Posts by quickclaw

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    Clearleafs gaze pierced beyond the camps thickets, nostalgia filling him as he looked first to RiverClan, then to Snake Rocks. His fur was ruffled again by a strong breeze from the east. "Well.." He said unsure where to start, however it came to him soon enough. "I was a spoiled kit, in a sense and adventure got the best of my mind, it swallowed every corner. I annoyed my mother until one day she gave in to my demands and led me secretly around ThunderClan territory. She was hunting and was mistaken for an enemy at the RiverClan border. It was because a she cat was giving birth nearby and her mate was defending his kin. The toms first strikes went awry and soon it became a bloody battle. I watched him die from his wounds, one in his throat to much to bear. My mother limped away, but as we retreated she fell into an adder hole. It was odd, that their should be such a thing at the RiverClan border, but their was.


    "I met Dewpelt then, or rather Dewkit at the time his mother not lying far away." Clearleafs eyes were far away again, sadness and regret deepened his eyes. "He came to me looking for his mother, blind and helpless. I was scared so I just curled up drifting into uneasy sleep. As much as I wanted it gone in the morning, the bodies were still their. I think she felt guilty for not providing me siblings, however..." He cringed making the slightest of movements, heavy words excreted from his mouth "It was still my fault." He paused gathering himself, shivering but not from the cold. "I'll tell you more some other time but I need to gather myself, ok?" His eyes floated back to Smokepaw, and he tried to give a weak smile.

    He looked at the pair with affection running beneath his pale eyes, unperceived but never the less there. He was about to let words loosen from his lips but Snowflake intervened with a new realization that hit home. He squinted a little, not satisfied with the fact of separation, however he consoled her. "It will be alright, I'll visit you everyday, and the other queens can keep you company." Her eyes were dim but he continued, unknowing of the outcome this would have on either of them. "Besides Hawkpaw will visit you, what with her new duties and all. Even if she wasn't obligated to she would anyways, from the way you talk about her. Not only that but as I see her now I know its true just from speaking with her. We may not be there twenty four seven but either of us are two tail lengths away."


    He flicked her shoulder with his tail hoping to tread lightly on the rough waters of the topic which had been opened. He answered aloud not turning towards Hawkpaw, but simply trying to lift the mood. "As for you Hawkpaw, well I gotta say I thought you really were a medicine cat apprentice, you move with such confidence. Not only that but I've been kinda distant, I'm not much of the social type, others like it that way." He peered into Snowflakes eyes. "Well some do, but not all, he noted smiling wistfully.

    Marquekit squirmed uncomfortably, his body felt heavy as an unknown pressure slowly settled in over his body. His lids rose heavily, the disturbance of his slumber revealing itself. Their were voices, his ears picking up only a fraction of the myriad of sounds outside the now nearly empty nursery. the small framed full furred kits curious nature made a wakeup call to his limbs, so that very soon he was on his paws. The homely den was the only place where his eyes really ever were allowed to close, or where he allowed them to anyway. It seemed like from birth h'ed always been watching everything, asking more questions than necessary. Wonder hit his wide blue eyes contrasting his calm form as he padded from the earthen rock hollow.


    The presence of the brown white fur spread from his body, deciding not to cling close held a soothing affect. The throng of cats masked his view of what they were bothering themselves over. It wasn't fair, he wanted to see, to ask questions. He bounded forward under the legs of the taller adult cats before feeling a paw step atop his bushy black and gray tail. He screeched in annoyance jumping forward with his back turned to the direction of the cat who he'd failed to see. The number of cats in one place amazed him, unfortunately this daze broke whatever focus the small kit could muster and he was barreling towards Nightkit due to his poorly performed reactions.


    ------------



    Dewpelt was crushed between many of his clan mates, and beginning to get claustrophobic. I know we are all supposed to be close, but this is ridiculous. His usual optimism sheathed the sharp annoyances biting his brain. His eyes searched for Rainwhisper, however it was futile for the moment. He would ensnare his chance to be beside her soon enough. He was a fairly tall tom, and was able to just make out several cats whom were encircled. He was never the best with scents in his clan, though he thought he detected strange scents. His task of deciphering them was made harder by the mounting RiverClan scent that overwhelmed the area.


    He began easing his way to a better view however sound met him first Desolatesouls back. Their deputy was back? He almost didn't believe his own ears until the crowd began to simmer and he could visually see process her. A quick smile came and passed as Dewpelt realized she looked distant, almost fearful of her clan. He was eager to know of her predicament, although not particularly close to her. This was simply out of lack of time spent together. Pushing all other thoughts aside he waited patiently, sitting with his tail under paw. Knowing Northernstar would likely sort out the situation.

    Clearleaf felt his muscles relax as he eyed Wishingpaw entering her den. That gave him reassurance that whatever happened to his clan mates was being attended to. Ideas about the incident floated in his head, perking his curiosity. He had a vague idea of what had happened, this thought drawing him. He rarely allowed such interaction, but feelings arose in him that told him he could help. That he needed to help, and if it was less than that he could satisfy his inner thirst for truths. Clearleaf had been gathering supplies when he'd heard the distress call, however to his dismay upon his arrival he found only a light trail of blood leading back to camp. He'd picked up three separate scents, one somehow similar, nostalgic, but he couldn't be sure of his discernment till he paid a visit to the victims.


    He owed his scenting to the work of his own design, constantly inventing up new ways to fight without fighting himself. The tom was always searching for new supplies, and wonderous blue prints. Some frowned upon this, calling it lazy, he called it his work. Either way he edged into the moss rock den peering over two apprentices and their current aid. "Hello Wishingpaw." Clearleaf dipped his head respectfully while in another motion he dipped his paw purposefully into a pile of discarded thorns. Squinting in pain slightly he pulled his paw back into the safety zone underneath his body. Trying his best not to let The medicine cat apprentice notice. The thorn was a slight improvisation to his original plan. The silver brown tom lifted his head back to proper position viewing the trio.


    One he knew as Scarpaw, although he didn't talk much to him like so many others, however Clearleaf remembered him due to an incident with his father in past moons. He'd left him as Darkit possibly 10 moons ago, the date escaped him. He wasn't aware of many a cats progress within his clan, which told him why he'd no idea Robinpaw was.


    His eye caught another in the corner, a Windclan cat. Could another have been with the injured pair, it might explain the foreign scent. He let his mouth open so the scents could hit its roof, it was difficult to pinpoint anything from all the herbs but he soon made sense of it. This was not the third cat, and he doubted if this Windclan she-cat would've drawn blood. "I love the smell of your den Wishingpaw, it always sooths me." He had hopefully excused himself from picking out the scents of each cat with that remark. "Don't mind me though its just a thorn, I can wait. After all you have bigger things on your shoulders." He eyed the apprentices closely. "What happened to you two? A run in with a tree?" He joked knowing already he would break no ice with two wary cats. They had just been attacked, according to what he had gathered at the scene.

    Clearleaf listened to Robinpaw and Scarpaw, gathering what little Intel he could to aid his suspicions. Obviously neither of them wanted another cat to know of their doings, thats how at least for the moment it seemed. He took care not to stare to idly at the pair, lest they suspect him. He was dumbfounded when Robinpaw came to her feet and walked out into camp. As they left Clearleaf watched amused wondering Where do they have to be in such a hurry? Then again maybe he was getting older than he realized, becoming senile. No his kits weren't even born yet and Clearleaf usually trusted his intuition, however not his luck. He didn't want to be drawn in but felt he was obligated to learn what drove them, what purpose was there for their movements. For hiding things.


    That scent wasn't complete proof, but it was reason to go sniffing around. He smiled at his own pun, but realized soon he might loose track of the apprentices. He had to wait just as th sun rose and fell. His trickery would likely reveal itself if he followed them out. He took a breath waiting patiently for the annoyance in his paw to be freed.

    OOC: I would have appeared in this thread, because it was perfect for my cat. But I was at work. It was real busy and I worked from 11:00am to 3:08 pm. Also I work tomorrow from 3:00 to 9:30 although usually I work from 5:00 to 9:30 Sundays.


    To give you a bearing of my timezone it is 4:00pm when I post this. Just thought I'd let ya know.

    OOC: Just tell me if you don't want this post here and I'll erase it. Also is Sparrowfeather with you, leading you? Or did he give Scarpaw, and Robinpaw directions?


    Clearleaf's patches of silver that dotted his fur were radiant under the moonlight. He figured even if he didn't enter on the scene now he would be found sooner or later. "Scarpaw, Robinpaw." He halted for a moment to let the travlers turn and face him. If he spoke without reason, then his time following them would be wasted. The large tom had been prepared to leap out at Sparrowfeather, but patience had payed off in the end. The conflict had been resolved without need of interference. Not to mention he gathered the intelligence he'd desired. A small army. The words rang through his ears and the simple fact that he couldn't leave them to die, two fighting an army was suicide.


    However his fathers killers might have been in that army. For the first time he started to contemplate on others being taking the blame. He'd blamed himself so much, and he needed to see for himself if he truly was to blame, or if these cats were just cruel.

    Clearleaf raised one eye for a moment or two reflecting on the task at hand. "Let me just check how bad it is first." He doubted if it would be light on his pelt. The large tom darted off readily into the torrent of white. His very marrow seemed to ice over as he temporarily exited the safety of the den. It wasn't hard to observe by mere feeling that the flakes were piling atop his pelt, as pressure increased on his body. It however was bearable, but not comfortable. He quickly hopped back into the calm retreat adjacent to him and padded calmly back to snowflake, shaking the flakes from his fur. "I can see my breath out their." He smiled shivering slightly. "We should be fine as long as we keep close and are able to warm each other, I mean its not like its more than 10 tail lengths away. Even if we cant see, we've been around enough." He smiled, "You ready?" He brushed up against her feeling soothing warmth trickle over him, and eventually into him.

    Clearleaf twitched uncomfortably, for the moment Scarpaw seemed all business. Clearleaf attempted to loosen his expression a little eventually letting a small sigh roll between his open lips, stirring the night air. "I'm sorry for all the secrecy, this all began the first time you were attacked at Snakerocks. I responded to a yowl from the distance but I found only a trail of blood. Normally I would have just pursued you in order to help you, however if the loner was still around I could fall prey as well. I sniffed around a bit, then... well something perked my curiosity."


    Clearleaf licked his ruffled fur quickly forcing it to lie flat, nervousness was a stronger edge for him than logic. Two scents seemed familiar, I couldn't Identify you immediately but I realized where everyone had been placed. You know, where they'd been standing. I couldn't get anymore out of that so I followed the blood trail a ways then merely by scent I stumbled upon you in the medicine den. I tailed you along the riverside to find out your involvement in this whole mess, then I went back to Snakerocks for another look the same night..." Clearleaf stopped there and began to look slightly embarrassed. He was babbling in front of an apprentice, even he had a bit of pride in himself.


    "I'm sorry my point is I figured you may have been following Sparrowfeather. Which I can see is true." He added with a long stare wondering how a cat could leave their own child. He was about to be a father and even he, the so called cowardly cat who lazed around all day had that idea farthest in his mind. "I heard Sparrowfeather say she has a small army, not only can't I ignore that threat and allow you to go alone, but otherwise I have to find a group of cats. They may be linked with my fathers death."


    The same drowning feeling that had haunted him for five full moons arose within him, to claim him. He paused. "I need to see something for myself." A fickle thought arose in him as his eyes edged once again to Sparrowfeather. "That you should be so lucky Scarpaw." He tried to break the ice with a wry smile. He wondered if the apprentice even trusted him, if either did.

    He nodded slowly. "Yes, I am. Besides that I don't plan on getting in your way, I haven't exactly had great luck around others. I will help you in anyway I can." Under his right paw he pushed out cobwebs and honeysuckle into view. "I use these herbs mostly in my projects, but I can spare it for other reasons." He hoped the pair wouldn't rat him out for taking herbs from the clan, it was for a good cause after all. "I'd like to avoid bloodshed as much as possible, but I know I will at some point likely have to partake in it." He padded a little closer to them hoping to view some sign of acceptance, even if it was acceptance in the fact that they did not turn and leave him. Stopping he stated, "You never know when your gonna need me and I've left others behind. For now anyway." He didn't want to sound desperate, but knew he did.

    OOC: Was eating :P


    Clearleaf shifted slightly thinking about why he needed this so much. "I need to know whether or not I can trust myself. "Maybe I'm deluding myself, maybe its only vengeance. I'm sorry, I know I'm not making much sense, its just I have trouble with memories, well mine more specifically. If you happen to remember Claypelt he was my father, and I saw him die five moons ago. I should have died with him, I was the one who sent the rocks tumbling onto us at Snakerocks. Either way fate had other plans and here I am. I'm regretting it less and less everyday with my mate and I expecting. I just feel empty I'm not sure if I'm fit to raise them unless I can overcome myself first." He nodded again with his eyes closed. He had finally dropped his guard and was now openly telling them truths he found were becoming easier to speak with every passing moon.


    "I'll tell you all of it another time, but I think right now, we need to get moving." He gave Scarpaw a questioning look as if to say, do you approve? He was earnestly glad to hear Robinpaws voice, devoid of the thorns brought by accusation. Something he heard very little. He had been accusing himself for so very long, sandwiched by two worlds, at least one was beginning to ease up.

    Clealeafs eyes widened and then settled quickly at the remark. "I made a promise." His thoughts wandered to Snowflake. "In any case I'm not going to die here. Besides if I stay and am haunted by my memories I cannot be the father I want, thats the same as failing my family all over again. I'm not reckless, don't worry, just wait and see." He really was confident, however he was speaking from emotion more than his normal logic.

    OOC: naw don't worry about it. Your doing fine, besides how do I know its not her personality. ;D Also Clearleaf will lighten up, he's just in one of those moods, and I'm sure you'll make use of his talents. Although he's big he isn't much for fighting, claw for claw anyway.


    A flame of anger rose up in the tom, at the she-cat but he suppressed it feeling foolish. Breathing deeply in the crisp night air he mewed, "please I don't want pity, I know your trying to help but... I dislodged that rock. You remember the cave Tigerstar used as shelter for the dogs, I set it atop us. I want to prove myself wrong but I don't think words will change my feelings until I see for myself. Their were six or seven loners, and that small army remark from Sparrowfeather. I'm thinking I could find them their. I'm sorry I'm not usually this cold." Said Clearleaf finding his usual familiar and calm voice again.
    He looked at the snow under him trying to change the subject.


    "If we don't get moving soon or later our paws will freeze off. Those ice shelters, I can help you with them." He relaxed and began planning. "Its my thing."

    OOC: Yeah its cool Oakherat, believe me when I say I know the feeling.


    "Right." Clearleaf stated happy to be getting something done. Working with anything always calmed him down. Digging at a steady pace next to Robinpaw he began to wonder what would be their move when they actually found this she cat. However he quickly turned to a more hopeful topic, wondering almost instinctively how to improve the outcome of what he had seen the night at the stream. He had given Scarpaw and her a bit of a wide birth when they'd spoken earlier. Feeling awkward about having pried which was unlike him, so he was happy to relieve himself of that unwanted personal duty.


    When he'd dug a pile he found sufficient he stopped. Digging under the snow den might provide something, but he was not sure yet, so he mused over the idea looseing himself in a daze.

    After some time an idea flashed into Clearleafs head. He turned to Robinpaw, "You up for a bit more digging." He saw the grin and wondered for a moment or two but moved onward. Without waiting for an answer he happily told her his plan. "Why don't we dig about three feet of the ground away. Then we will use a small amount of snow to form a dome against the ditch walls, for support. That way even if another cat is close to us he cant see us, plus the ground will be covered in snow and our dome hidden because it is made of snow." The exited tom drew an arch with his paw across the air, as if it were already in front of his eyes. "Then we can place a few piles of rock, tall maybe a foot or two in the ditch and cover that with snow to make the arch, doorway. I'll make a small tunnel in the earth leading to the open arch where we can exit and post a lookout. Oh and get out in the morning he said flustered. " He got so worked up when it came to creating things, he almost always lost his composure.

    OOC: I'm about to watch a program on animal planet with bro it should be over in thirty minutes. It is almost nine here. One of you two can even temporarily rp Clearleaf if you want, but I wont be long.

    OOC: Not bad. ;D I use a lot more info even though I feel as if sometimes it takes away from the current story, reflecting on the past to much maybe. It means your post is fine and I'm pointing out my own problems. Also sorry it took longer than expected, their was another episode so I was gone for an hour.


    "That looks great. Now we just need to dig out a small tunnel no more than the length and width of a cat to get out one at a time." Clearleaf leapt into the ditch, his mind on his work as he tediously broke apart the sand with his claws unsheathe until it modeled a miniature den. As he did this the large tom observed the pile of dirt behind him produced from the digging, another expression of delight lighting his face. "He let his voice ring loud and clear to Robinpaw, "Dig a hole above where you here my voice. It will let us out in the morning without revealing our snow dens, or if we have to get up in the night for whatever reason." Clearleaf was about to begin moving the dirt when a thought suddenly hit him. "Make it slanted. That way we can actually climb out with no struggle." Its not that he'd forgotten this fact, it was simply it had never occurred to him until now. He built off his ideas. They slowly came into his big picture when he was in the middle of his work.


    Nothing was cut and dry for the mostly silver furred tom. not his mind and not his life. He wondered if she would object to the hole, after all warm air did rise, which meant the group would be colder, however he already had that problem solved, and would tell her eventually. Whether she asked or not.