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Post by Duskstar on Sept 2, 2008 19:14:03 GMT -5
"So you just don't like him because he's clumsy?" Lark questioned, tail flicking back and forth, "That doesn't seem like a very good reason." Again she was defending his mentor without even meeting the tom. The long limbed she-cat stood and stretched, plucking off a few dry leaves that had clung to her pelt, lifting her head as her name was said. "Yes?" The loner asked quietly, worried by the tone of his voice. Just then Lark heard something move in the undergrowth. Gasping as she scented another's presence, green eyes met amber, and she leaped onto Coalpaw, hissing.
"Play along." The loner mumbled under her breath, so quiet it was impossible for anyone else but the apprentice to hear, "Fight back." After a bit of acting, even putting her mouth on Coalpaw's ear and biting down slightly, Lark let out a loud yowl of mock pain and jumped off of her friend, sprinting away.
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Fallendream had waited outside of camp for long enough. Now he hissed and growled throughout the territory, searching it for his unruly apprentice. "That cat is so crowfood when I find him!" The warrior spat under his breath, slashing at a nearby branch in rage before nearly tripping over it. Suddenly the tom stopped dead in his tracks. He had heard something. It sounded like voices, and though Fallendream couldn't make out what they were saying, the scent of loner filled his nostrils, followed by another of Coalpaw. Confused he decided to investigate more, but as he came closer one thing came clear, they were fighting.
Bursting out of the undergrowth the warrior was surprised to find his apprentice locked in battle with a loner. Against his better judgment Fallendream didn't step in, for Coalpaw didn't seem to be having any trouble, and before he knew it the loner was racing through the trees and out of the territory.
"Well done Coalpaw!" The warrior purred, all anger disintegrating as if nothing bad had happened before, "Doesn't look like she'll be coming back here for a while!" Brilliant blue eyes danced with pride, and though he may be simply falling for a trick, Lark was a good actress and had even shown a limp when running away. It definitely looked like Coalpaw had just driven a cat out of SilentClan territory. Fallendream padded over to his apprentice, unable to hide his pride, "You know, your really shaping up to be a great fighter."
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Post by shadow on Sept 2, 2008 19:30:43 GMT -5
It took a fraction of a heartbeat for Coalpaw to catch on to Lark's idea. It was clever though he found it hard to even pretend to strike out against his friend and crush. He was good at hiding it but that was really what Lark was. The kindness he showed to her was very seldom seen by anyone else, especially Fallendream and Kestrelpaw. They got more of the tough-love borderline hate. Fallendream was currently balancing on the borderline of hate. Pushing his mind back to the task at hand, Coalpaw hissed at Lark and lashed out with claws sheathed, chasing her a few pawsteps before letting her continue to run. He couldn't help but feel sour at Fallendream interrupting the second time he'd met Lark.
Turning a cold burning gaze on his mentor Coalpaw merely nodded his head a little. "Thanks I guess" Coalpaw muttered, falling back into his usual grumpy self, not hard to do when Fallendream was around. "Kestrelpaw warned me she'd scented a loner around here. I guess she was right."
If asked Coalpaw was sure Kestrelpaw would play along. After all, Coalpaw had done as she had suggested and "chased Lark off". He just hoped she hadn't gone out of the territory. Her company was just about the only company Coalpaw wanted. Sitting back on his haunches and wrapping his tail around his paws, Coalpaw regarded Fallendream with an oddly neutral gaze, his anger smoldering away and simply a blank look in his eyes now. Anything other than anger around Fallendream was almost unnatural for Coalpaw. "Was there something you wanted me to do?" Coalpaw asked like a good little apprentice, again, almost unnatural.
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Post by Duskstar on Sept 2, 2008 20:05:17 GMT -5
Fallendream shook his head at the question, "Well, you didn't meet me outside camp like I asked," He stated with a meaningful glance at his apprentice, "But I think battle training can be spared for tonight, seeing as you already had some practice." At the last sentence he gave Coalpaw a playful bat. Fallendream stood next to his apprentice for a few heartbeats, just admiring the darkness around him. Like many other SilentClanners he enjoyed the shadows of The Black Forest and couldn't imagine having to live in SwiftClan, were the only cover was a few trees and some hazel bushes. Sighing contently the warrior arched his back and turned, facing Coalpaw, "So, what was Kestrelpaw doing out so early? Snowpelt taking her hunting or something?" The warrior's question was completely casual, as he had no suspicion that the apprentice was out when she wasn't suppose to be, "So anyway, I think you deserve a juicy mouse back at camp. What do you say?"
As Fallendream faced toward camp, a ginger and white head poked out from a tree behind him. Her ears flicked silently as she stared at Coalpaw, begging him not to leave. When the warrior turned she ducked down once again, staying in the shadows.
"Coming?" He asked, tail flicking impatiently. He hadn't eaten all day, having been bombarded with Dawn Patrol and the nonexistent training with Coalpaw. Truly the warrior just wanted to eat and was going to leave whether his apprentice came or not.
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Post by shadow on Sept 2, 2008 20:16:49 GMT -5
"Kestrelpaw was practicing a stalking technique and asked for my help so I came to meet her so she could make Snowpelt happier" Coalpaw meowed, the sentence spoken bluntly and without much interest which was the usual for when he spoke of Kestrelpaw and her intense training. When Fallendream actually volunteered to let Coalpaw off of battle training, Coalpaw had to say he was stunned. It wasn't often any apprentice was offered that, not to mention he hadn't eaten before coming to meet Kestrelpaw which hadn't been a lie. She had asked for help. Coalpaw glimpsed Lark and felt his heart lift. He couldn't just leave her out here with her obvious discomfort in the dark. Instead he turned back to his mentor. "I haven't done my hunting for the elders yet" Coalpaw meowed firmly. "I think I'll get that done first, thanks though." Saying thank you to his mentor. Oh Coalpaw had lost his mind.
Mentally kicking himself, Coalpaw turned and slithered away into the undergrowth and made sure he actually looked like he was pausing to track a squirrel. He didn't want his mentor getting suspicious even though his behavior was so off a kit could tell something was up. Hopefully however Fallendream's stomach would be calling a bit louder than his warrior instincts and he wouldn't notice. Kestrelpaw knew about Lark and Coalpaw didn't want anyone else knowing until Lark made up her mind about ShadeClan.
Catching sight of the squirrel, Coalpaw bounded through the undergrowth like a silver-splashed shadow chasing down the prey and catching it in his jaws. Cracking the neck, Coalpaw dropped the catch and glanced around for either Lark or his mentor.
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Post by Duskstar on Sept 3, 2008 12:03:24 GMT -5
Fallendream gazed at his apprentice, eyes gleaming suspiciously. It wasn't like him, or any cat for that matter, to bring up elder's chores over a juicy mouse. After a few heartbeats of watching Coalpaw stalk a squirrel, the warrior decided he was simply being truthful and didn't want the guilt of getting a meal before his elders. "Yeah right!" Fallendream said mentally, tail swishing back and forth, "He obviously just doesn't like me enough to eat with me." Not at all surprised, the warrior turned and sprinted back to camp, a juicy piece of prey calling his name.
Meanwhile, as Fallendream sprinted home, Lark stayed silent, in the hazel bush behind a tree. When she was sure the scent of the SilentClan warrior was gone the loner to a small step out of her hiding place, gazing around for Coalpaw. Now the she-cat was much more afraid of being caught, and couldn't even bring herself to mewl for her friend. Ginger and white fur slithered through the undergrowth, following the near scent of Coalpaw.
When Lark spotted the tom she had to resist all temptation to run up and tackle him. Instead the long limbed loner let out a small call, only just loud enough for the two of them to hear.
"Coalpaw!"
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Post by shadow on Sept 3, 2008 16:04:28 GMT -5
Coalpaw looked around at Lark's cautious call. He waved his tail and smiled a small, rarely seen smile. The silver-splashed tomcat picked up his catch and padded toward the she-cat he'd dreamed of since meeting her. Putting down his squirrel, Coalpaw sat back on his haunches and wrapped his tail around his paws, licking her ear assuringly. "Don't worry, he won't be back" Coalpaw assured her. "His stomach was growling so loudly I'm sure cats in camp could still hear it." Humor. A rare thing to hear from Coalpaw. Sure, sarcasm came off as a second language to him though some had a bet that it was his first language. Around Lark, Coalpaw wasn't defensive, steely and mysterious. That was just her effect on him.
"Have you decided if you want to see Fadingstar or not?" he asked gently, grooming her ears. He didn't want to rush her but Coalpaw did want to know. If she wasn't he would have to escort her to the border and leave her there. That was the warrior code. Coalpaw was obligated to his clan. Lying to Fallendream and Kestrelpaw was one thing. Breaking the code entirely by letting Lark lurk in the territory was quite another. He wasn't dumb and he did fear the laws StarClan laid down. He would fear them and obey them rather than bring the wrath of StarClan down on SilentClan all because he'd been selfish.
As much as he loved Lark, Coalpaw wouldn't disobey his clan like that. Even if it meant a heavy personal cost on his part. That was the sacrifice of living in a clan. Your love could be of your clan or none at all.
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Post by Duskstar on Sept 3, 2008 20:48:29 GMT -5
Lark gazed silently down at Coalpaw's kill, the limp brown body of a squirrel at his paws. She purred softly at the apprentice's humor, nuzzling her ginger and white head against him. The loner had no idea what he was like around the rest of his clan. About his sarcasm or sharp tongue. The only Coalpaw she knew was the one she found when they were alone. Long tail waved back and forth, brushing against the tom's side as Lark leaned over and licked him affectionately on the forehead. The she-cat kept telling herself he was just a friend but deep down she knew. She knew that Coalpaw was more than that to her, even if they had only met once before.
The next question caused Lark to sigh. "Oh Coalpaw, I have no idea." Her head lowered, looking down at ginger paws. "You said yourself that SilentClan members wouldn't like me anyway..." The loner's bright green gaze met her crush's. It was true, Coalpaw's clanmates wouldn't exactly be thrilled to see a loner join their "pure-blood" clan, and what would happen to her friend if they became... more than friends? The clan wouldn't trust him anymore. Lark turned her gaze in the direction Fallendream had just padded away. Somewhere in the depths of this frightening territory was a camp full of cats that shared love and affection with each other. But would they with her? "I- I have to think about it Coalpaw." Lark finally meowed, pressing closer to him, "I don't know what to think right now..."
Lark looked out into he dense forest that SilentClan called home, sighing. She doubted she would ever get used to the shadows, even if she did decide to join. Just then a twig snapped, and the strong scent of SilentClan once again met her nostrils. Lark jumped, and, gazing longingly at Coalpaw, she gave a rushed soft meow, "If- If you want to meet again... come to the boarder at moonhigh." The words came out fast, without much thought. Her only logic was that they kept getting interrupted, and that if she stayed here too long Coalpaw would get in trouble. Brushing his muzzle quickly with hers, the loner was off, sprinting silently through the territory.
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Post by shadow on Sept 3, 2008 21:23:52 GMT -5
Coalpaw watched as Lark bounded away with surprisingly quiet pawsteps toward the border. Making a note to get some excuse to meet her, Coalpaw picked up his squirrel and padded along the same path Fallendream had taken. At least now he could return to camp and not have wasted a morning. He also remembered that he still owed Kestrelpaw a session to help her with her stalking technique which Coalpaw had practically perfected. With a sigh muffled by squirrel fur, Coalpaw trudged through the dimly lit woodland toward the camp with his prize. His thoughts however, remained lingering with Lark. He hoped she would join the clan though he wouldn't want to force her into it. She was obviously intimidated by the clans, as she should be but he feared that intimidation would also keep her away from him for good.
Remembering what he had told himself about a relationship with her if it kept him away from his clan, Coalpaw lifted his head a bit and forced himself to focus. He had apprentice duties to help Kestrelpaw with after all. If Lark did choose to remain a loner, Coalpaw would have to accept that and move on. He would remain loyal to his clan even if it killed him on the inside. He would do it because he didn't dare anger his clan. They already thought little enough of him as it was. Though Coalpaw was sure Lark could make a wonderful warrior and he hoped someday she'd be his mate, Coalpaw knew he would only do it when she was part of the clan and under StarClan's watchful gaze.
No one would take Coalpaw for such a loyal and faithful cat but really he was.
-tread ended-
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