What a day.

[Stormeh]

THE DAYS HAD BECOME LONG and were filled with days of sun-basking and easy hunting. As leaf-bare approached, however, as it always did with its swift paws, Ravenflight couldn't quite hide a tremor of nervousness from himself.

The black tom was sitting directly in front of Tallrock, the single rock that jutted up from the center of the camp that the leader stood on to speak. A wave of apprehension swept over the tom. Redstar had been noticeably weaker these days. Nothing had gone over well for him and he hardly strayed from his den that was in a cleft in the Tallrock. Despite the fact that the leader and his deputy hadn't gotten along well in the beginning of Redstar's time as the CherryClan leader, he didn't want for anything bad to happen to the tom. He still cared about him in the way that he should--as a loyal warrior and trusted adviser and deputy should. He wouldn't go so far as to say that they were friends, but that would definitely have been the next step...if the two just weren't so stubborn.

With a sigh, Ravenflight glanced around the camp. His yellow eyes fell on the medicine cat's den and he felt a sharp pang of sadness stab his heart and twist to increase the pain.

Tawnystone...

He hadn't understood. He didn't think he ever would understand. This was apparently...just how things were going to be.... She was gone. She always would be.

He tore his gaze away from the den that his sister had once inhabited with her apprentice Firestone. It finally came to rest on the nursery and the she-cat who was sitting directly outside of it as she groomed herself. Even though the kits weren't his, Ravenflight's sadness was being lifted with a gentle pride. The Clan was growing, and Ashenwind had began to make huge progress in CherryClan. He hadn't felt that she would think that she would ever belong in her new Clan, but she had found her niche and settled in quite well. Tawnystone's death had shaken her [as it had with them all], but she had made a comeback from that as well.

Life must go on.

He could practically hear Tawnystone warmly mewing the words that he was thinking in his mind. She would say the exact same thing to him, no matter what. Ashenwind's birth of a large litter of five kits had rocked CherryClan in the best way possible.

With a tiny start, Ravenflight realized that it wouldn't be much longer, really, before they were actually apprentices...and before the current apprentices were warriors. He made a mental note to check with Petalnose to figure out how Fawnpaw was coming along. He also figured that he should get a cat to take over Stagpaw's training. The apprentice surely hadn't been out often with Redstar. He also figured that today would be a great day to take Deerpaw out to train.

Ravenflight just smiled a minuscule smile for the time being. For now, he would just allow all of the cats to enjoy their morning. He would organize a patrol soon and let things take their course from there, though he did want to get the deal with the apprentices sorted out.

Yes, life was at its peak...for now.

[Okay, so how old are Fawnpaw, Deerpaw, and Stagpaw? It was in August that they were made apprentices, so they've been that way for a while... And exactly how old would Ashenwind's kits be? o.o]

[Raven-chan]

The morning sun filtered through the Apprentice's Den with the laziness of a slow, meandering brook, blinking open a pair of rich amber eyes so like their mother's. Stagpaw yawned widely, his paws stretching out in order to ease the sleep from their lanky bones. Standing, the broad tabby blinked rapidly to grind sleep out of his eyes before stepping quietly into the sunlight.

All hopes of training disappeared, as they did nearly every morning. It was rare that Redstar would ever take him out training, and when he did, it was quick, short jaunts. His ears drooped a little at the prospect of staying in camp, doing nothing, or tagging along with someone else and merely watching. Fawnpaw and Deerpaw didn't realize how lucky they were.

Every fiber of Stagpaw's being wanted to run. Run through the forest, swifter than anyone, his fur rushing with the wind, his tail streaming out behind him, the exhiliration of the speed coursing through his veins like fire rushing through a dry, barren wasteland. He spotted Ashenwind and gave a hearty smile, his naturally kind and caring heart shining through.

He spotted Ravenflight and his heart flooded with jealousy for Deerpaw. She had the most attentive, skilled mentor. He had been so excited to get Redstar as a mentor, but after such neglect, Stagpaw would give anything just to go out for a real training session, even if it was only once. The envy wasn't visible, just bubbling in his heart, but it dissipated quickly when he told himself that it was wrong to be mad at his sister. It was probably good that his sisters had good mentors and not him. He would prefer that he be neglected over his sisters- he would give anything for them.

Sitting down near the apprentice's den, Stagpaw scuffled his paws absently in the ground, already bored, and the day had just barely begun.

[D a R K - R a H]

D E E R P A W;;
^{________________________________________________________}

There was no doubting it; it was simply Deerpaw-nature. Ever-eccentric as she was, the small tabby stood out very plainly compared to the normal-acting apprentices of the other clans, especially RavineClan. Where most average young cats her age took joy in hunting and patrolling for their clan, Deerpaw took immense joy in the small flash of a smile, or he sound the tall, gold grass made when the wind ran through it. She was her mother's entire odd-side balled up into one strange persona. That said, it could not be claimed that Brackenwing had born any "normal" kits. After Deerpaw, there was Stagpaw, who was simply happy loping about and cared more about his sisters and mother than life itself. And, of course, there was Fawnpaw. Contrary to her peace-hinting name, the brown tabby was a ball of fiery energy. It seemed she could go for days on end. Altogether, the three made up a rather strange, although loving, family. It didn't help that Brackenwing did nothing but encourage their odd antics.

At the very moment her brother pondered his lack of a good mentor and Ravenflight pondered his lack of Tawnystone, Deerpaw was pondering her excess of stripes. She turned her shoulder, staring down at the myriad of criss-crosses that made up her pelt. Tabby stripes was not an uncommon trait amongst any of the forest cats, but it was particularly present in Brackenwing's little family. All three of the half-grown kits were covered in stripes, despite the fact that their father had lacked them. The mother herself bore the same exact pattern as her long-legged son Stagpaw. Fawnpaw had more brown and a lighter under-coat, while Deerpaw had more mottled patches, where the stripes gave up and became a bed of black speckles atop a base of gray-and-brown. Awkwardly turning about in a full circle, the small she-cat watched her stripes fade to a mottled patch on her lower left side. She sighed to herself and sat down with a gentle thud. There was simply no denying it; she was a tabby.

Conclusion reached, Deerpaw lifted her gaze out onto the rest of the camp. She sat in a little patch of light several foxlengths from the camp's entrance. Just inside the warriors' den, she could see what she automatically knew to be her mother's form, staring out at the clan's deputy. Young as she was, the apprentice still did not entirely understand her mother's sudden interest in Ravenflight. Once, Brackenwing had tried explaining it. The warrior-queen had started by telling the story of how Ravenflight had slowly lost those he'd cared about most: first Nightstar, then Tawnystone. Deerpaw watched a strange sort of pity and sorrow fill her mother's eyes as she spoke. She couldn't possibly understand what would make Brackenwing so sad all of a sudden. Sure, it was sad the two cats had died, but those were the only deaths the clan had seen in seasons-- weren't they? In some ways, Deerpaw shared her mother's concern for the deputy. Ravenflight had always shown an undying love and loyalty to his clan. It didn't seem fair that he should loose those he loved.

But pity and sorrow weren't the only reasons Brackenwing was interested in Ravenflight. This reason Deerpaw understood even less. She vaguely knew her mother loved being a queen, but the small tabby was too young to see that Brackenwing wanted kits again, and Ravenflight was really the only tom left to give them to her. Deerpaw didn't comprehend such things as the distinct lack of older toms. She had once asked her mother why she didn't pursue Redstar instead. Her mother had simply replied, "I do not think he'd agree. Besides, he heart is already in the possession of another she-cat." Deerpaw didn't bother asking what she'd meant.

Not wanting to continue plaguing her mind with what she saw as meaningless ponderings, Deerpaw leapt quickly to her paws and darted over to her brother. In a strange rush of affection, she rubbed her head against his, letting out a little purr. Without saying a word, she blink pleasantly at him.

There exists a difference
Between surviving and living.

[Stormeh]

AFTER PONDERING HIS DECISION FOR a matter of seconds, Ravenflight moved towards the fresh-kill pile and took a small mouse from its base. The tom returned to his place beside the Tallrock and crouched as he took thoughtful bites from his prey.

Golden eyes belonging to the tom missed nothing as they scoured the Clan. He watched Deerpaw and a slight purr rose in his throat. He had developed a bond with his apprentice--and he undeniably felt something for her mother as well.

Ravenflight had never really been in love with a cat. Not once. So he couldn't describe what he was feeling when he looked at Brackenwing. She had already had kits--kits he didn't even know the father of--and was a well-to-do warrior. She was the perfect thing that CherryClan needed, and her kits had apparently inherited her energy and enthusiastic nature. The deputy wasn't sure about whether or not he was attracted to her from his heart...or if it was due to the fact that he truly had no one.

He had his Clan, of course, and its closely-knit cats were definitely a family to him. But he wanted more. He wanted for his legacy to be carried out after he died. He wanted for the cats to know who he was. He wanted for them to remember him, and not just by stories. He felt his chest swell with a slight pride at the thought of a miniature version of himself padding into the camp, a mouse in his jaws, and of him fighting beside his kits in a ferocious battle. With a little sigh, he wondered what Brackenwing would think of that, though. Perhaps she wasn't the right one? What if she wasn't the right one?

But, then again, wasn't the only key to truly knowing something taking a chance? She seemed like she would definitely be worth it.

The tom let out a full-blown smile after he saw Deerpaw comfort her brother. Stagpaw definitely seemed bored...and Ravenflight's plan was going to remedy that.

Bones taken care of respectfully, the deputy padded slowly towards Stagpaw and Deerpaw. He looked at Deerpaw at first and gave her a nod before looking at both of them sternly.

"And what exactly do you two think you're doing?" he growled. "Being lazy, hmm? Well. I do suppose that a punishment is in order. You both know better." The tom tried hard to suppress a smile, but it finally burst out. "And I think," he mewed in a much different voice, "that can be taken care of by coming with me to go train." He cast a glance at Stagpaw. "Both of you." He flicked his tail. "We can go now if you're both ready."

[D a R K - R a H]

R E D S T A R;;
^{________________________________________________________}

At last, he had discovered the perfect metaphor: a rabbit leading a flock of sparrows. Sure, there wasn't the huge difference in physical appearance or skill; both CherryClan and BrookClan had been runners for generations. But there were other things... The sweet scent that clung to the fur of all CherryClanners, despite the dizzying distance between the clan and their beloved cherry trees; their general lack of fighting ability (most CherryClanners excelled at hunting in particular); obvious companionship (this one was pretty big); even their heroes were different... CherryClanner's praised the dead warrrior Hazefur, who had lived long fighting for his clan and died saving a kit-- of another clan. BrookClanners had airy, windy scents, both fighting and hunting talents, and idolized Swiftstar, who had been leader before Fernstar. But the one thing that effected Redstar the most was the companionship between the cats of his new clan. CherryClanners had always been pleasant, playful cats (they would have had to be to let a cat from another clan lead them). They felt between eachother a constant flow of comradeship and fondness. BrookClanners, of course, had adored their clan, but in a different way. BrookClanners were prideful, unable to admit defeat. They would have rather died then see the dignity of the clan ruined. CherryClan, however, cared more about each individual cat. They would have rather be split up than have anything happen to each other. It was something Redstar had trouble wrapping his head around, but he was beginning to understand.

It had been just over ten moons since Redstar had taken over leadership of the kind-mannered clan. 'Taken' wasn't a very good word for it, though... The responsibility had been more so handed to him. At first, he'd burried himself in reforming the clan, lifting it up after the painful blow of losing Nightstar. He'd focused on CherryClan alone, refusing to see the pain that lurked around every corner. He had blocked all thoughts of BrookClan and Fernstar's betrayal from his mind. Instead, he threw himself into learning each new clanmate by name, scent, voice, and nearly even stride. Redstar had even memorized the various relationships in the clan; such as how Ravenflight was Tawnystone's littermate, Firestone littermate of Brackenwing, and even the tight-knit bond between Brackenwing and a queen named Clearpool. He had even picked up bits and pieces others didn't know. Hazefur had been the grandsire of Brackenwing and Firestone. Apparently Firestone was the spitting image of his grandmother Scarletwing. More so than that, Redstar gleaned that Ravenflight and Nightstar had been the best of friends. Pantherstorm and Petaldance had been Clearpool's kits, the only remaining of a litter of five.

So he had come to care for them very much, even if they didn't feel the same in return. Redstar had openly mourned the deaths of Hazefur and Clearpool. All the same, there was something different about his fondness for CherryClan in comparison to his feelings towards his previous home. In BrookClan, Redstar had felt like he truely belonged. He'd had good friends [one in particular], an apprentice, and a clan that shared his thoughts and worries. BrookClan had moved as one, very similar to the way CherryClan lived. But Redstar would always be the clan's sore thumb, standing out against the rest of the clan. No matter how he tried, BrookClan would always be Redstar original and true home...

But that no longer mattered. The clan that had once existed was surely all dead by that point... Not that they'd take them back. With all his heart, Redstar wished he'd stayed with BrookClan, even as they faced doom. But betrayal still bubbled in his heart. He had been Fernstar's deputy; she hadn't once consulted him before enlisting the help that would inevitably destroy the entire forest. So many cats were dead because of her poor choice. A painful memory seared through him and he recalled the first death of them all-- one of their own. Sagepaw and Duckpaw had been very close-- perhaps even in love. It had torn at Redstar's heart to see his apprentice staring so blankly down at the she-cat he'd cared so much about. But it didn't even stop at that. Not long later, Sagepaw himself was the dead cat laid out in the center of the camp.

A flicker of movement pulled the ginger tom from his thoughts. He gratefully lifted his eyes from the floor of his den beneath the clan's small, cozy copse. Outside in the camp, his deputy sat surveying the camp. On the other side of the clearing were two apprentices, Stagpaw and Deerpaw. Redstar felt privledged to know he'd known those particular CherryClanners their entire lives. With their sister, Fawnpaw, the apprentices had been growing remarkably fast. Having been so long since he'd spent time around young cats, Redstar had forgotten how quickly the grew and changed. Each of the litter seemed to be growing into a different trait of their mother Brackenwing. Stagpaw was distant, but friendly, with a love of movement and, even more so, his family. Redstar had chosen to mentor Stagpaw himself, in a hope to integrate himself into the clan more. A flash of guilt moved threw him-- Stagpaw's training was often ignored. Next was Deerpaw, a strange but cheerful young she-cat who was quite often off in her own world. Fawnpaw carried her mother's bright and happy she-cat, eager to please and independent.

Redstar pulled himself to his feet, intending to go out and actually train his apprentice for once. As he slipped from his den, a shaft of sunlight momentarily blinded him, and he paused to blink quickly. When his vision cleared, Ravenflight had stood and was adressing the two apprentice. Redstar felt his heart sink. "Oh," he said quietly, not even considering telling his deputy that he would train Stagpaw himself. Eager to do something that would show how much he did care for his new clan, he cast his gaze about. It fell upon the young queen Ashenwind. Like Redstar, she too had been a BrookClanner. But things were different for her. She had been an outsider in BrookClan, not particularly close to anyone. In CherryClan she had at last found her place. She now had a mate and was the mother of five young kits. Envy burned briefly in Redstar, but he pushed it away.

His paws carried him easily to her side. "G'morning, Ashenwind," he said in a kind greeting, trying to mean it as much as possible. "How are the kits?" He was sure she was asked that a lot, but it was a good sign. Only a moon old and Ashenwind's kits were already much-loved by their clanmates...

{DONE}

What's the point of going on
When the world itself has abandoned you?

[Raven-chan]

A rush of warmth flooded the young tom's heart at the softness of fur pressed against him, the soft rumble of a purr that echoed throug his mind. Stagpaw looked down at Deerpaw and nuzzled her fondly, his amber eyes filled with gratitude and love towards his sister. So many times Stagpaw felt pride and joy rush through him, love and a smothering sense of affection pound in his heart whenever he saw Deerpaw, Fawnpaw or Brackenwing. It surprised him, sometimes, how lucky he was to have them. What if he was like Ravenflight, who now had noone at all? The thought broke his heart, when Ravenflight approached.

Stagpaw had opened his mouth to say something to Deerpaw, but at Ravenflight's words, all other thoughts vanished. He didn't even close his mouth for nearly fifteen seconds at the excitement that raced through him, causing him to jump up and nearly wriggle with anticipation, though he managed to keep himself under control. Instead, a broad smile crossed his face and his tail waved jubilantly behind him, his eyes sparkling.

He was going training! With Deerpaw and Ravenflight! His claws sheathed and unsheathed in happiness, and he meowed breathlessly, happiness and gratitude in his every word, "Oh, thank you, Ravenflight! Thank you!" Stagpaw highly respected Ravenflight, and as more than just the Clan's highly successful, well-loved deputy.

To Stagpaw, he represented strength and endurance that every warrior should have. As a growing tom, Stagpaw really had noone to go to when it came to things like protecting the she-cat's you loved without making them feel smothered, (which he often thought about in the dark of the night,) how to become that strong, sturdy warrior that others could depend on, the mystery of she-cat's around him, (though there weren't really any issues with that because there were no she-cat's his age.)

Stagpaw didn't have a father. Sometimes, he would see Pantherstorm playing with his little kits and feel envy stab him through the heart, like a thorn piercing his soft underbelly. Then he would force himself to count his blessings, especially his darling mother and sisters, and he would feel better. Not completely whole, but better. Firestone was a great uncle, but too gentle in spirit to understand the underlying needs that Stagpaw felt to just claw at something, fight something, run somewhere, get out!

Stagpaw nudged Deerpaw eagerly, his paws fairly itching to get out of the camp and run, far and wide, beyond the horizon and through the stars...well, maybe not, but at least he would get out of camp and learn something!

[Wazo]

A small pink nose poked her way out of the apprentice den, sorely missing the company of her siblings and her mother. Her bright brown eyes, the color of amber-wheat, were still shining from her last training session with Petaldance. Fawnpaw couldn't be more pleased with her mentor, who was both a patient cat and a bundle of fun, perhaps even more energetic than the tiny she-cat herself.

She bounced out of the apprentice den, the sun shining on her light brown pelt, different from her siblings, but not so far apart as to not see that they were clearly related. The fondness that this family had for each other was well-known within CherryClan and Fawnpaw was confident that it would remain that way until they were creaky elders swapping stories.

Her eyes darted around camp, resting momentarily on various members from Redstar and Ashenwind, and finally shining with delight upon seeing her brother and sister talking to what appeared to be the deputy of the entire clan. For a moment, Fawnpaw paused, her ears erect and her expression quizzical as she shifted her gaze from her siblings to the dark form of Ravenflight, straining to hear a word of there conversation. She knew that Stagpaw was his apprentice, but Deerpaw was included too and after a few brief seconds, she caught the word training.

Her eyes widened in surprise and in shock to think that her siblings would be to go out training with the deputy himself! That was all she needed to hear and she bolted towards them a tiny ball of pure energy streaked with black tabby stripes. She skidded to a stop in front of them, barely able to contain her excitement and avoid crashing into her siblings, but still remembering the respectful nod in Ravenflight's direction.

"I want...to...come...too!" she exclaimed, gasping for air as a result from her sprint. "Please?" she added, looking up hopefully at Ravenflight, her tail swishing eagerly.

[D a R K - R a H]

(Stormeh's turn?)

[Stormeh]

[Yep, my turn...]

Ashenwind smiled warmly at Redstar. He was the only connection that she truly felt that she had with BrookClan, and that was a weak one at that, what with him being CherryClan's leader.

It was amazing about how quickly things had really moved. Time had trickled by in BrookClan, the Clan that she had never felt she really belonged to. It seemed so far away now that she had all of her kits and Pantherstorm and her new Clanmates, all of whom were now her life.

"Things are going very well, thank you," the she-cat purred amiably. "The kits have been going practically insane with staying in the camp, but I'm sure they'll get better soon...after all," she added, a wistful glint in her eye, "it's not really that long before they become apprentices."

The kits were still moons away from becoming apprentices, but what was a moon when you had seen the four seasons come and go going on three times? She smiled as a thought entered her mind. What had happened to the little warrior who never ever wanted kits, whose only commitment was to her Clan?

"You should have seen them practicing their fighting moves the other morning," she purred with pride. "They're going to become quite the warriors for CherryClan!"

There was no reason for the kits to not be well-liked in the Clan. Sure, they were a bit unruly at times, but each had a unique personality and was seldom sad or sulky. Each of the kits had taken on the traits that Ashenwind had taken after she had kitted and learned that love was not a mere kit tale, but a full-on true emotion.

"I'm anxious for their sixth moon, though I'm sure they'll be fine, and I know you and Ravenflight will come up with the best mentors to assign them. Who knows--maybe one of them will be Firestone's apprentice!"

Ashenwind smiled for a few moments before speaking again. "How have things been for you, Redstar?"

&&

Ravenflight grinned at the two apprentices. "Well, I'm just glad I didn't have to force you to do this," he meowed, feigning fear. "To take on two apprentices such as yourselves would be unheard of."

Laughter shone in the tom's golden eyes as Fawnpaw joined them. "Of course you can go," he meowed. "I would hardly think it to be fair if you just laid around camp all day while your siblings were out training like the apprentices that you all three are."

The black tom had no idea about where the good mood had come from. Since Tawnystone's death, he hadn't really wanted to talk to any cat...not mostly, anyway. Sometimes it was nice to speak to a cat here and there about her, or about the things that went on in CherryClan, but he wasn't dipping his paws back in like a good deputy should. Things just weren't going correctly for him, but they felt so much better now. He felt like his heart had healed for the second time.

The only thing that bothered the CherryClan deputy was that there was a rumor that was surfacing that some RavineClanner was Tawnystone's daughter. The tom found this to be insulting; to say such things about the late Tawnystone was blasphemous. Why they would want to say such things was beyond him--unless they were somehow true...which he didn't exactly doubt. Tawnystone had always spent too much time with Nightstar, and she had always been the apple of his eye. When he died, she mourned him like no other cat--and she had stayed broken after his death, which was proven by the way that she had passed.

Ravenflight shook his head, trying to clear it. "Meet me in the training hollow," he told the apprentices. "We'll begin your fighting moves, and the first two there get to start us off."

With that, he turned and bounded out of the clearing.

The tom's ebony shape was a blur as he sprinted through the forest. Nothing made so much sense to him as a run did. He found it to be wholly exhilarating and an amazing stress reliever. His lithe body was made for running, it seemed, and he used it just for that.

As his paws graced the ground, he avoided the entrance and raced around the hollow up onto the slight cliff that formed one of the boundaries of the small clearing and eyed its depths.

The entrance to the hollow was covered in ferns, making it a little bit harder for other cats to find if they didn't know where it was. There was a dramatic slope that led down into the hollow that was covered in a moss that had been mostly worn down to a stubble of the plant. The short moss trailed down the slope and ended at the bottom of it, right where the sand began. A thick layer of the grains covered the floor of the little hollow, and it was circled by trees around its circumference except for a steeper hill that was made from sand, like a dune, at the top of which Ravenflight was currently standing. The sand made it nearly impossible for any cat to get hurt when he or she fell, making it the perfect place to train.

Ravenflight was going to wait and see which apprentices made it into the hollow first before he let himself be seen. That way, none of the apprentices could accuse him of cheating--and he would see who really knew their stuff. If any of them scented him, they would definitely earn a bit more respect from the seasoned warrior.

[Raven-chan]

The thrill and anticipation of the day raced through him, excitement coursing through his veins like a jolt of fire rippling across the ground. Racing? Fighting? With his sisters? This would be one of the best days ever! He loved to run, had always wanted to learn how to fight better, and relished the chance to be with his sisters.

Could today get any better? An idea sprung into mind and he glanced around, his amber eyes bright, wondering if his mother were around to greet, but, alas, she was not. Shrugging slightly, he grinned competetively at Fawnpaw and Deerpaw before leaping after Ravenflight, his stride lengthening as he fell into his familiar rhythm of speed.

His light bones and sleek build seemed to beg the question, how can he be an asset to the Clan? That is, of course, until you see the apprentice dart across the ground, his long legs nearly flying, tail streaming about behind him, broad tabby pelt a blur. The steep, mossy slope caught him a little off guard, (it had been awhile since he had been at the hollow,) but he compensated by making his long stride bouncier and lighter versus quietly pounding and low to the ground.

At the end of the slope he paused, not nearly out of breath, his tail twitching and his mouth open for a Ravenflight scent. He caught a slight whiff of it and turned in that direction, but didn't see anything. Slightly confused, the tom continued down into the hollow, looking around for the deputy. I coulda sworn I smelled him... Stagpaw thought to himself, before looking back to see where his sisters were, tail-tip twitching in anticipation. Who would he be fighting first?