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Post by Justice on Aug 12, 2017 15:13:39 GMT -5
Amberpaw 10 Moons, She-Cat, TreeClan She'd asked if Mockingbird could meet her at the Great Maple, mostly because she wanted to talk to her about something. One would think she could talk to her brother or sister, maybe her mother, but not on this. It was like she was the only one that saw things this way and she wanted to talk to the only other adult cat in her life that she thought might understand. For sure, the favorite toms in her life wouldn't. They might even tell her she should just try and get along, or some rubbish like that. A good warrior should be able to hunt with anyone, regardless of personal feelings. Yeah, tell that to Finchpaw, who seemed to fall all over himself trying to impress her.
So she'd come here and climbed high into the tree so she could see as much of the territory as possible. The scars of fire were evident from here, the highest point in TreeClan's territory. She wondered if anyone died. She wondered if there would be a shortage of prey. She also silently thanked StarClan for her mother's life.
And what a lovely night it is To walk a moonlit field To see the softer shades That are by starlight now revealed ✦ Words ✦ Fawn ✦ Short
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Post by Fawn on Aug 16, 2017 18:28:57 GMT -5
Mockingbird 39 Moons. Warrior-Queen of TreeClan Magpiewing had finally come home from that ridiculous kitsitting mission. Three moons in RainClan was more than any cat should be made to stand - and it was going to be at least two before the scent of fish and the oily texture of his coat disappeared. But she was pleased he was home. Of all the cats in TreeClan, he was one of a very select few that Mockingbird could claim to genuinely miss.
In a better mood from these recent developments (the fire was a minor inconvenience for hunting, nothing more), the charcoal gray warrioress found it easier to play her role. She was a companionable Clanmate again, kind and respectful. Easily fading into the background, yet observing and disdaining all.
The blue-gray fur was not difficult for the sharp eyes of Mockingbird to pick out, and she greeted Amberpaw with a mild "Good morning." The apprentice had asked to meet here to talk; it could have been a number of things on Amberpaw's mind, but Mockingbird could make an educated guess. If Amberpaw was not confiding in her siblings or her mother, then it must have been highly personal.
She should be flattered the apprentice thought her so trustworthy. Instead, Mockingbird was intrigued. Even if it proved to be nothing more banal than tom-problems, Mockingbird enjoyed the opportunity to cement her place in Amberpaw's life as a respectable, completely ordinary Clanmate. This great play of hers wasn't any fun if the audience didn't find it believable.
"You wished to talk to me?" Mockingbird mewed, haunches folding into a neat sit, the tip of her tail flicking to show interest.
Amberpaw had her attention.
And I watered it in fears, Night and morning with my tears; And I sunned it with smiles, And with soft deceitful wiles.
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Post by Justice on Aug 16, 2017 18:53:55 GMT -5
Amberpaw 10 Moons, She-Cat, TreeClan Green eyes considered her mentor as the she-cat made her appearance before she leapt from the tree she'd just climbed in a series of jumps that brought her to lower and lower branches then finally to the ground. "I appreciate you coming to meet with me. I know you just got your family back together and I hate to pull you away from that, but.." She snorted and then took a deep breath, sitting down next to the she-cat that she was slowly growing closer in size to as she aged.
"Have you ever felt like you were surrounded by cats that just didn't get who you really were? Like the only way anyone would listen is if you played to what they expected?" She shook her head. "In my case I've been told over and over that I should try and get along with everyone around me, even if they happen to be extremely stupid to the point of that stupidity irritating me." Her fur stood out on end for a moment and then settled. "Mother says toms are all stupid when they're young, but they grow out of it. She's wrong. Finchpaw is getting stupider the older he gets. The kind of stupid that should be culled sooner rather than later."
It was a combination of things that she wanted to talk to Mockingbird about, the foremost of which was the irritant in her life named Finchpaw. "He's loud and irritating, and doesn't understand how to be still. To wait and listen rather than leap straight into things headfirst with no idea what he's going to do. And for whatever reason, he's fixated on me." Her tail lashed behind her as she vented. "Nothing I do makes him back off, makes him give up. I'd call the persistence admirable if he wasn't making it difficult for me to get anything done around here. Apprentices get into trouble, they sneak out and push the limits of their elders. Me? I wait. Going out in a group means you are almost assured of getting caught, but if you wait, let the night guard go to their dens or away from the apprentice's den, then its easier to slip away unnoticed if you are alone. Straight to the shadows and quiet on your paws, not charging around then having to lie your way out of a situation."
She gave a slight smile. "I prefer quieter company, or at least company that has the common sense greater than a squirrel." Which was why she liked Owlpaw. She found him fascinating in a way. He was calm and carried himself like a warrior should even if he was still in training like she was. Amberpaw regarded Mockingbird, green eyes chilling just slightly. "Do you think he'd take the hint if I slipped him something that'd make him sick?"
And she wouldn't feel the least bit bad for doing it either. Would Mockingbird tell her she shouldn't do such things? Would her mentor rat her out to Lionstar for wishing bad on a fellow Clanmate?
And what a lovely night it is To walk a moonlit field To see the softer shades That are by starlight now revealed ✦ Words ✦ Fawn ✦ Notes
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Post by Fawn on Aug 23, 2017 8:46:12 GMT -5
Mockingbird 39 Moons. Warrior-Queen of TreeClan Mockingbird's expression remained neutral, if not politely interested. But inside, her thoughts sharpened and whirled, processing this new information with genuine emotional investment - a hard thing for a she-cat who disdained the majority of her Clanmates so. Lionstar was a fool; he had no idea the kind of she-cat he had been assigning to her when he'd chosen Amberpaw as her apprentice. They might have been two leaves from the same tree, in a manner of speaking...
There was potential here.
At last, a cat in this Clan that wasn't as big of a starry-eyed, moss-headed little do-gooder as all the rest.
"Poisoning him would not help. He seems too dimwitted to make the connection." Besides, it was a personal rule of Mockingbird's that she caused no more trouble than she could skillfully get out of. For an apprentice that favored serruptitious hunting tactics and had a clandestine approach to everything else, outright poisoning a denmate was hardly subtle.
And, StarClan forbid someone catch her doing it.
"Too much could go wrong," Mockingbird replied. Golden eyes found Amberpaw's, and she almost purred with satisfaction over the cold clarity she saw gazing back. She isn't as big a fool as I thought. There was hope for her yet. "Finchpaw thrives on attention. He is loud, because it gives him what he wants. He is irritating and relentless because he is self-centered and immature. Deny him the attention he craves. Pretend as if he does not exist, and he will eventually catch on. He will move on to someone who will actually acknowledge his existence."
That was the young tom's weakness. His need for attention and reassurance of his own importance. If Amberpaw denied him both, her presence would cause him more anxiety than that silly rush of butterflies, and it would quickly become in his best interests to leave her alone.
Otherwise... Mockingbird would speak with him herself. She did not need tremendous personal experience with that obnoxious little Finchpaw to realize he had authority problems, so she would speak to him not as a warrior scolding a disobedient kit, but as a warrior who had power over his fate. She was confident she could get his ceremony delayed, if pushed.
"There is one consolation, Amberpaw. If we focus on your training, you will leave Finchpaw behind. I will save a space in the warriors' den for you." Mockingbird meant those words. She wished to surround herself with 'like-minded' individuals, and once she spoke of Amberpaw's personality to her mate, Magpiewing, he would take an interest in her as well.
And I watered it in fears, Night and morning with my tears; And I sunned it with smiles, And with soft deceitful wiles.
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Post by Justice on Aug 31, 2017 19:57:48 GMT -5
"Ignore him? Okay then." She contemplated the possibility of finally being free of the obnoxious young tom that seemed so intent on her. She thought on things a moment then looked up at the tree she'd climbed before in contemplation. "When I was still I kit, I thought for a long time that Lionstar was the best cat ever." She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Now, as an apprentice, I can understand that he'd a decent enough warrior when he has to be, but I've also seen that he spends entirely too much time lead by his heart rather than his head. Or maybe that's just me." She shrugged. When she said she'd save a space for her in the warrior's den Amberpaw perked up considerably. "Do you think I'll be ready soon?" Oh, what a sight that would be! A warrior before Finchpaw, and ignoring him? Show him she not only didn't care one dung ball about him and his tendency to show off, and that she was out of his league entirely. Did that make her conceited? Perhaps a little, but she was young and had time to correct that fault in herself. A flash of a pleased smile spread across her features. If Mockingbird said she could do it, then she'd work harder than ever to prove herself worthy of such high praise from the huntress. In the meantime. "I have a bit of a confession. I've been using Owlpaw as a basis of where I need to go with my skills as a warrior in training. I figure if I can beat him, or at least hold my own against him, then I'll be ready when the time comes." Fawn Phoenix for Owlpaw mention.
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Post by Fawn on Sept 3, 2017 7:53:24 GMT -5
Mockingbird 39 Moons. Warrior-Queen of TreeClan Yes, thought Mockingbird, content as a spider in its web with a fly in sight. She will be a good match for my son. The respect Amberpaw carried for Owlpaw and the obvious disinterest in basking in Lionstar's StarClan-given glow furthered Mockingbird's positive impression of her. However, words were fine, but actions were more meaningful. She and Magpiewing had become masters of saying one thing, meaning another, and doing the opposite; their true talents lied in believably masquerading as respectable Clan warriors. That took more than conversation, more than convincing words.
However, before she could teach Amberpaw how to begin honing her verbal talents, Amberpaw needed to master the basics of a warrior's training. The she-cat's last words were a convenient segue into Mockingbird's plan for the morning, and she took it. "My son is a good standard to measure your progress by," she did not have to fake the pride in her voice. "And not simply through observation. We will be perfecting your stealth and cunning, through a little exercise."
Luminous golden eyes, a haunting memory of the bygone days when Grayowl had still stalked through TreeClan's camp, fixed on the apprentice. "I want you to stalk Owlpaw, and engage him in a fight. Claws sheathed, of course." Could Amberpaw maintain the element of surprise? It would be a test for both cats involved. Owlpaw would undoubtedly find the experience interesting, even if Amberpaw did not give him a reason to seek improvement.
Mockingbird's tail tip twitched, the only sign of anticipation from the dark ashy feline. "When you are ready, begin. He is hunting by himself near the NightClan border." That was all the help she would lend Amberpaw.
And I watered it in fears, Night and morning with my tears; And I sunned it with smiles, And with soft deceitful wiles.
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Post by Justice on Sept 7, 2017 19:59:40 GMT -5
"Stalking practice, got it." She flashed a grin to her mentor before heading towards the tree they'd been sitting under. "Sounds like fun." She ventured before starting the climb up the tree. She wanted the vantage on her intended pouncing victim after all, and she climbed very well. She used the trees to walk silently, to track towards where her mentor had indicated the other would be. Once the trees became too far apart she slid silently to the ground and put her body close so that the grass would hide her. She was glad she was neither too light or too dark in color, it would be a disadvantage. Her pelt was starting to take on a slightly darker shade in places, coming out of the fluffy grey coat she'd been born with. Colors darkened, she wasn't suprised. Colors darkened, eyes brightened, limbs lenghtened. She'd be taller than her mother soon, longer in leg and from nose to tail. But mother was a small thing, all things considered. But back to stalking. She hadn't broken cover, and kept her ears perked for any sign of her quarry as well as her breathing soft and short so as not to disturb any local prey and thus announce her presence. She finally found the other apprentice, staying down wind of him until she was close enough to gather her limbs under her and pounce him. Rather she succeeded or not, at least she'd done her best. Fawn Phoenix
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We are born with a DNA blueprint into a world of scenario and circumstance we don't control |
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Co-Captain
INVENTORY
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Post by Phoenix on Sept 15, 2017 22:42:19 GMT -5
Though the small creature remained blissfully ignorant, the mouse in front of him had his full attention as it snuffled through the loose soil. This was not the first time that Owlpaw was grateful for his grandfather's dark gray pelt, for it allowed him to crouch a tail-length away from his prey and remain entirely undetected. Yellow eyes peered out from the undergrowth as he tensed his muscles and prepared to pounce. Timing his leap with practiced ease, he sprang forward, stunning the mouse with a blow to the side and snapping its neck with a quick bite. Victorious he stood over his catch for a moment, pausing to catch his breath and glance around. He had a moment's warning before she tackled him. He had turned his head at just the right moment to catch a blur of gray-- Instinct had him flinching back with a surprised hiss while his training had him rolling with the momentum of her attack. Claws, still unsheathed from his hunt, dug into her fur as he tried to gain an advantage while they grappled on the ground, and it was only after a few moments that he realized that the scent filling his nose was smelled of TreeClan, not the NightClan stench he had been expecting. He knew her. Yellow eyes widened, and he sheathed his claws, forcing himself to relax despite the adrenaline racing through his veins. "Amberpaw? You surprised me," He started, a concerned gaze searching out her green eyes even as his mind raced. The Owlpaw she knew would feel horrible about hurting her. "Are you okay? I didn't hurt you, did I?" Why had she suddenly attacked him out of no where? Never had she given any indication that she disliked him; in fact, her behavior suggested just the opposite, though he was guilty of smiling right back at her as if he had no idea that she enjoyed his company more than any other tom's. "What are you doing here?" Maybe she had just come across him and wanted to practice fighting? She didn't seem like the type of cat who would interrupt a clan mate, especially one in the middle of a hunt, but even if she was, surely her mentor would have ended that behavior long ago. If only because her mentor was his mother, and even Mockingbird, despite their shared dislike for the general clan, would not stand for such a waste of time and energy. The thought of his mother prompted a third speculation: was this perhaps training of some sort? He seen his mother not long before he had set out to hunt, so if she wanted to send Amberpaw his way, she certainly would have known where to find him. Fawn Justice
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Post by Justice on Sept 18, 2017 20:27:19 GMT -5
Amberpaw 10 Moons, She-Cat, TreeClan Claws sliced along her flanks as she pounced him, a slight bite of pain something she hadn't experienced before. She didn't let it deter her, however, and slid a little when he threw her off him. She dug her claws into the ground to keep from going too far, fur puffed up for a moment before he realized it was her.
She sighed. "That was the point." Her tail lashed, but she didn't make the comment that came into her head. After all, she really admired this tom. She'd been spending too much time around his mother, who she'd confided in without fear. She did have to grin, because she'd managed to catch him unaware. "I guess my stalking skills are getting better. I didn't use to be able to sneak up on you Owlpaw."
Amberpaw sat to clean the shallow claw marks on her flanks, shrugging. "You did, but its no big deal." She gave him a grin. "I'm fine." She was super pleased with herself at this point but didn't say anything else about it. No reason to brag, she wasn't Finchpaw.
What was she doing here? Now there was something she could talk about. "My mentor told me to come over here and engage you in a mock battle."
And what a lovely night it is To walk a moonlit field To see the softer shades That are by starlight now revealed ✦ Words ✦ Phoenix ✦ Notes
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