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Post by edward ✿ on Apr 8, 2015 2:43:50 GMT
 Ivypaw
A brown and white tabby she-cat trotted lightly through the relatively open pines. Her noise twitched, mouth open- scenting for prey. Her ears perked as she heard the scuffling of a small animal. Crouching down, tail held out straight behind her, she waited. Ivypaw squinted with concentration and effort. Amber eyes widened slighty as a fat vole scuffled out of a clump of pine needles. The young she-cat stiffened, held, and pounced. She landed squarely on the vole, nipping at its neck swiftly. Ivypaw smiled, it was a good kill. White paws dug into the dirt and covered the freshly killed rodent. Whiskers twitching, Ivypaw kept a look out for more that she could catch for her clan.
Ivypaw was sniffing lightly at a hole in a pine tree trunk when she heard more movement. Turning, she spotted a blackbird, small, but still good enough to eat. She instantly dropped down, softly moving forward. Bright eyes were focused on the bird. Ivypaw was getting closer when her paw snagged on a root, tripping her up. The tabby she-cat couldnt right herself before falling forward. Spitting pine needles, Ivypaw jumped forward in an attempt to salvage her hunting mission but missed the bird flying away frantically. She sat down, fur fluffed up. Ivypaw's eyes were glared, hissing at herself, "how stupid could you be? Tripping over a tree root. What a pathetic mistake. She sat for a moment, licking her paw, as it had gotten a bit twisted in the fall- nothing serious enough to see a medicine cat about though.
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Post by shay on Apr 8, 2015 3:08:41 GMT
Twigtail let out a light sigh as he padded quickly after his apprentice, who was always so eager to go ahead. The only time she ever seemed ok with being on her own when she was entirely focused on being the best warrior she could be. It was nice, but good acts are worth the most when others were aware of what you did. He never really had the will to tell her to stay with him, however, she had rushed off when she smelled prey before he could say anything. It's not really like he could scold her anyways, being stern didn't suit him. What a terrible mentor I must be, He thought.
The nettle trees in the tallpines were rather hard to navigate through, all the trees grew in such an organized pattern, and everywhere you looked seemed the same, save for a few dirty puddles. His eyes and ears darted, listening for Ivypaw.
Then he heard her cursing not too far away. Quickly recognizing the frustration in her voice, he darted over, kicking up dead nettles behind himself. "Ivypaw?" He mewed concernedly. He looked her up and down, and noticed her twisted foot. He was mad at himself for letting Ivypaw hurt herself, but was more worried about her paw. He tried to make light of the situation "Kicking trees to try and knock the birds down?" He paused. Maybe it was best to be mature about this. His face softened. "I mean... what happened? Are you ok?"
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Post by edward ✿ on Apr 8, 2015 3:22:25 GMT
Ivypaw
Ivypaw heard pawsteps that suddenly got quicker. She turned her head to see her mentor, Twigtail. The wiry ginger and white tom came to a stop near her, she could see a little worry in his gaze. "Kicking trees to try and knock the birds down?" The young she-cat scoffed, glaring at the older cat, "I mean... what happened? Are you ok?" She straightened, self conscious of her paw held off the ground. Ivypaw gave her chest a swift lick and looked up at Twigtail. Of course I'm okay, I just made a mistake- though a stupid one... her voice trailed off into a growl. Setting her sore paw down and trsting her weight on it, Ivypaw decided she was fine to walk. Quickly flicking her tail, she shook the glare off her face and spoke again, I'm okay, I just twisted my paw a bit. I can keep on though, what do you suppose we should do?
The wind shook the bows of the trees lightly and Ivypaw heard the blackbird calling from above- seemingly mocking her. No matter, she had other things to get done. No time for stewing over lost prey. She clawed at the ground a bit, ready to go as always. Ivypaw didn't seem to have time to slow down. She blinked and waited for her mentor to reply.
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Post by shay on Apr 8, 2015 3:42:20 GMT
Twigtail lowered his ears, Ivypaw was so harsh when she got upset, especially on herself. He wished that she wouldn't insult herself. She seemed to be relatively okay physically now, it was probably just a little sore now, but he feared a little more about her feelings. He shrugged it off, she probably would forget about it soon enough, since she constantly occupied herself in some way. "what do you suppose we do?" He was right, she was always on the go.
The rustle of the nettles in the wind and the bird caw reminded Twigtail that there were still other creatures here. Small, tasty creatures. He motioned his head toward the distance "There's still plenty of time to hunt, if you're willing." He paused for a moment, and he grew a little sideways grin on his face. "Besides, you could always take revenge on the one you missed by catching all of it's friends." He hoped she would appreciate his humor this time.
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Post by edward ✿ on Apr 8, 2015 4:09:45 GMT
Ivypaw
Ivypaw watched Twigtail, as he motioned towards the distance, There's still plenty of time to hunt, if you're willing. She flicked her tail in agreement, this tom could get the idea sometimes. He spoke again, Besides, you could always take revenge on the one you missed by catching all of it's friends. Grinned, Ivypaw's whiskers twitched, Sounds like a plan to me! She started to bounce ahead and then stopped, maybe she should stay with her mentor this time. She knew the tom wasn't likely to order her around with every little detail of the rules of being an apprentice.
Ivypaw paused, waiting for Twigtail to catch up. She flicked her tail back and forth, and looked at the older cat. She knew his brother had left for windclan when they were apprentices. She couldn't really understand, Ivypaw had no siblings or kin of any kind to speak of. She did understand feeling alone in the clan though, her clanmates had- and some still did- doubt her. Both of their mothers were from out of clan. Sighing thoughtfully, she spoke up, Do you ever miss your brother, Twigtail? Ivypaw almost wished she had kin to miss.
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Post by shay on Apr 8, 2015 4:46:33 GMT
Sometimes, Twigtail was thankful that her mood changed quickly. Ever since he became a mentor, life in the clan had definitely become so much more stressful, but very rewarding. Twigtail watched as she began to trot away happily for a second, and then quickly began to pad behind her. She was fun to be around too. He missed being an apprentice at times. Then she paused, and he halted behind her. He was confused as she seemed to just stare at him for a moment, he could almost hear her brain registering something. Maybe she had decided her paw was really going to be a problem?
Do you ever miss your brother, Twigtail?
The joints in his shoulders buckled. He knew her bluntness was unintentional, but the lack of sensitivity on her part still stung him. "I..." He wanted to ignore the question, pretend Ryepaw never existed, even though he knew that was very untrue. He sucked in a breath, Twigtail knew he couldn't lie to her. She could just become more curious and possibly more invasive about his brother because of his lack of an answer. "I miss him every day. He was really my best friend, you know. Even though we fought often." Twigtail was looking at the ground as he said this, but he hesitantly looked up into Ivypaw's questioning yellow eyes. "He was the only one who understood what it was like to be half-clan. It helped ease the feeling of being so alone." Even though Twigtail hated talking seriously, he felt a little comforted knowing that Ivypaw could probably sympathize, because of her own origins. She wasn't even remotely related to anybody in the clan, she must really feel alone.
Twigtail realized this was more than what he said to most cats about his brother, and he felt that maybe he just really trusted his apprentice that much.
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Post by edward ✿ on Apr 13, 2015 0:35:44 GMT
Ivypaw
Twigtail stopped abrubtly, Ivypaw obviously had hit a nerve. She flattened her ears, not meaning to cause any harm. "I miss him every day. He was really my best friend, you know. Even though we fought often.", he replied, looking at the ground. Twigtail looked up and into her eyes, "He was the only one who understood what it was like to be half-clan. It helped ease the feeling of being so alone." Ivypaw narrowed her eyes and huffed. The only one? She hissed and turned away from the tom, pushing through some ferns into the deeper forest. She may be insensitive but at least she wasn't blind. The tabby she-cat growled to herself, not waiting for her mentor to catch up. She had never even known her parents, and only had heard that her mother was a rogue cat.
Paws pushing through the grass, she went onward. Ivypaw knew she wasn't being a great apprentice but her emotions got the better of her. What an absolute mousebrain, she thought to herself. She cat down, clawing at the grass and dirt. After a few minutes she sighed and let her fur flatten. I thought I'd gotten past the bitterness of my parentage.. The scars of her fellow apprentices still hurt her though, no matter the brave face she put on.
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Post by shay on Apr 13, 2015 1:56:48 GMT
Seeing the sudden change in Ivypaw's expression made Twigtail realize how wrong everything he just said was. of course he wasn't the only one who was alone in the clan. That's why he felt more open to talk to Ivypaw... if only he had thought, but no, he just had to say something. Twigtail opened his mouth to try and correct himself, but she just hissed, and bounded away.
Twigtail wanted to stay behind again and just think about something else for a while, just pretend that he didn't say anything. He kicked at the dirt, and wished that his foot was kicking his own head. I can't run away anymore he thought, and began to pace, his thin tail lashing. She's my responsibility, and not just to train. I need to be there for her emotionally too. He shook his head, clearing his head. I have to deal with now. He bolted through the ferns after her, following her scent. As he ran, he thought of possible things he could say to her.
When he found her, he didn't instantly come out right away. he just wanted to make sure it was okay to come out and not be clawed by her, literally or verbally (even though he knew he'd probably deserve it if she did). He saw her face contorted into such a tortured expression that was all too familiar to him. He remembered seeing Ryepaw coming to him with such a look when they were young, especially after he had been teased. Twigtail's heart went out to Ivypaw, and he was even more mad at himself for not thinking about his words.
He sucked in a breath, and slowly padded out to her. He stopped, and sat before her, slightly looking away. "You must think I'm as thoughtless as they are... I'm sorry. I get so in my own head when I'm reminded of him, I didn't think about how you feel." His chest hurt when he spoke, he was full of hatred for himself, and thoughts of the hurtful words that both Ivypaw and himself had felt before. Twigtail hoped he had chosen the right words.
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