Dreaming of the day(Falling)

[Sunstar]

A black tom walked through the forest, searching for something to do, something that would entertain his day from the boring camp that he had been stuck in for so long. Storpaw had woken up that morning, earlier than any other cat had and before the sun had risen into the sky. His dark fur keeping him hidden within the shadows of his home. Once he had gotten to the entrance of the Thunderclan camp, he slipped out silently and took off into the forest of his home.

He felt the dirt, and grass underneath his paws, the wind going through his fur. His amber eyes were searching, looking for anything interesting to him but found nothing but the forest around him. Isn't there anything to do here? he thought, asking himself. The apprentice hadn't noticed that his paws were taking him to the Forest Clearing, the place he had dreamed of. He stopped at the edge of the clearing and sat down underneath a tree. Why had he come here? What had made his paws run him here?

Unable to answer the question, the black tom sat underneath a tree, dreaming of training with his mentor at one point. "Will I be a good warrior?" he asked himself softly. His sister, Dawnpaw, seemed confident that he would be a great Thunderclan cat one day. He admired her confidence but was unsure himself. The thought of Dawnpaw clouded his mind. He hadn't talked to his sister since the ceremony, what had happened to them?

[Fallingstar]

Thrushkit yawned hugely. He bared his little white teeth, spreading his maw wide. His gray legs stretched until they trembled. The kit had recently woken up from a nap alongside his mother and siblings. He was burrowed against his mother's soft belly fur, utterly comfortable. The scents of the Nursery around him held him in a slight drowse, keeping his eyes heavy with sleep. Sounds of heavy breathing around Thrushkit threatened to lull the kit back into sleep.

Then suddenly a sharp pain made Thrushkit jump. He snapped his head around and attempted to draw his tail close; his tail being the thing that sent prickling pain up his spine. Expecting to find a sharp thorn or biting bug nestled into his nest, Thrushkit's gaze fell upon his sister. Ravenkit had pinned down his fluffy tail and had latched onto it with her sharp teeth. Thrushkit opened his mouth to complain to his mother, but then he heard a loud snore come from Ravenkit. She released his tail and rolled onto her back, black fur slightly rumpled. Her legs flailed slightly in the air, possibly churning against the fur of a dream enemy.

Thrushkit felt his annoyance drain out of him. Yet, he still let out a snort from his small nose. Ravenkit was always a dreamer. Literally. This wasn't the first time she had attacked him in his sleep.

Stepping to his paws, Thrushkit gave his pelt a shake. His sleepy spell was over. A bite to the tail would do that to anyone. Now with is tiredness gone, Thrushkit felt his paws give a slight thrum of energy. He needed to be out of this environment. He needed to be anywhere but here.

Anywhere. Thrushkit felt his eyes wander to the lightest spot in the den; a thin spot in the Nursery's wall. His blue eyes shone in the half-light of the den. That was his trouble face. All in the clan knew that good could not come of it.

Placing one tentative paw in front of the other, Thrushkit made his way to the opening in the back of the den. The slight crunch of his feet against moss was nothing to the oblivious queens, whom had been knocked out by their crazy kits. Thrushkit made his way quietly to the opposite side of the den and pressed himself to the ground. He then squeezed himself under the wall of brambles, feeling the brambles rake his small back as he did so.

Thrushkit popped his gray head out on the other side of the den wall. He gave himself a moment to take in the lush green scenery before he scrabbled out and fully into the surrounding forest. He gave a gleeful hop-skip and sped off on kit-soft paws. Thrushkit sniffed the warm air with his nose, not scenting for anything in particular.

Suddenly, he felt something wrap around his paw. An image of an adder his mother had told him about flashed in his mind as he tripped and crashed to the ground. Panic flared in his small chest and he let out a small squeak. Thrushkit thrashed momentarily, feeling something thorn-sharp dig into his leg. He was sure it was an adder, then he glanced down. The sharp object that clung to his fur was a bramble, not a ferocious snake. The kit felt the flare of fear recede for a moment, then it was back anew. He tugged slightly on his leg and it wouldn't budge. He was a sitting duck.

[Sunstar]

Stormpaw ears twitched when he heard a noise coming from behind him. What is that? he thought, slowly getting up to his paws. I should go check it, just to make sure no cat is in our territory from another clan. he thought, nodding his head in agreement with himself. The apprentice walked closer to the noise, stopping when he saw the bramble moving. It seemed something was struggling, trying to escape the thorny grasp of the bramble. But what? Slowly, Stormpaw walked around the bramble, and stopped when he saw a kitten.

A kitten? he thought, tilting his head. Then the apprentice realized who the kit was. "Thrushkit, what are you doing out here? And out of camp?" he asked, slowly walking over to the kit. Crouching down, the apprentice started to help the kit out of the thorns he was caught in. "A cat had to be up and notice you trying to sneak out." he mumbled around a thorn. Backing up, Stormpaw sighed, "There you go." he meowed.

The amber eyes of Stormpaw stayed on Thrushkit. Of course, Stormpaw didn't know how the kit had gotten out of camp without a warrior or even his own mother seeing him walk out. So how did he do it? I never tried to go explore outside the camp. Of course, it was tempting but I stayed close to my mother and father... And Dawnpaw. he thought, he eyes growing dark from the lost he was feeling from the distance him and his sister had become. Then the dullness faded. "Are you arlight, Thrushkit?" he finally asked.

[Fallingstar]

The small gray kit thrashed in the brambles. His movements sent trembles throughout the who spiky bush. Thrushkit felt the claws of the bramble tendril dig further into his soft fur as he thrashed. Feeling the spikes nip at his skin, Thrushkit decided that the cost of movement was too high. He halted his struggle and lay panting for a moment. Then he heard the footsteps. Light at first, then growing in volume. The kit felt his instincts kick in and his heart race. His flaring nostrils picked up ThunderClan scent, yet this was a kit's nose. ThunderClan scent could be tainting his senses. Making a quick decision, Thrushkit unceremoniously backed further into the bramble bush, back end first, where he crouched waiting for the creature. "Thrushkit, what are you doing out here? And out of camp?"A familiar mew caught Thrushkit of guard. Stormpaw? Thrushkit squinted his eyes to see past the tangle of brambles that crowded his vision. Sure enough, Thrushkit did recognize the black pelt that stood before the bush. Letting out a pent up breath, the kit wiggled into the tom's view. His eyes attained a slightly guilty shine to them as he scrabbled out from under the bush.

He was totally free now except for his back paw which Stormpaw helped his to free. Thrushkit decided that Stormpaw deserved an answer. "I dunno. Just... exploring." He mumbled quietly. His indignity would be the least of his problems. Stormpaw could turn the kit in quicker than he could say 'mouse.' Though Thrushkit didn't know if he would, he couldn't put it past the older tom.

"A cat had to be up and notice you trying to sneak out." he mumbled around a thorn. Backing up, Stormpaw sighed, "There you go."

"My mum was asleep, along with the other queens." Thrushkit mewed around the thorn in his teeth. He had found that the prickly things liked to stick to his fluffy tail, and he was attempting to tear the things off of him with is teeth. "Ravenkit woke me up. She can be really... energetic sometimes." The kit added as he spit a thorn from his mouth. "I just wanted to get out of the Nursery. That's all." Best keep things simple an true. Don't downplay it. Don't lie. Thrushkit didn't want to get into bigger trouble.

"Are you alright, Thrushkit?"

"'Course." Thrushkit amounted his courage and puffed out his little chest. If he was going to be a warrior one day, he might as well start working on it now. "I don't think I got scratched. I feel fine." He exhaled the amount of air in his lungs and dropped his gaze to his leg that was tangled. He gave it a sniff and only scented the milk of his mother and scents of his siblings. No blood had been shed. Not a drop.

Then, forgetting his own troubles, Thrushkit tilted his head. Was it just him or did he detect a slight hollowness to the apprentice's mew? He raised his pink nose to the tom and searched him with the questioning gaze of a kit. Blue eyes met amber and Thrushkit tilted his head further to the side. Then the it voiced his concerns. "What is it Stormpaw? Is something wrong?" Leave it to the innocence of a kit to detect something that no other can.

[Sunstar]

Looking at the little kitten, Stompaw's eyes gleamed. Oh, he remembered when he just wanted to get out of the camp but never had the courage to do so. Of course, the apprentice was used to having to convince his sister to not go wondering around without their mothers content. Thinking back, had he missed something worth the chance to get into trouble, or was it not even worth it at all. "Well if you're just exploring, I don't see any harm in that." the apprentice said, smiling down at the little kit. It seemed so long ago that Stormpaw himself was a kit.

Sitting down, the black tom listened to Thrushkit. Ahh, that was right, Thrushkit did have a sister. Stormpaw had seen the little hyper kit running around the camp at times when he was able to take a break from his apprentice duties. Sometimes he would even go over to her and play with her a bit, teaching her some fighting skills. Stormpaw thought the little she-kit was entertaining and would be a good warrior one day. "I understand. There were times my sister would wake me up as well." he said. It was true, he completely understood what Thrushkit was saying at the moment. But now, Dawnpaw had drifted from him.

"Well, we don't want you going back with scratches every where on your pelt. Your mother would have a mouse if she saw scratches on you." he said with a chuckle. Soon though, his chuckle vanished and Stormpaw went quiet. He sighed, it seemed so long since Stormpaw and his own sister were playing together and in the nursery themselves. I want the best for Dawnpaw though.. he thought.

Shaking himself, the apprentice looked over to the kit. Was something wrong him? No, Stormpaw would know if there was something wrong with himself. "No, Thrushkit, there isn't anything wrong me. I'm fine." he said, a gleam in his arm eyes. Was the kit worried about him? Why would he be, Stormpaw could take care of himself...well he hoped he could.

[Fallingstar]

Thrushkit’s eyes shined. Maybe he wouldn’t have to be scolded by his mother after all. His ears perked up and Thrushkit shuffled his little paws. Now that he knew that trouble didn’t await him, he could feel energy surging back into his short limbs. The kit fluffed his soft lack fur up and he could help but allow himself a little bounce. He must have been priceless to watch, the little kit. Thrushkit could feel his paws thrumming with energy.

The gray kit had his short spazz moment while Stormpaw seemed to be reflecting on something deep within himself. Well, Thrushkit can be observant when he wants to, that’s not all the time. While Thrushkit was busy silently celebrating his metaphorical ‘get out of jail free’ card, a storm seemed to be raging behind Stormpaw’s eyes. ‘Maybe that was why he was named Stormpaw.’ Thrushkit would think later. But for now, he was occupied with his success.

"No, Thrushkit, there isn't anything wrong me. I'm fine."

For a moment, Thrushkit’s festivities were dimmed. He tilted his head, his large ears like satellites. The kit could tell that something was amiss with the apprentice, but he was taught not to pry. For once, he listened to his mother’s advice and decided not to dig into Stormpaw further.

“Stormpaw,” Thrushkit started. He didn’t want to sound too intrusive, but he had to do something. The gray tom was a kit, after all. And Thrushkit always wanted to help. “Stormpaw,” He repeated, “I just want you to know… well… you can tell me; if you ever needed to.” Feeling slightly foolish, Thrushkit hastily added, “I just want to be there, Stormpaw.” His eyes grew wide as he faced the older tom. Thrushkit only wanted to help but he wasn’t sure how. He was a kit for goodness sake. “I like you, Stormpaw. I’m sure you’re a great friend. I--” But Thrushkit was interrupted by a large yawn that spread his maw and showed shiny, white teeth. He started again. “I just--” Again he was interrupted, but this time by fluttering eyelids. Deciding to hastily change the subject, Thrushkit managed to get out: “I just want to go back.”

[Sunstar]

Stormpaw looked over to the kit when he heard his name. The apprentice tilted his head at the little kit in front of him. The black tom noticed that there seemed to be something bothering Thrushkit. The older to, was about to say something but then the kit started to speak again. Stormpaw had learned to not interrupt on anyone when they were talking to him. Once the kit stopped talking for a bit, Stormpaw felt a little surprised. Shocked that a kit would be willingly to help him. A smile formed on his face and the apprentice went over to the little kit. "Thank you Thurshkit, that is very kind and I will keep it in mind." he said putting his tail on the little toms shoulder. He was really shocked that Thurshkit would want to help him. In his mind, Stormpaw kept his mind on what the kit said.

His attention went back to the kit when he heard a yawn. Nodding, the older cat got to his paws, "Let's go Thrushkit. I'll take you back so you can get some sleep, and then when you wake up come find me." he mowed, "I am a good friend, Thrushkit and you seem like you would be one to. How about we be friends?" he asked the young cat. Of course, Stormpaw was older, was an apprentice and probably would be a warrior when the kit would become an apprentice himself. Slowly, Stormpaw started to walk back to the camp of his clan. He turned and waited for Thurshkit to follow. He wanted to be friends with this kit and would be helpful to Thurshkit and protect him whenever he wanted to go and explore. But right now, he would be taking him back to the nursery for some sleep.

[Fallingstar]

The proposition of going back to the camp made Thrushkit’s heart deflate a tiny bit. Though, as sleep clouded his eyes, the kit was content to be anywhere he could sleep. The Nursery would be a prime place for that, too. Soft fur and the gently breathing of the Queens to lull him into dream land; though his attention was snapped back to Stormpaw when he drew ahead. On small, quick paws, Thrushkit attempted to catch up with the older tom. Friends? That would be nice. Thrushkit fought off his tiredness for a moment to respond. “Yeah, I’d like that.” The kit looked up at Stormpaw with friendly eyes. After a moment of silence that was only broken by the thrumming of their feet against the forest floor, Thrushkit halted. “I should probably go in where I came.” He mewed. If his mother had caught him outside of the camp then she would be furious. “Uh, I can go in by the entrance I came out of and you go in the main one, okay?” Thrushkit again turned his blue eyes to Stormpaw.

[Sunstar]

Stormpaw nodded at Thrushkit. Having a friend, even if they were younger would be good, and Stormpaw really did like Thrushkit as a friend and was glad that they had become friends in such a short time. The apprentice stopped however, when he heard Thrushkit say something. It had completely escaped his mind, that the little kit had came out of the camp from a different entrance. Stormpaw nodded though, "Alright. You get some sleep, Thrushkit and I'll see you around." he meowed before heading towards the camps entrance and back into camp.

[Fallingstar]

Thrushkit purred slightly, innocence in his mew. “Thanks, Stormpaw.” His mind was too muddled to focus on anything besides the fact that there was a nice bed of moss and a warm belly to sleep against for him in the den he was intent of reaching. “Yeah, I’ll see you around.” Blinking his large eyes, the kit separated himself from his new friend in a small patter of paws and made his way to the break in the Nursery’s wall. He would sleep well knowing that there would be a new friend to the next day.

[[Thrushkit exit]]