[open] everybody's starry eyed

[--» REX]

Thump. Thump. Thump. Pawsteps over solid dirt and hard mud thudded loud and clear over the still water. That early in the morning, nobody was really out and about yet. Maybe that was what compelled the autumnal-pelted tom to wander out into the dense fog and bring back some prey for his clan mates. Oceanstar was growing rather lonely in his den - only the kits came to see him and he felt as though he wasn't pulling his weight around because he hadn't been asked onto any patrols. Sure, he could always lead some, but the newer warriors looked forward to being in charge for once. He needed to let them have their turn to shine. The sun was hardly even over the horizon as he made his way onto Fish Isle, never even intending to stop for some river hunting. No - he would go for the land prey that was becoming harder to come by. FireClan couldn't completely take all of the land prey, after all. They were just better at catching it. So why not get more practiced in the art and bring some back to camp before leaf-bare rolled around?

Cool breaths of fog huffed from his mouth, leaving the only indication that any cat had been there. It was in the high forties for the time being, but the sun would come out to warm up everything soon enough. Stepping stones quickly came up into his hazel-eyed vision, giving him hope to go on with everything. The clan was small, but things were looking up. With leaf-fall coming now, everything was full of life in an attempt to scavenge about for nuts and berries remaining. Sighing a cool breath of relief at the thought, he quickly sped up his face. His back legs pressed up against him as he gathered the momentum to pounce, knowing that one false move could put him in the chilly water. 'One, down. Two... Three... Four. Five. And... six!' He made it over gracefully, purring with satisfaction as he looked back at the distance he'd just covered.

Oceanstar was rather large, even for a cat of his age. He wasn't elderly, but he definitely had some wear-and-tear done to him. A faint scar lined his shoulder and random scratches could be found over him upon further inspection. But that was the life of a warrior. The life he loved. Grinning as he picked up into a trot and nudged through some shrubs, he stuck his nose to the air. Everything was lifeless. The fog muted sounds and absorbed smells, but still, the lack of wind made him impossible to find. What was out in the morning, trying to avoid predators just like him? He could faintly scent a vole that had been scuffling along the ground only a bit before he'd been there. Instinctively, he dropped to the hunter's crouch. Tail tucked behind him, claws out and at the ready... Yes! There it was! A tiny, dark brown pelt that was wiggling through some weeds commonly found around the mainland.

With all the force he could muster, he sprung. His teeth bit quickly into the neck of the prey creature and blood flooded through his mouth, leaving him breathless as he realized that he missed hunting here so often. Maybe it would be his new favorite place? He could organize a patrol the next sunhigh that rolled around. Oceanstar sat on his haunches as he dug a tiny hole with his paws, rolling the vermin in only shortly after. He looked up at everything, pure interest clouded his eyes. What did the day hold for him?

[[ vi . ]]

☤   Ravenfrost

Ravenfrost wasn't one to marvel over the scenery in his Clan's territory during leaf-fall - no matter how beautiful it really was - but today he couldn't help it. The last green leaves were just beginning to turn, and at last the forest was filled with vibrant, warm colors. Even the grass on the islands were a healthy shade of golden-brown. He sat on a small island set off from the others, enjoying the gentle wind that buffeted his raven-black fur and the sun, high in the sky yet not too strong or too light. There wasn't a single cloud to be seen in the sky, and he blinked upwards, his icy blue orbs nearly matching the pale azure blanket that stretched to the edge of the horizon. This was his little hideout, his little island that others seldom dared cross too. Many thought the trip was too dangerous - the stepping stones too slippery and far between, and the water too deep to swim in. He didn't let the fear get to him, though, and to this day he was the only cat who ever visited it on a regular basis. This was the only place he could go to find peace of mind and simply relax.

Everything was just right. So perfect, in fact, that it almost set Ravenfrost in edge. Almost. He hadn't received a single omen from StarClan in moons, and the Clans have been in such peace that the boundary separating them was gradually loosening. If a warrior crossed a border back in the day, their punishment would've been apprentice chores for moons or certain privileges taken away. These days, though, they'd simply get a scolding from their leader, and then they'd be off the hook. Prey's practically running into our paws, and there's been no conflict. The Clans are slacking off. Something's got to happen before we become like kittypets... yet I don't want that day to come. Deciding to save that thought for another time, he shrugged it away and gracefully rose before padding to the shore, blankly watching gentle waves lap over his paws.

Ravenfrost took a step into the icy water and instantly shiver, but his body's shock from the sudden change of temperature disappeared nearly as soon as it had come as he waded into the lake and swam to the nearest stepping stone, hooking onto it skillfully with his claws and dragging himself forward. He paused briefly to shake the water from his fur, and then stepped off to continue towards the next stone. Once he came to a fork in the trail, he decided to take the one leading to the mainland; it would be best to return to camp with herbs in his mouth so it would seem like he'd done something. The stepping stones here were much farther apart, and he cleared the distance in a few graceful leaps, finally pausing for a good amount of time to completely shake and groom his pelt dry before going deeper into the forest.

Just as the medicine cat was about to reach a large clump of marigold, a stronger, more familiar scent reached his nostrils. His ears pricked and he straightened as he tried to identify the smell. Oceanstar/ Please by this pleasant surprise, he abruptly veered from his path until he could spot the outline of his leader not far off. "Greetings, Oceanstar,"

[/color] he meowed, his voice having a rare sort of warmth and rumble to it. His blue eyes flickered towards the plump vole that hung in his jaws and he nodded to it in congratulatory acknowledgment. "I see you've been hunting. I hope I didn't interrupt anything."[/color] Around the leader, Ravenfrost couldn't help but be extremely formal. It was only in times of danger and pressure when he would let himself act like anything else around Oceanstar.
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[*Sunny<--]

"Dad? Where are you?"

[/b] A small black kit, maybe only three or four moons old, mewed into the silent, bitter air. The fog shrouded anything and everything around her; she could barely see her tiny, jet-black paws as she trotted on the marshy ground. Her paws sunk slightly into the moist ground, and the kit shivered from the cold. But she didn't want to go back to the nursery; her determination overpowered any source of mere cold. "Dad?" The tiny kit mewled again, slight worry and panic coating her high-pitched voice. Everything around her was only a shadow, and held no shape-- everything seemed lifeless. Suddenly, the flash of a black shadow started weaving through the trees around the kit; she could see it out of the corner of her yellow pools. The long-haired kit fluffed in happiness, and mewled, "Dad! Is that you?" She started running after the shadow through the trees, moving as fast as her short legs could take her. "Dad! It's Spiderkit! It's Spiderkit!"[/b] She chanted over and over again in a shrill voice. "Daddy!"[/i]

The figure never looked back when the she-kit called for him, and desperation shot through her. He was only five foxlengths away from her, but she didn't seem to be getting any closer. She pushed and pushed, running as fast as her little legs could take her. She wanted to meet her dad, she wanted to see him. Just this once... Then she could stop asking questions about herself. Maybe meeting her father could change everything she hated about herself. Suddenly, the shaded figure slowed and stopped in the middle of the field, and after many heartbeats, collapsed on the ground. A rush of adrinaline shocked her system and the kit burst from the forestry. "Daddy! Are you okay? Daddy?"[/i] She neared her father's still body and closed her eyes, and then put her nose to his short, wet fur. He was was warmer than what she thought he would be, and welcoming. She curled closer to him, and then opened her eyes, expecting to still see her father's raven pelt. But instead, it was painted with a light brown. Lizardclaw. The kitten screeched and unsheathed her paws, scratching at the pelt. "You aren't my father! Get away from me!"
---

Spiderheart woke with a start, her fur sticking to her sweat-coated body. Her breathing was short and she felt like she was shaking. The mossy nest around her was shredded and scattered all through the den, parts of it even in some of the sleeping warriors' fur. If it wasn't for how scared the deputy was, she would have laughed at the sight of it all. "What a dream." The she-cat whispered. Everything around her was silent, except for the faint, sleepy breaths of the fellow warriors around her. How early was it? Spiderheart looked towards the entrance of the camp, and saw thick mist swirling around, just like in her dream. She shivered, and curled up into a tight ball. 'Of course it's misty. And cold.' Spiderheart thought. 'How ironic.' The black deputy knew that it would be impossible for her to fall sound asleep once again, even as groggy as she was. Well, she knew someone needed to organize the patrols. But it seemed so early... Maybe if she went for a quick hunt, it'd pass the time. She hadn't gone hunting in a while, anyway.

Spiderheart stood up, still shaken, and slowly padded out of the warm den and into the freezing air, being careful not to step on another cat's tail or paw as she made her escape. The sky looked like it had yet to see the light and warmth of the sun. It was just... grey. Like in her dream. Spiderheart snorted and raised the fur on her neck. The scary simalarities between her dream and reality put her on edge. 'Of course.' Really, she didn't find this funny at all. If shadows started to show up around her, she would truly think she was going insane. But she pushed that thought to the side and walked out of camp, trying to use her other senses to get where she needed to go. Her eyes couldn't really help her, thanks to the dense fog that so happily surrounded everything.

Instead of going down to the fishing spot, she headed more mainland. The taste of fish was so dull and repetitive on her tongue, and maybe a vole or squirrel could help bring some variety. That's right, she needed to think about flavor variety, and not that crazy dream. Spiderheart she shook her head, as if that would clear her mind. Really, she needed to think about something else. That dream was just too much--she really thought that the shadow was her dad. But, StarClan, she didn't even know if her father had black fur. He could be blue with yellow spots for all she knew. He could have one bright orange eye and one neon green eye as well. And have purple claws and black teeth. Spiderheart shook her head again, and this time scuffed herself with her paw. Her imagination was getting too wild.

As she sniffed the air for any scents of prey, a few familiar scents came into her nostrils. Ravenfrost and Oceanstar. She thought, and snorted once again. A black cat and a brown cat. Plus, they were both toms, adding to the odd scenario. This day was getting more ironic by the heartbeat. But Spiderheart didn't want to think about irony at all, just hunting. But, Spiderheart sighed, as she knew that was never going to really happen. She trotted towards the two cats, in hopes that they could take her mind off of this weird morning. Maybe she could ask Oceanstar about patrols, or something of the sort.

Spiderheart made her way over to the medicine cat and her leader, and purred in greeting. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Spiderheart mewed. "Sorry if I am." Really, Spiderheart wasn't sorry, but she'd leave if they were in the middle of something. Actually, that was a lie, too.

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[jay]

She had a question. This question could have waited till her mentor returned but she wanted to know the answer now. It was eating away at her with every minute that he was gone from the camp. She struggled to keep herself within the camp's walls but eventually left in search of Ravenfrost. Other questions swirled in her head, like would he be mad at her for leaving the camp? Or what if she forgot the question by the time she got there? That wouldn't be good. So, as a precaution, the small she-cat apprentice said the question back to herself. "Was it daisy leaves or goldenrod that were used for aching joints?" No one had any aching joints but she was sure the elders would be complaining sooner or later about it and she wanted to be ready for when it happened.

Elders were Mistpaw's least favorite patients and everyone knew it. She never disrespected the elders but she wasn't the friendliest to them. Their complaining and whining and more complaining made Mistpaw want to stick her head in a badger den just to stop hearing them complaining. Kits were no better. They made a big fuss about everything and wanted to grow up so fast. She was no different when she was younger but Mistpaw still couldn't handle working with them quite yet. They were a handful and even with the whole Clan working together sometimes kits just got the best of everyone. But Mistpaw still couldn't pull herself together long enough to work with one. It was just one of the many things she had to work on.

Tracking was another thing she had to work on. She had no idea where Ravenfrost was or where she was going. The she-cat was getting sidetracked with all the different sounds and sights of the forest. leaf-fall was beautiful and made Mistpaw feel happy but at the same time it made her dread the leaf-bare cold. Looking at the water just made the white she-cat shiver but the faint small of Ravenfrost lingered there. She followed the smell over to the other side where her mentor's sent became stronger. There was still no sight of Ravenfrost and Mistpaw was beginning to worry that she might never find him. Shaking her self off and grooming herself a little, she continued in the direction she thought she could find Ravenfrost.

Catching the sound of his voice and the smells of her other Clanmates, Mistpaw bounded towards them. "I found you!" She mewed in a kit-like tone. A purr escaped the small she-cat's body as she stood there, completely forgetting why she was out looking for Ravenfrost to begin with.


words| four-four-five
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