POWERFUL - open; bringing home rats

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    The trip had not been a long one, he was used to travel he supposed. After what had happened to the Blood House and finding himself in Skyclan multiple times he didn't mind having to take journeys to get to where he needed to be. The eastern border was primarily unclaimed lands, he liked to wander there a lot despite the fact that it broke his heart to be near that willow tree on the edge of Shadowclan's territory. But he knew that wherever Ruth was now that she was happy and whatever second chance she had managed to get she would still be happy. He prayed to Starclan that she was and he still visited her grave despite knowing that he was possibly given a second life. It was closure in a way he supposed but as he crossed the eastern border with three rats dangling from his jaws by their tails he would look over there, ears pulling back slightly before he turned away and continued to make his way back to camp. Mud stuck to his paws but he was learning to traverse Shadowclan's territory with ease, eyes narrowed slightly as he watched for more solid ground just so he didn't end up getting stuck in the mud, that would be the worst of it. But camp was soon ahead and he slipped inside before he dropped his three catches upon the ground, shaking his burning pelt before he picked up two of the rats to set them on the fresh kill pile. One he was going to give to one of the queens to help her make milk for her kits.

    GOD WILL PAY HIM FOR WHAT HE'S DO —

    Like a sneaking rat, the small black tom slunk out of the shadows, slipping forward with golden eyes enraptured on one of those very rats that Ember carried. Usually, the black tom avoided the other, the large tom intimidating and the history of him being the ex-Bloodclan Leader enough to keep Thornbite away. But, hunger ate at everyone, it was uncontrollable, and with his belly low to the ground and paws rapidly planted and lifted to crawl quickly to the large fire tom and his catches, his fear was forgotten. Once within a few tail-lengths of the other, he seemed to remember his life and Thorn stood a bit taller, trying to seem more casual incase the scary god-damn murder cat looked at him and thoughts rapidly drifting with excuses incase he was looked at and questioned. But his "casual" walk seemed forced and stiff, eyes flicking warily to look up at the other then back at his target.


    He could almost taste the rat now, it's warmth filling his stomach, satisfying him for another day until the cold hunger gripped his bones again. It made him salivate, his front fangs gleaming as he tried desperately to hid it. Then, finally, he was there and he used a paw to slowly reach for a rat, glancing idly out of the corner of his eye as a way to confirm it'd be okay for him to take one.

               

    BY MY BED I KEEP A BOTTLE OF DREAMS —

    The hustle and bustle of the clan’s life was rather muted for Gingerpaw at the moment, the young by numbly going through life with a heavy heart and heavier paws. He would plod about, eyes dull, lost in his own veil of grief at the loss of Sorrelstar and his own (albeit incredibly small) part of it. He had yet to come clean, but, that was something that also gave the boy anxiety. Still, he was thinking too hard on it, wasn’t he? Sorrelstar had meant so much more to so many others, others who were so much closer to her than he. I... I need to get over myself, get over it, he would tell himself numbly, before simply shaking his head.


    It wasn’t until he heard the shouts of a few queens did the boy raise his head, frowning ever so slightly. Ah- there was Yarrowkit, bolting towards the fresh-kill pile. That had to have been the cause of it- but then the boy noticed the rats that Emberthroat had brought in and the young medic apprentices eyes widened in slight alarm. Swiftly he made his way over, standing a little protectively near the kitten, and he skipped his usual formalities of nodding his head and saying hello. “Did you get these near the carrion place?” He asked, voice soft, but sounding urgent as he looked towards the older feline. Funny, he thought, I haven’t seen you before. Another new face? Possible, but Gingerpaw definitely wasn’t aware of the strangers backstory unlike Thornbite. Very rather self conscious then, the young boy shuffled his paws, turning away to look at Yarrowkit with a small smile. “Th-the ones uhm, over there were poisoned lately I... I such-wasn’t sure if you knew,” he added, though the more he looked at the rats that were brought in, they definitely didn’t look like the sickly ones from near the carrion place. He had to be sure, still, looking from his paws to the three cats before him, unaware of the actual distance that had been made instead to get the fresh prey.


    He was partially on his way to the nursery with one of the rats when he spotted Thornbite, he looked like he was trying to avoid detection which was rather odd to the large tom. It caused him to cock his head to the side and watch him out of the corner of his eye, tail flicking back and forth with a almost lazy manner. Humor was in his eyes though and he was about to drop the rat and speak up when he was distracted by the sudden yelling of some queens as Yarrowkit came bolting toward him. A warm purr left his throat as he gently set down the rat that he was carrying and he lowered himself just slightly to lightly poke his nose against Yarrowkit's. "And one day you'll be out there and bringing home the great catches yourself. I'll be proud to see that too." He smirked gently before he then nudged the rat closer to the young kit to see if he wanted to try it for himself as he wouldn't be bothered in going back out to get more of them. Though he slowly rose up as the medicine cat apprentice came forth from where he had been to stand protectively near Yarrowkit.


    A thoughtful look entered the ex-bloodclanner but he didn't say anything as he was questioned about where he had gotten the rats from. The mentioning of carrionplace was also brought up and he never went over there. Those rats had more issues than the ones he was used to and he had no wish to be bitten by them and have to suffer through the sickness that often came with them. "No, these rats are pretty clean. Fit for the clan to eat and I'll be going out to get more if I can. Since I'm pretty sure Thornbite is trying to sneak himself one."

    BY MY BED I KEEP A BOTTLE OF DREAMS —

    He listened intently to Emberthroat’s words, visibly relaxing as the location of the prey was confirmed. Still, though, he felt a slight burn of embarrassment under his coat, finding himself currently unable to look up at the older warrior and instead focus on Yarrowkit, watching as the younger boy first drew back, and then more eagerly approach the kill again.


    “Th-that’s good, then, sorry for getting worked up on the matter,” he said, letting out a small laugh as he did so. Best to laugh at his own worry than to get too worked up on it otherwise, right? He finally managed to lift his gaze back up to the older tom, after watching Yarrowkit try the rodent before hand. “It’s good to have nice prey for the clan then-“ eyes flickering over to Thornbite, now, a soft glimmer in his dull eyes as he actually acknowledged the other feline now, too. “-and I’m sure it’ll be, uhm, well appreciated.”


    GOD WILL PAY HIM FOR WHAT HE'S DO —

    Eyes on him and it caused his fur to flush, the small black tom quickly stamping his paw back down. He felt so warm he thought steam might emanate from him as he made a show of looking around, looking for this mysterious other Thornbite, before meeting their eyes with a confused yet clearly embarrassed gaze. It seemed to say Are you talking about me? He then awkwardly shuffled over to the three, muttering, I was-was just gonna take one to Briarstar, make sure she's strong from her travel to the moonstone. Anyway, ahem, what's going on, fellows? His stomach punished his lie instantly with a monstrous snarl, and he cursed himself silently in his mind but looked at the three cats before him, acting as though there wasn't an angry badger causing turmoil in his stomach. He quickly glanced at each of them, ears perked expectantly.