Emerald Eyes Are Watching (Dove/June/Bracken)

[flighty]

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[bg=557142] The small calico she-cat slipped out along the cool, wet ground. The sun was hidden behind the dark evening clouds. The rain had stopped, so Darkstar had gathered her apprentice and deputy, tugging them out of camp before the rain picked up again. Senses couldn't function properly in the rain, and she didn't want her apprentice at too much of a disadvantage. She knew the rain had washed away scent paths, though, which would present an obstacle for the golden tom. "Ookaclaw, Weedpaw." She mewed quietly, her eyes half closing as her voice echoed through the stillness of the FrostClan forest. The tortoiseshell leader lowered her voice, allowing the quiet dripping of past rain droplets falling from leaves overtake the silence. "Weedpaw, you've nearly completed your training. You still have much to learn, but you've shown the willingness to learn and the courage and honor of a warrior during our training sessions." Her emerald eyes glittered as her gaze fell upon the golden apprentice. "It's time for you to become a warrior, but you'll need to pass your assessment first. Ookaclaw and I will be watching you." Her voice was quiet as she stood, stepping around her deputy to sit beside her apprentice. She licked his ear. "Your parents will be proud to watch you from StarClan." She murmured to him, letting her tail rest on his shoulder briefly. She stepped away, her gaze shining proudly. "You've been a wonderful apprentice, Weedpaw, and I have no doubt you'll become an amazing warrior." She dipped her head to him, slipping backwards into the shadows. "Begin." Her voice rang out, crisp and clear, hanging in the air like the clouds in the sky. She waited for Ookaclaw to join her before turning and bounding off a few strides, slipping up and around to hide herself on a shelf of rock, behind a few thick bushes. "We'll see what he does and follow him. I'm hoping he'll catch some prey and...." She paused, her gaze flickering toward her deputy's. "I brought him here for a reason. I scented kittypet not too far off, and I wanted to see if she'd come out after the rain. Her scent was fresh last time I checked- she's been hanging out around here." She paused, tailtip twitching. "I'm half hoping she is around. It'd be good for Weedpaw to come across a stranger in his territory. I'd like to see how he handles it." Darkstar mewed thoughtfully.

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[Juniper]

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[atrb=background,http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq95/amanda1472/wee2.jpg] The ginger apprentice was snuggled up nice and warm in the apprentices’ den, snoozing away the rainy day. It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate the cool raindrops – he loved the sensation as they pricked his pelt with their gentle caress. But the past moon, and especially the sunrises before, he had worked his paws off polishing his hunting and battle skills, sharpening them ever more. From dawn to dusk, training and honing his vast accomplishments was all he did. And now he was exhausted – too exhausted to perform the one task he had worked so hard to achieve. He wanted to sleep; evidently his mentor, Darkstar, had other plans. As soon as the rain had halted its drumming, she dragged him from the den despite his protests. But soon he grudgingly complied. His heavy paws sloshed through the muddy camp entrance, spraying a fine layer of much all over his once-clean belly. Pausing to give it a cursory grooming, he called out in a muffled voice, “Wait up for me!” He honestly doubted they would though, especially since his tone wasn’t loud enough to be audible. He’d simply have to give his legs an extra pump to propel himself at a rate that would soon intercept Darkstar’s. This he did, and when he reached the stretch of forest where she was lingering, he was gasping for breath. The calico she-cat padded softly and delicately as she wove through the forest. In contrast, Weedpaw clunked about, his steps uneven, and even caused a flock of birds to rush screaming out. In a downcast sort of way, he watched them take flight. He hurried on, ensuring he kept quiet now. He thought he could feel his leader casting him disapproving looks that seared his fur. Or maybe it was his imagination; her sizzling green eyes always gave him the impression she was cross-examining him. The cats walked swiftly through the woods, their pawsteps light on the treacherously wet ground. Occasionally they would miss a step when a rut filled up with rainwater deluded them into believing the ground was even, but otherwise they strolled along in perfect unity. After some time of silence, when Weedpaw thought he would burst out into insane laughter at the quiet, Darkstar spoke. The golden apprentice listened attentively, his heart racing with adrenaline as he awaited his assessment task. He forced himself to remain perfectly immobile though, raising his head high with pride and curling his fluffy tail neatly around his paws. The tortoiseshell she-cat inclined her head at him, scooted off, and beckoned for him to begin. Trembling with excitement, he leapt up and ran a full circle, his jaws drinking in the scents of rain and nature. There wasn’t much else to smell. The rain had washed away most of the scents. At least you’ll know that any scent you come up upon is fresh, he consoled himself with. Turning around to stare hesitantly back at his mentor, he licked his fur nervously. Why hadn’t he paid more attention to the other Warriors when they bragged about how well they did on their Warrior’s assessment? Mentally cursing himself for his stupidity, he streaked off into the direction where he sensed the Iceriver was. Prey was usually abundant along its wide banks. It would be a great place to scout out potential kills. Weedpaw reached the riverbanks in a matter of seconds. Swiftly, he sloshed into the streaming waters, washing off his scent so that the animals would unknowingly approach. He paddled about, kicking off with his muscular legs. Soon he located a shadow coming downstream. He quickly clambered back onto the shore, leaned over, and scooped up a dazzling silver fish. Its monotone scales sparkled an array of colors as he brushed soil over it to hide his catch. He peered around in a satisfied way. He leaned back over the river, his eyes watching the waters again in anticipation. Besides the rhythmic swirling of the river, he heard another sounds, a rustling coming from nearby. Worried it might be a fox as it sounded quite large, he hastened over to investiage. “Who’s there!” he hissed. “Weedpaw speaks” Weedpaw actually thinks (rare) Weedpaw does (usually before thinking) Word Count 691 Tags Darkstar (then Ookaclaw, Willow, and Willow’s kits) OoC One fish and four kits…

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[brackengaze]

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[atrb=width,400,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][bg=314e20] Why were they there? Why couldn't they have stayed in their house, with the fluffy beds, and the housefolk that would stroke them? Turning back to look at her mother and siblings her eyes rolled with boredom. It seemed as if her mother and siblings were walking like slugs. They had been traveling for sometime and had found this place. Their mother had forced herself into hunting, taking to climbing trees and finding eggs and small birds to catch, she had little skill otherwise. Enough to sustain them for a bit, but not forever. Their mother had warned them about the scent of other cats and not to stray, but they would not dare mess with her. She was Leaf, the Great. Leaf could not help but wander. They were so far away from everything, what would it hurt? She could find her mother again, her scent was clear int he crisp mountain air. Besides they would be returning home soon, wouldn't they? She hoped so, the kit was rather small and worried the cold would stunt her growth. She wanted to be massive, like the pictures of tigers and lions the housefolk had up. They were incredible cats, and the kit liked to think their father was a tiger, their mother never mentioned him, so he must be some great cat. It was a secret, that was why she could not tell. A secret that their father was one of the great cats. Flicking her dark amber eyes over she spied another frozen clump of the heavy, cold, white, frozen stuff her mother had called snow. The kits had not been allowed to touch it, but her mother and siblings were not there. No one could stop her, she mused with an evil smirk. What could be better? A little mischief. She was just an innocent kit that did not know any better after all. She could already imagine the scolding from her mother, dismissing it with her thick tail. An after thought. Trotting over to the pile the thick pelted nearly pure white kit disregarded anything her path that a clan cat would have noticed. Particularly as she snapped twigs, trotted over grass and jumped into a shrub, finally making it to the snow. Crouching the she-cat wriggled her rump, tail waving excitedly as she launched into the cold snow. The feeling was exhilarating, she had only been allowed to dip a paw in at first, now her body was covered. Shivering she let out an excited squeak, scaring off any prey that may have been left in the area. Why was this fun? She was simply rolling in cold water, luckily she had her thick pelt, perhaps it was truly enjoyable because of the rules she was breaking. The adventure she was having. If she were more attentive she might have noticed the scents. The markers she had crossed uncaringly and unnoticed. The voices of warriors and an apprentice, they undoubtedly noticed her. As the kit frolicked in the snow she felt not a care in the world. She began rolling in it, enjoying the cool feeling it placed on her fur. Yet she soon slipped out of it, feeling the cold begin to seep onto her skin. Ruffling her thick fur, the she-cat examined herself, the snow had given her white body a sheen to it, with her black and tan marked head and tail, she examined herself proudly. Looking around she pondered what else to do, before spying a leaf. Crouching she tried to mimic the painting of the tiger crouching, she felt she had gotten it right, probably not, as she stalked forth. Her tail flicked everything and anything as she finally pounced on the leaf claiming it as her kill. Doing Speaking Thinking "Your cat talking"

[Dove]

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[atrb=width,300,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][bg=c6ab50] Ookaclaw started out excited as she got up moving slowly so as to not disturb the other sleeping cats. Now actually walking through the undergrowth or Frostclan, she was, dreading it. What if I mess up! Oh no, what if I stumble when Weedpaw is catching something and I make him fail! What if I fall down the mountain again! Ahhhhhhhhhh! Why did she choose me! Ooka kept walking trying to ignore the dread and fear of her making a mistake, shut up! Everyone makes mistakes, why shouldn’t I… perhaps because I’m deputy, they probably expect me to not… I don’t know… fail? A quick shake of the head to clear her thoughts and Ooka continues padding forward, enjoying the cool drops of water seeping into her fur. She listens intently as her leader speaks giving instructions first to Weedpaw and then to Ookaclaw. Right, so watch him take his assessment. I can do this! Ookaclaw pulls her body forward sliding over the ground silently to watch as Weedpaw trots in the direction of the ice river. So far, so good. She leaps into a tree using her long powerful legs to push herself up noiselessly. A glimmer of scales catches her attention as Weedpaw scoops a fish out of the clear, cold water and buries it quickly. “Who’s there!” Weedpaw hisses. Ooka pricks her ears and cautiously peers into the undergrowth to see if she can spot the disturbance. It must be the kitty pets,Huh, I wonder how he’ll handle this? (Sorry my post sucks, LOL, I have no muse atm)