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Post by //The/Pendulum/Swings// on Oct 30, 2008 0:04:34 GMT -5
Fadingsteps trotted into camp, a sparrow protruding from his mouth. Dropping it into the fresh-kill pile at the center of camp, he looked around, seeing no sign of Silverpaw. Where could she be? I'm sure she would have enjoyed a hunt, and we haven't really got much training in, with all my Deputy duties and all. He thought guiltily as he continued to survey the camp for his missing apprentice.
Poking his head into the apprentice den, he found her nest empty, and her scent cold. So she hasn't been here since morning it seems. He thought, starting to get a little irritated. If she really wanted to go off alone, she needed to check with him first. He'd thought she knew that. Anyways, it wasn't good for apprentices to be gallivanting off without their mentors. It reflected badly on him as well as her.
Well then I'll just have to wait until she returns. He nodded, sitting near the entrance to the camp, his back to it, knowing that if she came in anytime soon it wouldn't be prancing through the main entrance.
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Post by Hidden on Oct 30, 2008 16:40:58 GMT -5
Silverpaw paused to consider where she was going. She looked ahead and recognized the path to the Twisting River and her old home. That isn't my home anymore, she reminded herself. She pushed back a surge of once-happy memories and turned toward the WillowClan camp, focusing only on getting there and trying not to think of what would happen beyond the immediate future.
By the time the camp came into view, she was sprinting. She dove through the entrance and found that it was blocked by something. The apprentice stumbled to one side and looked up, wondering who had been mouse-brained enough to put something right in front of the entrance where any cat could trip over it. "Oh," she said when she realized that it was another cat. "Sorry, I--" A second glance made her realize who that cat was. "Fadingsteps! I, er..." Her mind went blank, but she was vaguely aware of how she must look. At least there wasn't any blood on her; that would be a lot harder to explain than a bit of ruffled fur. |
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Post by //The/Pendulum/Swings// on Nov 4, 2008 10:46:28 GMT -5
Fadingsteps looked around as his apprentice tumbled into the camp. Hello. He said calmly, not a cat to get ruffled by a wayward apprentice. Care to explain the reasons to your little disappearing act? Fadingsteps backed up from the entrance so he could get a full on look at his apprentice. Her pelt was ruffled and mussed, as if she'd gotten into some sort of trouble. Or a briar patch. Either way, he wanted an explanation and he wanted one now. Only after would he decide on the appropriate punishment.
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Post by Hidden on Nov 6, 2008 18:07:52 GMT -5
"I... I..." Silverpaw stammered, fumbling for a plausible reason for her to leave the camp. All she could think of was Icefire, and the image of her parents dead. She stared at her paws, wanting to burst into tears and knowing she couldn't, not if she wanted to keep her secret. She had to think, and try to come as close to the truth as possible. Why had she left the camp in the first place? It had been so long ago, she could barely even remember leaving. "I went out to... to take a walk." She hesitated, then closed her mouth. It was best to keep her story as simple as possible, so she wouldn't be punished for lying as well. |
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Post by //The/Pendulum/Swings// on Nov 22, 2008 17:45:26 GMT -5
He looked at Silverpaw, noticing the way she wasn't looking at him when she spoke. Fadingsteps looked over his apprentice, judging the truth of her answer. It seemed alright, though by the way she was acting he knew there was more than what she was telling him. A walk, hm? He said, keeping his voice calm and conversational. He knew apprentices acted this way sometimes, but they ussually didn't just sneak out of the camp to go for a walk. At least without telling their mentors or someone else. You could have just asked me, you know, if you were just going to take a walk. I probably would have let you too. You know you could tell me if something happened. He said softly. Though he was upset that she had gone off without asking his permission, he thought he saw something else just beneath the surface of her story, and that was something he wanted to know. She was his apprentice afterall, she shouldn't be keeping secrets from him. |
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Post by Hidden on Nov 23, 2008 3:11:09 GMT -5
Silverpaw nodded. Just a walk. "I'll keep that in mind next time," she said softly, not really caring whether or not he could hear her. She looked up suddenly, an idea forming. "How are you going to punish me?" she asked more loudly, sounding a bit too eager. "Are you going to make me stay in the camp?" That would be good. If she was surrounded by the rest of the Clan, Icefire wouldn't attack her. Or would he? The apprentice bit her tongue and forced back a shudder. Icefire would do anything to eliminate threats to him. Or cats he just didn't like. Silverpaw knew she fell into both categories. All she could do was tell his secret. She didn't know what Fadingsteps would be able to do about him; maybe he would just think she was crazy. But it didn't matter; she would end up dead either way.
The apprentice glanced around quickly and scented the air, trying not to be too obvious that she was searching for signs of her brother. Luckily there were none; he was probably making up fake evidence for their parents' deaths. She shivered as she imagined Icefire's claws ripping through her parents' dead bodies and leaned in towards her mentor. "Icefire," she whispered, determined to tell the whole story and terrified that her brother would come bursting into the camp to stop her. "He killed them. Violetlight and Spectrumfire. Only he didn't fight them; he used some sort of mental power to torture them." She spoke softly and quickly. "I saw him do it. He did it to my sister once, before we joined WillowClan. She was there too, and another apprentice from StreamClan. Think I'm crazy if you want; I'd think I was too if I were you. Pretend you never heard anything. But one day I'll die some mysterious death--maybe I'll fall off a cliff--and so will anyone else who stands in his way."
She took a step back and searched Fadingsteps' expression, ready to run if she had to. There was still time for her to escape WillowClan territory; maybe she'd become a loner, maybe she'd join StreamClan. Maybe she would just keep walking until there was nowhere left to go, until she was so far away that Icefire would never be able to follow her. [/blockquote] |
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Post by //The/Pendulum/Swings// on Nov 23, 2008 5:01:31 GMT -5
Fadingsteps looked at his apprentice, a shocked look on his face. Frozen, he took a little while to respond. When he did, his voice seemed no more than a whisper. I-I- He stopped, shook his head trying to clear the fog that seemed to close around his mind. It seemed so implausable that he could barely comprehend it. Icefire had some sort of gift that allowed him to torture other cats? It just wasn't something he'd ever had to consider before. He'd never even known cats had powers other than what Starclan gave medicine cats. Looking up at Silverpaw, he realised he'd been silent for too long. No. You are not leaving here. You are a part of Willowclan now, and nothing, esspecially your brother is going to change that fact. He tried to reassure her, while inside his head was racing. I knew there was something about that cat, something that wasn't quite right. Fadingsteps knew something needed to be done about this trecherous murderer, but it wasn't his place to decide what. His leader needed to know what was happening, and she needed to know now. Silverpaw, I want you to go into the apprentices' den. Rest a while. You've experianced something traumatic, and you're obviously tired. I'm going to talk to Mintleaf and she'll sort all of this out. Everything will be alright. Fadingsteps rubbed his head reassuringly against his apprentice's, telling her without words that he understood, and hoping she would take his advice. When Icefire did come back, as he was sure to do at some point, he didn't want Silverpaw anywhere near him if he was as dangeros as she said.
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Post by Hidden on Dec 12, 2008 18:52:26 GMT -5
Silverpaw sighed. "Okay," she said dully. She would go to the apprentices' den--for the time being. Admittedly she was tired, and she needed to think things through. Then she would decide whether it would be better for WillowClan and herself if she left. She couldn't just leave Icefire to do what he pleased, but she also couldn't do anything to stop him. She couldn't do anything; she was just a useless apprentice. What difference did it make whether she stayed or left? Silverpaw pawed unenthusiastically at the moss in the den, then lowered herself into her nest. At least for the time being, she was safe. She might as well rest. |
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Post by //The/Pendulum/Swings// on Dec 22, 2008 13:42:46 GMT -5
Making his way up under High Rock, Fadingsteps dipped his head, turning the covering aside to the leader's den. Mintleaf. It's Fadingsteps. I need to talk to you immediately. It's urgent. Fadingsteps' voice trailed off before continuing. He knew this would be hard for her to accept. She depended on Icefire for information and he was one of the only cats she still trusted. "It's about Icefire." He said loudly, hoping his little speech reached her ears. Sitting down outside he waited for her to grant him access. |
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Post by Hidden on Jan 2, 2009 0:11:42 GMT -5
Mintleaf lifted her head. Urgent? she thought, her dull green eyes taking on one of the few emotions she was still capable of feeling--bitter amusement. What could possibly be so important as to be called "urgent"? Can't find an apprentice? It was his choice to wander off. A kit dying? Cats die all the time. StarClan walking through the camp? Make sure they don't steal the freshkill; at that point Mintleaf wouldn't have put it past them. After all, they had cursed her to lead a Clan she didn't belong to. Did she even have any ValleyClan blood? She couldn't remember. Who were her parents? She thought back, and remembered a happier time. The smell of warm milk, a tail wrapped protectively over her. Feeling like everything was perfect. But it was just a memory; those feelings had to meaning now. Sometimes she wondered if it had all just been a dream.
Wasn't she supposed to be doing something? Right, Fadingsteps had urgent news. She looked up at him, but found that he wasn't there. She flicked an ear irritably. If he didn't have anything to say, he shouldn't have disturbed her.
He's waiting for me to tell him to come in, she realized suddenly. She also realized that an uncomfortable amount of time had passed, and that she couldn't care less. "Come in," she said, her voice slightly raspy from disuse.
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Post by //The/Pendulum/Swings// on Jan 23, 2009 20:03:21 GMT -5
[[Heh. Sorry 'bout the long wait. But My MUSE is back now! whoo!]]
Fadingsteps heard her summons, and entered her dwelling. He looked her over knowingly checking for signs of further deterioration of his leader. Thankfully he didn't see anything worse than the last time he had checked, except for a growing look of despair in her eyes. he nodded to her, willing himself to get it over with. This news would hurt her even more, and he didn't want to cause that. But he knew it couldn't be helped, he needed to tell her of Icefire's betrayal.
Icefire.. He began, then hesitated. Shaking his head he continued. I have learned that he has just killed two clan cats. One from Mireclan, and....Violetlight. Stopping once again to get his nerves up, he continued. This must be stopped. He is a menace and has killed not just one from another clan, but one of his clan's own warriors. It also seems that he is a terror to his sisters. You as a leader can't let this stand. I implore you, Mintleaf, to drive this traitor from our lands and ban him from returning. Or if you wish to kill him, I wouldn't be against that either. Pausing, Fadingsteps looked at her once more, gauging her reaction. Now I know this is hard for you, Icefire seems to be one of the only cats you trust now, but please listen when I tell you he is nothing but a murderer.
Fadingsteps retreated then, hoping he hadn't overstepped his bounds as deputy just then. His leader was sick, but not crazy. |
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Post by Hidden on Jan 24, 2009 22:54:42 GMT -5
(("His leader was sick, but not crazy." xD Quite the opposite.))
The gray leader looked at her deputy curiously, listening but not saying anything. He paused uncertainly a couple of times; Mintleaf waited until she was sure he was finished before she spoke. "Oh," she said, feeling slightly confused. "Erm... Is that all?" She spoke lightly, as though they were discussing the weather and Fadingsteps was freaking out over a light drizzle. The she-cat stood, suddenly feeling very old and out of shape. Strange that she hadn't noticed before then. "You can kill him," she said with a flick of her tail. "Take some warriors with you if you want." Mintleaf paused and stared directly at her deputy, her green gaze more alive than it had been in seasons. Her tone darkened and became serious. "Of course, I understand if you want to go alone. Make it a fair fight. Since it's obvious that you two can't get along, one of you has to go. Just do me a favor and make sure you don't both die; I need someone to help me with WillowClan," she spat the last word out, then stalked out of her den. She paused a couple of tail-lengths away from the entrance and waited for Fadingsteps.
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Post by //The/Pendulum/Swings// on Jan 25, 2009 17:41:12 GMT -5
((Haha. Ya, we know that, but before that post, Fading didn't. XD ))
Fadingsteps stared after Mintleaf as she exited her dwelling. She had just shook off the fact that her medicine cat was a traitor and had killed as if he had told her they were out of freshkill. Stunned, it took Fadingsteps a moment to remember how to walk. He had thought Mintleaf was sick, but now he suspected worse. She was genuinely crazy. Had she always been this way, so indifferent to important events? Fadingsteps ran to catch up with her, noticing she was waiting for him just outside.
M-mintleaf? He said hesitantly, still in shock. He didn't know how long she had really been like this, so uncaring and cynical about her own clan. Did you, um, hear what I said? That a cat you have trusted for moons has now killed and is a traitor to us all? He knew he shouldn't question her judgement, but he still felt stunned that she had brushed through this issue so uncaringly. So I should kill him? Shouldn't we just run him off and excile him? Taking a breath, he steadied himself. B-but if you think that is necessary, then it shall be done. Would you like to call the clan? Or should I?
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Post by Hidden on Jan 27, 2009 20:58:24 GMT -5
"I heard you," Mintleaf said flatly. "I still have two functioning ears, thank you very much." Her tail tip flicked irritably before she continued. "Anyways, it seems clear that I haven't been clear enough, so I'll spell it out for you. I don't care what you do about Icefire. If you want to exile him, go ahead. Kill him? I could care less. Go ahead and call the Clan if you want. It's more your Clan than it is mine." For the first time she saw the shock in her deputy's eyes. Was he really that afraid of Icefire? That was strange--she had never thought Fadingsteps to be a coward. Never before had her faith in him wavered. Maybe I should have chosen a different deputy, she thought hollowly. It doesn't matter. If he's the wrong cat, WillowClan is the one who will suffer, not me.
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Post by [don't]fear[the]reaper on Jan 28, 2009 11:00:26 GMT -5
[[-pokes head in- Mintleaf should die unexpectedly, or run off, and make Plaguestar more confused and angsty than ever. -pops out-]]
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![[don't]fear[the]reaper Avatar](http://fc41.deviantart.com/fs32/f/2008/190/8/9/Laughing_Bakura_by_lightinverted.gif)