PeakClan
Hawkeye resisted the urge to shake out her fur when they reached the rocks so as not to spatter her denmates with raindrops, and instead began rapidly grooming her wet pelt. "It's really coming down," she observed, flicking droplets from her ears as she listened to the downpour above them. "I thought it was going to be a nice day, too."
Crowthorn stared silently at Lightningwing as she went off on him. "You know, you're pretty crazy," he observed at last. "Maybe you should go see Gingerleaf. Although I'm not sure even she'll be able to help you--I think you're too far gone." He rose to his paws. "When did I say I didn't care about anything? What jokes are you talking about? Who do you think I am, if not your clanmate, Crowthorn, a loyal warrior of PeakClan? I'm genuinely curious as to where you've gotten these ideas from, because they sure aren't from me. You're right that I don't care whether or not you view me as an enemy, but I do wonder why you hate me so much when I've never done a single thing to you, or why you say it's impossible to be friends with me when you've never even tried--not that I would want a cat like you for a friend anyway, after seeing how you've acted today. Someone also once told me you were against bullying, but I guess that was a lie too, huh? After all, you're the only one here calling others names for no reason." His tone changed from what had been a mostly lighthearted one to something more serious and snide, almost angry. "If I want you to give me a chance?" he echoed with a scoff. "Are you serious? A chance for what? To have you actually behave normally, to treat me the way you should--with some respect, like a clanmate rather than an enemy warrior, a spy, a traitor? Thanks, but I'll pass. Unlike you, I still have my dignity, because unlike you, I don't try to strip others of theirs by making them work to prove that they're worthy of the slightest bit of respect or trust whatsoever. Am I guilty until proven innocent? I don't think so, and I don't think you don't treat other cats like that; don't treat me like that. No, it's cats like you who aren't worth it--respect, trust, time, effort, anything. If you think you are, you need to get your head checked out. Remember, I only came up to you because I thought you needed someone, not me. But it's clear to me now why you're alone. You're horrible, frankly." He laughed a little. "No wonder no cat wants to be around you. Still, I'm not entirely convinced you don't want company; you obviously have something very wrong and deeply rooted going on with you. I wouldn't be surprised if you initiated all of this in the hopes that someone would actually be invested in their conversation with you for once rather than growing bored immediately and leaving. After all, I told you you could go, and you didn't. Why would you choose to continue talking to someone you apparently hate so much when you're given every opportunity to leave? That tells me all I need to know. You're just a poor, lonely soul who doesn't want to admit it and doesn't know how to keep anyone interested in her. Well, I'm sorry if you thought this would work, but it hasn't. It was fun at first, but I lost interest a long time ago and I'm incredibly bored by now. Besides, I'm a very busy tom--I haven't got all day to waste on your kit-games. Thanks for understanding." He flashed her a smile before turning tail and padding out of camp, ignoring the rain pelting down.
Redfeather's words caught Gingerleaf off guard. She agreed with the last two: "She's perfect." Yes, she is. That was one thing Gingerleaf would never argue with. But would she change anything? She didn't know. It was easy for Redfeather to say such things--he didn't have to live with the burden of never getting to know his daughter, of being so close, yet so far away from her, of loving her more than anything else in the world, but never getting to tell her. No, Sunpaw knew her father, and she loved him. Adored him, even. Gingerleaf wondered if the apprentice would adore her mother as much as she did her father--if only she knew who her mother was. She had to hope she would. But the way things were now, Gingerleaf wouldn't be surprised if she was the last cat on Sunpaw's mind. No, she was sure her daughter was closer to just about every other she-cat in the clan. Especially Sparrowcall. Gingerleaf couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy whenever she saw the apprentice with her mentor. The two seemed to love each other like mother and daughter, at least in Gingerleaf's eyes, but perhaps that was just her perception contaminated with jealousy and her own maternal desires. "Yes, she is," she finally murmured the words out loud. She pulled away from Redfeather, suddenly afraid that somebody would enter the den and see their pelts brushing. "Can you keep an eye on her? I have to sort through my herbs," she meowed, already turning away and padding to the back of her den, where she kept her supply.
PineClan
Timberfoot didn't even have a chance to respond to the deputy before she darted out of camp, Aspenheart hot on her heels, with Icepaw in the lead. He frowned. "Yeah, seems like it," he murmured his agreement with Foxcloud. He followed her gaze to the apprentices, then to the thundering sky. Sensing her concern, he let his tail touch her flank. "Don't worry. I'm sure they can handle it, whatever it is, and we've got things covered here."
A surge of adrenaline allowed Darkflower to gain a few tail-lengths ahead of the fox. She glanced back to make sure it wasn't getting too close, only to see Jaywing limping after them. "I'm trying to lead it away from you!" she yowled over her shoulder. The fox had already incapacitated Swiftstep, whom Southwind and Kestrelclaw had then left to carry to camp, and injured Jaywing's paw; that had left her and Mudsplash as the only completely capable fighters, and Darkflower didn't want to risk one of them getting hurt as well. Rather, she had hoped to lead it of the territory, maybe even into the river.
Southwind shot Icepaw a sympathetic look before turning his attention back to Aspenheart with a nod, and once again, he and Kestrelclaw heaved the limp body of Swiftstep onto their backs. "They can handle things," he murmured to Icepaw in an attempt to make her feel better. "They're four strong warriors, against one fox. We need guards at camp, in case there are any more foxes in the area."














