[Taxx]

Adderpaw

"I see things no one else sees."

Adderpaw crouched on one of the thick roots of the Maple, claws lightly sunk into the wood to keep her balance, eyes closed and ears full of the rushing of the wind through the branches above. The day was warm and scraps of fur caught in the grass indicated a mouse she'd eaten just a moment ago. It'd been fat and slow, an easy catch for any half-trained cat, and she'd savored every bite. It was near sunhigh by now, and the patrol she had been assigned to would be wondering where she was; if she really cared, she could sprint back and join them, but she wasn't all too keen on it. Here it was quiet and peaceful, her belly was full and she was content. Why ruin that by dragging herself off to march up and down borders?

No, she'd stay here. For now, until she was ready to return to camp. Time continued to pass and after a while Adderpaw dropped to the ground, made a temporary nest in the grass and napped. When she woke again, it was to the sound of a twig snapping underpaw, and the tortoiseshell she-cat's eyes opened to see the patrol all staring down at her: Mockingbird, Zehyrfang and Silentsong. The sun had moved a fair distance, now headed quickly toward sundown, and the darkness beneath the trees had gathered.

Green eyes scanned the three and the apprentice pushed herself upright; she didn't bother smothering the yawn that parted her jaws wide and blinked up at the older cats again. "Yes?" she asked, and waited to see which one of them would speak first.

Fawn BlooRey DVD || Notes

[Fawn]

76 Moons, Warrior of TreeClan

Zephyrfang snorted. And they'd all been so concerned for nothing. The large tawny warrior looked almost amused at the way events had unfolded. He didn't appreciate Adderpaw worrying Silentsong, but he'd latched on real quick to the notion that Adderpaw wasn't what you'd call a team player. She was half a Clan cat, half a loner - doing the bare minimum if pressed, otherwise...

Adderpaw sneaking off for a nap wasn't the worst offense. Instead, Zephyrfang purposefully pressed a paw down on the mouse bones nearby, feeling his weight snap them with a satisfying crack. Now that was a more serious offense. "For someone who hates extra work," snorted Zephyrfang, "you really like giving yourself extra apprentice duties."

Mockingbird leaned in to scent her daughter for injury, ignoring the yawn. There was some unknown emotion that had flitted across the gray warrioress's face, but Zephyrfang didn't recognize it. Why Mockingbird felt the need to come along on their little scouting party, Zephyrfang wasn't so sure he knew. Maybe she was trying to hold on to her kits a little tighter, after Ravenstorm's death and Magpiewing's exile?

Zephyrfang wasn't interested in speculating. What he was interested in was how Silentsong felt about Adderpaw's latest strain of disobedience, and what Lionstar would say when they returned with her.

"You shouldn't have eaten before the elders and queens were fed, Adderpaw," said Mockingbird, tail flicking. There was a narrowing of her eyes, as if she knew perfectly well that Adderpaw was well aware of what she'd done. "Bury those bones, daughter. We're returning to camp."

"To speak to Lionstar, you mean," said Zephyrfang, smirking.

"That's not necessary. She is my daughter and I can discipline her my own way."

Zephyrfang snorted. "If your own way was effective, we wouldn't be out here on a scavenger hunt for your wayward daughter."

He earned a low hiss for his insolence.

"Perhaps," said Mockingbird slowly, her voice syrupy-sweet. "If she had a proper voice of authority for a mentor, she would not be so inclined to wander off."

Zephyrfang flicked an ear; she could feign subtlety all she liked - he knew exactly to whom the gray queen was referring to. Zephyrfang flashed his teeth in a smile that didn't look at all friendly, his striped body moving closer to Mockingbird. He matched her stare, fearless and defiant as was his nature. "Uh huh. Well you know, I'd act out too if my daddy was a murderous little flea bag kicked out of the Clan."

403 Words BlooRey DVD Taxx

[Taxx]

Adderpaw

"I see things no one else sees."

Talk, talk, talk, went the older cats, and Adderpaw sucked in a breath to sigh. She offered a light bump of her head to Mockingbird as the older she-cat looked her over, but she was fine and she didn't need to be fussed over. Eyes wide in mock surprise, she glanced among the three and then spoke as she dug a shallow hole to bury the bones of the mouse she'd eaten. "Has no cat fed them at all today? Shame. They must be starving."

Patting earth over the remains of her meal, Adderpaw glanced up at the two- her mother and her mentor with a voice, as Mockingbird pointed out with a well-placed jibe- and her tail flicked lazily back and forth as they spoke. Her body stilled at the insult toward Magpiewing, her eyes closing in a slow blink at the tom. He wouldn't claw Mockingbird, she was sure, but she didn't like the way he spoke of her father. Nor did she care what anyone else thought about him; exile though he was, he was still the cat she'd looked up to for moons.

Adderpaw said nothing. She gazed a moment longer at Zephyrfang and then turned to her mother, taking a step closer to flick her tail over the gray she-cat's shoulder before starting toward the camp. Tail up and step unhurried, she did not look back at any of them, knowing they would catch up on their own time. She was certain she was in for another lecture; Lionstar seemed fond of handing those out to any cat who showed the slightest sense of individuality, but there was no getting out of this one- not with Zephyrfang about. Even Mockingbird seemed to think she needed it, though how much of that was an attempt to get her out of the one with Lionstar, she wasn't sure.

Either way, it took only a short time for them to reach the camp again, and it was Yewfang, hovering by the entrance, who spotted them and ducked back. Possibly to let Lionstar know they were coming.

TreeClan was full of dull-minded fools. Magpiewing was freer as a rogue than he ever had been here. Adderpaw rather envied him.

Fawn || Notes

[Fawn]

Lionstar

The crown is getting heavy
But they've written my name in the stars

Aware that there was no getting out of a lecture, Mockingbird quickly matched her daughter’s pace, leaning in to whisper “We will talk later,” in that furtive tone so closely associated with this family. She held her head high, golden eyes narrowed and austere. Magpiewing had nurtured Adderpaw’s independence to the point of creating reactions in others. That was always what her mate had been about: reactions.

It was time that she and Adderpaw had a talk about how to play their family’s little game. Ravenstorm had not taken to it, but Owlstrike was a master. Yewfang, Berrythorn, Hemlockpaw… they didn’t quite have the psychology for it - but Adderpool, as she had made it so clear, was different.

--

“Brought you a present.”

Lionstar’s brow raised at the sardonic comment from Zephyrfang, who had brought a very bored looking Adderpaw to the entrance of Lionstar’s den. Mockingbird was nearby, regarding him with a cool haughtiness that seemed to be increasing these days; no doubt another side-effect of Magpiewing’s ‘betrayal’.

Wish you hadn’t, he privately retorted, fixing Zephyrfang with an imploring stare. ”Where was she?”

”Stuffed and sleeping under a tree.” said Zephyrfang. ”I thought you and Adderpaw might like to have a little talk about wasting everyone’s time.” The tawny striped warrior turned around without ceremony. ”She’s all yours,” he trotted off, leaving Lionstar to play the role of disciplinarian.

Lionstar scowled. Zephyrfang wasn’t even going to stick around for Adderpaw’s scolding? No, in all likelihood Zephyrfang had gone off to reassure his mate that none of this was her fault.

”Adderpaw. I’m not going to waste my breath explaining the importance of not going off on your own. I’m sure your mother is well aware of the dangers in our territory.” Lionstar remarked dryly, fixing the tortoiseshell kitten with an irritated stare. Berrythorn’s mauling should have been a valuable lesson to the others, but Adderpaw had made it clear that her ability to listen and behave were more than a little off kilter.

”What you did was selfish and irresponsible. Your task for the next three sunrises will be to change all the bedding in the warriors’ den. Only after you are done with each day’s chores will you be allowed to eat. You’re dismissed.” Lionstar flicked his tail, the sternness never subsiding even after the punishment had been doled out. She is not cut out for a warrior’s life. In the back of his mind, Lionstar was already formulating stronger punishments - on the off chance that Adderpaw found some other way to benefit herself in the short term while giving everyone else a headache.

I've been building up all these kingdoms for so long
It's good to be king

99 Moons || TreeClan || 413 Words || Taxx