under.the.influence {{Dragonstar}}

[~All I Need]

.hold on to me love.
.you know i can't stay long.
.all i wanted to say was i love you and i'm not afraid.
.can you hear me.
.can you feel me in your arms.[/color]

Though sunlight filtered through the skeletal branches that intertwined in the sky, the sun itself was a pale, watery disk that seemed to have no light to it. Birds sang with the cheer of a welcome and the snow underfoot was crisp and refreshing. Even the scent of snow was sharp and cold. But it was enjoyable. Much like everything around the river. Around home.
Honeystripe padded alongside Dragonstar. Already, the medicine cat enjoyed her leader's company. He was a calm, gentle sort that seemed impervious by her scream spells. There was never a time when any other cat didn't yell at her to shut up and keep quiet. Most didn't have the patience to keep nerves with the fearful she-cat. Except Dragonstar and Tigerpaw...
Her golden eyes were two citris gems under the light. The small, delicate cat closed her eyes in bliss and tilted her head towards the sun. This life was perfect for her. Nothing could ruin it. Nothing.

.holding my last breath.
.safe inside myself.
.are all my thoughts of you.
.sweet raptured light it ends here tonight.[/color][/b]

{{Lyrics from My Last Breath by Evanescence}}

[Dragonstar :: Doodle]

[glow=red,2,300]((Sorry for the late reply my computer decided that everytime I wrote a post it would close down on me, I swear I've written this post about 3 times already))

Dragonstar looked over at Honeystripe striding through the forest at his side, "You didn't have to disapoint Wildpaw so much, we could have taken her along and then sent her off to collect some herbs a little while away so we could talk." He meowed this in a understanding tone as he realised that she had thought he had forgotten about her first prophecy. He let out a long sigh, his breath creating mist in the air, as it was quite a cold day. "Its just that I haven't given her a mentor yet and I think she needs something to do, I suppose I'll take her on a patrol later to make up for it." As he said this Dragonstar realised that he would like to have an apprentice, after all he hadn't had one since he became leader. I think I'll mentor Wildpaw. He thought. Yes I'd enjoy that He smiled as he looked around him. Nature is so very beautiful, the way the light hits the newly opened leaves and continues through to create the dappled shadows flickering through the forest floor. I could never bare being a kittypet, they are locked up indoors for ages, without being able to look up at the brilliant blue sky which goes on forever, without freedom. I feel rather poetic. He thought laughing silently at himself his eyes lightening to jade and sparkling with joy at his surroundings. [/glow]

[~All I Need]

.hold on to me love.
.you know i can't stay long.
.all i wanted to say was i love you and i'm not afraid.
.can you hear me.
.can you feel me in your arms.[/color][/b]

Honeystripe hadn't felt so content since--well, since never. She had been raised and fed off of hate and death. Some thought they had it bad, and some may have had it worse than Honeystripe, but hardly any could call in with what the she-cat had been born to. She had been born into a cult of murderers. And her sweet facade didn't really help with the whole "eat or be eaten" moral.
[glow=red,2,000]"You didn't have to disapoint Wildpaw so much, we could have taken her along and then sent her off to collect some herbs a little while away so we could talk. It's just that I haven't given her a mentor yet and I think she needs something to do, I suppose I'll take her on a patrol later to make up for it."

[/color][/glow]
Honeystripe closed her golden eyes and nodded, her head still tilted towards the sun. A wren spewed a stream of notes and she listened to it with relish. Beauty came to the medicine cat in all forms. It came in the frost, the way it formed patterns indescribable. It sang to her in the wind as it effortlessly passed through the trees. This life was beautiful and immortal. Honeystripe was going to make sure she was remembered and that her newfound world wouldn't be destroyed. She won't let it happen.
"I know. And I do feel guilty for pushing her away like that. But... But there are many important matters to discuss. Speaking of apprenitces and mentors, what about the ones that deserve to be apprenticed?" She turned to Dragonstar. "And when I say this, I'm thinking of Silentkit. She should be a warrior by now, but she's still stuck in the nursery. She may not be able to talk, but it's plan to see that she has a mind of her own and doesn't need to be held back for no apparent reason. Then... There's what I saw last night at the medicine cat meeting..."[/color] She swallowed and glanced at Dragonstar out of the corner of her eye. Would he believe her? Or would he just say she's insane like the rest? There was only one way to find out...
"StarClan came to me and..."[/color] Was she to tell the RiverClan leader that she didn't see Lilyfeather there? She had to get that out of the way. "And I didn't see Lilyfeather among their ranks. Either she's alive or... Never mind that. But they spoke to me and that danger is coming... Also, they said that the medicine cats would be needed in a time such a this. You--the leaders--will need our help and our advice. After all, we are guided by the stars."[/color][/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

.holding my last breath.
.safe inside myself.
.are all my thoughts of you.
.sweet raptured light it ends here tonight.[/color][/size]

{{Lyrics from My Last Breath by Evanescence}}

[Dragonstar :: Doodle]

[glow=red,2,300]As Dragonstar processed Honeystripe's words he seemed to be going in slow motion. "I will give Silentkit a mentor at the next cerenomy, I feel really bad about..." Then it clicked into place. "Danger!" He meowed worry creeping into his voice. "Did they give you any clues as to what the danger is?" He asked urgently, his brain suddenly going into overdrive as he thought of the consequences of Honeystripe's words. What can I do? His brain repeated the words over and over again. Then a new thought broke through and his eyes flashed with determination. I must protect the clan. "Were there any instructions for me or the other caln leaders or was this just a warning?" He asked more calmly, determined to find out as much as possible. His bright emerald eyes focused on his medicine cat's face as he waited for her answers to his queries. They showed his trust in her as well as understanding of the burden she carried as medicine cat and that ever present determination to protect his clan from danger. [/glow]

[~All I Need]

.hold on to me love.
.you know i can't stay long.
.all i wanted to say was i love you and i'm not afraid.
.can you hear me.
.can you feel me in your arms.[/color][/b]

The she-cat wasn't expecting her leader's worried questions. Honeystripe had expected a noble, calm reply out of Dragonstar. But she got quite the opposite. The RiverClan leader seemed to be panicking, almost. The brown and golden tabby worried that Dragonstar might lose it.
[glow=red,2,000]"I will give Silentkit a mentor at the next cerenomy, I feel really bad about... Danger! Did they give you any clues as to what the danger is? Were there any instructions for me or the other clan leaders or was this just a warning?"

[/i][/glow]
The RiverClan medicine cat sighed and stopped. So that she could talk to Dragonstar more efficiently. Her citrine eyes narrowed and looked up into his open, determined face. Unfortunately, she could barely answer any of his questions. That made her feel like an inadaquete medicine cat.
"No, they didn't give me any clues. All they said was that trouble was afoot and that the Clans were going to enter a dark time in our lives. I believe that they were going to tell me something else, but we all woke before they could tell us anything more. I'm sorry, Dragonstar..."[/color][/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

.holding my last breath.
.safe inside myself.
.are all my thoughts of you.
.sweet raptured light it ends here tonight.

{{Lyrics from My Last Breath by Evanescence}}[/size]

[Dragonstar :: Doodle]

[glow=red,2,300]Seeing Honeystripe seemed disappointed in herself, Dragonstar immediately realised that she needed reassuring. His eyes became steady, even and determind all signs of worry wiped out of his face apart from the tiny crease on his forehead, but that was a normal occurrance for a leader. He had quickly realised that his job was to stay outwardly calm and in control, no matter what his real feelings were, otherwise his clan would panic. I can do this. He told himself. He turned his head slightly so that he met Honeystripes's eyes. "Thank you for telling me." He meowed seriously. "For the moment don't tell anyone else in the clan, we don't want to cause uneccessary panic, but keep your eyes open and if you get any more warnings or see anything suspicious tell me."

Dragonstar looked around him at the first signs of newleaf, the new buds on the trees, the clear blue sky and the birds and their sweet melodies. How could something bad happen now? He asked himself. But I musn't get complacent because of the nice weather. He laughed sliently at himself and a faint smile touched his face. I'm being ridiculous, just because the forest looks beautiful with the coming of newleaf, it can still contain danger. He shivered suddenly feeling a chill as he thought of the terrible warning. I have always wished that a crisis wouldn't come, that I wouldn't have to face an uncertain future. A small sigh escaped him, then his face hardened. But I WILL get my clan through this, no matter what it takes. [/glow]

[~All I Need]

.hold on to me love.
.you know i can't stay long.
.all i wanted to say was i love you and i'm not afraid.
.can you hear me.
.can you feel me in your arms.[/color][/b]

The medicine cat watched all worry disappear from Dragonstar's face. His frown became a steady, tight line and the lines around his eyes smoothed out and straightened out altogether. Honeystripe had learned to read other's expressions. Though Dragonstar was acting as if he was calm, she could tell he still was feeling the pressure. She was glad she wasn't under the influence of such responsibilities.
[glow=red,2,000]"Thank you for telling me. For the moment don't tell anyone else in the clan, we don't want to cause uneccessary panic, but keep your eyes open and if you get any more warnings or see anything suspicious tell me."[/glow]
Honeystripe nodded and looked up at the sky again. Only a small gap showed through the leafy canopy that had already sprung out of winter's grasp. Like Dragonstar, Honeystripe couldn't actually believe something bad could happen so quickly after the war with the Night. If only life could stay peaceful.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

.holding my last breath.
.safe inside myself.
.are all my thoughts of you.
.sweet raptured light it ends here tonight.

{{Lyrics from My Last Breath by Evanescence}}

[Dragonstar :: Doodle]

[glow=red,2,300]Dragonstar smiled at Honeystripe. "So what herbs are we looking for?" He asked as they continued through the forest, sticks crackling under their paws as the two cats picked their way across the forest floor. Every so often there was a shaft of light and the welcome warmth of the sun across Dragonstar's orange tabby pelt almost made him purr with happiness, but everytime his thoughts trailed back to Honeystripe's warning and the forest seemed darker and less welcoming, every shadow an enemy. [/glow]

[~All I Need]

.hold on to me love.
.you know i can't stay long.
.all i wanted to say was i love you and i'm not afraid.
.can you hear me.
.can you feel me in your arms.[/color][/b]

Honeystripe followed Dragonstar hesitantly. His all of a sudden cheery mood unnerved her some. When she found out, the medicine cat almost jumped out of her skin with fear and apprehension. Panic was the last thing the Clans needed, but basking in the sunlight wasn't needed, either. Did Dragonstar really understand what was going to happen? Or was this all just a facade so that no one would freak out?
[glow=red,2,000]"So what herbs are we looking for?" [/glow]
The tabby bit her bottom lip and chewed on it for a moment. The leaves whispered and the river to her left cackled jovially. A ray of sunlight beamed down and hit her pelt, turning it into golden fire. Her white paws glittered and her eyes were luminous. Many wondered why the she-cat never took up a mate. Well, Honeystripe jsut didn't want anyone that she loved to get hurt. In case the Seven Sins ever came back. Even after they've all died and when there's no shadow of a doubt that they'll hurt her, Honeystripe knew that she will always live in fear.
"Well... We need catmint. Some of the younger apprentices were complaining about coughing. Um... Juniper berries and burdock root. We've run quite low on those supplies. I can't think of anything else, can you? And hope, she added silently.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

.holding my last breath.
.safe inside myself.
.are all my thoughts of you.
.sweet raptured light it ends here tonight.

{{Lyrics from My Last Breath by Evanescence}}

[Dragonstar :: Doodle]

[glow=red,2,300]"I'm sure you've thought of everything." Dragonstar smiled reasurringly, but not patronisingly at his medicine cat. "So what exactly am I looking for, I was much too busy as an apprentice learning to hunt and fight and my knowledgeof herbs is slight to say the least. Perhaps I should learn a bit..." He mewed carefully, his thoughts on the coming danger, any knowledge of herbs could be useful if there was fighting... His thoughts trailed off as he wondered at the connatations of his thoughts, if there was fighting then some of his clan could be killed. I must avoid that at any cost, he thought to himself, he had always been the sort of cat who knew that although fighting is sometimes necessary he would prefer to sort quarrells out with words rather than injuries. [/glow]

[~All I Need]

.hold on to me love.
.you know i can't stay long.
.all i wanted to say was i love you and i'm not afraid.
.can you hear me.
.can you feel me in your arms.[/color][/b]

[glow=red,2,000]"I'm sure you've thought of everything. So what exactly am I looking for, I was much too busy as an apprentice learning to hunt and fight and my knowledgeof herbs is slight to say the least. Perhaps I should learn a bit..."

[/color][/glow]
Honeystripe looked sideways at the RiverClan leader. She hoped she thought of everything. If not, then... Well, they were all in trouble. The she-cat couldn't help but keep going back to the problem that loomed in her mind. What if she couldn't fufill her job as medicine cat? The tabby shook this out of her mind and turned in the direction of the twoleg nests. They would first find catmint. Since winter was melting away, it wold be pretty smart to go ahead and look for catmint.
"We'll first start off with finding catmint,"[/color] the she-cat mewed slowly to herself and to Dragonstar. "It's usually found in twoleg gardens. We need that most... It would be interesting to teach you some herbs and remedies. We might need more help whenever this danger comes closer. But I'll have to stock up on anything. StarClan could have meant a natural catastrophe, sickness or disease, or a war. If you'd like, I'll start teaching you some medicine cat techniques tomorrow."[/color][/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

.holding my last breath.
.safe inside myself.
.are all my thoughts of you.
.sweet raptured light it ends here tonight.[/color]

{{Lyrics from My Last Breath by Evanescence}}[/size]

[Dragonstar :: Doodle]

[glow=red,2,300]Dragonstar's eyes brightened to a emerald green that shone with an almost kit-like excitement. He had always liked learning new things and it would be nice to be with someone who knew at least some of his worries, he had always believed in the old saying that a problem shared is a problem halved and he didn't have to worry about worrying the rest of the clan. "I'd like that." He answered Honeystripe with a small smile tucked into the corners of his mouth. Then he actually thought about what he was agreeing to, he knew he would enjoy it, but he realised that it wasn't the most sensible thing. If there was a crisis he would need to be organising the clan and would not be able to help Honeystripe. Honeystripe did have an apprentice however and he would have a better idea of how to make Honeystripe's job easier if he knew the basics of her craft.

Dragonstar found he was enjoying their walk through the undergrowth, his paws barely making any noise as he slipped silently along the forest floor Honeystripe by his side their pelts filckering in the dappled shade. His face now had an innocent cast to it like an apprentice going to his first training session, at peace with the world and enjoying his experiences. He had to keep reminding himself that all was not well, he had to stay alert. [/glow]

[~All I Need]

{{Don't worry, it'll soon be over

[/color]}}
{{But my tortured soul will still linger[/color]}}[/font][/center]

The medicine cat was enjoying this walk even more than Dragonstar. A mockingbird sang in the distance, its unexpecting call ringing in the forest. Some bluebirds--including a crow--joined this chorus of nature. Honeystripe closed her eyes and let her white paws carry her over the ground, instinct taking over. The tip of her tail twitched to the offbeat of the song. A smile lifted the corners of her mouth and she purred in her throat. Immediatly, she started to dream...
The sun beamed down in golden rays as I walked along the horizon. Trees seemed to dance in the thrashing wind but barely a thread of hair moved on my pelt. In this moment I was whole and sane again. Still untainted by the darkness in this world.
Soon, I came upon a river. Not the one in ThunderClan, but a creek in a far off land. Lilies and forget-me-knots grew along the banks. The sand underneath was soft and white, glittering in the afternoon light. I felt much younger, still a kit. If only I could have stayed here forever, never returning to RiverClan. I could leave all of my worries and responsibilities behind and float forever in bliss... But I can't...
The brown and golden tabby blinked her eyes and returned back to the normal world. A world without pure bliss and innocence. Honeystripe was back where she had to stay.
But the song of the birds was still going and the she-cat laughed at her stupidity--her clear voice chiming like a bell. Oh, even bliss was present here. For the first time in moons--in the stature of time--Honeystripe smiled and laughed, going with the flow of life.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

{{Holding my last breath

[/color]}}
{{Safe inside myself[/color]}}[/center]

[☼ Wildpaw ~ Jade ☼]

[glow=purple,5,300]Wildpaw stalked through the foliage about 3 rabbit hops away from the river, and 2 tails lengths from Dragonstar and Honeystripe. She had gotten there right when Honeystripe had said she needed Juniper berries, but the two cats couldn't notice her because the reeds and bushes never even rustled, for she was catious with her movements. She couldn't count how many parts of the warrior code she was breaking. I can find those. she thought, and scented the air. The breeze was blowing in her face, away from the leader and medicine cat. Soon enough, she found the round purple berries she was looking for. She bit off the stems of the berries, and gathered the herbs by the stems in her mouth. She had about 6 berries. Carefully she climbed a tree, unseen, almost right beside the two cats. She spat out the stems, the berries bouncing and rolling, unbroken, infront of the patrol. She launched herself out of the tree, and steaked back to camp, splashing onto the island, and flopping down infront of the apprentices den to lick her paw to wash her face. Her heart thumped and pounded, and she prayed that they hadn't seen her.[/glow]

[Dragonstar :: Doodle]

[glow=red,2,300]Dragonstar continued to smile as they wondered through the forest watching the signs that newleaf had finally arrived. He had almost forgotten that they were looking for herbs when he notived some blue berries rolling and bouncing along the forest floor in front of him. He stopped suddenly, put his paw on one of the berries and turned to Honeystripe.

"Are these what we are looking for?" He asked his ears pricking as he wondered where the berries had come from, but he could not pick out any sounds that were out of the ordinary. We probably knocked the bush as we walked and they rolled off, he thought to himself. [/glow]

[~All I Need]

{{Don't worry, it'll soon be over

[/color]}}
{{But my tortured soul will still linger[/color]}}[/font][/right]

Honeystripe was drawn out of her laughter when she heard a rustling in the leaves above her. The tabby stopped and titled her head to look up into the tree. All she saw was the disturbance of glimmering leaves. But nothing else. A soft noise such as a plop! made the she-cat's eyes widen. Was the prophecized danger already coming? Though she didn't move into an attacking position, every muscle in Honeystripe's body tensed and rippled under her short pelt.
[glow=red,2,000]"Are these what we are looking for?"[/glow]
Blinking her eyes in confusion, the medicine cat slightly relaxed and padded forward to sniff the berries. Though a little bruised and crushed, they were juniper berries. But where had they come from? Oh well. The she-cat shrugged and looked up at Dragonstar.
"These are juniper berries. This is a start, but we need a lot more. Six berries won't do for another moon or two. We need a few more. Let's store these somewhere dry and search for catmint. We are almost to the twoleg gardens."

[/color] The she-cat mumbled as she picked the delicate berries up and plodded over to a fern cluster. Scratchy tendrils of foliage pricked her nose and made her whiskers twitch repeatedly. Good. This would be a nice place to store the juniper berries until they came back. No animal would want to go through the trouble of walking through ferns just to get at a few berries.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

{{Holding my last breath

[/color]}}
{{Safe inside myself[/color]}}[/right]

[Dragonstar :: Doodle]

[glow=red,2,300]Dragonstar copied Honeystripe's actions and collected the last of the berries gently but firmly and followed Honeystripe to the cluster of ferns, his paws crunching through the slightly wet undergrowth. I would find it difficult to hide in the undergrowth, he thought to himself, my fur is the wrong colour and a little too bright to diguise easily. Why am I even thinking about this? I suppose I'm always thinking about defence against what Starclan has warned us against, whatever that is.... His thoughts trailed off as he put down the berries and examined them for a second so that he would know what to look for. Then he padded his way out of the ichy undergrowth and started to stroll in the direction of the twoleg gardens. He stopped to listen for any clumsy twolegs stumbling around in the forest. His head swung to the right as he heard a disruption in the peaceful forest.
"Did you hear that?" He asked Honeystripe, his muscles tensed to return to the relative safety of the deeper undergrowth at the shortest notice. [/glow]

[~All I Need]

{{Don't worry, it'll soon be over

[/color]}}
{{But my tortured soul will still linger[/color]}}[/font][/center]

For once, Honeystripe did not return back into her shell of fear when Dragonstar tensed up. The she-cat was acting like the calm, established medicine cat that she was assigned. From the moment she came to the Clans, the she-cat knew that herbal remedies were her calling. Not the fighting, death match life of a warrior. It was time shse embraced that and stepped up to her position. These cats depended on her, even Dragonstar. There was no backing down now. No Seven Sins. No fear.
"I heard nothing, Dragonstar," she mewed steadily. Though her heart beat just a half of a second faster, she had for once been quite convincing. A subtle, ghost of a smile flickered at the corners of her lips.
Resting her tail reassuringly on the tom's shoulder, the golden tabby crept forward--belly to the ground--to slither under a broken fence post. Her white-tipped tail disappeared and she was gone for a moment. After a few, uneasy seconds, the small cat dipped her head under the fence post and motioned for Dragonstar to follow her in. The strong scent of cat-nip was cloying the air, coating the cat's taste receptors and making her sneeze.
"I think we found what we were looking for,"

[/color] she sniffled with humor.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

{{All that I'm living for

[/color]}}
{{All that I'm dying for[/color]}}[/center]

[Dragonstar :: Doodle]

[glow=red,2,300]Dragonstar experienced a short moment of anxiety before Honeystripe reappeared from under the fence. I should have gone firstHe thought to himself. The clan needs its medicine cat He smiled to himself. The clan also needs its leader.Then he followed Honeystripe and slithered under the fence, the harsh wood scratching at his back and sides. He then found himself in a neat twoleg garden, the scent of catmint assailing his nostrils. "Yes, I think you might have." He replied a smile curving across his face as his eyes shone with amusement. He tried not to smell, to block his nose from the overpowering stench. "Lets collect some and go before we suffocate or get caught by twolegs." [/glow]

[~All I Need]

{{Don't worry , it'll soon be over}}
{{But my tortured soul will still linger}}

The she-cat waited until she saw Dragonstar writhe from under the fence. A relieved light lit up in her golden eyes, she was worried at first that he might have gotten stuck. The tabby had no trouble at all because she was so small, but Dragonstar, on the other hand, was muscular and larger than her. But he got out--only without a tuft of fur--safely. That was all that mattered.
Looking around warily so as not to be taken surprise by any kind of unexpected guest, Honeystripe scanned her surroundings. A small, tranquil fish pond sat a few fox-lengths away, a neat stone path led to a sheltered porch that sported a food and water dish. Nothing out of the ordinary. No traps or poisons of any kind. It actually seemed that this place was cat-friendly. The medicine cat let out a silent sigh at this.
[glow=red,2,000]"Yes, I think you might have." [/glow]
Honeystripe smiled. She was so glad that she was finally fitting in to this position. But she knew that it was going to get much harder, especially when the unknown enemy make it there.
Gripping the stems lightly in her jaws, she plucked a few and laid them on the ground next to her. After a heap was sitting at her feet, the she-cat sat down and started grooming her paws. "We might as well take a short break before taking these back to the camp,"

[/color] she said in between licks.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

{{Lock the last open door}}
{{My ghosts are gaining on me}}

[Dragonstar :: Doodle]

[glow=red,2,300]A break! In a twoleg garden! Screamed Dragonstar's mind. He tried to suppress his surprise at Honeystripe's suggestion,
"Maybe we should get out of this garden before we have a break." He meowed, making it sound like just another suggestion. Unfortuntely he had never had much control over his eye's reactions and they expressed his surprise at Honeystripe's risky suggestion. He remembered himself and soon the surprise in his eyes faded to be replaced with a normal, calm expression.
"Or maybe we should just return to camp, I don't like being away for too long and I need to sort out the apprentices and who will mentor them." I also can't help wondering when the danger is going to come He thought to himself. I have to be with my clan with it hits. To protect them. [/glow]

[~All I Need]

{{ LOCK THE LAST OPEN DOOR }}
{{ MY GHOSTS ARE GAINING ON ME }}

[glow=red,2,000]"Maybe we should get out of this garden before we have a break.... Or maybe we should just return to camp, I don't like being away for too long and I need to sort out the apprentices and who will mentor them."

[/color][/glow]
The small tabby gave a knowing yet confused look to Dragonstar and yawned. She stretched luxuriously, her wiry body trembling and the tip of her striped tail twitching. She saw that look in Dragonstar's eyes, she saw the surprise and appallment. Her was not sure of her decision. Oh well, everyone else thought the same thing. Maybe he could become the club president. Club Let's All Think Honeystripe Is Crazy.
After licking her ruffled chest fur, the she-cat sighed and got up. "Lead the way, you are the Clan leader. I'm hungry, though. So let's get out of her and have ourselves a mouse or two. I think my stomach might just start eating itself if I don't get myself some sustenance."[/color]
After grabbing the catmint stems in her mouth, Honeystripe wriggled out from under the fence and waited on Dragonstar.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[ooc=Fiah]Ack! No muse![/ooc]

[Dragonstar :: Doodle]

[glow=red,2,300]Dragonstar perked up at the thought of a hunt and shoved himself under the fence, earning himself a few scratches and leaving some orange coloured fur snagged on the fence behind him. Truthfully, he had felt a bit out of his depth with herbs and Honeystripe's knowledge of them, he was used to being leader and in his comfort zone, hunting or battle training. Although there were those moments when he felt uncomfortable giving his clan orders... and as he thought about this Dragonstar felt a little bitter at Honeystripe's use of 'Clan Leader', it sounded as though she didn't respect him, not as the clan leader, but as a sensible cat. Well she'll learn to trust me, and I will learn to trust her decisions, I'm just a little jumpy right now. All this thought passed in a millisecond as he emerged on the other side of the fence.

He smiled mischeviously at Honeystripe, as his eyes glinted, "Lets see who can catch the most prey?" He suggested, the part of him that was still an apprentice shining through. As he waited for her reply he scented the air, letting the scents of the forest assail him. Twoleg, He thought, wrinkling his nose, I'll have to get a while away to hunt. He turned his head back to Honeystripe and met her eyes. [/glow]

[~All I Need]

{{ LOCK THE LAST OPEN DOOR

[/color] }}
{{ MY GHOSTS ARE GAINING ON ME }}[/center]

Honeystripe's golden eyes looked calmly at Dragonstar's mischeivious ones. Her face was closed and serene, like a statue. Something about her look was unnerving, surprisingly frightening. And in that moment, a little of her mother was their in her sweet face. But as quickly as it was there, it was gone.
[glow=red,2,000]"Lets see who can catch the most prey?"

[/color][/glow]
Uninterested in warrior duties, Honeystripe shrugged unconvincingly and started to walk back deeper into the woods. She had been quite content in the Twoleg garden, but Dragonstar had seemed so jumpy he looked like he was about to come out of his own pelt. A phantom frown tugged at the corners of Honeystripe's mouth. Why did they have to leave? She had perfectly scented mouse and some bird there, but the RiverClan leader seemed so sure that something evil would come upon them.
"Since you are so intent on making a contest out of this, why don't you catch that rabbit over there?"[/color] she flicked her tail to a hidden path that was barely seeable. Oddly, Honeystripe had known the rabbit was there without seeing or scenting it. Just some ancient instinct told her that prey was there. Something unknown.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Dragonstar :: Doodle]

[glow=red,2,300]Dragonstar's eager expression dimmed as Honeystripe didn't rise to the challenge. He would take some apprentices out later, their enthusiasm would improve his mood.
"Sorry." He said suddenly, "I forget myself sometimes and just want to run around like an apprentice." He thought that maybe that was why Honeystripe seemed so disapproving. The corners of his mouth turned up into a small smile.
"I'll go get that rabbit." He immediately dropped into a hunter's crouch and started moving silently through the undergrowth. This was one of the greatest feelings in the world, to be able to sneak about silently, knowing your prey was helpless somewhere in front of you. He scented the air, running through the scents he smelt in his mind until he found the one he wanted. Rabbit! He thought triumphantly. Then he turned a corner on the minuscule path and there it was. In one sinuous movement he leaped through the air, his muscles smoothly contracting as he flew through the air and landed on the rabbit. Quickly he killed it, snapping its neck and, with it hanging from his jaws, he retraced his paw steps back to where he left Honeystripe, emerging from the undergrowth with his grisly prize. [/glow]

[~All I Need]

{{ LOCK THE LAST OPEN DOOR

[/color] }}
{{ MY GHOSTS ARE GAINING ON ME }}[/center]

A mischievious grin took up half of Honeystripe's features as she watched Dragonstar drag the rabbit back out from behind the foliage. Immediatly, the natural instinct to hunt and compete and kill kicked into overdrive as she crouched across from Dragonstar. She knew it was wrong to compete with the Clan leader, but something in her wanted to beat him. To overachieve.
"Oh yeah, watch this."

[/color]
A mature red-tailed hawk had been sitting on a crooked maple branch not two fox-lengths away. It's mottled brown, white, and red-hued feathers gleaming. Honeystripe hissed; a horrible, threatening noise that shivered in the air, drawing particles to the hawk. With a massive beat of its large wings, it took flight, swooping low over the ground. Coiling like a snake, the yellow tabby sprung up and hooked her claws into the left wing, drawing blood and making a few feathers fall dizzily. With a screech of pain, the hawk attempted to strike the she-cat but couldn't. The fighting animals spun down to the ground as Honeystripe continued to claw the hawk's wings. Finally, with a last cry of agony and fury, the red-tail died and it and the medicine cat crashed in the braken.
Once the fronds stilled, Honeystripe came out with her prize grasped firmly in her jaws, a wild light of excitement and joy sparkling in her golden gaze. The hawk was four times as big as she was, and not a single scratch was on her except for her nose where a thorn pierced it.
Mumbling through the feathers, the she-cat meowed "Impressive, huh?"[/color][/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Dragonstar :: Doodle]

[glow=red,2,300]As he had watched her catch the bird Dragonstar started to grin happily, she was rising to his challenge, and proving herself a worthy challenger. He had almost forgotten that she was a warrior before she was medicine cat. A cheeky grin curved across his tabby face as his eyes glinted with mischief. He shruged nonchalently. "Not that impressive." He said, his facial expression unfortunetly giving himself away. "Lets head back to camp and see how much we can hunt on the way." He started padding back in the direction of camp, all his senses aware of his surroundings, all his muscles ready to leap on any unsuspecting prey, he moved silently, not quite in a hunters crouch, but pretty close. [/glow]

[~All I Need]

{ LOCK THE LAST OPEN DOOR

[/color] }
{ MY GHOSTS ARE GAINING ON ME[/color] }[/center]

[glow=red,2,000]"Not that impressive."

[/color][/glow]
Honeystripe dragged the hawk over to Dragonstar and laid it at his feet. Glancing from him to her prize, the she-cat noticed that it was at least twice as big as he was. And since Honeystripe was such a small cat, her kill was three times larger. With a smile of content and mischief, the she-cat bumped her muzzle into Dragonstar's strong shoulder. A giggle bubbled in her mouth, making her feel giddy and carefree. She hadn't laughed like this since--since when? Collapsing on the ground, the medicine cat rolled around and around until she came to a stop, barely able to breath. Though her lungs constricted and she felt like she was choking, Honeystripe didn't care. This was the most fun she ever had. The adrenaline pumping in her veins, the exhilliration... Dang, it felt great.
[glow=red,2,000]"Lets head back to camp and see how much we can hunt on the way." [/color][/glow]
The brown and yellow tabby jumped to her paws and picked up her herbs and kill, dragging them after her. Every now and then, a giggle of excitement would push through her lips and her eyes were sparkling like golden gems.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[Dragonstar :: Doodle]

[glow=red,2,300]Dragonstar had watched Honeystripe's almost crazy reactions to the exhilaration of the hunt, in his case the unique joy made him more focused on his goal, made him want to catch more and more prey. His eyes had taken on an almost scary look, they were saying "Watch out!" to any prey in the immediate vicinity, well thats what they would say to any cat, prey wasn't quite that clever. His ears flickered as he listened to the sounds of forest life, filtering the noises, waiting for the sound of prey. His movements as he travelled in the direction of camp were sinuous, one might think that a cat of Dragonstar's bulk would move heavily, but in reality his strong build allowed him to move almost as a dancer would, an absolute coordination of body and mind.

There. A rustling in the undergrowth had caught his attention, his senses told him that prey was near. He stopped to scent the air.... Vole. He realised with satisfaction. A quick turn had him moving like the wind, quickly and silently, and a smooth leap landed him on his prey where a quick snap of the creatures neck killed it. Tidy. He thought. No blood everywhere and no need for a chase... though a chase would have been fun... In another sencond he was back at Honeystripe's side, both the rabbit and vole dangling from his jaws. They were almost back at camp, but Dragonstar wanted to stay out in the forest hunting, it was his greatest pleasure, something he was truly good at. [/glow]

[~All I Need]

{ LOCK THE LAST OPEN DOOR

[/color] }
{ MY GHOSTS ARE GAINING ON ME[/color] }[/center]

Muscles coiled under pelt and eyes gleaming in the light like liquid gold, Honeystripe watched Dragonstar with a hungry look in her eyes. After her amazing kill, she didn't really want to catch anything else. But the thrill of the hunt pulled her, drew her into its gravitational pull that was so hard to resist. This was enlightening! It brought Honeystripe out of her own sad, dark world into the light. The sunlight was absorbed in her amazing pelt, the shadows in the corners of her deteriorating soul vanishing like fog.
Avarice can never, ever harm me now.

[/color] She thought.
With a shy laugh, Honeystripe smiled at Dragonstar and picked up the hawk and herbs. " We should probably get back to the camp, shouldn't we? Just in case, you know--Something might be amiss. " Honeystripe was referring to the chance that danger might hit at any moment. The tension in the air all of a sudden built up, like the coming of a storm. Laden with her burdens, the tortiseshell padded slowly towards RiverClan.[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]