[Silver]

The smell of rain was in the air as the skies overhead grew darker as the sun began to fall below the horizon. For Sandpaw though, the sights and smells of the storm were comforting as they reminded him of his mother. His mother with a soul as wild as the storms above him and a temperament just as unpredictable. He admired her greatly and hoped one day he'd be as strong as she was, but he didn't want that strength to come at the expense of the harm of others. He was the Apprentice of a Medicine Cat, he was meant to heal and not to hurt. So he'd care for the clan by keeping them healthy while his mother used her skills to defend them with claws and fangs. Sandpaw, in comparison to his confident mother Silverglade, was a gentle soul and not ashamed of it.



That was part of what had brought him so far from the Medicine Cat Den on such a day as this. The Sky Springs were a place that helped him to relax and think. He liked to believe that, on clear nights when the sky reflected in the water, he could be heard more clearly by StarClan. Not on a day like today though; when the clouds blocked the sky. So he had to think his thoughts alone and wait until he could speak them aloud to StarClan when the skies again grew clear. He was troubled though, and desperately needed someone to speak to about what was going on inside him. It made his gentle heart grow troubled to think of bothering his Mentor though; who already had enough on her paws as it was.



He could speak to his mother, but she was also busy trying to become the best Warrior for the clan that she could. What else could he do? Who could he turn to? His thoughts drifted as he looked down at the murky waters of the spring and tried to come up with the answers he sought.

--

Tags: Fawn

[Fawn]

71 Moons // Tom // Senior Warrior // StoneClan

He stayed long enough to wish Duskflower and his kits sweet dreams, watching over his family as they snuggled in to rest. With a kind of contentment he hadn't realized had been missing from his life, Eagletalon left camp. The Sky Springs were a short trek from here, and he'd run himself ragged trying to care for the Clan and his own new kin -- to say he needed a few mouthfuls of water was an understatement.

The sandy-coated warrior spotted a young tom sitting at the edge of the springs. He quickened his pace, his muscles, though tired, yielding to the strength of his spirit. "Sandpaw," Eagletalon flicked the kitten's ear with the tip of his tail, a friendly gesture as if they were uncle and nephew. That's almost how he saw them, though he didn't want to upset Silverglade by telling her as much. Being the ones who found her and her kit those moons ago, Eagletalon felt protective of them. Responsible for them.

After he took a few deep drinks, Eagletalon straightened to get a good look at the medicine cat apprentice.
"Are you alright?" Golden eyes reflected concern, and the senior warrior took a seat, ready to lend an ear - or however many Sandpaw needed - to his troubles.
---
Word Count: 211 Words
Tags: Silver
Notes:

[Silver]

 he 
Sandpaw
Medicine Cat Apprentice of StoneClan

Orange tipped ears turned towards the sound of another cat approaching. Bright eyes lit up at the familiar sight of one of his favorite Warriors. "Eagletalon! It's good to see you. Looks like having a new mate and kits is keeping you busy. How have you been?" He purred lowly at the larger tom, head-butting him gently in the chest as he had since he was a small kit.

His eyes turned sad again as the query came as to what was bothering him. A fluffy tail twitched in a show of distress and agitation before finally he offered a query of his own instead of an answer. "Eagletalon, do you...think maybe someday I'll be able to help the clan like Dawnblossom does? I'm no Warrior, I know that. I also know StarClan brought me here for a reason and it wasn't to fight. I'm not against defending when I have to, but I want to heal cats, not hurt them. Is that so wrong?"

He sounded so upset and the issue was clear as the hateful words of his clanmates sounded in his head. He and his mother had been loners, outsiders, and there were still some that couldn't bring themselves to trust him because of that. It wasn't a good thing since one day he'd take his Mentor's place as Medicine Cat. What would happen then? It worried him, it really did. Maybe asking someone outside the issue would give him some insight. He had hope at least.

## @@ Tags: Fawn

[Fawn]

71 Moons // Tom // Senior Warrior // StoneClan

Eagletalon's head tilted, the senior warrior visibly surprised to see Sandpaw so emotionally out of sorts. "Of course, Sandpaw," he replied immediately. "Why wouldn't you be able to do what Dawnblossom does? She chose you as her apprentice, and if StarClan has faith in you, the Clan will as well."

Of course, that didn't mean the transition from 'loner born' to 'medicine cat' was going to be easy. There would always be those who judged others based on where or whom they were born to. That Sandpaw's mother was here also would probably quell some of the tension, but it was inescapable.

"You have a stout heart, Sandpaw." Eagletalon reached over and placed a paw in the center of the tom's chest. "The Clan will see that. And if a few cats decide to judge you anyway, then who cares? You don't need the whole Clan's approval to be a great medicine cat. Just the support of a few close friends and your mother." Eagletalon revealed a relaxed grin, the scarred, sandy warrior making it clear that 'a few close friends' definitely included himself.

He was getting pretty good at these supportive speeches; Hawkstar would be proud of him. He'd finally learned how to communicate less with his claws and more with his jaws.
---
Word Count: 214 Words
Tags: Silver
Notes:

[Silver]

Sandpaw
Medicine Cat Apprentice of StoneClan

Green eyes turned skyward thoughtfully as he listened to the words of the Warrior next to him. The words were true, of course, but that hadn't really been what Sandpaw had wanted to hear. He was silent for a long while as he watched the clouds overhead that blocked the stars he wished to see, before finally he spoke again. "It's been happening a lot lately that cats are coming in injured to the Medicine Cat den then when they see it's only me there at the time they leave. Even if I do know how to help them. It's like, am I so terrible that they can't trust me to help them? It's all I want to do for this clan. StarClan chose me, and I have faith in them. I just...don't understand why they don't trust me if I'm the one that StarClan led Dawnblossom to choose."

He shook his head, tail becoming even more fluffy than usual as his emotions ran high. He couldn't speak to his mother about things like this; he knew she'd blame herself for not belonging to the clan. It wasn't her fault though, he was the one they needed to trust. It made him feel as though he was failing what StarClan wanted for him. He took a deep breath and settled himself, green eyes coming up to look at Eagletalon once more. Getting emotional never solved anything, so he shifted gears and tried another train of thought. "Also, I know I'll be going to the Medicine Cat Meeting this time to be introduced officially as Dawnblossom's Apprentice. Honestly, I'm a bit nervous about that. Mother says I'll be fine, but I can't help but worry. Have you ever felt that way?"

He wanted desperately to get his mind off his dark thoughts, this could only help him, right?

## @@ Tags: Fawn

[Fawn]

71 Moons // Tom // Senior Warrior // StoneClan

Irritation flared red hot in Eagletalon's chest, the senior warrior offended for the young tom. Bunch of birdbrains, he inwardly growled, critical of his Clanmates' poor behavior around Sandpaw. StarClan had chosen him. Dawnblossom, a living breathing cat they knew, had chosen him. What were they trying to do by avoiding him?

Eagletalon's tail-tip flicked to and fro, and he replied with obvious frustration. "Because they're ridiculous, that's why. I'm sorry you have to deal with that, Sandpaw. StoneClan has a hard time trusting others, even our own Clanmates after all that's happened. I'm not trying to make excuses for them," Eagletalon huffed. "Just offering a little perspective. They'll come around. Hawkstar and I won't stand for them treating you like you have blackcough."

He couldn't force them to do anything, and he didn't want to. What Eagletalon could do, however, was remind them of how cowardly and paranoid they were being. That they had been so quick to throw away their trust and faith in others just because Sandpaw's blood was not StoneClan's. Eagletalon scowled. You'd think the older cats would remember MountainClan, and how they helped and sheltered us when StormClan drove us out.

Ridiculous.

Giving himself a gruff shake to dislodge some of the anger, Eagletalon breathed deep, letting his temper ebb into the cool night air. "Sorry, I get carried away sometimes." He grinned a bit. "Can't help it."

As Sandpaw navigated the conversation to a less roiling topic, Eagletalon bent down to get some water, parched after all this talking. When he straightened, licking a drop of water from his whiskers, he had his answer. "I was nervous during my first battle patrol," Eagletalon admitted. "I had a pretty good idea of what was going to happen, we had a solid plan at the time, but I was still so nervous I thought I'd shake right out of my pelt. Keep in mind that nervousness is just a feeling. It doesn't mean you'll mess anything up, or that something will go wrong. It's just the worry that it might."

Eagletalon gazed starward, thoughtful. "Besides, you're getting the chance to speak with StarClan, which is more than all of your other Clanmates will get - Hawkstar and Dawnblossom excluded, of course." He chuckled. "I'd say a little nervousness is justified." Eagletalon thought of his sister, and his smile lost some of it's naturalness. "Hey uh... If you see Fallingstar, tell her I said hi, will you? She's my littermate."
---
Word Count: 412 Words
Tags: Silver , BlooRey DVD
Notes:

[Silver]

Sandpaw

Medicine Cat Apprentice of StoneClan

Ears tilted back against his head for a moment at the sudden surge of anger from the larger tom next to him. He knew the subject bothered him, but it also made Sandpaw strangely happy to know someone cared about him - other than his mother -so much that they'd be angry on his behalf over something so terrible. Gentle purring left his lean frame and he head-butted against Eagletalon's side; his fluffy tail twitched in quiet comfort and contentment.

His ears tilted forward again at the sudden change in tone from the Warrior as he apologized for his anger and requested that when he did finally speak with StarClan to say hello to his sister. Sandpaw's head tilted to the side in confusion but he figured that any StarClan cat that came to him in a dream would introduce themselves so he merely nodded.

He fell into silence for a long time before finally he let out a loud sigh and offered a quiet smile to his companion. "Eagletalon, thank you. I really needed someone to talk to about all of this. Being chosen, the training I'm going through, and those that aren't so trusting giving me grief; it's all been so much. I'm glad you came to speak with me." And he looked forward to having Eagletalon's advice as he grew into an adult and eventually became a full Medicine Cat. It was good to have a dream.

## @@ Tags | Fawn [Call this one done?]