Feline Frenzy

[[[ShAdYCaUStI]]]

Glacierpoint's eyes narrowed a little at the smaller cat's obvious guilt and his clumsy attempts at acting natural. Whatever Owlpaw was up to, it wasn't collecting herbs. He was a little odd and very sneaky, but he wasn't stupid. He knew the difference between herbs and pinecones, and if he'd seriously meant to be useful he would probably have made sure he knew what to look for first. He wasn't the sort of cat who enjoyed looking foolish. Wishpaw's enthusiastic yelps were irritating but entirely unimportant. This was turning out to be a very different hunting trip than she'd ever been on before, even as an apprentice. Of course, it wouldn't be polite to say anything about it. She sighed.

"If you'll all excuse me," she said in a low voice, "I believe there may be some prey over there." She thought she heard the familiar scrabbling of small animals in the underbrush. Perhaps they wouldn't follow her and then she would be rid of them. She was regretting having agreed to go with Windsong and especially Wishpaw.

((ooc::Short post. I know. Sorry.))

[Smokeleaf]

"Prey?" Wishpaw yelped, but stopped herself mid-sentence (or mid-fragment, if you're a grammar-freak) for fear of scaring it away. Windsong scanned the bracken, tasting the air, and even Owlpaw perked his ears in interest. It was possible he'd fooled Windsong, and he'd definitely fooled Wishpaw, but he wasn't so sure of his success with Glacierpoint, and he was glad to see her go. Hopefully, the others would follow her and he'd once again be left alone to his "project."

Windsong listened carefully, trying to figure out exactly what Glacierpoint was talking about. True, she did hear some scrabbling, but she couldn't smell anything. Maybe she was just too preoccupied with herbs, or Wishpaw's rattling on had messed with her senses. It wasn't her business to know, anyway. She had come out here looking for herbs and that was what she was going to do; Glacierpoint was the warrior, and it would be she who caught the prey. The silver medicine cat returned her nose parallel to the ground and carried on, being careful to find what she needed without startling any prey.

The only one who seemed intent on following the warrior was Wishpaw. She leaned forward without moving her paws, watching Glacierpoint with the hopes of learning some amazing new technique. In the back of her mind, she still had dreams of following a different path, of becoming a warrior. While she was perfectly content with serving her Clan in this way, something about her longed to use her claws to rip more than just herbs. Maybe if she worked hard enough, studied long enough, became good enough, she could be both. Even she could recognize that her wishes were a little far-fetched, but there was nothing wrong with hoping.

[Smokeleaf]

Owlpaw eagerly watched Glacierpoint as she stalked away, looking for some prey that obviously wasn't there. What a mousebrain, he thought. (He liked thinking, and did it a lot, because when you spoke, you had to be respectful and kind and humble, but you could think absolutely anything and no one would bother you.) What an absolute mousebrain! She thinks she's all high and mighty just because she's a warrior. Yeah, well, I'll be a warrior too, someday! I'll be the best warrior ever! Even she won't be able to snub me!
What he said was, "Good luck!" He looked back down to his pinecone for just a moment, secretly watching the trio through the corner of his eyes. Wishpaw was silently following Glacierpoint, but Windsong stayed nearby. He sighed, knowing he couldn't get anything done with her around. They would all interrupt him the next chance they got. Glacierpoint would eventually yell at Wishpaw to go away, which meant she would be back to bother him, and soon the suspicious warrior would be back on his case. He couldn't be here when they returned. He glanced up at the medicine cat and whispered (so as not to scare away the "prey"), "Sorry I couldn't help, Windsong. I'm going to go back to camp and look for my mentor."

"Just be quiet, and catch prey if you find it," she muttered without glancing up.

He nodded, even though he knew she couldn't see, and quietly padded away. When he knew he was far enough, he bolted suddenly and raced toward the camp. Hopefully, with these three gone and the sun still slowly rising, he'd find it as empty as he left it.



ooc: I'm going to Louy's post now. If anybody needs Owlpaw, he'll be over there.

[[[ShAdYCaUStI]]]

She could feel the doubt in the cats around her - or rather, in Owlpaw and Windsong; Wishpaw was too eager to please to have noticed that there was no scent of prey in the underbrush. Softly, her paws silent against the ground, she crept forward. There was definitely something in those bushes; something was moving.

ooc;; Aw crap. We've backed ourselves into a corner. Smokeh, how can there be something but no smell? --whines pitifully-- Help?

[Smokeleaf]

ooc: Oh. I thought you were using "prey" as an excuse to get away from Wishpaw. As in, "I'm leaving tomorrow to visit my poor, sick grandmother. She's really sick, so you don't want to come. You might die. It's bad, I promise. I don't know when I'll be back, and don't write. Seriously. Don't do it. I won't answer."
Kay, I'll fix it... somehow...
bic:

Wishpaw had no idea what was going on, and continued to sniff everywhere and everything just because she felt like it. In her mind, she pictured herself as an amazing warrior, with awesome abilities and claws a fox-length long. She could slice through anything, and no cat could beat her! What a warrior I'll make! she thought, then caught herself and bashfully nosed a stick.

The curious mystery of Glacierpoint's was slowly dawning on Windsong. There was no smell, but there was certainly something there. She padded forward as slowly and silently as she could manage, and sniffed it again. There was a scent now, very faint, and you had to be trying in order to find it. With a hopeful glance at her warrior comrade, she pressed her weight against the bush and pushed it to the side, revealing at its base a wide round hole.

ooc: I don't know how that makes anything any more logical, but I couldn't think of anything else...that deserved that kind of suspense.

[[[ShAdYCaUStI]]]

ooc;; Haha now I remember why I never answered this one. We'll just let them fall down the rabbit hole with Alice, shall we? >^.^< Idea - what if it's a sinkhole- you know, those random places where the ground falls in? - and something fell in and died ages ago and that's what they smell? Maybe? And the sound could have just been more dirt falling around? If it's a majorcrappy idea, just let me know. I'm grasping at proverbial straws here...XD

bic::
She didn't like this. It was to irregular; she didn't know what the scent was and she didn't know what could have made that hole, but something about it was very, very wrong. The hole didn't appear to have been dug by any animal she could think of, and the more she focused on the scent, the more it frightened her - though, of course, she mustn't let the apprentices see that. It would be terribly bad form. The scent was wrong - stale and putrid. It almost stank of death, but it was so faint and washed out... It seemed wrong. She took a step back.
"There is no prey here," she murmured. "Perhaps we should look elsewhere - would you like to accompany us, Owlpaw?" she added solicitously. Not that she particularly wanted the sneaky little apprentice along, but she couldn't guess what he was doing here, and she thought the situation merited a little close watching - especially with that unnatural hole and the worrying scent coming from it. Before long we'll have the entire clan out on parade, she thought with a flick of her long tail. Of course, it wouldn't be polite to say anything about it. She glanced at Windsong, hoping for some sort of confirmation that she had the right idea. Perhaps Windsong would know what was in the hole? ...though, of course, she could hardly consult with her if the apprentices were there. She was a firm believer in presenting a strong face to the younger ones.

[Smokeleaf]

ooc: And now I remember why I never responded. But now I know what Owlpaw's been up to... I think.
bic:
"Yes!" Owlpaw responded a bit too quickly. He shuffled his paws and lashed his tail, hoping he looked more eager than desperate. "I'd love to come," he added, trying to steady his voice. The sooner they got out, the better. This wasn't just the chance to be with Wishpaw; they needed to leave the hole and forget about it. It was his hole first! And now that mouse-brained she-cat was going to tell [Someone]star about it, and there would be an investigation, and his hole would be no more. He needed that for when his plans succeeded! For when he formed his own Clan--OwlClan!

Windsong bowed her head, silently agreeing that they needed to leave this place, and the sooner the better. She had no idea what this hole was, nor what that scent belonged to, but if Glacierpoint was concerned, it must be something worth worrying about.

Wishpaw, on the other hand, still had absolutely no idea what was going on. All she heard was, "Perhaps we should look elsewhere," but it was enough for her to jump to her feet. "Let's go!" she exclaimed. "I'll be there's prey over that way!"

[[[ShAdYCaUStI]]]

ooc:: HAHAHA I love it. Owlpaw is a weird little cat. But that's cool. What is his evil plan? How does a dead hole help him make a new clan? o.O

bic::
Owlpaw seemed eager to join them, though Glacierpoint couln't imagine why. What had he been doing here before they'd come across him? Windsong, polite as ever, agreed demurely, and the little scatter-brained Wishpaw was overenthusiastic - as always. The little apprentice would probably be overenthusiastic about anything. If Glacierpoint suggested they all lie down and take a nap, Wishpaw would probably try to be the best napper. She was loyal to the clan, though. At any rate, it was best to leave this place. Just to humour Wishpaw - it was polite to humour other cats sometimes, though not all the time - she set off in the direction that Wishpaw indicated, still harbouring a faint hope of finding prey of some sort despite the entourage she was gathering.

ooc::
Um...epicphale post. Sorry.

[Smokeleaf]

ooc: He's been putting food in there so when the TimberClan government collapses, he can bring them all over there and feed them and then they'll be in his debt, thus putting him in charge of OwlClan. I guess he forgot that food goes bad.
*is pleased with self for making that all up on the spot*
Mind if I post tomorrow? I cannot think right now, much less think for three cats.

[[[ShAdYCaUStI]]]

ooc:: Of course you can post tomorrow. If you'd posted today, I'd feel obligated to reply and I have no muse. XD I love Owlpaw's aweome idiotic plan! It's so hilarious! YAY US!

[Smokeleaf]

ooc: I shall post. Just 'cause I didn't post "tomorrow." I'm a horrible slacker.
bic:

Eager to leave the area, Owlpaw trotted forward and attempted to take the lead. This was all subconcious, of course--mental preparation for his new Clan. He was going to lead it, of course. Once they lost the war with the Fiery Clans--and Owlpaw knew they would--he would lead his poor, starving, injured Clanmates to his hole, where he was storing food and some herbs that Wishpaw had showed him. Ordinarily, he emptied it out at the end of each day; when the rest of TimberClan slept, he would sneak out and bring the prey to the fresh-kill pile, and the rest of the Clan never noticed come morning. However, the past few days had been extremely busy, and he'd never gotten the chance to clean out the hole. He was attempting to do just that when nosy old Glacierpoint stumbled along. Now he had to put it off again, and who knew who might find it next?

Windsong was mildly suspicious of Owlpaw and his quick getaway, as well as the strange smell from the hole, but being a kind and oblivious cat, she pushed her thoughts away. Owlpaw was a good Clanmate, she told herself, and would make a fine warrior. Any quirks he had--and he had many--were only the result of his social awkwardness. The couldn't possibly be any more sinsister than that.

Wishpaw bounded along, smelling everything around her. She thought she might smell an herb or two, but deliberately ignored them in search of prey. If they were important, Windsong would stop. Hunting prey was much more exciting than gathering herbs!

[[[ShAdYCaUStI]]]

ooc;; I'm POSTING! Within a month! HAVEAPARTY!

The strange little apprentice seemed eager - too eager - as he bounded forward and made a fairly obvious attempt to get in the front position of their little entourage. It was the wrong place for him, but there didn't seem any polite way of letting him know. Glacierpoint's startling eyes narrowed for a moment, and then she allowed her course to drift off a little, so that she was leading the way in a different direction. It hardly mattered to her whether Owlpaw followed. Come to think of it, she didn't mind if Wishpaw followed Owlpaw and never came back... Now there was a rude thought. She glanced behind her. Wishpaw was clearly trying to be warrior-like, and making a pretty little muddle of it. Windsong didn't seem to be overly interested in herbs; but then with the two quirky apprentices along interrupting the day, it was hardly surprising if the medicine-cat seemed distracted. Something scrabbled in the underbrush just ahead. It smelled like vole. Glacierpoint licked her lips and crouched a little lower to the ground.

[Smokeleaf]

Owlpaw tensed as the smell of vole crept through his nostrils. He glanced over and saw that Glacierpoint had already caught on and was crouching, stalking in that direction. A thought crossed his mind: should he go after it, and prove to them what he could do? No, absolutely not. That would only irritate Glacierpoint--she was already upset, he could tell--and make him seem reckless and irresponsible. That vole was needed to make his Clan strong, and while he was in a sense planning their demise, he couldn't do anything blatantly that would sound the alarm. So instead of darting out and doing what he knew he could, he stopped in his tracks and froze, careful not to let his heart beat to fast. He also managed to slip his tail across Wishpaw's mouth, hoping this would shut her up.

Wishpaw, somehow or other, got the hint. While she, too, wanted desperately to catch the vole herself, she knew there was no way she could given her training. However, Glacierpoint was a skilled warrior, and she could learn from her. So, for the first time in her life, she shut up.

Windsong did absolutely nothing but stare on because Windsong is boring and I hate her and I only made her because TimberClan needed to fill some of its ranks. She also wondered who the heck Stonefrost is, who was supposedly the deputy, even though she was quite certain she'd never heard from him before. Then her neck broke from the tense whiplash there. But not really, because she's a freaking Mary Sue and if she broke her neck, that would be bad.

[[[ShAdYCaUStI]]]

Even the leaves on the trees seemed to have hushed for her, and a distracted bit of Glacierpoint's mind wondered if she'd ever heard such complete silence around Wishpaw. A glance backward showed Owlpaw's tail over the little medicinecat apprentice's mouth, which possibly explained the lack of rattly chatter. A few creeping steps forward, a swift spring - and a plump vole wriggling beneath her paws. The vole was a ridiculously easy kill.

Ooc;; Ok, I know I’m like halfway through a post and this is terrible, but what if I put this on hold and make that rogue we were talking about and have him pop up so something else can happen already? Imma go make him and you can let me know what you think…XD

[Smokeleaf]

Owlpaw flicked his tail impatiently. Okay, hooray, the vole was caught. Would they please move on now? He was sick and tired of acting as though he cared about the silly prey. For all he knew, Glacierpoint would eat it on the spot, and it would do nothing to help TimberClan--or his future OwlClan. His tiny mouth curled into a grin (supposing cats could do such a thing) at the thought of what was to be. It would be wonderful. It would be brilliant! It would be the New World Order of the feral cat world! And these silly kitties knew nothing about it. Mwahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

Wishpaw's excitment finally got the best of her and she leapt to her paws. "That was brilliant!" she declared, though secretly, she was slightly disappointed by the ease with which Glacierpoint caught it. She wished that the vole had been a little faster, or a little more resistant, so that Glacierpoint would have had to put up something of a fight. How exciting that would have been!

Windsong dipped her head to show her approval, but did nothing particularly out of the ordinary because she's so freaking perfect and stupid. She really wished she had some sort of a backstory so she wouldn't be so freaking perfect and stupid and boring. *looks enthusiastically to Causti*