.It takes time. [private]

[toxi]

Fogheart had wanted to take her sister here for awhile. Emberpaw was a bit slow and Fogheart feared her sister would be an apprentice longer then most cats. It had been almost a year since both of them had lost their mother, Emberpaw had been too little to remember. Fogheart had helped raise the kit occasionally but mostly Emberpaw's father raised her. Fogheart was sad to have missed out on most of her younger sister's childhood but she had been an apprentice herself and her mentor had made sure she earned. Fogheart caught Emberpaw's pitiful wails and she was certain the scrap would go and complain to her father. If Fogheart hadn't known any better she would have been willing to swear Emberpaw made a big deal out of things just so she could get her Dad to talk to Fogheart. Fogheart still had a nagging suspiscion her mother's exmate (if you'd call them mates it was more of Fogheart's mother wanting kittens and Emberpaw's dad being her good friend). Fogheart turned and looked at her younger sister. She tried muttering words of encouragment with each step they took. Finally when the kit kept her wailing Fogheart thought fast and asked her a question. If she failed to answer correctly Fogheart would have to ask Froststar to keep Emberpaw in the apprentice phase even longer. "Emberpaw, what do you smell?" her voice was a mere whisper because she was afraid of scaring off the prey that was nearby. She wanted Emberpaw to scent it and memorize it. Fogheart paused for only a few seconds before flicking her tail and telling her apprentice to carry on. Fogheart stopped a few feet shy of the Windclan border not wanting to risk getting attack with only an apprentice to help her.

[`` serene !]

<sub>Emberpaw cringed as horrible memories came back to her. The poor apprentice knew that Fogheart didn't think she remembered her mother dying, but she did. As if she were in a trance, Emberpaw stopped in her tracks. Finally, the sound of Fogheart's voice shattered the apprentice's thoughts into a million pieces she imagined where as smooth as the river. She spoke quietly, barely above an inaudible voice. "I smell a faint scent of rabbit coming from the WindClan territory, of course." Emberpaw paused, she wanted to do extra better this time, proud of knowing. She flicked her tail towards the WindClan border, then turned back to her sister and mentor. Fogheart thought she was "slow" but she was just tramatized by what happened to her mother. "Also, coming from the forest, I can smell a mouse near the RiverClan border, and nearby a thrush."
Emberpaw didn't know how she could smell things so far away, and turned to her mentor to see what she'd say. Emberpaw was proud of herself, for once, and happy that she finally understood. The apprentice decided to try to forget her sad memory and move on. Her mother would be in StarClan, so Emberpaw had no reason to be sad. She looked up at the sky, turning dark, for dusk was almost passed. The phases of the day passed like rain drops falling from the sky, so quickly it was hard to keep up. For once, the shadow of the day had not affected the ThunderClan apprentice, and she was actually happy for once. She turned back to Fogheart quickly, not wanting to anger her mentor. Emberpaw really respected Fogheart, but was sure Fogheart might not like her. Emberpaw's thought was reflected in her eyes as she locked her gaze with Fogheart's.

ooc; your a great RPer!!! ^^</sub>

[toxi]

ooc: the muse is low but thanks I'm making Emberpaw "slower" so if needed and the plot takes some time it won't hurt

Fogheart shook her head when her apprentice's answer reached her eager ears. Fogheart attempted to mask her dissapointment at her sister's failure. Her whiskers twiched in an amalgamation of amusement and fear. She was afraid Emberpaw was trying to stay an apprentice, perhaps her father wanted her to stay so he could be closer to Fogheart. She let out an exasperated sigh, maybe she was being jumpy... either way Emberpaw had gotten most of her scenting wrong. Fogheart's light blue eyes lit up against her seal tabby pointed face and her whiskers curled into the hints of a smile yet to play itself on her beautiful ragdoll like face. "Good job Emberpaw, you did get the rabbit right but... don't you smell more? Do you not smell the deserted fox den or the rabbit?" Fogheart flicked her tail in the direction of first the fox den then the rabbit hole. Fogheart came to the conclusion that telling Emberpaw when she did wrong would not get them anywhere, she only needed to know when she did right. Fogheart paused for emphasise then she added, "Do you smell the Windclan scent markers?" she hoped her sister could at least smell these cats pungent markings.

Fogheart was glad she had decided to take Emberpaw out at the first break of dawn. She had woken the kit up from the apprentice's den when she heard her moaning softly in her sleep. Must have been a nightmare Fogheart thought. She wanted desperatly to be Emberpaw's best older sister (seeing as she was also her only older sibling at all Fogheart hoped she was at least alright). Fogheart could see confusion clouding the mentor's eyes and she wanted to comfort her. Fogheart took another step towards Emberpaw and curled her long gray and black tail around her sister's orange pelt. They contrasted nicely. Fogheart had taken most of her coloring from her father and Emberpaw had gotten their mother's fiery glow and temperment.

The sun was rising in the sky and splashing dazzling light on the baby green leaves of spring. Baby animals were everywhere and Fogheart thought about what it would be like to have her own kits Stop it. You have a little sister to raise and an apprentice to teach you don't need more... Fogheart scolded herself now was not the time to bring more kittens into the camp. They needed more warriors not more apprentices. Fogheart pivoted on her haunches and faced her little sister. In seconds she had gone from mentor to sister. Fogheart lowered her tail to signal to Emberpaw that for the moment, Fogheart wanted to talk to her not only as her mentor but as her sister. Her blue eyes danced with pain and her voice wavered but she continued, "Emberpaw... this is... uhh... hard for me..." Fogheart was struggling to continue. She had not tried to connect to her little sister like this, she had always mentored her nothing more. This was a change for the both of them. Emberpaw was going through a stage in her life when she might need an older female to guide her along and Fogheart needed a friend but sadly Emberpaw could not provide it.

"Before I woke you... I saw you were tossing and moaning. Ember, what is wrong? Please tell me..." her tone was gentle and she was pleading. Fogheart was a very maternal cat but she rarely allowed others to see this side of her. "I know it has been hard since mom died but we have eachother... ok?" Fogheart sighed and decided maybe her little sister wouldn't tell her father this but Ember did tend to tattle. Fogheart rattled on allowed all of her feelings to empty out into the warming air. "Your dad... he... just..." Fogheart stumbled around her word bank... "Captivates me." as soon as she uttered it Fogheart wished she could grap the words from the air but she couldn't. Emperpaw would certainly share this with her father. It sounded as if she had feelings for him! Feelings! Fogheart gave the kit a quick rasp with her tongue and drew back staring in her eyes.

[`` serene !]

ooc; I'm soooo sorry I haven't posted!! I've had such low muse lately. But, I'm posting now!!

Emberpaw noticed Fogheart's eyes looking let down. She sighed, her father wanted her to stay an apprentice, but Emberpaw wanted to be a warrior desperately! She almost cried when Fogheart sighed. Composing herself, Emberpaw mewed timidly, "Yes, I did." That was the truth, she had. "Yes, I did, but I thought you'd know that I know the smell of them. Emberpaw sighed, her tail hitting the ground, causing dust to fly up everywhere.

Emberpaw leaned on Fogheart as she curled her tail around the apprentice. Even though sometimes there was tention between the two, they'd always be sisters. They would also always love each other. Emberpaw wondered why they looked so different, Fogheart was grey and she was bright orange. She sighed with relief at the moment, and enjoyed it.

At the long stretch of silence, Emberpaw looked around. Butterflies and birds were gently hanging in the air, lazily stretching their wings. She could feel a bittersweet emotion coming from Fogheart, and wondered what it was about. I'm just being paranoid! Emberpaw thought to herself with irritation. When Fogheart spoke, Emberpaw looked up at her. Emberpaw's eyes flashed with pain when she saw the statement lingering in Fogheart's eyes. You can't provide a friend for me. Tears slid down Emberpaw's cheeks silently, she wanted to be her friend. But, her father would not let her, fearing she'd speak too much. "I want to be your friend, but, but.." Emberpaw trailed off, not wanting to say anything else.

Emberpaw almost flinched with desperation as her sister pleaded with her to tell what was wrong. She knows.. Emberpaw took a deep, shaky breath and whispered, "I know what happened, I know, and it hurts. I can't bear the memories!"[/b] Emberpaw's voice quivered, and she put her head in Fogheart's pelt wearily. The apprentice knew it was time to make things right with Fogheart about her father, and turned to her once again. "Dad is making me fake everything. From not knowing things, to being how I am. I'm not faking the thing about mom, it's real. But, I know what I smell and I know how to do things. He just puts so much pressure on me about everything! He wants to get close to you, sis." Emberpaw was silent for a moment, and her jaw almost dropped open when Fogheart spoke again. captivates?!?!? NO!! This is just what dad wanted!! Emberpaw started to cry again, and looked up at Fogheart, who's eyes looked nervous.

[`` serene !]

^{ooc; thread closed I guess}