forest shadows [open]

[Acez]

It was a beautiful day, especially in the season of Greenleaf. Truly, the she-cat should be hunting, she had overheard both Onefang and Ashcloud complain at the inexperience of the mentors and the disapproval of the training. She shivered in anticipation. Would she be lucky enough to have an apprentice soon? Probably not, she was a young warrior and they would need a cat who as both skilled in hunting and battling. It wasn't to say she was at either, but Thistleheart didn't want her apprentice to see as weak, when she had trouble fighting.

Besides, with all the cats scurrying around, who else would appreciate the cool of the breeze, light but not hard enough to whistle through the leaves and cause the pines to rattle in sound. And the sun was warm, creating what could be the perfect day. Still, it would be wrong not to anything when the elders complained that they had little food. Might as well, grab the plump mice and shrews that were still out there until the snow fell. They needed all the food they could get.

Getting to her paws, Thistleheart gently weaved her way into the shadows, slinking ever so quietly. Her breathing slowed, until it was nothing but a whisper on the wind. Ears of opposite colors moved on her head, as she paused every now and then, aware of any prey. Her whiskers twitched, before she moved to her stomach, eyes narrowed in slits, letting her tail curl above the ground, not to disrupt any nettles on the ground.

In a quick pounce, she let her claws sink into the prey, who had no time to make a squeak. Bowing her head over the shrew, she mewed her thanks to StarClan. Thank you StarClan, for this shrew. Gathering it in her mouth, she padded to under a near-by pine tree, where she made a slight hole in the ground, before depositing her catch. Smoothing the dirt, she padded of once more, to repeat the hunting. She caught two mice, one skinny, the other plump. And with each cat, Thistleheart muttered her thanks, her head bowed in respect. Depositing the prey in the same spot, she sat, lifting an orange paw as she considered on what to do. Thank goodness, it's such a nice day. She mewed, letting her paws rest, before she would continue in the hunt.[/size]

[♥Rösε]

Smallpaw took to the pine forests again later that day. Believe it or not he felt more accepted and appreciated there then he did in the camp. It seemed like everyone there was either pitying him for his size or making fun of him for it the whole thing made him sick. If there was one emotion Smallpaw could feel it was anger, anger for never getting his mothers love growing up, anger for his scrawny size, anger for their pity and scorn. It was the only feeling he was familiar with anything else might make him crack or something, he would never know. His bright blue eyes darted through the undergrowth he was in, looking for something, something he couldn't quite place his paw on. His ears flicked forward as he stopped hearing the rustling of some leaves above. Turning his head skyward he noticed a crow grooming its self. A few feathers floating down from above like a bad omen.

One feather landing on his nose, Smallpaw growled lightly at it and flicked it off with his paw. The crow started squawking and Smallpaw, eyes narrowed, turned to look back up at him. It seemed the feathery black bird spotted him below his eyes beady and mocking. Even the birds were mocking him wasn't that just great. He was already warrior age and still not received his name, even though his mother stated that it would be the next ceremony. He snorted out loud at the thought, hopefully Darkstar would remember poor useless him. He would show them one day, one day they would look at him and feel bad for ever making fun of him. Starting today things would be different he could feel it in his bones. His eyes narrowed determinedly, by that eventual warriors ceremony he would be different. Starting on his scrawny frame, he would work on that first. On the plus side he noticed that in height he grew a bit more, they had said he was done growing but he noticed that he was now just as tall as most cats his age, if not a bit shorter. StarClan must wish him to show off as well. Turning he headed back towards the heart of the forest. His tail swishing behind him as he moved along.

He bunched up his hind legs and bounded over a broken log, having just barely landed on the other side. He would work on that to at some point. Clearing his throat a bit he padded along over the pine nettles that were scattered over the forest floor, they were sticky and prickly but luckily he was getting through them without getting his paws stuck with them. His lobes flicked sideways as he heard a distant sound of paws and scurrying. He blinked slightly should he see who it was? Part of him didn't really care who was out here, he wasn't in the mood for another pity party. Still he found his paws moving in its direction. His face was stone like and emotionless as he walked along almost like a zombie, no purpose he was just there taking up space. Poking his head through the undergrowth he noticed a fellow cat of ShadowClan. Thistleheart they both happened to be the same age and yet she was made a warrior first. Even that put a frown on his face, would he ever be good enough? Because it seemed like they were dragging out the ceremony.

Smallpaw watched as she took down the shrew. Should he complement her or completely ignore her? He wasn't quite sure yet what he felt like doing. "Nice catch."

he mewed, his tone was simple and almost seemed bored as he sauntered his way slowly out of the bushes that were concealing him only moments before. His ears angled forward to catch every sound and movement she made or anything else made. His ebony coat gleamed in the patched of sunlight that flickered in through the canopy of pine above them. Tail curling and uncurling almost snake like, like it could dart at you at anytime. His eyes intense yet not hostile as he looked up at the she-cat. The same dark and emotionless expression on his face, it was the only face he knew of, other than his irritated face. Other than that other facial expressions were weird or rarely performed by the tom in question. Sitting down he drew his thin tail over his paws in a simple swish of his tail. Might as well acknowledge his former den mate, he wasn't that rude, well most of the time. [/blockquote]
[/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Acez]

Her ears flicked forward in shock, a moment of surprise before she broke out in smile. Smallpaw! It's good to see you! She purred in greeting, tail flicking in excitement. TO think she was once known as Thistlepaw, and this tom was her den-mate. She couldn't wait for him to be a warrior, and she knew she wasn't the only. Smallpaw also waited for it with eagerness and so did his mother. But she had a feeling that Smallpaw didn't see it that way, but soon he will. No doubt about, StarClan was just as eager as she in seeing Smallpaw's warrior cermony.


Well, Smallpaw, what are you doing out here? Hoping to find some peace and quiet? She mewed, looking up into, what she always thought, were stunning blue eyes. Well, you are in luck my friend, it is such a beautiful day today, don't you think? She asked, green eyes searching the skies. But no, not a cloud dared to cross the sun today, hopefully this weather would continue for a long time, they certainly needed it.

And.. she paused, Her thoughts colliding as she took a step back to observe the black tom. Oh Smallpaw! She gushed, eyes widening in shock and her lips curving upwards in a bigger smile then she usually wore. Youv'e grown so tall! Her tail flicked in happiness, as she wondered how he couldv'e reached and then surpass her own height. Time had certainly flown. They really hadn't the time they used to when they were apprentices, hunting together or just sharing tongues. Over time, he must have grown and because of all the extra duties, Thistleheart thought she must do, he had just shot right up! True, he had some more growing before he surpassed the talles of the clan, but no doubt about, he had grown! She actually had to look up to talk to him.

She purred happily. Soon, they might have to call you Tallpaw! She joked lightly, hoping he wouldn't take it the wrong way, although Thistleheart doubted it. We should celebrate! She mewed, eyes a light with the idea. She gave a sharp twirl as she laughed, before looking at Smallpaw with eagerness. She may be a warrior, but that didn't mean she had to act like one. She would always be a kit at heart. What should we do? She asked.

[♥Rösε]

Smallpaw let his blue eyes observe the female before she seemed to notice his presence. He wouldn't be surprised if she just forgot he was there. He wasn't that important, as he was told before. His ears sort of drooped while he went into his thoughts of past moons as a new apprentice. It was Eelpaw, he remembered. An brownish colored tom with green eyes. He was rather... how could he put it nicely. Well creepy, ugly whatever it was that made Smallpaw utterly repulsed at just a mere thought of the other cat. He found his nose wrinkling with the thought. He had told Smallpaw that he should just go ahead and die since no one would notice anyway. And then Smallpaw slashed out one of his eyes. It was gory he'd admit but it kept that cat for talking bad about him again. The stupid fool was now a warrior named Eelbelly. His eyes and ears jolted as he noticed her swing around to see him. His face was calm and his body tense as usual, but even then he couldn't help but make a confused face when she yowled.

"Smallpaw! It's good to see you!"

quickly getting ahold of himself, he starred at her blankly. Good to see him? And she seemed to mean it which made it that much weirder. Sitting down to regain his stability after that whole scene he just dipped his head to her to acknowledge her excitedness at his appearance. He was such a dull cat, but he didn't care. What was the point of being all happy? He wasn't sure if he ever felt the emotion before. Maybe once as a newborn but he couldn't even remember. Besides happiness only led you to being soft and he was not soft. With his life you couldn't be. His ears tilted forward to catch her mew. "Well, Smallpaw, what are you doing out here? Hoping to find some peace and quiet?"[/color] Yea and look who he found, the queen of happy and noisy. Instead of stating this fact he just shrugged his slightly muscled shoulders. "I was bored, mainly. But yes peace is nice to find."[/color] his tone was expressionless as he looked at the female.

He was the same age and still an apprentice, how stupid he felt being near them. He was a failure, and to out grown for the apprentice life. There were actually times when he thought about becoming rogue, but for some reason he couldn't bring himself to do it. When she spoke again he gave a quick glance to the sky above and the light filtering through the canopy of pine. Not really all that glorious but for them it would be considered a nice day. Flicking his tail tip with this observation he turned his attetion back on her. "I guess you can say that."[/color] he mewed a small slightly teasing, yet handsome smirk appeared on his maw before a moment later it was gone. He flewed his claws slightly before stretching out his back. "Smallpaw!"[/color] he could hear her shout again and he jumped to his paws. Eyes narrowed skeptically as she seemed to be gushing over him like a kit. It made him slightly uncomfortable. "You've grown so tall!"[/color] his jaw tightened at the remark. Another remark about his size, though he knew it was supposed to be some sort of a compliment.

That was something else he wasn't used to. He was always told everything he did wrong rather than right. "Soon, they might have to call you Tallpaw!"[/color] Smallpaw grunted his displeasure. "About time right?"[/color] he mewed bluntly and found himself checking his body to see if he had grown. Looking and seeing both cats eye to eye, she was right. He did grow but when? Shifting on his paws a bit he felt kind of bad for being so rude. "Thanks."[/color] he mewed kind of late but at least he caught himself being rude to her that was something right? When she said they should celebrate he brushed it off and shrugged. "Ash fields? When the moon comes out its actually nice there."[/color] he mewed his tone was calm and cool as he waited for her to speak again.[/blockquote]
[/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Acez]

She smiled, what could be her entire body quivering. Thistleheart knew she was acting a little silly, much like a newborn kit or apprentice. After all she was eleven moons, but why shouldn't be happy? Surely it was something to be happy about. Thistleheart couldn't be the only one that noticed Smallpaw's growth and hard-work. Maybe there was a reason why their leader was keeping Smallpaw back.

She nearly didn't see it at first. The silent smile. She didn't call it out however, but merely smiled on the inside. Slowly, she started to calm down, realizing that it was a little childish.

Her ears flicked forward as she looked at Smallpaw. Really? Never had she thought about going there. Sometimes Thistleheart would hunt at night, like most warriors did, but she really didn't explore the forest much when it came to it. The whole idea intrigued her and she smiled.

That sounds like so much fun! She purred, nodding. Thistleheart couldn't help but wonder. If you don't mind me asking, how would you know? A teasing smile on her lips, thin whiskers twitching. Thistleheart knew that it was unlikely that Smallpaw had a she-cat friend, in fact, the thought of it made her stomach a little queasy, but she would be happy for him, in the end. [/size]