[IC] Creeping Shadows: Warrior Cats

[StarfrostedFox]

A fresh newleaf day was dawning brilliantly in the eastern sky, coloring the normally blue canvas with splashes of pink and orange. The first hints of golden light had just begun to spill over into what cats called the main camp and home of CragClan when their current leader, Robinstar, stepped out of her den in the leader's tree, the only such plant that had managed to grow in the mountain hollow. She rubbed her lithe body against The edge of the opening that had been formed generations ago, scratching an itch beneath her pale pelt before enjoying a limb shaking stretch, briefly digging her front claws into the wood of the tree branch beneath her. Yawn splitting her muzzle for a moment before the she cat shook out her fur, Robinstar slid into a seated position as her blue gaze swept over camp, watching the first of her clanmates stir.

A tiny spot of orange and white was streaking across the open space in front of the nursery cave, obviously attempting to make a break for a bit of adventure, but a black and silver she cat was in hot pursuit of the escapee. Robinstar released a mmrow of amusement at the sight of Eagleleap chasing down the excitable, and rather slippery, kit Poppykit. Nearby, a sleek dark orange and cream tom was just stepping out of the warrior's den, releasing a wide yawn before going after an itch behind one of his ears. Poppykit streaked beneath Silverleaf's Front legs as the warrior was doing this, startling him to release a soft yowl.

"oh, sorry Silverleaf! Poppykit! Get back here you naughty kit," Eagleleap's clear voice rang out, obviously exasperated.

Another warrior, clearly having just been woken up, poked his head out of the den next to Silverleaf, looking curious and a little annoyed. When he spotted the bicolored kit scampering away with Eagleleap right on her tail, Birchwhisker couldn't help but give a heavy sigh before joining in the Chase, his tail streaming out behind him.

Giving her head a brief shake, whiskers twitching with amusement, Robinstar maneuvered her way down from the leader's tree, landing nimbly on the ground before making her way over to Silverleaf. "That kit is going to make an excellent warrior one day," she meowed, drawing the attention of the russet tom.

"She most certainly has the energy for it," Silverleaf huffed, giving his long tail several flicks. Sighing a moment later, he blinked at his leader with evident curiosity. “You’re up rather early. Did Stagthorn rope you into Dawn patrol too?”

Whiskers twitching as she squinted her eyes with humor at the teasing tone she detected in Silverleaf’s words, Robinstar shook her head. “Believe it or not, there are some cats who enjoy getting up early,” she meowed in reply.

“I’d rather get the sleep thanks,” Silverleaf responded dryly, yawning once more before touching his nose briefly to his sister’s ear and padding off towards the camp entrance.

Giving her head a resigned shake, though her expression was full of gentle adoration, Robinstar watched a relieved looking Eagleleap making her way across the camp towards the nursery, Birchwhisker trotting behind her with a resigned looking Poppykit dangling from his jaws, before she headed off in search of her deputy, hoping to have a word with him.

[kittyboy]

Stagthorn was truly the definition of a neutral tom.

Not an early bird, nor a night owl, the tom woke up with the sun and slept when the very last of his duties were done. Nothing more, nothing less. So to say, he took pride in waking before and with a few of his warriors, happy to watch the clan start their day. He may not act it, but the deputy took delight in meeting his fellow clanmates in the morning, seeing who was suited for which patrol, and taking in the eager faces of sleep refreshed warriors. The job of a deputy, to most, could seem harrowing, but in his personal opinion, he'd never worked a day in his life.

Two green eyes blinked open in the dim of the warriors den, pupils narrowing to slits in reaction to the watery dawn sunlight blooming through the gaps in the den walls. Stagthorn slowly got to his paws, shaking flaky moss from his thick pelt and slipping through the den entrance, eyes narrowed at the sensation of his tabby pelt snagging on the brambles and thorns. Stagthorn's body had always been built a little differently from the rest of the clan, with thickset bones and muscles, longer, thicker fur, and generally a larger build. Assumptions aplenty had been made against him and his crotchety old mother of him bearing blood from a father of another clan, due to absence of said father and his strange build, but nothing had come of it. No one ever questioned his loyalty, at least, and that was the extent of his worries.

Stagthorn's spine arched in a luxurious stretch, claws gouging out small triangles of the earth as his maw opened in a silent yawn, before the tom straightened with a flick of his tail, highstepping in the direction of the fresh-kill pile.

The pile, in questions, was nothing more of a few feathers and two stale field mice. Newleaf brought the steady growth of prey to the range, and Stagthorn wasn't one to miss out on that opportunity. Rationing up the hunting to border patrols would be a safe bet, he assumed, with the stretch of peace between the clans, nursed by warming weather and full bellies.

The approach of dainty pawsteps alerted him, and Stagthorn swiveled his ears and finally head in the direction of the cat, gaze softening slightly as it fell on Robinstar, Cragclan's current leader, and his most trusted clanmate.

"Robinstar," He rumbled out a greeting. "How may I be of assistance?"

[Jasper19]

Barkpaw was just waking up.

He yawned and stretched his tongue out before he brought it back closing his jaws with a clop. Walking outside of his small cave barkpaw sat down and closed his eyes letting the morning sun wash over him. After spending a couple more minutes like that he meowed softly and got up then began to walk to the medicine cats cave for his daily chores. Nimbly working his way up the mountain side he reached the kats cave. Seeing that his mentor wasn't there be began to work on his chores as a apprentice.

Grabbing certain leaves with his mouth barkpaw began to sort the herbs by color and smell. Putting pungent herbs with the other pungent herbs and the lightly colored ones with the same type. Barkpaws tongue witch at first had been to sensitive to sort the herbs had slowly lost its ability to taste over the years. As a result he was able to handle most herbs that certain apprentices or even medicine kats couldn't handle. Purring in satisfaction after they had been properly sorted barkpaw laid in his corner to take a quick nap.

[Shadow Dragon]

Boris walked to the edge of the forest, and stared out into the cool shadows. He knows he shouldn't enter....but he's so hungry, and the scent of prey from the trees is so strong. He licks his lips, his growling belly paining him once again. He takes a few hesitant steps into the trees, and sniffs around hopefully. He can smell so much prey, but he can also smell those wild cats that live out here. He knows he'll have to be quick. He follows the scent of a mouse, and quickly pounces on it, biting it's neck to keep it from escaping. He looks around, near fanatically. No sign of them.... He begins eating the mouse in quick gulps, looking around nervously.

[StarfrostedFox]

Stepping up to the deputy, Robinstar touched her nose to his briefly in greeting. “Stagthorn, I hope I find you well,“ she meowed warmly, her eyes surveying the tom. Her gaze then traveled around the camp, seemingly random at first, but her thoughts were made clear as she continued on. “I wanted to ask you if you could recruit a couple of warriors to inspect the snake holes we have blocked up around camp. Ashpelt swears he caught hint of snake near the sunning rocks yesterday,“ she explained, gesturing with her tail towards a grouping of flat topped rocks near the elder‘s cave. “I doubt it really was a snake, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.“

The clan hadn’t seen trouble from snakes in what felt like countless moons, but stories of cats being poisoned in the past were enough to keep everyone alert for such a danger. Hoping she would never have to face such a situation in her time as leader, Robinstar cast one last glance towards the sunning rocks before returning her bright blue gaze to Stagthorn.

“I’m also volunteering to join a hunting patrol, if you haven’t already gotten one together,” she then said, a hint of amusement in her voice as she looked over the meager remains of the fresh kill pile. “I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen more appetizing mice than that.“

~*~

“Thank StarClan! I’m so glad you found her. She must’ve slipped out when I was still sleeping,“ Tansy, the dark cream queen that watched over the nursery, meowed quickly as Eagleleap and Birchwhisker approached, a look of relief spreading across her face.

Eagleleap passed a comforting touch of her tail over the other she cat’s back as Birchwhisker deposited Poppykit into the nearest nest. “It’s no problem Tansy. I’m just glad we were able to catch her in the end. She’s fast,“ the Black and silver warrior replied, twitching her whiskers in a half amused sort of way as she glanced towards the now sulking kit.

Birchwhisker snorted. “You can say that again,“ he grumbled as he turned and headed out of the nursery cave.

Rolling her eyes slightly, Eagleleap said her farewells to the queen and padded out of the cave herself, bright green gaze sweeping over the camp. Taking in a deep breath, she held it for a second before starting off in the direction of the medicine cave. She had wrenched her shoulder a few days before and chasing after Poppykit had aggravated the injury somewhat. Bluetail had treated her when it had first happened, so she wanted to ask the medicine cat if she had better take something for it again. Better safe than sorry. Climbing carefully up the small uneven rise to the cave entrance, she poked her head inside.

“Bluetail? Are you awake?“ she called saufley, before she spotted the other cat curled up in a corner. “Oh, sorry Barkpaw, I didn’t see you there.”

[kittyboy]

Stagthorn respectfully returned the greeting, a low purr resonating from the tabby's broad chest as he lowered himself into a sitting position as she began to speak, watching her face carefully as he wrapped his thick tail lightly around his large paws, nodding thoughtfully on occasion. Eventually, his face smoothed into one of rare, slight, enlightened amusement.

"Of course, Robinstar." He rumbled, dipping his head, before getting back to his paws, the sweep of his tail scattering the feathers within the fresh kill pile. "I'll be sure to gather a cat or two. As for the hunting patrol, feel free to take who you see fit, but make sure to take Gingerflame, as he's seemed a bit restless as of late." He paused, before adding. "I trust your judgement." Stagthorn meowed, with a final dip of his head, before turning away.

Birchwhisker, appearing from the Nursery, caught his eye.

"Birchwhisker." The deputy rumbled, trotting up to the tom. "Robinstar has informed me that Ashpelt mentioned the possibility of snakes in the camp. Would you assist me in checking the holes blocked up?" He mused.

¯♥¯

Bluetail woke with a start at a voice echoing through the cave, lifting his head with a few tired grumbles, and licking a paw to run over his silver flecked muzzle. Sitting up, the old tom blinked at the blurry shape in the yawning cave opening, blinking until his eyes adjusted.

"Ah, Eagleleap." He called, shakily getting to his paws. "Is your shoulder bothering you again? That was a bit of a rough wrench, y'know." He shook his head, before padding over to Barkpaw, nudging his apprentice awake.

"Wake up, you dormouse. This'll be a good learning experience for you." He grumbled,

[Jasper19]

Barkpaw woke up with a yawn and stretched. " morning " he said to both eagleleap and bluetail. His tail swishing around he tilted his head at his teacher " what will I be learning today? " he asked bluetail as he learned around to wake up his limbs. " will I need to grab some herbs? " he asks a bit exited at the prospect of learning something new.

[Shadow Dragon]

After he downs the mouse, and looks around in fear, and begins sniffing around for more prey. They have so much. Why are they so angry over just a few mice? He begins creeping deeper into the trees, but stays close to the edge, so he can bold at a moments notice. He stops when he smells the sent markings. I guess they are real. He creeps along the border, watching the darkness for any massive cats that he was told live deep in the trees.

[StarfrostedFox]

Eyes lightening with her own amusement, Robinstar nodded her head to her deputy before flicking a feather from her paw and starting off towards the Warriors den. Poking her head past the trailing brambles over the entrance, the she cat waited a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dimmer light before she cast her gaze around the nests. Spotting the ginger colored tom she wanted, the pale tabby maneuvered her way over to Gingerflame and gave his side a prod.

“Time to get up Gingerflame,” Robinstar meowed softly in a slightly singsong tone, well aware that she was playing with a figurative ants nest when it came to how the tom might react to being woken up. At least it was less likely that he was going to claw her ears off, what with her being his leader and all.

~*~

Yawning widely as he started back towards the Warriors den, hopeful that he could catch a few more minutes of uninterrupted sleep, Birchwhisker was nearly halfway there when the sound of another cat calling his name caught his attention. One pointed ear twitching, the dark brown mottled tom paused, head swiveling towards the approaching cat, unable to help but release a soft sigh. So much for getting that extra minute of sleep...

Bowing his head respectfully to Stagthorn, fighting off the urge to grumble, he listened quietly as the deputy spoke of checking on the snake holes around camp. With a blink of his amber eyes and a twitch of his tail, Birchwhisker gave his shoulders a shrug. “I don’t see why not,“ he responded, glancing around at the cliff walls. “Where would you like me to start?“

~*~

The sound of another cat stirring at the back of the cave drew Eagleleap’s attention, her whiskers twitching slightly with embarrassment as she realized that she had woken up the medicine cat. Stepping further into the den, she lowered herself into a seated position and resisted the temptation to lick at her chest fur. “Yes, well, Poppykit made an attempt to escape on an adventure this morning. I was the first one to spot her and naturally she ran from me,“ she explained with a soft sigh, watching Bluetail hobble over to Barkpaw and give him a sharp prod

Nodding her head in greeting as the young apprentice cheerfully wished them each a good morning, Eagleleap curled her long tail around her paws, grateful she hadn’t gotten snapped at for waking up the old tom. Being a transplant to the clan, she was always worried about saying or doing the wrong thing. So far, The other cats had seemed to accept her, but she was fairly sure she had caught a few mistrustful glances every now and then...