Hello? (Open)

[Brambleclaw]

Rootpaw hobbled into the empty den. He felt a tear roll slowly down his cheek, hitting the earthy floor. He called out for a cat, any cat, but received no reply. He, still letting silent tears fall, curled up in his nest.
"StarClan, take me now. I am of no further use to my Clan."


Rootpaw awoke in a small clearing. All around him, the stars twinkled. They seemed close enough to touch. But Rootpaw was all alone. Have StarClan abandoned me? He began to feel uncomfortable. Many stares seemed to burn into his fur. And suddenly, he was awake. And, looking up, he saw a pair of eyes glued onto him...

[Snowy]

The stench of herbs trounced Snowlily's nosetrills. She was used to the smell, having beared it countless times before. Eventually, the fragrance of ShadowClan became abundant and surmounted that of the seedlings. The she-cat felt welcomed by the warmness of her den and by the obnoxious {inmensively alluring to her} aroma of plants and ShadowClanners. Snowlily could hear the wind blow steadily across the forest. Rabbits and other creatures rustled distractedly in the gross and the sun was now low in the sky. Brilliant colors starting to emerge. Vibrants oranges and glaring yellows, coupled with deep reds. A dense, dark blue touched the horizon that reminded the she-cat that she was home. Home. A term she had not used in a very long time. But in ShadowClan, she was home.

As Snowlily went deeper into her den, little did she notice Rootpaw's precense. She came out a long time later, exhaling her happiness. Then, concealed by the brambles of his nest, she noticed her apprentice had been there all along but she had been too blind to notice. 'Oh Rootpaw, sweetheart' Snowlily instantly exclaimed and meandered to the heap of fur. 'Good afternoon. Sorry for not saluting you earlier. You were so hiden I could barely discern you! What troubles you?'

[Brambleclaw]

OOC - I was waiting for you, Snow, but I'll go ahead with the plot. Post soon!



The eyes remained locked upon the apprentice. Without making the slightest of sounds he gingerly picked up his tail and pointed at the eyes. They blinked, and remained unmoving. Suddenly, the thing turned to leave.
"I'm staring into space, like usual. I don't like being blind, I really don't." Rootpaw heard the rustle of leaves as the creature remained.
"I just thought I'd heard something, but I hadn't." What the pair of eyes never saw was how wide Rootpaw's own had grown now. He was staring like a wild beast, frantically mouthing help to his mentor. The eyes remained unchanged. He glanced back, call again. As he did, the wind changed, and a new scent flooded him. Canyonpaw! Rootpaw froze.
"Canyonpaw?"



Canyonpaw noticed his brother through the thick clumps that tickled his fur. He must've seen me... And he isn't blind! Unless he had an accident while I was gone. He watched intently, sure that he was hidden. But suddenly, a wind buffeted his fur. Shoot! Move! But his fur snagged in the brush.
"Canyonpaw?" He never heard, but saw perfectly well how the words formed on his brother's lips. As this happened, he managed to free himself from the brush and pelted away.



Rootpaw watched his brother vanish, never knowing his struggle. Rootpaw darted in after him, wanting to know why he had spied. He raced away, leaving his mentor behind, and a thin trail of dust in his path. Soon, however, he reached dense bog. Canyonpaw struggled, he was not used to the thick marshes. Rootpaw abounded them with ease, however, and had soon caught his brother. Canyonpaw turned, and as Rootpaw prepared to speak, lunged.



Canyonpaw felt himself panic. The one thing never to do, but he was. How would this roll over with the SilenceClanners? They mustn't be pleased! He raced off faster, yet it was to no avail. He flopped into a thick puddle, and only stood to see his brother on his heels. He sped away again, but soon was caught. Flicking himself around, he knew immediately what to do. He'd have to attack. He leaped, clearing the distance in a power, single bound. Landing atop a pile of brown fur, he felt his brother give way beneath him.



Rootpaw felt the crushing weight of his massive brother. He tried to remain stable, yet it was no use. His stump slid from beneath him with no real control. A gust of air escaped the cat's lungs, and he was crushed helplessly by his brother. Next he could feel was all the anger pulsing as Canyonpaw sunk his claws deep into his brother's flesh. Rootpaw didn't fight back.



Are you too weak? Too scared? A chicken? Bok, bok bok! Idiot, get up and fight like a real warrior! The thoughts raced menacingly through Canyonpaw's head. He growled, wishing to say them to his idiot brother. No, not brother, bother. He knew that this was no family of his. Wimp was not grown here. Only pure blood of strength and ferocity. Rootpaw was just lying like a dog. Canyonpaw dug deeper with his claws. Move! He wanted to cry, feeling his eyes turn hot.



Rootpaw had not given up. Only played at it. The dawn sun began to stream onto the land, and as Rootpaw sunk deep into the earth, he felt as if StarClan were no longer looking to him. Do they also think I have given up? Rootpaw winced as the pain grew more intense. Suddenly, it was excruciating. Teeth met his scruff, and blood ran hot down Rootpaw's shoulders. Not only blood, but water.



Canyonpaw felt a tear slither from his eye, down to his brother's bloodied pelt. He bit harder, blood welling from the wound. The sound of approaching cats made him stop. He released his brother, turning and walking slowly away. Soon he was out of the territory, Fourtrees looming over him like unhappy spirits. Head hung low, Canyonpaw glanced up to the heavens and the remaining few stars. One twinkled brightly.
"Rootpaw, I am sorry." The words, Canyonpaw's first, echoed silently through the trees, absorbed into the bark. The ShadowClanner tree, most of all, seemed to glow with unnatural dawn light...

[Brambleclaw]

((BUMP))