Ashes to Ashes [Swiftpaw/Deathpaw]

[[Ashpaw]]

“Good morning, Ashpaw,” a she-cat greeted.

Unfortunately, Ashpaw isn’t the type of cat who enjoys being woken up early in the morning, particularly if his first task for the day was assigned by his mentor to be done by sun-high. He didn’t like getting disturbed, especially if he would still have enough time to give himself a rest. He doesn’t like to be talked to above all if it’s the first thing he would here for the day. Actually, he really doesn’t like anything that doesn’t benefit him. Talking to him and breaking his nap doesn’t really help one bit at easing his mood.

“Ashpaw, I think Wildstar wants us for the next hunting patrol,” the she-cat continued.

Ugh, why does it have to be me? Ashpaw grumbled under his breath, still in the comfort of his nest. First, there was his denmate waking him up so early, the sun still shines dark orange rays. Then, his denmate had informed him that he was going to a patrol that he was uninformed with until the last second. What’s next? Their patrol would consist of apprentices and they would hunt in one of the most open areas in the forest? He just hopes that this day would end so soon.

“Oh, and the patrol would just consist of us, and Swiftpaw,” she told. “The warriors are busy training the other apprentices while some are hunting as well.”

By the time his denmate had finished talking, Ashpaw finally stood up from his nest. He shook of the final scraps of moss on his pelt and groomed his fur back to its place. His suspicions were proven true with the addition of their other denmate, Swiftpaw. He knew this Swiftpaw only with her name and her appearance, since he hasn’t talked with her since their time together back in the nursery. He sighed, thinking how bad his day had begun.

“So, are you going to wake her up?” Ashpaw asked.

“What? She’s already waiting by the camp’s entrance!”

Embarrassed by his late wake-up time and keeping Swiftpaw waiting by the entrance, Ashpaw gave a gesture to his denmate and walked with the apprentice to Swiftpaw’s location. He wondered how long she had been waiting. She could’ve been there for some time while Ashpaw was just lounging back at his nest. He would’ve let himself feel more relaxed if he couldn’t stop thinking how Swiftpaw would react. Would she get angry? Was she as sleepy as him? He didn’t know, but he sure hoped those would be the case.

As he neared Swiftpaw, he unexpectedly felt that he was being challenged. What was he going to say to her? But suddenly, her presence suddenly began light in Ashpaw’s eyes. He felt as if she was someone he could feel at ease. Her green eyes and sweet scent reminded him of his sisters. He, then, remembered that Swiftpaw and he were born almost on the same week, with only days in their age gap. They might’ve grown with Swiftpaw together, if the unfortunate thing never happened.

OOC: I apologize if I make any wrong grammar or use incorrect words. I was tired. >_>

[swiftpaw]

Morning was always a symbolic time, one of new life and rebirth, when the moon shrank away, bringing with it it's fears and mysterious ongoing's of the night, it's shadows and pressing darkness burned away by the glowing orb of sun, although it coated the world in blood and sent chills down the spines of superstitious cats, that blood-soaked appearance the the world takes when the sun rises. Not to say Swiftpaw didn't love the night, it was her preferred time, and since she had earned her apprentice name only two moons prior, she had made more than her fair-share of trips out of camp to explore the world when it was soaked silver instead or red, and bats frequented the sky instead of birds. The best part was, never getting caught.

Swiftpaw hadn't been out all night, but she had woken up extremely early, well before the sun rose, and went out into the forest, exploring in the early morning darkness and done her own mock patrol, although she was as giddy as a kit then entire time, blundering through the dark forest, active with nocturnal creatures, giving her the feeling of not being alone. She had made a quiet return back, and was quickly rallied to join a hunting patrol. Of course, she was eager, and strangely, not a lick of exhausted irked her body, although she knew she'd feel it later. She quickly had groomed out her fur, and sat eagerly by the exit while waiting for Ashpaw to also be rallied up. It was awhile later, and the sun was on a steady climb up, but soon, the brown tabby tom appeared, slowly trekking toward where she was waiting. She beamed at him, even knowing the friendship, almost kinship she felt for the young tom wasn't mutual. Ashpaw seemed to like no one.

After Ashpaw was born, Swiftpaw was born just days later, as Ashkit and Swiftkit. He also had his sisters, and the group were going to grow up together, train together, become warriors together, they were going to be the generation. More than the tom and his sisters knew, however. They would rise, and one day be enemies. Swiftpaw's claws tingled, and she shook off the feeling. A generation marked in blood, by her own claws- although no one would know that, as they were growing together, malice and cunning was being seeped into the she-cat's brain. Of course, Sunkit and Emberkit died before they were apprentices, and that generation was never to go. Afterwards, Ashpaw had become an introvert, as much as Swiftkit had tried, while young, to rouse her young friend, there was no hope. The two became apprentices a few moons later, and that was it. Now, she rose to her paws as he approached and meowed a greeting in a good natured way. "Morning Ashpaw! Ready to hunt?" Her forest green eyes beamed at him warmly, even well aware that she'd be lucky if she even got a nod from the tom.

[[Ashpaw]]

The cold breeze of dawn had startled Ashpaw as he walked out of the apprentice’s den and into the camp’s entrance. He had missed the comfort of his own nest, where everything was warm and he didn’t feel the stress of running around the forest within a patrol. What’s worse is that he’d feel the fatigue after the day’s work the next day. It seems that it’s like a pointless cycle, only that the exhaustion he’d feel that day would be greater than the previous day. Ashpaw’s mindset about Clan duties were like this since his apprenticeship, which may account to his laziness at work.

Hunting with Swiftpaw didn’t make the situation any lighter for Ashpaw. Maybe a little, but still, the brown tabby thinks that he’d still work even with their tasks divided. It just wasn’t enough to think that his previously close friend from the nursery‘s appearance would warm him up from his idleness. Sure, Swiftpaw reminded him of his days with his sisters Sunkit and Emberkit, but it doesn’t mean that her appearance, scent or eyes would cheer him up. They might be watching from StarClan, but Ashpaw knows they still wouldn’t be able to bring their selves back to life.

“Morning Ashpaw,” Swiftpaw meowed from the camp’s entrance.”Ready to hunt?” she asked. Her eyes seemed to wait for a positive response from Ashpaw, but the tom unwillingly made any signs. At least she isn’t that angry for waiting for me, he thought. Though he missed his playtimes with her in the nursery, the tom kept himself away from her for a long time that he didn’t care anymore. For him, she couldn’t replace the relationship he had with his sisters, so why does he need to bother anymore? Ashpaw didn’t even give a nod or a smile to acknowledge the she-cats friendliness towards him.

Ashpaw sighed. Let’s get this over with, he thought. If he wants to finish this hunting duty as soon as possible, they might as well start moving now. He gestured their denmate, the she-cat that woke him up, to hurry up. She was still at their den, taking care of Ashpaw’s nest, which he left untidy when he walked away. They might as well be on the move now, before the sun reaches its peak and give the forest a very warm temperature. It’s more tedious to work under the heat, so they’ve only got a few hours to hunt before sunhigh.

He was more relaxed with speaking with Swiftpaw than any other cats in the Clan. Whoever shared his kithood was a good cat, right? Ashpaw quickly tried to wipe away his thoughts from his mind. He needed to concentrate in order to finish the task given to them. At least, he might be given incentives by his mentor if he does great during any patrol he’d done. He’d liked that, yes, but he wasn’t sure if he was still comfortable in the presence of Swiftpaw. As he tried to break the awkwardness forming inside him, he finally decided to ask the she-cat about their patrol. “Um, where do you think we should start?”

[swiftpaw]

Swiftpaw could have expected it a thousand times over, but she still couldn't hold back the internal flinch and look of dejection in her eyes as Ashpaw stared blankly at her for a moment, his eyes fixed on her as if she was just some strange, deranged cat that had bounded over and tried to bite his nose. She heaved a sigh and turned away, looking to the she-cat fussing over Ashpaw's nest. One of the cat's she should be closest to in the clan seemed to hold a contempt over everyone, herself included. There was nothing she could do, she knew, but try and expect failure, hope to succeed. She began to groom herself, waiting patiently for the warrior to come over so they could finally get out of camp, although Swiftpaw had only returned almost an hour ago.

She jumped slightly as to her left, Ashpaw finally spoke. She looked up from her black and white pelt, her green eyes fixing on him. It was rare he spoke to anyone- but she also knew she shouldn't feel special. He wasn't holding a conversation, he was asking a valid question. Brushing off any prior feelings of rejection, once again recovering to her bright self, she began to ponder his question, quickly coming up with an answer, "Well, the Ancient Oak is always an idea- Oh, but as the day warms up, we should work closer toward the lake or the abandoned twoleg nest. Prey must be thirsty, or seeking shelter." She shrugged her delicate shoulders, wrapping her tail around her small black paws, locking her gaze with Ashpaw's, "That is, unless you have a better idea? I'm willing to try anything." Her meow was sincere and pure, wanting her friend to voice his opinion, to come up with an idea of his own for this. Maybe that would be a way to pull him out of his shell, some friendly strategies, not that Ashpaw seemed the strategic type willing to speak of hunting ideas, any idea at this point was game for the young she-cat.

[[Ashpaw]]

Ashpaw stared at Swiftpaw as she told her ideas about the route they’ll be taking in their hunt. He seemed to notice how she fluidly told her opinions, her mouth moving in such a flowing manner. Her bright luscious evergreen eyes look as if they hold all the sweetness and innocence in the whole forest. Even her delicate pink nose showed signs of… beauty? The brown tabby apprentice quickly snapped from his trance, noticing that he was thinking such nonsense about the she-cat in front of him. Ashpaw felt hot under his pelt as he stopped his whiskers from twitching of embarrassment. When did this nonsense happen?

The self-conscious apprentice quickly looked up in the sky and pretended to predict the weather. I just wish Swiftpaw did not notice how I acted. Maybe this could break the awkwardness. Being stuck at his position, he continued carry out what he was doing. The clouds were clear, not showing any signs of rain or anything else. The sun wasn’t even coming out from the east from this time. Ashpaw just lowered his head back as he finished checking; figuring out such action was useless. The weather was nice and clear, and it wasn’t going to give cats a hard time for a while.

As he faced Swiftpaw again, he realized he wasn’t really attentive to what his fellow apprentice had said. He couldn’t remember what exactly did Swiftpaw suggested, and just assumed that she was thinking the same way as he was. There was no way that the black-and-white she-cat was mousebrained enough to not think about it. “Yes,” he started, “we could work it out from the forest and to the stream by the WindClan territory. Prey might be looking for a cooler place, and maybe the gentle breezes coming from the moors might be the place.”

Ashpaw was starting to get uncomfortable. The temperature in the area was still cool, yes, but his situation regarding Swiftpaw was getting prickly. What if I just told her something false? What if she noticed me staring at her earlier? What if she’s noticing my awkwardness? Ashpaw wasn’t a cat to ask questions, even to himself. He wondered if there would be any kind of distraction that could steer Swiftpaw’s attention away from him. That’s when he thought of the first thing that they should be waiting for.

“By the way, where’s Mousepaw?”

OOC: Mousepaw = NPC cat. I can’t think of any other names at the moment. >_>

[swiftpaw]

Swiftpaw watched her fellow apprentice, her face growing somewhat quizzical. "Ashpaw?" But he seemed to be lost in thought, watching her. She grew hot under her fur, was something wrong with her? Had she said something stupid? Was there something on her face? She shuffled her paws and looked away until he finally broke from his trance and began to speak. She quickly relaxed, but was aware of his answer, a tad bit different, but the same nonetheless. She chuckled slightly, "Okay then, I guess the river and moor work too." She had wanted his opinion, so she wouldn't deny it- and it wasn't really different, a cool place and a place with water, both of what the two apprentices had suggested had those.

Suddenly, he asked about Mousepaw. She looked up toward their den- but the apprentice was gone. "Huh, maybe she left without us." She suggested, rising to her paws, she padded forward a bit, before shooting a grin over her shoulder at Ashpaw. "Well, come on then. We don't want her catching all of the prey in the forest, now do we? We'd look awful after that!" She turned toward the tunnel in a quick, graceful movement, and with feather-light steps and a rush of speed, she took off out of the camp, emerging into the surrounding forest and sliding to a halt. The forest in the day was different than it was in the calm of night. The screeches and fluttering of bats was replaced with the silent gliding and songs of brightly coloured songbirds. The bugs didn't glow, and the forest was alive with green, browns, and the golds and reds of leaf-fall, instead of the silver whitewash the moon gave. It mattered little, Swiftpaw knew this forest like the back of her paw, day or night.

She scented the air, searching for Mousepaw's scent, but the brown apprentice seemed to have just disappeared- that, and the fresh scent of forming leafmold on the ground as the leaves gently fluttered from their branches was overpowering this morning, the breeze soft and nearly nonexistent in the forest. Maybe she had the same idea as them? She heaved a sigh, now on top of hunting, they'd need to find Mousepaw too. She stood and stretched in the forest's dappled early morning light, flexing deadly claws in the moss below her, her muscles loosening and her joints popping slightly as she lengthened her paws in front of her in an arching stretch, then once again regaining her posture on all fours, primed toward the forest, calling out to Ashpaw. "Should we hunt, or find Mousepaw first?"

[[Ashpaw]]

“Well, come on then. We don’t want her catching all the prey in the forest, now do we? We’d look awful after that?”

Swiftpaw’s sweet and charming voice reverberated in the tabby apprentice’s ears once more. It was music to Ashpaw’s ears. He was enjoying every word that comes to her mouth and every breath that her delicate little nose gives. Oh, how well versed she tells whatever in her mind is. How gorgeous does her face look every time the tom takes a piece of scenery with her oh so magnificent appearance. How breathtaking is her small and fragile mouth when she talks. How beautiful and dreamy can her little pretty face is. How attractive is she… is?

Ashpaw snapped once again to the real world. He wondered how really this kind of thing affected him. He began asking himself questions – questions which he really need to answer as soon as possible. How frequent will he be doing this when he’s near the pretty she-cat? How long did his trances take whenever he’s thinking about the black-and-white apprentice? When did this kind of thing started to happen to him? And last question: is Ashpaw infatuated, or more importantly, formed some sort of crush with Swiftpaw? And what if he did? Soon, Ashpaw began debating with himself. Ashpaw, don’t get too close with her! The first thing you’ll know is she’d become just any ordinary cat in the history of the Clans, forgotten and gone like Emberkit and Sunkit.

The swift sound of nimble steps from Swiftpaw woke Ashpaw again, but this time from his inner talk with himself. Though it had surprised him, the brown tom found himself following her through the forest. She seems to know every corner in the forest...Ashpaw thought in awe as he watched her move gracefully from one place to another. Every step she made was timed correctly and every move she made gave Ashpaw the vision of an elegant she-cat. He was so absorbed with the thought of Swiftpaw that the tabby apprentice has not noticed a knotted root. He tripped over the woody piece of land and fell over to the ground. Fortunately, Swiftpaw was way ahead of him and, if he was lucky, she would not notice it.

Ashpaw sprinted towards Swiftpaw. He had no time to fix himself after his fall as dust and dirt still clung to his pelt. His pelt also looked untidy and messy. Hoping that the she-cat wasn’t that picky with her friends when it comes to appearance, the tom made it to her side. He was also just in time to hear Swiftpaw’s question: to hunt or find Mousepaw first. His mind was still foggy from all of his reflections about his den-mate and from his worry about the she-cat’s view on his inappropriate appearance. He still can’t make up his mind just to answer a simple question.

“Can’t you answer for yourself?” he retorted. As those mean-toned words came out of his mouth, Ashpaw couldn’t help but feel guilty. Would she yell at me? He quivered at the thought of the she-cat getting mad at him. He couldn’t possibly give a bad impression of his self, could he?

[swiftpaw]

As her fellow apprentice approached, she chuckled at his disheveled appearance and flicked a piece of moss from his pelt with the tip of her tail- but as she looked away, turning her attention to the surrounding forest, the milky light filtering the trees, so unlike the moonlight, the warm, relaxed feeling in her body, he spoke, his words sharp and scathing. Her head snapped around, the hurt in her eyes reflecting the cold sensation in her gut. He had always been quite around her, but never mean. Never so harsh. She brushed off the outward flinch at his tone of voice, and was suddenly in a battle between emotions, hurt and anger. The hurt was already showing in her gaze on him, mixed with shock, and slowly, it turned to anger. She set her jaw and her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Says the cat that hardly even speaks to his own mentor, let alone a cat he grew up with." She snorted and turned her back on him, starting through the trees. "You hunt then. I'll find Mousepaw."

She didn't wait for a response from the young tom, leaping neatly over a fallen log that had been steps in front of her. That log alone seemed to put up a barrier between them, but she didn't stop, lurching into a run, increasing the distance between them as much as she felt necessary- needless to say, she didn't even know if Mousepaw had looked in this direction or not, she had just picked up and ran, and frankly, she didn't care if she found the ThunderClan runt or not. She never would have. Nonetheless, she needed something to do- she scented the air, searching for the apprentice. Might as well look, as was expected of her, "Mousepaw?" She called out, her head swinging to and fro, searching for any sign, scent, or sound of the she-cat. Mousebrain, running off like that. You'd think some would have the decency to think of strategies before running off. No sense in complaining now, she sat down, heaving a sigh. As if the missing Mousepaw wasn't enough, Ashpaw seemed to be so... odd, today, not that she wished to dissect it, instead rising to her paws, and continuing her search. Mouse-brained ThunderClanners.

[---d e a t h p a w ||]

[atrb=colspan,2][atrb=border,0,btable][atrb=style,width: 500px; border-top: 5px solid #000000; border-bottom: 5px solid #000000; background: url(http://i56.tinypic.com/14cb0pf.jpg);,bTable] [style=text-align: center; font-family: helvetica neue; font-weight: 100!important; color: #8b8d92; font-size: 25px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: lowercase; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;]Death darker than a black shadow in Moonlight, Beckons its prey into the unknown[/style][style=margin-top: -20px; font-family: helvetica neue; letter-spacing: 0px; font-size: 50px; color: #2E0854; font-weight: 100!important; text-shadow: 1px 1px 2px #000000; text-align: center;]Deathkit[/style][style=font-family: helvetica neue; font-weight: 100!important; color: #8B7B8B; margin-top: -7px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 4px; font-size: 12px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-align: center;]By a soft whisper in the Soul[/style][style=width: 90%; background-color: #555555; box-shadow: 0px 0px 5px #050505; margin-top: 5px; border-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius: 10px; padding: 10; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify; color: #000000;][scrolly:h(245),w(446),sy,as(position: relative; top: 11px; left: 0px;)]Deathkit flicked her tail to brush the pollen that had settled on her shoulder. The bees buzzed around her, and as she usually titled them irritating, she tolerated their buzzing and low hovering around her. Seafang was busy, probably flirting with some cat, and that left her to her own devices. She sniffed at a leaf that at settled in a puddle not two paws from her and let out a stiffled sneeze. She shook her head, life was too easy, way too easy. It wasn't fair. Why couldn't she be a regular cat with regular thoughts and the goal to be the best warrior she could be? Because you didn't want to be like that, stop kidding yourself. You're evil, ruthless, a killer, you can never go back to what you previously were --if you even remember that, she answered herself. Yes, that was it, but sometimes she could have fantasies about how her life would be if she chose something else . . . Less boring for sure, she snorted. It's not that she regretted watching the slaughter of her sisters, and finishing her mother off that night. No, in fact, she embraced it, loved it, cherished the memory. She could still see the fear in her mother's eye, the deep regret, and bitter hate. Yes, the cat who loved everyone could finally hate something. A grey coat cat her eye. Hey, Mousepaw! Whaaaat!? the she-cat let out a huge yawn, as Deathkit ran up to her. Well, I was wondering if I could take your place in the mini-patrol with Swiftpaw and Ashpaw! The blue-eyed cat looked at her skeptically, seeming to think a moment, she nodded her consent, Sure, no problem . . . You're a good kit Deathpaw! As the cat walked away, Deathpaw cursed inwardly, kit? What mousebrained apprentice would call me a kit?! But she let it go for now. Triumphantly, she had plunged into the undergrowth --that was way too easy. Now to find that patrol. She rolled her eyes. More acting. Why couldn't of it been her and Swiftpaw alone? She could actually act like herself then. Deathpaw remembered their encounter a few moons ago, it at first had been extremely tense, each sizing the other up, wondering if they were to be enemies or allies. Fortunately, it turned out quite well, and Deathpaw had found an ally among her clanmates. Can’t you answer for yourself? Says the cat that hardly even speaks to his own mentor, let alone a cat he grew up with. You hunt then. I'll find Mousepaw. Deathpaw groaned. Oh look, now there was some spat between the fellow apprentices. She brightened, well, that shall put something interesting in her day. She snickered, ha, wonder how this will turn out. As the older apprentice flew past her, she took off behind her as well, quite aware of the hurt that shuffled off of Swiftpaw in waves. Mousepaw? the apprentice called, her voice hollow with despair. Deathpaw's eyes glinted as she stepped into Swiftpaw's view. Mousepaw --is dead, she said, her voice emotionless. She stared at the apprentice for a few precious seconds, trying to figure something out. If Swiftpaw was putting up an act as she said she was, and was a deadly killer and such, how come she had so many emotions? How could she let them show? Unless this was an act, it bothered the purple-eyed apprentice that her ally could have such a weakness. She flicked her tail on the apprentice's shoulder. That was a joke. If I killed any other cat, my cover would be blown. Besides, what's wrong with you today. You don't seem like the ally I had first made a bargain with. She waved her tail around in exasperation. Urg, was she the only emotionless cat around here? 00c:: It'd be awesome if Ashpaw didn't here the "If I killed any other cat" if he were to come, I don't mind if you heard the rest of it though :3 I just want to keep her cover as long as possible ^^ template by columba of on the edge [/style]

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[swiftpaw]

A voice sounded behind her, darkly, coldly announcing Mousepaw was dead. She paused, her calls dying in her throat, keeping her back to the familiar voice of Deathpaw, her ears pricked, even as the black she-cat stepped into her view. Shock lit her eyes for a moment, but only a moment before dying away, before Deathpaw revoked her comment. "What a pity, it would have been one less cat to get rid of." She paused as Deathpaw continued, narrowing her eyes, "The bargain, nor I, have changed, but for a cat worried about her cover, you'd think a bit of acting would be the first thing on your schedule." She stalked gracefully toward the new apprentice, stepping around her in a circle, like a lion and it's prey. "You, Crimsonstar, any other cat may see it as weakness, as sheer emotion, but it must be understood, dear Deathpaw, if you don't act like any other of their kind, lovely apprentices, they'll see through it."

She stopped pacing, stepping forward and listening, scenting for any sign of Ashpaw, the other apprentice out in the forest- or anyone for that matter. "For example, when they bring back Tigerlily's corpse later today, you'd better be ready to weep for that useless she-cat. I killed her last night." She looked back at her ally with a coy smile, "Or if you get to go to the gathering, and ShadowClan cries for their lost Crowpaw, sympathize. I tore open his belly." She shrugged, a crisp, elegant movement, then stared down at her, eyes like flecks of cold, green emerald, narrowed with a look of satisfaction,"You see, Deathpaw? We can be normal cats, without an ounce of normalcy- in fact, I think it's in the job description." She shot the cat a heartmelting smile that she knew would have no effect, and with it, the entire show of cold, empty cruelty bled from her eyes like blood from a injured cat. Time had passed now, any cat could be- would be coming this way soon, more than likely, Ashpaw. She shot Deathpaw a knowing glance, hoping the apprentice would catch her drift for "normalcy", to be on their way,"Now, where's Mousepaw gone? Are you going to be hunting with us, Deathpaw?" In fact, her act was severely good, she held a glimmer of excitement in her gaze, and her voice was pitched honey sweet, as if the idea of hunting with her "Good friend" was all she wanted in life. Good friends, good food, bloodshed wasn't there.

[---d e a t h p a w ||]

[atrb=colspan,2][atrb=border,0,btable][atrb=style,width: 500px; border-top: 5px solid #000000; border-bottom: 5px solid #000000; background: url(http://i56.tinypic.com/14cb0pf.jpg);,bTable] [style=text-align: center; font-family: helvetica neue; font-weight: 100!important; color: #8b8d92; font-size: 25px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: lowercase; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;]Death darker than a black shadow in Moonlight, Beckons its prey into the unknown[/style][style=margin-top: -20px; font-family: helvetica neue; letter-spacing: 0px; font-size: 50px; color: #2E0854; font-weight: 100!important; text-shadow: 1px 1px 2px #000000; text-align: center;]Deathkit[/style][style=font-family: helvetica neue; font-weight: 100!important; color: #8B7B8B; margin-top: -7px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 4px; font-size: 12px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-align: center;]By a soft whisper in the Soul[/style][style=width: 90%; background-color: #555555; box-shadow: 0px 0px 5px #050505; margin-top: 5px; border-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius: 10px; padding: 10; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify; color: #000000;][scrolly:h(245),w(446),sy,as(position: relative; top: 11px; left: 0px;)]Deathpaw's eyes darkened at the mention of her poor lifestyle in which she acted. Dearest to me, you're not the only one who has killed. I killed my own mother, and I'm still a member of this clan. You can't tell me about acting when I perfected it --but that can be said the same to all of us decoys. It is indeed true, that we all must bear our time for our own benefits she paused briefly, and then stretched her eyes wide, relaxed her body into that of a kit-like state and pranced around Swiftpaw, her voice going up two octaves. Of course I want to hunt with you guys! It's so boring in camp, and Warpaw, I don't think, likes me! she stopped pacing and sat down on the sandy clearing. Can I, can I, can I pleaaaaaaase?! I promise I won't be any trouble, see, see, I'll be really, really quiet, you won't even know I'm here! she trampled on a leaf, her tail flew to her mouth, Oops! I'll be quieter I promise! Please don't leave me behind, I said that I'd take Mousepaw's position, and I really don't let her down, CAUSE THAT'S WUT GOOD CLANMATES DO her voice regained her normal pitch, Right? Her eyes flashed, This isn't about murdering every cat you see. Our clanmates aren't as stupid as they seem, our leader didn't become leader because he was a lazy idiot. If we go around like you just did, the glory of the decoys would draw to a close. This isn't a race, a competition --it's about power and the glory of bringing our candidate Crimsonstar to the top. For now, she's the one with control, yes? We gain her power after that. That was are agreement, yes? She heard something trapleming through the bushes, about twenty-nine fox tails to her left, not loud enough to overhear a conversation between 'friends'. Her pupils grew wide again, Ne, neh, right?! I'm right, right? I can go with you right? she flailed around Swiftpaw, her paw catching on a rock, tripping her. I'm okay!! she said smiling brightly. 00c:: I just made up that agreement, I can change it if it's not to your suiting :3 [sorry, suckish post, I'm kind of tired . . .] template by columba of on the edge [/style]

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[[Ashpaw]]

Crouching down to blend in with the undergrowth and its auburn foliage, the brown tabby apprentice carefully made his way towards the prey in front of him, avoiding to place his paws on twigs or crunchy leaves. The brown furred creature looked helpless whenever it is compared with a cat wishing to have it killed. The tom sniffed the air. Still no signs of Swiftpaw, he thought gloomily. As he came with a tail-length away from the mouse, the well-camouflaged apprentice wasted no time as he hastily pounced on the unaware prey. With a swift bite on its neck, Ashpaw definitely made a clean kill cause neither drop of blood nor did a squeal come out from the fresh-kill.

Ashpaw still felt something heavy weighing down his heart. Sure, he liked hunting alone more than anything else he was tasked to, but not this one. He reluctantly followed the she-cat’s words: “You hunt, then.” He couldn’t remember the last time he was spoken like that. Maybe it was when I led the three of us into the storage of herbs, he guessed as recalled his kit-hood when he still got his sisters. His kit days were also the last time when he spoke and played with Swiftpaw. He wondered whether or not the two of them could become acquaintances again, if not close friends.

Ashpaw warily picked up his first kill of the day and blindly walked towards any direction. He didn’t felt like following their plan earlier this day after what had happened. Swiftpaw was still angry with him, he knew she certainly was. He wondered if he had always spoken like this whenever he couldn’t think straight. He sighed. He definitely needed some time to think. He dropped down his catch, settled himself on a nice patch of land and began grooming his horrible pelt. What did Swiftpaw thought when she saw my fur like this?

Suddenly, a small whisper of chattering voices caught Ashpaw’s attention.Mousepaw? He stopped brushing his smooth brown pelt, got up and picked up the mouse he had caught earlier before heading straight to the source of the chatter. He slowly walked on the grassy and leafy ground, avoiding making noise to alert their denmate. What if she really was hiding from us? Just as he was planning to surprise her, a cold wind breezed through the trees, rustling the shrubbery in the area as well as revealing Ashpaw’s location. He saw something he didn’t expect aside from Mousepaw though.

A large striped animal was sleeping under the roots of giant oak tree. Large claws were revealed by the creature outside its makeshift den, giving the tabby apprentice quite a scare. What’s worse is that as Ashpaw was going to take a step backwards, the badger’s eyes quickly blinked open. The scent of Ashpaw’s fresh-kill woke it up! Startled, the tabby tom threw his freshly caught mouse in front of the one of the most deadly enemies of Clan cats and sprinted away. Hopefully, it would buy him time to escape.

He ran and ran, afraid to be caught by the large dangerous creature, until he saw a clearing. Not minding the number of golden leaves falling from the trees nor the thick undergrowth that sinks his paws, he tried his best to reach the clearing before the badger does. If I’m lucky, there might be someone there to help me, he thought. Not a heartbeat later, he found himself in wide opening, but not with the cats he thought would’ve helped him. Mousepaw was still missing from their patrol. Deathpaw was not a cat physically fit to fight the large animal and it was clear that Swiftpaw wouldn’t even give a paw from what happened earlier. Moreover, all of them are apprentices who still haven’t finished their training.

He tried to explain his situation, but no word came to his mouth.

[swiftpaw]

As pawsteps sounded on the forest floor, the rest of the hostility melted from Swiftpaw's body. The loving ThunderClan she-cat was back. "Of course, Deathpaw! That's great news!" She meowed happily, the double meaning to her words only for the young she-cat, looking vibrant and good-spirited, no worse for wear after what happened with Swiftpaw just prior, even as the tabby tom skidded to a stop in the middle of the clearing, jaws gaping, eyes wild. All of her earlier spite gone, her heart dropped and she wached the tom. "Swiftpaw? What happened?" She asked, bounding to the tabby and looking him over curiously. She opened her jaws to speak again, but not before a loud crunching and snapping made her snap back to attention as a black and white form, oh so larger than herself, came crashing through the undergrowth, right toward them. "Badger!" She hissed, reeling backwards.

They were all apprentices, not even close to being warriors, hardly able to handle real warriors in battle, let alone a badger. Well, Ashpaw was, but both Deathpaw and Swiftpaw, for their decoy training, had killed healthy, bodily able warriors without a second though. Despite this trait, however, a badger was a different story. It was far larger and stronger than any warrior- and it had claws to match. The long, razor sharp appendages glinted cruelly in the watery morning light. The black and white beast tossed it's head to and fro, using it's poor eyesite and extremely attuned scent between the three apprentices it wanted dead, as if it was debating who to go after. It made it's decision. It lunged for Ashpaw, the cat that had originally aggravated it. Swiftpaw didn't hesitatie, leaping and using her sharp claws to hang onto it's face while she violently used her back claws to tear at it's head and throat. We're not here to kill every cat in sight, she thought bitterly to herself, thinking of what Deathpaw told her, Which means fighting for and protecting your clanmates at times. "Ashpaw! Go back to camp, get some warriors!" She ordered, still hanging on for dear life as the badger battered at her, trying to get her off of his face, swinging his head to slam her against anything around her, but she wouldn't give. Come on, Deathpaw, give me a hand already. I know you're more than able to.

[[Ashpaw]]

Blood roared in the tabby apprentice’s ears and adrenaline pumped in his veins. Every sense told Ashpaw that he was in serious danger and that he needed to run away as soon as possible, and the brown tom could obviously see that. The badger had enormous strength, enough to break a cat’s bones with a single blow. Its pelt seems to be thicker and tougher, and their pitifully small attacks wouldn’t even give their enemy a good beating. With a large black-and-white animal in front of him, there was no doubt one false move and any of them could end up as fresh-kill.

The start of their battle with the badger started awfully fast. Just as Ashpaw reached the clearing with Deathpaw and Swiftpaw, the large animal lumbered behind him. As its heavy steps approached him, the tabby quickly ran beside the other two apprentices. He stared at the badger as it chose its victim, when suddenly Swiftpaw lunged forward and hanged on the badger’s face with her hind legs raking the vicious animal. It was a crazy stunt indeed, for a young and inexperienced apprentice to be doing, but Swiftpaw looked like she knew what she was doing. “Ashpaw!” she called, “Go back to camp, get some warriors!”

Ashpaw’s common sense told him to follow Swiftpaw’s command, being a safer and more harmless decision, but somewhere inside the tom told him to stay with his fellow apprentices. Even if he got back to camp and returned, the two would’ve been crow-food. The camp wasn’t as near as a couple of fox-lengths, as Ashpaw remembered. By the tone of Swiftpaw, it looks like she’s going to try to push her luck fighting the badger. Even if he did get back to camp, there wouldn’t be enough time to rescue the she-cat from the ferocious animal if she continued to combat it.

“Watch out!”

The badger was beginning to throw Swiftpaw off of its face. It was running all over the place, rocking back and fro in an effort to heave the she-cat. Worried about the cat he grew up with, Ashpaw charged towards the badger. No, he wasn’t directing an attack that could aggravate its temper, but rather aimed at its legs, hoping it would destroy the badger’s balance. Charging head-first at the striped predator’s short appandages, the brown apprentice managed to stagger the animal, giving Swiftpaw a second or two to make another attack to the badger. If he couldn’t help by leaving them, at least he could support the she-cat’s attacks. She had definitely trained more than him in terms of battling. He would only stand in her way if he attacked the badger with his unskillful assaults.

[---d e a t h p a w ||]

[atrb=colspan,2][atrb=border,0,btable][atrb=style,width: 500px; border-top: 5px solid #000000; border-bottom: 5px solid #000000; background: url(http://i56.tinypic.com/14cb0pf.jpg);,bTable] [style=text-align: center; font-family: helvetica neue; font-weight: 100!important; color: #8b8d92; font-size: 25px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-transform: lowercase; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000;]Death darker than a black shadow in Moonlight, Beckons its prey into the unknown[/style][style=margin-top: -20px; font-family: helvetica neue; letter-spacing: 0px; font-size: 50px; color: #2E0854; font-weight: 100!important; text-shadow: 1px 1px 2px #000000; text-align: center;]Deathkit[/style][style=font-family: helvetica neue; font-weight: 100!important; color: #8B7B8B; margin-top: -7px; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 4px; font-size: 12px; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-align: center;]By a soft whisper in the Soul[/style][style=width: 90%; background-color: #555555; box-shadow: 0px 0px 5px #050505; margin-top: 5px; border-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius: 10px; padding: 10; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify; color: #000000;][scrolly:h(245),w(446),sy,as(position: relative; top: 11px; left: 0px;)]Her ears perked up, and immediately she knew something was wrong. Ashpaw barged into the clearing, his ears flat against his head, his eyes wide with terror, leaving a huge trailing fear scent behind him. Curses, she muttered, of all our luck, this would've been amusing if he hadn't been here. She licked her lips aggravated, yet curious to know what the tom could have upset so badly. Her question was answered shortly after his arrival. A badger, at least two times the height of the biggest cat in the clan and about triple times as burly. She hesitated for a split second before smiling, quickly readying to battle. She groaned again and shot a glance at Swiftpaw, Make him go away! she said with her eyes. It seemed to have worked. Ashpaw, go back to camp and get some warriors! She narrowed her eyes as the tom hesitantly took a step, and then arched his back as to battle. Stupid tom! She glared at Swiftpaw again, not neccesarily mad at her, but willing her to: get your friend off the battle field. She unsheathed her claws. They were trembling with anticipation, but she held back before attacking. For one, she may have killed plenty of warriors, all able bodied and in good shape --but this was a badger, two times that. It wouldn't be as easy, considering she didn't have the element of surprise on her side. And two, Ashpaw. What a nuisance, why couldn't he just do as he was told? It would've been so much easier without him; but no. He had to protect his little friend who was perfectly capable of protecting herself, even more than he was. Even if he didn't know that, it irritated her even more. So, now she had to act and fight? A challenge; but not one she loved, as she would've rather have been able to go full out. The black kit watched as Swiftpaw jumped onto it's white-striped head, digging her claws deep into the hard skin. Ashpaw then dived underneath the badger's legs, not entirely kicking it off balance, but making it stoop to one side giving her an opening. Alright, NOW She launched into battle, her paws aiming directly near the back of it's neck, her back legs landing squarely on ,well, it's back. She dug her claws into it's flesh, sinking it deep. She was a fighter, but she wasn't heavy, and her claws could still be considered a bit soft as she was the youngest of them all. Ashpaw! Dive under it's legs again! she called before biting deep into it's neck, making it swing even more violently back and forth. She hung on for dear life as it bucked around strangely. She could hear Swiftpaw's heavy breathing in front of her. Heh, she crackled, loud enough for only Swiftpaw to hear, Not too bad at all. I just wish that apprentice would go away . . . She didn't really care how her ally reacted to that, whether it be angrily or agreeably, she just was trying as hard as she could to pretend to be as normal as she could while she was fighting --so be that an easy task? 00c:: FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU . . . Suckish, I'm so sorry for the long wait, I was so sick and still don't feel very well, if I failed and somehow power-played, just note it as an OOC and such for me to change ^^ template by columba of on the edge [/style]

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