Nothing Broken, but the Heart [Open]

[Tikker]

The open moor was the only place that was a safe-place, not many could make her feel safe. The feeling of the past night's conversation rolled through her mind, and she didn't like that. The anger it felt to see her friend just push her off like that was frustrating, this she-cat didn't like anger.

Stupid! Stupid mouse-brained fool! The she-cat thought to herself before letting it seep out her open mouth. "He's going to be a very lonely cat if he keeps that up. No one else seems to want to be his friend and yet I stick by his side and I get nothing but tooth and claw from him."

Featherpaw wasn't the an angry feline, in fact she hated even thinking rudely or upset to anyone. She herself was getting to the point to where no one wanted to be around her, she had overheard some of the warriors say she was just to soft-hearted to be a Clan-cat, that she would probably better fit being a Kitty-pet. She'd show them, she'd show them all.

Heathpaw had been her only friend since she can remember, and the way he'd been acting since his father Rustlestar, WindClan's new leader, had given him to Rowanwing as his mentor. Her friend has never been the same since then, and she missed that.

Featherpaw flicked her tail to where it wrapped around her silver paws, before heaving a sigh and speaking to herself. "Why can't the Heathpaw I know come back? The cat I know would have my back, the one I saw slipping away so long ago." She bowed her head sobbing on the inside, why couldn't she have her friend back?


Word Count;; 314
Cats;; Featherpaw
Notes;; Just in case someone wanted to jump in and say something to her XD

[Heathclaw]

The moor. WindClan's moor- the vast open space that was home to the fleetest and fastest cats of the lake. The wind that blew across this great land was the embodiment of freedom, life, and energy. Rustlestar inhaled deeply, taking in the wind that rippled across his fur, and let out a soft sigh. There were troubles on his mind, troubles that had compelled him to leave camp and take a walk across the moor.

These hills had been home to WindClan for as long as cats could remember. The thought that they may one day have to leave this ancestral home was too hard to bear. And yet, with the rains this bad, and with water levels rising at unheard of rates, that thought was soon becoming a reality.

And then, there was the problem of Heathpaw. It pained him to see his son behaving the way he was. Not for the first time, Rustlestar wondered if he had made the right decision. Not for the last time, Rustlestar reasserted that giving Heathpaw to Rowanwing was the only choice he could have made. It still didn't make him feel any better.

He shrugged. "He wants to be the best. Who's to blame him for that?" he asked, looking upwards to the winds, to the skies. As he brought his gaze down, he saw another cat on the moor. Featherpaw?

"Done for the day, are we?" Rustlestar asked, walking up behind her. "I ought to speak with Duskfeather; if he's giving you so much time to relax." Then he caught a look at the she-cat's face, and his tone softened. "Is something wrong, Featherpaw? That mopey face doesn't suit you."

[Tikker]

"Done for the day are we? I ought to speak with Duskfeather; if he's giving you so much time to relax."

A rough, yet playful voice started to ring in Featherpaw's ears, turning around she noticed a large tom walk up behind her, causing the small she-cat to jump in shock. The tom was Rustlestar, the leader of WindClan.

"Ru-Rustlestar!" the silver she-cat stumbled the words out of her open mouth. Why did it have to be Rustlestar? Featherpaw thought to herself. She didn't have any problems with her Clan leader, the only thing was, she was thinking about his son only moments ago.

"Is something wrong, Featherpaw? That mopey face doesn't suit you." The tom's face went from what looked like a playful-stern look to soft and comforting. That only made the silver apprentice embarrased, she had hoped no one would come and she could sit in silence.

"N-Nothing's wrong Rustlestar," she cursed herself for stumbling her words again, and how she couldn't get ahold of herself. Taking in a deep breath, she closed her mind, hoping to relax before speaking again.

"No, I havn't seen Duskfeather in a few days, he never seemed to be in Camp when woke up, so recently I've just been going out hunting early in the morning. Although, when I've come back to Camp, he's still not there and I ask another warrior what I can do and they just seem to shrug me off."

Featherpaw couldn't see any reason to lie to Rustlestar, although she hoped that what she said didn't get her mentor in trouble. Just feeling neglected like she's been by Duskfeather, makes her wonder if he's doing something he shouldn't.

She took a long deep pause before something hit her mind. Featherpaw just couldn't lie to a direct question, she hated lying more than anything, especially to Rustlestar.

"Okay, yes something is wrong." The words flew out of her mouth as fast as his claws could have caught her face. She cursed that she couldn't keep them in. "I've just been worried about Heathpaw really. He hasn't been himself, I keep trying to talk to him but he just walks away. It hurts because he's been my friend for as long as I can remember, it just seems like he hates me now."

When the words came out, Featherpaw looked to the ground, she hoped to StarClan that what she just said wouldn't make Rustlestar angry, for he was Heathpaw's father, as well as the leader of her Clan. The one who can punish her until her last breath.


Word Count;; 460
Notes;; Yeah she rambled. She's the one who just doesn't like to lie, or at least she can't XD

[Heathclaw]

Ru-Rustlestar!

The burly tom raised an eyebrow. He wasn't really all that frightening, was he? He must have caught her by surprise.

He listened carefully to the young apprentice. She asserted that nothing was wrong, and then told him about her troubles with Duskfeather. "Ah. You're right, I've forgotten. Duskfeather has been kept busy with his duties as deputy. I really will have to speak with him."

He turned to go, and that was when Featherpaw called out after him. "Okay, yes something is wrong." Rustlestar nodded, turning back around. And then she started to talk about Heathpaw.

Rustlestar listened warily- each word was like a claw mark across his back. He was careful to keep his expression blank as she spoke, and thought carefully about his response before he opened his mouth.

"Thank you for being honest, Featherpaw," said Rustlestar, tapping her shoulder with his tail-tip and motioning for her to look up. "I'm WindClan's leader- and I only want what's best for the cats in my clan- so it helps when cats are open with their concerns."

He stepped back, as a fresh breeze blew in from behind him. "I get antsy when talking in one place for long. Let's take a walk, Feathertail, and we'll talk on the way."

He began to walk off, turning his head to make sure the apprentice was following. "And, first off, I don't think Heathpaw hates you, at least, not you in particular. I suspect that he may be a great deal angrier at me- and certainly at Rowanwing."

[/blockquote]

[Tikker]

Featherpaw felt the large tom's tail-tip rest on her shoulder for a second as he spoke, "Thank you for being honest, Featherpaw." She thought about the words as quickly as the moment went by. Was she really being honest or was she betraying a friend because she didn't have the self control to not tell the full truth? Looking up, the silver she-cat sought to find which it was.

"I'm WindClan's leader- and I only want what's best for the cats in my clan- so it helps when cats are open with their concerns." The words seemed like vinegar to her ears, what did she truly know about their Clan to tell the leader what concerns she had. She was only an apprentice, one that didn't have much say.

Yeah some of the apprentice's envied Cinderpaw and herself for both being an apprentice of either the leader or deputy of their entire Clan. She remembered hearing stories about if you were trained by the leader or deputy of your Clan, it was most likely you would be placed in the same position later in life.

She listened to Rustlestar say that he didn't like talking in one place for very long, so as soon as he turned to walk away, Featherpaw got up to follow.

She watched the large WindClan leader when he turned his head to speak again. "And, first off, I don't think Heathpaw hates you, at least, not you in particular. I suspect that he may be a great deal angrier at me- and certainly at Rowanwing."

"It feels like he hates me right now, he won't speak to me, and he doesn't even seem to want to do anything but sulk. All I know is that he wished you would have mentored him like your father did, and he got worse when Rowanwing became our Medicine Cat. It just feels like he's trying to push everyone away."

Featherpaw dropped her gaze as she spoke longer, the more she spoke the lower her voice became. She just didn't want to loose the only friend she really had. None of the other apprentice's seemed to like her other than Heathpaw, and he wasn't acting like he should.

"I just don't know what I should do now, Duskfeather's not around, Heathpaw won't talk to me, it just seems like I'm walking in circles getting no farther than when I started."

[Heathclaw]

"I see. You feel lost, and unsure of what direction to take," replied Rustlestar. He reminded himself to shorten his stride, to allow the young apprentice to keep up with him. For so long he had been the one to run at the head of the pack, and it had been such a long time since his last apprentice- he had to adjust to playing the role of counselor.

"Well, you've made the first step in coming to me. When all other paths are blocked, there's no shame in coming to another cat for help." He looked upwards, up to the sky and the hidden stars. "Not that I want you running to others every time you have a little problem."

"Now, as to Duskfeather. I'm afraid that his new duties as Deputy may be taxing him overmuch, and to speak rather plainly, you are being neglected. I shall have to speak with him. However, don't think too poorly of him- we're all experiencing a period of adjustment at this time."

"Instead, you'll train with the other mentors for the time being, especially with Rowanwing and Heathpaw, if time permits it. I think that'll help both of you. I will not be training you, of course, for obvious reasons. I think that'll work nicely."

"As for his attitude, the only cat who can really explain that is Heathpaw himself. I can only make a few educated guesses, from what I know of him and what I know of myself. That being said, would you still like to hear them?"