Early morning lights (Hawkgaze)

[Cinder]

regular, speech, thoughts, other(s) The night was dark, there was no light to lift the curtain of darkness. The moon did not grace the earth with its light through the dence covering of dark clouds. All of the ancestors in Starclan probably couldn't even see through them. The air was full of the threat of rain, and the sky rumbled to shot it's discontent. Light flashed across the sky and the first drops began to fall. Harder and harder they fell to the earth untill it was coming down in sheets. The female cat streaked through the undergrowth, she had to get away, had to escape. Her sides heaved as she pulled air in and out of her lungs so fast that it was painful. She tripped and tumbled into the undergrowth, caught in a vine. Her hair matted to her body by the rain, she stared into the darkness and whatever was coming for her. As it got closer, she oppened her mouth and screamed... Brindlefoot sat up straight in her nest, sides heaving. It was not like her to have nightmares, and she did not at all like the feeling of them. She tried to shake off the feeling that it had left behind, and then looked around to see if she had woken any of the other warriors in the den. Slowly she pulled herself to her paws and padded carefully out of the den. She sat outside of the den and took in the morning. The sun had just risen, and it was a beautiful sight indeed. The clean, new light of dawn filtered through the canopy and into the camp, dappling the clearing in golden light. It was the last of greenleaf and the air was still warm, not yet giving way to the cooler air of fall. Brindlefoot sat for a moment and let the comfort of it all soak in, eyes closed, chin up. After a couple of minutes she began to wash herself. Her coat was soft and smooth, shiny in the sunlight. She was not at all one color, rather a marble of tan, black, grey, and white. Her rough pink tongue rasped over her fur and commanded all of the strands lay in the right place. She licked a delicate foot, and used it to wash her small dainty feminine face, and her perfectly pointed ears. After she had finished her bath, she got up once again and this time, headed to the fresh kill pile. Looking it over, she selected a small sparrow and took it to a sunny corner of the clearing. She took her time plucking it, and them eating her meal. When she was done and had burried her scraps, she rolled onto her back and soaked up the heat that the sun offered.

[Hawkgaze]

Hawkgaze opened his yellow eyes as he woke up. He had just had another dream of ruling the clan, he purred at the idea. As he stood up, he shook some moss off of his pelt. He sat down, quickly grooming his dark grey fur, which had some white patches to it. Once he was finished, he stretched, then walked out of the warriors den.

He looked up, squinting his eyes at the sunlight. Hawkgaze twitched his ear, then looked over at the fresh kill pile, reminding him that he was hungry as his belly growled. He glanced at Brindlefoot, waving his tail in greeting before walking over to the pile and picking up a plump vole. He walked back over to the warriors den, laying down just outside of it, quickly eating his meal. After that, he started thoroughly grooming his fur.

[Cinder]

regular, speech, thoughts, other(s) Brindle foot finished cleaning the remains of her breakfast from her lips, and then looked up. Her eyes took in the sight that was before her, and a flicker of movement caught her attention. Hawkgaze padded out ot the warriors den, and toward the fresh kill pile, he gave a twitch of his tail to acknowledge her. Brindlefoot gave him time to eat his food, and then got to her paws and trotted towards the big tom. He was washing his coat, so she sat a few paces away and curled her tail around her front paws and waited for him to finish. They were the only two that were awake, but the camp would soon come to life. Her voice was soft and musical as she spoke to the male. "Good morning Hawkgaze, I hope you are well."

[Hawkgaze]

Hawkgaze looked up at Brindlefoot, his yellow eyes glinting in the sunlight. He dipped his head in greeting. His voice was a low rumble as he spoke.

"Good morning, Brindlefoot. I am fine. How are you?"

He stood up, stretching, his muscles rippling beneath his fur before he sat back down, curling his tail around his paws.

[Featherclaw]

Hidden in the shadows of the camp wall, a set of fangs suddenly glinted in the dawn light as Ravenwing stretched his mouth open in a wide yawn. He normally enjoyed guarding the camp at night, but he'd had a long day of hunting yesterday and was ready to curl up in his nest and sleep until the next moonhigh. Faint voices from inside the camp caused his ears to prick backwards, and a wave of relief and exhaustion washed over him. Warriors were awake, which meant that he could go to sleep. He scented the air one last time, making sure that nothing was lurking out in the woods, then rose to his paws and arched his back in a long, dramatic stretch. With one last shake of the night's stiffness from his pelt, he slipped through the opening into camp. He waved his tail at Hawkgaze and Brindlefoot in a tired greeting as he slid past them and into the warrior's den.

He picked his way through the sleeping warriors to his nest to find a large ginger lump of fur was curled up in the nest next to it. With a small sigh, he flopped down into his nest and curled up, snuggling close to the cat next to him. The ginger cat grunted in surprise, sleepily blinking his eyes open. "Get in your own nest, Ravenwing."

"But you're so warm..."

"And you're cold." Mapleleaf muttered, grudgingly rising to his paws. "I thought you were on the night watch."

"Hawkgaze and Brindlefoot are up." Ravenwing protested sleepily.

Mapleleaf sighed softly. Nothing would get his brother out of his nest now, but there was no use in him going back to sleep either. Soon the camp would fully wake up, and he'd have to get right back up along with them. Stretching his back, he made his way out of the warrior's den. "Good morning Hawkgaze, Brindlefoot." he said as he made his way to the fresh-kill pile.

[Hawkgaze]

Hawkgaze nodded in greeting. He was close enough to the warriors den, so he heard what happened in the den. His eyes shone in amusement, and his whiskers twitched.

"Have a hard time getting to sleep?"

He flicked his tail, looking around as he waited for the patrols to start being assigned.

[Featherclaw]

Mapleleaf picked a mouse from the fresh-kill pile and settled down near the two older warriors. "Not at all." he answered politely. "I slept perfectly fine. It was the waking up part that was a little unexpected. Did you sleep well?" he asked Brindlefoot. "You've been rather quiet. Is everything all right?"

[Hawkgaze]

Hawkgaze nodded, twitching his ear as he looked at Brindlefoot, awaiting her answer.

[Cinder]

regular, speech, thoughts, other(s) Brindlefoot thought back to the dream that she had had that morning and a streak of fear shot through her, causing a shiver to run down her spine. There was no way that she could tell the other cats just what had happened and that she had awoken in such a state, nor that it had affected her as strongly as it had, especially when she did not know the reasoning behind it herself. So instead she looked at the Featherclaw and smiled politely. "Yes, I am fine, I was just alwo awaken sooner than I had expected in a less than pleasant way, nothing to worry about." Her eyes stayed in contact with those of the cat before her for a moment before she looked at the ground and ran her paw through a small pile of dirt that she found there, effectively playing in it to try and hide her discomfort. "What are the two of you planning on doing today?"

[Featherclaw]

Mapleleaf twitched his tail, unsure of how to answer. "I don't know." he said simply. "Maybe I'll see if I can't collect some herbs for the medicine cat while I'm out hunting."

[Hawkgaze]

Hawkgaze closed his eyes, taking a moment to let his thoughts wander on glory of one day being leader. He pictured himself standing on the Highrock, making announcements to his clan... He shook his head, shaking away the thoughts. Before he could even be deputy, he had to have an apprentice first! His fur slightly pricked in annoyance as he wondered why kits couldn't start their training till 6 moons. 5 moons seemed more reasonable to him. He then started picturing training an apprentice to become a great warrior, although not as great as him. He pictured stalking through the woods, chasing down prey, then going into battle with RiverClan and battling those fish-hearts over Sunningrocks. Excitement rose in his belly as he pictured one day, ruling both ThunderClan and RiverClan.


Realizing Brindlefoot had spoken to him, he pushed his ambitions to the back of his mind, opening his eyes again. He blinked slowly, raising his paw up to his mouth and licking it, then running it across his ear as he thought.

"Hm... I suppose I'll do a border patrol soon. I want to make sure no ShadowClan or RiverClan scum are crossing our borders. I'll shred them if I find any."

He flicked his tail, secretly hoping an enemy patrol would cross so he could attack and show off his battle skills. Maybe then he would be worthy enough to be given an apprentice.

[Cinder]

regular, speech, thoughts, other(s) Brindlefoot nodded at that. She sat and thought for a moment, and then nodded again. "Mind of I go with you? Maybe the fresh air would do me good." She knew that Hawkgaze did not generally like others going with him, but maybe going out would help her to get over her nightmares from this morning. Adrenaline was still coursing through her system, maybe that would help to burn that off as well. She needed to feel the grass underneath of her feet and the wind in her fur. Smell the scents of the forest around her, and maybe do a little hunting. Yes, maybe hunting would quell the feelings that she had raging inside of her. The thrill of the chase, and the taste of the meat. Is this how it felt to be prey? To run and run and know that you were doomed to death so that something else could live off of the meat on your body? Maybe hunting was not such a good idea with the dream so fresh in her mind. She did not want to think about the feelings of her prey. However a patrol would be a good place to start, if Hawkgaze let he go with him that is.

[Hawkgaze]

Hawkgaze's ears pricked as he looked at her. He didn't usually go patrolling with others, unless he was put on the dawn or dusk patrol by the deputy. He blinked slowly, wondering why he should allow her to go with him. He then figured that if he refused, others would just see him as ignorant, and he grunted.

"Hm... I suppose you could come with me."

He wondered if he should hunt as well. If he didn't hunt, he wouldn't be allowed to eat, which he thought was a stupid rule. Once he was leader, he would make sure that cats would hunt for themselves without having to hunt for elders and kits first. He sighed, deciding after patrolling the border, he would hunt. Hawkgaze pictured pouncing on his prey, his claws digging through their flesh and tearing at their throats. His lip curled in satisfaction as he pictured his prey being an enemy warrior. Shaking his thoughts away, he stood up.

"Want to go now? I'm ready when you are."

[Featherclaw]

Mapleleaf stood up and stretched his back once again, deciding that, since the rest of the clan seemed to have decided to sleep in, it would probably be best for someone to stay behind and be awake. Besides, he didn't want to impose on either of the older warriors. He doubted they wanted to have a new warrior like him with them. "Have a good patrol, you two." he said, dipping his head politely to Hawkgaze and Brindlefoot. "I'll stay and keep watch over the camp until the others wake up."

[Hawkgaze]

Hawkgaze nodded slightly, glad that the younger warrior wasn't tagging along. He didn't need another cat to slow him down! He sighed, looking at Brindlefoot.

"Are you ready?"

His tail tip twitched in annoyance as he waited for her to answer.