Moving in Circles.

[Fernear!]

It was wet, it was muddy, it was sticky, and everything was simply a mess! Miragesoul had dragged herself out of her nest this morning with the vain hopes of catching something hardy to eat, but with this sudden storm she gave it up. With all the heavy raindrops, the pine trees were dropping their needles just as diligently as the clouds were their water. The hardened pads of the traveling she-cat were collecting numerous needles while she walked and every few minutes she would have to flick them of for the sake of her diminishing comfort. The land was in a disarray it seemed. Miragesoul looked up in disgust when she realized that she had carelessly made her way into a muddy clearing. Normally the vacant grass and weeds would be erect, enjoying themselves a morning sun-bath, but today the mud ruled over their old antics. She rolled her eyes and continued on, already muddy enough to forget about cleanliness.

Lately the she-cat had been quite sour. A true sour-puss, you could say. The clouds would not let up. Just when a storm ended and the sun was beginning to peek through they would bring another bout of rain. She had hoped that today she'd find some water-logged rodents trying to find sanctuary but all she was welcomed by were empty nests. Where they had all gone, she didn't know. Her ears perked at the sound of rustling leaves. She figured the source was what she had set out for, and indeed it was. Or half of it was at least. It was a vole, and a good sized varmint at that, but the reason the leaves had given away its cover was because it had already been hunted. The she-cat had heard of such absurd contraptions and they had become ridiculed and feared around the lake. As if on cue, the trap caught what little light the world was saving and sent a shiver down Miragesoul's spine. She was so close to loosing a paw, leg or even her life. With no leader to report to she decided she'd observe the threat herself. With the utmost caution, Miragesoul set out towards the gleaming jaws. Pushing back the stubby branches of the lone bush, Miragesoul got a better look at the horrible last moments of this vole's life. The trap had been activated and thus seemingly harmless until it would be re-set. Petite splatters of crimson blood were around the vole's abdomen, which were beginning to be washed away by the rain. With all senses alert and at their peek, Miragesoul made sure no twolegs were near or heading towards their trap. It was just her and her surroundings; no twolegs within range. The feline stepped back to grasp what she had stumbled upon.

How could she keep this from doing any more harm? She recalled stories about the damage done and became mildly frantic. A stick! I could push it into the lake... And look like a fool? Ha! How pathetic that'd be... Her mind kept toiling with the possible scheme and soon it all became clear. Her old fear of looking like a fool never left, but she had to put the well-being of her fellows first. No matter how sour she was. Her eyes darted thoughtfully from side to side. All the sticks she could see were too puny to even budge the trap. And then there it was; the perfect stick. It wasn't from one of the local pine trees so it must have migrated from ThunderClan's forest to the gloomy pine thicket. Nevertheless it would do. It would take a few minutes before Miragesoul would be ready to attempt to move the metal. Had she had thumbs and the ability to bend her limbs in ways that are impossible for felines, she would have had more of a chance to achieve her goal. With great articulation and patience Miragesoul was able to prop the stick onto her calico shoulder and wedge it between the trap and the ground.

It was no use, the hunk of metal wouldn't budge. Perplexed by her new situation she attempted to find the start of the reluctant opponent. It was attached to the bush. Why had she even tried in the first place? She hissed menacingly at herself and then started off on her trip again. Soon enough she found herself back at the bush. She was moving in circles. Did she know? Of course not.

ooc: MUSE BLAST! :D

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[c e d a r *]

Okay. It was wet. Actually, wet was one giant understatement. It would rain, then stop, finally when you think you've been freed, the rain started back up again. Smallfoot didn't mind getting her paws wet, but this was going too far. The ground was soggy and it seemed as if it could not carry anymore water inside of it. A little sigh escaped her lips, hoping it wouldn't carry far, seeing as the rain had continued its drizzling. The sound was enough to calm her nerves but it still bugged her to the point of wanting to snarl at the sky. If things continue like it had been going, there would be no more land for ShadowClan to live on. They'd be like...RiverClan, and that thought brought her to a mere level of insanity. No way would she stoop to become like a RiverClan cat. The rain would have to stop..right? It was Greenleaf after all, although this hardly ever happened.

Leaf green hues scanned the small clearing she was standing inside of. She was hoping to catch something of a good size and good meat, but the smell of wet everything was overpowering her senses and nothing could come to her. Frustrated, she let out a growl of annoyance. This day wouldn't get any worse. It had started out bad, rolling out of her soaked moss, having to groom her mildew smelling pelt, and then she goes out into an even more soggy clearing and finds her paws in water. The marshes they lived near were obviously overflowing. She had only seen this once as a small kit, and it cleared out quickly. With the way the rain was falling, they'd be living underwater soon. How the other clans were faring, she did not know, and personally, she didn't quite care. RiverClan was probably overflowing with the swelling riverbank and the shore of the lake, but WindClan was probably safe and happy in their moor. She didn't even want to think about smug little ThunderClan safe all high up in their rocky camp.

ShadowClan certainly had it bad.

Lucky for the she-cat, she caught sight of something in the undergrowth. It was..a water vole? What? Since when were water voles found this high up in the territory. She could tell by its size and by its pelt coloration it was no normal vole, this one belonged near the water. Oh StarClan was the world coming to an end? Was she just crazy? Narrowing her eyes, the warrior slunk down, her underbelly already becoming muddy. She cringed as each step forward brought cold mud seeping through her paws. She suppressed shudder after shudder as she quietly made her way toward the vole. Or at least as quietly as she could. The vole had heard her and in one, desperate attempt, she messily leaped forward and caught the vole in her two forepaws. Her head was already caked in mud and she cringed as she bit down into the soggy fur of the vole. Hunting was becoming more of a hassle than anything else, and coming from Smallfoot, that wasn't good. She loved hunting more than anything. Battle was high up there, but for Greenleaf, their fresh-kill pile was low. It was her duty to keep her clan fed before herself.

Another wet scent made its way toward the warrior. Miragesoul? She hadn't seen her in ages! Getting to her now brown paws, she slipped and skidded along the way to where she thought she may have scented the she-cat. Stumped, she sat where the scent trail had left off. She could have sworn she had caught scent of Miragesoul...

[Fernpaw]

Russetfur growled silently to herself and bared her teeth to the sky as she missed her catch. The incessant fall of the rain was beginning to make life a real burden in the dense pine marshes that was ShadowClan territory. The russet colored cat picked herself up from the ground and slunk away from the bank of the lake. The lake had long since over flowed from its banks, but now it was starting to get uncomfortably high. The dark muddy water seemed to be lapping higher and higher with each passing sun.

In order to be strong enough to survive a cat had to be adaptable, but this was pushing it. Much longer and she would be swimming with the stupid fish like a RiverClan cat! Besides, all of this mud was doing nothing for her beautiful pelt, after all a leader did have to look the best to set the example for her Clanmates, and to prove that ShadowClan was not weak.

Ever since the Clan leader and deputy had disappeared Russetfur had been itching to claim the spot and rightful name of Russetstar. The Clan would need a strong and cunning cat to keep them all safe and well feed while StarClan rained down on them. Once the rain was finished her Clan would be the strongest of them all and ready to extend their boarders little by little until ShadowClan laid claim to them all. Yes, it would be glorious indeed.

Soon she promised herself that she would get what she wanted. Soon, so very soon. The she-cat smiled to herself as she shook her soddened fur to try and dry it out at least a little, but that was impossible. All too soon she was dripping again, but she had to worry about her pelt later, it was time to get back to hunting.

The she-cat's dark amber eyes scanned the pine forest looking for signs of life. Her eyes could see nothing and the only sound that she could hear was the soft pattering noise of the rain hitting the soft carpet of needles that lay under paw. Russetfur growled with frustration, why hadn't StarClan blessed her with a good sense of smell too? The short haired she-cat could smell nothing more than the scent of the wet pine trees and dampened earth.

Russetfur decided that perhaps it would be better to keep moving while she was scenting rather than watching and listening. While Russetfur was on the move she happened across the scent of one of her Clanmates. She wasn't surprised, but decided to go ahead and be sociable to see how the rest of her Clan was faring with the hunt.

The she-cat shivered, not because of the rain, but because of the thought of being the leader of ShadowClan. The thought of ShadowClan actually being hers made the cat's paws tingle. As Russetfur suppressed her pleasure she moved on to see who it was that had just walked by.

When Russetfur got to a clearing she spied two calico pelts. One was almost hidden in a bush, while the other seemed to be confused. As Russetfur looked on she caught the faint glint of metal from under neath the bush. Curious, Russetfur walked underneath the bush, not pausing to say anything to Smallfoot as she went by. The russet colored cat was far more interested in what Miragesoul was doing in the bush.

[Fernear!]

After seeing the same leafy bush for the fourth time Miragesoul finally realized she had been tread the same path for quite some time. Now she was thoroughly upset with herself. Mingled with the musky scent of the forest and rain she he caught a familiar scent drifting peacefully on the feeble wind. Twas a ShadowClan cat, Smallfoot to be exact. It took her more than a moment's time to determine this, for she had put her care for scenting away upon the arrival of the storm. Her ears perked and her eyes tried to catch the calico's to show she had seen her. Changing her direction to the path leading to Smallfoot, Miragesoul trotted forward. As she neared her clan mate the sky shook with a powerful boom! The rainstorm had gone out of its way to become a thunder storm. Her eyes squinted as another strike of lightning flashed, a roar following it loyally.

"Hello Smallfoot," her voice only slightly covered her aggravation, though it still carried a hint of friendly charm. Her step was stiff, perhaps from the pressure and the weather but most likely from her little ploy, or the way she had slept. Lately Miragesoul couldn't sleep well. The preceding sun she had narrowed it down to two possible causes: Blackstar, and the empty deputy and leader positions. The chance that the culprit for her stubborn remorse was Blackstar, was starting to cancel itself out. Blackstar was gone and she had convinced herself long ago that she would never open her heart to him or any other tom again. Thus, by process of elimination, it had to be the clan's hierarchy bothering her.

"I take it you're not enjoying this weather either," she spoke with what knowledge she had gathering about Smallfoot's body language. Motioning towards the feline's kill with her tail, Miragesoul praised her clan mate for her everyday performance, "Good catch.. I guess the rain has attracted even RiverClan prey to our paws." While she waited for Smallfoot to acknowledge her whereabouts, Miragesoul thought more carefully about the future. Counting the eligible warriors she had seen within three moons' time, she came up with the list of Smallfoot, Nightfeather, Lightheart and Russetfur, counting herself out of this thought. Lightheart was a good cat. She enjoyed watching his witty tactics but she didn't feel he could be leader. He was a loyal warrior and she had nothing against him, but some cats just give off that warrior-only vibe. Lightheart was one of those cats. Nightfeather was probably Miragesoul's closest friend, she felt like it was so and many of her clan mates could note their somewhat twisted but adjacent bond. She was confident the fiesty she-cat could be leader, but would the loss of her mate bring her down? Nightfeather had a stronger will than Miragesoul did at times so she concluded that she'd be fine. Smallfoot was another cat that Miragesoul felt could be in the running for leader. Although she didn't know her very well, there was something about the she-cat that made her feel confident in her abilities. Russetfur, to Miragesoul, was a feline whom she didn't know very well. She had seen her around camp acting much like Miragesoul was at this moment: negative. She didn't think the she-cat had sheltered the aspiration to lead ShadowClan.

With a flick of her tail she concluded that she'd begin to observe the cats as they work about in the camp. Then, from behind the two she-cats' backs, Miragesoul caught the beat of another cat's paw steps. Her head twisted to face the russet coloured she cat she had just been thinking about. Miragesoul admired her obvious confidence. Was Russetfur more passionate about being leader than she had thought? And Smallfoot, her opinion on the matter was yet to be known. Miragesoul made a mental note to bring up the possibly awkward conversation at some point during the day. If her luck prevailed, one of the others would do it before her.

ooc: ooc: Welcome, Fernpaw :3 Just to let you know, you did have a few grammatical mistakes in your post... Sorry about the quality of my post D:

Posting order: Fernear - Miragesoul
Cedarclaw - Smallfoot
Fernpaw - Russetfur

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[c e d a r *]

Swiftly turning her head, she saw Russetfur approaching Miragesoul. She knew she had seen the she-cat...or at least scented her. Not even a hello had been said by Russetfur, which made Smallfoot shoot an annoyed glance Russetfur's way. Miragesoul had been kind enough to say her hellos and she made a comment about the weather, making the she-cat cringe internally.

"Hello to you as well, Miragesoul," Smallfoot meowed with a hint of a smile. She was sure her annoyance could be heard from the tone of her voice, but she ignored it, if Miragesoul or Russetfur had found it, surely they could point it out. She wouldn't be afraid to say why. "And this weather? Oh, I think we're going to be living like RiverClan soon," she meowed with a crisp, bitter laugh. True, she had caught a water vole.

She was nervous, to say at least. Both their high positions were free to be filled, and she was unsure of who would take what. Miragesoul seemed quite strong in every aspect. A true ShadowClan cat and a good friend. She could see her as some kind of hierarchy. She could also see Russetfur getting her way into the hierarchy. She was cold, though, and didn't like the thought of it. Some things didn't go the way you wanted it, though. That was the way life was, and she respected that.

The she-cat didn't really know much about Miragesoul, apart from a few hellos, but she'd love to become friends with her. Nghtfeather, ah, she didn't know that she-cat well either, but she could obviously see that those two had a good connection. She would love to have some friends. Because of her timid and slightly easily annoyed attitude, it was hard for this she-cat to make friends, but she was certainly willing to try. Fearing that Russetfur may make her even more timid, she was unsure about anything with the other she-cat, so she wouldn't promise a friendship anytime soon. Not having a lot of friends was though on the she-cat, but somehow she managed. Remembering Russetpelt was behind her, the she-cat twisted around and gave a curt nod of acknowledgment.

ooc;
Bad post, baaaad post, sorry D:

[Fernpaw]

Perhaps it had just been her imagination, but perhaps not, the she-cat decided as Miragesoul came out to greet them. Russetfur would decide to ask her about it later.

"I take it you're not enjoying this weather either," Miragesoul asked Smallfoot.
"And this weather? Oh, I think we're going to be living like RiverClan soon," Smallfoot replied.

Russetfur twitched her ears to add her consent and to flick the water off. "Not on my life we won't, that's for sure. ShadowClan, forced to live like RiverClan, never. ShadowClan would move to higher ground before we ever did that," the she-cat snorted.

Russetfur turned toward Smallfoot and seemed to just realize the smaller cat was there. "Nice catch Smallfoot, it's nice to see that hunting is not entirely impossible in this weather. Have you had any luck Miragesoul?"

The idle conversation was beginning to bore the red warrior, cats gossiped while they were in camp, not while they were out hunting for the Clan. Even as Russetfur was thinking this the warrior's keen ears picked the faint scrabbling sounds of prey by the bush Miragesoul had been in earlier. Quickly the she-cat dropped into a hunting crouch and moved silently over the damp earth toward her prey.

There was a fat mouse sitting on a large root grooming itself beneath the shelter of the bush. The little creatures back was to the cat and seemed to have no idea that it was about to become fresh kill. The beautiful she-cat gathered her hindquarter beneath her, ready to spring. In a heart beat the cat was on top of the mouse and silencing its squeak of alarm.

Quickly the cat picked up her catch and returned to the other warriors. Russetfur dropped the mouse on the soggy carpet of needles and turned to face Miragesoul as she waited for her answer.

((I'm sorry this is late and rather bad. :/))

[Fernear!]

Miragesoul sucked in a breath to show her irritation. She didn't care if it were to seep through her emotional filters, it was, after-all, pouring rain. Not forgetting her manors, Miragesoul made a stingy reply to Russetfur's inquire, "no luck for me yet today. I did find a twoleg's thing as I was stalking a vole. You've probably scented it already, even over the rain." Her voice sounded matter-of-factly. She wasn't to keen on Russetfur's entrance, but later on this minor grudge would fade as little things like this usually end up.

Had there been no clouds, the sun would been seen heading towards the western horizon, showing its late afternoon light. But no, not today. All the cats had was their sense of time that comes naturally once you've lived by the sun and the moon for all of your life. The she-cat's toned body cringed after Smallfoot finished speaking. The thought of having to live side-by-side with RiverClan or having to adapt to their living conditions seemed impossible. Miragesoul didn't know how she could live without the shade of the canopy overhanging her day-in and day-out. It meant as much to her as her soul meant to her being. Just as this thought caught her fancy, she gazed into the water-logged branches of the nearest trees, hardly able to fathom her adoration. She couldn't help but beam for a few short moments. Absentmindedly she spoke her mind, "I don't think I could live as anything else but what I am now, or anywhere else..."

Gracefully Miragesoul brought her head back down to her companions. She looked at each of the she-cats before speaking again, "I think we better get back to camp before we start to sink into this mud! It'll be a cold night tonight..." After her closing words she stood up and shook her muddy hindquarters. She dared not begin to move before Smallfoot or Russetfur replied, but she broke her oath to the sound of a rustle in the distance. To her surprise a disheveled squirrel was running frantically around in oblong circles, seemingly in a daze. As quickly as the drop of a needle, Miragesoul was off. The catch was easy, almost no fun to be had. Miragesoul's body wasn't built to chance after such swift rodents but this red-furred creature hardly more of a challenge than a field-mouse.

Squirrel in mouth, she walked back to the now successful hunting party. The look on her face was priceless, you could almost read her thoughts just from the look of them: First RiverClan prey and now confused ThunderClan prey! Sure she had tasted squirrel many times before, but this catch was bound to surprise the feaster soon enough. In the back of her mind crouched the thought that had clouded her mind many a-times. She knew what the upcoming days would bring, hopefully there would be no bloodshed if a dispute were to arise when the answer was found.

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