[Deleted]

f i n c h s o n g.

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The striped grey she-cat padded into the clearing of the camp, a plump rabbit hanging from her jaw. Nothing made her soul sing more than knowing she had accomplished something beautiful - even if that meant taking life from the lesser animal. The hunting trip had taken longer than usual, but the prey was especially choice. She let her striking green eyes wander the camp quickly - avoiding eye contact with any of the other cats that gathered around. 

Finchsong sauntered gracefully over to the edge of the camp and dropped the rabbit softly at her feet. She sat down quickly, her petite figure hunched over her meal. She drowned out all noise - only focusing on the rabbit between her paws. The flesh cut easily under her razor teeth, and she licked her angular jaws - perfectly content. She ignored the mewling kits and yapping cats around her and sat in her self-satisfaction. 

Her hardened heart warmed and she let a small smile leak to her lips as she considered the amount of joy that it brought her to be a full warrior of LightningClan. Quickly, she pulled it back, not letting it linger too long and hoped nobody had seen. Control. she thought. I can't let them see. It was her greatest desire to prove herself - to show her strength. Nothing would break her more than to lose, to fail, to let them all down. 

Finishing up her rabbit, she sat upright, puffing out her pelt a bit at the brisk air that blew into her fur. Blinking slowly, she let pride seep into her veins. How proud she was to be a part of LightningClan - to defend it, to be a part of it, to share in its glory. She wanted to show them that they needed her. She wanted them to need her. Her ambition overwhelmed her and clouded her heart, shutting it off to those around her. Finchsong twitched her long white whiskers, and began to clean her small paws. Nothing would stand in the way of her desire to prove herself to her Clan and to show her strength. They need me.

She just could not let them know how much she needed them.

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c o n t r o l. p r i d e. s t r e n g t h.

[Hellion]

Firesky

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Upon instructing the cats what will be the sunset patrol, Firesky turned to look outward from the Hill Top and saw the motion of cats returning from a hunt and some leaving. A purr of contentment left the small calico she-cat as her quick paw steps had her moving toward one of the returning cats. Out of the corner of her eye she caught the sight of Finichsong, but didn't directly interact with the she-cat, instead she spoke briefly to an apprentice and reminded them to clean the elder's den. Her short tail wiggled back and forth as the apprentice gave a nod of respect and took off in their task. Turning around Firesky noted some cats coming out to get their evening meal, others were sharing tongues, the she-cat sought out her mate but when his russet pelt didn't show up she shrugged her shoulders and returned her attention to the fresh-kill pile and the cat that sat near it.

Firesky hadn't known the she-cat Finichsong but as deputy, Firesky evaluated her training and was very pleased to see such a determined cat growing strong in LightingClan. The short tail she was born with wiggled back and forth as she came closer to Finchsong, with a clearing of her throat she sat across from the petite she-cat and smiled. "That was a great kill, fancy joining me for another hunt before sunset?" Firesky's words were kind and welcoming and void of any pressure for the she-cat to agree or disagree. Firesky wasn't the type to ask someone a question without giving them fair options and Finichsong was no different.

Waiting for the she-cat to answer, Firesky looked her over for a bit. Firesky was no spring rabbit and knows many warriors in the elder's den, some of them mentors to cats she grew up with or even mentors to her half siblings. Grassfoot was the sire of this determined bundle and Firesky saw the she cat's father in her actions and admired him even more. Grassfoot in his prime was a loyal and strong warrior, one that Firesky admired as she grew up and trained. The LightingClan deputy saw great potential in this aspiring she-cat and couldn't wait to see the greatness she would behold.

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And life is a road I wanna keep going
Love is a river I want to keep flowing
Life is road now and forever

Word Count:: 406
Tag::@finch
Notes:: just having fun

[Deleted]

f i n c h s o n g.

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Finchsong closed her striking green eyes, purring quietly as she soaked in the late afternoon sun. Her day had been long, and her paws ached from her last hunting patrol. Licking her chops to grab any remaining residue from her meal, she felt a she-cat approach her. Not having paid attention to who was around, she was startled when she recognized Firesky, her Clan's deputy, padding toward her.  

The grey she-cat tensed up instantly, perking up her ears and sitting terribly still. The only part of her petite body that moved was the edge of her tail - twitching with anticipation. She had never personally engaged with Firesky… only admired her from afar. Firesky was the she-cat Finchsong aspired to be as a warrior. Strong, competent, intelligent, well-known. Why would the deputy choose to address her, when there were so many other cats in the camp? 

As Firesky addressed Finchsong, she listened with direct attention, wide eyes gazing at her deputy. Listening to her comment, a thousand ideas clouded Finchsong's mind all at once. 

Oh wow it's Firesky. She complimented me. She told me my kill was great… She knows who I am. And she wants to go out hunting with me. Just me. Pride welled up in Finchsong's heart. This was an offer she couldn't refuse. This was her chance. As much as her paws throbbed and all she wanted to do was curl up in the warriors' den, this was her opportunity to show Firesky who she really was. 

All Firesky probably knew of her was from her apprentice training and the tragedies of her time in the nursery. She probably was there to mourn Mousekit… Snapping back to the present, Finchsong expelled all thoughts of her past from her mind. This was what was important - right here, right now - not what had happened before. She could not prove herself by dwelling in the memories which pulled on her heart. She had to let it go - and to let it go she had to give everything she had to LightningClan.

"Thank you. I am very humbled by your words." She nodded gratefully, showing respect. A bit of the awe she was trying to hide from her voice creeped in, and she reigned her words back quickly before she started to ramble on.

"I would love to join you, Firesky." Finchsong added in her melodic voice. "I am always ready for a hunt. Please, lead the way."

Her paws itched as she imagined the joy it brought her to accept this invitation. She resisted the urge to jump up and sprint out of the camp right then and there. She was eager to spend this time with the deputy and get to know her better. The she-cat could tell they would get along very well - if she could get over how starstruck she was. 

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c o n t r o l. p r i d e. s t r e n g t h.

[Hellion]

Firesky

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Mentally noting the hesitation in Finchsong's first reaction to Firesky joining her, the calico she-cat kept her expression soft and kind, it was sometimes a nervous experience to be called out by a higher ranking cat even if it was for praise. The attention the young she-cat gave her was respectful and Firesky was taking more of a liking to her.

Upon her agreeing to join her, Firesky rose to her paws and flicked her short tail and without another word she nodded toward the camp entrance and lead the way out and into the moorland. She picked up a pace just over a light walk, something to get her muscles warmed up and ready for the hunt. Earlier that day, cats from the dawn patrol spotted a family of rabbits building a network of even more borrows. Rabbit was a common meal for LightingClan but their deputy being on the small side of the size chart wasn't always able to take down a fully grown rabbit entirely on her own but a young one was easy prey. As she lead Finichsong toward the noted area, her mouth drew open and breathed in the sweet scent of rabbit as a purr of excitement left her throat. There among the tall grasses was a family, two large fully grown rabbits. One could be a meal for two or maybe three warriors and a few bundles of small young ones that if caught could serve to feed a queen or an apprentice or two. However, Firesky was more willing to see the balance of nature before her eyes. It would be smart to take one of the adults it would prove a better meal and with Finichsong helping with the hunt the small deputy wouldn't have an issue.

"I purpose that we take down one of the larger adults. I can chase it down by that thicket of brush, where you can be hiding to jump and attack. Agreed?" Her words were soft and barely above a whisper as she eased down into a crouch, waited for Finichsong to agree or offer up another idea.

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And life is a road I wanna keep going
Love is a river I want to keep flowing
Life is road now and forever

Word Count::
Tag::@finch
Notes::