Posts by Storksplash.

    _{STORKPAW – – ✧}

– – ✧ The coyote attack had only happened a few days ago, and while the residual cloud of daily struggle still hung heavy over her gait, the incident was more of a bad dream to the tabby than anything. The gathering was coming up, and she had a moon or so to recover and continue preparing for her warrior trials. Though the apprentice was definitely more optimistic and a bit kinder than she would like to admit, she still had quite the tongue. She winced as she stood up from her nest in the medicine cats den, a bit surprised. I thought for sure I was feeling better yesterday! She supposed that was the infectious effect that optimism had on her, making every little anxiety a daydream to be ignored. Her problems only nagged at her now, rather than eating away at her mind.

With a lazy stretch that sent more than a few of her bunched up muscles into relaxation and bones to popping, she yawned, "Where are you lazy medicine cats at? My legs are killing me!" Though she had complained much similarly every single day since the incident; much more so compared when she had fallen dangerously ill twice, though she was dying then. Now? Not so much. In fact, she felt more alive than she ever had in her entire life lately.

SPIDERVENOM

Thinking. "Speaking." Text.

You just feel twice as far, you just feel twice as far – –✧

    _{STORKPAW – – ✧}

– – ✧ Faintly noticing the appearance of Lilykit, and noticing how Nettlekit had grown quite the spark of curiosity in his eyes, the own tabby's amber orbs gleamed in excitement as she puffed her chest for her story. "It was there - at Skeleton Gorge," she told in an ominous tale, "I was surrounded, on a lone rock, by the mangy beasts." Unsheathing her claws, she drew an illustration in the dirt of a circle, and the choking walls of the gulch itself. What a crude drawing, compared to how horrible it had truly felt. "The walls of the Gorge loomed ominously, and the creek was full of treacherous waters. The coyotes drew closer, and closer. Smolderingpaw and Briarheart tried to help, but it was already too late." She paused for dramatic effect, and continued. Her eyes danced in delight as she tried to read the kits' reactions. "A coyote had crashed over me, and was drowning me! Just when I could feel my own mind slipping away from me, and my heartbeat sink, I blinked -- and I had drowned the monster, just like that.

"I guess his friend wasn't too happy because one of them flung me out of the water like I was nothing and I got this," she stated, proudly point to the scars set squarely in the midst of her shoulders with her tail. "Nasty coyote bite. I'm sure they'll think twice before messing with DarkClan now."

Thinking. "Speaking." Text.

You just feel twice as far, you just feel twice as far – –✧

    _{STORKPAW – – ✧}

– – ✧ Storkpaw had never been physically injured before, not even a scratch as a kitten, though she was not very rambunctious as a child. She had experienced plenty of other tragedies however, such as green cough, and the mysterious disease that had essentially ruined her career as a warrior for good. Maybe she was just naive in that regard, but she truly had figured she should have been better by now.

At the sight of the pitiful seeds and Spiderpaw's remark, the she-cat seethed on the inside, fire almost brimming her amber optics. "So just because I'm not the only cat means I'm less important? Gee, thanks, you bee-brain." Flicking an ear, obviously perturbed, she added, "And don't 'snrt!' at me ever again."

Her gaze soon traced back to the seeds, which just so happen to accompany a mouse. "What in StarClan is this?" She sniffed the rodent, then stuck a tongue out in dismay. "This looks like something I would catch. And I can't even catch anything." The mouse was hardly a meal for the growing black tabby, but deep down she knew it was leaf-bare. Spiderpaw's criticism clashed with her own insecurities. She had issues, but who didn't? At least she was trying to fix them.

Well, the keyword was trying. "Here, we can share." In the blink of an eye, the tabby had gulped the seeds raw. No water, no food; just seeds. They would probably hit her like a rock later, and she knew that. She just didn't care. Groggily stumbling into the nursery again sounded like a plan more than any, and taking the "easy way out" just seemed like another step closer to enabling herself to relax. Relaxing was the last thing she wanted to do, despite the fact it was likely the first thing she should have been doing. "You might have a lot of other cats to take care of, but if this is what we have, this is probably a good time to start thinking about yourself for once. You bee-brain."

She nudged the mouse in between the two apprentices rather curtly (and with a poorly concealed wave of agony from her shoulders), as if a silent demand lingered that whispered in her annoying tone, Oh, and I probably won't eat this if you don't, you fleabag.

Thinking. "Speaking." Text.

You just feel twice as far, you just feel twice as far – –✧

    _{STORKPAW – – ✧}

– – ✧ Every word stung. Trust me when I say I don't care.

He didn't care. That should have made her feel happy. The less anyone cared, the less she could care, and the less what anyone else had to say about her was for the best. Butterflies fluttered through her stomach, though she chalked it up to the poppy seeds she had eaten. She furrowed her brows together, at first in sadness, secondly disappointment, and finally anger. How dare he tell her she could just go and hunt. He didn't know the first thing about her. He didn't know how hard it was for her to see. He didn't know how hard it was for her to hear. Everything she did was a struggle, it was a miracle she was still an apprentice at this point.

No, she wasn't worried about him. He said it himself, he didn't care. No one did. Not even the tom that was supposed to nurse her back to health. Not even her mentor. Not even possibly everyone. That was why she almost had tears in her eyes, she was so frustrated, filled thoroughly to the brink of spilling. She was used to this, though, and the tears retreated, anger replacing them promptly. She chalked this up to the poppy seeds as well.

"I know how to eat," she snapped back, staring the tom straight in the eyes. She felt herself melt away at his gaze almost immediately, though, and stole herself back. She tore her focus to the mouse: the only thing saving her from those mismatched orbs. "Fine." She sputtered, "Thank you." Two words was all it took to set her heart on fire, beating wildly with trepidation.

Hesitation took hold of her, and she even looked away from the mouse for a moment. Almost as if she was worried either the rodent or the sharp-tongued feline would bite her, she murmured, "I was just trying to make sure you were okay." Okay meant everything in a single sentence, and then and there it took on so many definitions at once. At the same time, it was shallow. Either way it masked the shy, kind apprentice that had been hiding beneath all the nagging and complaining.

She took a few small bites out of the mouse. It tasted bittersweet. This was all they ate lately: scraps. She should've been happy just to eat at all. I wish he didn't bring me this. I said thank you and I don't even like it. "... Fleabag." It was a quiet insult, which sounded more sad than anything else.

Thinking. "Speaking." Text.

You just feel twice as far, you just feel twice as far – –✧

    _{STORKPAW – – ✧}

– – ✧ She had just pushed and pushed, and had finally pushed the right and wrong ones at the same time. He does care about me, she realized, blushing a bit as he said specifically how it was his job to make her okay. Though it was nothing special, it felt nice, to be in that special spotlight, to play this game of cat and mouse where they simply annoyed each other all the time. It wasn't necessarily the healthiest thing, but maybe neither of them were very healthy, figuratively and literally.

There was a million things she could say. You deserve a break. You're a lot like me. I didn't mean what I said. There was a billion things she could retort. At this rate, you'll starve before I ever do. You're right, but you are the worst at making me feel okay. That's just what a fleabag would say. As he turned to leave, her eyes watched him intently, almost as if they were pleading for him not to go. She wanted to talk to him. She needed to talk to him.

"Well, thanks again. I hope you feel better." She was sure the words would ring quite hollow, though, considering she had just insulted him for the nth time.

Thinking. "Speaking." Text.

You just feel twice as far, you just feel twice as far – –✧

    _{STORKPAW – – ✧}

– – ✧ She longed to reply with a chipper, "DarkClan is doing great!" But the scars on her back, Smolderingpaw's deteriorated face, and everyone's overall unease from ShadowClan had left the Clan with bittersweet memories of what life used to be like. "We've been better," she admitted with a flash of hurt in her eyes, "but it could be worse."

lizardgaze.  

Thinking. "Speaking." Text.

You just feel twice as far, you just feel twice as far – –✧

    _{STORKPAW – – ✧}

– – ✧ Yikes! She attempted to (poorly) conceal her unease. Not a single ShadowClanner replied back. Does ShadowClan really hate DarkClan this much? At least the last time she had come by, they had been kind, it seemed like. That may have been mostly because she had almost gotten killed, but still.

At the gentle, unfamiliar touch of Oakridge's fur, for a moment she sniffed the air, wondering if a monster was about to cross the thunderpath. Then she realized he was simply trying to ease her, and her fur smoothed itself out. "U- Um, right." At the words of Alpinefrost, she supposed his statement was not unexpected - he had taken down an eagle, and mentored brave Smolderingpaw - but she feared the words would set fire to kerosene.

She had so many words she wanted to say, but she quickly realized it was best for the group if she kept her mouth shut. Also, she couldn't necessarily see it, but predictably Briarheart would likely snap at her for being so foolish as to continue speaking when no one wanted her to be heard. She stayed out of sight, and out of mind, meekly marking the border as she stole weary, curious glances at the ShadowClanners, as if scared they would try to attack her despite the coyote scars on her back.

Thinking. "Speaking." Text.

You just feel twice as far, you just feel twice as far – –✧

    _{STORKPAW – – ✧}

– – ✧ Storkpaw always seemed to get the worst patrols, didn't she? One time her patrol had abandoned her, leaving her to care for a tom wounded by an eagle. Another occurrence, she had almost been run over by a monster. Last patrol, it seemed like ShadowClan was ready to tear her ears off, although she supposed she could go for a round two. In all honesty, this patrols were quite taxing on her at this point, but she was trying to push herself more. She was not going to sulk while her whole apprenticeship passed her by.

So at the scent, she knew they were ShadowClanners, but not the same ones as before. Storkpaw paused awkwardly, staring blankly at the ShadowClanners like they were ghosts. She knew if she said anything she'd be shooting herself in the foot. Still, there was so much to say, so much to ask. Why do you all hate us so much? Why don't you reply? What did I do? It seemed horrible to judge a cat by the Clan they were aligned with; well, maybe unless they were BloodClan. That was a much different scenario, though.

But at this rate, ShadowClan and BloodClan seem like they mean the same thing.

Thinking. "Speaking." Text.

You just feel twice as far, you just feel twice as far – –✧

^{❝ dear fellow traveler, underneath the moon ❞}

^{✧ It was more than a relief to be told she didn't have to be here, though the request unsettled her for that reason. Her mentor often encouraged her to be proactive, so for her to be fetching everyone made the situation seem quietly dire. Without a second thought, she nodded to the black she-cat, glancing at the ShadowClanners for a last glimpse before she headed off to the camp. I wonder what's happening?}

^{oakstar.   EAGLESTAR.   OWLGAZE.}

^{❝ dear fellow traveler, underneath the moon ❞}

^{✧ Storkpaw heeded her mentor's words and crawled out from the medicine den. She was unsure if she felt good enough to participate today, but if she didn't have to be too flexible with her front legs, she'd be okay. If not; well, she could still watch. "Front and center, Briarheart!" the apprentice chirped, settling into place nearby. "Don't worry, I won't push myself too hard." Okay, that was a lie, but ... she would try to keep the promise.}

^{❝ dear fellow traveler, underneath the moon ❞}

^{✧ Her first instinct was to say the following: "You don't know?" "Every day, duhhh!" "You're definitely a mouse-brain." But ... after the spitfire between her and a certain medicine cat apprentice the other day, she thought better of herself. The white kit was doing her best, just like Spiderpaw. It was still a stupid question, though. "Every full moon," the apprentice sighed, approaching the small kitten with an exhausted smile. "I've never seen you before. Are you one of Nightblaze and Oakridge's kits? I heard they were having kits, or something like that. Or are you Lilykit's sister?" All of her guesses were wrong, unbeknownst to herself.}

^{❝ dear fellow traveler, underneath the moon ❞}

^{✧ Storkpaw didn't recognize this voice, so as the words continued, she only heard bits and pieces. Her best guess was probably that she had passed the borders at some point while chasing this bird. But, hey, not her Clan, not her problem! "Chase, did you say that? I can hardly see it. Can't you just shut up and help me?!" she hissed, her whisper hushed. She looked worriedly at the fuzzy color of its wings in the trees, then back at the she-cat. "You're a ThunderClanner, right? Don't you guys like, climb trees, or something?"}

^{❝ dear fellow traveler, underneath the moon ❞}

^{✧ There was nothing wrong, besides her legs, but after the medicine had gone down, that was little more than an afterthought. No; the medicine cat would find her ailment was much less of body and more so of mind ... or would heart be more appropriate? And truthfully, she was quite snappy with everyone, but he was not wrong that him being a medicine cat only enabled her behavior further. After all, he couldn't just dismiss her away like others.}

^{But now he had just said he liked how she never sugarcoated what she said, and that she was honest. How bittersweet that even he accepted her facade, and finally her true feelings were being called out. If the past words of conversation had not been exchanged, she would have found some excuse to either leave, sleep, or ignore him. She felt bad now, and it was obvious she owed him the truth. The truth, though; it was hard for her to swallow. Realizing everything, and how she felt, was one of her worst fears.}

^{No, she couldn't keep taking the easy way out. No matter what she had to say or what stood against it, she had to tell him how she felt. But how do I tell him this? "I- I ..." Oh, the words wouldn't even come out! Why was she choking up like this? Her throat was tight, and she unknowingly held her breath, making this harder than it had to be. "It's because ... it's not like I like you, or anything!" The anger was pointed, and brimmed with frustration, like a dam about to burst. "But I do like you. There, okay? I said it. You can laugh at me now. I'm waiting."}

^{Maybe now Spiderpaw would finally leave her alone, and never speak to her again. That was what should happen after saying something like that. "But you don't care, so it's fine."}

^{❝ dear fellow traveler, underneath the moon ❞}

^{✧ "DarkClan? Well, we've just been going through the usual. Fighting coyotes, catching eagles since all the easy prey is gone, and just ... well, tension between us and ShadowClan. We've welcomed in two stray kits recently, and I'm sure by the next moon or so DarkClan should have a few more warriors." This was no different than what often went on between other Clans, right? Although Storkpaw had no clue that other Clans likely didn't have to worry about coyotes or killing birds of prey.}

^lizardgaze.  

^{❝ dear fellow traveler, underneath the moon ❞}

^{✧ That was ... a mouthful, but Storkpaw gave a slow, unsure nod since she had sort of heard most of it. Being hard of hearing was not a great trait to have, and Storkpaw couldn't just fill in the blanks to information she knew nothing about. With a pause, she aimed to nudge her fellow apprentice, and curtly purred, "Well, have fun being the bait, Smolderingpaw! I'm sure you'll be great at this!" No way in StarClan was she being bait, that sounded scary. What if the eagle attacked? There wasn't any water nearby and she was still recovering from her injury.}