Posts by VIPERKIT!

✦ ✧ ✦ Another meeting, another dollar. Jasperstar had already begun speaking as Crabpaw stumbled out of the apprentice den, grumpy rainclouds still billowing over his head as he sleepily threw himself into a sitting position in a small congregation of NPCs. Head tilted upwards, his exhaustion-filled gaze focusing on the Windclan leader as he continued.

//track ;)

✦ ✧ ✦ Was Crabpaw supposed to be out in the territory alone? No. Did he tell anybody that he had left? Hell no. Did he regret it? Hell yes. Was he in trouble now? All of the yeses.

Crabpaw had been trying to hunt, emphasis on trying. He had never truly got the hang on hunting, you had to be quiet and stealthy as to not scare your catch away. Crabpaw was heavy-footed and naturally loud, so everytime he crouched down to stalk a rabbit, his paws would find the biggest sticks to land on and break, which in turn scared the rabbit away. He had never been graceful in the face of defeat, all the nasty words that he knew flying from his mouth and his entire body shaking with an unbelievable amount of rage. Hunting was stupid, training was stupid, being in a clan was stupid and hunting was so fucking stupid. But, he needed to learn or he would never be a warrior and being an apprentice for the rest of his miserable life was not on his agenda.

Third try's the charm, right? Not for Crabpaw, it was more like the fiftieth time. Crouching down, hunkering in the tall grass of the moors, he crept forward and made sure to keep his big trap shut, ears perked forward intently and jaws slightly parted. He was dead set on catching this rabbit, one paw in front of the other...almost there.

The ground gave out under him. "FOXDUNG!" Crabpaw shrieked as the ground disappeared from under his paws. The grey tabby was dumped three feet down into an old badger den, the suffocating scent of the predator making all of the apprentice's fur stand on end. "HEY, SOMEBODY HELP ME!" It was no use, he was out pretty far in the moors; hopefully somebody would come soon or Crabpaw was gonna become Dead Crabpaw. Panic rising in his throat, the apprentice started to pace the small hole. He couldn't climb out, the dirt was squishy and practically mud, slipping if he put his entire body weight on them. He couldn't jump up because the walls were almost vertical; what kind of badger would dig straight down and not at an angle?

He was so fucking dead.

✦ ✧ ✦ Crabpaw had been zoned out all throughout Cloudpaw becoming a warrior. He could care less if the asshole got made back into a warrior, what was it to him? If anything, Cloudpaw becoming a warrior meant that he would be out of the apprentice den and Crabpaw would have to see him less, which was perfectly fine by him.

Until Jasperstar spoke that Cloudp- Cloudbounce would be Crabpaw's mentor. The tabby apprentice's face faltered, his nonchalant expression shifting into something that could only be described as a mixture of rage and horror. "What?! Why is Cloudpaw becoming my mentor? There weren't any other warriors to choose from? You're gonna pair me up with a traitor who can't even rub his two remaining brain cells together? It's like putting an older apprentice in charge of a younger one; he wasn't even a warrior until you made him one...which was right now!" The apprentice cried in frustration, pelt bristling as his eyes brimmed with the fiery glare of anger. This was unacceptable! Jaspterstar had officially lost his mind.

//ic opinions, crab is just salty as always :,)

✦ ✧ ✦ Of course the first face that he would see was Cloudpaw's, lips curled in a shit-eating grin as he looked down upon the angry apprentice stranded in the abandoned badger den. "Just go get somebody before I climb up there and claw your eyes out." Crabpaw snapped furiously as he glared up at the older apprentice, claws digging into the soft dirt underneath his paws as he continued to pace across the length of the small vertical hole.

"I don't care what you have to do! You could shove Cloudpaw down here and hold his paws until his brains leaked out of his ears from gravity." The grey tabby growled from the hole he was trapped in, voice projecting loudly to make sure that they heard every single one of his icy words. "I'm fine, don't get the medicine cat; don't waste their precious time." Crabpaw called up, flopping onto his rear and craning his head back to look up at the three cats looking down on him.

There was no pride to salvage for Crabpaw; it was all long gone as soon as he had fell down this fucking hole and couldn't get himself out of this dumb situation.

✦ ✧ ✦ Jasperstar was being way too kind and comforting than Crabpaw had first thought he would be. Crabpaw had been expecting to be scolded for his sharp tongue and his bad attitude, not coddled for his lonely and depressive words. He appreciated the fact that his leader was trying to believe in him, but it didn't seem like Jasperstar's words were really having a positive impact on the stormy apprentice. His green eyes were still blurry with tears and his ears were lowered flat against his skull, gaze averted from the Windclan leader's own.

He couldn't look him in the eye without breaking down into tears. Crabpaw had not the slightest idea why Jasperstar was getting into him like this, most of the time he would just brush off the words like water off a duck, but the leader's words were just sinking right into Crabpaw's pathetic brain. This was...stupid.

"T-thank you, Jasperstar." Crabpaw mumbled feebly, eyes still trained on his paws that were nervously shuffling through the tall grasses underfoot. "I'll...keep trying, even if it seems like it's not going anywhere. I was just tired of trying 'cause I wasn't seeing results. Maybe I just wasn't trying hard enough or I wasn't giving it enough time..." His words were barely audible as his head was ducked in embarrassment, body language practically radiating 'please don't look at me, i'm an emotional wreck!' Crabpaw was just...really vulnerable right now and all he wanted to do was to retreat into the apprentice den and curl up into the fetal position on his nest.

✦ ✧ ✦ A stick. Smokepaw wanted to get him out with a stick, what kind of stupid fucking idea was that? Crabpaw let out an angry hiss from the hole and gave the dirt a good smack to get his clanmate's attention, lips pulled back in a heated snarl. "Did you even hear what Cloud said? And that stick isn't long enough to get all the way down here; if you would pull the wool out of your ears and actually listen, you could cooperate with each other instead of trying to figure it out all by yourself. It's like I'm talking to three idiots who can't even bang rocks together, let alone get me out of this hole!" The apprentice snapped, practically fuming now as he dragged himself back onto his paws, head still jacked back to try and see if his clanmates were even there anymore.

If they had ditched him, he would pitch the world's biggest tantrum. Windclan wouldn't be even slightly prepared for thie shitstorm that Crabpaw would release upon them once he crawled out of the damn badger den.

//ic opinions :,)

✦ ✧ ✦ Crabpaw wasn't a stranger to questioning himself and his actions. He was a professional at overanalyzing and examining his actions when he did something that he thought was wrong. He would lay in his nest for hours in the early hours of the morning, green eyes glued to the wall as his mind wandered to the things he said and the things that he had done in the hours prior to him trying to get some sleep. It wasn't exactly the most healthy habit in the world, though most of Crabpaw's mentality and habits weren't exactly healthy, either.

"Are you done sulking yet?" The icy cold voice of Crabpaw came from behind the silent apprentice as Crabpaw came to stand beside the questioning apprentice. The grey tabby didn't say much of anything else as he took a seat beside the silent Smokepaw, maw downturned in his signature grumpy frown as he lifted a paw to brush some of his fur flat. He knew that his attitude probably wasn't necessary, but he didn't really give much of a shit anymore.

✦ ✧ ✦ The sudden question from Smokepaw had thrown Crabpaw for a mental loop. He...really wasn't quite sure why he had come over, maybe it was to get some anger out or maybe he was genuinely concerned for the apprentice. Crabpaw had a hard time sorting out his feelings to begin with, so there never really was a straight answer to the motivations behind the grey tabby's actions.

"You looked miserable and looking miserable is my job, not yours. What's bothering you so much that you're being all weird and sullen?" The tom's words were weirdly calm as he turned his stormy gaze to Smokepaw, not paying all that much mind to Morningfrost who had silently appeared on the scene. It didn't seem like the warrior was much of a priority in the conversation, so Crabpaw chose to ignore him and instead focus his attention on the issue at hand.

✦ ✧ ✦ Crabpaw had been sneaking out to Thunderclan each night to meet a tom in the other clan. He knew that it was probably stupid to do that, but he couldn't help himself. He fell so damn hard for Timepaw in such a short amount of time that he was lucky it didn't go south sooner.

Crabpaw knew that something was going to go wrong; something always went wrong for him. It was like Starclan had a personal vendetta against him, blessed him with misfortune and missed opportunities. Timepaw had been perfect in every way; he was smart, kind, witty and the perfect mix of sarcastic and self-deprecation that Crabpaw couldn't help but find irresistible. Timepaw was the only damn cat on this miserable planet that seemed to get Crabpaw and understand Crabpaw, the only one who could tolerate his angry ramblings and get under his skin to the softer side that was hidden away by seven sinful layers of salt and anger. Heartbreak was bound to happen to the doomed pair.

Timepaw went missing. The grey tabby apprentice searched all of Thunderclan territory, looking in every nook and cranny and calling out his name all night. There was no sign of his friend and he even managed to find a Thunderclanner who was on a singular patrol in the dark of night. He pleaded with the Thunderclanner until they finally cracked and told him where Timepaw was.

"Timepaw is missing, I'm sorry. I wish-" Crabpaw had turned on his heels and bolted away before the cat could even finish their sentence. Crabpaw had made it back to the moorlands, his face contorted in an expression of anger that was rarely seen. He was grumpy often, but he was never looking like he would murder somebody if they even dared look at him. The tabby apprentice had angrily stormed into Windclan camp and then left as soon as he had appeared. Deep into Windclan territory he went, dragging his paws and letting his emotions storm and finally...they overran him.

The tom couldn't walk anymore, legs shaking and giving out on him, forcing him into a sitting position. After a long moment, a howl of anguish ripped from Crabpaw's throat as the realization that the only cat in all of the clans that he had loved and trusted was gone; lost to the shadows of obscurity, melting into the crowd of faces until he could no longer be found. Fat tears of rage and sorrow fell from green eyes as Crabpaw could no longer hold back the sadness ripping into him like badger claws, sobs shaking him from head to toe as he sunk into the lush moorland grass around him. "F...Timepaw..." The whisper was enough to break him even more, paws hovering over his eyes to try and stop the heavy flow of tears running down his face.

Timepaw was gone and there was nothing that Crabpaw could do to bring him back. The sudden realization of this had sent the grumpy apprentice into a downward spiral of sobs and angry wails. There would be no consoling the apprentice tonight.

✦ ✧ ✦ Jasperstar’s words broke the storm of billowing clouds around the sobbing apprentice, his paws finally leaving his face and settling in the grass, claws digging in to mentally ground himself in the present. Eyes glazed with tears glanced up at Jasperstar, a look of pure agony etched on his features as his glossy eyes met Jasperstar’s concerned gaze. His throat was tight from all of the crying, words trying but failing to speak as his entire body continued to shake with the grief and sobs that were threatening to consume his body whole.

“Karma, that’s what happened. I t-try so hard to get close...to somebody and they just disappear! It’s obviously what I get...for being a piece of dung.” Crabpaw spat furiously, his tears turning into those of anger as he glared at the Windclan leader with a type of anger that was rarely seen on the apprentice’s face He didn’t want to lash out, he never wanted to be angry and snap at his clanmates, but he felt like this was all he could do and all he knew how to do. His angry stare landed on Hiddenflame and then Smokepaw, words of rage building in his throat and ready to be spat at whenever he willed, but he...stopped himself.

“It was stupid of me to even try...he was a thunderclanner; why would I even think of searching for somebody who would put up with me outside of Windclan? It was dumb...really, really dumb. “ Crabpaw’s voice was only but a whisper now, a dark shadow taking over his face as more tears ran down his wet-stained cheeks. He was pathetic...he had fallen for Timepaw and he had left, probably disappeared off to someplace much better than here. The apprentice seemed to collapse on himself when he realized this; everything he had done was...pathetic.

✦ ✧ ✦ The movement of Smokepaw was enough to make the crabby apprentice tense, ears flattened against his head as more tears dared to streak down his sullen features. He was about to snap, to say something that he would probably regret after the anger wore off and the aching hollow of loneliness really started to settle in. Timepaw has been everything to him...Crabpaw considered him more of a friend, but less than a lover. A weird middle ground that was tread on by few before Timepaw.

When Smokepaw rested his tail comfortingly on Crabpaw’s shoulder, all of his remaining composure crumbled. The walls that he had been building up ever since he joined Windclan were all but battered and broken as the touch of kindness broke the tabby far more than he would’ve liked. The tears were still flowing as Crabpaw’s demeanor seemed to crumble, his shoulders sagging and his strained muscles giving up. He sunk into Smokepaw, his side pressed against the apprentice’s side and his forehead coming to thump against Smokepaw’s shoulder. The anger had finally subsided and was replaced with the overwhelming feeling of sadness, tears still flowi freely from bloodshot dull green eyes.

✦ ✧ ✦ Hunting had never been Crabpaw's strong suit, he was too loud and mouthy for it. The prey didn't particularly enjoy being yelled and cursed at until they dropped dead, so most of the time Crabpaw ended up losing whatever he might have been trying to catch. After all of the shit that had happened over the last 24 hours, he really couldn't give less of a shit about catching prey for his clanmates. He barely was eating at it was.

"Nice catch." Crabpaw mumbled to Hiddenflame, his voice as monotone as a boring elder trying to captivate little ones with a stupid story. His face was expressionless, cold and unmoving as the apprentice trotted up beside the warrior to get a good look at the rabbit. "Looks like it'll feed a couple annoying mouths." He mumbled, voice still emotionless as his gaze shifted from the rabbit to Hiddenflame. Can you teach me how not to be a loudmouth? Yeah, like that was gonna ever happen. Nice try, Crabpaw.

✦ ✧ ✦ Jasperstar was right, he shouldn't have caught feeling for the Thunderclanner in the first place, he shouldn't have snuck out to see him in the middle of the night when he was supposed to be asleep in the apprentice den. He shouldn't have confessed to Timepaw; everything he had done, he shouldn't have. He appreciated Smokepaw's comfort; the grey tabby probably didn't deserve it, but here he was getting coddled and cared for like a sobbing kit throwing a tantrum. He didn't mean to make everybody crowd around him like he was some broken feline, he just...he was sad and he missed his almost boyfriend.

There were much more important things that these cats had to be doing besides watching over Crabpaw as he regretted his life decisions and making himself look more pathetic and sad than he actually was. "I'm sorry...you're right, Jasperstar." His voice was weak, like he had given up. Crabpaw gently pulled away from Smokepaw, fur bristling uncomfortably as the apprentice had been purring to try and make him feel better. Smokepaw was nice, but Crabpaw felt useless and pathetic enough, Smokepaw was being too nice and it made him feel...weird. "Thank you, uh...I'm sorry for a-all of this." Crabpaw mumbled softly, tears still falling as he tried to brush them away with his paw.

He didn't mean to draw so much attention. His body ached as the anguish pulsed through him, ravaging his body like a wildfire. He just...wanted to see Timepaw again, but he knew that that wasn't going to happen anytime soon.

✦ ✧ ✦ Crabpaw had started to calm down from his initial anger streak, his tears eventually drying and stopping, though his entire body was still aching and pulsing with pain. His mentor had appeared at some point, giving the silent apprentice lots of things to think about and mull over. Karma wasn't real, Eaglespirit...had a point, several points, actually.His larger body was pressed against Crabpaw's side, the pressure comforting as the tabby tom tried his best not to interrupt the much wiser and much smarter warrior at his side.

"Tha-" Crabpaw was just about to thank Eaglespirit for his words before the thud of something hitting the ground, the sound startling the teetering apprentice into another bout of panic, stomach clenching in anxiousness as he quickly rose to his feet. His slate-grey fur was bristling as he forced himself to look over his shoulder; Smokepaw was sprawled out in the soft moor grass, the sight of the downed apprentice sending the already-volatile Crabpaw into a panicked frenzy. "Foxdung, foxdung...did I say something to make him collapse?" Crabpaw fumbled over his words as he stumbled over to Smokepaw's side, green eyes wide in horror as the familiar vice of his nerves wrapping right back around his chest. "S-Smokepaw, are you o-okay?" Crabpaw was simultaneously trying to keep himself from crying again and trying to worry about the downed apprentice.

Crabpaw was so close to crying again, lip quivering and more tears popping up in his eyes as he lowered his head to Smokepaw, gently nudging him to see if he was awake or if he needed assistance. Smokepaw had a heart condition, but the tabby didn't really know the details about it. For all Crabpaw knew, Smokepaw could've died right fucking there, but he was breathing so he was okay...right?