Quietly! [ open ]

[kelpie]

Willowpaw padded carefully, ears pricked. Around her she could smell the thick and sharp pangs of carrion, stinging the pallet of her mouth. She hated the carrion place. Its smells, its waste, even its looks, she hated. It held its purpose during the harsh moons of leafbare, but besides that, Willowpaw could only think that it was a disgusting lot of two-leg bile. What made her tick, though, was the fact and elder warrior had sent her alone to scout out rats. It was a possibility that they could be growing in population and becoming a threat to clan life during the warm weather of Greenleaf. But to go alone on something so risky? It scared her to think that her elder thought it was appropriate to send an apprentice on such a duty. She didn't complain. Willowpaw hardly complained about anything. At least, now aloud. Hopefully someone would join her in the task of scouting out the rats.

Sighing, Willowpaw continued to meander the border of the carrion place, tasting the air for rats and other threats. She hoped that the rats would be staying inside the rotting area, rather than branching out into Shadowclan territory. Pausing, the large silver tabby scanned the area. Other cats had been there, clan and loner alike, but no smell of rat was present. Licking her chest in relief, Willowpaw could only think of how horrible it would be to confront rats.

The tall and dull grass around Willowpaw rippled in a warm breeze sending the smell of the marshes her way. Idly, she wondered if she could do some hunting.

[ Title is subject to change. u v u ]

[Shadow]

.Feircestep.

[/u]

Feircestep looked around. The calico warrior bunched up her nose in distaste. She had made it a habit to avoid this place, but today was an exception. Although not known to be the most friendly cat of Shadowclan, she did care about the safety of her clan mates. Today, while she was out hunting, she spotted Willowpaw alone. Curious as to why the apprentice was alone, she decided to follow the young she-cat. Although they were close in age, Feircestep hadn't spent much time with Willowpaw, not at warriors do at least. She had gone on hunting patrols with the gray she-cat, but nothing else. Feircestep was unsure as to why the other Shadowclan cat was so close to the Carrion place. She had hoped that heading this way was just a short cut, but she guessed now this is where Willowpaw was headed the whole time. She could tell that Willowpaw was hunting for something, and that the gray apprentice was afraid. Feircestep didn't blame the other she-cat. Just then she spotted something large move behind Willowpaw. She didn't have time to warn the other cat, and instead jumped on the back of the large creature. Her sharp fangs sunk into the rat's neck, but it was still trying to bite Willowpaw. With a quick jerk, Feircestap was able to kill the large rat. She slowly, carefully let the limp rat fall from her mouth, the bitter taste of its blood made her want to gag. She looked up at Willowpaw, who had be oblivious until she had attacked the beast. She knew that she hadn't helped Willowpaw's fear, but she had just saved her a fight, and possibly her life. Willowpaw, what are you doing out here? And alone at that? Don't you know it is dangerous!? she hissed at her gray clan mate. She knew that she wasn't helping by being so harsh with the younger cat, but she was mad. Not so much at Willowpaw, as at whoever thought to send the young she-cat in the first place. Who sent you? she asked in a softer voice, between licks, as she tried to clean the disgusting blood from her mouth and fur.

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