Letters in the rain. [open]

[faythe]

R O W A N W I N G
"Let me tell you a story..."

Drip. Drip. Drip. Began the first of the many raindrops as the brown tabby wandered from place to place within the camp. He glanced up at the sky, watching with a calculated look of disbelief as twitched with impatience at the idea that it could possibly be raining. "No." he spoke, his usually cheerful tone was flat with disgust as he shook his poor head and glanced at the distance between him and the nearest shelter. Oh how he hated the rain! With a passion to, it wasn't as though it was a crime against anyone or anything...he just passionately hated water. Sure - in small quantities water could be considered at "good thing", but in a rainstorm...well he would pass up that opportunity any day if he could. Drip. Drip. Drip. Splash! Rowanwing eyed the sky again with a weary eye, he still had so much he needed to do! Check on the pregnant queens, speak with the elders - perhaps swap a story - entertain the kits so that the queens, that had already given birth to their own kits, could take a short break. Doubling checking the mental list he had made he added two more things, hunt and cover the fresh-kill pile with something to keep the food from rotting...although it would seem they were short on food to begin with. Hunt. He should go hunt before the rain really began, perhaps he could snag an apprentice and gather more with their help.

Starring at the sky again, moss-green eyes watched with a keen sense of interest. The rain was an awful thing to time, but to the rest of the world it is needed...severely needed. Growing wide-eyed as another drop fell on him he hurried to his stash of dried leaves he had collected from the forest and worked frantically to cover the fresh-kill pile, then started work on patching holes in his own make-shift cover for various dens around the camp...he wasn't the only one to like the dry when the rest of the world was wet outside! Another rain drop fell on his nose, forcing him to freeze and glance around the camp - for the most part the camp was somewhat deserted, a few lazy apprentices here and there...the elders mingling among one another, the queens sound asleep while their kits got into oodles of mischief. The young tom let out a sigh of relief, then got back to work before it really started to pour rain out there.

Above camp, there was a crash! followed by and angry boom! as the storm approached. Rowanwing, true to his name, flew about a foot in the air at the noise and landed swiftly on his feet again as a few of the gathered apprentices snickered...but he wasn't the only one to jump, a few feet ahead of him was another startled cat who landed sprawled out on the ground, he trotted over, ignoring the unruly apprentices that had laughed - for they too had jumped out of their own skins at the nose...hiding their bristled fur was not that easy of a task, and then nudged the young apprentice that had fallen flat on his face up. "You okay?" He mused as he looked over the cat with concern, the cat nodded shyly and Rowanwing nodded back as the cat scampered off to asses his own injury, and take away the insult. Another grumble of thunder shook the camp. Although it had not started pouring yet, the poor tom's fur stood on end as he watched the camp burst into another flurry of panic and activity. He loved Windclan so...but so desperately did they need another leader. He hadn't seen much of anyone in a long time...where had they all gone? With a sigh he sat in the middle of the camp and look around. Musing again, he spoke with his casual tone to no one in particular. "What shall I do now?"

[Fernear!]

It was beginning to rain, nay, it began to pour, and most creatures were utterly drenched within seconds. The moor kept the lithe WindClan cats away from the surging lake, though it provided near to no shelter to take from the storm. Asleep, and soon to be waking, was a silvery she-cat, her pelt now a deep grey. Her tail twitched as her comfort level continually diminished until she was pushed into the new day by an over-sized raindrop. Swallowleaf sighed and stretched, her forelegs reaching out into the sodden grass and her ears flat on her head, the insides safe from the storm for a brief moment. Bang! the thunder sounded loudly and soon she was up with a brisk jump. She heard snickers from her clan mates. It seems she wasn't the only cat alarmed by the suddenness of the uproar. Her first steps stole all heat that had been stored in her petite paws, she continued on into the heart of the camp.

Swallowleaf hadn't taken the initiative to see how her fellows were dealing with the rain. She put together the pieces of the puzzle provided and figured they were like she was, just a little bit uncomfortable. There was a hint of unease caught in the air when the second bout of thunder sounded. This time she caught the preceding lightning, so she had been prepared. In all honesty, Swallowleaf was just as optimistic as ever. As soon as the third strike of lightning flashed she was awake and ready to patrol the camp. Her step was light and her eyes just a reflection of her movements. Seeing the apprentices laugh at a warrior reminded her of how she used to be as an apprentice - just like them, laughing at anything that could provoke her cords. She herself chuckled sarcastically at the sight of Rowanwing leaping into the air as if he had become his namesake. Swallowleaf walked quietly behind the group of apprentice and stalked the one with the heartiest laugh, the rain now overpowering most of the sounds in camp. Seeing her ambush was due, she picked up speed and tapped the tom on the back before bumping into him. This brought about a chorus of laughter from his den-mates. Swallowleaf smiled, in her own cheerful way, but this smile was more so motherly than anything. Up to this day she hadn't thought about having a family, no tom would put up with her blithe outlook on life. The she-cat loved kits but figured she'd never have a litter of her own. The thought didn't last long before she caught up with Rowanwing after chatting with the queens.

"What should you do? Well, I say that you should start to find good in this damp situation. Just think of how wonderful everything will look when the sun returns!" Her eyes were serious and humorous at the same time. She knew how much the tom hated the rain, she could tell from just standing by him. Was she the only one being so positive about the rain?

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[faythe]

R O W A N W I N G
"Let me tell you a story..."

Still watching from his cozy spot in a somewhat damp - but more importantly not soaked section of ground the tom witnessed the little prank the Swallowleaf played on the poor apprentice with a sly grin. What a cat, good natured of course, and most likely fun to be around although Rowanwing had never really spoken with her, he did at least recognize the silver tabby with a glance. His gaze lingered on her, not because she was especially attractive or he was in anyway drawn to the young she-cat, but more because it seemed she was enjoying the rain. He couldn't have that now could he? Why! He would even take an oath to Starclan that the rain was truly a bad omen for cats - curse those Riverclan cats that so loved the water, what normal cat could possibly love the rain! About to call out to the she-cat he paused, his gaze slipped into the rare moments that he lacked his silly, sly attitude, and into a more serious mood...How to make her as miserable as he?

Part one. How to lure the she-cat over? Lacking his usual charms in this said wet environment he didn't bother "wooing" her as he might other cats, just for the kick. The soft, easy-going tom loved to make others feel special and accepted, but most of the she-cats in camp knew he was just playing - this tom didn't fall head-over-heels for anyone...not since Honeyheart. He glanced around, watching for some chance to call her out...but before his shot came he found himself already blessed with her presence as she walked forward to him. Perfect. "What should you do? Well, I say that you should start to find good in this damp situation. Just think of how wonderful everything will look when the sun returns!" His serious demeanor dropped in an instant as he stared blankly into her eyes, what had she just said?!

He must have looked confused, his green-eyed gaze held a hint of shock at such a radical notion and his jaw probably dropped at least ten feet with little traces of the sly comeback he had before she had answered his rhetorical question. Now drenched, he wreaked of wet cat and his colors looks more calico than brown tabby when he was properly groomed. Thick puddles of mud began to form around the pair and had already coated at least his self and his butt from just watching...but the rain would soon wash that away too since he was already soaked to the bone and it just kept getting harder. Bouncing back to at least a little bubble of calm he glared at the she-cat. "When the rain becomes something that I actually enjoy, then thats the day that rabbits will grow wings and fly!" He watched her, knowing she was only really kidding for many of the cats knew he hated water to begin with...but still...he could have had a look to kill on his face that moment.

He chuckled lightly, at least as much as a cat could laugh. A merrrow of laughter. His gaze had brightened just a little when he spoke and with a playful gesture he dug his paw into the soft, muddy earth and flung a awful of mud at her. His sly smile found a soft spot in his heart as he grinned nearly ear to ear with amusement. If there was anything he had learned over the years it was that laughter was the greatest cure for sorrow. "If you really want a bright side to the rain miss Swallowleaf, than I suggest you enjoy the mud, because its the only thing between you and me and I'm in the mood for a good bit of fun!" His words slurred a little bit as he spoke, smoothing out the harsh tones of his frustration with the rain as he flung another awful of mud her way then stood, taking a few steps back...and then nose-dived into the mud with a whoosh! as many of the offending apprentices from his earlier stunt became coated with a lovely shade of brown. "I'd say it suits us, at least the rabbits would never see us coming in this sort of weather." That classic thingyy grin of his could light up his face in an instance as he studied the damage done around him, perhaps the rain could make for a good day.

[Fernear!]

The she-cat started with a contented mrrow. Without saying it she had been the source of something good in this day, or so she felt she was. Rowanwing's little act of revenge of the apprentices made Swallowleaf feel as if their new style of cat-camouflage would assist them in their hunts, in this weather what else could you see but mud and water? Swallowleaf was still standing where she had first spoken to Rowanwing, the look on her face almost as priceless as his had been while he watched her ordeal. Her eyes glared on sarcastically while her tail twitched back and forth thoughtfully. He was just begging to get some of this glorious mud back. Now, being the she-cat that Swallowleaf was, she would regret this in due time, but for now all barriers fell and she let herself follow her newly forged plan. She walked slowly over to a mud patch, just to the left of mud-nosed Rowanwing, and flopped into it with a splat! To make things even more unbelievable, she continued on to flip her other still somewhat silver side! The looks on their audience was now the closest thing to priceless. They were perplexed by their clan mates' actions but they wanted to know what the witty she-cat would do next.

"I must say, the mud does feel quite nice... How about you have a feel!" with the drop of her last word she bounded over to Rowanwing and rubbed up against his right side, coating it in mud. Much alike her own body, she went to his other side, with speed normally seen while hunting, to coat it also. After her little ploy she stepped bashfully in front of him, her step a mask of her face, which was now in a cat-like smirk. Another symphony of meows picked up behind her. They were quiet in seconds, for they didn't want the warrior to splash them again. "I do agree, the rabbits wouldn't see us coming! The colour makes your eyes that brilliant shade of green, too," her natural way of noticing things had once lead a kind tom to believe she had fallen for him, that was not the case. Sure she had found him attractive, but there was something missing. That sense of security you could say. Many she-cats wished they were as bold as Swallowleaf, and just looking at her now I'm sure a few would have felt the urge to join her. She had just painted mud over a handsome tom with a great personality to boot! If Swallowleaf had any likings for Rowanwing or any other tom for that matter, her boldness would usually cover it.

Her footing was resolute and definite, she wasn't as far from Rowanwing as he had when her played his trick. If she got muddier it would be OK, she was already drenched with rain and mud. The rain had yet to let up, some would even say it picked up. This made the mud thinner and more watery, even the more comforting to the cats. Swallowleaf was included in this uncomfortable group. Just because she was enjoying herself didn't mean she didn't like the weather.

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[faythe]

R O W A N W I N G
"Let me tell you a story..."

And the rain still poured. The tom, who, indeed did not like the rain glanced up at the sky with his fur still soaked with a fine mixture of mud and rain drops, looking much like a delicious chocolate cake - with frosting of course! Distracted once again, he had forgotten that the she-cat was there, at least until she spoke up again, "I must say, the mud does feel quite nice... How about you have a feel!", as she then preceded to get him covered with even more mud than he had though was catly possible! He grunted with surprise and turned again to face the she-cat when her remark caught him off guard. "I do agree, the rabbits wouldn't see us coming! The color makes your eyes that brilliant shade of green, too," His green eyes did appear to be greener as he studied the puddle of water that had yet to be disturbed by all of their romping in the rain…but they also held a small hint of his longing for brighter days – and not just the kind where the sun shines and the rain was gone.

Still covered in mud, the tom looked more like a mud monster than a cat. He paused, eying the world around with with an amused grin propped up on his face as he dropped to all fours, took a testing step to make sure the ground beneath him would not give out, and then lept with full force at Swallowleaf. He wasn't aiming to hit the obnoxious cat, just aiming to the left where that undisturbed puddle of water (and mud) lay. Landing with a satisfying whooooooshh! and splash! he turned and rolled onto his back batting at the she-cat with a playful paw as a horrified Warrior, most likely his old friend Ravenear or his former apprentice Eaglefeather, let out a yowl of furry as the poor innocent bystander of a tom got caught in the onslaught of flying mud. Of course this tom only felt a mild concern for whoever the poor cat that was caught in the crossfire's well being - if they didn't want to get down and dirty than they should be standing so close!

Glancing again at his mud-covered, mud wrestling opponent - also known as Swallowleaf - he couldn't help but be amused by her own expression. She had a hint of guilt in her eyes, not much, but just a smudge that this expert feeling decipherer could detect, ignoring it though - and moving on - he noticed her smug expression. A little grumpy over the weather, for he was under it and getting drenched, he stood and shook off his coat with his own smug expression on his face. "I would say this is a draw..." he mused with a soft look on his face, he glanced over at the other cats that had gathered and noticed the look on a certain cats face as she vanished back into her makeshift den, Pebblefoot. The look of disapproval rang high, and not for their fun in the rain, but because of his refusal to admit she had won. Sheepishly he eyed Swallowleaf, the almost Senior Warrior sure had a lot going for her. "Okay, fine. You win." That sheepish look held a hint of defiance as he moved forward with a slight shuffle step, touching his nose to hers in congratulations.

"Swallowleaf! Swallowleaf! Swallowleaf!" A chorus of cheers broke out from those that had gathered to watch the two of them look ridiculous. Rowanwing grinned in approval and moved away from the mud before she had the chance to splash him again. A warrior from the circle bumped his shoulder with his nose in approval at Rowanwing's move and he turned and nodded his head back at the young black and white cat. Dipping his own head to his fur, he knocked off a few larger clumps of mud before they had the chance to stick. Boy did he need a bath. Eying Swallowleaf and motioned for her to come over and join him. "Thank you for making my day." His call rang over a few of the straggling cheers of his clan mates and he waited. "Would you like to share a rabbit? Preferably before they are soaked to the bone!" Well, at least his little fresh-kill pile cover had worked somewhat.

[Fernear!]

The she-cat let out a startled mrrrow when the tom's paw grazed her flank. She stepped back gingerly to show her finality in the assault. "A draw it is, then," she purred. To her the mud battle wasn't a true game, just an attempt to make someone happy on this gloomy Greenleaf day. Amid the range of voices, she could make out her opponant's as clear as day: "thank you for making my day". The words warmed her heart, brushed the lining of dust that was forming on the outside of it. "It was my pleasure..." Her voice was quiet, a mere whisper in contrast to the rowdy crowd of viewers, whom were now beginning to disessemble and continue what they were doing just minutes earlier.

Swallowleaf dipped her head politely to the crowd of cheering felines as she made her way over to Rowanwing. The she-at had acknowledged his request and was opening her mouth to reply when she felt a paw jab her side. Jumping at the sharp, short pain, Swallowleaf turned to see who had done it. Twas a she-cat, about her age, give or take a moon. The newcommer was planning on saying something, the feline was clearly enthusiastic about it, but instead she dropped her eyes and mumbled her apologies and swiftly walked away. Swallowleaf followed her with a few brisk steps before she lost sight of the she-cat. Swallowleaf turned to Rowanwing and made her way over to his side after her failed chase. Now if any cat wanted to talk to her, they would have to wait. "I would love to, let's hope there's still a dry one in that pile!"

Swallowleaf's heart skipped a beat after she came to the realization of her situation. The sincerity of Rowanwing's voice was kept in mind, but the request was what made her feel not only respected, but mature. Sure she had just had a mud fight with the warrior, but now she was going to share a meal with him! It was turning out to be a good day for Swallowleaf.

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[faythe]

Rowanwing

Of course they would find a rabbit, Rowanwing himself had stashed it deep within the pile or leaves and dragged it out, offering it to her as he picked a young hare for himself. His heart soared with a brightened spirit, as though some enlightenment had come to him in these precious moments of fun the warrior had managed to pocket away. But then there would come other things, and soon the two then departed from the scene…eventually to meet when Duskfeather had called them to the high rock...where the cats had then gone to speak with their ancestors in Moonpool’s shadows. He was disappointed that they had not gotten to finish talking, but now, on an equally rainy day, Rowanwing spotted her.

”Swallowleaf!” He called over the heads of several clan members as he stood next to the fresh-kill pile. The tom himself let out a sigh of relief as he said it, to many things had happened since that night at the Moonpool. Things around the camp seemed to finally become normal after the leader ceremony that had occurred, leaving Windclan with Rustlestar and a deputy to be chosen soon. He glanced at Swallowleaf with a questioning look, he would have liked to know why she had chosen not to speak with their ancestors that night…although he hadn’t actually seen them himself.

So many things left unanswered, and now Berrypelt had vanished from the Camp – and no apprentice to replace the cat. A Medicine cat was vital part of Clan life…and still Rowanwing felt this…pull…to something greater. Ever since he had seen those starry paw prints on the rock, and the glimpses of starry cats at Rustlepelt’s nine lives ceremony, something was changing. He could feel it. His brownish red fur was soaked to the bone again, and the rain still poured on, but for now he didn’t mind…but he wanted those answers he had gone to seek at the Moonpool in the first place, and the answers to questions that had been left being.

The tom nodded as he seemed to have caught the she-cats attention, beckoning her to come and join him, with a dry vole and baby rabbit covered under a shallow dip in the hill. ”I’ve got fresh food!” He called, a simple grin light his cat face, the darker tabby stripes lined the worry and fear that had etched into his face since their night at the Moonpool. ”Fresh from the dawn hunting patrol!” His voice was soft, tired, something still nagging him…maybe she could help?

[Fernear!]

The silvery she-cat smiled and bounded towards her friend. "Hello, Rowanwing!" she was cheery today, but unlike her usual upbeat demeanor, she boasted a fairly calm temperament today. As the distance closed between her and her comrade the scent of fresh prey wafted against her body, making her stomach growl softly. ”I’ve got fresh food... Fresh from the dawn hunting patrol!” The dawn patrol, how nice to hear those two words together once again! The news had spread quickly through the camp that Rustlepelt would no longer be sleeping in the warriors' den but in the vacant leader's den. It was comfort, even in such poor conditions, that a cat had finally become the leader.

Swallowleaf knew what was to come later tonight and was genuinely curious about the matter. Moonhigh was but short hours away and that meant a new deputy would be appointed. She had a distinct feeling that Rowanwing may become the deputy, though she had secretly hoped for Duskwing to be chosen by Rustlestar. Swallowleaf reached the tabby male in a few short moments and flicked her ears to follow up on her greeting.

Around the two felines a new storm began. Unlike the storm that had occurred the day before, this one was mild. The rain beat steadily against the moor, much more lightly than she had first assumed when she awoke. Before she turned to Rowanwing, she observed the western sky. The clouds seemed to herald a malefic storm. A shadow of worry would follow her for some time after discovering this. The gale the cats had experienced while at the Moonpool now lay dormant, allowing the storm to stay in its place for now.

Swallowleaf could begin to feel Rowanwing's unease as she stood by him longer. He was eager, eager to find the knowledge and answers he may be seeking. It left a big question in her unknowing mind. What could he need to know? Did he hold a grudge on StarClan for not visiting him? Surely it wasn't that, Rowanwing was far too loyal to his ancestors to turn on them so suddenly. She looked at him, her eyes sympathetic. "Are you okay?" His voice had proven to be less than excited, but why?

ooc: ick, bad post, sorry x.x

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[faythe]

Rowanwing

As Swallowleaf joined the tom, he knew she had noticed that he was…off…today. His head dropped slightly in shame at the fact that he was so easy to read, but in truth he hadn’t really been hiding it. Ear twitching with slight annoyance he glanced at the rain, there was something about it, he just knew it! …and he had gone to the Moonpool in search of why, but had come back with nothing but that hint that StarClan was close to him…or at least he thought they had showed a glimpse of themselves to him. That night he had not seen a dream, but then again he hadn’t expected too. He always knew Rustlestar would become the leader of WindClan.

His gaze wandered the camp, like Swallowleaf, he too was eagerly awaiting the call from their new leader to summon them for the meeting that would announce the clan’s next deputy and clean up all the things that had needed to be done yet. Heathkit would become an apprentice, he was sure of that, his father had been eager for his son to become and apprentice and Heathkit was well over the age for it. He should have been a warrior already, if not for the unstableness of the clan they had just gone through. Many of the said apprentices in the clan would also get new mentors…perhaps he would find another apprentice of his own soon, or gain one, his last already had his own apprentice now.

The rain, which had been just drizzling before, began to pour again. Rowanwing glared at the sky with a hint of disgust at the thought that the rain was still going on, no explanation. He sighed quietly. Looking again at Swallowleaf as she asked if he was alright, ”I’ve been better.” He muttered meeting the she-cats eyes. His own green pair glowed in the faint light as the sun began to set over the storm. ”…I’ve just been thinking about something that happened at the Moonpool the night Rustlepelt became Rustlestar.” Well, now he had said it so he might as well tell her, ”Have you ever noticed that there is a path of paw prints along the rocks on the way to the Moonpool?” He paused glancing up at the sky. ”When we were walking, I could have sworn that they left like…a starry trail…and when I looked up I swear I had seen a group of starry cats gathering, and then they were gone.”

He glanced at the ground again, embarrsed. ”It hasn’t left my mind since, but I haven’t felt…right…since then.” She clearly knew that he was disappointed that there hadn’t been a dream given to him as well, more questions filled his mind as he thought about the encounter, why had he seen what he saw? He stood, pacing in a small circle as he watched the rain fall again, looking away from Swallowleaf and other the camp – again. He couldn’t shake the pull that had been at him since that night, but he couldn’t follow it either. ”…And now it would seem that Berrypelt has left us for StarClan, and since he never finished training an apprentice, and hasn’t one since, we are short a medicine cat to ask.”

So many things flooded his mind, it was almost as though he just knew that things were going to happen, but still there wasn’t anyway to credit those things. Rustlestar was the clan leader, perhaps he should ask him about it. But why would StarClan show him a glimpse of a world that only special warriors, leaders, and medicine cats could touch? He shuddered at a certain thought that slipped through his mind. They couldn’t could they? To many things were falling into place as his mind raced – no, that was ridiculous, he was a warrior, he had not training to be anything but that warrior. ”StarClan have mercy on me.” he whispered suddenly, looking pale as he watched the rain, of course it couldn’t be that.

[faythe]

ooc; This thread is done, please move it to the archives.