[Deleted]

Rowanpaw had just woken up. Stretching, she began her morning rituals. First one forepaw, then the other, then her rear paws, then a paw swiped across the ears, then the rest of her... by the time she'd gotten to her tail, she was awake and feeling a lot happier. A lot cleaner. A puddle in the middle of the camp served as a great drinking spot, which distracted her from her hunger momentarily.

Not long enough, though. Her stomach soon rumbled, letting her know its displeasure at being left hungry. Turning her head to the fresh-kill pile, she saw a small pile of freshly caught prey. Knowing that the apprentices (including her) would be going hunting later to fill it up left Rowanpaw with a sense of pride in her clan. 

She was hungry, true, but she couldn't... no, wouldn't eat until the rest of the clan had been fed. So, picking up a plump mouse, she strolled into the elders' den. Maybe they'd be in a mood to share it with her, maybe they wouldn't, but she knew that they'd be grateful for the meal. 

Even though some of them wouldn't show it.

Poking her head into the den, she called out "Nightpetal, are you awake? I have some fresh-kill for you."

219 / Abyss

[Abyss]

Stoneclan Elder

Nightpetal

It couldn’t be denied that being an Elder was...sad, at times. You were often stuck within the confines of the den, unable to leave anymore without supervision, and had to depend on Apprentices, and occasionally Warriors, to change out your nest and bring you prey. It was strange how seeing the same cats and faces every day, nearly the entire day, could make someone feel lonely. These were clanmates, so of course being with them was comforting. But after being with them for days on end, often hearing the same complaints all the time, breathing in their scents so much that the den itself just smelled like normal air, it could make one feel alone.

Nightpetal didn’t enjoy seeing his fellow Elders in this light, but he couldn’t help it sometimes. He found joy in being visited by other cats who he didn’t see every day, such as Apprentices delivering prey as a duty or Warriors looking for just some calm company.

Even as he laid comfortably, surprisingly not in his nest but next to it, he did long for the company of someone that wasn’t Slatescreech or Frozenrain. Luckily, this longing was brought to light as he heard a voice call out from the entrance of the den. The large tom turned his head to find a small brown tabby face peeking in, a mouse hanging from her jaws. A warm smile formed on the Elder’s face, recognizing the little face.

“Hello Rowanpaw.” He was lucky, truthfully. There may have been a chance that he didn’t know her name, if she would have been a kit still. Luckily, this young Apprentice had just recently became an Apprentice, and he had been perched in front of the Elders den when little Rowankit received her new name.

“What brings you to the old-cat home?”

Made by Aqua || Tagged: @calico || Words: 304

[Deleted]

I raise my flags, don my clothes

The elder's den, though she came in often (apprentice duties, and suchlike) seemed positively alive as Rowanpaw made her way in, slowly, delicately, methodically, trying not to disturb any of the sleeping cats. If they were still asleep. Nighpetal at least was awake, and happy to see her, if the smile on his aged maw was anything to go by.

Maybe it wasn't me he's happy to see. Maybe it's the fresh kill. It must be that.

She was still loathe to trample the den, though. Nests were scattered throughout, and it would be the ultimate in disrespect to the elders who had served her Clan so faithfully for so long, to mess with their bedding in such a manner.

A memory flickered through her head as she strolled over to Nightpetal, being careful not to disturb any nests. It was of that momentous day when she was given her apprentice name, and her mentor. Just the thought of Valiantstride had the little tabby pushing up her chest with pride. But Nightpetal had been there too, watching from the entrance; he was one of the cats who had caterwauled his delight the loudest. Hopefully, reflected Rowanpaw, she'd have a friend out of this trip.

"Hi Nightpetal! It's so good to see you. Here, I bought you a mouse."

She gently, reverently, placed the mouse in front of the elder, then settled down on her belly, head on her forepaws.

"I was also wondering... could you tell me a story? It's the only thing of my kit-hood I still hang on to, sometimes."

It's a revolution, I suppose

Rowanpaw

of StoneClan

277 && Abyss

[Abyss]

Stoneclan Elder

Nightpetal

As Rowanpaw took his greeting as an invitation into the den, the large tom glanced at the other Elders in the den, all of whom seemed to be either napping or chatting amongst themselves, mostly uninterested in whatever else was going on in the den. His bright yellow gaze returned to the little brown tabby as she came closer, setting down the mouse at his paws. His smile grew at the sight of the rodent. He hadn’t actually eaten yet today, though he wasn’t all that hungry at the moment. He didn’t usually get to do much throughout the day other than occasional strolls, but even then he didn’t spend too much energy. Slowly, he found himself growing less and less hungry each day, minus the days he did go on walks.

“Thank you, ” he purred, flicking his fluffy tail next to him. He then watched as the she-cat laid in front of him, her head laying on top of her own paws and those amber eyes looking up to him. She then requested a story, saying that the stories of an Elder were the main thing that could help her get that feeling of being a kit again. He slightly chuckled, placing a large paw on the mouse and pulling it closer to him, also somewhat moving it to the side so it wasn’t in the way. His gaze returned to her, a deep purr still rumbling through his chest.

“What kind of story would you like to hear? Something scary? Something romantic? Something action-filled?”

Made by Aqua || Tagged: @calico || Words: 256