[Deleted]

BELIEVE IN STRENGTH

Pumafang

TREECLAN - WARRIOR - 30 MOONS

The sun had felt exhausting earlier in the evening, beating down on the valley relentlessly. Pumafang's chocolate black pelt had sucked in heat for hours, making the tom's lumbering strides falter ever so slightly at the end of the day. He had a few warriors with him for the sunset border patrol along NightClan's Deer Path, and regardless of how level-headed his comrades appeared, the air had felt still and electric the entire patrol. He had chosen more passive personalities, though there was no mistaking the aura of hostility towards NightClan that seemed to shroud TreeClan in it's entirety.

At this point, Pumafang was just glad that the fat, steaming sun had collapsed under a peach-grey horizon. The sky was dimly lit, and a ghost of a moon could be seen in the east past the deciduous forests and open plains. Past the mountains and the beyond, sitting on its pedestal in the sky away from the petty conflicts of those beneath it. Pumafang often wondered about the universe and its happenings, but nothing was more grounding than looming war, tense and hot in the souls of both thunder and shadow.

What a bother. Pumafang thought as his patrol made their way back through the Shallow Marsh. But at least we didn't have problems this evening.

All those accompanying him were quite familiar to the deputy: he wanted to have a team of cats who worked well together if things turned sour. Cougarclaw was one of his past apprentices: although stupid, he was a kindhearted and composed tom. Blackwater, his mother, was a loyal and willing warrior. Rocktail was a cat he often preferred with him on patrols due to her obedient and laid back demeanor. Slightly against Pumafang's will, Elmstrike had persistently offered himself as well. It took a lot to anger the small tabby tom.

It had been a tiring few days after the gathering. Midnight patrols had been set up a couple days after the gathering. Any eager volunteers were priceless to the deputy, Elmstrike included.

Pumafang foresaw his own presence on the midnight patrol in a few hours.

As they made their way through the marshes, Pumafang noticed a familiar scent. Falconstorm, and Foxfur. He thought, waving the patrol back towards camp without him. They were likely tired and ready to relax and fill their bellies after a long, sweltering day.

Not more than short traipse through the marshes brought him to the medicine cat and his escort.

"Go back to camp and fetch yourself a good meal." Pumafang meowed flatly to the younger, ginger furred tom, watching calmly as Foxfur trotted off with a newfound bounce in his step.

It was quiet for a few moments before Pumafang started up again.

"I take it NightClan didn't ambush you while you were herb-hunting." His voice rumbled unenthusiastically, burying his sardonic comment with a bleak report. "All seemed calm today. We passed by a NightClan patrol about halfway along the border between the Great Maple and the Shallow Marsh, though luckily they seemed to be uncharacteristically composed. No less than expected from a patrol led by Pinewhisker herself."

Honestly, Pumafang was surprised at the she-cat's recovery and presence as a leader still, in some regards. He couldn't help but to think how different things could have been if Lionstar hadn't injured Pinewhisker and forced her demotion from leader to cripple.

His amber eyes searched Falconstorm's gaze carefully.

Word Count: 583
Tags: Justice
Notes: I don't know I just made something lol.

[Justice]

He didn't like being followed around by a cat that was supposed to 'protect' him. He was a grown tom with warrior training, he could protect himself. Lionstar was being overprotective, but he understood why. Falconstorm had no apprentice, so if he was killed TreeClan was in real trouble. That didn't mean he had to like it.

So when Pumafang showed up and deadpanned his unnecessary comment the medicine cat gave him a hard, flat stare. "If they had there would be a few extra bodies lying around, none of them mine." Why did everyone seem to think or forget that he was a warrior first? And with his sturdy build and strength he could handle himself and most anyone else. He'd protected Bluejay until her death, he could protect himself. He growled lowly, tail lashing out behind him as he tried to stop himself from biting off Pumafang's head.

Deputy or not, he didn't like someone talking to him like he was some wayward apprentice. If the other had meant it in humor he shouldn't have said it the way he did. He also didn't particularly care for the random report the other gave. While he did like being kept abreast of things, he didn't much care about what NightClan was doing so long as nobody had been hurt.

@jet

[Deleted]

BELIEVE IN STRENGTH

Pumafang

TREECLAN - WARRIOR - 30 MOONS

Falconstorm retorted just as expected. Pumafang had always known the tom had been temperamental, but experiencing it firsthand almost made him smirk. The medicine cat's demeanor changed to that of a belittled apprentice, and the tom's disinterest in the happenings at the NightClan border made Pumafang's own tail twitch.

Falconstorm offered no response, so he let silence stretch on for a while longer.

"When was the last time you sparred with another warrior?" Pumafang's usual monotonous rasp broke the silence.

The large chocolate black deputy knew Falconstorm was a warrior before being a medicine cat, and if Pumafang knew anything about warriors, it was that they always itched to test their skills. Even he was guilty of treating Falconstorm softly, though whereas Pumafang's almost mechanical humor and report seemed unappreciated, perhaps a quick tumble would break the ice.

Word Count: 151
Tags: Justice
Notes: xxx

[Justice]

"The better question is when was the last time I was treated like a warrior?" He bit it out, tail lashing as he paced. "I was protecting Bluejay the entire time I trained with her, and unlike most I was already a warrior when I became the medicine cat apprentice. I'm not some soft spoken cat with the demeanor to be a healer, I'm a warrior for StarClan's sake! I don't question why they chose me anymore, I just don't care, but I am tired of being treated like I'm fragile because I happen to know about herbs!"

He hissed loudly then plopped down, fur stood on end and generally in a foul mood. "So unless you're going to say something that's actually worth my time then leave me alone. I don't want company, I don't want coddling, I just want to be treated normally." He was breathing hard, but the outburst had made him feel better. He stood up to the leadership of TreeClan when it needed to happen. He wasn't worried about that. StarClan knew he bellowed at Lionstar when the situation called for it.

@jet

[Deleted]

BELIEVE IN STRENGTH

Pumafang

TREECLAN - WARRIOR - 30 MOONS

"Falconstorm," Pumafang rumbled, his usual monotonous voice murdering every bit of emotion. "I tried to treat you just like I would anyone else. Except, you find no interest in my reports, which I offer you out of respect, and you don't seem receptive of my humor. My introduction wasn't meant to disparage you, but to poke fun at NightClan's inconvenient and reckless ways. It was purely...a mindless joke. A regretfully poor effort to 'break the ice' between us."

The black tom paused before continuing. What was the point in holding back? He had already started talking, so he may as well speak what has been on his mind for a while. TreeClan's medicine cat has been known to be a changed tom since his mentor's death. Perhaps having another cat to protect and train would do him well?

"Why don't you take on an apprentice?" TreeClan's deputy's meow resonated in the late evening air.

"Perhaps you will find yourself treated more liberally. Being the only medicine cat we have, one with warrior training at that, you are arguably TreeClan's most valuable asset. None of us would survive a Leafbare without someone tending to us at our times of greatest need. I have no doubt Gorsetail would have succumbed to infection if it wasn't for your skill, and Bluejay would have befallen much more suffering in her life if she hadn't been in your protection. No one is belittling you because of your knowledge. It's quite the contrary. It is your education and experience as both a fully fledged warrior and medicine cat that is so important and cherished in this clan."

TreeClan's deputy took a short breath.

"I am fully confident you are capable of protecting yourself and others, though my personal fears lie in the variables the valley could throw at any cat. Some things just aren't within the means of our control."

Pumafang stopped momentarily as his amber eyes sought out Falconstorm's gaze.

"None of us can completely control our environment: only our own actions can be governed entirely by ourselves. Accidents happen, and thinking you're just some other warrior is a mistake. You're the best of us, Falconstorm, and we won't let StarClan take you without a hell of a fight."

The chocolate black tom's pelt was melting into the evening's overwhelming darkness. He didn't mean to rile Falconstorm up so much with a bad joke and a sunfall report. Pumafang respected the tom, he always had, though his simple small talk this evening had digressed their relationship so far.

Should he keep trying to talk with Falconstorm, or should he follow him around in absolute silence? He had already sent Foxfur home, and there was no way he was going to leave the tom alone now, to carry back all the herbs he had collected with NightClan on the prowl. With TreeClan's medicine cat in such a foul mood, he feared the integrity of the scent-lines.

If I leave him now this close to the border, Pumafang thought.
Falconstorm might just obliterate all of NightClan for us.

The possibility was tempting.

Word Count: 529
Tags: Justice
Notes: xxx

[Justice]

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. His temper had been short lately, for several reasons. "I find no interest in anything, Pumafang." He deadpanned it, the emotion leaking out of his frame as he lay there on the ground. "StarClan forsook me a long time ago, and I find no joy in what I do. I am the medicine cat because I have to be, not because I enjoy it. Telling me about the goings on, trying to make a joke of NightClan, it just doesn't sit with me anymore. I know why we're about to fight with NightClan, I know that cats aren't always going to get along when they come from different clans. I just don't care."

He stayed as he was, not even pretending to be doing anything anymore. He had fought through this heavy cloud before, and would have to again. He just had no other choice but to go forward. What other purpose was there? StarClan had shown him what true love looked like, then punished him for it. StarClan had made him break his heart, and the heart of someone he cared about, and then expected him to be thankful to them for it.

But then Pumafang asked him a question and he rose slowly, snorting darkly. "I don't want an apprentice. I imagine I'll eventually pick one anyway, but its not something I want for myself. I don't have the temperament to be a good mentor, and anyone I choose will have to deal with me until their training is done."

He listened to the other speak, slowly getting up so that he was facing the other tom. "I know what I am and what I'm worth. I appreciate what you're saying and that you're trying to get to know me better. I'm just not good company most of the time. I've gotten used to coming and going as I please, and now suddenly I have an escort all the time. Its maddening even as I understand why it has to be this way."

@jet