Shifteye-A Mission Successful

[shifteye]

Shifteye trotted back into the Shadowclan camp with her mouth full of herbs. She took them to her decided lodging and set them all down in the back. She set about sorting the different kinds into different piles and rows according to their uses.

[runepaw]

Runepaw had been following a rabbit when he smelled her. All of the sudden an unusual scent had become known to him and he stopped. It had been moons since he had smelled another cat. He had sensed old traces of them in his travels, but never, ever the smell of one who was actually there. Something told him to run away and hope that she didn't find him, but he ignored the impluse and crept towards the smell.

[shifteye]

Shifteye sniffed the air that blew in through the shallow cave. Was that the fresh smell of cat? She dropped the herb she had been sorting and catiously walked out of the den. It surpised her how eagar she was to be in contact with another cat. Her eagarness did not affect her sense of caution. She made her way toward the smell.

[runepaw]

The smell was getting closer. Runepaw now realized that she was coming to him now, too. For a moment he got nervous and slowed. What if this cat was dangerous? Maybe those herbs he had smelled earlier were poisonous and she'd put them in his food and then he'd be writhing and convulsing and-...oh wait, he'd be able to smell that. Runepaw had been unfortunate enough to have to learn the difference between the poisonous plants from the healthy ones through trial and error. He calmed himself and continued. Her smell became stronger and stronger until - bam - he saw her.

[shifteye]

She finally saw him. Why, he was only a kitten! Or at least he was younger than her by far. She pricked her ears toward him, her tail raised in a friendly and curious way. She did not expect an attack.

"Why, hello, young one..." She mewed. As she stepped toward the black cat her long tortoiseshell coat swayed with her movement.

[runepaw]

Runepaw thingyed his head and was silent for a moment. The cat was much older than him and was obviously not going to hurt him. He sat down and shifted in the leaves, and kept his gaze down.

"Hi.." His voice was quiet and unsure.

[shifteye]

"Are you of any of the other Clans in the area?" She stepped foward and sniffed him more carefully. "You don't smell like it... you don't smell like a kittypet either..." She spat at the word "kittypet". "If your clanless, you can join me here... The former clan seems to have abandoned their territory. And since we are the only ones here..." She looked around her. "I suppose I am the only suitable Mentor for you... if you're staying of course..."

[runepaw]

The concept of the clans was totally foriegn to him. "I don't think I'm part of one," he said. He didn't remember his mother saying anything about being part of anything. "Is that like a club?"

[shifteye]

"A clan is sort of like a structured family of cats, though they aren't always related. You have a leader, a deputy or second in command, a Medicine Cat, Warriors, Apprentices or those in trainign to become Warriors, Queens, Elders and Kits. Each clan has their own territory. Sounds to me like you've never been part of one. Well... you can't wander around this forsaken marsh... come back to camp with me. I can start your training to become a Warrior until a suitable Mentor comes along. But first I need to make a journey, and I expect you to come along." She supposed the kit would rather have her company then be alone and started walking back to the camp, thinking he would probably follow.

[runepaw]

Runepaw sat there for a second, then decided to follow. Whatever this clan thing was, it sounded interesting. He ran up beside her and followed her back. "What kind of journey?"

[shifteye]

"In order to become Medicine Cat, I must travel to Highstones. There is a cave there called Mothermouth and it is there where I must share dreams with Starclan. It'll be good to have some company on the journey. Apprentices must travel there before becoming Warriors, so you'll get it done early." They reached camp. "Oh, that reminds me... I must accept you as my apprentice officially. I, Shifteye of the new Shadowclan," Somehow, she sensed that this was what the former clan had been called. "Former apprentice of Shadowpelt accept..." She paused, realizing she had no notion what the kitten's name was. "waht's your name kid?"

[runepaw]

"It's Rune." He felt quite odd to be talking to another cat. It was amazing how much he had taken it for granted.

((sorry, im just confused...cause if their names have the paw suffix when they get the position of apprentice...then wouldnt he just be Rune now? Cause he wasn't part of a clan before...so I would suppose so. plus he doesn't know bout all the names, so I guess that's what he would say.))

[shifteye]

"Alright then. I Shifteye, former apprentice of Shadowpelt accept Runepaw as my own apprentice." She said it with great bravato and touched noses with the kitten. "After we make our journey to High Stones, then we'll begin your training." She padded toward her cave where she knew the herbs they would need were left.

[runepaw]

Runepaw was left a little bit baffled at all this appretice stuff. Yet, somehow, he was happy. He trotted off towards the camp and peeked in at his new master. He figured the herbs were for something special, so instead he went to explore his new home.

Almost everything he discovered was overgrown with plants and barely even smelled of a another cat. He supposed the "clan" Shifteye had mentioned had lived here before, but where had they gone? After sniffing around a bit more, he went back to Shifteyes cave and sat by the entrance.

"Where did the rest of the clan go?" he asked calmly.

[shifteye]

"I do not have the least notion where they went. I came here and it was empty. As I've been traveling for months now, I thought it a good place to stay for good. Unless the other clan comes back and drives us out." She laughed. She came out of the cave carrying two bundles of herbs in her mouth. She dropped them in front of the kitten. "Alright, Runepaw. We are not allowed to hunt on our way to the High Stones, so we must comsume these herbs. the dark green one is to stop the hunger, and the other is to make you strong," She recited from her memory. "They're quite bitter, just to warn you..." She began to eat her bundle without so much as a wrinkle of the nose.