Another Cold Morning

[mosswhisker]

The sleek chocolate brown pelt of Rabbitear brushed the fern walls of the den. The lean warrior let out a disgruntled sigh. His icy, clear blue eyes gave the camp, which was wrapped in a thin blanket of snow, a scrutinizing glare. Rabbitear sighed exhaustedly and trudged through the frostiness toward the freshkill pile, hoping for some good news. He fluffed out his tabby brown coat and braced himself for disappointment as he neared."StarClan why?" Rabbitear grumbled when he spotted the small snowy lump. Suddenly, something ruffled his ear fur and he swiveled the large cone shaped appendage before nimbly dogding two apprentices who were showing off their battle moves. "Augh! It's too early for this mouse dung!" screeched the older warrior. Rabbitear dropped his blue gaze to the pitiful two voles that made up the freshkill pile. Nevermind, he thought ruefully, I'll just go round up a patrol and let some other cat have their breakfast. "Who's up for a hunting patrol?" Rabbitear yowled to the few warriors who happened to be awake.

[|S|pot]

This certainly had to be one of those days where he didn't want to be leader. Right now, he'd rather be a kit in the warm nursery, drinking his mother's warm milk and dozing on the softest moss. But, no, he had to have become deputy, then leader. Because of that, he had to sit outside until his paws froze off. It's for the safety of my clan...it's for the safety of my clan.. He repeatedly informed himself, but found it harder and harder to believe with each passing heartbeat. How he longed for the warmth of new-leaf and leaf-green. Of course, he knew that that was a kit's wish- he had to be strong and keep the clan strong. Otherwise, what would happen to the clan?

His emerald pools scanned the clearing, observing the other cats awaking on this cold morning. Two apprentices faced each other, practicing their fighting moves on one another in a flurry of multicolored fur. Warriors walked out of the den, stretching their still sleepy body. But, one warrior seemed to have been awake longer than the others and definately wasn't in the best of moods. That warrior was Rabbitear. His sleek brown figure walked over to the 'fresh-kill pile', if you could even call it that as its only inventory was two skinny voles and looked down at his options with clear distaste. He turned around, seeming to sense something, only to be almost pummeled by the two apprentices. "Augh! It's too early for this mouse dung!" The black leader couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. "Leave them be, Rabbitear. You were like that when you were apprentice."He called out to the warrior in a tone of kindness. He wouldn't show just how bad-tempered he was about the weather as well.

"Who's up for a hunting patrol?" It was good that the brown tom wanted to find more food for his clan rather than stuffing himself with whatever remained. Where was Stormclaw? Didn't she have to wake up early to issue the patrols? The tom reminded himself that she had gone on the midnight patrol, therefore should be allowed to sleep in at least a little more. Still, he wasn't the best at making patrols. Grunting as he sat up, he padded over to where Rabbitear stood. "I'll join you if you'd like, Rabbitear. In fact, I'd be very glad to go hunting for the clan." He flashed a grin. He would not seem weak in front of one of his warriors, even if the cold was starting to get to him.

[Cinderfur]

Cinderfur was awoken by several loud yells and sat up with a start. She could hear Rabbitear - griping as usual - and Jetstar, sounding cheerful.
He's good at that, Cinderfur thought, purring to herself. She shook herself and padded out into the clearing to discover that the slippery frost had been replaced with a pillow of white.
"It snowed!" she yowled in delight, and raced off around the clearing, sending puffs of snow up behind her. She skidded to a halt behind Rabbitear, showering everything within ten taillengths in snow. "Rabbitear, Jetstar, it snowed! It snowed!" She jumped up and down and then dove nose-first into the cold white. "Hooray!"

[mosswhisker]

Rabbitear turned his brown furred head towrds the first calm voice. You were like that when you were an apprentice, Jetstar had mused. Rabbitear smiled and dipped his head respectfully, "Yes, I suppose you are correct, as usual, Jetstar," he mewed, trying to smother his anger towards the apprentices. "Besides, who am I to be cross with young cats just trying to become great warriors," he added. He opened his mouth to comment the ShadowClan leader "Great, with you we should only need one more warrior for the patrol," or he would have said that if he hadn't been cut off by a shrill yowl. Those apprentices again... the large eared warrior hissed inwardly. Slowly Rabbitear turned his head around only to be showered with stinging white snow."Cinderfur!" he yowled angrily, shaking his white and brown head irritably. "You...! You...!" Rabbitear's eyes were a freezing fire as he whipped his head around at the gray warrior. "Have you any respect?!" the brown warrior growled. The tall warrior struggled futily to keep his claws in. "Too cold," Rabbiear mumbled suddenly, "Great StarClan! It's so cold my anger is freezing!"

[cherrystar]

Echopaw peeked her head out of the medicine den when she heard Cinderfur mewing in delight. Echopaw purred with amusment as Cinderfur ran across the clearing and sprayed a little snow on her head. It was cold today! Thank Starclan she had a thick pelt. She shook the snow of her head and stretched , her muscles rippling under her skin.

[mosswhisker]

((Echopaw is a Med cat Apprentice, right?))

Rabbitear sighed in exasperation. He never liked young cats, but it seemed as if he weren't going to escape them! The sleek brown tabby turned his head slowly towards Echopaw and stared blankly at her for a very long heartbeat. "Meh," he snorted, flicking his long slender tail at the new comer. He whipped his head back around to Cinderfur, the cold in his bones beginning to melt."Sorry I snapped at you," Rabbitear meowed slowly, his voice taut as he spoke the words, as if he didn't really want to speak them.

[cherrystar]

(Yes, Echopaw is a medicine cat apprentice.)

Echopaw stood up and walked over to the fresh kill pile. She picked out a mouse and tried to bite into it. It was as hard as a rock!

[shiningheart]

Dawnfire stayed at the edge of camp, just observing the antics of her Clanmates with an amused light in her blue eyes. The she-cat laughed out-right when Cinderfur sprayed the grumpy Rabbitear with snow. Dawnfire rose stiffly, her muscles taut from sitting still in the cold for so long. She approached the three cats, not bothering to hide her amusement at the antics of the warriors. "Good morning all!" She mewed to them. She turned her gaze to Cinderfur, the purr in her throat becoming more pronounced. "Having fun, Cinderfur?" She asked her Clanmate.

[cherrystar]

Echopaw looked up from where she had been laying. "Good morning Dawnfire, Cinderfur, Rabbitear, and Jetstar. It is cold today!" she said with an amused look. Cinderfur was still jumping around with excitment.

[shiningheart]

Dawnfire nodded her agreement silently, eyes still on Cinderfur. "I overheard you need a fourth warrior for a hunting patrol?" She asked, lowering her gaze to the pitiful fresh-kill in the center of the cats.

[cherrystar]

"Have you seen Mudclaw? I have not seen him since last night." mewed Echopaw.

*the new medicine cat for Shadowclan is Mudclaw.*

[shiningheart]

Dawnfire shook her head in a 'no', looking back at Echopaw. "I've not seen him since he removed a thorn from my past at sunhigh yesterday."

[cherrystar]

"Guess I will have to gather herbs myself." Echopaw sighed.

[mosswhisker]

"Good luck," Rabbitear muttered to the apprentice. He turned his head towards Dawnfire and nodded, "Yes, you heard right, we are going on a patrol. That is, if we can ever escape these childish distractions." A cold shiver rippled down his spine and he scanned the clearing with his glowing blue orbs. "Anyone else?" the brown tom called through his chattering teeth. Before anyone could answer he lifted himself up and paced in a small circle near the growing patrol.

((Ick, bad post. Sorry.))

[shiningheart]

((*looks back and forth between mossy's post and own post* Much better than mine.))

Dawnfire shook her head quickly, shivering slightly. Her fur was fluffed out much more than usual, keeping the frozen skin under her pelt warm. "If we take anymore, there won't be anyone left to defend the camp." She argued, already looking around at the meek amount cats that were actually out in the cold. "This is the perfect weather to attack a Clan. The prey is scarce, the cats are weak and hungry, and no one would expect it."