Is anyone out there?

[crowstream]

Crowpaw sat quietly on the boarder, her tail twitching back and forward. She was hungry, having not eaten since that morning, but dared not hunt on someone else's territory. A mouse scampered over the grass in front of her, and she stiffened, forcing herself not to drop into a hunters crouch.

As she waited for the fall of paw steps in the foliage, she reminded herself that these were the clan cats that hated intruders in their territories. It was unlikely that she would be greeted with a purr and open paws.

Finally her patience payed off. Paw steps crept closer, hushed, as if hunting. She knew not to disturb them, in the chance that she would frighten off the prey, but her heart skipped a beat. Perhaps she could join this clan today after all.

Crowpaw rose to her feet as the foot falls drew closer. She braced herself for a whole battle-ready patrol, but there were not enough scents for that.

[Onyxdart]

Deepcreek was in full hunting mode, though the others' paw steps were louder in her ears than her own. She smelled another cat, and stood up, stepping from the bushes.

"Not another one. Starclan, why?" she asked after seeing the newcomer.

"This is Risingclan. If you want to talk to Kestrel, follow us, otherwise, get movin' off," she said with a business-like kind of attitude. She could smell nothing but rogue on this one, either.

This was turning into quite the party, she thought to herself. She'd never liked parties.

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[crowstream]

Crowpaw jumped slightly at the new voice, and whirled in her spot.

"Kestrel?" she asked quietly. "Is that your leader? If so, then yes, I'd like to speak with her. I apologize, is that a problem?"

She sat back on her paws, inspecting the cats critically. The older cat was hunting obviously, and the three others seemed lost.

"Forgive me, but who are you?"

[Onyxdart]

Deepcreek was examining the other cat at least as critically as she was being examined. She snorted softly. From now on, the first thing she asked anyone was who they were. Honestly, people showing up and demanding names when they were the intruder.

"I think that's for me to ask first, you being the one intruding on my Clan's territory, but I'll let it slide... I guess," she commented, "I'm Deepcreek. Kestrel is the leader, and it's not a problem, but there's three ahead of you." She swiveled her ears around as she listened to everything else around, hoping no one else was going to show up, and that the four already here would not cause any problems.

[/center][/size]

[crowstream]

Crowpaw bowed her head, feeling slightly ashamed.

"Oh, yes. You are right! I should have introduced myself first, but that was an opportunity that came and faded. I am Crowpaw. Forgive me for my blunt rudeness!"

She stood firmly against the warrior's scrutinizing gaze, not daring to shrink or show any sign of weakness, in the slight chance that this Deepcreek person would find the fact that she was trespassing infuriating. She was prepared to fight her, but would prefer not to. To add to that, there were the three cats behind her, who looked new, but could possibly come to the warrior's aid if she needed. Four against one hardly seemed in her favor, and Crowpaw had come in peace, not looking for a fight.

She sat down silently, her icy-calm gaze fixed on the other cats. If they were indeed hunting, then perhaps they could use her help. She would prefer not to be so bold as to ask, but instead inquire and prod ever so gently until they asked of their own accord she finished in meek silence.

And then came the small issue of joining the clan- whether or not there was a slight possibility of that was still questionable. Deepcreek seemed none too pleased at all the intruders, and personally, Crowpaw couldn't blame her! She hoped quietly that she would not get in trouble with her leader

[Onyxdart]

Deepcreek tilted her head to the side, her omnipresent glare fading just a little bit as she mentally rolled her eyes again. Perhaps this other could join their little hunting party. And, since she would hopefully be no more in trouble for adding another intruder to their number, maybe it'd be alright.

Haha.

"Forgiven. But I have to ask that you at least help us hunt for the clan. I'll explain to Kestrel and take the fault for this nonsense, since it's my fault, but it will probably go easier for everyone if we bring back food," she admitted, her tail flicking uneasily. She didn't like being in trouble, and the last person she wanted to irritate just now was Kestrel.

[/center][/size]

[crowstream]

Crowpaw nodded slowly, feeling a blunt flare of success.

"Of course," she meowed. "I completely understand. I will help."

She rose to her feet, shooting a glance at the three cats behind her.
They looked right back. So she was right- these cats weren't part of the clan either. And this Kestrel... She seemed like the brave, kind-hearted sort of cat that wouldn't take any nonsense. Crowpaw almost pitied her; caring for an entire Clan seemed like it would be quite difficult.

"Where should I begin?" she asked, rising to her feet. She would hunt- and she would do a good job at it!
======================
Moss stared uncomfortably at Crowpaw. Her cold blue gaze made her pelt prickle, but Deepcreek seemed to trust her, so it was obvious she wasn't from an enemy Clan. Moss was glad of that, but wasn't sure she quite trusted the gray and white cat.

She glanced uneasily at Deepcreek and followed as she padded away for hunting.

[Onyxdart]

Well, at least they were being helpful. Deepcreek flicked her tail for the others to follow again, stepping away from the border. There was better hunting just a few yards further inside the border.

"You begin- all of you- by keeping out of everyone else's way. Don't go further into the territory if you can help it, or too far away from me in case any others come out here. You don't want to be caught hunting without me nearby, so act accordingly," she said, and stuck her nose in the air, mouth open and scenting the air, ears cocked forward or swiveling around. It smelled like there were a good few rodents and things around.

She crouched down and crept forward on her belly. She was aiming for a bird, a big fat one, that she smelled perched in some tall grass further ahead. Probably a robin, she thought, or maybe a meadowlark.

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[crowstream]

Moss crept forward, her ears pricked. There! Just a few tail-lengths away, a squirrel sat nibbling in the grass. Moss wasn't particularly fond of squirrels, but this wasn't for her. She leaped and caught it, killing it before it could scream. There was lots of prey, the abundance of it was surprising.

But then again, it is newleaf! she thought, sniffing for more prey. She stopped short, staring down at Broken in surprise.

"Um... I'm Moss!" She started, looking for a way to explain her longing to join RisingClan. "My friend always talked about the Clan cats and how much he wanted to join them. The day he decided to actually go and request it, he was murdered. I am here in his place..." She trailed off, her eyes shadowing with grief.

Then she smiled, flicking Broken's shoulder with her tail.
"What about you?"

===================
Crowpaw watched the two cats with little interest. She had already caught a lark, a mouse, and she was moving to catch a thrush when the squeaky voice of Broken had distracted her.

What are my reasons for joining the Clan, thought Crowpaw, turning her attention back to hunting.
I suppose it was my disgust with that vile place, and all the foul cats!

Not that it mattered much. Cats were pretty much the same everywhere (at least in Crowpaw's perspective). She could only hope that these "Clan cats" were better mannered than the rogues were.

She caught a sparrow before glancing around for Deepcreek. They had each caught a large amount of prey, and she was anxious to go to the camp and speak with this "Kestrel" person.

[yellowfang0039]

The kit watched the 3 cats. He crept behind them and finally hearing the name of Rising Clan's leader stepped out of the undergrowth. he turned to the one called Deepcreek. "I wish to be accepted into your clan." His eyes were unfathomable accept for fleeting traces of hope and joy at the thought of having a home. Sure she didn't see his soaring spirits, his head lowered and his eyes dulled. "Please." he mumbled.

[Onyxdart]

Deepcreek was waiting for everyone else to get back, but she was about to leave without anyone who wasn't here in exactly five seconds flat. She'd found a big deciduous tree leaf which her freshly killed prey were on, and at least two of the others had also been successful. She smiled, just ever so slightly.

Then it vanished.

"Not... another one," she groaned, looking pitiful for a moment before she plopped down on her haunches and threw her head back to glare at the sky. Someone up there had it in for her. They were probably laughing at her. She smirked for their benefit and turned back to the youngster.

"You'll have to speak to Kestrel. You and everyone else within at least ten miles of this place," she said, her voice way too cheery to be sincere.

"The rest o'ya get over here! We're going back!," she yowled loud enough to be heard. She would give them a couple of minutes, and then they were leaving. Clearly, this was her punishment for sneaking off to the borders without permission.

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[crowstream]

Moss bounded to Deepcreek's side.
"Back to your camp?" she asked, her voice rising to a squeak. Her whiskers twitched in excitement, though she stopped herself from springing to her feet. She had lay the prey she had caught on the leaf, and was somewhat proud of the extent of how much she had killed. Kestrel couldn't have a problem now, right?
"Do... do you think I'll be able to join you?" she asked uncertainly, shuffling her paws slightly.

[Onyxdart]

Deepcreek looked at Moss, letting the younger she-cat squirm for a second because the enthusiasm did the tired warrior some good to see.

"I really don't know. Suppose it's worth a try though. Worst she can do is tell you no, and if she does, there are other clans," she said meditatively. Like as not, Kestrel'd accept them and then quietly and thoroughly verbally or physically take Deepcreek's ears to ribbons for leading a whole troupe of youngsters of various ages to their doorsteps when the last thing they needed was more chaos.

Or maybe she was not giving Kestrel credit. The leader was no ogre, after all, and Deepcreek had to give her that. Deepcreek liked her leader, and her clan, which was possibly why she was in such a pother over the whole stupid situation.

[/center][/size]

[crowstream]

Moss watched Deepcreek's expression speculatively, and decided that she rather liked the she-cat.

"You won't get in too much trouble, will you?"

It was then that Moss decided that if she gained membership with the Clan, she would do anything in her power to help with everything. She would hunt like many cats, fight to defend her boarders, and, if possible, create a friendship with Deepcreek! Maybe she could even be her mentor!

"I don't want to seem rude, but do you have an apprentice?"

[Onyxdart]

Deepcreek grinned at Moss, and shook her head.

"No, I probably will not get in too much trouble. There's several of us without apprentices, I think. I'm sure I can't be the only one," she said, trailing off into thought. Who else didn't have apprentices?

There were also more kits back at camp who would soon be apprentices, which meant things were shortly going to get very busy indeed. She wrinkled her nose a little, because she liked peace and quiet. Then again, if all the apprentices hunted like these youngsters she'd found, it might not be as bad a thing.

"Hmmmm," she said out loud, although she hadn't really intended to. That kind of thing tended to confuse people.

[/center][/size]

[crowstream]

Moss gazed at Deepcreek for a moment before shrugging and taking a small step forward.

"Um..." she started, but stopped. She was anxious to get to the camp; anxious to see where her fate would take her, but she didn't want to pry. Deepcreek would take them in her own time!

A smile flashed across her face.

"We could probably get more prey on the way, right? I'll do my very best to stack the leaf high!" Her tail lashed enthusiastically, and she did a little hop, tumbling backwards over Deepcreek's paws.

"Whoops," she said sheepishly, glancing up at her. "Sorry."

[Onyxdart]

Deepcreek smiled a little bit at the enthusiasm. This was probably enough freshkill, even if they didn't catch any more on the way back.

"Yeah, let's go. If you must hunt, don't get too far ahead or behind or anything," she said, and took her own freshkill in its leaf in her mouth to drag it along. She flirted her tail at the others and set off through the brush, her nose in the air as she smelled her way back to camp.

[/center][/size]

[crowstream]

Moss nodded and bounded a few paces forward. Almost immediately she dropped into a crouch. Disappearing for a moment, feathers exploded into the air. She had caught a sparrow. Smiling triumphantly, she padded over to Deepcreek.

"Are we close?" she asked, her voice bouncing in excitement.

Ooc:// *she sighs* Shall we ever get to the camp to ask Kest? Sorry, I'm just complaining... XD

[yellowfang0039]

Once again broken had fallen behind. He bounded until he could see Deepcreek's butt on the horizon. He stopped for a bit and started running again. He ran until he was at Moss's side. "H-h-hey! Why'd you leave me there?" he panted "I-I only wanted to stop for a minute."

[bluestar0010]

Charity watched Broken and the others. "Hey! I wanna join too!"
she stepped out of the grass and presented herself grandly. "I'm Charity."