[Phoenix]

OWLPAW

you'll see him in your nightmares
you'll see him in your dreams

Ominous storm clouds lingered on the horizon, but Owlpaw paid them no mind. Something else far more intriguing had caught his attention. He was hunting on the LightningClan border with Appleshade, his mentor likely having disappeared off to somewhere with a little cover to shield her from the sun, and he had tracked a rabbit only to find that it had crossed into the neighboring clan’s territory. He had looked up, then, eyes of piercing gold scanning the surrounding area to see if he was as alone as he had thought, and that was when he had spotted the solitary figure. Alabaster fur nearly glowed in the sunlight, and he was close enough to catch a glint of unnatural red. Owlpaw had heard stories, of course, of the ferocious LightningClan pair, but he had never expected to meet one of them outside of a Gathering. Well, he had better keep chasing that rabbit, and it was so unfortunate that he had accidentally crossed the border…

"And what is a TreeClan apprentice like yourself doing so far from home?" The figure that he had spotted in the distance had materialized right in front of him, and Owlpaw straightened, gold locking with red. "I was hunting," He offered blandly, barely putting any effort into masking the truth. "I didn't realize that I had crossed the border." A warrior worth any salt would be able to see through the lie for what it was: the scent of rabbit had long since faded, and he had crossed the border to end up almost right at the other cat's paws. The apprentice did not realize that he had been holding his breath, waiting to see if the albino warrior would play his little game, until the other tom smiled faintly, almost indulgently, and inclined his head ever so slightly. He would play along. It was not often that he found such a young cat with such a proclivity for mind games. "Then I think it would be best if I were to escort you back to the border." A pause. "It is dangerous for cats so young to be so alone." Owlpaw's fur prickled ever so slightly as he recognized the hint of danger. Here was a warrior, he knew, who could be very dangerous indeed.

The TreeClan apprentice was absolutely enthralled.

They began walking back, gray paws falling into step beside longer strides. The LightningClan cat began making idle conversation, tone as light as if they were merely discussing the weather. "When you hunt, do you find yourself crossing boundaries often...?" Lurking in between his words was the hint of something more, and though Owlpaw could not determine what exactly it was, he knew that it was there. "Owlpaw," He introduced himself and answered a moment later, "My clan does not appreciate those who step out of line, and so we are trained to respect the Code and follow every word; they are willing to limit themselves to appease their conscience. I have no such hesitation." Unreadable crimson eyes glanced at him, but their conversation ended there - they had arrived at the border.

Smoothly, Owlpaw crossed to his side of the marker and turned to face the ghostly feline. He opened his mouth, about to politely make his leave, when the other tom spoke: "Appleshade." The apprentice turned. Indeed, his mentor had emerged from the trees, and if she looked a little more frazzled than usual, he could not bring himself to feel too bad. "A pleasure, as always." Owlpaw was fascinated. His mentor knew this cat? How? "I was simply in the area and stumbled upon young Owlpaw. He had followed a rabbit across the border, so I walked him back. I was just telling him how lucky he is to have you as his mentor." A charming smile, and it was only because he spent so much time around cats who wore masks that he recognized that it did not reach crimson eyes. Keeping in line with the LightningClan cat who clearly had as many qualms about weaving stories as himself (read:none), Owlpaw's demeanor instantly changed from the predator-in-the-making to that of an apologetic apprentice who clearly knew he was in the wrong. "I hope you weren't too concerned, and I hope you won't be too angry with him. It was an honest mistake, and there is no harm done."

At this, Owlpaw rushed forward to press his nose apologetically into Appleshade's fur, ears flattened against his head as he trembled slightly with worry. "I'm so sorry, Appleshade," He babbled. "I just really wanted to catch this rabbit to bring back to Berrypaw, and I lost track of where I was. It won't happen again, I promise." Behind him, he could practically feel the smile on the LightningClan warrior's face. "In any case, Appleshade," The tom changed the subject smoothly. "I haven't seen you in so long. How have you been, my dear?"

With his face hidden from his mentor's eyes, Owlpaw grinned. They had just met, and they were already partners in crime. It was the start of a wonderful partnership.

you're one microscopic cog in his catastrophic plan

designed and directed by his red right hand

red right hand | background image | Fawn

[Fawn]

Appleshade

There was no logical reason for catching a finch over a sparrow. They weighed about the same, and they would clearly feed the Clan just the same - but Appleshade couldn't help herself. The bright, sunny plummage of the finch became the deciding factor, and with a neat pounce and dainty nip to the base of the bird's nead, Appleshade made her catch.

There, we're off to a good start. "Shall we move closer to the wildflower meadow, Owlpaw?" With a feathery tail and a voice as warm and pleasant as a summer breeze, Appleshade's peaceable mein was interrupted by bewildered. "Owlpaw?"

Where had that tom gotten to? Taking the time to hide her catch under some protrudent tree roots (with as little digging done as possible), Appleshade engaged her senses, tracking her wayward apprentice with a graceful gait and little urge to rush. Until the scent drew closer and closer to the LightningClan border - and seemed to cross it.

A prickle of unease rippled through her silvery-sorrel fur, and Appleshade frowned, ears pinning back at this uncharacteristic display of rule-breaking. Perhaps it was an accident? He wouldn't cross without a good reason. Owlpaw's a well meaning tom. She was certain Thornstrike had impressed upon him the importance of boundaries. Besides, she coud taste rabbit on the wind, and holding onto the likelihood that it was an accident, Appleshade was just about to cross the border herself when two figures appeared through the thin copse on LightningClan's side.

A powerful warrior strode towards them, white fur aglow under the fierce brightness of the sun, and his crimson eyes were still as powerfully poignant and unique as she remembered. When she put her attention on the gray-furred tom beside him, Appleshade's fretful thoughts melted away into relief. "Owlpaw! What in StarClan's name are you doing over there?" Adopting the appropriate tone of reprimand, it certainly wasn't as harsh or demanding as it likely should have been.

After all, she didn't want to take on such an ugly tone in front of Whiteshade.

"I was simply in the area and stumbled upon young Owlpaw. He had followed a rabbit across the border, so I walked him back. I was just telling him how lucky he is to have you as his mentor."

Appleshade fluttered a laugh, yellow eyes full of answering warmth and mischief. "Oh don't try to sweet-talk me, Whiteshade. I'm terribly cross with you - flattery won't fix that." It had been too long since they'd last met like this. Appleshade had forgotten how exciting their previous encounter had been. Forgotten how charming and eloquent he was. It was refreshing and exilerating to know that, even though he was likely in his 80s, Whiteshade had lost none of his poise and elegance.

He's become a... silver fox. Yes, that's the term. Appleshade wore a pretty smile, amused and pleased to know his looks were indeed holding steady. Though he's more of a white lion.

Owlpaw's babbling broke through her flirtatious musings, and, though she flushed beneath her pelt, Appleshade was able to regain her composure in nary a heartbeat. "You're forgiven, Owlpaw. I trust you won't let it happen again? Be sure to tell Whiteshade thank you for bringing you back in one piece." Appleshade glanced to the albino warrior, catching his eye, a soft lilt in her voice. "He has quite the reputation."

And then, to Appleshade's delight, Whiteshade asked the question she most wanted to answer. It was the question she wanted to ask too. With a fluttery wave of her tail, the warrioress took a seat in the grass (after picking a nice shady spot), intent to catch up. Dandelion-yellow eyes caught hold of red. "Oh it has been so long, hasn't it? You first, Whiteshade. Something tells me your answer will be more interesting than mine."

58 Moons | Senior Warrior | TreeClan

[smear:d67db2]You and I have history or don't you remember?[/smear:ffffff]

Phoenix | fergie | background image | table by phoenix

Note: Omg the muse was so strong today.

[Phoenix]

OWLPAW & WHITESHADE

Bless your soul
you got your head in the clouds

With each passing moment, this day seemed to get better and better. When Appleshade had sought him out earlier to announce her intentions of hunting with him on the LightningClan border, he had smiled and trotted along after her while mentally preparing himself for the trying ordeal. His only consolation had been the dark clouds looming overhead; if it threatened rain, then his mentor would not want to be out for too long, because, as he had heard many times over the course of his apprenticeship, it was bad for his fur and it was absolutely unacceptable to be seen around camp looking like a drowned rat. She would be utterly horrified if they stayed out until the clouds broke open, and though he knew that would never have happened before, as the younger tom watched his mentor interacting with the LightningClan senior warrior, he began to wonder if that might now be a possibility. Perhaps he should make it a reality; after all, he didn’t particularly mind the rain.

”Thank you, Whiteshade,” Owlpaw dutifully replied, committing the name to memory, even as gold eyes found crimson again. He couldn’t help the shiver that traveled slightly down his spine; he did not need his mentor’s words to know that the other tom was quite the predator. Following the she-cat’s lead, he stepped to the side and folded his hind legs beneath him, watching as the ghost-like tom mirrored his actions. His thoughts wandered back to the clouds. It would be entirely too easy. Even with her own apprentice by her side, Appleshade clearly only had eyes for the alabaster tom before her, and worries about the impending rain were likely the last thing on her mind. All he had to do was make sure the conversation kept moving and simply wait for the heavens to open up overhead, and as the other tom spoke, the apprentice knew that he would hardly have any trouble with that.

”I am afraid I must disappoint,” Whiteshade said smoothly, ducking his head slightly as if ashamed of his lack of juicy gossip. Never boring though admittedly highly questionable, life for him had carried on as usual, and while his midnight hunts in the mountains gave rise to many experiences that would make for an eternally more interesting answer than hers, they were not stories that he ever intended on sharing with her. After all, he was a merciful cat, and it would be quite rude to make her faint. ”We are recovering from a greencough epidemic that stole many great warriors,” He murmured, glancing back up at her. ”Luckily, I did not lose any family, but that hardly makes the burden any easier to bear. I am sure that you are aware of Rookfrost’s retirement?” Here the alabaster tom paused, tail tip flicking as he recalled that fateful day and their final trek into the mountains. Over the course of the next few days, he had brought his old hunting companion prey – of both the feline and non-feline nature – and watched as once-formidable medicine cat had slowly wilted away, until one morning, he had arrived to find him cold and unmoving. Whiteshade had left, then, and never looked back; his obligation to his fellow predator was fulfilled. ”Kindleflare--“ is not even a shade of what her mentor was ”—was doing her best, but there were times when I wished for Rookfrost’s return, if only to allow her some time to rest.”

He shook his head as if dispelling the negative thoughts from the air. ”My apologies. I did not intend to ruin such a pleasant surprise with such unpleasant memories.” Owlpaw did not think he looked very apologetic, but he highly doubted that his mentor would see it that way. He pointedly refused to let himself dwell on those dark weeks where a genuine fear of losing his mother and sister had persistently nipped at his heart. ”But we are recovering,” The alabaster tom continued nobly, ”And that is all that matters. I sincerely hope that you have fared better…?” He paused for a moment, letting silence fall in the wake of his words, and Owlpaw took this as his chance to speak up. Clearing his throat, he turned wide gold eyes from Appleshade to Whiteshade, and ever the curious apprentice, he asked, ”If you don’t mind me asking, how do you two know each other?”

He's made a fool out of you and boy he's bringing you down

he's made your heart melt but he's cold to the core

red right hand | background image | Fawn

[Fawn]

Appleshade

Appleshade had not expected his response to be so, well, macabre. Of course he would bring up the greencough epidemic; that was obviously the most interesting thing to happen in recent times. Appleshade, in her eagerness to hear what he had to say, had utterly forgotten about it. Shame on you, Appleshade. After your own brother was sick! News that Rookfrost had retired was a little closer to what she'd anticipated for gossip, but even that had been brought back to the greencough outbreak.

"I'm sorry to hear LightningClan's suffered so." A fluttery sigh, her tail making a gentle sweep at her paws. "We fared poorly, I'm so sorry to say. Sprucefur, my brother, was ill but thankfully recovered - as was Owlpaw's mother and sister, though they pulled through as well." Appleshade touched her nose to Owlpaw's ear in a brief, comforting gesture.

She didn't want to talk about so much death and illness and misery, but it was rude to gloss over it as if it hadn't mattered. Her voice rose to convey her distress, yellow eyes alight with a rainstorm of woe. "We've lost well over thirty Clanmates. Oh Whiteshade, it's been absolutely awful. Just heartbreaking." A soft lapse in conversation followed (at least on her end), and Appleshade felt a density to her heart that hadn't been there before.

So much grief...

”If you don’t mind me asking, how do you two know each other?”

Appleshade sniffed, wearing a watery smile that wasn't fully cheerful - but showed a little of the sunlight through the cloud-cover. "Ah, a happier topic! We met quite like this, though Adderstrike and Sunstride were with me at the time. Adderstrike was quite grouchy, and I couldn't stand by and let it escalate into a fight." A note of melancholia struck a chord in her heart, but she let it go. Adderstrike was one of the cats who had succumbed to greencough this year. "TreeClan was recovering from a terrible fire," Appleshade's whiskers twitched with something like amusement, her gaze coming to rest on the alabaster tom. "Somehow, we always seem to meet after the worst has happened. I won't speak for Whiteshade, but those little moments always made me feel better." It was good to be reminded that there were still wonderful things in the world to look forward to.

And then our meeting after that, where he brought me a flower... Appleshade almost sighed aloud, remembering fondly the sweetness of the gesture. No one in TreeClan ever thought to bring her flowers, or feathers for her nest, or other little trinkets or keepsakes to show that they had thought of her. Appleshade had the foresight not to mention that meeting in front of Owlpaw; she trusted the dear little tom, but Appleshade was in no mood for rumors of disloyalty to somehow start spreading around camp.

Whiteclaw's words drifted back to haunt her.
I can't take you seriously.

Even after all this time, it still hurt. Appleshade sniffed, trying to harden the walls of her heart against the sting - but not quickly enough.

58 Moons | Senior Warrior | TreeClan

[smear:d67db2]You and I have history or don't you remember?[/smear:ffffff]

Phoenix | fergie | background image | table by phoenix