I Get A Little Bit Stronger [Week 12]

[Jessi]

A sliver of the sun's rays peaked it's way through the opening of the apprentices den. The tiny beam of light rested in the middle of a beautiful, slender, calico she-cat apprentice. The apprentice's head twitched to the side a bit and all of a sudden the light was directly in her eyes. She grumbled like one of the grumpy elders before she arched her back to stretch. She yawned.

This was Heatherpaw, an apprentice of Aspenclan. She poked her multi colored head out of the entrance way to see how busy the camp was already this morning. Cats were all over the place. Some running in and out of the nursery, there were warriors instructing their apprentices before heading off for training, and the morning patrol has just returned back to camp. Heatherpaw grinned and sighed happily. She loved her life. She couldn't wait to become a warrior and provide for her clan.

Heatherpaw quickly padded out of the apprentices den and went over to the fresh-kill pile. She scanned the pile carefully and then bent her head down to the pile. She opened her mouth and picked up a small mouse out of the pile. She bounced over to a nice sunny spot nearby the medicine cat den and started devouring her meal.

After swallowing up the last scraps she could get, she licked her lips dry. If she could, she would lay in that sun all day long, but she new she would end up getting bored and wanting to find something to do. She lifted her head and scanned the camp, trying to find a cat who didn't look busy who might want to talk with her. With no such luck she sighed and started grooming herself. She licked her tongue over some dirty patches on her pelt. Battle training got a little rough on occasion, and left her pelt quick filthy. Her mother wouldn't be pleased.

I miss you mother... No! Stop! She would want you to be happy... She's safe with Starclan now. She's fine. She sighed to herself before she continued to groom her pelt. It was a perfect morning. There was still morning dew on the leaves, the sun was shining on the bright blue sky. White puffy clouds slowly passed on by, a slight warm breeze sang through the tall trees surrounding the camp of Aspenclan. What a perfect day for a stroll.

[[C] a l y p s o]

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[atrb=width,400,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][bg=f4edbf] Sandpaw grumbled, his tail twitching back and forth with quick and sudden movement as he pawed the herbs at his feet. So this is..? he wracked his brain trying to remember, It's..it's..oh come on, I know this! It looks like a fern...but what looks like a fern that isn't a fern?! He sighed, Keh! I ju- I just don't, his paw uncovered something underneath the fuzzy fern-like object. Brushing away the dirt, a tiny speckle of white flowers peaked out at him, reaching for the morning sun. Chervil, he growled, and then tossed it to the side. He didn't get it --why did he have to become the medicine cat apprentice? Why couldn't have some more capable, no, not more capable, more willing cat have been chosen? Why him? Why? Did StarClan want to break his will, from the moment he was born, he had felt the leader's blood in him, the cunning ability to lead a clan, not be stuck giving pointless advise! It was so unfair. He slammed his paw into the ground, barely making a dent. I could've been a great warrior, we need more warriors, not a stupid medicine cat! he hissed. I'm not blind, I'm not disabled am I? I am perfectly capable of doing normal training....so why? He sighed, he knew the answer to that --because he was the chosen one for StarClan, he was to be the 'next amazing medicine cat' Keh! A medicine cat couldn't fight battles when he wanted to could he? It was all useless junk. Sandpaw scowled into the darkness of the den, his eyes shaded. But fine, if being a medicine cat is what I need to be, so be it, but I won't give up on hunting and training like a real warrior --you just watch, StarClan, I will become a warrior --a warrior and a medicine cat! I know I can do both. A new fire flared in his eyes. Yes, why couldn't he do both? He should be skilled like a regular apprentice, like he had thought before, he wasn't really disabled in anyway, all he needed was willpower, right? He sheathed and unsheathed his claws erratically, shredding what left he had of the herbs below his paws. Cursing himself, he looked toward the chervil that he had dirtied earlier --it was no longer good. His paws moved heavily out into the outdoors, the sun meeting his eyes like a dagger. Gee, he really hadn't been outside of the den in a while. Squinting, Sandpaw cast his glance, around the clearing. Warriors and apprentices that were still left in camp hustled about to do their duties, even the elders were out chatting comfortably in the sun. The sun. Its golden rays showered him with despair and courage. He would try, he would fight, medicine cat or not. It wouldn't be his fault right if he broke the 'medicine cat code' he was the one who was forced to be a medicine cat! He stomped over the fresh kill pile, still in a winder. He glanced at everyone again, and his eyes softened a bit --it was a nice day after all, and why would he be the one to spoil everyone's day with his horrible attitude? Calming himself, he chose a nice fat rabbit and started gnawing on its leg. After finishing the meal, he straightened out his fur and whiskers, trying to look a bit less crazy, and was about to stroll back into the medicine cat den when he remember the ruined herbs. "Oh, Foxdung, Silversoul's going to kill me!" Wheeling around, he quickly made up his mind to go out looking for some herbs --maybe he would make it in time before she came back. Tough luck he muttered to himself. His paws moved quickly as he led himself out of camp, bumping rudely into a pretty calico, apparently on her way out herself. Oh! Excuse me, He murmured, Didn't see you there... Steadying himself, he narrowed his eyes, gazing at her. Hey, you're Heatherpaw aren't you? Do you mind accompanying me to gather some herbs? I could use an escort. Never know when some kittypets might attack me, eh? Keh, what was he thinking? First he was cursing the medicine cat den and wanting to be a warrior, and then he was teasing this she-cat to go out on patrol or whatever --urg, he was getting to be more like a medicine cat everyday now. tag|} Heather or Weed -- muse|} DIE -- word count|} 929 00c;; IGNORE WHERE IT SAYS SANDKIT IN THE TITLE running away from Silversoul wait..were you talking? fuming about the medicine den "Sandkit wants you to be quiet "

[Jessi]

Heatherpaw carefully gazed from side to side as she was about to leave camp. She was completely aware that she shouldn’t be going out into the forest on her own, especially if her mentor has some duty that she needs to do. It was such a sunny morning; she needed to go check out the view somewhere other than camp.

Her mind suddenly trapped her conscious being into the sub-conscious state. All she could picture in her mind was the tall aspen trees’ humming along with the sound o the warm spring breeze, the strong yet small beams of sunshine escaping through the canopy of the forest, the softness of the brown forest floor, and of course the prey. Oh, the prey! Heatherpaw was watching herself now. She could see her slim calico pelt sneaking up downwind of an extremely luscious and appetizing squirrel. Her pink tongue slowly made it around her mouth. She was completely intoxicated in her day dream. Until something hard rammed into her side sending her tumbling over like a clumsy baby bird on its first attempt of flying.

For a moment she just laid still and sighed. Heatherpaw was more upset she was awakened from her day dream more than the fact something rushed into her. Or perhaps, she rushed into it? Heatherpaw couldn’t tell. Speaking of what hit her, what had hit her? She let her yellow-green eyes gaze over at the ginger tom who was standing a couple tail lengths away from her. He looked incredibly apologetic. Heatherpaw decided to pick herself up off the entrance floor. She grinned at the tom but didn’t quite speak yet. She lifted her front left paw and started licking it clean from the dirt. She closed her eyes momentarily but then re-opened them to examine the other cat. He was clearly an apprentice along with herself, she was quite sure it was Sandpaw the medicine cat apprentice. He was very curious looking. He didn’t really look like a medicine cat. On the other hand, do medicine cats look any different than any other cat? She decided no, they didn’t. He was a handsome tom. His apologetic expression hadn’t left his face. She purred with amusement and decided to finally answer the tom.

“Yes, I am Heatherpaw! Oh, yes. You are Sandpaw right; the medicine cat apprentice? I mean of course you are why else would you have asked me to go find herbs with you? Silly me, well yes I would love to join you. Oh yes, the kitty pets can get very aggressive. I find herbs rather interesting actually. Is it fun learning all you need to know about being a medicine cat?” Heatherpaw realized she has been speaking a fair bit and grinned at him. ”I’m sorry. Sometimes I get ahead of myself and my brain just doesn’t stop. Why don’t we head out? Maybe some movement will help.” She laughed as she padded forward. She couldn’t help but let her tail twitch back and forth almost in a flirtatious manner. As the two apprentices exited the entrance of the camp Heatherpaw gazed from side to side wondering which direction to go. The trees reached more fox lengths high than Heatherpaw could count. It was just as it was in her day dream. The leaves, the sun, the forest floor, she took a deep breath in and purred with satisfaction, even the prey was plentiful this morning. Heatherpaw shook her head mentally and turned her back to face Sandpaw. “Which way is where more herbs are found? You are the expert after all.”[/i][/color] She grinned at him.