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Post by Firefly on Jun 16, 2011 23:48:54 GMT -5
Raggedclaw -
With his tail curled around his massive paws, the deputy of SouthClan stood. His shredded ears swiveled as he listened for the sounds of the other warriors. He hadn't yet been told to organize any patrols or go hunting by the leader, but he was fully expecting to have his orders soon. It was only the morning, but already he was up and ready to perform his Clan duties. He tilted his head, and licked one paw. His crooked teeth nearly snagged his tongue. He continued his wait.
SouthClan's recovering, he thought. They had lost many cats in both the revolution against Montana and in the battle between SouthClan and EastClan. Despite the casualities, the Clan deep within the forest seemed to be thriving. Never again will we let anyone cost us so many lives.
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Leogrim
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Post by Leogrim on Jun 17, 2011 14:44:27 GMT -5
The weather was perfect for his short pelt, Zephyrstar mused, a slight half smile on his striped features. The SouthClan leader sighed with happiness. The Clan was once again prospering. He was glad it was so. SouthClan had suffered with the civil wars that had erupted in its factions.
Stepping out, the handsome lynx point tom spotted his deputy, Raggedclaw, and let out a call of greeting. He padded over, his smoky ringed tail flicking. "Need the orders for the day, Raggedclaw?" he asked, cocking his head inquisitively to one side. Without giving time for Raggedclaw to answer, he continued, "Of course you are. You're the best deputy I've seen."
After that, Zeph added a playful elbow paw prod at Raggedclaw's big form.
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Post by Firefly on Jun 18, 2011 22:00:14 GMT -5
Raggedclaw looked up at Zephyrstar. He nodded as he was greeted, but not allowed to reply for all the wordiness of the leader. Raggedclaw was pleased to hear that the leader thought he was the best deputy he'd seen. He wasn't an easily flattered cat, but it did feel go to be praised for his hard work and dedication from time to time. "Thank you, Zephyrstar," he meowed, as he was prodded. "How's the prey running? I would like to hear my orders. The early cats catch all the best birds."
The large cat stood up slowly, his massive form towering over that of Zephyrstar. It wasn't typical for a deputy to be so much more enormous than the leader of a Clan, but that's how it was in SouthClan, and no one really commented on it.
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Leogrim
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Post by Leogrim on Jun 18, 2011 23:36:28 GMT -5
He mused over the orders he had in mind, changed a couple of them to fit standing circumstances, and nodded. "All right, Raggedclaw. Fresh-kill pile's not growing any higher, so maybe a couple of hunting patrols could be sent out. Make sure there's a lot of apprentices, as they are usually the ones eager to shine out from the others."
Zeph paused for awhile, running through the list of hostilities and such. "Run a patrol along the both borders of around two able warriors each. We should be fine for the rest of the day. Any other ideas, Raggedclaw?"
This time, the lynx point actually waited for his deputy to respond. His curious blue eyes fell upon Raggedclaw, exuding patience.
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Post by Firefly on Jun 19, 2011 13:54:12 GMT -5
Raggedclaw's flicked one tattered ear as he listened to his orders. He nodded after each one, stretching just a little and digging his claws into the ground. He made a checklist in his mind. Send out hunting and border patrols, he thought to himself. These were daily tasks, and easy tasks at that. He wanted to go out on a border patrol himself, so he figured he'd run one out there. "Would you like a heavier border patrol near the EastClan territory?" he asked. If there was one Clan they needed to look out for, it was EastClan. Tensions had been high between the two Clans, ever since the battle, and many times before.
"I couldn't think of any extra ideas," he meowed in his low, booming voice. "Other than triple checking the EastClan-SouthClan border of course."
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Leogrim
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Post by Leogrim on Jun 19, 2011 20:07:48 GMT -5
"Hm. If you say so then. Send one out right now, and send one out in the evening. That should cover it. You can direct some of the hunting patrols near there in the afternoon, too," Zeph agreed, nodding.
He thought about his activities, besides leading the Clan, and he was annoyed to learn that he did not do much. "I'll lead a patrol out myself, then," Zeph continued, standing up on his lean legs. Stretching a bit, he yawned, shrugging off the last dredges of sleep from his body. A patrol through the forests would do him good. Maybe he should consider getting an apprentice, as well.
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Alanna
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Post by Alanna on Jun 19, 2011 21:28:06 GMT -5
(OOC: I hope this works to switch from the Burnt Pines Toadie...)
Robinpaw nodded solemly to Lightstep, allowing her to catch up, then brightened, regaining her former enthusiasm. "Of course I know about leaders, it seems these clans are similar to Sunclan in some ways," she mewed with a smile, "lead the way!" Following her new mentor, she strode boldly to the entrance of the camp but then began to grow nervous, her tail twitching and her scars aching dully. Shaking her head swiftly, the calico struggled to maintain at least a facade of control and confidence, swallowing her rising doubts.
Drawing even with the elder cat, she flicked an anxious glance at Lightstep before asking quietly, "What should I do? I don't know what is considered right here and I want to make a good impression," she sighed silently to release her tension while she waited for a reply, surveying the camp to gauge how it differed from her old clan life. Spotting a few cats further in the camp, the young she-cat asked, flicking her tail in the cats' direction, "Is one of them Zepherstar?" Robinpaw's sapphire eyes widened as she tried to guess the answer to her inquiry.
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Post by Toadie on Jun 20, 2011 20:38:29 GMT -5
Lightstep walked along with Robinpaw. She could see both the leader and the deputy standing around. Flicking her ears, she approached them. She heard Robinpaw ask something, and she leaned down to answer. "Just present them with your catch when I tell you to. It might also help to mention your prior apprentice experience," she replied. She then looked back towards the lynx point and the massive brown tabby who were sitting nearby. "That one is Zephyrstar," she meowed, flicking her tail towards the leader. "The massive one is Raggedclaw, the deputy. Don't let him scare you, he's not that bad."
She approached Zephyrstar cautiously. "Excuse me, Zephyrstar," she said, bowing her head in respect. "I have brought a young cat with me who wishes to join the Clan, as my apprentice."
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Post by Firefly on Jun 20, 2011 21:00:31 GMT -5
As soon as Lightstep came into the camp, dragging along with her a newcomer that he had not seen before, Raggedclaw leaped up and growled savagely. He looked down over Robinpaw, towering over the apprentice's small form. He looked up at Lightstep and growled, "Why have you brought an outsider into our camp?" he spat. "And a petty little kit, at that? We're not kit thieves, Lightstep, we don't take little cats from other Clans. You'd best get to explaining yourself."
He barely even thought about letting Zephyrstar have the first go at interrogating the newcomer, or even making a remark about the situation. Raggedclaw didn't trust outsiders, and for all he knew this young cat that had been brought into the could be some kind of spy... for EastClan, perhaps. Lightstep should know better, he thought.
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Alanna
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Post by Alanna on Jun 20, 2011 23:17:10 GMT -5
Robinpaw's eyes flashed at the large cat's words and a flicker of doubt made her heart flutter but she shook it off, her temper burning away her fear. Lowering her catch to the ground gently, the calico took a step forward, staring the older cat in the eye and growled, "Lightstep's done nothing wrong! And y-" she swallowed, fighting for control, "You don't scare me! I am not some newly born kit just stumbling from my mother's nest. I am Robinpaw formerly of Sunclan. I understand that you are skeptical of a stranger in your camp but that doesn't mean I am a threat, besides, I don't smell like any clan around here do I? That is because I smell like Sunclan," she gauged the large cat's reaction as she stepped back to her prey, "Do not worry that I am a scout or spy, my clan is gone, I have nothing to return to. I've lost my family one by one to sickness, drowning and fire until I remain the sole survivor. As an apprentice I faced the rogues of the great forest, after only one moon of training and fought alongside warriors as my clan was destroyed before my eyes! No, I was not taken from my clan, and I am far from a kit. Lightstep knew this before she brought me here, she's brighter than that."
Taking a deep breath, Robinpaw dipped her head toward each cat in turn before sitting beside her prey, "I'm sorry Lightstep, if I have gotten you in trouble, that wasn't my intention," the she-cat sighed and licked one of the scars on her shoulder in an attempt to regain her composure, "Don't punish Lightstep because of me," she mewed to the older cats, "she was only trying to help," Robinpaw desperately hoped her boldness had not ruined her chances with the clan.
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Leogrim
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Post by Leogrim on Jun 21, 2011 13:35:07 GMT -5
"Raggedclaw," Zephyrstar mewed gently, "Let me handle it." He was amused by Raggedclaw's reaction, but did not condemn it. With SouthClan's history with rogues, it was to be expected.
Robinpaw was a pretty little thing, he mused. And the talk of another Clan? SunClan? Ears flicking, the lynx point stepped forward.
"I think you're a smart cat, so if you want to stay here, please do not disrespect our deputy. You're going to have to be loyal and obedient to him once he becomes leader," he warned gently. He turned to Lightstep, and there was no anger in his posture. "Lightstep, you're a good warrior, but sometimes you let your heart move you, not ideals. You will not be Robinpaw's mentor if he joins.
"Raggedclaw will be."
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Post by Toadie on Jun 21, 2011 20:50:07 GMT -5
Lightstep cringed a little when Robinpaw began to talk back to Raggedclaw. The deputy could be harsh, but one thing no one did was talk back to him. He was a good cat, even though he acted threatening sometimes, and he could be a bit intimidating. Her worst fears were realized when Zephyrstar began speaking to her. He didn't seem angry, but she couldn't help but brace herself nonetheless.
When he mentioned that Raggedclaw was going to mentor Robinpaw, her heart sank. "I mean no disrespect, Zephyrstar," she meowed, tail drooping, "But I've been long overdue for an apprentice and I was hoping so dearly that I could have one this time. Robinpaw would be just the cat for me to mentor. I know your heart may be set on Raggedclaw, but please reconsider." She pleaded, hoping the leader would do as she asked.
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Alanna
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Post by Alanna on Jun 21, 2011 21:39:17 GMT -5
The bold little calico's eyes widened in slight shock but she swallowed her words for fear of causing more harm. 'Zepherstar seems like a good leader,' she thought, 'but I've only just met Raggedclaw and already I've made a bad impression. Why I am I such a mouse brain?' she kept her face clear of her thoughts, a trick she learned on her trip, listening.
Robinpaw watched silently as the older cats decided her fate for her. She hadn't meant any disrespect to any of these cats but she seemed to keep blundering; would she ever learn to control herself? She frowned imperceptively as she observed, wondering why she had felt so bold as to confront the deputy of the clan she wished to join. 'Perhaps this is what comes of having been the apprentice of dead clan,' she thought, scratching her knicked ear as she had countless times throughout her life. She shook her head quickly, banishing such morbid thoughts, focusing instead on the words being spoken before her.
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Post by Firefly on Jun 23, 2011 16:13:57 GMT -5
Raggedclaw frowned as Robinpaw rebelliously meowed at him. He didn't appreciate this kind of attitude coming from an outsider runt who was looking to stay in the Clan. This little kit had made a mistake. "You'd best learn to respect your elders," meowed Raggedclaw, his voice very low and very growling. "It might serve you well." He sighed as Zephyrstar allowed Robinpaw to be let into the Clan. He wasn't very trustworthy of outsiders. SouthClan had been plagued with problems in the past, and the last thing they needed was this. Get enough outsiders in the Clan, and no doubt there'd only be another kind of civil war again.
But what really sent Raggedclaw into shock was when Zephyrstar mentioned that he'd be mentoring Robinpaw. "It's not my way to go against a leader's word," he started, "but for StarClan's sake, might you reconsider? Lightstep seems eager for it. She's not had an apprentice yet. Aye, Zephyrstar, I'm too old to watch out for such a young kit."
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Leogrim
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Post by Leogrim on Jun 23, 2011 20:17:34 GMT -5
Zeph's laugh was quite loud as he digested in their words. The lynx point, if human, would've cried tears of sheer mirth. Their reactions were...quite hilarious, and it was one of the better jokes he had played. Finally regaining his composure, he continued in a more serious tone, "I was just jesting with you all. Lightstep, you can be mentor...I just wanted to see your reaction to my decision. Raggedclaw will be the one to assess Robinpaw and see if she's fit for warriorhood, so don't go easy on her."
His curious blue eyes turned to Robinpaw, the light inside them kindled with curiosity. "What was this Clan you came from? SunClan? Please tell me of it. I love good tales."
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