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Post by Fawn on Aug 16, 2017 14:34:32 GMT -5
Appleshade Owlpaw brought up some good points - something she'd been worrying about herself. Was hunting really the best course of action right now? Lionstar's been leader for a long time. He knows what he's doing. It was a relief for the pretty warrioress to place the lives of her Clanmates and responsibility of leadership into the paws of someone other than her. These kinds of questions did not come easy to Appleshade. Slowing to give his words real thought, Appleshade's ears twitched and she tossed a cautious glance in the direction of LightningClan's border - as if the smoke were a monster bearing down on them. It was just visible from here, but it was nowhere as overwhelming as it had been from the open woods.
"Lionstar will evacuate the camp if we need to," said Appleshade, turning to rest her tail on the young tom's shoulder. "The fire can't cross the sparkling brook. Thank StarClan it isn't dried up." He's worried about Berrypaw. His whole family. Sympathetic to Owlpaw's concerns, Appleshade went to the apprentices' den; Lionstar had told them to round up a few others to bring along - so why not Berrypaw?
"Berrypaw, you're going hunting with us. You too, Silverpaw." The idea of keeping track of three apprentices on a hunting excursion in the midst of a fire was daunting, but Appleshade felt it was the best thing for Owlpaw right now. Besides, he was a compassionate young tom, he'd keep an eye on his brother - and wouldn't let Silverpaw fall behind.
Determined to safeguard these three against danger and their own fears, Appleshade waved her tail in elegant sweeps, walking out of camp as if it were just a regular greenleaf day. "Come along dears, we have to get the elders and queens fed. Shall we hunt around our border with NightClan? That should keep our neighbors from getting any ideas." It had been a pleasantly long time since they'd had any trouble with NightClan.
Should that have made her suspicious? Probably. But Appleshade was of the mindset to enjoy prosperity while it lasted, and never think about it ending - that would just interrupt the enjoyment. "Owlpaw, I want you and Berrypaw to work together. Can you two catch a few mice each?" Appleshade's eyes found Silverpaw, and she smiled warmly to the she-cat -- who seemed so small and young next to the two almost full-grown toms. "You and I are going to practice catching birds. How does that sound?"
58 Moons | Senior Warrior | TreeClan [smear:d67db2]A little party never killed nobody[/smear:ffffff] This is just a quick training thread for Appleshade/Owlpaw, I hope it's OK if Berrypaw's in the background. |
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Co-Captain
INVENTORY
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Post by Phoenix on Aug 18, 2017 9:17:16 GMT -5
 OWLPAW you'll see him in your nightmares
you'll see him in your dreams ”I just don’t want anyone to get hurt.” Admittedly, it was a slight exaggeration to suggest that his concern extended beyond those of his immediate family to include the entirety of TreeClan (they could all roast for all he cared), but he knew that the she-cat would take the apprehension in his tone as further proof of his large, compassionate heart.
Appleshade’s tail came to rest across his shoulders, and in a motion that had become very familiar over the past few moons, he turned to press his face into her side. Like any other grown member of the clan, he could identify those around him by scent long before he saw them, but it was bizarre how accustomed he had become to his mentor’s. Undoubtedly, it was the result of spending nearly every day in her company - as well as her inclination to be far more emotive than his natural tendencies would prefer. Indeed, from the very beginning, she had lavished him, poor little Owlpaw with a family torn apart by illness, with an overwhelming amount of affection, and now, several moons later, she remained just as oblivious about the inner workings of his mind. It was fascinating how she could spend so much time in his company yet still see only what she wanted to see, though in her defense, he was working very hard to keep her blind.
Still, a very small part of him almost felt like he ought to be embarrassed for her. Perhaps it would be, if he cared more.
The few more cats that Lionstar had wanted them to find turned out to be apprentices. While the gray tom would never complain about being able to keep an eye on his once-wayward brother, he wished that Silverpaw could stay behind. Though a better alternative to her far more annoying brother, she was still young and still inexperienced, and because the Owlpaw everyone thought he was would never leave a clan mate behind, she was just another cat he would have to split his attention between. A jolt of frustration passed through him, swallowed up and hidden away before any sign of it could reach his face. Normally, he would not spare the addition a second thought, but there was a fire, and for some reason they were still going hunting, and he could not afford to lose Berrypaw so soon after he had just gotten him back because some inept apprentice inevitably did something wrong.
”Hi Silverpaw,” Owlpaw offered her a charming smile, as if he hadn’t just been weighing the likelihood of Lionstar believing a tragic story of how he could only save one apprentice on their patrol from the raging fire that would ravage the forest, so could he really be blamed for the she-cat’s unfortunate death if he had rescued Berrypaw and run? His brother, of course, was greeted with a genuinely warm purr that was reserved for family, but they barely had a moment to themselves before Appleshade appeared, elegantly striding forward as if she had not just run into camp bringing news of an inferno. The gray tom watched her for a moment. Taking a deep breath, he dug down deep for some inner calm before he, too, strode forward toward the NightClan border.
Although the scent of smoke lingered over the valley, the air on this side of the territory had a distinctly fresher quality to it that allowed him to relax ever so slightly. Ears flicked as he listened to his mentor’s instruction, and pleased at the division of labor, he curved his lips upward in a tentative smile. ”I think we could do that,” He mewed agreeably before turning to his brother, ”Right, Berrypaw?” At the other tom’s answering nod, his smile grew. Gold eyes found the silver apprentice who was practically hidden in Appleshade’s pale fur. ”And maybe after, you can show us how you hunt birds, Silverpaw?” Naturally as an apprentice nearing the end of his training, he was already quite at ease with catching this particular prey, but the suggestion would likely do wonders for the small she-cat’s confidence - and they all knew how much Owlpaw cared for his clan mates.
After all, he had such a large, compassionate heart. you're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan designed and directed by his red right hand |
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Post by Fawn on Sept 3, 2017 7:54:36 GMT -5
Appleshade The aptly-named kitten bobbed her head, shyly answering. "S-Sure!"
Appleshade's heart did a small cartwheel of delight as she saw Silverpaw swiftly glance at Berrypaw - and then away from him just as quickly. Ah, I forgot how susceptible apprentices are to their emotions! How sweet, but now isn't really the time. Besides, poor Silverpaw may end up pining for many moons - Berrypaw would leave her behind in the apprentices' den quite soon.
"Be careful of the borders, Owlpaw. And if you see anything unusual, come straight back!" she mewed to the gray-coated tom, remembering all too clearly the time when he'd crossed the scent-line into LightningClan's territory before being escorted back by Whiteshade. Her thoughts darted like a hummingbird to the moorland tom, picturing the light on his fur and the crimson glow of his eyes. They had been frightening, at first, but time had worn away any silly preconceived notions of apprehension around him. He was a gentletom and very well-spoken. The color of his eyes would hardly change that.
"Let's keep all our prey here. I don't know about you, but I hate having to find it again after I've been hunting for a while." Appleshade grabbed a stick between her jaws (the taste of bark made her nose scrunch. How gross!) and scraped away where the soil looked loose, then left the stick standing upright like a naked, flimsy parody of a sapling.
Pleased with her handiwork, the she-cat swept her tail around Silverpaw, gently ushering the kitten in the opposite direction of the toms. "We'll practice over here, so we don't disturb their hunting. Now then, what can you tell me about hunting birds?" Appleshade threw a lingering glance over her shoulder to Owlpaw and Berrypaw, smiled warmly, and gave her attention back to Silverpaw.
58 Moons | Senior Warrior | TreeClan [smear:d67db2]A little party never killed nobody[/smear:ffffff] |
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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 19:29:02 GMT -5
OWLPAW you'll see him in your nightmares
you'll see him in your dreams It was to the sound of Appleshade's patient questioning and Silverpaw's tentative responses that he walked away alongside his brother. As their voices faded into the background so too did the remaining fragments of Owlpaw's desire to hunt. When the wind shifted just the right way, he could catch the faint scent of smoke from the inferno that he knew was blazing across LightningClan's territory, and every time he thought of the flames and smoke, he could not help but to cast a concerned glance toward his brother. If it had been up to him, Berrypaw, who had somehow miraculously managed to survive Demon's claws, would never have ever had to face even the prospect of facing such a merciless foe every again. His mother would never have to worry about losing a child for the second time in his life, and his sister would always have two brothers on whom she could fall back on for support - though he knew that she would rather jump into the fire ravaging their neighbor's land than ever do so. At least his father was safe in RainClan, even if Magpiewing's absence gnawed at him as relentlessly as an empty stomach.
Not that the clan would be plagued by such discomfort that night. Despite the fire, prey was running fine, and the young toms managed to catch a decent number of mice. With triumph glittering in their eyes, they returned to the little clearing where they had last seen the warrior and her charge. Setting down his prey, Owlpaw offered both she-cats a pleasant smile. "How did you two do?" He asked warmly, yellow gaze moving from his mentor to the apprentice at her side. "The mice must have realized that something was happening; there were more of them around than usual." As if searching for confirmation, he glanced toward his brother, who nodded eagerly in agreement. Owlpaw turned to Silverpaw. "Do like hunting birds, Silverpaw?" He asked her warmly, making small talk with practiced ease. "I bet you're a master at it now; Appleshade's a great teacher." The last words came with a purr as yellow eyes looked over at the long-furred she-cat with the fondness of an adoring apprentice. you're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan designed and directed by his red right hand |
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Post by Fawn on Sept 17, 2017 20:03:28 GMT -5
Appleshade Owlpaw's praise had Silverpaw blushing from her nose to the end of her tail. Silverpaw couldn't immediately say anything back, a finch clamped between her jaws. Appleshade's heart softened with delight, ever fond of displays of affection - whether they were reciprocated or not. Love was a wonderful thing, wasn't it? Of course, her favorite little tom in the whole forest had kind things to say about her as well. Flattered, Appleshade's tail dusted lightly across Owlpaw's back in gratitude. "We've all done quite well for ourselves, haven't we? Let's return to the fresh kill pile. Owlpaw, you can have the rest of the day off for a job well done."
Berrypaw, whose mentor was the strict but efficient Nightfury, likely wouldn't be so lucky. And as for Silverpaw—Appleshade suppressed a wince, picking up the grouse she had managed to catch with Silverpaw. She had forgotten that the youngest cat among them was Swandive's apprentice. Would the senior warrior take kindly to Appleshade taking her apprentice out without asking permission first?
Of course not. Swandive would be happier if Silverpaw had gone on patrol with a bunch of foxes, thought Appleshade sulkily. She wasn't used to having enemies. Getting jealous glances, yes, but enemies? Cats who did not like her simply for being her? That was uncharted territory. Appleshade couldn't say she liked it very much.
However, that was a river to be crossed when they got back to camp. For now, she was just going to keep her mind off of troublesome things, and see to it that her little gaggle of apprentices made it home safe and sound.
58 Moons | Senior Warrior | TreeClan [smear:d67db2]A little party never killed nobody[/smear:ffffff] |
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