|
Post by Charbarboo on Jan 24, 2009 11:53:26 GMT -5
Moonpaw approached the old burnt sycamore slowly. He scented the air. Rats. He knew that this was his chance to show that he wasn't just a useless kit, but a great warrior in train.
Moonpaw dropped to a hunter's crouch, just like Swiftfang had showed him a few sunrises ago. His pelt glowing in the moonlight as he slowly approached the tree. He looked into one of the dark holes, he could hear those terrible and precious rats in there. He caught sight of one and swiftly killed it.
Moonpaw's belly growled loudly as he picked up the warm body of the dead rat. He wanted to eat right there and then, but he knew better.
ShadowClan isn't gonna starve tonight, the young tom thought as he buried the prey.
|
|
|
Post by Alex the Steamed Rice Eater on Jan 24, 2009 19:00:42 GMT -5
Silverpelt illuminated the sky, giving the snow a ominous luster. Wind whipped a dark, shadowed figure stalking the air. Swiftfang padded into the open clearing where the Burnt Sycamore stood, a dark, ashy figure silhouetted against a navy blue background.
The dark Tabby's yellow eyes had a certain glint to them; he was obviously up to something. His silvery moonlit outline stealthily moved, making no sounds. His mouth drooped open, revealing a set of pointy fangs. Scents overwhelmed him. He could see the world.
Among the hodgepodge of scents was fresh kill. Who could be hunting at this time of night? Snow clouded his vision and his smell, but it eventually it thinned... and the small outline of his apprentice, Moonpaw could be seen standing over the fresh kill.
"Moonpaw." Swiftfang meowed dully, loud enough for his apprentice to hear. "What are you doing hunting alone in moon-high? You should be asleep."
Stalking over to his apprentice, he saw that he caught a rat. Swiftfangs head turned fiercely, and yellow fires burned into Moonpaw's eyes.
"Moonpaw, you mouse-brain! Rats in leaf-bare carry sickness! No wonder your lazy paws could catch that thing! It's sick!"
A wrong smell radiated off of the rat. With another scent, he recognized the same scent on Moonpaw as well.
"You're already sick." He said gloomily, staring at his apprentice with helpless eyes.
|
|
|
Post by Charbarboo on Jan 25, 2009 12:05:32 GMT -5
Moonpaw whipped around as Switfang spoke. "Y-you told me to go out and get something!" the dark slivery tom mewed.
Wait did he say I was sick?! This is going to ruin me! Moonpaw thought shocked.
"I was so hungry I didn't smell the sickness!" the young tom meowed raising his tail in alarm. "A-and you said I got the sickness!?"
Oh great, I'm just as good as the last apprentice that brought back the bad rat, the bulky apprentice thought, scolding himself for the wrong he did.
Moonpaw looked into Swiftfang's yellow eyes. He couldn't tell what the older tabby was thinking. Also unknowing if his mentor knew exactly what he was thinking.
|
|
|
Post by Alex the Steamed Rice Eater on Jan 25, 2009 12:46:56 GMT -5
"I suppose that's true..." Swiftfang mewed. Why the sudden forgetfulness? He thought to himself. This was not like Swiftfang. Usually his mind was as sharp as his fangs.
Not this time...
"Moonpaw, you have much to learn. You must always think on your brain, not your stomach. Take this as a lesson."
If he survives... The dark tabby thought, doom resting on his shoulders. He smelled himself. "I have it, too..." The tabby murmered, yellow eyes as wide as suns.
|
|
|
Post by Charbarboo on Jan 25, 2009 13:03:33 GMT -5
"Okay, I'll remember that." Moonpaw meowed. He didn't feel sick, but he knew that it would get worse and soon.
"You have the sickness too?" the young tom mewed. "This is all my fault, if it weren't for me no one would be sick. I'm fox dung. Maybe worse."
The dark tom felt guilt come sweeping over him. If he wiped out ShadowClan who would be the Clan that all feared. Surely ThunderClan nor RiverClan could not be and especially not WindClan. The only thing afraid of WindClan were the rabbits that they hunt.
Moonpaw looked up to Silverpelt simmering like nothing was going to happen. The young apprentice sighed.
|
|
|
Post by Alex the Steamed Rice Eater on Jan 25, 2009 13:52:31 GMT -5
"You are not the bringer of doom, Moonpaw." Swiftfang said is is monotone voice. "ShadowClan has gone through sickness before. We can do it again. I've had symptoms for a while."
Looking to the stars, Swiftfang spoke. "ShadowClan will live through this. There have always been four clans. StarClan would not give up now."
He bowed his head to silverpelt, little specks of white light dappling the tabby's yellow eyes.
|
|
|
Post by Charbarboo on Jan 25, 2009 14:17:56 GMT -5
"If you say so Swiftfang." Moonpaw mewed as he started to groom to calm himself down.
Moonpaw gazed up at Silverpelt again wondering why StarClan allowed cats to get so sick. "The forest would be a horrible place with ShadowClan." Moonpaw murmured. He shivered at the thought.
|
|
|
Post by Alex the Steamed Rice Eater on Feb 6, 2009 17:51:25 GMT -5
"Yes, Moonpaw." Swiftfang replied dully. "Without us, the frogs and rats would become a plague, and overwhelme the other clans until there was... nothing. You see Moonpaw, if there were no ShadowClan, the forest would not survive."
The mentor licked Moonpaw on the shoulder, a comforting lick that was rare in him.
|
|
|
Post by Charbarboo on Feb 8, 2009 16:36:59 GMT -5
Moonpaw, for the first time in moons, felt completely comforted. The tom twitched his whiskers in delight from Swiftfang's lick. If only he hadn't of killed that rat....Though the sickness would of come anyway, the apprentice reminded himself. Moonpaw yawned, his day had been long and hard, like most days in ShadowClan especially in leaf-bare.
|
|
|
Post by Alex the Steamed Rice Eater on Feb 9, 2009 19:41:51 GMT -5
"Shall we go back to camp?" Swiftfang offered. It was best to keep his apprentice's mind off of the potential outcome of the future. It's more fatal than the sickness itself.
|
|
|
Post by Charbarboo on Feb 10, 2009 18:06:23 GMT -5
"Yes, Swiftfang." Moonpaw mewed. The silvery tom slowly stood up. He would need all the sleep he could tonight, tomorrow he had to repeat everything from the start.
What a life being an apprentice,the tom thought. Though to him it was all worth it to be apart of ShadowClan, and he couldn't wait to become a warrior. It would be long before that day though.
|
|
|
Post by Alex the Steamed Rice Eater on Feb 10, 2009 18:50:02 GMT -5
Swiftfang flicked his tail in the direction of camp, and proceeded onward. His pawsteps felt rested and pure as the chilly gusts blew on his fur.
|
|
|
Post by Charbarboo on Feb 10, 2009 20:38:44 GMT -5
Moonpaw trotted eagerly after his mentor. Each paw step sinking deep into the snow, leaving him with chilled paws.
|
|