A Hunter's Vigil [open]

[Bhuvana]

OOC:// great post Moony!

Wasppaw ignored her mentor, as usual, and padded over to the limp badger. She stuck her paw out, poking it, half expecting it to spring back to life. when it didn't, she frowned. I should have jumped in to help defeat the badger. Now Kestrelclaw's going to have all the fun, soaking in the glory of being the big and brave. she grumbled in her head. As usual, she was unhappy about not being the best, even when the cat that was going to get the glory, truely did deserve it. She simply turned, putting aside her annoyed, or perhaps self anger, look aside and replacing it with the usual 'I'm Wasppaw and I'm better than you' smile. "What do you mean, we did what we were supposed to? Trying to steal some credit for Kestrelclaw's kill?" she dared to say. Her mentor had helped in the kill, she knew that, but she couldn't let two cats have so much glory when she got none.

[Winter]

ic; Kestrelclaw remained speechless for a moment. He did not know how to answer Autumn's question. For a while, the tom stared at the femcat incapably, his tail cringing, perfectly reflecting his mood. Then, awareness skulked back to his eyes, reminding him he had a reputation to maintain. Despite his longing desire to not be as sanguinary as he had just been, he replied as a sanguinary ShadowClanner would have. 'He-It had ambushed us and we could not let him live, for our own sake, and the sake of the ShadowClan camp' was the response. His voice was morose and without the slightness nuance of compunction. He, however, did not dare look straight into Autumn's eyes, but instead, glared at Novawish. She seemed as terrified as he had been. Kestrelclaw couldn't possibly blame her. The murder had been appalling and vile, even for a ShadowClanner as himself. Now, the enigma remained on what on Earth was Wasp-paw doing here. 'Go back to the camp' the vindicator snarled, boorish with the apprentice. 'Respect your deputy and follow her orders. You have nothing to do here, and if you don't want to get hurt, leave. And I mean hurt by me.'

It could be said that the tom was venting his frustration at the apprentice, for she was the one with the lowest rank, therefore making her weak enough to cope with his offenses. But don't underestimate Kestrelclaw; he was aware of how naive and ludicrous that was. He actually managed to feel somewhat sorry for the apprentice, after all the compliments (fake, of course) she had given him. But who else could he expel his aggravation with? If he showed his disturbance to Autumn, he would have enemies with the other warriors, something he did not want. If he actually dared to be rude with Novawish, he'd be kicked out of ShadowClan without a minute of hesitation. Wasp-paw was just the only one not important enough to bear his insults. And even yet, if she hadn't been as insolent with Novawish, he had not been as rude with Wasp-paw.

Some while had passed after Autumn's inquiry and Kestrelclaw's riposte. He strive to be brave enough to look into her eyes and confirm that he really felt no pity for the badger. But he failed, once again, and decided to just stare angrily at Wasp-paw.



ooc; Sorry, that was a bad post... Dx

[[[: A.m.b.e.r]

[[: AUTUMN x.o.x.o

i.don't.wanna.be.like.cinderella [/right]

Autumn waited... and waited... and waited for Kestralclaw to speak but he only stared at her blankly. The calico she-cat shifted to the other paw, was it really so hard to explain? Just as she was about to get a little impatient he replied.

"He-It had ambushed us and we could not let him live, for our own sake, and the sake of the ShadowClan camp," was the response.

The ShadowClan warrior dipped her head a little, "Wish I'd been here to help... stupid beast," she mumbled as she turned away from the tomcat. "Well, we can't just leave it here, some other creature might find it and get a lead to camp." Autumn floated gracefully over and stopped in front of it, her tail swishing gently behind her. "Besides, what's a badger doing out here anyway? Shouldn't it be lumbering around off in ThunderClan's territory?"

Autumn prodded the badger with a soft paw before trotting back to them, but as she did she noticed how Kestralclaw was glaring at Wasp-paw. The apprentice was annoying so she didn't blame him for taking out any stress on her. Wasp-paw could handle it well anyways, she had a strong spirit.

---x

ooc://

I'm so freakin' tired right now. x . x
So sorry my post isn't worthy. D:

Zzzzzzz.....

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[Winter]

ic; Kestrelclaw turned around and sighed in utter relieve. Thank you StarClan... were the first phrase that crossed his mind. Thank StarClan that Autumn was almost as haughty as him to not be horrified with the murder. Rapidly, his head inclined back to Autumn, who was now surveying the badger's corpse. He hesitated before standing up and help her on the task. The simple idea of mentioning the badger again was repugnant. Staring defiantly at Wasp-paw, the tom finally marshled all his vigor to approach Autumn and the badger. He stoped. He glared at Novawish, hoping she would tell him what to do and stop him from doing what he was about to do. No, he couldn't use Novawish as another excuse to avoid the badger and the concecuences of what he had done. He had to, eventually, pick the badger up and dig the cadaver in some place, so the stench wasn't so strong. Kestrelclaw eyed Novawish again. No, no, he had to face the problem... He stared at Autumn. Yes-No, he couldn't pick the badger up. Novawish. Autumn. Novawish. Autumn. Novawish. Autumn. His mind raced as he tried to decide a name. 'I'm coming Autumn.' Never. 'I'm coming Novawish.' Who will he choose? Novawish. Autumn. Novawish. Autumn.

'Wasp-paw!' Kestrelclaw found himself saying. 'Come and help Autumn and me pick the badger up.' were the words he spoke. In this moment, he was only ashamed with Wasp-paw.

ooc; No problem, your posts are always really long and very well writen! ^_^ Mine is short... Dx

[Bhuvana]

Wasppaw's tail twitched in agravation. She padded over to the badger and held her breath as it's reak filled her glands. "First he tells me to go back to camp, than he wants my help. Warriors are so idiotic and undecissive." she grumbed loudly to herself, but she did as she was told, for once. She had already given Novawish enough trouble today, she didn't need to start on Kestrelclaw. Before digging her fangs into the pelt of the badger, she let her eyes wander to her mentor. "Novawish, your majesty," she growled sarcasticly, "I would love it if you found some time to train your apprentice. I would have been a much better help, jumping into the battle, if I actually knew some moves." Then, without waiting for a response, she dug her teeth into the badger, lifting it up slightly. She was strong, but until Kestrelclaw and Autumn helped, the badger wasn't going anywhere.

OOC//: You two shouldn't complain about your posts so much. They are wonderfully written and next to mine, they look like novels!

[[[: A.m.b.e.r]

[[: AUTUMN x.o.x.o

i.don't.wanna.be.like.cinderella [/right]

The calico she-cat glanced back, her emerald green eyes sparkling in the sunshine, Kestralclaw seemed to be confused in a way. The ShadowClan warrior has been staring at Novawish when suddenly he meowed into the brief silence that had enveloped them all, Autumn felt a rush of sympathy glide through her veins. As he drew nearer, she flicked his ear lightly with her tail, concern for her Clanmate in her movement. Though she did not speak to him directly.

"First he tells me to go back to camp, than he wants my help. Warriors are so idiotic and indecisive." Came to Autumn's ears quickly fallowed by, "Novawish, your majesty, I would love it if you found some time to train your apprentice. I would have been a much better help, jumping into the battle, if I actually knew some moves."

The she-warrior's soft fur began to bristle, "Is that anyway to show respect to your Clanmates and your deputy? No, I'd think not! Look, kit, you better learn how to treat others nicely unless you'd like to be treated the same way. Now, shut up and do something for a change!" Autumn hissed, glaring down upon the apprentice with absolute anger. Stupid kit! Go on, try to mess with us some more and I'll show you what will happen. She thought with satisfaction.

The calico turned away, casting Kestralclaw a look of exasperation but soon Autumn's green gaze flickered away from the tomcat's face and back to their task. She let out a sigh before bending down and sinking her sharp ivory teeth into the badger's extra skin. This tastes awful! She thought privately to herself.

--x

ooc:// Thank you Winter! And you too Bhu!
Your posts looks great too! : D

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[Bhuvana]

Wasppaw was taken by surprise by the shecats responce. She recoiled but quicky caught herself and stood rigid with anger. "I will never show respect for you, outsider." she snarled. "And Novawish deserves no more respect than the dirt I'm walking on. Kestrelclaw is the only one I may respect, even just a tad." Wasppaw knew this was not the smart thing to say, but she couldn't help herself. She would not be ordered by a non clan born cat.

OOC//: Amber isn't clanborn, correct? I only guessed that because of her name...

[[[: A.m.b.e.r]

[[: AUTUMN x.o.x.o

i.don't.wanna.be.like.cinderella [/right]

Autumn immediately let go of the badger and faced the apprentice, she drew back her lips to reveal her ivory teeth, then the ShadowClan warrior glared down with such deep dark loathing it was unbelievable. That was it. Wasp-paw had broken the last of her thoughts and had intruded far enough.

"I will never show respect for you, outsider and Novawish deserves no more respect than the dirt I'm walking on. Kestrelclaw is the only one I may respect, even just a tad."

The she-cat's words echoed in her mind for a moment before Autumn took a step forward, looming over Wasp-paw, her beautiful green eyes shadowed and began to gleam malevolently. All thoughts slipped away until all Autumn could feel was the pulse of hate... of desire... and obviously anger.

The calico lifted a paw and held it up, in a flash it unsheathed so that her claws glittered in the sunlight. "You stupid kit. You do not understand the consequences of you say and what you do. You will respect Novawish and me to the full extent, and that includes Kestrelclaw too. It does not matter what my blood contains or where I came from but your respect does. Listen closely now, this is your only warning from me even if I am not your leader or deputy. If you do not get your tactics right you will probably not last until your warrior ceremony in this Clan. I will not repeat myself or tolerate such nonsense and I think Novawish and your great leader will agree heavily with me." Her voice seemed to be not her own, but low and menacing.

Then Autumn lifted her unsheathed paw higher, as though she was going to crash it down onto Wasp-paws forehead, just as it glided forward the she-cat swung around so that she faced Kestrelclaw once again but even so she didn't see him. She didn't see the ground underpaw, she didn't feel the breeze against her body, she lost everything. She was numb.

A world of hurt glowed in Autumn's emerald eyes, which was probably surprising after what just happened. She may have an extremely short temper but even so she had feelings, Autumn felt torn inside, perhaps beyond repairing. Why couldn't they just accept her as she is? She may be in the Clan but apparently that wasn't enough. It seemed nothing was enough.

Would there ever be someone who would love her even for what she truly is? Does the roots of where she was born and who she was born from really matter all so much? She loved her mother very much, she was definitely not ashamed of her... why must these Clancats make this so hard? Why? Why couldn't they get over it?

For a split-second regret flashed in Autumn's waking. Was it better just to stay in Twoleg Place? To fight the vicious battles placed in your path each day? Was that life better than not being good enough?

Determination quickly pushed these doubtful thoughts of being a rouge away. No. No. No. She would show these ShadowClan cats what she was made of... but even so, would someone in ShadowClan ever love her? Would ShadowClan itself love her? Those questions she could never answer... not now anyway.

Autumn blinked away her sadness and after she did looked up to see Kestrelclaw still standing there. The calico she-cat felt embarrassment flush through her, without a meow she turned away and bit down on the badger's extra skin again.

--x

ooc:// No, she isn't Clanborn. Sort of obvious now. xP

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[Bhuvana]

No words escaped the apprentices mouth as the shecat spoke, her paw up above Wasppaws head. Wasppaw didn't dare speak, for she could see the black fury in the shecats eyes. The cats eyes reminded her of her dads. Hatred washed through her at the thought of her father. Why had he done what he'd done? He had ruined her life, as well as her mothers. Perhaps she wished she had had the same fate as her mother. Cold ground above, under, and on both sides. But not caring, for no more feeling approached her.

No. I am alive and that's how it should be. No outsider is going to threaten me and make me regret my words. I don't feel regret. Nor do I feel shame, pity, or sympathy. No outsider will change that. Still, Wasppaw said nothing as she put the retched badgers extra skin into her mouth, waiting for Kestrelclaw now. Deep inside Wasppaw, something surfaced. After so long, the emotion had come back. Still deep within, not yet ready to shine on the outside. Pain.

[Winter]

A colossal amount of shame poured over Kestrelclaw's mind. Wasp-paw, the apprentice whom he had bullied so often, had now alleged that he had been the only one worthy of her respect. Focus, focus... his brain roared, remining the tom of the reputation he had to sustain. This was no time to fondle with vain emotions, such as compasion or pity. No, it would simply be pathetic. He had to demostrate the abhorrent feline he was, hence the clan he was part of: ShadowClan. Valiantly, he stood up and flared the mane in his chest. His jaws slackened as he tried to speak and intercede in the conversation. But he found himself unable to talk. He had no smart remarks or derisive comments. Flaring his chest just made him look more reckless than before. Wasp-paw's conceited attitude made the tom hold more fondness for the apprentice more. She was narcissistic, snobbish, and cynical, an identical copy of Kestrelclaw's personality when he was an apprentice. His entire life, he had not been more than narcissistic, snobbish, and cynical. Now it was time he defended those of his type.

However, if he in fact did support an apprentice rather than a warrior like Autumn, he would then be classified as an inmature and childish tom. Not even the kits would like him. No, there must be another strategy. Plan B would be a kind cat and stop their fight by saying all the qualities Wasp-paw had, what an incredible warrior Autumn was, blah blah blah. Fluttering off into oblivion would be Plan C. If he did not get involved in the argument, he would not have to defend Wasp-paw or Autumn. He did not hesitate a second longer, not bothering on thinking on Plan B. Yes, being apathetic with both was the answer. Wasn't that what Novawish was doing? He'd be too engulfed in his own business to care about the other two. Yes, this idea would suffice.

'Pick up the badger' Kestrelclaw sneered at Wasp-paw. She had already picked him up, but he wanted to display his authority for a longer while. He walked towards the badger and sank his fangs on it, shoving Wasp-paw and Autumn away. His vast and homicidial paws dug the earth, where he threw the badger's corpse in. His brain had decided to ignore all the repulse he had felt for the creature and his act and simply concentrate on keeping his reputation. He'd just safe his repulse for later. 'Stop complaining about absurd things and get back to the camp.' He glared at Novawish, expecting her to aprove his solution.

[Moony™]

{Oops, haven't posted in a while, which seems like a long time. And whoaness... you guys rock! ^-^ please-please wait for me!
And I'll try my best--including everyone's posts to mine.
And to make it shorter, I'll be putting it on 3rd person but in current tense, so it may sound weird, like a script.}

"What do you mean, we did what we were supposed to? Trying to steal some credit for Kestrelclaw's kill?

Novawish glares at Wasppaw with the most hatred a cat may have during one of these worst-case-scenario situations. But couldn't be more amused--Wasppaw wants to be the big bad cats who killed the badgers! Ha! And even more, Wasppaw was disliking herself for not being the 'big bad cat'. She know just the place to attack.

"Hm," She wickedly grins but her voice is controlled, that it does not goes to a level of the 'wicked witch of the waste' which sounds immature. "All the same, it means that you wasn't in the scene. The end."


"I would love it if you found some time to train your apprentice. I would have been a much better help, jumping into the battle, if I actually knew some moves."

Whew, this kid was good at making insults. But she could now counteract; Wasppaw wanted the fame right? And look tough in front of her little friends or whatever. Which could most obviously mean that she'd hate being neglected like a little kit, without fame or 'cool' or what the apprentices call these days.

Her voice was young and brightful, like those young mentors with rosy cheeks and cheesy smiles, attempting their best with their first lot--Novawish style; a twist with a mocking tone, fluttering her eyelashes and over-exaggerating her eye brows. "Why, Wasppaw, what an excellent idea! I'd love to teach you--in fact, we'll have our first training after this. I know exactly what's first before we even let your little wee paws attempt to kill a big scary badger, sweetie!"
She pronounces every goodie word with flowery expression, coming down to attack Wasppaw with the most embarrassing tone.


Lurking, she hears the chatters about disrespect and obviously--Wasppaw. Who knew?
They were distant to her ears though, partly trying to ignore Wasppaw and mostly the narrator not posting--

»fastforward!

She grimaces at the dead body--disgusting, with the blood and the eerie feeling. It'd be much more pleasant to the eyes if it was buried. Ew.
Although no one has said a word about it, the badger was getting picked up. As soon as it clears up--the better it is. It seems as if Kestrelclaw was doing all the work.

"Lemme help," she murmurs, as she pushed loads of earth with her paws, from where Kestrelclaw dug the earth and going back. From there, she pounds the earth on the badger, where it partly covers the higher part of its body--head and heart--hiding the blood.
"There we go." she whispers.

'Stop complaining about absurd things and get back to the camp.'

As soon as Kestrelclaw threw the glance, her acts were immediate.
"Oh, please." she says, to Kestrelclaw, nodding in deep approval--and when was the last time using the 'p' word? And now for Wasppaw, her voice was in the mocking tone once again with the bittersweet smile.
"Wasppaw, it'd be in my best interest if you left, we can train later then."

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[Bhuvana]

Wasppaw had simply growled at the leaders past words. Her "All the same, it means that you wasn't in the scene. The end." and "Why, Wasppaw, what an excellent idea! I'd love to teach you--in fact, we'll have our first training after this. I know exactly what's first before we even let your little wee paws attempt to kill a big scary badger, sweetie!" had been enough to make her want to claw the leaders eyes out. But she hadn't. She had kept her cool through it all. Now she wanted to let out her fury, but she said a simple word. Her voice was hard, determined, and angry. "No." She then spoke once more, her voice lower, but just as furious. "Since when do I care about your best interest, hmm? Since when do I care about ANYTHING? The only thing I want in life is to defeat my father. You and our idiotic leader let him go. I can't defeat him without training so I expect to get the training I need."

[Winter]

ic; Wasp-paw's answer flabbergasted Kestrelclaw. And then again, it didn't. Somebody like Wasp-paw would eventually get tired of being ordered around so often. It was about time she complained. And the elder warriors she was dealing with weren't preciselly proving to be to be good role models. One was too stupefied to do anything, the other thought murder was fun, and the other had just been staring at an empty space for half the time. The apprentice, despite her tiny rank, had done more than the three other ShadowClanners. Even yet, she was being ordered around like a sack of old potatoes. She had a right to protest or do something about it. And fortunatly, for Wasp-paw, Kestrelclaw understood the situation she was in. Because if he hadn't, he would have already decapitated the femcat [yes, he was that sanguinary].

The tom, to show his respect for her, hauled a sigh. 'Fine then. Go and hunt or something with your mentor, or alone if you prefer. Autumn and I will return to the camp and warn the others. Return when you please.' It was quite startling how he was daring to give orders to the others in the prescence of a deputy. But the apprentice deserved a saying in this conversation. He was talking in her behalf. Apparently bashfully, he turned to stare at Novawish, hoping she would also allow this request. It was not for him, it was for the app-- I mean, Wasp-paw.

ooc; Sorry, that post was no good... ]x

[Bhuvana]

OOC//: I was thinking about replying, but I am brain dead so either Nova or Autumn can reply, please.

[Winter]

ooc; Lol, okay. -waits- =)