i ' m y o u r s xx

[xSIMP::]

R A P I D S T R I K E
Warrior of RiverClan
let the rain f a l l, i don't care
love b u r n s brighter than sunshine

Green eyes narrowed in the underbrush as, swiftly as an adder strikes, the earthy figure darted forward. One paw, outstretched, crushed the fragile skull of the small prey as he whipped it back in one incredibly fast movement. For a moment, he froze, the cooling body of the mouse lying still on the ground, lightly built chest rising and falling as he took in great gulps of air. After a minute, he released the shuddering breath and gazed down with a warm glow of pride at his prey. A whole afternoon hunting-- and now, at last, I actually got something! He'd thought he was being inventive when he headed to the cedar grove to hunt, but evidently the training apprentices had frightened off the majority of the prey. Purring slightly, he gathered up the small brown body that matched his own solid coloration and straightened back up.

[shiningheart]

Ripplestream chuckled from where he hid in a tree. He'd been watching his Clanmate hunt for some while now. Ripplestream deemed himself a good judge of characters, being able to somewhat sense the pride that Rapidstirke was letting off now. He crossed his paws and rested his head lazily on them. "You know," he drawled to the tom, "I expect that kind of pride to be that of a new apprentice, not an experienced warrior." And Ripplestream was no fool. He knew he was risking scaring off any more potential fresh-kill by taunting Rapidstrike. But the scent of prey was pitifully lacking. The steel-gray tom was even surprised that Rapidstrike had managed to catch that one mouse.

[xSIMP::]

R A P I D S T R I K E
Warrior of RiverClan
i never s a w it happening,
i'd g i v e n u p and g i v e n i n,
i just couldn't t a k e the hurt again
what a feeling...

Surprised but not unduly alarmed by the loud drawl, the brown tom turned to see one of his fellow Clanmates, a warrior named Ripplestream, perched in the branches of one of the cedars shadowing the clearing. Pricking his tapered ears for a moment, Rapidstrike bent his head back down and set the limp body of the mouse at his earth-brown paws. Nosing it for a moment, he sat back up attentively, face carefully blank. Leaf-green eyes roving momentarily over the other cat's steel gray fur, gaze half-lidded with a lazy affection, the sleek warrior replied a moment later in his firm, light voice. "Good afternoon, Ripplestream," he meowed to the tom, "I still feel like a new apprentice, sometimes. It seems like only yesterday I was off training in the greenleaf, and then I open my eyes and the river's frozen over and I'm sleeping in the warrior's den. Guess I still have to get used to this all." Though he had a suspicion that Ripplestream's words hadn't been very nicely meant, he chose to take it as earnest. The calm expression still on his round face, he met the other cat's gaze evenly.

[shiningheart]

((*anime tears* Proboards sucks. I had a 150 word reply and it screwed up and didn't post.))

Ripplestream let a smirk grace his features. He hadn't expected Rapidstrike's reply to be so formal. 'So, the kitty wants to play?' He asked himself with a mental sneer. Then his physical smirk widened. 'Alright then, kitty-cat. Let's play.' He raised his head, uncrossed his paws, and jumped daintily from the branch he was on. Ripplestream landed neatly beside Rapidstrike. "Yeah, it takes some getting used to, the perks of being a warrior." He responded, his tail tip twitching lazily. He began to circle his Clanmate. "You can leave the camp whenever you want without another cat going with you. And you get to boss the apprentices around without them talking back." Ripplestream especially enjoyed that perk. Then he sighed. "But, with the recent lack of apprentices, I'm afraid my skills aren't as great at they used to be. That, Rapidstrike, is where I'm hoping you come in." He stopped, his mouth right by Rapidstrike's ear. "Would you be willing to help me sharpen my skills?" He whispered conspiratorilly.

[mosswhisker]

((Can I join with Springpaw?))

[xSIMP::]

Go ahead xD

He felt his ears grow hot beneath his thick fur. Wonderful. Now you've done it in for yourself. He licked his lips nervously and took a step backwards, away from the stony tom. The smirk on the other cat's face made it obvious that he was set on embarassing the young cat, and it looked like he was already succeeding. Stammering slightly, Rapidstrike tried desperately to be clever enough to come up with something that wouldn't make him sound like the fool he was. "Oh, um," he mewed, almost tripping over himself in his effort to retreat from the humiliation lurking. "Well. About that. You see, I'm not exactly... that is, I don't know... um." How do I say no without telling him NO? Tripping over his thick tail formerly curled in the snow he fell backwards onto his back. Squirming for a second and flipping back onto his stomach, he tried not to feel like such an idiot. Ripplestream was set on embarassing him-- and it was working. Turning with full intent to dash away into the forest, Rapidstrike remembered his mouse and froze. He wasn't just going to leave it all alone for the other warrior to take the credit for. Slowly, he turned and faced the other cat, whiskers drooping with a miserable expression set in his emerald eyes.

[shiningheart]

((Sure, I have no complaints. As a matter of fact, you can post next, cause I got nothing. XD))

[mosswhisker]

Watermint...watermint....watermint... the small brown and gray tom brushed through the reeds staring, searchingly at the damp, cold earth. I could have sworn that I saw some watermint growing right here. Springpaw thought, confused. The small mottled tom turned his yellow eyes back to the ground and pressed his muzzle against the ground, sniffing and feeling with the appendage. Snorting, the medicine cat apprentice rose his head, a crossed look in his eyes. Springpaw shook his head, scattering the fraile particles of dirt from his face. "Hm. I've never known herbs that could just get up and leave," Springpaw muttered, crawling his way through the undergrowth again.

Then, the small tom's ears flicked up as he felt a familiar vibration ruffle its fur:

"Would you be willing to help me sharpen my skills?"

"Ripplestream!" he whispered as he recognized the silver warrior's voice, "Maybe he knows where to find some watermint."
Then, just as he lifted himself up, he pulled his body back down as another voice, one that was only semi- familiar to the medicine cat apprentice, spoke:

"Well. About that. You see, I'm not exactly... that is, I don't know... um."

It was a tom's voice. It sounded deeper, so it was probably a warrior. That would explain why Springpaw wouldn't recognize his voice that well. He never really talked to warriors, except Ripplestream. Springpaw's yellow eyes narrowed for a moment.What are they up to...They sound like an apprentice and its mentor about to do battle training. THough he still felt unsure about making himself known, they probably could already sense him due to the herb scent that clung to his pelt. "Um, Hey, good afternoon!" Springpaw greeted, nodding his head respectfully,"Neither of you would happen to know where any watermint would be, would you?".

For a moment longer, his golden orbs hung on the brown tom. "Are you ok?" he whispered, almost as if the phrase wasn't meant to be spoken aloud.

[shiningheart]

Ripplestream wanted to much, right then and there, to burst out laughing. To him, there was nothing more hilarious than a full-grown warrior stuttering and backing away. He was a mite disappointed that he wouldn't get a fight out of his Clanmate. That thought quickly changed when he saw Rapidstrike pause and turn slowly back to him. A satisfied grin alighted on Ripplestream's maw before he sank into a practised stance, waiting for the attack he knew would come.

At least, he thought would, until he heard Springpaw's greeting. Ripplestream quickly relaxed his posture, turning to face Springpaw with his own greeting. "Hey, runt." He meowed with a playful grin. He would try to protect Springpaw from watching a fight for as long as he could. He had come to care for the young tom as a younger brother, and he would not shed blood in front of any of his friends.