[Fawn]

curiosity is not a sin...

...but we should exercise caution with our curiosity

Shadowpaw

The first thing Shadowpaw noticed, was just how different these cats all looked like compared to NightClan cats. Examining them closely with keen golden eyes, Shadowpaw saw the stocky, hardy builds of what must've been StoneClan cats - they had a dry, arid, earthy scent - and then the sleek, but surprisingly large RainClan cats nearby. It was impossible to mistake that scent; he remembered crossing RainClan's border with Smokefur in order to collect herbs, and had remarked upon how fishy it smelled.

Any other time, he would've been worried those scents were left by cats who weren't eating right, but now Shadowpaw understood. They only eat fish! .... did that mean NightClan cats smelled like frogs and pine needles? Self-conscious of this, Shadowpaw resisted the urge to run a damp paw over his face and whiskers, as if any Clan-spread odors could be wiped away so easily.

Last to catch his attention were TreeClan and LightningClan. He recognized TreeClan's scent, but he instantly knew LightningClan was LightningClan by how... small and speedy the cats looked. Echobreeze had told him a little about each Clan when they were in the nursery, and he'd begun to question the world beyond NightClan's camp. TreeClan cats were great climbers, StoneClan cats were amazing leapers, RainClan could swim, and LightningClan could run as if they had the wind in their paws.

While Smokefur chatted with some old friends, Shadowpaw locked eyes with a gangly ginger tom that looked about his age, and smelled of StoneClan. He was a sociable young tom, though he enjoyed the quiet moments in Smokefur's den when it was just the two of them, and he was eager to meet the other medicine cats. He'd been unable to attend the medicine cat meeting at half-moon, but here was his chance to make up for this.

"Hello. The moon looks beautiful, doesn't it?" Hoping that was a satisfactory opening, Shadowpaw shed any mystery surrounding himself. "I'm Smokefur's apprentice, Shadowpaw. You're a medicine cat's apprentice too, right?"

medicine cat apprentice of nightclan

Silver | 327 Words | jk rowling | background image | table by phoenix

[Silver]

Sandpaw
Medicine Cat Apprentice of StoneClan

Orange furred ears turned at the sound of another cat approaching. He really hadn't intended to interact at this Gathering; mostly because he was still trying to figure out his dreams from the Medicine Cat meeting before, but he wasn't an  unsocial cat so when approached he turned and offered the stranger and gentle smile and nod of greeting. This was another like him then? Well that was interesting to say the least. Still, that didn't mean he knew how to act or what to say. He had to try though. "Er...um...well yes it is really pretty. My mother likes to watch it cross the sky on clear nights while it's reflected in the water." 

He stretched and took a step forward towards the other Apprentice; trying to be polite like his mother had taught him. "Sorry, I'm not good at speaking with cats I don't know. I must sound really silly. Yes though; I'm Sandpaw. Dawnblossom is my Mentor." He took a deep breath and continued; feeling a bit more confident now that he'd said that out loud. "You...you weren't at the meeting with us before. The...the one for cats like us I mean. Because you're here, obviously so it would be silly to say you weren't and...Sorry I'm babbling." He felt his pelt flush in embarrassment at his shy babbling. His mother found it adorable, he just found it mortifying. Oh well, at least he'd begun trying to be better about it.

## @@ Tags: Fawn

[Fawn]

curiosity is not a sin...

...but we should exercise caution with our curiosity

Shadowpaw

Sandpaw looked as awkward as Shadowpaw felt. The other medicine cat apprentice babbled, and even caught himself doing so with an expression Shadowpaw could only describe as embarrassment. This must've been Sandpaw's first gathering too.

Glad to have met someone who had about as much experience with Gatherings as he did, Shadowpaw relaxed a little. It felt good to explain why he hadn't attended the last meeting - he'd regretted not being able to make the journey with Smokefur that night, but some things just couldn't be helped. "Night-tail, one of our elders was very sick the day before. I ended up staying with him most of the night," Shadowpaw's golden eyes showed slight remorse. Not over taking care of a cat who needed his help, but over missing what was meant to be his formal introduction to StarClan and the other medicine cats.

"Smokefur thought it best if I stay home to rest. The Moon Tree is far from NightClan's territory. Unfortunately this means I haven't met StarClan yet." Shadowpaw's whiskers twitched, feeling self-conscious. "Have you? What are they like?" Would their ancestors be irritated that he hadn't gone to see them right away?

No, if that was the case, Smokefur wouldn't have encouraged him to stay home. Ruminating on the thoughts and actions of the cats in Silverpelt, Shadowpaw fixed an inquisitive stare upon Sandpaw, his expression patient though he yearned to know what they were like.

medicine cat apprentice of nightclan

Silver | jk rowling | background image | table by phoenix

[Silver]

Orange tipped ears twitched at the explanations and the questions from his fellow Medicine Cat Apprentice. How did he even begin to explain half the things Shadowpaw wanted to know. Well...for one the dreams from the last meeting were still on his mind. So instead he offered the truth as he knew it to be. "StarClan will never fault you for doing what they called you to do; Shadowpaw. Even if you missed the meeting, it was because you were doing what you were supposed to do and were recovering from that. StarClan knows that, and so they wouldn't be upset with you." His eyes went distant for a long moment as he tried to explain his impassioned words. He knew them to be true, but that didn't mean he always understood.

He looked out at the distant surroundings back in the direction he'd traveled from. StarClan had some sort of plan for him, this he knew, sometimes though he wished he understood better what they were trying to tell him. "It's...they...sometimes you don't so much meet them as when you dream you know they're there. Like a rustle in the leaves or a sigh on the wind. Sometimes...sometimes they show you things to start you on the path they have planned for you. Sometimes...they give you closure sorely needed so you can move forward. I'm still...honestly I'm still figuring out what my dream from StarClan meant. All this time and I still have no clue, silly huh? I mean, I'm supposed to know this stuff, right?"

He sighed and flicked his tail, agitated and worried again for a moment before he pushed the thoughts and emotions aside in favor of his companion. "So then...are you nervous about the next meeting? I know you'll be going?"

--

Tags | Fawn

[Fawn]

curiosity is not a sin...

...but we should exercise caution with our curiosity

Shadowpaw

Sandpaw at once grew distant, as if he were seeing far into the past - or the future - and Shadowpaw felt a mixture of envy and awe briefly cloud his mind. He's the same age as I am, and he already sounds wise. Was that StarClan's influence? Or simply part of Sandpaw's natural affinity for healing? Shadowpaw self-consciously hoped none of his Clanmates asked him for advice. Not yet. Not when he wasn't sure the answers he had to give would actually be useful.

That burst of 'wisdom beyond his years' was fleeting, however, as Sandpaw was quick to answer Shadowpaw's question - voicing his own worries along with it. "Maybe you're not meant to know it until after you've become a fully fledged medicine cat?" Shadowpaw theorized, golden eyes now pensive in the light of this new puzzle to solve. Why would StarClan give us dreams we can't understand right away?

For the sake of foresight? To exercise their minds, so that they could figure it out for themselves? Or to prepare them for the future, when they would finally understand what it meant? Shadowpaw at once understood the other tom's confusion, and sympathized with that sensation of uncertainty. He smiled, the expression meant to radiate encouragement, though he had no solutions to Sandpaw's problems. "If you trust them, I wouldn't stress over that dream so much."

The nature of the conversation naturally slid from spiritual to social, the topic no longer so esoteric.
"Unless something happens, I am going." Shadowpaw felt pleased. It was good to say those words. "I'm a little nervous... I don't want to embarrass Smokefur in front of the other medicine cats. Are we allowed to ask questions, while we're there?" Smokefur hadn't mentioned anything about maintaining a vow of silence, like at a vigil, but Shadowpaw wouldn't be unduly surprised if talking was kept to a bare minimum out of respect for their ancestors.

medicine cat apprentice of nightclan

Silver | jk rowling | background image | table by phoenix

[Silver]

Sandpaw smiled gently, tapping his tail against Shadowpaw's side to reassure the other cat there was no need for his anxiety. "Don't worry so much. It's expected we'll ask questions, just do so when it's appropriate. You'll know when it is, since the others will be talking to each other too. Then there's the dreaming and we don't talk much for that. Afterwards though, it's fine. And I'll be there with you and so will your Mentor so you won't be going alone, don't forget that." He seemed to shake himself before stretching and straightening out again. He seemed calm in his own skin but the truth of the matter is he felt just the opposite. There were so many things he wanted to say to Shadowpaw but something told him that there were things the other Apprentice would need to experience for himself if he was to ever be able to stand on his own four paws as a proper Medicine Cat.

He looked out into the distance at the lands surrounding them as he thought about just how much his life had changed already. Shadowpaw had that to look forward to. He sighed and turned his eyes back to the other Apprentice. "I wouldn't worry too much about what's going to happen. Your Mentor won't ever steer you wrong. Just remember this, if there comes a time where what you feel like doing is right then do it. Even if everyone around says that it's wrong. That feeling is StarClan trying to guide your way. So long as you remember that and stay true to yourself, then I know you're going to be a great Medicine Cat some day." His smile was back and told the truth of his words as he sincerely believed him.

--

Fawn [OOC: We can call this done now or with your final post.]