Don't Sass Your Ancestors [open] | Closed

Don't Sass Your Ancestors [open] Dec 11, 2015 22:27:43 GMT

Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2015 22:27:43 GMT

    Marigold, marigold, marigold. The apprentice rolled the word around his mind as he padded along. While it was true that new-leaf was upon them, it didn't mean it didn't still throw chills at them. Why, just that morning Blackpaw had woken up to find a chill in the air, and a mild frosting upon the ground even in Camp. Which had meant there had been an apprentice or two popping their heads in on behalf of one elder or another, requesting something for stiff joints. Leaf-bare had taught Blackpaw one thing; elders usually got what they wanted. Either out of respect, or out of sheer persistence. Between the chilly mornings and cool evenings, the demand for Marigold was still found within the Clan.

    Which had meant that they were running almost low on the flower. New-leaf had always held an allure for Blackpaw. So many things were coming back to life, and the territory was warming bit by bit. Which was why he'd shot Nettleheart a grin, and jumped on the chance to go get more. Alright, so he'd claimed the job before his mentor could decide otherwise. The black and white apprentice was sure he'd hear all about it later, and part of him was already bracing for  it. Blackpaw wasn't immune to the massive tom's words, he just..tried not to dwell. Dwelling could be dangerous.

A flick of yellow caught is eye, and Blackpaw perked up, heading towards the patch of marigold that they had kept careful watch over the past moons. The plant looked as if it were fighting the cool hours of the day valiantly. However, they'd have to hope for warmer mornings and evenings. This had been the second spot he'd visited, and to see the first few buds of flowers was a relief, mostly because it meant that the cranky elders wouldn't have much to groan and moan about. " Thank you StarClan. Finally! " He breathed to the plant. His thanks was less sincere than it ought to have been. The plant was near the river, and in fact, he was no more than a few fox-lengths from the shore. Which was why he should have been paying more attention.

A sudden motion made him freeze. From under the bush, came a lithe, dark brown form. An adder. Blackpaw felt his fur bristle at the sight, and he froze, hoping the snake hadn't noticed him. Green eyes stared, wide and horrified. The adder twitched towards him, and the apprentice backed up, rapidly trying to stay out of it's way, " Right, message received, I'm not funny!" His words squeaked out of him, because how could karma not exist? The young tom back further away, and promptly off the edge of the bank, no more than a tail length high, into the river with a startled yowl. The adder, went on it's way. Blackpaw sat dripping in the shallows, soaked from his impromptu dip, " Ugh. They ever hear of overkill?" the tom muttered, shaking his head, sending droplets flying. His only grace was that no one had seen that, at least he hadn't thought so.

Don't Sass Your Ancestors [open] Dec 16, 2015 23:39:14 GMT

Post by just atlanta. on Dec 16, 2015 23:39:14 GMT

speckledwing

There was a chill to the air that hadn't dissipated, even with the rising of the sun. Speckledwing picked her way easily over the frosted grass, thanking StarClan (as she did every leaf-bare), for her glossy thick pelt. Some of her Clanmates, with their thin pelts, might have shed water like fish, but at least she wasn't reduced to whining about the weather like some of them. Figuring that a full belly might ease some of the complaints, she had taken it upon herself to be assigned to a solo hunting patrol near the river, where the prey was sure to still be running rampant, even at this time of year. But as she picked her way through the fronds, something out of the ordinary caught her attention; a high-pitched yelp of surprise, a yowl, and then, a splash. All the signs of an apprentice in trouble!

Ears flattening and lips curling at the promise of a fight, the RiverClan warrior picked up the pace, weaving swiftly through the reeds and cattails, ignoring the cold, wet mud that splattered against her belly. This enemy would pay for daring to touch one of RiverClan's apprentices! She burst from the tangled weeds with claws unsheathed, but the aggressive growl died in her throat before it could even rumble out. The bank was empty. Confused, she sniffed at the air. There were no enemy scents here, but there was a fresh one from her own Clan, hidden underneath the warm scent of marigold. Speckledwing peered around curiously, looking for the origin of the shouting, but there was nothing to be seen...but she could hear something. A mutinous murmuring, followed by the sound of droplets hitting the surface of water, like someone was giving themselves a good shake.

Whiskers twitching, she paced the last few steps to the river's edge, where the bank rose steeply above the water by a tail-length or so, and peered down into the shallows. Sure enough, a black and white tom was skulking there, looking very miserable, and for good reason; he was soaking wet from head to tail. With a grin, Speckledtail couldn't resist a bit of a tease.“One would think it was a bit too cold out for a bath,” she called down cheerily, all traces of her former aggression gone as she took in the young tom. She recognized him, for who wouldn't? Blackpaw had been a medicine cat apprentice for almost four moons now, and was known throughout the whole Clan. She looked over her shoulder at the budding marigold, and then back down to the tom. “Is this a medicine cat ritual, then? Do you have to wash the marigold when you collect it?” Her eyes sparkled good-naturedly.

Figuring that the poor thing had had enough heckling for one day, she flicked her tail to a part of the bank a few tail-lengths away, where the earth sloped gently into the water as opposed to a steep drop. “It looks like it would be easier to get out over there. Can't have you getting sick, the Clan would probably complain themselves to death.”

***

519 words for @mephisto
hope this is alright c: