eyes, he began to turn away in the direction he had come. Amberpaw, who had been trying to look threatening the whole time, then decided to speak up. "Wait, but Oaktail!" he said, straightening up, his tone unsure. "Doesn't Larkstar want to bring loners and kittypets into the clan?" Smoke stopped in his tracks at this, looking at the warrior curiously.
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Post by Psychic Tiger on Dec 3, 2012 16:58:28 GMT -5
Tigerheart felt much better after Adderstripe patched his wound up. He was a little disappointed to hear that it would take a couple days before he could move about on it. "Thank you." Tigerheart thanked the elder medicline cat. He turned when he heard someone entering the den. He assumed it was Fernclan's leader. He was suprised - and thankful - that Larkstar had such an even tone. Tigerheart thought for sure she'd be at least a little bit more hostile than she was. "I promise you I mean no harm. I may smell like Ridgeclan, but I can assure I'm not." He paused before adding. "As soon as my leg heals I will leave."
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Post by Pirate on Dec 3, 2012 20:45:39 GMT -5
Oaktail sighed after Amberpaw spoke and shifted his light brown eyes to the loner. "Yes she did," he said to the apprentice. Going against everyhing he believed in, took a long moment before speaking. "Would you like to come with us back to our camp? Our leader is looking for new cats to join the Clan. We can teach you the ways of the Warrior Code and being a Clan cat."
Larkstar was satisfied by Tigerheart's humble attitude and she gazed at him for a moment before she dipped her head. "I would be honored if you stayed in our Clan. We could use more honorable Warriors," she said, lifting her eyes up to meet his, a slight pleading look in them. "We have fallen to our lowest point in seasons and are at our weakest."
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Post by Psychic Tiger on Dec 3, 2012 21:17:09 GMT -5
Tigerheart was surprised by Larkstar's question. There clan must have been really suffering if she was offering a former member of their enemy clan to join. Silence fell in the den as Tigerhert thought over the question. Staying in Fernclan meant being reminded of Rosepelt and the reason he was banished from his home everyday. His heart sank. Tigerheart didn't know if he could live through that, although the idea of being a loner wasn't an appealing idea. "Your offer is very generous and I appreciate it greatly, but may I have time to think it over?"
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Post by Kitteh on Dec 3, 2012 21:46:23 GMT -5
Smoke mulled this over. Join a clan? What even was that, anyway? He had heard stories of cats who lived together and lived by some sacred rules or something. Could this be what those stories were about? "How do I know this is not a trap?" he asked, the first thing on his mind, of course, being his personal safety. But... a clan, with a leader, could be good for him. If he won the trust of the other cats, he could have the added benefit of safety in numbers. Did they hunt together? If so, that would mean more prey to go around. He looked at Oakheart intently, waiting for some sign that he could trust the other cat.
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Post by Pirate on Dec 3, 2012 22:50:31 GMT -5
Larkstar was a little disappointed by his response, but she masked it before it could show in her eyes. "Of course. Stay here as long as you need to heal." She was making him a very generous offer by allowing him to stay. Their clan was already struggling as it was, and to have another cat who couldn't contribute was just another mouth to feed. She knew most of the other cats of FernClan would disagree with her, but she hoped that by letting him stay, he might grow ties that may make him want to join them. Looking to the Medicine Cat, she dipped her head to him. "Thank you, Adderstripe." With that, she left the den and looked up at the sky. The sun was almost at it's highet point. In a short while, she would announce the new deputy of their clan. All they needed nowwas Oaktail's patrol to return.
Oaktail's ear flicked in annoyance at the loner's question. "Why in the name of StarClan would I offer you a chance to live in our clan if I don't want you on our territory in the first place?" he asked in a growl. "And why would we want to trap you? You're just a worthless piece of mouse dung. I don't know why Larkstar even bothers." Frustrated, Oaktail turned on his heels and started back toward the camp, flicking his tail toward the apprentices. "Let's go," he ordered, in no mood and lacking the patience to deal with this cat any longer.
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Post by Kitteh on Dec 4, 2012 21:52:50 GMT -5
Smoke let out a furious hiss, ready to launch himself at Oaktail. And he would have if the tom hadn't turned away. With no reason to stay on this land, Smoke turned and walked into the forest in a huff. He walked and walked, trying to put the encounter out of his mind, but.... it just wouldn't leave, following him around like a 3-moons-old kit. A clan... a family... his mind drifted to the family he used to have. But he shoved the thought away and instead focused on finding some decent breakfast.
"Oaktail...!" Amberpaw said in astonishment, surprised at the warrior's sudden changes of heart. He glanced uneasily back at Smoke as the two groups walked away from each other, mulling things over in his mind. For once, Oaktail's frustration shut Amberpaw up, and de didn't speak a word until they got back to camp. "Whew, what a patrol," he said to Nightpaw, finally away from Oaktail and his sour mood. He shook himself lightly, as if shaking the experience from his mind. "What do you think of all this anyway? About Larkstar's letting loners and kittypets into the clan?"
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Post by Psychic Tiger on Dec 4, 2012 23:38:14 GMT -5
Tigerheart dipped his head in gratitude. "Thank you." He thanked Larkstar before watching her exist the den. He truly did appreciate her efforts, he knew it wasn't typical for a leader to be this kind towards a rouge - nonetheless an enemy rouge. The orange tom's eyes shifted over to the remaining she cat. "Is there anywhere else I can stay? I don't want to be a bother to him." Tigerheart asked, referring to Adderstripe.
Nightpaw followed after the warrior and other apprentice, but not before sneaking a couple glances back at the loner cat. His curiosity was starting to kick in. Once they got back to the camp, Nightpaw seated himself outside the apprentice's den. His mind was drifting back to the cat they had just met, that he nearly missed his friend's question. "Huh? Oh-uh I guess Larkstar knows what she's doing... I mean she's leader. Plus there aren't many of us left. How else are we going to get members? Waiting for kits would take too long..." His voiced trailed off as he curled his black tail over his paws. "Where do you think that cat went? Do you think he lives around here?" Nightpaw couldn't help but ask. He wanted so badly to track the cat and follow him. His curiosity really was a curse.
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Post by Kitteh on Dec 6, 2012 18:29:44 GMT -5
Adderstripe had since ambled off somewhere into another area of the den, mumbling something about checking the dandelion stocks. Dawnlight had spaced out of the conversation but had gotten a general gist of it: Larkstar was allowing Tigerheart to stay, but Tigerheart wasn't sure if he wanted to. "Hm?" she asked. "Oh, don't worry, it's Adderstripe's job to take care of you. And besides, no one else is sick or injured right now, so you're doing him a favor by keeping him occupied. His mind tends to wander when he has free time." She laughed girlishly at her own joke. "I heard that!" a gruff voice called from somewhere deep in the roots of the tree, annoyed but good-natured at the same time. "You know it's true!" she called back. "Anyways, Tigerheart, was it? Don't worry about being a bother."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Amberpaw said, sitting down next to his friend. But why were Oaktail and and Silverheart reacting so strongly to Larkstar's plan then? The whole thing was so confusing to him. "I don't know," he replied to Nightpaw's question. "If we found him on our territory, he's bound to be somewhere close. Unless he just booked it out of here because Oaktail was so scary. Hey, you're not going to go follow him, are you? It could be dangerous. I mean, you're not going without me, right?"
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Post by Psychic Tiger on Dec 6, 2012 21:54:22 GMT -5
Tigerheart still felt as though he was a bother, but listened to the she-cat anyway. "If you say so..." He sighed before laying down, his side resting against the cool earth. "I think I'll try to get some sleep." It had been a rough couple of days and Tigerheart strength was flagging. "Thank you for everything." He said to Dawnlight. "If it weren't for you I'm pretty sure I'd be in shreds thanks to your friend." He chuckled lightly.
The mention of danger only made Nightpaw want to go even more. "I live for danger." He got to his paw, his tail flicking excitedly. "Of course you're coming with. I'll be needing backup." Nightpaw glanced around camp. It was nearly empty except for Swiftstorm, who was grooming herself near the warriors' den. "We'll have to be sneaky." He whispered to his friend before slowly making his way to the camp entrance.
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Post by Kitteh on Dec 7, 2012 17:51:29 GMT -5
"Oh, you're very welcome," she said. "I wouldn't just leave an injured cat out there like that, even if you were our enemy. You seem nice enough." She stood up as he chuckled, laughing herself. "She's actually my sister - we don't get along very well. Anyways, get some rest." And with that, she left the den.
Amberpaw shivered with excitement, his tail flicking back and forth. "Yesss, this is gonna be so great!" he said, a little too loudly. But as Nightpaw began to creep toward the camp entrance, Amberpaw realized something. "Wait!" he whispered, grabbing Nightpaw's tail in his jaws to stop him. "Larkstar's gonna announce the new deputy soon. We gotta wait until she's done or else it'll look suspicious if we're gone."
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Post by Psychic Tiger on Dec 7, 2012 20:01:03 GMT -5
Tigerheart wasn't too surprised that the two were sisters; they did look like they could be littermates. "Alright see you." He fare her a goodbye before drifting off to sleep.
Nightpaw let out a soft angry growl. Amberpaw did have a point, but if they didn't go now, they might miss him. "Not if we go quickly." With that he took off out of the entrance, following the trail back to where they had met the loner.
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Post by Kitteh on Dec 7, 2012 20:54:26 GMT -5
"Nightpaw, wait!" Amberpaw hissed, running after his friend with a laugh. Silverheart glanced up from where she was grooming herself, but paid no mind to the apprentices. She wasn't in charge of them - if they got in trouble, it was their own fault. Amberpaw slowed down to stop when he caught up with Nightpaw at the place where they had seen Smoke. "It smells like he went that way," he said, pointing with his tail diagonally forward and the right. "Come on!" He settled on a very brisk trot, ignoring all the rules of stealth, of not stepping on sticks and staying downwind and everything else. Even when they crossed Fernclan's borders he did not stop. "We're outside of the territory!" he whispered, although there was no need. "It's so exciting!"
Smoke had slowed down when he left the clan's territory, trying to hunt down another mouse in vain. He sighed and settled in the roots of a tree to groom himself. He stopped mid-lick, flicking his ear - something was coming, rather loudly at that. "Who's there?" he called out, the stench of those cats reaching his nose.
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Post by Psychic Tiger on Dec 8, 2012 0:29:36 GMT -5
Nightpaw watched as the other apprentice took off after the cat's scent trail, his paws clumsily running over the earth. "Amberpaw! Be que-" It was too late though, the tom was already too far ahead. Sighing, Nightpaw took off after his friend, making sure to stay quiet - although at that point it didn't really matter. Nightpaw pounced on his friend, bringing them closer to the ground when the stentch of Smoke was close. "Shhh get down. We don't want to give ourselves away." Nightpaw was good at sneaking. If only he used his gift to do good such as hunting, instead of chasing down loners.
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Post by Kitteh on Dec 9, 2012 22:15:38 GMT -5
Amberpaw fell to the ground with an OOF! "Sorry," he whispered. "I think I got a little carried away." But it was too late - Smoke had already found them. The rogue soon appeared and looked at the apprentices with a sigh. "What are you two doing out here?" he asked. "Haven't you already had enough of the rogue scum?" He crinkled his nose at their foreign scent. "We're sorry for bothering you," Amberpaw quickly said, "we don't mean any harm, really, " - Smoke almost laughed at that - "but we were just curious, and... yeah." He looked over Nighpaw for help, whose idea it was in the first place.
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