Rage Against The Hills; Hades.

[Hawkclaw]

HAWKCLAW
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"Be not afraid of growing old, be afraid of standing still"

Now was more of a confusing time than any. This morning he had visited Wildstar's den in hope of catching a word about clan affairs and instead left with Deputy position and a mix of emotions he never dreamed would plague his old heart. He was fearful that he would not last the test of time as the other younger Deputies had but he reminded himself that Wildstar was a new leader with many lives left - lives that Hawkclaw had sworn to protect and guide for as long as StarClan let him be. Greywhisker had always told him that he would succeed in anything he did, he knew in his heart that he owed her this much. He could watch over his kittens in ways they would never know.

As soon as he had left Wildstar's watch he headed straight for the lush green meadows where he could think, being asked only to return to the camp before sun-down patrol when he would be formally announced. Nobody stopped to speak to him, nobody challenged him on his goings and soon enough his broad paws had led him to a lush stetch of hills where there was nothing but a few alarmed rabbits and the silence he saught. He reached a particularly gnarly old log and scrambled on top of it to watch over the territory as he had been doing all these moons. Now he looked upon it with only concern and excitement.

"Well Thornstar, you have what you wanted you old furball." He growled playfully into the wind. Gently folding his paws below him he lowered himself to the bark and closed his eyes, feeling the open wind brush through his thinning tabby coat... One thing remained, how would the Clan react to the decision? He knew those who would be delighted but there were those that would be less than enthusiastic about listening to an old timer. Ah, speak of one such kit. he though to himself with a smile as a similar scent brushed his nose.

[/size]

[eagleclaw]

[/color][/i]’ The ginger tom thought, tilting his head to one side, as did when he was in deep thought. Not that he had a problem with being left alone in a corner to think about the things that happened to happen to him the whole day. He went on hunting patrols, border patrols, and some night stood guard over the camp entrance. The ginger tom knew that every cat in the clan, except the Queens, shared the same responsibilities as he did. His light brown eyes scanned the camp for anything that would peak his interest.

Lo! There was movement by the leaders den, odd that his attention should be drawn to it, and out of the crevice of the rock that was the entrance to Wildstar’s den emerged a burry, brown, old tom he knew as Hawkclaw. Eagleclaw watched the elder-warrior make his way down to ground level again, and leave the camp. Unnaturally curious he got up from his spot by the warriors den, and followed Hawkclaw out of the camp, keeping a safe distance downwind of course! ‘What is he up to?’ The tom thought. Then his mind flashed back to his apprenticeship. Following his mentor around, practicing his stalking skills. He smiled at the thought of being an apprentice; life had been hard, but not as hard as it was now.

The woods were quiet, and the thick undergrowth was thinning making way for Leaf-bare. The ground was dappled with burnt oranges, brown, and gold’s of Leaf-Fall. To Eagleclaw it was the height of his hunting prime. His orange tabby pelt able to blend with the surroundings of Leaf-fall was a great advantage, and his mind brought home at least one more piece of prey for the clan to enjoy. But Eagleclaw wasn’t hunting this late in the afternoon. Inhaling the smells of Leaf-Fall, (pine, bark, fresh crisp air, and the smell of musky leaves), he searched for Hawkclaw’s scent. ‘Why is he headed in the direction of the hills?’ And of course with the thought of the hills came Windclan. But, Hawkclaw would never cross borders, ‘So he must be going to the hills.’

Trekking quietly through forest, pleasantly surprised with how beautiful it looked in the slanting Leaf-Fall light, he slowed his pace to a slow walk and enjoyed what he could of the peace. Then, among some bushes, the ginger tom picked up the scent of a shrew. Figuring he may as well catch something for the both of them Eagleclaw set to work. Creeping low through the bushes, Eagleclaw stalked up to the shrew. It was digging round looking for something, food probably. There was a sudden change of wind and immediately Eagleclaw took the change to his advantage. Springing upon the shrew he trapped it between his paws and wacked it hard to one side, and was quickly upon it again. The dazed shrew didn’t have time to move before Eagleclaw snapped it’s neck. ‘Wonderful, wonderful Eagleclaw!’ He could hear his mentor saying in the back of his mind. Happy with his catch, Eagleclaw caught a mouse in the same fashion, and continued on his way towards the hills.

His trek was no in vain. For stretched upon a log was Hawkclaw. Not bothered by it, he knew that the experienced warrior would probably mind his presence. Not caring, Eagleclaw walked with their meal dangling by their tails, from his jaws. Coming through the tall brown grass, Eagleclaw respectfully dipped his head in greeting and set the shrew and the mouse in front of him. His light brown orbs met Hawkclaw’s mossy green ones. “Greetings, Hawkclaw.” Eagleclaw mewed, “Lovely this late sun-high, isn’t it?” He could tell that Hawkclaw had been expecting him by the way he was looking at him.

Pushing the mouse and shrew closer to Hawkclaw with a ginger paw, Eagleclaw added, “I thought you might be hungry.”

[/b] Hawkclaw | Hawk
count; 729.
muse; Okay.
ooc;Hehe. :3 Sorry if it's late.[/ul][/size][/font][/color][/ul]

[Hawkclaw]

HAWKCLAW
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

"Be not afraid of growing old, be afraid of standing still"

Turning his gaze to meet his fellow clanmates he nodded slowly, quietly accepting his presence. Noticing that the younger warrior had a particularly delicious looking mouse danging between his claws he frowned, hoping that the Clan had already been fed because he was in desperate need of some food having forgotten to eat after the days commotion... not a good thing if you're assigned to late patrol. Now the mouse and the shrew landed in front of him, bringing him quickly out of his inner monologue. "I hope the others have been fed because otherwise this hungry cat might just maul you Eagleclaw." He growled without menace while having a sniff at the juicy shrew.

It was common practice for Hawkclaw to question everything that was placed in front of him unless it involved fighting or some other violent necessity that he was used to so this friendly greeting raised the alarms almost at once. What reason did this young tom have to approach him with such cheer? If this was some sort of Leadership test from StarClan then they could just go hide in dung, he wasn't in the mood to go all judgmental and fair.
"Did you follow me here in the mind to exchange pleasantries and bring me freshkill or is there something you would like to ask me?" He asked simply. Everyone knew this by now that he was a rather blunt, grumpy old cat but it wasn't so much that... rather he just liked to get to the point instead of the awkwardness that followed him whenever he tried to make small talk.

"Thank you for the meal. I didn't mean to sound so rude there, I just have a lot on my mind as you probably know by now." He knew that officially his status hadn't been announced but he had guessed that the word had already spread hence the reason this cat was before him. He was well aware that he had been rather blunt when putting forward Eaglclaw's name but it wasn't that he would be a bad Deputy, rather he would need a bit of molding. Hawkclaw considered the tom with fresh eyes, acknowledging the small acts of kindness such as bringing him food without question and his general protectiveness of the Clan. Perhaps he had been quick to judge.

Perhaps.

[/size]

[eagleclaw]

[/color]’ He thought, turning his golden gaze to the view of the lake and the other territories. He knew something went down for him not to have been chosen, he knew that half the clan didn’t particularly find him trust worthy anyways. From the hills you could see almost everything! If they grass didn’t get in the way, or if you were an apprentice trying your skills at rabbit catching – which was purely a WindClan thing!

Memories flashed before his eyes of his mentor telling him time and time again: ‘Eaglepaw, you’ll never catch that rabbit!’ He remembered the exact spot he found it. There was a slight breeze and on it was the familiar scent of rabbit. It may not have been the same as the one he hunted all those moons ago when he had been an apprentice, but Eagleclaw remembered his foolish attempt at catching one.

“Yes, of course.” He answered bluntly, “But what good would it do the clan if their deputy didn’t feed himself?” Eagleclaw didn’t particularly like that Hawkclaw was deputy, in his mind it was the obvious choice, though. If he had been Wildstar, he would have picked Hawkclaw to be deputy over several clan members. But then, there was Seafang to consider, also. ‘Naturally, Seafang won’t like he choice.’

“Don’t apologize.” Eagleclaw mewed, keeping a level head, “I understand your concern for the welfare of the clan.” He blinked at Hawkclaw, “You’re welcome.” He finished. Looking back at the lake and thinking of how dead everything was soon to come, with Leaf-Bare close. He could feel it on the cold breeze that blew by.

[/b] Hawkclaw | Hawk
count; 341.
muse; terrible.!
ooc;Ugh! I ran out of muse.![/ul][/size][/font][/color][/ul]