A l.a.z.y. d:.a.:y

[c e d a r *]

The haze of the sun trying to fight its way through the clouds had woken up the tabby tom. Also, the chill in the air. The tom was curled into a tight ball, and yet still shivering, the air seeming so frigid, the light seeming so little. Falconpaw picked up his head groggily, wishing the day to go away, as quickly as his sleepless night had. He never did like the first few moons of Leaf-bare.

With a sigh, the little tom picked himself up onto four paws, and poked his head out of the apprentices den, sneezing, as a cold wind caught up into his nostrils. He steped back into his den, collecting himself, and giving his pelt one last sleepy shake, as he stepped out into the clearing. He would have liked to go hunting, for when he looked at the fresh-kill pile, there were only a few more pieces of prey left.

Falconpaw looked around, wondering if the dawn patrol had left, were on their way into the territory, or if they were well on their way into RiverClan territory. "Good morning?" he called out into the clearing, wondering if anyone was up. He sighed once more, and trotted around the camp, stretching all of his limbs. Once again, he sat down outside the apprentices den, grooming his short, frigid fur.

ooc;;
Notes;; Muse is okay. I'm sneezing a lot, because I don't like the cold either, so I thought I'd put it into my post :3
Wordcount;;
Muse;; Bad;; Okay;; Good;; Excellent;;
Status;; Not Finished;; Complete

[Silvercloud]

A pretty calico she-cat forced her way through the dirt place tunnel. Her Caribbean eyes were bright and full of spirit and life. Her ears were pricked and alert, acutely aware of the going ons in the camp. Clearly they had picked up the tom's questioning call for they swiveled toward the sound. Her eyes followed the direction her ears were turned to.

It was none other than Falconpaw. The tom was older than her and it was good to finally have some company this mourning. Her glossy fur was fluffed out against the cold. She was glad to have her long furred pelt that had thickened just for leaf-bare. The sun felt good on her back and warmed her slightly. The bitter cold wind prevented her from enjoying the sun's warmth more. There was little noise from the forest and the rest of the camp. She couldn't hear the sounds of the river and it startled her.

The camp was eerily quite. The river must have a layer of ice on it this morning. StarClan willing, the ice would melt later on in the day as the sun climbed higher into the sky. She sighed and watched as her breath turned into a moist, icy white vapor.

The calico she-cat climbed out the rest of the way of the tunnel and shook her pelt. Today promised poor hunting with the river blanketed in ice. The ground was covered in glittering frost and it crunched in places beneath the pink and black pads of her paws.

She excitedly padded over to the tom who sat at the mouth of the apprentices den. Perhaps they'd be chosen to accompany the dawn patrol. Her legs could use a good run. Besides the lake would be beautiful, it always was in the early mourning light. So she had heard anyways.

This was going to be her first dawn patrol. Her apprentice naming ceremony had only been days ago. Her whiskers quivered with excitement as the memories flashed through her mind. A fresh wave of excitement coursed through her body. It had been exciting and thrilling, the whole clan had been there and they had praised and congratulated her. It felt good to be praised and respected by the other cats in her clan.

The thought of fighting though hadn't exactly thrilled her. Wasn't there a better way to solve problem instead of with teeth and claws? Why not a more peaceful solution? A peaceful solution just had to be better than fighting? Fighting never accomplished anything.

Wind, River, Shadow, Thunder, and the others did nothing but shed each other's blood. StarClan stopped the fighting and told them no more, other than when absolutely needed. Wasn't that proof enough and why didn't they listen to StarClan when they created their own clans? Did any cat nowadays remember that story of how the clans came to be?

Minnowpaw sighed and forced her thoughts back to reality. she was only a few paw steps from where Falconpaw sat grooming in front of the apprentice's den. She came to a halt and sat in front of the dark colored tabby tom. She curled her dark colored tail over her paws neatly. The snow white tip of her tail blended in nicely white the white markings on her paws. Her chest and belly ranged from cream to snow white. It all depended where.

"What's up Falconpaw? Great morning isn't it?! Well I guess it would be if it weren't for this numbing cold, right?" Minnowpaw smiled warmly at the tom. Her bright and curious eyes stared into his.

[maxxy]

.:[L]arge paws trecked back into the clearing, the early morning light bounced off of his tabby fur. His stub for a tail moved slowly from side to side with his movements. Muscles rippled underneath his coat, and his shoulders powered through the enterance. Two apprentices caught his ice colored eyes, the deep blue and gold specks within them gave them depth, enough to seem like your peering into his soul, if he had one. The two apprentices caught the tom's eye, and he padded forward towards them.

.:[H]awkice towered over them already as a large tom looking on apprentices, but he was bigger than most felines anyway to begin with. He looked at them both and decided to regard them. Good Morning Minnowpaw, Falconpaw. His ice cold words flowed into the air, colder than the rest. His lynx auds perked to the the apprentices, and he wondered if they would like to go on a hunt with him. He sat back on his haunches, bunching his muscles together, and his skin rippled with the cold breeze that blew gently in the other direction that his fur lay. His tail twitched, his eyes seemed soft, and he was a caring cat, when he wanted to be.

.:[T]he apprentices looked well enough, but the prey pile was scarce, and with leaf-bare making its mark on the forest, he knew that they needed every scrap of prey that they could get before all of the prey hid in their holes. Another breeze ripped through his fur, making it stand on end, and Hawkice shook his head, letting a shiver ripple through his spine. The apprentices should go with him on a hunting trip, they would enjoy the trip out of camp, and they could learn a few things. He didn't have an apprentice, and they didn't have mentor's, just yet, so he could just help them out for a while before Oakstar assigned them a mentor..

.:[S}peaking of Oakstar, Hawkice knew she went to the Moonpool, but that was two day's ago, she should be heading home by now. Panic then enfused its way through the tom, and his mind went to the worst possible thing that could have happened. Tension stretched through the toms muscular body, and he lept to his feet. He looked at the apprentices, not caring what they were thinking at the moment. Come with me you two. Hawkice's head faced the entrance to the camp, and his body followed in a fluid movement. His large paws outstretched as he started trotting to the front of camp, towards the entrance. He would wait at the border for Oakstar if he had to.

.: knew I should have gone with her! Why Didn't I accompany her to make sure she was safe! Stupid fur-ball. Hawkice beat himself up, the whole way to the front of the camp, and then he slipped through the opening. Hurry up younglings. His sharp voice was thrown over his shoulder towards the apprentice's. He picked up his pace to a quick canter. Oakstar's two day old scent hung unevenly through the brush, and he followed it warrily. He got to the border, and then suddenly stopped to a halt. He waited for his love, his life, Oakstar must return safely home, or it was he who was responsible, and he didn't want the burden of Oakstar's death on his massive shoulders.

[Silvercloud]

Minnowpaw's black ears acted as a sonar system. The warrior's paw steps had caught her attention and his deep voice surprised her. The young calico whipped around quickly to face the massive tabby before her. He was huge! The she-cat shrank away from the large tom and sat closer to Falconpaw.

He was handsome and his muscles rippled like waves on the lake beneath a thick and sleek pelt. He was well groomed and he seemed tense and distant. Was something the matter with him? If so what was occupying his mind with thoughts that drew him away from reality?

The tom's deep voice rang out clearly in the clearing. He was asking them to accompany him. Where they going hunting or were they the dawn patrol? Excitement bubbled through the apprentice and she sprang to her paws. Finally something real to do!

Her white paws reached outward at the land before her, her strides long and quick, trying to keep up with the racing warrior. He seemed to be in a panic, a hurry, yet an air of command and seriousness hung about him. He acted calm, though his strides were hurried. Her little legs couldn't compare to the massive tom's enormous stride. It took her 3 strides to make up for his one.

Minnowpaw's aquamarine eyes focused on the path ahead of her. she didn't know if the tom, Falconpaw had followed or not, she was more focused on Hawkice to care.

When Hawkice abruptly halted she nearly plowed into him. Skidding to a halt she managed to slid in beside him. Her chest hurt and her lungs burned. Her heart was hammering against her tiny ribs. Minnowpaw drank in deep gulps of the chilly air. Clouds of moist vapor rolled out of her opened mouth like waves. Her color splashed flanks were heaving, she wasn't used to this kind of run in the early morning. She was still stiff and her limbs were heavy with sleep, her body hadn't yet completely awakened. She'd be paying for this run later.

Why had they come to the border, did this mean that they were the dawn patrol? Why were they just standing there, was Hawkice going to teach them something? Were they going to practice how to detect different scents? Were they going to get a lesson about the Warrior Code? She focused her questioning eyes glazed brightly with excitement on the tom beside her. She waited patiently to see what they would do next. A lazy day this wasn't turning out to be that was for sure!

[c e d a r *]

Falconpaw barely had time to utter a quick hello to the pretty she-cat apprentice, Minnowpaw, before Hawkice came up to the two. He stopped with the grooming of his fur, and picked up his head, his heart beating rapidly, his ears pricked, senses all alert. Come with me, was all he needed to hear, before clumsily scrambling to his paws, trying to hide the excitement that crept slowly onto his small face. His just forming muscles began to warm up, as he quietly followed Hawkice, wondering what they were to do.

As the three exited that camp, the wind suddenly picked up in strength. He tried his hardest to match the pace Hawkice was setting, Hawkice being one he tended to look up to. The tom could barely scent the leaving of the leader, Oakstar, as he began to wonder what had happened with her. Falconpaw kept his head high, his eyes glittering. He could scent some prey, some scents fresh, some stale, and unwelcoming. The tom apprentice couldn't help but let a grin spread across his face, his orbs glowing. Hunting, maybe.

Falconpaw wished dearly for a mentor, but, without Oakstar in the camp, there was nothing that could be done. They'd just have to wait. Something Falconpaw could do, but not with ease. He slowed his face, opening his mouth, a fresh, frigid air cooling the inside of his whole body, as he scented the area around him. Vole. Mouse. A stale blackbird, he thought. Falconpaw wondered if the river had frozen over, the forest seeming too quiet. The sun shone happily through the trees overhead, breaking through the thick morning clouds. The ground was hard, and Falconpaw felt as wonderful as the sun did.

The tom knew, though, soon prey would be scarce, and he already could tell, with the looks of the fresh-kill pile. He yawned, stretching his eager paws against the warming earth underfoot. He sneezed, something entering his nose, and he grimaced, not wanting to scare away the prey. Hunting? the tom asked quietly, his eyes shining, wanting to sink his teeth into a vole, or a mouse, for the clan members. He loved hunting for others, knowing just one piece of fresh-kill, can keep a kit, or an elder from becoming hungry.

[maxxy]

.:[L]ynx auds picked up the quickness in the two apprentices steps, and their heart rate soaring. The tom smirked and looked back down on the two of them, his eyes completely serious, yet still clouded with worry for Oakstar. Ice orbs looked at the younger felines, the air around them seemed cooler than ever before with his icy glaze. What do you smell? He asked them. It was a learning experience for them, but he also wanted to know if he missed something, like a two day old fox scent, or badger, or even dogs.

.:[W]hiskers twitched with a sudden quirk as the cool wind picked up and flattened his fur to his body. Hawkice bunched his muscles under the chill, making himself look even bulkier. He sat on his haunches, waiting for the apprentices to tell him what they smell, even in the wind. His brown tabby fur looked wind stricken, but glazed in the small sunlight. He looked across the border, taking in a deep breath, letting the scents waft through him, noticing nothing new.

.:[H]e then shot his gaze to Falconpaw. Head that way along the border, renew scent markers, and see if you find anything for atleast twenty fox-lengths.He pointed with his nose to where he wanted the apprentice to go along. Then he looked at Minnowpaw. Minnowpaw, I would like it if you could to the same in that direction. He nodded towards her, to go the opposite direction as Falconpaw. He smiled a semi-warm smile, the warmest he could manage. Report back to me if you find anything interesting.

.:[H]awkice's smile was cut off by a screach high in the air, it was a hawk. The tom shuddered under the ear splitting scream and eyed the bird hungrily. It swooped down a few fox lengths behind him, still in their territory, and started stabbing at something on the ground. A smirk crawled across his face, making himself look dangerous. He lowered himself to the ground and crept up on the oversized parrot. He slinked forward, his light brown fur picking up little twigs and leaves as he crept. He was down wind from the bird, and then he bunched his muscles and sprang.

.:

aw's made contact with the shoulder of the large bird, and his wieght made it top heavy, and its head crashed down to earth, snapping its own nech from the wieght of the tom and the surprise shock from the bird. It's body still warm, a peice of rabbit wrapped inside its beak. Hawkice smirked at his kill and then looked to see if the apprentices were watching, or if they had gone to do what he asked of them. The large tom shifted his wieght and turned to face the border, still sitting on the bird, and he waited for his apprentices to report back with anything they saw or scented.

[c e d a r *]

Falconpaw headed the way Hawkice had told his to, the wind striking at his face, chilling him to the bone. As son as he increased his pace, his became warmer, and the wind didn't bother him as much. In no time, Falconpaw was at the border, and renewing the scent marks, also trying to scent anything wrong within the area. He couldn't, as far as he could tell, scent anything but a few traces of prey nearby, and of course, the scent of Oakstar. Falconpaw sighed, and continued on his way down the border. When finished, the tom scented around.

As he heard a small scuffling noise, all senses became alert, before he found it, not too far away. A mouse. The tom had heard from previous tellings that in order to stalk a mouse correctly, you need your tail low to the ground, your haunches low, and your pawsteps light. He had tried a hunters crouch before, and he tried it again, stalking the mouse. He was about a fox-length away, and still, the mouse had not heard his slow approach. He decided to jump.

He just managed to locate the mouse, and tried to scrape it up with his paw, in order for him to bite down and snap its neck, but, the mouse wouldn't give up. With a struggle, the mouse leaped out of Falconpaw's paws and began to run toward the direction of Hawkice. I've finished renewing the scent marks, so, it's worth a try, the tom thought to himself, as he bounded quietly after the mouse. Falconpaw got the mouse under his paws once more, nearby the tom he had admired for so very long.

Gotcha! the tom hissed proudly at the mouse, his kill, limp under his paws. His eyes were bright, and his head was high, as the apprentice carried his nearly missed prey, back to Hawkice. He dropped the prey, after trying to mumble something inaudible to the warrior. Nothing unusual, or dangerous that I could report, Hawkice, Falconpaw meowed brightly, keeping his tone soft. There was the scent of Owlstar..but stale, and faint,the small apprentice mumbled quietly, nervous, as if he would get scolded for stating the leader was not back from the Moonpool yet. A hawk? the small apprentice mewed, amazed at the sight. More to admire!

[Silvercloud]

Minnowpaw spun around as she heard the rustle of feathers and a surprised squawk from a large bird. She hadn't seen the whole thing but a shiver of fear raced through her. That had been a spectacular kill and a stroke of luck. The hawk could have done painful damage to the muscular tom if Hawkice had hesitated or misjudged. Hawkice indeed was a very powerful and skilled cat. She was happy that he fought for them.

Turning to continue her mission she pushed through the tall grasses and realized that she was heading to the lake! The warm breeze and scents of the lake drifted toward her and she felt excitement bubbling up within her. Regrettably Minnowpaw realized that she wouldn't see the pebbly shores of the lake, she would have gone farther than the warrior would have liked.

Plus the calico hadn't been paying much attention to the various scents the frigid wind had wafted to her rosy colored nose. Hastily she scented the air and found nothing except the scent of twolegs. The scent surprised her and her eyes shot open. She took deeper breaths, trying to tell which direction it came from. The effort was futile. The scent was stale anyway.

Turing back Minnowpaw walked back along the path she had made only a few heartbeats ago. The other two toms quickly came into sight and she was finally able to see Hawkice's remark able catch. A rabbit and a hawk! She was breathless with disbelief at the sight before her only a tail length or so away.

Minnowpaw had heard the nursery tales of naughty kits being whisked away from camp if they didn't obey their parents. This had to be the first time she had ever laid eyes on a bird of prey up close. Now she realized that they could very well be true. The bird had a massive wingspan and a long sharp beak. It's talons were strong and powerful, sharper than any thorn she had ever seen. Hawkice however had killed the magnificent bird easily as if it was nothing more than a mouse.

Shaking her small head to focus back on the patrol she recalled the scents she had encountered including the scent of twolegs. "I didn't find much ,just the scent of twolegs, it was stale though. Nice catch Hawkice, will you teach me how to do that some day?" Her voice quivered with excitement. It would be so cool to be as great as a hunter as Hawkice. I'd be the greatest hunter in the Clan and out of all of them perhaps! Minnowpaw's whiskers quivered with excitement and her eyes danced like stars. Tail tail swished happily as she pondered on her thoughts more and more.

Sorry that this is so very late.

[mudmask]

Oakstar’s head was bent as she returned to Riverclan territory. Starclan had answered her, but she knew as well as they that she couldn’t have kits with Hawkice. Deep in her heart, she knew that there was no way she could leave him behind without breaking both of their hearts. The decision was theirs, which made it even harder. All of her life, the warrior code was what she'd been told to follow. Now the starry cats were telling her that her future was her own decision.

Just as she was leaving Shadowclan territory within two fox-lengths of the lake, three new scents filled her nose. Minnowpaw, Falconpaw, and Hawkice? Picking up her pace she began to run, and reached Riverclan territory. It was so very late now, and Falconpaw and Minnowpaw didn’t have mentors. Their ceremony would be today.

Silently and out of the apprentice’s sight, she touched noses with Hawkice and whispered, “Thank you for taking them out. Starclan has told me to keep our love glowing like an endless flame, yet the decision to have kits is ours alone…” She backed away from him, her eyes gleaming as she remembered the magical night with Mapleheart, the Starclan cat whom had spoken with her.

Swiveling her ears and turning, she spotted the two apprentices, Falconpaw and Minnowpaw. Smiling, she asked, “Have you two been watching our borders? Your time for training is far overdue, it is time for an apprenticeship ceremony.” Flicking her tail over both their ears, she mewed, "Go back to camp and get ready, Hawkice and I will be right behind you." Then she turned to Hawkice, tail tip twitching.

[Silvercloud]

Oakstar? Minnowpaw sniffed the wind curiously. Her eyes turned to the shivering blades of grass. They parted to reveal RiverClan's new leader and Hawkice. The young she-cat welcomed the new leader and dipped her head as it was a sign of respect. Had she heard them talking together? Nah, it was just the wind.

Minnowpaw felt excitement bubble up inside her as she heard her leader's words. They were finally going to receive their names officially! And a mentor! Minnowpaw however was going to miss the freedom of punishment she had as a kit. She was no longer going to be just an innocent kit. Now though, she would be able to attend gatherings and see RiverClan's territory. She was going to learn how to swim and catch fish. Last but not least she was going to be a warrior and she was going to learn how to fight and defend her clan! Well fighting didn't exactly thrill her it was necessary to defend herself and her clan. She would fight for that, to her dying breath.

Minnowpaw was going to be RiverClan's best warrior. She would be quick as a leaping fish and strong as a tree. Her name would ring through the trees and the river would whisper her name while the wind sang of her accomplishments. The lake would quake with fear at the very mention of her name. She was going to be the greatest warrior any cat had ever seen!

Minnowpaw glanced back at Oakstar and Hawkice, hesitant to leave them. Her pause was only temporary as she was quickly caught up in her swirling thoughts of excitement. She padded away at first slowly but she quickly picked up the pace as her energy was blazing with her excitement. So lost in thought she nearly tripped on her own paws. she cursed herself for not paying attention and for her own slowness.

Little did the young calico know that StarClan had other plans for her. She was to walk a different path. She was going to walk among the stars. Minnowpaw would be fighting different battles than those of ordinary cats. She was going to be a different warrior. Her weapons were not going to be her teeth and claws but StarClan themselves and an assortment of various herbs.