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Post by Duskstar on Sept 1, 2008 11:25:25 GMT -5
Fallendream coughed and sputtered behind his apprentice. He had swallowed some water and was seriously sure there was some sort of living being in his stomach now. So what if the water wouldn't drown them? It would surely make them swim more than if they started toward camp. And if they were going to get sick, it might as well be while traveling instead of while sitting. Well, Fallendream was already sick, obviously. He had a shiver and was coughing, his thick fur sopping wet now, and when his pelt was wet, it stayed wet. For a very long time. Another hiss of frustration echoed off the tunnel walls as one of Fallendream's claws cracked, leaving the remaining half to throb and bleed. How could Coalpaw be so frustrating?! Maybe for the first time Fadingstar hadn't picked the right apprentice for him. He felt like knocking some sense into the arrogant little mousebrain right here and now.
That was it! If Coalpaw and he fought, then maybe the apprentice would learn that Fallendream truly was more experienced than him. The warrior had heard of mentors doing that as a last resort, and he couldn't think of anything more last resort than now. Well, when Coalpaw was fit to fight again.
Fallendream decided to keep his mind on climbing instead of his apprentice. They were about halfway up the sloping tunnel, which the tom thought was much smaller when he was going down. It had twisted and turned so many times that you couldn't see where they had come into it, or where it would lead. Keeping a good grip on the rocks, Fallendream hoped that his clumsiness wouldn't be triggered by their good luck. He wasn't too thrilled about falling down the rocky water slide behind them. Again the warrior redirected his mind to climbing, refusing to fall in front of Coalpaw. "He WILL learn to respect me..."
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Post by shadow on Sept 1, 2008 11:49:22 GMT -5
Many thought Coalpaw was an arrogant brat, including most likely Fallendream. Coalpaw didn't argue, well he did but not about that. He had been treated poorly as a kit by warriors and apprentices alike, teased for his smallness and only Kestrelpaw had ever taken his side on anything. Well, Kestrelpaw and Lark but they had been the only ones. When he'd finally become an apprentice, Coalpaw had made a promise to himself to not let himself be pushed around by a warrior or an apprentice. Sure that meant he looked like he lacked respect for anyone and he did, but Coalpaw wouldn't let Fallendream get the best of him. Fallendream had never done anything to show Coalpaw he was better or different from the warriors that had suggested he be a medicine cat. Until he did, Coalpaw's respect remained out of reach, for just about anybody not just Fallendream. Also, Coalpaw was just a naturally grumpy creature, easily annoyed. The sooner Fallendream accepted that the happier they'd all be.
As he climbed, Coalpaw kept reminding himself of that. If Fallendream couldn't take being a little wet and, from the hiss he'd heard earlier, breaking a claw, then he was no where near a warrior in Coalpaw's mind. From clawing at the walls during his tumble, Coalpaw's front claws were broken, bleeding a little and throbbing. He refused to limp or slow down however and he knew the medicine cat would pull his whiskers for that but he wouldn't show his weakness in front of Fallendream. Nor would he let a headache and some dizziness get the best of him. No way. It wasn't going to happen.
At last, at long last, Coalpaw pushed himself up and out of the tunnel into the downpour. Thunder snarled at him from overhead and lightning flickered but Coalpaw coolly ignored it. The thunder was getting quieter so the storm was beginning to travel again. Heaving himself up and out, Coalpaw felt himself become instantly drenched. His fur slicked down, hugging his small form and making him look even smaller. Coalpaw hissed softly in distaste at the wetness and glanced back for Fallendream, careful to keep his eyes neutral.
"Happy now?" he growled grumpily.
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Post by Duskstar on Sept 1, 2008 12:11:43 GMT -5
As Fallendream pulled himself out of the cave next to Coalpaw, he ignored the question. The two looked pathetic; Fallendream, with his thick fur drenched and hanging limply at his sides, shivering and coughing, then a tiny little apprentice that looked more like a kit. The rain fell so hard you could barely see ahead of you, let alone scent what direction you were going. Fallendream and most likely Coalpaw both knew the territory enough to get back to camp, luckily. But just to be sure, the warrior used this opportunity to test his apprentice. "Lead the way." He yowled over the roar of thunder.
The ground beneath the two was at one time dirt, but not anymore. Before he knew it Fallendream found himself paw deep in the disgusting substance of mud, and pulling them out resulted in a suction sound. Now he looked even more ridiculous. Gazing up at the sky the tom noticed signs of the storm moving away, but the rain didn't subside even the tiniest bit. Dark clouds rolled threateningly in the sky as a flash of lightning struck a tree, causing a loud crack. The tree flashed up in a bright yellow light and caught fire, which was soon put out by the pouring rain. Fallendream watched as the oak started leaning, and with a groan started to fall, landing with a large thud on the forest floor. The warrior hissed, hoping that the camp was ok and wouldn't become flooded.
"Right then," He started, gazing at Coalpaw, "Lets get going."
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Post by shadow on Sept 1, 2008 12:41:55 GMT -5
Coalpaw didn't even bother to shake his fur out. He knew it would do no good and if anything else it would just let more water into his pelt. Really he knew he looked horrible. Being a small-built tom and still young, Coalpaw probably looked half a size smaller than his usual small stature. Oh well. He could grump about that later. Now all he wanted was to get back to camp and curl up in the apprentice den to dry off. Maybe Kestrelpaw would take pity on him and not make him go out hunting with her. That would be torture. Then again, Kestrelpaw wasn't a character for pity so Coalpaw knew his chances were slim. If he was grumpy than his sister might leave him be but that was a stretch considering after being around his mentor Coalpaw was usually grumpy.
Ignoring whichever way his mentor chose to go or even if his mentor kept up, Coalpaw set off at a brisk pace toward camp, or at least as brisk as his pace could be when his paws were being tugged at by the mud. Mist rose from the ground because of the heavy downpour and Coalpaw sometimes had to squint a little to see if there were trees looming nearer. The next time he went on a solo hunting or exploring mission, he would make sure it was solo, no followers.
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