trouble is a friend, trouble is a foe [rustpaw]

[ACE! the cannibal]

She was feeling uneasy today. She woke up with a terrible feeling in her gut and immediately went to share it with Bigpaw, who unfortunately had gone out on some patrol. Again. She had started to chew the inside of her cheek at the thought, making her whiskers quiver. Was Bigpaw sending her a subtle message? Was he slowly saying that he didn't want to hang out with her? She started to shake at the thought, and her thoughts filled with gloom. No, of course not. Bigpaw and Flutterpaw were brother and sister, they even made a pact when they were kits that they would protect one another! The chewing started to grow in measures, as she shook her head. Then again, it was just another silly pact, made by silly kits. Then again, Bigpaw always looked out for her. Maybe she was just over-reacting. Yeah! Just being silly old, air-headed Flutterpaw.

So caught up in thoughts, she nearly passed the herbs she was searching for. It was the scent of the marigolds, that had brought Flutterpaw back to the living world. Spinning around awkwardly, Flutterpaw made her way to the small patch of marigolds and sniffed lightly. They were in a wide array of colors, orange and yellow, like a warm sunset or sunrise. Flicking her tail, she bent her head down to nip some of the buds before she froze.

Marigold was what she was looking for right? Or was it Thyme? No, no Thyme was out of season, wasn't it? No, it was Bramble twigs that were out of season. Oh! Bramble twigs didn't even have a season. The chewing started up again in her mouth as she took a step backward. Her whiskers were twitching at a higher cailber, almost as if to escape from her face. The little malayan tigress shuffled her paws, trying to remember. She wanted to be the very best, like no-one ever was! But it seems as though she was failing! Maybe she should go ask Nightshadow again. but she couldn't walk into camp with empty paws!

[VALACIE]

He had dreams of being the best of hunters. At night when he slept he would picture himself as this giant force prowling through the jungle, slipping like a shadow through tree and bush. Unfortunately though he was not the big strong cat of his dreams. Instead he was just an apprentice, and one the other cats frequently laughed at when they got the chance. I'll show them. he growled, crinkling his nose as he wandered further from camp. Once more the image of that big tiger haunted his mind and for a moment the young cat just sat and stared at nothing in particular, relishing the images that floated through his head like butterflies. Maybe he could catch something to bring back! Show them all how great a hunter he was. The thought alone was almost too much and his paws patted the ground in his excitement, claws extending and withdrawing to make little lines in the dirt.

Of course that would all have to wait, because at that moment the most colorful butterfly Rustpaw had ever seen decided to fly by his line of sight. Like a kit that had found a new plaything his eyes focused on it as his head moved to follow it's flight path.In that moment all thoughts of hunting and proving himself tumbled from his mind. In one move he was crouching, slinking forward, all the while his brown eyes were glued to the little blue and yellow creature. Like a hunter he inched forward, his paws treading carefully so as not to startle the bug into flying higher and out of his reach. Silently he watched it, moving closer whenever it stopped to land on a flower or branch. All the while wondering what it would be like to pounce on it and actually catch it.

The thought of catching something brought him halfway back to his original line of thought. He'd come out here to do something hadn't he? Trying to think, he felt his attention pulled yet again onto something else. Butterfly forgotten he heard a sound; a rustling like something or someone was moving close by. Instinctively he crouched even lower, belly flat against the ground and heart pounding in his chest.The first thing that popped to mind was that someone had come out here to scold him. Everyone was always scolding him...and if they'd seen him with the butterfly then surely they would do so yet again. But then his mind offered the possibility that it wasn't a cat from his clan but some wild rogue, or maybe something he could hunt down and bring back. Wouldn't that be wonderful! Bringing back prey for the first time.

Again, no longer thinking he surged forward, moving as rapidly as he could manage in the crouch he was in towards the mystery sound. He made a lot of noise in the process, having forgotten that hunting involved tact and some semblance of surprise. Instead he jumped out of the bushes with a growl, fully intending at showing rabbit or rogue a piece of his mind. Of course you could manage his surprise when neither of the two appeared in front of him.

ooc: ooh yay! first actual rp post on here. hope it's alright :3 came out a bit longer then I intended though...

[ACE! the cannibal]

Still chewing on the inside of her cheek, Flutterpaw decided that she would pick the marigolds and then double check all the other herb gathering places. Yes, like the bramble tree and the herb bushes, which was famous in the TigerClan territory. The bushes of the herbs sprung up in the place where the trees and river met, with thyme, sage and some rosemary as well. Of course, the bramble twigs were there as well and some asarabacca as well. No. Asarabacca was in LionClan territory, wasn't it? Just when she got her confidence back, it fled her. As thought Flutterpaw's body wasn't a suitable host for it.

Sniffing, she bit the buds of four marigolds, gathering them gently into her mouth and dropping them onto a leaf between her paws, a rather large leaf really, it would be suitable for holding her herbs. Although it would be better if she had a helping paw, those twigs could be quite the handful. Then again, what would happen if she got a lending soul and they picked up a wrong herb in eagerness? Or worse, in their eagerness, swallowed poison! Of course, the cat could be just as unwilling to help and be a complete waste of her time, slacking off and grabbing the wrong herbs and running off. Sighing, Flutterpaw flicked her tail in fluttery motion. Perhaps it was best she worked alone.

Giving her a lip a soft bite, Flutterpaw picked up her herb package when she was hit with a roar. In her small, standing position Flutterpaw didn't stand a chance against her assilant, a vicious brute with a roar of thunder. Dropping her herbs, she was hit. Full on. Her shoulders immediately protested as she and the stranger tumbled and strung out together on the forest floor. Her first thought was, as she hit the ground, was her herbs. Her precious marigolds gone and wasted. And then her mind started to speed up, to worry. To panic. Who was this tom? Was he a rogue with a bent revenge for all the medicine cats? Maybe he was crazy killer with a love of blood. Her reaction was rather delayed, but who could blame the little paranoid apprentice? She just had the wind knocked out of her. So, despite the fact she was a healer, she decided to do what she did best. She screamed, loud and like a siren.

[VALACIE]

Leaping from the bushes was exhilarating, an out of body experience that left Rustpaw thinking he truly was that big tiger from his dreams. Feeling his body collide with something, both him and what ever he'd landed on stumbling forward until he had the other cat pinned to the earthy ground. It was like he was someone else entirely, and his lungs filled, ready to roar a second time and strike fear in the heart of his unsuspecting victim.

With mouth open and his lungs full of air he was ready to roar to the sky, ready to proclaim his victory at actually managing for once to pin something. To think! He, Rustpaw had managed to catch another living creature off guard, for the first time.

But before any sound could escape him a scream filled his ears. Startled out of his imagination the young apprentice blinked, as though suddenly realizing where he was. Looking down, his head tilted just the slightest to the side as he took in the female pinned beneath him. you don't look like a rogue. and she sure didn't act like one. From what he'd heard rogues were vicious, attacking anything that they thought might be an easy kill. Surely if they acted like that they'd do a lot more than scream.

And that's when the alarm clicked. Her scent was like his, she was from his clan. He'd just attacked a clan member. With the speed of a frightened rabbit he lept off of her and to the side, all manner of coordination leaving him as he stumbled over his large paws and met the hard ground with his chin. Heart pounding in his chest he tried to right himself again. I-I'm so, so, so s-sorry he stammered. p-p-please stop screaming. he pleaded, eyes suddenly darting around and wondering who was going to burst from the trees. He didn't want to get in trouble, not again. Not when he'd made such an amateur mistake.

[ACE! the cannibal]

Ever since Flutterpaw was a kit, she could wail. She had the lungs for it. Her brother would joke and tease with her high-pitched squeels that sent the birds flying in the other direction and caused the elders to grumble, despite most were deaf. Flutterpaw could scream and weep, and cause most to stop in their tracks with her siren song. Wailing that high-pitched familiar scream, Flutterpaw curled on the floor, mouth open wide.

Of course, she couldn't scream forever, and sniffed lightly as she took in a breath of air. And in that inhale of sweet oxygen, Flutterpaw realized that the strange, crazy cat had gotten off of her and was talking. Talking to her! She narrowed her eyes and slowly sat up in an awkward sitting position. He? Stuttering? She should be the one in fright! This bold, dirty little rogue almost killed her! M-muh-me? A ruh-rogue? I would nuh-never be confused wi-with one of your kind! She stammered, trying to be bold and fierce. Although it was completely silly, he was rogue! He probably knew twenty ways to kill her and Flutterpaw hadn't any battle training and only knew one fighting technique, the fetal position.

Of course, this stranger smelled like TigerClan, her own clan. But it wouldn't take much for any cat to smell like TigerClan, all they had to do was hang near the borders, run their pelts through some fern fronds and you have one geniune smelling spy. A spy! Certainly a strange spy, but one nonetheless. Her teeth started to graze the inside of her cheek again, as Flutterpaw tried to be brave. Brave just like her mentor Nightshadow! Whu-whatever yuh-you want, i cuh-can't give it tu-to you. So, yu-you should just forget about-about it and go back to yuh-yuh spuh-spy friends. She sniffed, trying to sound brave and heroic, like the she-cats from those tales from the elders, but she only managed to sound like some kit, trying to drive away some battle-scarred warrior. The little medicine cat took a cautious step backward, ready to flee the scene on a moment's notice.

[VALACIE]

The whole time she screamed, Rustpaw couldn't help but watch their surroundings with growing unease. What if someone showed up? What if a clan member thought someone was in danger and accidentally attacked and killed him? Or worse what if a rogue heard? Shivering with the implications he tried to make himself as small as possible, his body flinching back from her as that incessant wailing continued. I'm going to die. he thought, his ears pressing against his head or I'm going to get in serious trouble

When she finally stopped screaming he looked at her, watching her to see what she would do. Of course what she said to him caused him to lift his head in confusion. She thought he was a rogue? If he didn't feel so horrified at that moment he probably would of laughed at the thought. He wished he had at least some of the skill the rogues were reported to have. Anything so that he didn't just go crashing face first into bushes and trees or attacking other clan members. I-I-I'm not a ro-rogue he stammered back defensively. Standing up he lifted his head, his heart still pounding.

He couldn't cower like a little kit. He wanted to be a strong warrior, and in order to be that he had to be brave. Especially since the person facing him looked just about as scared as he did. Of course she could be faking. For all he knew this was just an act to get his guard down. Remembering that he tried to steady himself. But still, he shook as his nerves took over, and uncontrolled his voice quivered. I-I'm def-definitely not a sp-spy I tho-thought you were Narrowing his eyes, he took some more steps back from her, acting as though any moment she would pounce. h-how do I kno-know you're not one?

[ACE! the cannibal]

Flutterpaw was considering screaming again. She was known for her wail, that pitched high and shrill like the hunting cry of a hawk. Bigpaw silently joked that she should have had the name Harpiekit, like the fabled monster. Of course, she laughed at first, it was funny and her brother loved her enough to joke with a shy smile and twinkle of the eyes. Now, she realized how true it was. Her call made birds shriek unhappily and for elders to cringe, even if deaf.

She raised a small paw to wipe her nose and whiskers, unable to take her eyes of the rogue kit. Kit? Maybe he was a rogue apprentice, or did rogues have those? Flutterpaw had to admit, a rogue's life would be an interesting one. Filled with mystery, freedom and a life of adventure. And blood, and gore and murder! Her paranoid mind screamed and her mind shut down to shiver in fear, eyes widening as she took another step backward.

Her small brown eyes flickered back to her herbs, marigold she recalled. They were needed for her poultices. Here, she was doing her duty voluntarily, without a grouchy, impatient guide by her side. She was so proud too, and surely, Bigpaw and Nightshadow would be too. But noo. She goes out on her own and wham! She gets attacked by a dastardly rogue. And people tell her to get out of camp more often. But no way was she stepping out of camp again, if she got attacked by rogues. Well, that is if she managed to get away alive from this rogue, who had tackled her with his big paws and roar of thunder. Hardly fair, why Flutterpaw?

Muh-me? Whu-why would a rogue be-be puh-picking flowers? She stammered defensively, as each tiger tried to defend their case of being true TigerClan apprentices. Her ears were swiveling on her head and she sniffed lightly, whiskers twitching. How to prove she was an apprentice to Nightshadow? Well, it was relatively easy. Buh-because I was puh-picking flowers! Marigold, fo-for the clan's herb sto-storage, silly! She stammered, trying to be big and brave but not succeeding. She had even tried to insult him, but she didn't dare call a rogue a mouse-brain in case he got angry and tackled her again.

prove your'e puh-part of TigerClan!

[VALACIE]

Glad that she had stopped screaming, he tried to think, his eyes darting from her to the flowers she'd apparently been picking. If she really was Tigerclan than the flowers meant she was the medicine cat apprentice, and that she could get him in a lot of trouble if someone did show up to rescue her. Not that she needed rescuing...he wasn't going to do anything, it had been a mistake to attack without thinking, but Rustpaw was unwilling admit that out loud. But what if she's lying? the thought dawned on him, sharp and sure. I'm sure rogues use medicine too and if that was the case, then how could he really trust her?

Suddenly he felt his nerves intensify, bubbling with the roar of fire through his veins. He had a serious dilemma here, they both did. He couldn't be sure if she was part of his clan or not, and he didn't really have any proof that labeled him clearly as part of tigerclan other than his scent. After all he was just an apprentice, and one without a mentor to boot. He couldn't use names and information because he was pretty sure you weren't allowed to tell rogues stuff about your clan.

I-I don't k-know how to pro-prove it. He stammered defensively, taking a couple steps back from her. With his ears pressed flat against his head, not in anger but like a kit that's just been scolded as his tail began to curl around his side. He didn't like looking so weak and defenseless, especially since he was supposed to be a warrior someday, but he just couldn't help it. His body did things against his will, and before he knew it he was pressed against the ground his eyes focused up to look at her.

He had never been a quick thinker, and he supposed he should really try to fix that problem if he wanted to get anywhere in life. But at this moment he was just glad his brain was thinking at all. Especially when he was struck with an idea, something that might help prove who he was. F-flu-Flutterpaw, right? T-That's y-your name...He remembered hearing around that that was the name of the medicine cat apprentice. Surely if he wasn't Tigerclan he wouldn't know it. That is of course if he was right and that actually was her name.