Conquer the monster in your head, and then you'll fly |
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GaleClan Medicine Cat
INVENTORY
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Post by BlooRey DVD on Sept 30, 2016 20:07:38 GMT -5
Flecks of light filtered through the thick canopy overhead, shafts stretching to the ground to illuminate small circles on the rain-slicked earth. The rain had been unrelenting for some time, and as it receded, the white warrior had decided to do some hunting for the Clan. His pawsteps were steady, quick but careful as he strode through familiar territory. Bi-colored eyes surveyed the area, his chest shifting visibly as he inhaled deeply, drawing the surrounding scents toward him. The scent of rain dominated, leaving the senior warrior to consider that it might decide to come back before long.
His thick, white tail swayed thoughtfully behind him, ears pivoting to the sound of prey. With the leaves slicked to the ground as they were, there was little rustling. Rather than a combination of wind-rustling leaves and prey scuttling sounds, all that greeted Skyfall's ears was the prey. At the same time, the rain dampened the other scents, making tracking by scent more difficult. Rain was fickle that way. Trusting his ears, the white-furred warrior slowed his pace, stalking forward with a practiced ease. Each step was calculated, avoiding any obvious sticks littering the ground below.
It wasn't long before he encountered the squirrel creating such a fuss. Approaching cautiously, Skyfall steadied himself, testing his grip on the rain-sodden ground. Figuring he would still manage enough traction to successfully pounce, the white tom adjusted himself to best accommodate the terrain. Muscles rippling beneath him, he released, sending himself barrelling through the air to land right on the spot the startled squirrel attempted to flee to. A heartbeat later, his jaws closed on it's neck, finishing it. With a quick prayer to StarClan, he thanked their ancestors for the prey, before picking it up in his jaws. Padding toward the base of the Great Maple, Skyfall slowed to a stop at its roots.
Depositing the squirrel on a dry patch of earth, Skyfall hopped up onto one of the arching roots of the great tree. With his thick tail wrapping over his four white paws, the tom took a moment to simply... Enjoy the leaf-fall afternoon. The air was cool, but not unbearably so; it certainly lacked the stifling heat that had come with Greenleaf. The comfortable atmosphere paired with the captivating way the light seemed to dance along the ground, playful shadows cast by wind-blown leaves, left the white tom strangely at peace.
No harm in enjoying the afternoon. He thought to himself.
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FawnNote: 56 moons old.
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Post by Fawn on Sept 30, 2016 22:32:14 GMT -5
49 Moons. Senior Warrior. TreeClan. Single~ In her efforts to avoid the unexpected drizzle earlier, Appleshade had sought shelter in the arching roots of an oak tree, hiding out in what had once been the den of a young fox, though a very stale scent the only indication it had previously been here at all. Well at least we can say the lynx did ONE good thing for us, she thought with an indignant huff of air. The presence of one very large predator was enough to scare away all the others; at least prey would be plentiful. Lynxes did not go for squirrels and creatures like that.
While attempting to keep her eyes and ears open to the lessening drizzle, Appleshade inevitably dozed off; the den was warm and quiet, muffling the sounds outside. It was hard to say how long she napped for, but it couldn't have been very long—the sun was still bright, but the rain had stopped, leaving only a wet, noisy world behind. The loud chatters of a nearby squirrel had her waking, eager to make up for lost time by bringing back something for the Clan—but, the entrance to the fox hole had changed somewhat. She would have to claw her way out in a rather inelegant (but most of all noisy) fashion, which would alert the squirrel to her presence before she could even say 'fox dung!'
Appleshade exhaled another huff, uncurling and taking the time to arch her spine; she might as well stretch and warm up while she waited for the squirrel to move away. The faint scent of a Clanmate she recognized reached her just as she saw bright white paws smack down upon the squirrel, a killing bite delivered swiftly. Badger! Appleshade gasped, mistaking the TreeClan warrior for a serious enemy of the Clans, and she hunkered down in fear as she felt claws on the roots of the tree growing over the den entrance. Wait... That's no badger!
With a purr of warm relief, the silver-sorrel feline snaked a paw through the roots, playfully catching Skyfall's paws with her own. "Skyfall! Now don't get upset, but I think you caught my squirrel." There was a jesting trill in her words, and soon enough she was wriggling out of the opening, shaking any excess dirt from her pelt and from her plumed tail, the end of which made a tidy flick to dislodged a piece of leaf.
"Alright fine," she put on a tone of mock injury. "You could at least apologize for frightening me out of my fur a moment ago. I thought you were a badger!" She gave his shoulder a soft nudge with the end of her paw for indication. "The shoulders. The paws. I thought I was a goner." The warrioress was in a good mood, despite not having caught anything yet, and it showed in her body language and tone of voice, the light in her eyes pleasant and with its usual charm.
Think you're all about me but I'm all about you Words: 505 Words | Tags: BlooRey DVD | Notes: So it begins!
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Conquer the monster in your head, and then you'll fly |
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GaleClan Medicine Cat
INVENTORY
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Post by BlooRey DVD on Oct 1, 2016 12:22:58 GMT -5
A rustling sound behind him had his white ears flicking back, the senior warrior beginning to glance over his shoulder to check out the sound when paws suddenly grabbed at his. Alarm flashing momentarily through his gaze, the white warrior was soon on all four paws again, peering at the form of Appleshade as she emerged from a fox den. Curiosity lit his gaze, Skyfall pondering what on earth she had been doing in an abandoned fox's den. As she mentioned the squirrel, his bi-colored gaze flicked to the prey sitting just beneath the roots of the tree, hidden from the damp earth.
He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "My apologies, Appleshade. The squirrel appeared, and I couldn't help myself." The prod to his shoulder had his gaze venturing down slightly, the white tom wriggling his toes subconsciously as she gestured to his paws. He made a thoughtful sound, eventually meeting her gaze once more. "I will take that as a compliment, Appleshade." He offered, the slightest smile tugging at his lips. Occasionally, it was difficult to tell whether the white tom was joking or not. He'd been told as such by a wonderful silver she-cat back at TreeClan camp.
Although Skyfall would be the first to admit he could be a little guarded (he'd inherited that from his father, no doubt), he by no means wished to unintentionally push his Clanmates away. And so, he'd been doing his best to be a little more... Inviting in recent moons. Continuing where he'd left off, Skyfall's white tail flicked from where it lay on his pays. "Though I lack some of the distinct black colouring badgers are known to have, I will once again apologize, this time for any fright I may have caused you. You certainly had your revenge, however. I cannot say I expected paws to pop out of nowhere and aim for mine."
Unraveling his tail to brush away some stray debris from the roots beside him, he inclined his head, offering her a seat should she choose to join him. "I was admiring the day before us. Would you care to join me? Or are you intent on catching a squirrel now that I have?" His voice was level, but there was a playfulness to his gaze as he glanced at her.
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Fawn
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Post by Fawn on Oct 2, 2016 23:52:07 GMT -5
49 Moons. Senior Warrior. TreeClan. Single~ There was a small prissy voice at the back of her mind that insisted she should go hunt for her Clan, but Appleshade had a habit of ignoring that little voice. Especially when faced with a choice as nice as this one; pleased to be invited to sit beside him, knowing he had something of a rough past with she-cats, Appleshade readily took up her place on the roots. Their pelts brushed somewhat, though the pleased purr from the soft-furred she-cat meant it was very much seen as a positive thing, in her eyes.
"I'll catch a squirrel later. Your offer is too nice to refuse." Feeling the sunlight strike her pelt, Appleshade stretched out luxuriously, enjoying what was likely the last remnants of the greenleaf heat. Appreciative of the autumn colors dancing all around them, Appleshade tucked her paws back in to keep in the warmth, fixing a warm gaze upon Skyfall.
She did not talk to him much, though he was a friend of Feathercloud's and Silentsong's. Which made it a shame they weren't very close. I wonder how they came to be friends in the first place? Had Skyfall originally had an interest in Silentsong or Feathercloud? Both were incredibly beautiful she-cats—but they were also quite taken. Zephyrfang had made his status as Silentsong's mate very well known, and Sprucefur seemed to finally be making the move he'd waited moons for. Feathercloud seemed happier than she could ever remember her being, and StarClan above, that was a wonderful thing.
"Can I ask you a question, Skyfall~?" She mewed, looking at him with thoughtfulness and interest both. It was impossible to forget that dark, miserable night of the Gathering, when Littletimber had been... And Nightshade and Whiteclaw had both been injured. So consumed by concern for the warrior she had her heart set on, Appleshade had not paid nearly so much attention to the rest of their search party...
But looking back on it now, Appleshade recalled how easily Skyfall seemed to lead them. How good at it, he was. She had felt safer following his orders than she did her own brother's, and Appleshade had always felt that Sprucefur was the ring leader of their little sibling trio.
Without waiting for him to confirm if she could ask or not, Appleshade tilted her head like a very pretty but very confused bird, and gave voice to her curiosity. "Are you disappointed that Lionstar didn't make you deputy? I like Gorsetail just fine, but I think you'd be amazing at it." She wasn't just flattering him for the sake of flattering him. Appleshade really did think that.
Think you're all about me but I'm all about you
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Conquer the monster in your head, and then you'll fly |
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GaleClan Medicine Cat
INVENTORY
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Post by BlooRey DVD on Oct 4, 2016 18:53:17 GMT -5
SKYFALLWhen it crumbles, we will stand TALL and face it all together
Skyfall didn't seem to mind the brushing of their pelts. In all honesty, the white warrior brushed it off as a side-effect of the limited space on the root. A white ear tipped toward her slightly as she brought up asking him a question. He was in the midst of drawing his bi-colored gaze to meet hers and invite her to ask away, when the pale furred she-cat took it upon herself to speak anyway. Skyfall would not lie; her question surprised him, if only because he'd never considered himself worth the time for other cats to analyze so closely.
He remained silent for several heartbeats, his gaze showing neither alarm nor anger. It was simply thoughtful, as though he required this time to consider his own feelings. His white tail, used previously to clear a spot for Appleshade, curled slowly around his paws on the side opposite her. Mismatched eyes softened slightly, the tom offering her a partial smile, an apology for his extended silence. Yet he still didn't answer, instead turning to take in the scenery around them. I suppose there are only two in the Clan who know the story behind my stint as temporary deputy. And Appleshade is not one of them. He reminded himself.
"No." He meowed, and for a moment, it seemed as though this was all he would offer. A strong white chest expanded, disturbed by the sudden, deep inhale pulled into the tom's lungs. The cool leaf-fall air brought him a peace he'd not felt in many moons. When he spoke again, there was a looseness to his words, an indication he enjoyed conversation despite what the rest of the Clan might think. "No, I am not disappointed, for the same reason I am not disappointed you sat down beside me."
He paused then, and glanced toward her without moving his white muzzle. The sideways movement of his eyes brought her away from the edges of his peripheral vision, brought her more into focus. "I asked Lionstar not to name me deputy, when he approached me before Meadowleaf's appointment." He clarified, in case his more cryptic answer lacked clarity for the she-cat. It was not a jab at her intelligence; he had no doubt Appleshade was a capable and intelligent she-cat. He simply recognized that, at times, his words failed to communicate his intended message. I really do need to talk more. He mused. 56 Moons. TreeClan. Senior Warrior.Cryptic Skyfall is cryptic XD // Fawn // 402 words
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Post by Fawn on Oct 4, 2016 21:08:28 GMT -5
49 Moons. Senior Warrior. TreeClan. Single~ The pretty she-cat blinked, and then frowned a little in confusion, the expression looking out of place on one normally so bright and lively. "Lionstar asked you to be deputy even before Meadowleaf?" That means he's refused to be deputy twice! There were rumors that Lionstar had also considered him even before Thunderclaw...
Appleshade's whiskers twitched, looking at Skyfall with both renewed interest and amazement. "Really? Don't you want to be deputy? The way you took charge when Littletimber was..." Her tail swayed, gesturing into the open air to the end of the sentence that went unfinished. "You were so brave, even though it was your brother out there." Appleshade's claws slipped out of their sheathes to pluck a little at the roots, as if subconsciously trying to anchor herself out of an unpleasant memory taking hold. "I think everyone was able to keep calm because of you."
Skyfall refusing to be deputy was baffling to the she-cat; he was clearly well-suited for it. The Clan would follow him easily, and the tom had many admirable qualities, even if he was rather quiet (and, she noted with a soft giggle, almost as cryptic as a StarClan cat) that would make him a wonderful deputy for TreeClan. Perhaps he just didn't want the burden? Appleshade could understand that; of course, her refusal to be deputy wouldn't mean anything to the Clan.
Unless they needed her to arrange social gatherings and fun activities by the sparkling brook in greenleaf, she really wasn't the right feline for the job. She was... well, for starters, a little too selfish to ever be deputy. And they wouldn't be able to take me seriously, Appleshade recalled Whiteclaw's stinging words with a brief resurgence of bitterness and hurt feelings. Especially not at a Gathering; would any cat even listen to what she had to say? And great StarClan, who would she even pick for a deputy?
With a deep aversion to too much responsibility, Appleshade suddenly understood loud and clear why Skyfall wouldn't want to be deputy. It was a lot of stress for one cat to handle; maybe he was wiser to refuse than to place so much burden upon his shoulders?
Think you're all about me but I'm all about you
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Conquer the monster in your head, and then you'll fly |
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GaleClan Medicine Cat
INVENTORY
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Post by BlooRey DVD on Oct 5, 2016 20:39:23 GMT -5
SKYFALLWhen it crumbles, we will stand TALL and face it all together
As Appleshade repeated a fraction of his previous statement, Skyfall dipped his muzzle in confirmation. He let her continue, flicking an ear thoughtfully as she provided him with many more questions to answer. The white tom remained silent until he felt certain she was finished her small barrage. Glancing toward her more noticeably this time, that same ghost of a smile illuminating his features, he began. "Is it not every cat's wish, when the innocence of kithood reigns, to climb the ranks and stand as Clan deputy, and finally Clan leader?" He mused, the tip of his white tail twitching in amusement.
With a soft shake of his head, he looked back at the territory before them. "I do not think saying I do not want to be deputy is the correct approach. Rather... I possess a clearer understanding of myself now, a better understanding of my capabilities and limitations." He paused, the root's bark crunching softly beneath his weight as he shifted. "I told Lionstar that, so long as I am able to serve TreeClan, I will be more than happy to step in as a temporary deputy. For example, when Meadowleaf was ill some moons ago, and found herself unable to attend the Gathering."
Briefly looking toward her to ensure she was still following, the white senior warrior continued. "Gorsetail is stronger in character than most might give him credit for, I believe. He is adaptable, approachable, and wise for his age. He is what TreeClan currently needs and deserves." He meowed calmly. "As for myself... With the Littletimber... Incident, I was brave solely because the Clan needed me to be brave. That, and my mother would have had my tail if I hadn't brought Whiteclaw back to her." He teased, flashing her a grin to lighten the mood just so.
"Bravery, strength, calm... These are all elements I can lend my Clan for short increments of time. Perhaps a couple sunrises, perhaps even a couple moons. But to have so many look to me for guidance endlessly as they do with Lionstar, and now Gorsetail? My character does not posses that resilience. It would crack beneath the weight, and I am certain I would lose sight of who I am." He looked at her then, an intense certainty illuminating his mismatching eyes. "And I cannot, will not ever put TreeClan or Lionstar in a position where they are forced to witness that." 56 Moons. TreeClan. Senior Warrior.... I hope that wasn't stupid XD // Fawn // 406 words
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Post by Fawn on Oct 6, 2016 14:14:11 GMT -5
49 Moons. Senior Warrior. TreeClan. Single~ Appleshade's eyes grew round as full moons, and she flushed beneath her pelt, embarrassment flooding in soon after. Great StarClan, he's so noble! No wonder Lionstar kept asking him; with a sheepish smile, Appleshade gave his shoulder a gentle prod. "Have you always been like this? Responsible and mature and sensible? TreeClan's lucky to have you, Skyfall. Not only because you're smart enough to say no, but because you're so dependable."
He made her want to be a better Clanmate. A better warrior; Appleshade looked back on her many moons of silliness and flirting and socializing, and very nearly regretted it all. You stop that right now, Appleshade. Shrilled a voice inside her head. He is Skyfall, but you are YOU. And you love silliness and flirting and socializing. Don't you dare think you're somehow less than him!
You know, I'm starting to wonder if self-doubt is a shared trait. Lichenfrost hardly ever seemed to have an ounce of self-doubt, but Sprucefur most certainly did. Appleshade shook out her pelt as though to toss away all of that negativity. With a cheery return to her former self, the pretty warrioress let out a soft purr, soaking in the sunlight. "I'm glad I asked, Skyfall. I don't think I could have imagined your answer, not even if I had a hundred moons to do so." That was by no means an insult.
Merely the musings of a she-cat who did not always think so nobly or with the interests of everyone else at heart. She wasn't a bad cat, not at all--her priorities were just different. Now if they were to talk about romance and friendship, why she could provide an accurate assessment of Skyfall's romantic troubles in two shakes of a rabbit's tail. That's where her talents lied; cheering others up, encouraging them, helping them see the good things about themselves, and gently nudging together two cats who might be perfect for each other.
Think you're all about me but I'm all about you
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Conquer the monster in your head, and then you'll fly |
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GaleClan Medicine Cat
INVENTORY
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Post by BlooRey DVD on Oct 8, 2016 8:41:47 GMT -5
SKYFALLWhen it crumbles, we will stand TALL and face it all together
An amused gaze flicked towards the pale she-cat as she prodded his shoulder with a paw. His tail tip twitched from where it lay on his paws, the white senior warrior chuckling as she implored whether he'd always possessed the sense of responsibility and maturity she evidently viewed in him. A gentle shake of his head was her first clue, before the tom's bi-colored eyes glanced up to the thick canopy overhead. "No." He meowed, a chuckle rising in his chest as his mind wandered to thoughts of his parents. It was almost as though the white warrior could still see the trouble he would get into.
"I think if you were to ask Blackwing or Cloudpool that question, they might outwardly laugh." His voice was light, amusement clear in its slight purr. "I do believe that they consider my kithood and apprenticeship to be a nightmare. My sister, Swandive... We both found enjoyment in causing absolute chaos. We were nearly identical, save for our eyes. Hers are both blue." He told Appleshade, settling into a more comfortable sit. "I do believe one particularly raining Greenleaf day, while most of the queens were either napping or sharing tongues... The pair of us endeavored to line all the nests except our own with wet moss while one of us distracted any nosy queens."
He glanced at her then, offering her a grin. "We were foolish kits back then. And StarClan above were we punished for it." He mused, recalling the countless times they were grounded, or forced to clean up their messes. "No matter what our parents tried, we didn't seem to get any wiser. Whiteclaw was the star of the family; he trained hard, and became a warrior long before either Swandive or myself." He paused, white ears pivoting as the sounds of the forest trilled around them.
"You know, Appleshade... I am glad you asked as well." He admitted, his muzzle tipping slowly back toward her. "I can only assume what others think of my refusal to Lionstar. Let them think what they please, whether it be ill or not. So long as one of my Clanmates knows the true reason, and can understand my reason? Then I am content." And he meant his words. It felt as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Not a particularly social tom when it came down to it, Skyfall often forgot the benefits behind just talking to another soul.
"You are good company, Appleshade." He meowed. 56 Moons. TreeClan. Senior Warrior.Heh compliments// Fawn // 417 words
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Post by Fawn on Oct 13, 2016 13:04:54 GMT -5
49 Moons. Senior Warrior. TreeClan. Single~ Skyfall's smooth, deep rumble was pleasant to listen to, and Appleshade found herself almost tempted to doze off while he spoke—not at all because she thought the subject matter was boring (it most certainly wasn't!), but rather she could feel the warmth of his fur on her flank and the rich cadence of his speaking voice vibrating in her ears.
I could almost fall asleep like this... Was her drowsy mental murmur.
"The pair of us endeavored to line all the nests except our own with wet moss while one of us distracted any nosy queens."
Appleshade's gaze widened, tail curling with surprise. "Oh! That's so naughty of you!" This exclamation was followed by a mrrow of laughter. "StarClan help us if your kits ever inherit that mischievous streak of yours." The pale sorrel she-cat perked up a bit, taken aback by Skyfall's honest compliment; it felt different from the ones she was used to ('you're beautiful, Appleshade!' Or 'I wish I walked as gracefully as you do'), but no less heartwarming.
"Thank you, Skyfall. You're not so bad yourself~" There was a soft, teasing glitter in her eyes, feeling her spirits lift at the pleasantness between them. Thinking back on the white tom's words, some of the warmth faded a little, giving way to an uncharacteristic uncertainty and embarrassment. "Speaking of Whiteclaw," she mewed, trying to keep her tone light, nonchalant. "He hasn't said anything about me, has he...?" He wouldn't.
Appleshade didn't know if she was relieved that Whiteclaw seemed to have forgotten the entire ordeal, or if she should be more upset that he seemed to care very little for her. Dwelling on that tom led to nothing but heartache, however, and Appleshade rose to her paws, shaking a stray golden maple leaf out of her fur. "Never mind! I'm in real danger of falling asleep if we stay here any longer. What do you say we hunt a little, Skyfall?" Better to do something for the Clan than ask pointless questions that would only hurt her in the end.
Besides, she didn't want Skyfall to know about her... botched confession. It was too humiliating to bear repeating.
Think you're all about me but I'm all about you
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Conquer the monster in your head, and then you'll fly |
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GaleClan Medicine Cat
INVENTORY
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Post by BlooRey DVD on Oct 16, 2016 14:49:47 GMT -5
SKYFALLWhen it crumbles, we will stand TALL and face it all together
He rumbled his own thankful mrrow as she returned the compliment he'd offered her. It was truly a compliment in his mind, being a tom with a rather... Limited social life. Mismatched eyes drifted to her as a short but comfortable silence settled over them. It was for this reason he noticed the slight change in her demeanor. An almost worried look flickered over her pretty features, causing the sturdy white tom's ears to prick forward in mild alarm. He'd been about to ask her if everything was alright, not entirely sure how to handle these types of situations, when she spoke up first.
The mention of his brother had the ivory senior warrior frowning slightly. What a strange topic of conversation... He commented to himself, but listened to her nonetheless. Admittedly, he knew very little about his own brother. Skyfall cared for him, there was no doubt about that; Whiteclaw was family, and he cared about all members of his family. His ties to Whiteclaw had been clear when the black tom had found himself prey to Demon a few moons back. Yet... They didn't speak every day as some siblings did. A part of Skyfall regretted it.
Before he could provide Appleshade with an answer, before he could even begin mulling it over in his mind, the she-cat seemed to jump to her paws. Blinking at the sudden change, Skyfall rose more slowly to his paws. Stepping off the root, his thick tail swished thoughtfully behind. Yes, he was still trying to discern the reason behind Appleshade's strange behavior as it wasn't obvious to him; silly toms. At the mention of hunting, the white tom dipped his head in acknowledgement. "Of course, hunting for the Clan is what I originally set out to do, after all." He meowed evenly.
Pausing briefly to dig a hole for his previous prey, he took note of the surroundings so as to come fetch it again once he and Appleshade were finished. Patting at the newly scraped dirt, Skyfall's bi-colored gaze sought out the pale form of Appleshade nearby. Offering her a kind smile, he padded back toward her. A grand wave of his tail invited her to take the lead and direct them to their next hunting destination. Perhaps, working together, they could be more efficient. He was interested in seeing where Appleshade's strenghts lay, for every warrior in TreeClan was good at something, whether they recognized it or not. 56 Moons. TreeClan. Senior Warrior.End thread?// Fawn // 409 words
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