The Joy of Hunting ((Wild/Moon))

[Wildheart]

Humming softly to herself, Meadowcloud scented the air and the hint of another cat sparked her interest. Sniffing again, her mouth open, she scented her apprentice. Meadowcloud didn't know whether to smile or frown. She loved her apprentice, her sharp tongue was amusing to Meadowcloud, but it didn't seem like the apprentice liked her at all back. Meadowcloud sighed and squeezed through a bush that tugged off a few turfs of her dead fur. Glancing up she saw Hopepaw burying a piece of prey that smelled like the one Meadowcloud had caught earlier. "Hello Hopepaw." Meadowcloud meowed with a smile playing on her lips. "How have you been today? I looked for you this morning, but you seemed to have disappeared." She said calmly.

Walking up beside the apprentice she began digging up the prey she had stashed earlier, ignoring the notation that Hopepaw had already dug it up. "Would you like to practice hunting or fighting today?" She asked the small she-cat. Meadowcloud very well knew that Hopepaw did not like her, so she wanted to give the apprentice some leeway. Either way they were going to do something strenuous either today or tomorrow.

[~Ravenpaw~]

Hopepaw frowned, to late, she had wanted to run away really fast before she showed up but she had no luck what so ever with that kind of thing. Hopepaw sighed, "Hi" She meowed quietly, her voice held no hint of happiness or love, or joy it was merely a bit annoyed if anything. Hopepaw didn't answer her because she had wanted to say because she didn't want to be found, but it was best not to say anything, the faster she got throught training the faster she could get away. She watched her dig up the prey she had already dug up and buried and said nothing at all, she was silently, her hard gaze watched Meadowsong, how could anyone be so happy and smiles. Hopepaw turned her head away, "Hunting" She meowed quietly.

[*~Blazeheart~*]

((Ahh, sorry i'm late ><
I'll try my best to reply))

"Well, I guess we're here in camp,"Whirlwind meowed, sweeping his tail around the clearing as they entered it. "I don't think Revolutionstar is back..."he meowed, looking around. The gray tabby tom looked to see if Meadowcloud can help, but realized she had exited the camp with Hopepaw. His heart felt a little disappointed, flicking his tail back and forth. He wanted to follow her but had to make sure Saphira knew what to do.
"Perhaps we should find Banditshard..."he suggested to the kittypet.
"He seems to know you the best and can show you around until Revolutionstar comes back."

[Wildheart]

Meadowcloud looked down at her apprentice and nodded in agreement. She preferred hunting herself. Smiling she picked up the fresh-kill in her jaws and looked back at her apprentice who seemed to try and stare daggers into Meadowcloud's head. Blinking Meadowcloud sighed and wished the apprentice and her would get along better. She had a great relationship with most of her clan mates, but Hopepaw just didn't seem to like her. Or females in general. Meadowcloud noted as she padded quietly through the forest.

Stopping she dropped her prey on the ground and turned to the younger cat. "I'm going to put this in camp and then we can go hunting." She said and waited for Hopepaw to start walking ahead of her. I hope Whirlwind is still in camp. She thought. And not to busy to maybe come with me. I mean us. Meadowcloud thought quickly about the apprentices and their 'viewpoint' on the warriors relationship. They seemed to see Whirlwind and her as mates, but they just hadn't jumped onto the love boat yet like everyone assumed.

[Swiftpelt]

Saphira slowly waved her tail, her blue eyes watching Meadowcloud as the warrior padded out of camp with a smaller cat at her paws and slowly smiled. Jelousey...that is something that rarely happens to me. Saphira thought, shaking her head abit before laughing softly.
But yet..I would never steal a tom. Those two..were meant to be.

Raising her head, she glanced at Whirlwind with a flick of her ears and slowly the shine of the stripes dissappeard, melting into her light gray fur like they weren't even there. "We only just saw each other once...but sure, Why not?" She spoke calmly, even though she was unsure of what Banditshard would think of her being here. Blinking her eyes, her thoughts fowarded to her father and his promise. This made her smile abit, looking up to the sky before letting her gaze fall back on Whirlwind with a nod. My father wanted me to be the best I could be...well, now's the time to do so.

[~Ravenpaw~]

Hopepaw nodded her head ever so slightly. She wasn't up for fighting so she was glad at least Meadowcloud agreed with her on something, things were starting to lighten up, she wasn't still completely mad and upset, but she was calming down, even if just a little. Hopepaw nodded, "Alright" She meowed sounding less bitter then before, she got up and padded back to camp with Meadowclound behind her. Her pelt was beautiful in the sun, her golden amber yellow pelt covered with darker brown stripes had a illuminous moonlit glow to it that made her look angelic dispite her personality. Her very pale light blue eyes glanced around a bit as she walked back to camp, at least her mood had lightened which would make training her much easier.

Banditshard was in camp, the larger amber brown leopard spotted cat sat there. He towered over most cats because of his massive size, he didn't mean to be so big he just was. He looked around, his dark brown eyes searched through the cats, he was a bit, well strange, he didn't talk much and was truthfully he was rather shy being around so many cats. But he was friendly once you got to know him well enough. He could talk on and on if he founds the right topic, and he loveddddddd fish, he still does, to bad he can't get any around here. That thought caused him to frown.

[>>!MOON!<<]

AS oceanpaw walked around the camp she heard that meadow cloud was going outhunting again.
Oceanpaw walked over to meadow cloud " hey can go do a little more hunting with you and saphira?"
" i could use just a little bit more hunting"
As oceanpaw waited she saw that the leafs were turning a redish orange color as she tryed to figure out what this time of year was called she had heard some people talking about leaffall but never new what leaffall looked like " is it leaffall?"

[Wildheart]

Meadowcloud's smile was hidden behind the fluff of the fresh-kill that dangled down from her jaws. Giving Hopepaw a gentle touch with her tail on her shoulder Meadowcloud found the entrance to the camp and paced into the clearing, taking in the sights around her. Many of the cats where either in pairs or in groups and Meadowcloud quickly spotted Whirlwind along with Saphira and trotted over to the fresh-kill pile, momentarily forgetting her apprentice. After placing it on the pile Meadowcloud turned around and noticed Oceanpaw standing beside her, her little body wiggling in excitement. Meadowcloud frowned but gave a small nod. "I think so. I'll have to ask Whirlwind." She meowed to the little apprentice and spotted Saphira a distance away, looking entranced but slightly confused. Padding up to the lost she-cat she smiled at her "Everything ok? You seem kind of lost. Who are you looking for?" She asked her. Meadowcloud noticed the shape of Whirlwind in the corner of her eye and noticed the way his fur shone in the sun, reflecting off a brilliant color. She tried not to look over at the tom who seemed to fill all of Meadowcloud's thoughts and also noticed a warrior she didn't talk to much all alone not to far away. Banditshard seemed lost in his own little world as he sat by himself across the camp. Focusing on Saphira Meadowcloud wondered idly what the cats warrior name would be. She had no doubt in her mind that Saphira would join the clan and the thought made her smile widen.

[~Ravenpaw~]

Hopepaw sat quietly waiting for Meadowcloud to hurry so they could go hunting, she couldn't wait to sink her teeth into some poor creatures neck. Her excitment disappeared as she watched Meadowcloud completely forget about her. That REALLY PISSED HER OFF. She couldn't stand being forgotten, not again. Her mother Forgot about her, left her to be abandoned, hissed 'You aren't my child anymore, I don't know you' and other things like that. Hopepaw's eyes narrowed darkly, her look of hope vanished, she always had it, but now she was to angry to. "Mouse-dung!" She swored angrily turning to pad away, she headed off back into the woods, she didn't care if Meadowcloud heard her or not, right now she didn't care. She headed to the berry bushes and disappeared inside of one curling up quietly. The sun seeped through a the moonlight glow on her light brown pelt with darker stripes lit up again. She sighed her very light pale blue eyes merely looked up into the sun.

[>>!MOON!<<]

" u don't have to take me along if u dont want to Meadowcloud"
As oceanpaw waited for a answer from meadowcloud she just started wondering around in the camp.
She walked into the elders den but there was nothing to be done there so she walked off.

[*~Blazeheart~*]

"Ah Meadowcloud!"Whirlwind turned to see the pretty she-cat pad up to him. He felt his heart warm just to see her come back. "I'm looking for Banditshard..."he answered, trailing off as he looked around for the Fireclan warrior.
"He knows Saphira so...well, he should be around here somewhere. I don't think he went on patrol."
The gray tom hoped he was around. Or he'd be stuck with Saphira. Not that it was a bad thing, but he felt like he preferred to be with Meadowcloud. Then he spotted the familiar leapard-spotted pelt.

"There he is. Banditshard!"he called out, beckoning his tail for the warrior to approach.
Whirlwind flashed a glance towards Saphira, curious about her reaction to see the warrior again.

[~Ravenpaw~]

Banditshard look up at the sky quietly, he had a longing to see his kits again, the litte ones, his kits, his Mate, they were all gone now. His dark brown eyes stared up at the clouds that kinda looked like kits, that depressed him greatly. His leopard spotted pelt was easily seen in the sea of cats, if you couldn't tell him by his pelt his size would easily make up for it. The powerful warrior was a lot bigger then most other cats even toms of his age, he was very muscular and powerful, muscles rippled even when he didn't move much. His dark eyes looked over at Whirlwind, he got up and padded over, "yes?" he meowed.

[Swiftpelt]

Saphira flicked her ears back, hearing every other cat talk about their day or their latest catch and suddenly couldn't hear herself think. It was alot different then what she thought it be, seeing apprentices running around and even smaller kits playing next to a leafy bush. Even the smells of each cat shocked her and for once, fell quite confused about everything that was moving around her. She could only nod as she stood by Whirlwind, tilting her head abit with a blank gaze.

Wow..so many cats..how-? Saphira's thoughts were cut short, this time hearing a familiar voice among the sea of cats and turned her head to find Meadowcloud by her side. Shocked for a moment, the light gray she-cat waved her tail and nodded."Yes..I am..amazed by how many cats are here in one place." She spoke, her eyes regained the calm look and smiled slightly."And yes...I was wondering if Banditshard was here?" She added, her voice lowered abit when she said the tom's name and half closed her eyes.

As she heard Whirlwind's words, Saphira turned her head to find a large spotted tom padding toward them with a sharp dark gaze. "Banditshard...Nice to see you again." Saphira meowed calmly, though her eyes showed more of a blaze in them. The spotted tom scent was clear, marking that he was indeed in this clan and his gaze, though haunting, left a clue only she could see. Her tail seemed to twitch alittle, holding onto his gaze like a fly to a flame. But after a few mins, Saphira turned her head back to Meadowcloud with one eyebrow raised.

"Where's your apprentice?" Saphira asked, feeling alittle worried and nervous at the same time.

---

Meanwhile, watching from the Warrior's den with her sky blue gaze on the small group, was another light gray she-cat with her eyes slightly narrowed. Silverbreeze had barely caught what was happening, hearing everyone else's chatter and battle moves. But the scent, she couldn't ignore the scent and that alone made her feel alittle uneases. A kittypet...here? Silverbreeze thought, her whiskers twitching with a low hiss and lashed her tail.

FireClan had only accepted a few cats, Rouges and loners, that were willing to change. But a Kittypet? Too many things could go wrong with them, either too soft and scared or just plain dumb. Silverbreeze eyes narrowed even more, wondering if this so-called kittypet would help her clan in anyway. But like some warriors, She would not move an inch until she could find out more about her and why this she-cat came. Lashing her tail again, Silverbreeze simply huffed and continued to watch them through narrowed eyes.

[Wildheart]

The buzz of the clan sang in Meadowcloud's ears and she found her eyes wandering to something or someone else other then the two cats around her. Glancing at each of their faces, she saw that she had found her friends. Saphira, though new and mysterious seemed to fit what Meadowcloud had always dreamed as a best friend. She was a nice she-cat when she wasn't angry with others and she seemed to fill Meadowcloud with a sense of importance. Turning her face, Meadowcloud focused on the face of Whirlwind. He seemed so full of life. She also noticed that he seemed clueless when it came to her feelings. It was as if she was a regular cat that he only hung out with because he had no one else to. Meadowcloud remembered the figure of Whirlwind's sister and understanding lit her face followed by a pout. He doesn't need me. She thought.

Looking around the buzz of the clan grew louder and Meadowcloud frowned in frustration. '- ur apprentice?' She focused on the soft voice of Saphira and noticed that her apprentice was no where to be seen. "Mouse-dung!" Meadowcloud cried out in frustration and regret. "I told her to wait and then I..." Meadowcloud cried a bit, feeling guilty. "I told her I would go hunting with her. But I came and talked to you instead." Meadowcloud felt anguish roll through her body in waves. "Will you help me go find her?" She asked the others. Looking at Whirlwind, Saphira, and Banditshard. "Please! I don't want her to be upset with me. She is my apprentice." As if this explanation was all that they needed for them to come with her.

Glancing behind her she spotted Oceanpaw and called out to the apprentice. She didn't seem to hear over the commotion of the clan. Looking back at Saphira and the toms she gave them a look that claimed she promised to be back if it killed her. Padding over quickly she reached the small apprentices pelt and pushed her nose into it softly. "You can come with us if you like. If your mentor will allow it." Giving the apprentice one last look she raced back to the group of cats, weaving through busy or sleeping cats.

Coming back to the group she found herself standing beside the large tom named Banditshard. He seemed to tower over her and she smiled up at him kindly. "Would you like to come on the hunt with us?" Meadowcloud had caught the way Saphira had looked at him and smiled slightly. "I'm sure you and Saphira can talk on the way." Smiling Meadowcloud got up and flicked her tail, symbolizing for the other cats to follow. Meadowcloud did not know that another she-cat in camp had watched the whole exchange.

[~Ravenpaw~]

Banditshard blinked and looked at Saphira, he had been surprised to see her here, he didn't know if he would ever see her again. "Saphira" he said, then he dipped his head, "Nice to see you again as well" he meowed, his voice was crisp, but had a tone of softness to it. His dark eyes looked over the she-cat before looking over at Meadowcloud, she was a warrior just like him, but she had an apprentice, he didn't, not yet anyways, he didn't know if they trusted him yet or not. "Will you help me go find her?" she asked worriedly, it was true you didn't want to upset Hopepaw, dispite her name she's really not all that hopeful at all. He nodded a bit, he knew the young apprentice, her name didn't suit her very well which was shocking to him, he thought she should be named Faithlesspaw, or Sharppaw by the way she talked. He had heard she had been a care-free happy kit once, but he wondered what happened to that kit. "Alright" He meowed before looking back at Saphira again he smiled at her a bit.

[>>!MOON!<<]

"i will go if your willing to take me with u"
As oceanpaw got up and raced to catch up with Meadowcolud she could here that the clan was really loud today she told her self in her head.

[*~Blazeheart~*]

"What? Hopepaw is missing?"Whirlwind meowed in surprise, ears flitting up and looking around.
"We better go make sure she won't get into any danger,"the gray tabby tom suggested.
"C'mon, you're coming with us,"he meowed to Banditshard and Saphira, beckoning them with his tail. "Banditshard can show you around camp after we come back."

_______
Meanwhile, his paws scuffled the earth, sniffing about. Tail flicked back and forth in an irritated way, but he kept his eyes peeled to the ground. Meadowcloud's scent was still faint around here, so she must've come this way. His yellow eyes searched the ground futily. Then he found a soft mound of earth and began digging about, causing his black fur to be caked with dust. Then he heard a rustling and looked up in alarm, but relaxed when he recognized who it was.
"Oh. Hey Hopepaw,"Padpaw mewed in a short greeting before continuing to dig. But the soft ground turned hard that even his claws couldn't sink in.
"Fox-dung, it's not here either,"he cursed, looking around some more.

[Swiftpelt]

Saphira couldn't help but smile when Banditshard said her name, twitching her tail alittle at the way his voice was and looked backed at the spotted tom with a slight nod. Before she could talk however, Meadowcloud and Whirlwind asked for the two of them to come along. "Hopepaw?" Saphira meowed, wondering about the little she-cat and soon remembered her with Meadowcloud ealier. "Sure, I'll help. Lead the way." She added, taking a pawstep foward and glanced at Banditshard with a flick of her ears.

(Hahahhaha, so short. XD )

[Wildheart]

Padding through the woods just outside of the camp the brown tabby she-cat looked back to make sure the others were following. Two grey pelts and one brown, Meadowcloud nodded to herself, glad to know her whole party was here. She smiled a bit at how she saw all of them together and a feeling of protectiveness slowly wrapped around her. She felt a sense of duty for all of the cats and realized this was the first time she had been in charge when she was out on patrol or even just walking around. Nerves twisted her stomach and she looked around in a sense of unsureness. Frowning at herself Meadowcloud tried to stay confident but in a moment of distraction she managed to trip over a bush root that was barely noticeable, sticking out of the ground as if placed there just to mock Meadowcloud about how clumsy she is.

Tripping, Meadowcloud lost her balance and stumbled to a pause before her fellow clan mates. She covered her fall up by putting her nose to the ground and sniffing. "Hopepaw went this way." She managed to say, the back of her ears growing hot under the gaze of her clan mates. Following a thin path through the forest, Meadowcloud walked through a bush, making the remaining leaves brush against each other and her fur, making her pelt become dirty and messy.

Blinking Meadowcloud let out a grunt of surprise when she saw two apprentices standing beside each other. Confusion clouded her eyes but something on the ground caught her attention. A mound of dirt had formed on the ground and the smell of decomposing life filled the air. Glancing back at the apprentices she noticed the dirt smeared on the tom apprentices paws and legs. "Padpaw!" She meowed slightly disapprovingly. She had to admire his determination, but her attention was distracted by the other apprentice, a she-cat. "Hopepaw..." She meowed, her voice going completely soft and gentle. "I looked for you but you had disappeared. I was just coming to see who else wanted to go. You could have come with me." She meowed, sitting down and looking intently at her apprentice.

[~Ravenpaw~]

Hopepaw lay in her berry bush quietly, she loved her bush, inside she felt safe and warm for once, it wasn't enough to make her smile, she hardly ever smiled, only for Darkpaw. Truely even then it was rare for her. She sighed abit feeling a bit better since then, she blinked hearing a voice, "Hi Padpaw" She said lowly still feeling bad, but it showed in her voice, the tone she used was sharp yet tired sounding.

Banditshard nodded a bit, "Alright" he meowed, he smiled at Saphira bit, his dark brown eyes shone lightly as he got up, his powerful muscles rippling a bit as he did so, his beautiful light amber brown pelt was covered with spots, he was just like a mini leopard, but he was still bigger then other cats, he towered over most of them. He lead the way looking back at her every now and then.

Hopepaw's very light blue eyes narrowed, she rolled them afterwards and then sighed, "No thanks" She said quietly, she hated being in to big of groups, they were always judging each other based on how they caught their prey and how big it was and Blah Blah Blah. Besides she was supposed to be training not going on a parade! It was so disappointing to her, most things were, but still it was a bit hurtful.

[*~Blazeheart~*]

Whirlwind instantly stepped up beside Meadowcloud to catch her if she fell, but she managed to keep her footing and he held back, feeling a bit self-consious and hoping no one caught his involunatry movement. It was hard looking around for Hopepaw when a beautiful she-cat was walking in front of you. Meadowcloud's delicate figure and silky fur shone brightly under the sunlight that streamed down from the canopy. The gray tabby tom shook his head to clear himself from his thoughts. Now was the time to concentrate.
Flicking his ears he spotted the two apprentices giving low, scolding growl. Though the black furred apprentice hadn't done anything wrong yet, he very well knew that Padpaw was looking for the bell.

"Gosh dang it!"Padpaw whined, glaring at Meadowcloud.
"Where did you put that bell!"he demanded, lashing his tail.

[Wildheart]

Meadowcloud looked at the small group of cats that had followed her. She could tell that Saphira and Banditshard had wanted to talk, but she wasnt sure about what to do with Whirlwind and Padpaw. "Banditshard. I think I remember catching some scent of a few vole on the way here." She meowed, green eyes staring into his and telling him to go look for them while she went with her apprentice. "Take Saphira. I trust her with you." She meowed, smiling at the grey she-cat beside her. Turning around she looked at Hopepaw again. "Come on. Lets see what you got." She said to her, a hint of challenge in her voice.

ooc:// I know its short but I got to plan ahead. OK first thing is first.

WHO IS GOING TO BE THE FOXES? I think one of us can be the kit and the other can be the mom.
Second:

WHO IS GOING TO FIND THE FOX KIT?!? lol. Just want to plan ahead so I can view my options. <33

[*~Blazeheart~*]

((I think Padpaw can find the fox-kit ^^ Though dunno what you're planning lol XD))

[Swiftpelt]

Saphira stayed behind the group, her light gray tail barely touching the ground and her pool blue gaze locked on the path in front of her. It seemed like everything around her was different but at the same time, familiar in every way. It was like she had dreamed this since the moons before she even met the spotted tom, though it really never crossed her mind that she would ever meet him. Her pace slowly began to drop abit, pulling away from the group in heavy thought. It was about what her father said, remembering the last day before he disappeared into time and began to wonder what he meant.

"Your name. It's like a Blue Flame that burns on a pool of water. It never goes out, it keeps it's form and only burns those who seek to hurt it's fellow flame. You are just like the Blue flame...and I know you grow even brighter still."

What do you mean, Father? What do you mean by glowing brighter? Saphira pondered on it a few moments more, before suddenly seeing that the group was out of her sight."I have got to stop doing that..." She sighed, shaking her head abit before bounding down the path the the group had padded on. Her fur seemed to flow abit by the wind she had created in her strides and made her seem like a silver blur from afar. Soon she could hear voices, Meadowcloud mostly and it was not long before she spotted them next to a bush.

Breaking into a slow walk, Saphira padded up to Banditshard's side with her ears moving back abit. One cat she recognized was Padpaw, scratching and digging around for something.
The light gray she-cat half closed her eyes at this, remembering the bell that she had around her neck at one time and sighed. Will he ever giveup..or is he that hard headed. She thought, letting out a small chuckle in amusement before turning her head to Hopepaw, who looked angry at them. Moving her ears forward, She took a paw step forward and was about to say something to the young apprentice.

But, as on cue, Meadowcloud asked Banditshard to take her to find the other prey and Saphira retreated the paw step she took. She wanted to say something to Hopepaw too.
But it will have to wait. She sighed in her mind, her blue eyes flicked with a spark of disappointment but nodded."Um..sure. Well, Banditshard?" Saphira spoke questionably at the large tom, feeling alittle nervous and wondrous at the same time.

(I'll take the mother. )

[~Ravenpaw~]

Hopepaw's ears folded back, she huffed a bit and came out of the bush she sighed and nodded, "Fine" she meowed lowly, "let's go" She said, she wasn't exactly one to take orders, she had already caught the scent of the mouse and was rather hungry. Hopepaw moved swiftly to find it, her light brown fur shimmered with the dark brown stripes as she moved away, her very light pale blue eyes glanced around in search of her prey.

Banditshard looked around at all the cats that were now here, he would have rather have been with Saphira alone, now that thought made him wonder why he had thought about that in the first place, he glanced down towards Hopepaw the poorly named apprentice, he wondered if they should change her name or something, she wasn't exactly hopeful what so ever. His dark brown eyes glanced at Saphira as Meadowcloud spoke "Sure" he meowed, he didn't mind what so ever a chance to talk and hunt, he still prefered fish though more then anything, but Voles were okay. The large leopard spotted warrior got up and headed towards the scent looking back to see if she was following.

[Wildheart]

Meadowcloud gave Hopepaw a soft purr and watched her dash away. Sighing she turned to Whirlwind. "What am I going to do?" She whispered to him, looking down at her paws and scratched at the ground with thin sharp claws that brought up the soil that was still rich with water even though it was the beginning of leaf-fall. "I feel like I'm the worst mentor Fireclan has ever had. I just don't want to loose my apprentice." She glanced up at his kind face and tried not to look shy. She felt like she couldn't do anything right. Her apprentice hated her, and the tom she liked didn't even seem to see her. Meadowcloud had never felt so hopeless. She felt like the pressure of Starclan seemed to press down on her shoulders, and made her life feel like it was helpless.

Frowning, Meadowcloud focused on Whirlwind and waited for his response, highly aware of Hopepaw's disappearing figure and making a note to chase after her as soon as he had answered her.

-------

Darkness. The sight Takota had grown used to in his dreams. At first, he had been scared of it. It held a thing, a creature, Takota had not faced before. But with every night came the same dream; the darkness swirling around him, and the feel of his pelt impossible to describe other then strangely damp. Now, Takota had gotten used to the darkness and the thing that lurked in it. He felt that after so long of the same dream, it could not hurt him. And it was the same for this dream. Traveling in a circle it seemed, though Takota never really learned if it was indeed a circle or not. And with every step the brush of a creature strode with him. It seemed at his side at times, but sometimes it would be above him, breathing on his neck; or even below him, watching. Nether the less, Takota continued on his journey through the world he could not see. Taking familiar steps, he tried to remember what happened next before a change in atmosphere happened for the first time. The cold dampness on his pelt turned into one single drop on his nose. Wrinkling it, he opened his eyes and was not only surprise but disappointed about the colors that rushed at him. The ground beneath him had become spongy from laying on it to long and Takota thought of his mothers words before sitting up and glancing at his orange red fur. Stay Here. She had told him, though this statement she had told him was told days ago.

Takota felt the sharp pain of hunger in his stomach and he wished he still wasn't dependent on his mother for food. Takota's small body could only take so much meat at one time, and he had been counting the days until his mother had told him how old he would be to eat on his own. Stupid small body, he complained to himself on the inside. Takota never spoke out loud. He didn't feel comfortable with words, and he was still learning many. The barks and cracks of his voice surprised him even though they had resembled his parents.

Takota thought vaguely of the stories of other animals his mother and father had taught him. Birds were easy. They were always fluttering around the log Takota had found so fondly. He remembered the time he had come upon it. His mother and father where hunting for him, and he had wandered away from where they had left him hiding. This attitude was usual for him and his steps had been full of adventure and excitement that left a trail of confidence in his wake. Having watched the birds that fluttered away in his path to avoid him, Takota hadn't noticed the small field coming up. When he finally saw it, he had noticed a creature he had never seen before. It had a body size that was larger then him, but was slime and had different colors then him. He was tempted to boldly walk up to the creature and ask it what it was, but at the time, Takota had only known one word, and something had warned him against it.

Glancing around with his huge brown eyes, Takota had noticed a large thing on the ground to the side of him. At the time, he didn't know what it was, or even if it was on its side or upright in that position, but as he thought back, Takota now knew it as a tree. Takota had climbed inside and immediately liked it. The smell of grass and decay radiated from all sides of the fallen tree. Green grew on the sides of it, and plants hid the entrances of the log tunnel. Takota had crept through slowly, feeling the damp sides of the log brush up on his pelt and left him wet and a pelt full of moss. Looking out of the small entrance of the log, Takota had watched the creatures that smelled of fresh-kill and a sense of union from his hiding place and fell in love. He loved the way they taught each other, and the way they caught their prey. He loved the way they taught each other how to fight and how close they were to one another.

With this love came a feeling of loneliness from the life Takota lives. His parents where never there, and he was always on his own. This had advantages and disadvantages. He had watched the strange creatures enough to learn how to fight, but he was to young to hunt or fight anything. Despite all of this, the log seemed like his home. And this log was where he was headed this day. His mother had made him wait for over two days, and he was tired of waiting, he wanted to see the creatures in the clearing and see what he could learn that day.

Getting up Takota stretched and gave a small yawn, showing his canines that were growing in nicely. Shaking his rusty orange fur, he saw the dirt matted in his pelt but he just shrugged and began his trek to the clearing.

[~Ravenpaw~]

Hopepaw trotted off quietly, a miserable scowl on her face, she really would have liked to just stay in her bush but whatever, she didn't care to much now. She dropped low and a dark look lingered in her very light pale blue eyes. She glanced back her mentor wasn't following, "figures" She meowed quietly glancing back towards her prey. It was a tiny vole readying itself to scurry away, but Hopepaw wasn't going ot let that happen. She rushed foreward leaping nad jumping on it, with a squeal of surprise and a clash of claws the tiny beast was dead at her paws. Hopepaw smirked a bit, she was good at hunting, she had seen others hunt before and basiclly taught herself, in her free time. Which was alot when she wanted to think and be alone.

[*~Blazeheart~*]

Whirlwind gave Meadowcloud a reassuring flick of his tail across her shoulder.
"Don't worry, you're an amazing mentor. I'm sure Hopepaw feels that way, even if she doesn't exactly say it,"the gray tom meowed, giving Meadowcloud a comforting smile. For a heartbeat, he stared into her soft eyes, and seemed to lose his train of thought for a minute. Then he blinked and shook his head, trying to push the feeling away. But he still couldn't stop looking at her, nearly tripping over a root since he wasn't watching where he was going.

Padpaw let out a whine that echoed through the forest, though no cat seemed to bother asking him why he was in dispair. His leg fur and paws were caked with dust and grass from digging through the earth in search of Saphire's collar. So the tom began to pout in a mutinous manner, stomping at the tail of the patrol. Then his ears perked as the sound of larger pawsteps, a sound bigger than what cats make. Instantly perking up, forgetting everything about the bell collar, Padpaw slowly tracked after the source of the sound, not bothering at all to alert the rest of the patrol. Crouching low and making his pawsteps soft, he stalked towards the source of the noise, wrinkling his nose as a putrid scent hit his nose.
Fox!he thought, full of excitement, no sign of fear. The scruffy black tom just wanted some excitement. And maybe if he defeated the fox, then he'd be made warrior!

Padpaw spotted a flash of russet, eyes narrowing as he zoomed in on it.
"There you are..."he hissed softly, smirking widely. Bunching up his muscles, he lept with a battle cry.

[>>!MOON!<<]

Sorry i haven't been able to go on the computer.

[Wildheart]

Meadowcloud sighed and gave a slight nod of thanks to the tom. Looking in Whirlwind's direction, she noticed he was still looking at her. She felt heat run up to her ears and she looked down quickly and looked at the ground in front of her. Why is he looking at me? She wondered and a slight smile grew on her lips. Hearing a scoff of paws against the ground she looked back over at him and noticed he had almost fallen over a root jutting from the ground from a nearby tree. She tried to close her mouth but a meow of laughter bubbled up inside her and poured out. She didn't even notice when Padpaw had disappeared and she could faintly smell Hopepaw.

Turning back to the path, she lifted her nose and sniffed the air for her apprentice who was not to far away. Following after her trail and saying nothing to Whirlwind, she found her apprentice burying a vole. She let a purr slide through her lips. "Excellent Hopepaw!" She said giving a warm smile and running her tail against the apprentice. "What else have you got?" She said with a grin.
~~~~~~
Takota felt the ground beneath his paws and he let out a laugh that sounded like sticks rubbing against each other. He stopped himself and moved his mouth, rolling his tongue around in his mouth. The same question he thought of everyday popped into his mind. Why do I sound so differently from the creatures that play in my clearing? He never told his mother and father about the log. He somehow knew they would take him away from it. Punish him. Takota frowned at the thought of his parents. Why are they so... evil? Why cant they chase after butterflies without killing them? Why must they growl and snarl all the time? Sometimes he regretted not talking. His parents wondered why he would not speak. He knew all the words, but would not utter them. Only Takota knew the truth. He did not want to end up like them. With a voice that sounds like... stones rubbing against the ground, it made Takota think that if he spoke like them, he would be like them. So he took the world the way it was and did not argue.

Stomach growling, Takota let out a huff of pain and reminded himself to be thankful for what he had. He had... The ground. At least it wasn't trying to swallow his little paws, though, it did leave a track. He had the cold air. At least it wasn't snowing. A grin crossed Takota's lips and he continued on his way to his log, hoping the creatures would still be out in the cold to play with each other. After a few steps, the little fox noticed that there were footsteps following after him. Stopping, he sniffed the air. He smelled the same smell he noticed when he was in his log. Looking around he blinked in surprise. He never expected there to be a four-legged creature lurking in the woods. He only ever saw them in the clearing and never thought that they too, could walk around in the forest. Takota turned in circles, looking for a creature to appear somewhere around him but saw nothing. He was tempted to call out, but then he remembered that the creatures spoke a strange language, different then the one that he knew. Looking around he noticed where he was. It was the entrance to the clearing. That must be why he smelled the creatures. He was close to their clearing.

Sighing in defeat, Takota gave up looking for the creature he thought was there and continued on the trail. After a few more paces, he heard the footsteps again, only this time traveling much faster then before. Looking back over his shoulder he saw a momentary flash of color and heard a strange yowl from the ball of fur. An object hit him hard, making him fall to the ground and a yip of surprise escaped from his lips. It took Takota a moment to realize that the flash of color was what had hit him and was now slashing at him with... claws? Confused, Takota did what came instinct to him. He growled. Takota shook his small fox head in shame. He didnt mean to growl, it just came. Takota tried to focus back on the creature. He noticed this one looked like the ones he saw in his log and he jumped back in surprise. He didn't understand why this... thing, was attacking him. The creature came at him again and Takota let instinct take him over and he swatted at the thing with one of his front feet. He tried to mock what he had watched these creatures teach each other, but his body was slightly different then theirs, and it didn't work the way he wanted it to. Takota was filled with horror. Why would this creature attack me? What have I done to it?