for someone who leaves you breathless....

[spider]

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[atrb=background,http://i27.tinypic.com/68v42x.jpg] The night of the ceremony was rough, just trying to stay awake was hard for her. But for her luck was on her side, she didn't fall asleep nor were there any disturbances to ruin their vigil. Spiderleaf was glad to have become a warrior, but sad that she didn't have any kin there to watch her and be proud of her. At least Eclipsewind had his father to be proud of him. The soft gray she-cat barely knew her mother before she had ran off with her absent father and her two brothers she didn't even knew. Her heart was in the blue, she wanted anyone that was kin there, but life didn't seem fair. Once the night was over she was finally glad to rest and sleep until she felt like getting up. The gray she-cat stood at the edge of Fourtrees, staring at the empty place with the four trees around the edge and the big rock in front where the leaders stood during the meeting. A mouse hung from her mouth after recently catching it and never had the chance to bury it to get it on the way back. She dropped it in front of her, as she started to cover it up hoping no would come by to take her catch away. She looked over towards the rock. Maybe they won't mind. She really hoped the leaders wouldn't mind a warrior climbing up on top of the rock just to see how it felt like to be up there. Even though she was a warrior now, she still felt like an apprentice. With so much energy flowing through her, but she wasn't always like the other apprentices who were jumping and didn't calm down. They liked battle moves, she liked sitting there staring up at the sky or listening to the few elders that the clan had. She didn't want to join in with the other apprentices when they were showing what they had learned from battle practice. She wasn't the fight type, she was just a gentle she-cat that didn't think fighting should be involved to solve problems between the clans. Then again, the other apprentices sort of found her as weak for not being to fight or at least joining them to play fight with them with the new moves. Climbing the rock was pretty hard, she took a good job for it. She was scrapping the sides of the rocks as she tried to get up there. Once on top she looked around hoping that no one was around to hear her struggle to get on the rock. Wow! What a sight! She was shocked at how far it looked from sitting on the rock. Now she was afraid of trying to get down from the rock. But hopefully by then it would be a lot easier to get down as it was to actually get up on the high rock. The gray she-cat thought she heard footsteps coming towards Fourtrees, but wasn't sure. She tried to make herself invisible on the rock by going towards the back of the rock and lying as still as possible until the noise had passed. word count : 531 muse : save your heart - mayday parade tags : open colors : 6f8aff

[sallow]

There were very few things in the world that were very precious; of course, to felines, cats, food was one of them. Shelter was another, perhaps even friends. But who really needed friends? You could socialize with just about anyone, without even knowing them at all... The wind seemed dormant, as it lay idly throughout the distant blue. Sitting atop branches close to the sky, it watched below as life commenced onwards, ignoring it's absence. Leaves and twigs waved just slightly as animals fluttered by, beating their wings, or pumping their legs... particularly away from a pasty figure as it crept soundlessly through the Clan territory. Who out there would stop her? Who would even care or notice her essence while she trekked? She had stolen no prey, she had only breathed the very air as the Clans... like many others; like the animals that slept silently, and the visitors who passed by.

In her travel, the she-cat came to a jumble of trees. They sat beside one another, leaning on each other for support. Below, a ravine sloped down, founding a pathway that would lead anyone right into the heart of the gathering point... curiously, the rogue she-cat glided forwards. Once she had entered, she was quiet. The scent of another cat sat still amongst the air, fresh and stale all at once... Sallow had already noticed the mingled fragrance of many cats; it must have been a Clan place. Padding out into the clearing, she stifled a cough; her moonstones flickering as she scanned the clearing. Of course there was someone there; she'd seen them playing on the large rock before the oaks... Usually that was the case, they were just hiding. But why hide? Was it from fear? Did they fear her? If they did, why so? Was she... frightening? You hear pawsteps and you run away... who was the coward? Not I.

"Who are you waiting for?" She asked, snickering to herself. Her skinny tail swayed to and fro as she settled to a sit, until it wrapped firmly around her forepaws. Mockingly, she looked in all directions, "There's nobody else here, you can come out." Her intonation was husky, but good-natured. She was not young, or among the ripe. Well past her prime age, the aged rogue let out a laugh. The sound was off, coughing, it rumbled in her chest before it broke into the atmosphere. She didn't like games, and that included hide and seek. "Or should I come find you?" If whoever was out there made an old bag like her go after them... they would not get a treat before they ascended. "I'm deathly hungry, so spare me the energy." She then added, lying down against the cool Earth. It was smooth, worn away by countless paws.

532

[spider]

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[atrb=background,http://i27.tinypic.com/68v42x.jpg] The gray she cat was unsure of what to do. She didn't want to hide there forever and be considered more of the coward as other cats have thought of her before. She could tell this cat was someone she had not encounter before, nor were they part of any clan in the forest. So this she-cat was either loner, rogue or kittypet, but why would a kittypet come all this way from their home when they know the dangers of clan cats attacking them for being with twolegs and eating nasty food. Spiderleaf jumped from the High Rock and sat there just there looking over the she-cat who was laying down. She didn't know what to think, she never really encountered any other cat that was outside of the clans. It wasn't like she met her father would was a rogue, even though her mother was once kittypet. "I'm not waiting for anyone. I just wanted to see what it was like to be on top of that rock." Spiderleaf was uncertain of this she-cat as if she didn't know if she should actually stay and talk to her or go back to camp with her fresh-kill. The young she-cat thought about her escape plan some more and realized that if she could her fresh-kill then this rogue might steal it from her as she tried to run off back to camp with it. She tired to not show fear nor let the she-cat smell fear. Spiderleaf sat there looking at the ground where her prey hid while waiting for the rouge to make her next move. word count : 268 muse : angels & airwaves tags : sallow colors : 6f8aff notes: long awaited reply, this post sucks terribly.

[! R E E D F i S H E R]

Pale blue eyes flickered among the dark shadows that littered the clearing where the four tall trees stood, casting dark silhouettes against the dark sky. He was searching for something, or someone, perhaps. There was a presence there that was not friendly, not welcome, feared. He had a suspicion as to who it was, and yet he remained there among the shadows, choosing to conceal himself for as long as possible. He wanted to see what Spiderleaf was capable of, as a new warrior.

He, on the other hand, was anything but. A good friend of many respected senior ShadowClanners and an able fighter, Reedfisher was lanky and charming, his deep tabby fur concealing sinewy muscles formed from moons of dedication and training. Well okay, not dedication, but training, sure. He was as curious as a new apprentice, and as energetic as one. But Reedfisher, ever the suave tom, could charm just about anyone or anything.

Which he was clearly going to have to, he thought to himself, as he watched Spiderleaf boldly leap into view on top of the High Rock. Great. What in StarClan's name was she doing? Thank goodness he was always in the right place at the right time . ..

With a dramatic sigh, Reedfisher straightened, shook out his striking coat, and strolled foward towards the unlikely pair. "Greetings, Sallow. I'd ask what you're doing here, but then it would be implied that I cared." He disliked rogues. Not all of them, but the ones that didn't give a damn about anyone else. The kind that lived for the kill and only the kill, for the fear in others' eyes and the way the light faded from them. Fighting a shudder, the tom allowed his gaze to skim over Spiderleaf before landing back on the aged rogue. He had no doubts about fighting her, even by himself. She seemed harmless enough. Just passing through, perhaps.

Right.

[sallow]

Huh, well then... she thought, a silent voice all living things carried - if they carried reason; Sallow nodded slowly to Spiderleaf, listening to her words with more assiduousness than most rogues would give anything. I'm not waiting for anyone. I just wanted to see what it was like to be on top of that rock. The gray she-cat meowed, her voice only quivering the slightest behind her composure.

It struck the old white rogue as anomalous, considering she didn't understand most of the Clans traditions at all. Maybe this rock had something to do with them, she pondered quietly, her vivid amber eyes blinking warmly. "What's so special about that rock?" She asked curiously, padding closer to examine the worn stone. First she sniffed it, searching for any abnormal odors; almost expecting it to smell like roses, or fruit. When she found nothing out of the ordinary, she then placed a paw on its hide, now only half expecting it to glow or sparkle. It did neither and she realized, thwarted and stumped, that it was normal. It was just an ordinary rock. How exciting, she mused to herself again, feeling a bit childish to have anticipated dreamlike happenings - all from a realistic, run of the mill pebble. Frowning, Sallow padded backwards a couple steps so she could see Spiderleaf again. "It's just a normal rock?" Another question, this one searching for a confirmation. Or was she hoping she had missed something there in that cool, slate piece? Her tone held nothing but hopefulness.

Before the Clan she-cat could reply to the rogue's questions, movement caught in the corner of her elderly gaze, and Sallow swiveled her face around in a delated manner. Greetings, Sallow. I'd ask what you're doing here, but then it would be implied that I cared. It was a brown tabby male, with cobalt eyes; the fact he knew her name implied something. Had they met before? She couldn't say she recalled his face or coat, but her memory had often failed her before. However, even past her prime, Sallow had always remembered her manners.

"You're too kind," she meowed, her intonation more crisp than frail; it held some warmth, some aged knowingness that Elders often used, mingled with their sarcasm. Another cough racked her throat; turning to Spiderleaf, she nodded lightly for an outspoken purpose. These cats were in the same Clan, but she did not know that this place here was theirs specifically. It hadn't occurred to her that she was trespassing until now.

Then she observed their body language. The way the tom stood straight, almost as if he were telling her silently 'I have authority, I am dangerous.', and the way the she-cat kept quiet, her equally blue gaze flickering between a part in the brush and Sallow herself told her she wanted to run. But why? Why did she get the sensation that everywhere she went, she was hated? A despondency entered her stare, and she puckered her brow. These cats had no idea about a lifetime supply of loneliness, or the struggle to support themselves. They had it too easy, and their treatment to her type was both saddening and insulting. That must be why other rogues revolted. Sallow was old and fighting didn't appeal to her, not that it ever had where she came from and neither had soclaization, she deliberated, but in this moment, she somehow longed for their protectiveness and friendship; it had been a long time since she had been shown either of those things. Did Clan cats take in outsiders?

While she sat there mutely, her rays darkened forlornly. "I'm old and tired," she meowed hoarsly, admitting her weakness freely in hopes these cats would understand, and help her, "Does your Clan ever take in wandering strays?"

[truth]

.t.r.u.t.h.

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Truth was, once again, padding through ShadowClan territory. She recalled being here only a day or two ago, but she'd never lingered far, and she wanted to come back to the camp. Though she knew it was far more dangerous to return, she had wandered across no prey since her last visit, and hunger was driving her. I'll just take one more piece or two... I bet they won't even notice it's gone, the pigs... Her heart was set on entereing the camp again, and she wouldn't leave without a piece of prey. Truth's fur wasn't tattered, not in the least. It was rather beautiful in fact- luscious and decorative as it was. She made sure she kept herself looking decent every day- you never knew who you'd run into. The stereotype of a scruffy looking rogue was not true, in her case.

Upon reaching the camp, however, she heard voices echoing to her. The apprentice-aged loner stopped in her tracks, the wind softly ruffling her fur with her ears perched on her head. She sniffed the air to make sure, to double check the work of her ears, but she really didn't have to. She could tell by their voices and the conversation. A young warrior, an older warrior, and a she-loner, all of them much older than Truth. The two she-cats seemed to be getting along just fine, but when the older tom hissed at the white she-cat, Truth felt a familiar fire burniing in her. How dare those clan cats beat down on a loner like that! If anyone knew what the hard life was, it was Truth. She was so sick of the clan cats acting without a shred of respect. But she loved her life, and she wouldn't change it for anything. It was just the area she lived in... it was infested with clan cats.

Slinking over, the fearless young she-cat popped into the scene, positioning herself next to the other loner, who was called Sallow. Truth glared at the tom, her green eyes flaring up with a passion well beyond her years. "Well well well, what a surprise. Clan cats being rude, eh? That's a real shocker." Her tone was laced with sarcasm as her body tensed and her claws unsheathed. Though she was about half the size as the other cats, she was just as angry as any of them. Her only fear was that one of the clan cats would recognize her as the thief from the other day.

"You know, I don't ever recall a moment where you cats were actually respectful and kind to a loner. We tolerate your decisions to be in a clan, so it's only fair that you tolerate ours to be alone." Truth assumed that the clan cats, especially the tom, would sneer down at her. But she really didn't care. Truth's stomach growled, reminding her of the reason she'd come. Her green gaze flickered only briefly to the fresh-kill pile behind them before coming back instantly. Even in that moment she saw how it was piled up. You'll get your chance, she soothed herself, well aware how foolish it would be to take a piece now.

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[! R E E D F i S H E R]

Huh. Maybe the old rogue wasn't as cracked up as he'd thought her to be. Reedfisher eyed the scrawny female, her tattered paws and her worn, despondent gaze. But there was a fire there, one that burned with moons of travels, of sights that he would never see, of wisdom beyond his years. And he knew that she knew him too well, knew his type too well, the type to stereotype and classify, to label others without knowing them. And for a moment there, she had him pinned. He glanced away with a hint of shame, and his gaze caught upon another sight, coming closer, creeping in the undergrowth.

Sure. Why not join the party?

Sallow hacked, a shaking, rackety cough that twisted her face and made her wince in pain. Reedfisher felt a prick of concern, no matter how hard he tried to fight it. "You're too kind." she meowed, not bitterly, not spitefully, but truthfully. She gazed at him with her weary gaze, and he felt ashamed of how he had responded. Something in her said sadness, loneliness, pain, weariness, tired. In that gaze, he knew that she was done with traveling, with fighting to live and fighting to survive, with being alone and independent because that's the only way she had ever known. Sallow was asking for help. "I'm old and tired, Does your Clan ever take in wandering strays?"

Reedfisher felt conflicted. Half of him sympathized with the moons she had traveled, the days she had spent waiting for some compassion. And the other half was fiercely loyal to his Clan, and to the need to protect them at all costs. Bringing a stray - a rogue, even if she was old - into camp would cause chaos and trouble, more than it was worth. But looking into her eyes, Reedfisher knew it was something he had to at least consider. If only Hawkstar had been there to help him.

It was at that moment that the outsider chose to make herself known. Marching right into the middle of the scene, she plopped herself down next to Sallow and glared at Reedfisher, a strong, burning hatred in her eyes that made him cringe. Really? You walk right into my territory and then shoot me a death glare?

"Well well well, what a surprise. Clan cats being rude, eh? That's a real shocker." Her tone was clever and oh so annoying. Reedfisher dug his claws into the ground, hoping to keep his temper under control. But she kept talking. "You know, I don't ever recall a moment where you cats were actually respectful and kind to a loner. We tolerate your decisions to be in a clan, so it's only fair that you tolerate ours to be alone."

And he was the one stereotyping? His mind snapped, and he actually took a few furious steps forward in the loner's direction. "Listen, whoever you are. I don't care what you think about Clan cats, because judging by what you're saying, you've never met one before. We don't treat loners like foxdung. We do treat rogues the way they ask to be treated. They invade our territory, challenge and even fight our warriors, and steal our prey, which by the way, you shouldn't even think about doing again." He recognized her now, from Smallclaw's description. How dare she come back into ShadowClan's territory, eyeing Spiderleaf's hard-caught prey like she deserved it. Well, it wasn't for her. It was for the queens and the kits and the elders.

"Here's a little warning for you," Reedfisher hissed, his pelt standing up. He wasn't usually like this. "Stay out of our territory, unless you're willing to be friendly, like all the other loners we like. Or, you can classify yourself as a rogue, like this one here." He flicked his tail in Sallow's direction. "And then you'll see just how rude we can be."

He paused for a few heartbeats, his cool blue gaze darting between Sallow, the loner, and Spiderleaf, still up on the smooth, worn stone. "What do you think, Spiderleaf? Do we take her with us?"

[ooh. sassy.]

[spider]

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[atrb=background,http://i27.tinypic.com/68v42x.jpg] The young she-cat was sort of afraid of Sallow, but she didn't know what she was afraid of. It wasn't like she actually met this old cat before, but because she was considered a rogue, maybe that's what made her scared of what to do. She sat down and wrapped her tail around her front paws as she tried to be brave or at least try to act normal and not show any fear what so ever. "What's so special about that rock?" Spiderleaf could tell that Sallow was curious about why there would be such a big rock around four bigs trees. But was it truly worth telling her that the clans all came here in this area on a full moon to speak to one another. Before she could answer the first question, another was asked. "It's just a normal rock?" "It looks pretty normal to me, I never thought it was special besides leaders sitting up there." Spiderleaf mewed softly. Before anything else could be said, a brown shadow came out of the bushes walking towards the two she-cats. Reedfisher. What is he doing here? I had everything under control. She didn't know if Reedfisher followed her or just happened to be in the area. She never would have thought that newly made warriors would have someone following them everywhere they went just because she was made warrior only a few days before. "Greetings, Sallow. I'd ask what you're doing here, but then it would be implied that I cared." Reedfisher sounded as if Sallow was a bad cat. Spiderleaf never got that impression, but then again she was a new warrior and didn't know who she could trust besides her own clan-mates. "You're too kind." The old she-cat mewed as if the younger cats would give her the respect that they gave to their elders. Spiderleaf would have given Sallow the respect of an elder, but she was uncertain of what to do. It wasn't like she had a figure in her life that would help her through the times that were hard. Her mother ran out on her, ran off with a rogue of a father who was once ShadowClan. They both just ran away, ran away of taking care of their duties as parents and raising a kit. Her brothers were gone, she had no one else left. She had Purpleheart, but she wasn't there. She was off somewhere else in the forest. Purpleheart was Orangewhisker's sister's daughter. They were kin, but it wasn't like they were even close in the first place. They were distant. Weren't kin suppose to be close so they could comfort each other when it became hard, or talk about something that they didn't want to share with another cat? Spiderleaf thought so, but it wasn't like it even happened like that. Purpleheart and Spiderleaf were two different cats, that spent time together. Spiderleaf needed that. A person to spend time together and to actually trust for as long as they lived. "I'm old and tired." The rogue got one thing right, she looked old and tired from just sitting there on the ground. Does your Clan ever take in wandering strays?" Spiderleaf didn't know what to do at this point. She stared at Reedfisher hoping for answer to that question, but she didn't know if he knew the answer or not. Would Hawkstar get bad at them for bring a old rogue into camp? It would mean they would also have to work harder trying to get more prey for her and Howlingheart and her kits. Spiderleaf would never make a great leader if she ever had the chance of being one. She would probably fail miserably in front of everyone. As if uninvited, another cat came into the picture. A cat that shouldn't even be near here as she already stole prey from ShadowClan once and probably roamed all over ShadowClan territory just to get Fourtrees. "Well, well, well, what a surprise. Clan being rude, eh? That's a real shocker." Spiderleaf already didn't like the younger she-cat. She acted as if she owned the place. Trying to be the better one out of all the cats here in the area. "You know, I don't ever recall a moment where you cats were actually respectful and kind to a longer. We tolerate your decisions to be in a clan, so it's only fair that you tolerate ours to be alone." Spiderleaf knew she would be out of line if she attacked the loner. But it wasn't like the loner truly gave a damn of what Clan life was actually like. That was all Spiderleaf knew. Clan life. Something that was hard to come by when it was cold out like this with snow on the ground and prey is hard to come by. "Listen, whoever you are. I don't care what you think about Clan cats, because judging by what you're saying, you've never met one before. We don't treat loners like foxdung. We do treat rogues the way they ask to be treated. They invade our territory, challenge and even fight our warriors, and steal our prey, which by the way, you shouldn't even think about doing again." The new loner felt as if she was egging both her and Reedfisher on and to attack her. She was asking for it. Coming into camp and steal prey. Reedfisher should probably never be egged on, as of right now, he sounded a little more dangerous than that of when he is actually in a good mood. The gray she-cat saw that her prey was being looked upon. There was no way in StarClan's name was she going to be giving that mouse up. She will make that loner understand the ways of a Clan cat and make her going running with her tail behind her hindlegs like a dog. "Here's a little warning for you. Stay out of our territory, unless you're willing to be friendly, like all the other loners we like. Or, you can classify yourself as a rogue, like this one here. And then you'll see just how rude we can be." Spiderleaf didn't know what to think at that remark. She felt bad that he had to show the loner what was considered a rogue by pointing at Sallow. It wasn't like Sallow had done anything wrong. The loner had did something wrong as soon as she stepped on ShadowClan territory. "What do you think, Spiderleaf? Do we take her with us?" Spiderleaf had not spoken throughout this confrontation, but there were a few choice words she wanted to say. Towards the the young loner, of course. "Yes, we should take Sallow with us, but drive that little one out." Spiderleaf didn't care for the loner. She seemed more of a rogue than a loner. A loner was considered to be more helpful and asked before doing when meeting a clan cat. Not invading and stealing prey. "Loner, what is your name? So when we see again on our territory we know that it's you and run you out before you steal any more caught prey." she hissed digging up her piece of prey and then carrying over next to Reedfisher. word count : 1207 muse : the friday night boys tags : Sallow, Reedfisher, Truth colors : 104E8B , 325C74

[sallow]

Then she observed their body language. The way the tom stood straight, almost as if he were telling her silently 'I have authority, I am dangerous.', and the way the she-cat kept quiet, her equally blue gaze flickering between a part in the brush and Sallow herself told her she wanted to run. But why? Why did she get the sensation that everywhere she went, she was hated? A despondency entered her stare, and she puckered her brow. These cats had no idea about a lifetime supply of loneliness, or the struggle to support themselves. They had it too easy, and their treatment to her type was both saddening and insulting. That must be why other rogues revolted. Sallow was old and fighting didn't appeal to her, not that it ever had where she came from and neither had soclaization, she deliberated, but in this moment, she somehow longed for their protectiveness and friendship; it had been a long time since she had been shown either of those things. Did Clan cats take in outsiders?

SPOT RESERVED FOR SALLOW!