Silent Sands: The story of Ravenspirit

[Ravenspirit]

I've been meaning to wright a fan-fic on ShadowClan for a while, and I decided to make the main charicter be named after me. ;D This is just the Prelude here, but there will be more chapters later. Please tell me what you think .
* * * *

Silent Sands: The story of
Ravenspirit

Prologue
ﭚ

The wind howled in the ears of the ShadowClan patrol as they made their way around the edge of the lake. Waves slapped at their paws, dragging them sideways as the water retreated, and chilling them almost immobile. The patrol, made up of a small brown tom, a grey tom, a tortoiseshell she-cat and a ginger she-cat, closed their eyes against the spray of surf, and the relentless wind. The brown tom flinched as a particularly harsh wind blew some of the rain into his pelt, soaking the already sodden cat. “Russetfur, may we head back to camp now?” he inquired. “The longer we linger out here, the better the chance of catching greencough. Besides, no Clan is going to invade our territory in this storm.” The ginger she-cat lifted her head and looked at him for a brief second. “Your right, Oakfur: No cat would be foolish to be out in this.” She stopped to scan their surroundings. “But we won’t head back yet. If we turn back now, we will be heading into that clearing over there.” She pointed with her tale torwds an empty space in the forest of trees. “If we go there, it will be no different than walking around the lake. We will wait until we reach that thicket of trees up ahead.” The patrol began to move forward, eyes straining to see through the torrent of lashing rain that even their thick fur could not repel. They had almost reached the thicket, when Russetfur paused to scent the air. She must have scented something, for she turned and called the rest of the patrol to stand beside her. “What is it Russetfur?” inquired the tortoiseshell she-cat, who was sniffing the air in puzzlement. “I smell kit-scent.” replied Russetfur, scenting the air again with a worried expression on her face. “Not from any Clan either.” She scented the air once more, than whirled around, and raced toward a large holly bush near the edge of the forest. “Oakfur, Ceaderheart, stand guard on either side of that bush. Tawnypelt, come with me. I’m going in.” With that, she charged into the holly bush, thrusting her way through the spiky branches, Tawnypelt behind her. Toward the center of the bush the scent grew stronger, and finally the two she-cats burst into a small hallow, which was well protected from the rain, but not the cold. The ground was sandy beneath their paws, and for a minute they stood there, waiting for their eyes to adjust to the murky blackness. Russetfur’s eyes widened as she caught a glimpse of something on the floor of the sandy hollow. There, in the center of the spiky bush lay a small orange kit, with white paws and a black splotch on its chest. Its eyes lifted to Russetfur’s, and she saw only small blue slits: It must be a very young kit, for its eyes where barely open, and it was hardly bigger than a large mouse. It lay there, shivering on the sandy ground, but when it caught sight of Russetfur and Tawnypelt, it gave a feeble attempt to leap to its paws, and ended up in a deflated orange heap. Russetfur waved her tail, signaling to Tawnypelt that she should stay back, and stepped forward to sniff the pathetic scrap, the kit flinching as her damp nose pressed against its pelt. “Now what’s a little she-kit like you doing in a holly bush?” she murmured softly. Usually a tough warrior, the ginger she-cat had a soft croon in her meow as she examined the kit.” Your all skin and bones, you must be STARVING, poor thing, why would someone do this to you, you must have just opened your eyes, there all sticky, can’t be more than a few days old, just LOOK at you!!! Than, griped by sudden anger, she yowled,” WHO WOULD DO THIS TO YOU?!?!?!” The little kit cowered under the sudden tirade, and Russetfur immediately lowered her voice. “I’m taking you to camp. This is no place for a helpless kit like you.” Gently, oh so gently, she took the kits scruff in her teeth, and the three excited the thorny bush, the kit giving a weak squeak when a prickly branch gave her a sharp poke, but generally staying mute through the rest of the journey.
* * * *
“What is that?” asked Ceaderheart as Russetfur and Tawnypelt appeared from the depths of the holly bush, Russetfur carrying the little kit in her teeth. Without replying, Russetfur brushed passed the grey warrior, signaling with her tail that they should follow her back to camp. Outside the storm had grown worse, and rain was now buffeting the patrol, almost sweeping them off their paws, but that did not slow Russetfur down. Soon the patrol was racing through the forest of trees that made up their home, and it wasn’t long before the camp came into view, dry and inviting to the four bedraggled cats. Russetfur burst through the entrance of the camp, and streaked toward the leaders den. Once there, Russetfur laid down the kit at the entrance of the den and called”Blackstar.” than entered the den. A huge white tom with jet black paws lifted his head to ignolege their return.” Hello Russetfur. How did the patrol go?” Than he caught sight of the kit dangling from Russetfur’s mouth, and leapt to his paws.” What is that?!?!?!” He demanded, glaring at the surrounding cats. Russetfur had cleared a little hollow in the sand with her paw, and now she placed the kit in it, and replied,” We found her on the patrol, Blackstar. It has no scent of any Clan, and you can see how young and uncared for she is. She needs loving care, and I couldn’t let her die.” Her explanation was interrupted by a meow at the entrance of the den.” You’ve got a kit in here.” A long legged brown queen entered the den, and prodded the kit gently with one paw, than meowed, “Your filthy!” and began to groom the she-kits fur, a soothing purr rising fro her throat. Blackstar looked at the brown queen, than meowed, “What do you think, Tallpoppy?” The queen lifted her head to meet her leader’s eyes. “I will care for her if you let me, Blackstar. Toadkit and Marshkit always curl up together, and poor Applekit is always left out. I’m sure those two will get along fine, and besides,” she looked fondly down on the little orange she-kit. “I’ve taken a liking to her.” Blackstar nodded, than turned to the brown tom.”Oakfur, please go fetch Rowanclaw, and tell him to come to my den.” The brown tom raced away, and soon returned, followed by a ginger tom, which looked as if he had been roused from a deep sleep. When he caught sight of the kit, he reached forward and gave it a sharp prod with one of his claws. The kit squealed as the claw cut into her skin, and blood welled from the cut, and spilled into the sand. Russetfur leapt to her paws, and with one quick movement, had Rowanclaw pined on his back on the sandy floor. “Do that to her again, and I’ll rip your ears off you piece of fox-dung!!!” she snarled, her ginger face contorted into a look of rage, her white teeth gleaming in the pale light of the den. “Why should I stop? The kit will be useless anyway, so I’m really relieving us of a burden.” meowed Rowanclaw casually. Russetfur looked like she was just about to take a chunk out of the ginger toms shoulder, but was halted by a growl from Blackstar,”That’s enough, Rowanclaw. Leave us now, and tomorrow you will be sleeping in the apprentices den, and doing their duties.” Almost sweetly he meowed, “I hear Boulder has some ticks at the base of his tale that need removed.” When Rowanclaw had gone, he turned to the cats crowding his den. “This kit needs fed and cared for. Tallpoppy has kindly volunteered to care for her, so she may do that. In three days we will let the Clan decide what to do with her.” Russetfur dipped her head. “Thank you, Blackstar. I will do fetch Littlecloud.”
* * * *
The little orange she-kit lay next to Tallpoppy, as Littlecloud checked over her wounds, pressing herbs into place carefully, so as not to damage her fragile body. He pointed to the deep cut in her skin, “Where did she get that? A twig?” Tallpoppy shook her head, sadly. “Rowanclaw decided she would be useless, and thought he’d relive us of a burden, so he said.” Littlecloud snorted, than began to apply cobwebs and herbs to the wound. “Well, I think she’ll do fine. After all, the Clan needs more warriors.” He continued to dress the wound. Russetfur, who had been ancshasly observing the procedure, meowed, “Will she be ok?” There was an edge of worry in the tough she-cats meow that Littlecloud had seldom heard from her. “Don’t worry, Russetfur, I’m sure she’ll be fine. She’ll be ok……”

Tawny/Russet made by StarClan's Wrath. Kit base made by Oakstar.

[<3~Hollybranch~<3]

I like it ^^ The sweet side of Russetfur... awww <3
Oh yah btw it's spelt prologue. I thought you might like to know ^^

[Swimsoul]

I like this! It's cute ^.^ Rowanclaw pwns

[Ravenspirit]

Heres Chapter 1.

Chapter 1.
ﭚ

The storm had lasted through the night, and two days later the sun appeared and ShadowClan was finally able to dry out there sodden pelts on hunting and border patrols. But the third day held an important decision: The decision of rather the kit would stay in the Clan: And what to do with it if they decided it had to go. When every cat had awakened, shared tongues and perhaps eaten a piece of fresh-kill, Blackstar called a Clan meeting from a rock in the center of the clearing:” As you may have heard Russetfur and her patrol found a kit three days ago. Now we must decide what to do with it. Our Clan needs more warriors, but we are all still weak from the long journey over the mountains, and training this kit will be hard work. Tallpoppy already has three young kits, who take up her energy as it is, however needed they are.” He gestured to Tallpoppy, who had the little kit between her paws, and was grooming its pelt carefully: She did indeed look tired, and her pelt had not the sheen it had once held. She lifted her head to look into Blackstars eyes. “Raising kits is hard work.” She meowed. “But this kit may be essential to ShadowClans survival, and we need her badly. Besides, she is less work than all the other kits combined; I know Applekit certainly enjoys her company, and so do I.” Blackstar nodded, than yowled, “What does the rest of the Clan think?” Murmurs broke out among the rest of the Clan, and finally
Ceaderheart spoke up,” She is certainly a resilient little thing: She was cold and starved when we found her, and the journey back was one of the wettest and coldest I have ever been on. I’m surprised she hasn’t caught a cold yet, which is less than I can say for myself.” Indeed, no sooner had they returned from the journey than he had been diagnosed with a cold: He was still sniffling. “I think we ought to give her a chance. After all, she came out best in the journey, and she’s only a kit!” He sat down abruptly, adding emphasis to his words by sneezing profusely. Nightcloud, a black she-cat, meowed her opinion from her place next to Ceaderheart,”I think we should give her a chance. We need the warriors, and the apprentices have been over worked as it is. She seems strong, and anyway we can’t through such a good opportunity away: The future of our Clan could depend on that little kit.” Oakfur replied next, “She certainly seems strong. I say we should keep her.” Blackstar waved his tail for silence, than said,”Littlecloud, what do you think?” The light brown tabby dipped his head in acknowledgement of his leader’s words. “Last night, I received a dream.” he meowed. “I didn’t see anyone, but I heard a voice.” He closed his eyes as he tried to remember.” The voice said “ShadowClan will face many hard times, and no opportunities should be over looked. The survival of the Clan will depend on a cat with heart and spirit….The spirit of the strongest raven.” Blackstar nodded a thoughtful expression on his face. He was thinking of how the black splotch on the kits chest resembled a raven “Than her name will be Ravenkit.” He meowed. “You mean….” Tallpoppy gasped. Blackstars eyes met hers. “Yes” he meowed. “She can stay…”
* * * *
Blackstar organized the patrols, than turned to Tallpoppy, who had left briefly to return Ravenkit to the nursery (Applekit was extremely excited that she had returned, and that she was going to live with her.) “Tallpoppy, Rowanclaw showed me something I don’t like yesterday. I want you to make sure he doesn’t enter the nursery at any time. He has shown that he doesn’t like Ravenkit, and even though the rest of the Clan has accepted her, I’d hate to think what might happen if he gets his paws on her. He holds a grudge, even if he is a loyal warrior to ShadowClan, and he won’t forgive her for making him remove ticks from the base of Boulders tail.” Tallpoppy dipped her head in ascent. “I’m worried about that too: She probably won’t be safe all her life if he doesn’t accept her, or join StarClan soon. He’s powerful, and who knows if she might have some long term effects from her journey. We will have to keep a close eye on the both of them, and she will need a strong mentor to teach her how to defend herself.” Her voice lowered."Russetfur has taken an interest in her. She has clawed many a cat with her tongue, but it so good to know she’s got someone to love: Perhaps she can be Ravenkit’s mentor, when the time comes.” Blackstar nodded. “She is a powerful warrior, and if she likes her, than that would work best. She’s fiercely protective of Ravenkit, and she won’t let her slack of any apprentice duties or training. I think that she would make a great mentor for Ravenkit, when the time comes for her to be made an apprentice.” Tallpoppy dipped her head. “Excuse me Blackstar, I must go. It’s feeding time for the kits, and they will complain if I don’t feed them the same time each day.” She dipped her head, than trotted of toward the nursery, where the hungry mewing of kits could already be heard. She lay down, and the kits began to suck hungrily, pumping her belly with tiny paws to make the milk flow faster. She nuzzled each kit, than began to lick them methodically. She looked up as Russetfur entered the den, mewing a greeting before curling around the sleeping Ravenkit. Tallpoppy’s eyes softened: Russetfur had never known softness, so she would let her enjoy it for the first time in Russetfur’s life…

[K.]

<333 Aww! So cute!

[Jayfeather]

YAY!!! there is a soft side 2 Russetfur and Blackstar!!! sooo cute <3 <3
:$

[wolfclaw]

the spirit of the strongest raven.....that is so cool

[Ravenspirit]

Chapter 2.
ﭚ

The sun was shining 10 days after Ravenkit’s accepting into ShadowClan, and every cat was taking advantage of the fine weather to hunt extra fresh kill. Russetfur had taken out a hunting patrol, and they had just returned, jaws bulging with prey. As they carried their catch to the fresh-kill pile, Ravenkit appeared out of the nursery closely followed by Applekit. The patrol watched as the kits trundled across the camp, and when they neared the fresh-kill pile Ceaderheart called out, "Where are you going Ravenkit and Applekit?” He had almost taken on the roll of Ravenkit’s father, and was happy to see that she had made a friend. “Were going to visit the elders!” squeaked Ravenkit, and she hobbled forward to take a mouse from the growing fresh-kill pile. Applekit took a vole, and together they headed in the direction the elders den. Russetfur watched them go, than turned and disappeared into the warriors den.
* * * *
Rowanclaw was lying outside the apprentices den when he noticed the two kits wobbling along to the elders den. “Aha.” He hissed softly, rising to his paws as he did so. “By by, Ravenkit. You won’t be a burden to me anymore.” He dropped into a hunting crouch, and began to ooze forward with exaggerated care, making sure that not a sound was made by his paw steps on the sandy ground of the camp.
* * * *
“Do you think that Runningnose will have a new story to tell us today?” “I don’t know, but I hope that Boulder will tell us about the old territories: You know, the ones we had before the two-legs drove us out!” Ravenkit and Applekit were immersed in their conversation about what stories the two elders, Boulder and Runningnose, would tell them today. Ravenkit was so small that the mouse wouldn’t fit in her mouth, but she could drag it by its tail and converse at the same time. Ravenkit was just about to reply to something Applekit had said, when she heard a yowl behind her. “Goodbye burden.” Ravenkit knew that voice: She had heard it the night that she arrived in ShadowClan’s camp. She dropped the mouse and ran as fast as her wobbly young legs could go, tearing through the camp wall and into the forest beyond, Rowanclaw hot on her paws! Looming in front of her was a tall, slim tree, so tall it seemed higher than all trees surrounding it. Without thinking, without considering the consequences of her actions, she hit the tree full force, and shot up the tree as fast as her tiny claws and trembling legs could go.
* * * *
Applekit watched as her best friend crashed through the camp wall, Rowanclaw pounding behind her. She couldn’t tell Blackstar: He was out on a boarder patrol. The only place she could find help would be in the warrior’s den. She sped as fast as she could go towards the warrior’s den, hoping she could find someone before it was too late. She slid into the den, and came upon Russetfur sharing tongues with Ceaderheart. “Please come.” She gasped out."Rowanclaw is chasing Ravenkit, and I’m afraid he’ll kill her!” Russetfur leapt to her paws, closely followed by Ceaderheart, and raced out the den and through the camp wall.
* * * *
Ravenkit clung to the top of the tree, wailing at the top of her lungs. Rowanclaw had reached the base of the tree, and was just about to leap onto the trunk when a ginger blur crashed into him, yowling,” No you don’t, Rowanclaw!” and pining him to the ground with a snarl. Ceaderheart helped Russetfur pin down Rowanclaw, growling,” Don’t touch that kit traitor, or I’ll flay you into strips!” Rowanclaw muttering curses under his breath. Just than Blackstar and his patrol came upon the scene, apparently the patrol had come across no trouble. When he caught site of Rowanclaw sputtering underneath the two furious cats his face turned into a look of rage.” What in StarClan's name is happening here?” Russetfur managed to gasp out what Applekit had told her, and Blackstar immediately told Rowanclaw to continue with his apprenticing. Now a bigger problem presented itself: How to get Ravenkit out of the tree.
Her wails grew louder as the tree began to sway in the wind, nearly blowing Ravenkit off the tree, and onto the ground below. “I’ll climb up and grab her.” meowed Russetfur. “There's no way she can get down by herself, not with this wind. Before anyone could protest Russetfur leapt onto the trunk of the swaying tree and began to make her way, claws gripping for a hold on the rough tree bark. Finally she reached the wailing kit and, crooning softly, lifted her gently by the scruff and backed down the tree. When she reached the ground Russetfur gave Ravenkit a few brisk licks, than, Ceaderheart by her side, she carried the kit back to camp. Tallpoppy, who was awaiting their arrival, took the kit from Russetfur and placed her in the nursery, where she snuggled up to Applekit. “I’m glad your home save.” murmured Applekit sleepily. “So am I.” mewed Ravenkit. “So am I”….

[Jayfeather]

awww... BAN HIM!!!!!!!!!! THEN U CAN MAKE HIM CUM BACK MOONS L8R 4 REVENGE!

[Ravenspirit]

Chapter 3.

Ravenkit woke to the sound of rain pattering on the nursery roof, which had lulled Applekit to sleep. Ravenkit yawned, than looked about to see if there was anything that needed pounced on or investigated. Tallpoppy’s tail was twitching gently as she slept, making it a tantalizing target, but Ravenkit did not want to disturb her foster mother, so she looked for something else to hunt. Nearby Marshkit and Toadkit where mumbling sleepily about sneaking out of the nursery to play in the falling rain, Marshkit’s tail twitching irresistibly. Dropping into a hunters crouch, Ravenkit slid forward, the twitching point all she saw, her paws falling soundlessly on the floor of the nursery. She edged forward until she was a mouse length from her target before she pounced!!! She flew through the air and landed squarely on Marshkit’s tail, grasping it in her teeth and shaking it playfully. Marshkit let out a howl of surprise as he leapt to his paws and raced directly towed Tallpoppy, squealing like a cornered mouse as he ran over his mothers face, Ravenkit clinging to his tail to keep from tumbling head over heals! Tallpoppy sprang up just in time to see her son make a funny sort of wriggling motion in midair, though how he managed to get airborne with a kit clinging to his tail was beyond her. “What is going on here?” she yowled, shaking the sleep from her fur. At her commanding voice Marshkit crashed into the ground, and Ravenkit was flung across the nursery, little legs waving as she flew over Tallpoppy’s had to land in a puff of moss on the other side of the nursery. Shaking the moss from her whiskers, Ravenkit managed to detangle herself from the moss and wobble erratically tords Tallpoppy, her eyes slightly unfocused. “What is going on here?” repeated Tallpoppy, who regarded Ravenkit with a raised brow, wondering why she had been clinging to her son’s tail. “Ravenkit pounced on Marshkit’s tail.” mewed a small voice from behind the brown queen. Tallpoppy turned to see Toadkit standing there, looking, (did she imagine it?) a little guilty.
He was exhausted from making the trip over to his mother, because he was extremely round for his young age, and being so bulging made his legs give way every time he moved to fast. Tallpoppy looked down upon the small orange kit, her eyes flashing. “Is this true? Ravenkit looked down at her paws, and mumbled “Marshkit and Toadkit were going to sneak out and play in the rain.” She looked guilty, because tattling was something she almost never did, and since they where almost like her own brothers it was even worse. What’s more, they were a moon younger than her, so it would be unjustified to pounce on them when they weren’t expecting her to. Tallpoppy looked at the small orange kit, than rounded on her sons.” Why would you even want to go out into the rain, to catch cold?” Toadkit and Marshkit looked at there paws and mumbled a reply, but Tallpoppy didn’t fall for their mock guilt. “You will not visit the elders to hear the stories until I say you can.” She meowed. “Marshkit, you will not go out for even longer, because of the racket you made. I have bared many litters, and kits have pounced on and bitten my tail, but I never ran over anyone’s face!” Marshkit shot a glare at Ravenkit, his teeth bared. Ravenkit looked very upset, her face squashed up and wrinkled as she stared guiltily at her tiny white paws, her body getting lower and lower until she was a small orange blob. Tallpoppy’s face softened: All she had done was told her why she had pounced on Marshkit’s tail, but she looked as if she had been caught stealing fresh-kill from another Clan territory. Tallpoppy glared at her sons, and they scooted into the corner of the nursery to sleep, grumbling about Ravenkit until their mother hushed them. Than, Tallpoppy made her way over to Ravenkit and lifted her by her scruff and laid her next to Applekit in the mossy nest before curling around them and purring them to sleep.

[Ravenspirit]

Chapter 4.
ï­š
10 days later at sun high, Tallpoppy’s kits were splashing through the puddles that had been left by the rain which had lasted several days (minus Toadkit and Marshkit.) Ravenkit bounded through the puddles with the joy that only a kit could show when confronted with there first puddle. There was a particularly deep one near the center of the clearing, deep enough for a small kit to swim in. Applekit had avoided it, and had advised Ravenkit that she should do the same less she drown. But Ravenkit had been inching to try it out, and today looked to be the day!!! She padded over on wee white paws, her tail jerking in excitement, her pink nose twitching. She gathered her hind legs beneath her, wiggled her bottom and leapt, splashing into the center of the puddle! She paddled her paws, her tiny orange head just peeping above the rippling puddle surface, her tail floating sedately behind her. Russetfur just happened to have come back from hunting patrol, laid her fresh-kill in the pile and was about to curl up and take a nap in the warrior’s den when she saw the small orange splash drifting around in a puddle. She was ready to dive in and pull out the probably drowning kit when she realized that Ravenkit was not moving in a distressed manner. Padding over to the puddle, she looked at the happy kit, and meowed in a puzzled voice “Ravenkit, what in StarClan’s name are you doing?” “Swimming!!!” replied Ravenkit, happily paddling in a circle. Russetfur considered the little kit with a slightly puzzled expression on her face. ShadowClan cats did not swim. So why was this kit, who was hardly bigger than her paw, insist on dowsing herself in a puddle, swimming in a circle and be good at it? Russetfur sat down and watched the obviously happy little kit paddle around the puddle.

I know, EXTREAMLY short. The muse was not with me.

[Ravenspirit]

Chapter 5.
ï­š
It was a warm, sunny day in the ShadowClan camp, and all the cats were buzzing in excitement, for today Ravenkit would become an apprentice! She had just recently turned six moons old, and showed that she was spirited enough, for often the tasks of an apprentice could be draining. Now they would have two apprentices for ShadowClan, two new warriors to be, two stars in the Clan’s futcher. Most excited of all were Ceaderheart, Oakfur and Tawnypelt, three of the cats who had found her on that cold, fateful night. Tawnypelt felt a flicker of sadness in her soul, reflecting on the fact that she could not mentor her, for Blackstar would have told her if she was. He’ll never trust me to apprentice anyone. She thought sadly. Well, as long as her mentor was good, than there should not be too much loss. Briefly she wondered who would become mentor of this strange little swimming kit: Definitely not Rowanclaw. She took her place beside Ceaderheart, staring up at the great rock, in which Blackstar was perched upon. “Will all cats old enough to catch there own prey gather here beneath the Great Stone for a Clan meeting.” The last of the cats trickled out of the dens to take there places underneath Blackstars gaze. The kit in question was crouched beneath the rock, facing the Clan, her eyes searching for her mentor, trying to guess who it would be. Her eyes were green now, bright as neon stars. They seemed to glitter with something supernatural, something not quite cat, something so intiment that only great StarClan knew of. As Blackstar began to speak, the little kit’s eyes grew brighter than the stars of StarClan. Until she has earned her warrior name, she shall be known as Ravenpaw. Russetfur, you are ready for an apprentice. You will mentor Ravenkit.” Blackstar paused for a moment before continuing. “Russetfur, you are a warrior of battle and skills. I expect you to pass on everything you know to Ravenkit, so she can defend herself against enemies.” The two cats looked at each other, knowing that Blackstar meant Rowanclaw. The rest of the Clan was unsettled, fidgeting in worry. A warrior fought to protect the Clan, not themselves. What did Blackstar mean? Russetfur reached down to touch noses with her new apprentice, whose eyes begged to know everything her noble mentor knew. What more could one want in an apprentice? Thought Russetfur, as she and her apprentice touched noses……

[wolfclaw]

the plot unfolds....

[Ravenspirit]

Chapter 6.
ﭚ
There was a screech as the bird flew high into the branches of the giant pine tree, the disappointed apprentice staring up at it in dismay. “I’ll never get it.” She mewed, her ears drooping in dismay. She was supposed to hunt fresh-kill, but how was she to do that if she couldn’t catch anything? She had stalked well, but when she had pounced her hind paws had dragged, flinging leaves into the air and startling the starling that had been peacefully pecking at the ground moments before. It was a novice mistake, and she had been training for two moons! Russetfur saw Ravenpaws ears droop in dismay for missing the easy kill. Walking over to her, she begin to comfort her by telling her that she would get it, and soon would be bringing back loads. But this was not the only reason Ravenpaw felt bad: Every time she tried to hunt she messed it up: In fact, she was a lousy hunter. Her rabbits always heard her, her pounces always dragged leaves up, her mice always felt her steps. Her ears, which were beggning to become black at the tips, drooped still lower. Russetfur, seeing this could tell that Ravenpaw was in one of those moods again: Moods where she became depressed, saying that she was useless and a burden. These moods were puzzling, because she had a good kit-hood, and had always been given plently of encouragement, except for Rowanclaw, who she never listened to. Russentfur knew that the only way to get her out of it was to ofer hunting practice: Ravenpaw was farly skilled at this, and enjoyed it so much that she squeaked all the way to the training hollow. Russetfur was about to ofer hunting practice whan the yowls of fighting cats reached her ears. Before she could react Ravenpaw had raced across the ground, building up speed until she was practicly flying across the ground. Coming to the location of the racket, sje saw Rowanclaw’s apprentice, Talonpaw, battling with two kittypets that lived with the twolegs near by. And even she could see that Talonpaw was in the losing end. With a yowl of purest rage she flung herself at the nearest kittypet, the larger one. Grasping his shoulders, she grasped the scruff of his neck, she jerked her head back fliging him to the ground, belly up. Russetfur had arrived on the scene, but stopped on her paws: For Ravenpaw had fatened her teeth in the cat’s face, pinning him down with her front paws. But her hind paws were doing something no one had ever seen before: They flased in an orange in white blur, shredding through fur and flesh, staining the ground with crimson fluid. This took only a matter of secends, and soon she had ghosted away, leaving the kittypet gasping and bleeding on the ground. Than, as if she had simply come from StarClan itself, Ravenpaw appeared on the back of the other kittypet. “You sprinking piece of FOXDUNG!” she screeched, tearing at the kittypet’s ear until it was no more than bloody ribones. Flipping of his back she perched her her hind legs, and wakling on her back feet as she didi so, slashed at her opponent’s nose with the same lightning-fast speed she had used on the other kittypet’s belly. Than Talonpaw appeared by her side, and side by side thay slashed at the kittypets, there moves as perfict an unisen as if they had been practicing for moons. Soon, they kittypets gave up with a yowl, and escaped back to their twolegs. “Thanks for the help. I would have been lost without you.” Talonpaw mewed. And than, he looked into her eyes: He was swirling in sparkling green, swimming in emotion, in strength, in love. And at the same instant Ravenpaw looked into his, and knew……
* * *
They walked back to camp together, two apprentices one bright orange, the other tabby. And Russetfur knew……

[Ravenspirit]

More chapters! 7 and 8

Chapter 7
ﭚ
Ravenpaw awoke to the sunlight poring into the apprentices den. Talonpaw had already left, still stiff after yesterdays fight, but Littlecloud had treated him and he was on the mend. Since they were the only apprentices the Clan relied on them to bring the elders fresh-kill, and she was late. Now beginning to panic, Ravenpaw dashed out of the den, her fur still rumpled from sleep, looking for Russetfur. Not seeing her, she dashed towards the camp entrance, for she would go hunting even if she couldn’t find her mentor. Just as she reached the entrance she heard a voice coming from the bushes. “And where are you headed this morning, Ravenpaw?” The orange apprentice stopped, her fur on end, her green eyes wild with fear. “I’m going hunting. I know I’m late, I’m sorry, I must hunt or the elders will not eat.” She had begun to move forward again, when the voice stopped her. A ginger cat appeared from the bushes that guarded the camp, shaking her paws and looking down at her apprentice. “You don’t have to worry about hunting today.” mewed Russetfur in a soft voice. “Since the battle with the kittypets yesterday, Blackstar and I have decided to let you have the day off, for if you had not reacted when you did it is most likely that Talonpaw would not be alive today, or severely wounded.” She watched a mingled look of relief and pleasure spread across Ravenpaw’s face, and saw her muscles relaxed: But soon they stiffened again. “But Talonpaw went hunting today. We are the only apprentices here, and since he is wounded the elders won’t get their share.” She meowed in a worried voice. Russetfur twitched her whiskers in amusement, than meowed in return, “Oh, I think Talonpaw has not gone hunting today.” and gestured with her tail to the other side of the camp. There sat Talonpaw, grooming his chest with brisk licks of his tongue, and wincing whenever it scraped too hard against a wound. Seeing the joy cover the orange apprentices face, Russetfur told her that she could do what she wanted today, as long as it was in compliance with the warrior code. “But first you better groom yourself. When you don’t groom your fur looks as if lightning hit you.” teased Russetfur in a good natured way, nudging her apprentices flank. She watched Ravenpaw dash away to the apprentice’s den to wash, than turned away: She had something to ask Blackstar, for she had just remembered that he had asked for Rowanclaw on the day the little kit arrived. She walked up to his den and called, and upon receiving word to come in she directed the question of Rowanclaw at Blackstar. “Aw.” said Blackstar. “I wanted him to bring Tallpoppy some fresh kill.”
* * *
Ravenpaw had finished grooming herself and had just stepped outside the apprentices den when she was met by a very clean Talonpaw. “Hi Ravenpaw.” He meowed, somewhat shyly. “D you want to go hunting with me?” He scuffled his paws on the earth, though he looked into her eyes with determination and friendliness. Ravenpaw’s breath caught in her throat, for no one had ever asked her to go hunting before. “Yes.” She said. “But I warn you, I am a dismal hunter, and if you laugh at me and not with me, I will claw you with my tongue. You have been warned.” Her eyes sparkled impishly, for she would only carry out half the threat. Talonpaw saw this in her eyes, and though he was not sure if she was not a dismal hunter or not, but promised himself that he would try to hide his amusement as ling as she was not amused. She had begun to trot out of camp, and he followed her, having to trot fairly quickly to keep up, for she seemed to trot faster than most cats. Soon they were racing through the forest, paws skimming the ground, but only just. Suddenly, Ravenpaw skidded to a halt, nearly causing Talonpaw to crash into her. He was just lifting to his paws from skidding to a halt, when he saw her crouched upon the forest floor, her eyes fixed on a squirrel which was nibbling upon an acorn. Slowly, slowly, she crept up upon it her tail tip twitching. Than, she pounced! But her left hind paw caught a stick, and she crashed flat on her belly to the forest floor, winded. The squirrel raced up a tall thick tree, and began to chatter down at Ravenpaw from a high branch. Ravenpaw sprung to her paws and leapt at the tree, fully intent on going after the squirrel. But her paws hit the trunk wrong, causing her to flip over and end up on her back. Such a flurry of curses Talonpaw heard, some he had never even herd before. He had seen her try: But she must have tried to hard. Helping her to her paws, he assured her that the next prey would go much better. But on the next stalk, a mouse, she sprang from the forest floor, and ended up doing a complete flip, landing winded on her belly. She was just as she had told him: A dismal hunter. But, despite this she was good company, fun to be around and with. By they time they came upon a gopher hole, her humor was much improved. Gesturing to him to be quiet, she snuck up to the gopher hole, and after staring at it for a long time, stuck her paw down into it. Talonpaw was begging to wonder what the point of this was, when he heard sounds of a scuffle near the gopher hole. Ravenpaw had managed to pull out a large, very fat gopher, and was busy wearing it down so she could finish it off. After a long battle in which she skillfully avoided to gopher’s sharp teeth, she finished it off with a savage paw cuff. It was the first fresh-kill she had ever caught, and on the way back to camp her eyes shown with pride and pleasure. Let everyone else catch squirrels and mice: She had her gopher.
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Russetfur was sunning herself after a boarder patrol when the two apprentices returned from there voluntary hunting patrol, Talonpaw carrying a mouthful of prey. But what shocked Russetfur most was that Ravenpaw was carrying an over sized gopher in her teeth, and with an expression on her face that she would only have if she had caught it herself. Russetfur’s whiskers curled in enjoyment: Maybe she just needed to find her own style of hunting.


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Russetfur was grooming herself just outside the camp entrance, her tongue running over her ginger fur with careful strokes. She had sent Ravenpaw off to explore the forest after hunting with her. Although she had only caught a scrawny mouse which had been too weak to escape Russetfur had noticed an improvement in her apprentices hunting. She lifted her legs higher when she pounced, and although it gave her the appearance of a fox pouncing, she seemed to have a better success rate. Than they had gone of for battle practice, in which she had become almost superior to Russetfur. There was little doubt that her future was in battle. Russetfur finished her wash: She had nothing else to do, so she would see what Ravenpaw was up to. Getting to her paws she sniffed the entrance to camp to find her apprentices scent, and finding it set off into the forest. Ravenpaw’s scent zagged through the forest, heading one way, than abruptly changing in a different direction. At last Russetfur found the scent holding in a straighter line than it had been, and followed it, where it led towards a pool that Ravenpaw liked to visit in her free time. Coming nearer to it, she herd a voice: It was Ravenpaws, but it wasn’t in a tone she used for speaking. It was more like a melody, and there were sometimes pauses imbedded in it. Coming nearer still, Russetfur heard there words repeated in the melody like style.
Sometimes I can’t put up with
Being so put down
And all my faith can manage
Is the shadow of a frown
My souls about to break
There’s only one escape

I look at you
When the world is full of lies
I look at you
And the truth is in your eyes
I look at you
When I lay me down at night
And I want to see a dream come true
I look at you
And I know I’ve got it all
You touch my hand
And the burdens start to fall
You ease my troubled mind
I love you more each time I look at you

You know some days I’m tempted
To run away and hide
Cause I can’t miss the bad luck
That’s falling from the sky
I’m under some dark cloud
There’s only one way out

I look at you
When the world is full of lies
I look at you
And the truth is in your eyes
I look at you
When I lay me down at night
And I want to see a dream come true
I look at you
And I know I’ve got it all
You touch my hand
And the burdens start to fall
You ease my troubled mind
I love you more each time I look at you

I look at you
And I know I’ve got it all
You touch my hand
And the burdens start to fall
You ease my troubled mind
I love you more each time I look at you

The melody ended, and Russetfur stepped forward. “That was quite something there. What is it?” Ravenpaw jumped, and with a slightly guilty look on her face. “It’s called singing.” she mewed quietly. “I don’t know how I know how to sing, but I do.” She looked at the ground, her ears twitching in embarrassment. Russetfur considered her apprentice for a moment: There was something about her that she couldn’t fathom, something that no other cat had. She was not sure that singing was even cat. But Ravenpaw had a look of joy on her face as she sang: It didn’t seem harmful, so she supposed she could continue. “That’s a wonderful thing. You may continue to, as there is no harm.” She watched a look of incredible delight cross her apprentices face. Turning around, Russetfur left the only one she loved to sing to her hearts content.