[Fawn]

Mudpelt

LightningClan || Senior Warrior || 52 Moons

'Cause they will run you down, down til the dark

Mudpelt had been among the cats who heard the raucusness at the sun stones; he had arrived, stern features quickly turning to mortification as he noticed his own nephew, Thunderpaw, amongst the LightningClan apprentices antagonizing StoneClan's medicine-cat-in-training and a three-pawed apprentice.

The punishment that followed had been justly deserved. Mudpelt had returned to camp with a potent mixture of disappointment and anger in his somber yellow eyes as he brought the insolent group before Firestar and Redscar. Only after Firestar's word was given and the apprentices were ordered to slink back to their nests - where a fresh round of chores would begin in the morning - did Mudpelt finally have his chance to speak to Thunderpaw one on one.

I had hoped his delayed ceremony might cause him to smarten up - but he is as bad, no, he is worse than you were, Gustclaw, at following the rules. Mudpelt's dark face wore disapproval, stocky posture set with a soldier's rigidity as he lectured and lectured and lectured. An abrupt eyeroll from Gustclaw's son preceded Thunderpaw storming off into the apprentices' den, unwilling to hear another word his uncle said.

Mudpelt, speechless for once, had been forced to watch Thunderpaw's striped back disappear into the mouth of the den.

Almost a quarter-moon had passed since then, and Mudpelt - who often immersed himself deeper into his duties when his emotions attempted to get the better of him - was finally at a point to deal with Thunderpaw again. It hurt to think that his relationship with his only nephew was nothing but thistles and thorns; it's just the rigors of growingn up, he wanted to believe this, but Mudpelt was too observant to pass off their friction as just adolescent attitude.

It was as if Thunderpaw simply didn't like him. He most certainly didn't respect him.

Mudpelt grimly set himself to the task of trying to mend their rocky relationship, the morning beginning with a light snowfall that would likely carry over into sunhigh. A fortuitous break in the weather that he took as a positive sign. "Thunderpaw," he called, picking out the silver tabby amongst the newly wakening Clan. "Walk with me to the open woods. I... remembered some stories of your father," Mudpelt's expression softened with the warmth of nostalgia. "I thought you might like to hear them."

They will run you down, down til you fall

386 Words || Phoenix || Notes

Backdated to: Leafbare VY6, Day 22 - Gray clouds coat the sky but the snowfall has lightened significantly.
*Set five days after Sparkpaw & Thunderpaw tried to reclaim the Sun Stones