party of one [open]

[Sora]

Ratshadow had begun sleeping outside of the warriors den after only a moon of being in it. He didn't care much for the cramp-er cozy feel of it and preferred the silence and space the camp had to offer him. Not only that but Cloudhearts constant guilty stares was becoming rather annoying as of late so this way he could avoid it all together. The camp had some light now as the dawn approached its fragile rays slowly clawing its way onto the camp clearing determined to fill in with morning light. The grey tom cat watched the sunlight with disapproving eyes he did not want the morning, the morning roused the others from their slumber and with that the camp would be filled with cats rushing in and out. What was worse is they brought noise with them the whole camp would be ringing with voices as they gossiped about their dreams and whined about how their den mate snored all night. It was rather annoying he could care less about who woke who up or how they caught the biggest mouse of their lives while they slept. All he cared about was getting through another day. He himself had not slept well last night the nightmares of his past still haunted him. Every time he had started to does off those painful memories had surfaced and brought back bad feelings, feeling he didn't want to have ever again. So he avoided such things as much as possible only catching about four hours or so of sleep a night. Luckily his grey fur hid the dark circles that would clearly form to everyone else he looked the same as any other day.

The tom cats head lifted as he heard some of the cats begin to stir inside the warriors den his bright eyes glanced back to the entrance. A low growl emitted from his throat before he pushed himself to him paws. He quickly arched his back before stretching out each leg before standing up tall eyes falling to his paws. He didn't know why he kept going on like this there was nothing here for him anyone that ever meant anything to him was gone. However he still managed to get himself up every morning and live another day and why? Because Dustfoot and Lightfur would kick his tail if he ended up with them anytime soon, assuming he didn't end up somewhere else first. That thought troubled him so before he could get himself to ponder it further he began walking toward  the camp entrance. Hopefully if he brought some prey back he could avoid a patrol all together he didn't have the patience for it. Soon his fur blended into the shadows of the pine forest his muscles tightened a bit as he made his way quietly through. He never felt right walking through here since the night of the ambush when his own brother attacked him. Though they claimed it was a test of strength he knew in their terms it was a fight to the death. They never did love him nor did they ever even like him to begin with and he wasn't sure why. All he ever wanted was to be accepted but his father strived for perfection he wanted to produce strong fighting machines for kits and then here he came a frail little kit who bruised easier then most of the other kits. He was defective in his fathers eyes and a waste of a life so it only seemed right to end it himself.

In some way even now he believed that his father was right, but deep down all he wanted was to prove him wrong to show him he could be just as great. The forest was actually pretty nice in the mornings the sun lighting up the dark green pines with its light. In some parts it was able to make it's way through the thick canopy of trees to caress his body. Just at that moment scurrying had caught his attention as his eyes darted to a squirrel foraging for seeds at the base of a tree. His eyes narrowed before he lowered his body and slowly inched his way to the small creature. His stomach nearly touching the  forest floor as he moved his paw steps were carefully placed and quiet. In the blink of an eye he pounced and his claws dug into the creature and with a quick bite to the neck it had gone limp in his jaws. Some blood had gotten on his paws and his eyes dilated remember Wolfpaw's blood and back away slowly on the brink of tears. "I... I'm sorry.." he muttered pain flared in his usual emotionless hues and flinched when a shift in fallen pine nettles snapped him out of his daze just enough to pick up his prey and then dash off into the woods. His lean body moved swiftly though the trees not stopping until he had reached a fallen log and hopped over it dropping the squirrel as he landed. His labored breaths slowly evened out as he spotted an old rain puddle not to far off, he leaned down to drink but froze. His eyes landed on his own reflection the scar above his right eye clearly visable all emotion had drained from his body and his face went blank. What was wrong with him? He never used to get this way when he hunted aside from that the vacant look in his own eyes was what scared him. His ears twitched before he lifted his head eyes narrowed before he mewed, "I can hear you breathing." his tone laced with irritation, but he didn't bother turning around.

[Cinder]

Grey and sapphire eyes glowed in the darkness of the warriors den. The she cat turned in her nest again and huffed in irritation, the breaths of the other sleeping cats making an irritating chorus. With a huff she got to her paws and stoped out of the den, not caring who she woke up in the process. She did not stop when she saw that Ratshadow was outside of the den, in fact she did not even acknowledge that he existed. Her patience had run out and the only thing she wished to do was escape. There had been no rest for her, and she knew that there would not be any kind of compassion from the tom either, so why bother. He hated the world and she knew it, some days she thought that it might just be easier for her to end his life like she knew he wished for.

As she got out of camp and into the forest, she looked up into the trees resenting the light that was coming through them. She took off and streaked through the forest, trying to run off some of the feelings that were churning inside her. She came to a tree that was large, and had huge brances that were way up in the air, without a second thought, she climbed it and walked out onto one of the thick limbs. As she looked down at all of the small things on the ground, pretending for a moment that she was lord of it all, deciding who lived, who died, what they did from day to day, all of it to suit her every whim of course.

As she looked down, a flicker of movement caught her attention. Ratshadow moved through the forest, his eyes locked on a squirrel that was ahead of him at the base of a tree. Nightshade walked along the branch above him, following his movements as he stalked his prey. He sprang and landed on the body, ending the flame of life quickly. After he caught it, he lifted a paw and looked at it and his posture changed. He was no longer the tough and mean warrior that she knew, but he was gentile. His tail hung in a way that showed whatever he was thinking was painful, and his ears flattened against his head. His shoulder slummped, and she heard a small apology that he whispered carried on the wind.

She followed as he ran to the waters edge, following along from branch to branch in the tree. He came to a stop at the edge of the water and cleaned the blood from his paws. After a moment he looked up, but did not bother to turn, and she knew that his words were meant for her. She dropped out of the tree and landed next to him gracefully. Sitting, she laid her tail across her paws, the tip tapping out a rhythm, and examined the claws on her front foot before she looked up at the irritated male.

"Drop the scary act, you do not intimidate me."

[/b][/b][/b][/div]

[Sora]

The grey tom cat was quiet letting his eyes stare off into the shadows of the forest around them.He didn't need to see in order to know who was coming his way her scent clearly stood out from the more earthy smells of nature. Still of all the cats that could have creeped up after him it had to be this one. She was cold and bitter much like himself though neither one of them would ever admit to it. His gaze lowered into little slits as the pine nettles fell from the branches she had perched on. One landed on his head and his ears lowered before he used his paw to quickly brush it off. Aside from the little "shower" he got the female managed to land gracefully to the side, his head turned away from her. He hid his scar even though it was far from a secret still he felt like he needed to hide his past from everyone. He snorted at her comment it was not an act it was just how he was around other cats he wasn't trying to be anything. It just goes to show how little she knew about him, and he liked it that way. In the corner of his eye he saw her look at her paw not a care in the world. She had the nerve to say that he was putting on an act when she always had that same look on her face. His body tensed up a bit as he lowered his head shoulders hunched was she just going to keep sitting there all day? "Grace at its finest I see." he mewed his tone lacking any sort of emotion as he stood up towering over the female. He shook out both of his front paws and the pine nettles from before fell off them. Sure he could have left the whole thing alone. and ignored her but she started it.

However, as soon as the comment left his lips he didn't feel the need to provoke her anymore his sole goal at the moment was to suffer in silence. It was a party of one and she wasn't invited so at best this encounter seemed like an unpleasant surprise at best. Then again she at least kept to herself more than the others, and yet.... He turned his oddly bright orbs onto the she-cat he did not like the look in her eyes. It was underlying look of pleasure like she discovered something of use to her then again he could be wrong. Though he wondered how long she had been following him and his gaze fell to the floor again. His mind flashed back to the blood on his paws, a memory he didn't like to bring back, but it seemed important. He remembered the rustling sound of paws and that was what broke him of his trance and sent him bolting off into the darkness. Had she seen all that? To be honest he couldn't really remember what he had said during that time he remember the blood, pain, and then he blacked out until he was by this puddle. Did he give something away? If he did what was it? Lifting his head his eyes were vacant to the point that you didn't know if he felt absolutely nothing or if there was just too much hidden inside that you were afraid to look into it. Suddenly his eyes darkened and he stood up straight, "Don't you have anything better to do?" he grumbled before walking away and leaving the squirrel from earlier unattended. It didn't really matter much anymore all he wanted was to push her away like he did with everyone else. He didn't want to know what she saw or what she thought she knew, because she knew nothing.

She thought she was queen of the forest but she had no business trying to pry herself into something she could never understand. The forest floor was soft under his paws, it seemed for inviting the grass around camp. This was where the undergrowth thickened and so the grass was more lush and soft.He paused for a moment not even looking back. "You can have that if you want." he called back his tail flicked to where the squirrel was laying before he continued on. His larger paws slapping against the floor beneath him he did really care what she did at this point as kong as she was away from him. Deep down he had a feeling that she wouldn't let him just walk away from this, that just wasn't how she was. She seemed like the type that would need to have the last word in any conversation before she thought it was over. He guessed he would just have to see how it all played out, a small breeze blew through the trees and ruffled his ashy coat. The cold air felt nice against his face, so he paused and closed his eyes.

[Cinder]

"No, I do not have something better to do, if you must know. When you are up early, you tend to get everything done in short order. Don't you have anything better to do than play in puddles?"

Nightshade met his eyes when he turned them to her. She did not flinch, she knew the look that was in his eyes, it was the feelings that she lived with every day, she just hid it differently. He knew nothing of her, though he thought that he did. He knew nothing of her pain nor what she had gone through. He knew nothing. He thought the same of her, she was sure, but she was willing to bet that she knew more than he was giving her credit for. Granted not all of it, but a part of it at least.

What had happened to him would turn any cat away from any and all others. She could understand why he was so cold and disagreeable, and she did not blame him in the slightest. She did not know it all, but she knew enough that she could give him the benefit of the doubt. She looked after him as he moved away from her, wondering if it would be better for both of them for her to just let him go. Would it be better for him? What was she doing thinking about what was better for somone other than herself?? The thought had come unbidden and she did not appreciate it in the slightest. She was done worrying about the feelings of others, no one was concerned for hers. Anger flared inside of her, and she spat the words out at him.

"Why would I want that? It made you act wierd enough, maybe there is something wrong with it. You probably wish that it would poison me. Then I wouldn't be bothering you at least right?"

Her tail lashed the air showing her anger, her claws mutilated the ground beneath them. Her fur ruffled slightly in the wind, and she used her tongue to put it back into place with short angry strokes. She was not in the mood to have somone around her, but she did not seem to truly mond that this cat was the one that was there. He knew the pain that she felt, even if he did not know it, and that somehow made him more tolerable than the others.

Nightshade stopped the thoughts there. No, he was the same, at least that is what she told herself. They were all the same.

[/b][/b][/b][/font]

[Sora]

Ratshadow was enjoying the small breeze that was caressing his face and for just a moment he imagine it was his mother's tail brushing against his cheeks. He longed for her warm touch again it was one that made you know that everything would be ok no matter what. He wondered if he would ever feel that again probably not there wasn't a single cat that even remotely seemed like the kind. His mother was one of the few cats in ShadowClan that actually cared about everyone even those who didn't return her smiles. Deep down he knew he took after her that was why he was considered so 'weak' but ever since everything had happened a thick wall guarded his warm heart. All the pain had turned it to ice, and it sat there in his chest barely beating in it's cage. Once the wind had stopped he felt the small spark of happiness drift along with it and his face fell. Bright yellow eyes absently glancing down at his mighty paws. "No, I do not have something better to do, if you must know. When you are up early, you tend to get everything done in short order. Don't you have anything better to do than play in puddles?" The sharp voice of the she-cat broke through the tranquility and the grey tom pursed his lips. Giving his eyes a quick roll before shaking his head he was hardly playing in a puddle to begin with. Still he could tell he struck a nerve in the she-cat and a small smirk graced his features. He didn't realize he'd cause this strong of a reaction from her, and even after his generous gesture of fresh prey to. Still he knew before that she would not leave things just like that so he shouldn't be surprised.

Wiping that smirk on his face he then turned to look back at her wow if looks could kill he'd be dead twice over. Still he kept his face and eyes calm without a hint of emotion like he could care less that she was throwing a fit. "Why would I want that? It made you act weird enough, maybe there is something wrong with it. You probably wish that it would poison me. Then I wouldn't be bothering you at least right?" His gaze narrowed just then so that's what she thought of him? He didn't mean to kill his brother that day but now that branded him a murderer to? A low growl emitted from his throat, but after a moment he swallowed it back. Like he said before she knew nothing about him and obviously he struck a cord to so maybe he just flared up her pain to. Letting the calm look back onto his face he walked back toward her, his tail swishing calmly behind him as if his growl had never happened. His ears perked and alert as he moved while his intense sun like gaze had never left her face. It was weird having someone lash back at him when usually they shrugged and left him alone so why didn't she? It could have saved them a lot of time and pointless bickering still he stopped his side to her before he lowered his head to the squirrel and took a small bite. Savoring the taste before looking up at Nightshade again. "See there's nothing wrong with it. As to your former question I do have things to do the clan needs to be fed." he mewed bluntly proving the fact that he did not try and poison her. It was a ridiculous notion to begin with and deep down he was insulted. "Now if you don't want it I will just take it with me. Your choice." he mewed his tone emotionless as he waited for her answer. 

 

[Cinder]

Nightshade looked back at him. She had a feeling that he had taken her comment about the food as an insult, but she didn't really care, it made little difference to her. She didn't want to eat it anyway, food had lost it's taste long ago. She only at now to keep from dying, and some days she felt that that would be preferable to life. Easier at least, than having to live with all the demons in her head.

Nightshad suddenly came back from her thoughts. She hoped that she had not let her face give too much away while she had been lost in thought, this male did not need to see them, nor did anyone else. Feelings didn't matter, she had learned that long ago. Nothing that she felt could ever change anything so she learned to ignore them most of the time. Pain, thats all she had left, and sometimes annoyance. Her heart was cold as a stone in her chest, and she doubted that it could ever be warmed again.

"You can have it, The clan needs it more than I do."

She knew that this was not quite true, though her fur was still soft and shiny, it hung on her frame revealing bone and showing how little she really did eat. She didn't care about that either, she could still take on anyone that she needed to and win. Her claws dug the earth at the thought of a fight, fights were always good.

"Your right, the clan does need to be fed. Leaf bare is coming soon and then they will all need food stored up."

She didn't feel that anyone really wanted here there or cared what happened to her, so she didn't include herself in the statement. She didn't matter.

"We can catch and carry more if both of us work at it. Are you ready to go and hund some more, Master Hunter?"

It was true, but she expected the tom to refuse her invitation. He did not seem to like her being around him at all, so wh would he go and hunt with her? She sat quietly looking back at him and waited to see what he would say to her proposal.

[/b][/b][/b][/div]