{the stars lean down to kiss you}open

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i43.tinypic.com/1z2kui0.jpg] [scrolly:h(368),w(475),sy] ELKWHISKER was going to kill her. Plain and simple. Sunpaw was so far out of the clan territory that it wasn't even funny. She'd traveled so far that there were trees! Real trees, not the skinny little ones that poked up now and then from LionClan territory. Sunpaw didn't care though, that her mentor was going to skin her alive or that the leader would put her to watching the elders for moons on end if he caught her. She kept walking, shadows dancing and sliding over her deep golden pelt. Golden eyes bright with youth cut through the darkness with ease as the young Asiatic lioness slipped through the undergrowth along some path so forgotten that it was nearly overgrown by the surrounding foliage. Sunpaw could see it though, cut sometime long ago by the beat of many paws tramping down the foliage until all that was left was a dirt track. Now the ferns and vines were trying to take back the path, trying to ensnare Sunpaw's feet and make her stumble. PATCHES of moonlight mixed with the shadows as Sunpaw kept walking, determined to find out where this path led. She'd discovered it by accident while patrolling with Elkwhisker but had decided against showing her mentor or asking him about it. He probably didn't even know and Sunpaw knew Palestar would do something to keep her away from it if she so much as breathed a word of asking about it. So, logically, Sunpaw had taken matters into her own paws. If no one would tell her or no one knew, she would find out on her own. Of course the only time to do that was at night since Elkwhisker had been trying to keep her plenty busy so Palestar couldn't give them more patrols as punishment for Sunpaw's antics when she got bored. She'd regret it tomorrow when she was too tired to properly train but right now she felt exhilarated and awake and alive because she was discovering something everyone else had forgotten about. GIVING a large bound to leap over a log that had fallen across the path, Sunpaw gave a yelp of surprise when she hit a screen of ferns. Already in the air, too late to stop her flight, the young she-cat squeezed her eyes shut, ready to be thrown down into some ravine with jagged rocks at the bottom or something. With a rattle of leaves, her young body flew through the ferns. Her paws hit the ground and since her eyes were closed, she hadn't been ready for ground and overbalanced. In the end she was sent rolling comically nose over tail into a clearing where she finally landed on her belly, limbs splayed, a huff forced from her mouth as the air was pushed from her lungs. Picking her head up, Sunpaw gave it a shake and opened one eye, peeking at her surroundings, only to moments later have both wide open and mouth open in shock. SHE had expected to find more forest, more trail to follow. That wasn't what she found. She'd found where it went, the endgame and it was beautiful. SLOWLY picking herself up, Sunpaw's golden eyes roved around the clearing as she slowly drifted toward the center and turned a circle. All around her, massive trees rose to the sky as if they were holding it up in their branches. They seemed to lean back from the clearing. Low hills swept down into the clearing's heart and a fence of ferns grew between the surrounding trees like the screen Sunpaw had just jumped through. The clearing itself was flooded with moonlight even though there was only a quarter moon. Looking straight up, she could see the moon flanked by all its stars as if the clearing was trying to show off the beauty of it. "OH wow..," Sunpaw breathed, completely awestruck by what she had found. It was so simple and yet...so beautiful... YOUNG golden eyes found a rock jutting out of the ground not far from the heart of the clearing. It looked important and old, worn by weather and time. For some reason, if Sunpaw put a little imagination to it, she swore she could see Palestar standing up there addressing the clan but she dismissed the idea. They had a rock like this in camp so of course it would make sense for her to think of Palestar standing on it telling everyone what to do. Glancing around, as if afraid someone was there, Sunpaw waved her tail as she deliberated. A second later she took off running. In three bounds she was across the clearing. A fourth leap had the young she-lion in the air and clambering up the rock to stand at the top. PUFFING out her chest, Sunpaw stood up straight and practically split her maw grinning from ear to ear. The view of the clearing was so much different up here. She could easily imagine tons of cats crowding around, not even all of them being lions, all waiting to hear what she had to say. Excitement at the thought zapped through Sunpaw, making her paws tingle and her young body wriggle with anticipation. She had no idea what this clearing used to be for, nobody in LionClan ever talked about it, but it felt important and mystical and amazing. Standing up here made Sunpaw feel important, like she might be something other than a too-small lioness trailing after her mentor, running in place with no real hope of getting anywhere. Up here made her feel like someone big and strong with important things to say, with words that could change things, bring things to action or make them exist. STANDING atop the rock, Sunpaw tipped her head way back to look at the moon sitting high in its navy sky and all she could do was smile. Tagged;; open Words;; 1000 Singing;; "Vanilla Twilight" by Owl City Notes;; ^^ [/scrolly]

[` hatter !]

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[atrb=background,http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo205/wowee333/MONARCHMIDDLE2.png] Here we go again. Sneaking away. Avoiding the shrug of responsibility. She just wanted fresh air…and escape from a certain someone. She wanted an adventure. The next day held hunting, it held patrols, and it held training with Dawnflower. She wouldn’t have time to investigate the hidden path she had come across, in the very edge of her territory. It looked forgotten, run down. No one in her hunting party had seemed to clue in to the small break in brambles and ferns. Mentally, she had taken a snapshot, promising herself that as soon as she could, Monarchpaw would seek out where it led. It was just convenient that this moment also happened to be when Slittedwing was hunting her down. She’s going to kill me. It ran through her mind like an annoying fly, buzzing and flitting. Apparently it was her fault that the herbs residing in the shallow dips of her den were backwards, shredded, and upside-down. For once in her life, Monarchpaw wasn’t at fault. Probably some young kit trying to out-due her mischief. The young she-cat made a silent vow to herself to cause trouble in the near trouble. Couldn’t have wannabes one-upping her. Pfft. It wasn’t really all that late, though the moon was up. When she had left cats were lazily sharing tongues, eyes glazed over and looking exhausted from the day’s activities. That is, until Slittedwing plowed through them with blazing eyes and claws itching to kill. A crazy old hag, she was. The day she injured herself would be the day of her demise. Yes, the medicine cat hated her. It only added fuel to her fire. Without questioning, she had immediately blamed the free-spirited apprentice, threatening to tear her ears out. It wasn’t fear that drove Monarchpaw away, it was annoyance. If Slittedwing caught up to her, she would be skinned alive. Before leaving, the ghastly cheetess had rudely demanded silence and a paw in cleaning up her mess. And a mention to their leader. There was just no way- never, never, never. Her spotted pelt dipped through the undergrowth, blurring, making little sound. The silence was a tangible thing, only broken by the sound of hooting owls. There was little cover as she raced across the prairies, legs churning and eyes stinging from the wind. Despite, or more, because of, Slittedwing, she smiled. A little smirk. Triumph in escaping her clutches. Mischief would never loose its allure. When she reached the path, much farther than she remembered, she was out of breath, rib cage fighting for air. She had passed clan markers a short time ago, and squinted, taking in her scenery. By StarClan, trees! Big trees, luscious trees, not just tiny twigs barely worth paying attention to. A sound behind her, paw steps maybe? She looked over her shoulder, shadows dancing over her amber eyes, and swore she spotted another cheetah, practically streaming cold fire. Unconsciously, she pulled back her ears, imagining them being torn to pieces. Rolling her eyes, she leaped into the subtle stop in density, body low to the ground and moving at a brisk pace. Soon, her legs were becoming tangled in vines, in overgrowth. Underuse? Huffing, she yanked them free, adrenaline pulsing. This really was an adventure. The sound of Slittedwing trailing her became more prominent. No, no, she was not being caught. She picked up her pace, the hidden expedition becoming thicker and thicker. It was such an odd feeling. The cheetahs were so used to the open plains, to never being caged in. Even in their own camp, where there is supposed to be protection, is only small nooks, assorted grasses, and bushes to conceal dens in an otherwise barren stretch of land. Not being able to see the sky was something foreign and she wasn’t quite sure what to think of it. Not exactly claustrophobic, just.. different. Ferns haltingly blocked her path and she blinked in confusion. It couldn’t just end in this green wall. Thumping footsteps grew louder, evolved, now just behind her. Then a cutting voice, fury just barely contained. “Monarchpaw, you get your miscreant, scoundrel flank over here. Don’t make me come looking for you in there! I swear to StarClan I’ll turn your pelt to ribbons.” The meow was alarmingly close, and with a deep inhale of calming breath, she shoved through the roadblock, still somewhat amused by the whole situation. Her almond eyes widened in shock, mouth agape. She had tumbled into a large clearing, so widespread in stature, accented by an over-sized rock, to her near right, looking regal and powerful. A dream, that’s what it was. The tree line had ended, forming a rough oval shape, as green as can be. The lushness of it all, though grown tall and wild, was beautiful. Something she had never seen before. Monarchpaw realized she had been holding her breath, and exhaled, coming back to reality. A lion was standing atop the imposing boulder, grinning from ear to ear, looking as awestruck as she felt. Monarchpaw’s brain didn’t register danger; it registered intrigue… and the sudden urge and panic to be free of Slittedwing’s tail. She would discover them in a moment, send them home, keep them from this lovely sight, if only… Quick as an adder, the youth bounded across the open expanse, bracing her powerful legs for her leap onto the rock. In a split second, she was tackling the lion stranger, off and into the soft greenery that lay beneath the clan rock. Landing with a jolt, she kept still and silent, putting her tail to her maw as if to say’ hush’, her eyes alit with the brightness of her rising adrenaline. Surely this apprentice wouldn't ruin her fun. Notes- :)

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[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i43.tinypic.com/1z2kui0.jpg] [scrolly:h(368),w(475),sy] FOR a moment, Sunpaw wasn't entirely sure what happened. One moment she was standing tall atop the old rock, imagining her clanmates gathered around to hear what she had to say, attentive and for once not looking like she was just a kit making noise. The next, Sunpaw found herself turning at the sound of leaves moving. She had barely a moment to recognize the neatly spotted pelt and willowy build of a cheetah before it was on the move. Claws unsheathing, Sunpaw tensed just in time for the cheetah to leap and knock her clean off the rock, bowling her over and into the grass. Sunpaw landed under the cheetah and the wind exploded from her lungs in a loud huff. Fear zapped through her like a nasty electric shock, snapping her senses into line and sharpening her vision. Claws unsheathed still, Sunpaw tried to shove the other off of her, a low growl building in her chest as she wriggled like a trapped snake. What had Elkwhisker said to do if you were trapped? Mousedung! Sunpaw couldn't remember! Maybe she should have actually listened for once? SOMETHING soft brushed Sunpaw's face making her blink and look at the cheetah looming over her, crouched low and looking wary. It wasn't a big burly warrior like Sunpaw had expected. It was...an apprentice? Sunpaw's rapid breath slowed a little when she recognized the signal to stay quiet. Unsure of what else to do, the young lioness forced her muscles to go lax under her deep golden pelt. She knew she probably looked terrified after being taken by surprise but now she tried to school her features into something less embarrassing. ROUNDED auds perked up atop Sunpaw's head as she strained her ears to listen for what had the young cheetah's tail in a twist. She couldn't hear anything except a magpie somewhere in the distance and a few stray songbirds enjoying the afternoon. Dragging her molten gold gaze back to the cheetah, Sunpaw took a moment to take stock of her 'enemy'. LIKE all cheetahs this one was thin and wiry. Without a doubt Sunpaw could snap her in two if she really tried. That was part of why Sunpaw never took cheetah's too seriously. Sure, they were fast, but they looked so breakable it was almost sad. They had skinny legs and small heads. They all looked alike too! The males didn't even have manes! Just imagine a maneless male lion? Everyone would laugh so why not laugh at the other males unfortunate enough to lack manes? Anyway, that wasn't the point. Sunpaw couldn't remember ever seeing this apprentice on any patrols near the CheetahClan border but that didn't mean a lot really. If you stood two cheetahs next to one another, Sunpaw honestly couldn't tell which one was which. AFTER several minutes of playing along with the cheetah's 'stay quiet' command, the young lioness was getting fed up. Nothing happened. No one burst through the undergrowth to kill them, no particularly dangerous scents came through the breeze. Frowning, Sunpaw swatted aside the cheetah's dappled tail and wriggled again, this time wriggling a bit more systematically than just flailing wildly. Slipping out from under the cheetah, Sunpaw scrambled to stand and glared at the cheetah. "WHAT is your problem?" Sunpaw hissed irritably, though for some reason she kept her voice down. WITH a strong leap, the young lioness clambered up the rock again but this time paused near the top to stick her neck out and peek up over the edge. When that crazy cheetah had tackled her, they had landed behind the rock, well hidden from whoever might be coming after whoever this was. Claws dug into little notches and grooves in the rock, Sunpaw clung to the side like a squirrel as she peered over the gray stone. Squinting to try and focus better, Sunpaw could barely see the occasional flicker of a golden pelt dappled with black spots. For some reason the sight of it made her heartbeat speed up. An adult cheetah. Sunpaw pulled her head back, ear pressed against the stone, glancing back at the other apprentice in a curious fashion. 'YOU'RE running from one of your own?' was the question her gold eyes clearly asked, head cocked curiously to one side. Well, actually, Sunpaw had no room to question it really. If Elkwhisker appeared, Sunpaw would be off running as if someone had set her tail on fire. But what should she do now? This wasn't her mentor and it was probably the cheetah's. Give her away and get in trouble too or help her hide? QUIET as a shadow, Sunpaw dropped back down beside the young cheetah, hunkering down in the stone's shadow beside the dappled she-cheetah. Leaning so she could put her muzzle close to the other's ear, Sunpaw whispered "any ideas?" IF they stayed here the cheetah would eventually find the clearing and thus find them. Sunpaw was well outside of her clan territory, so far it wasn't even funny. She could get in so much trouble that skinning her alive wouldn't even be a good enough punishment and who knew what this other cat had done to get hunted by one of her own! They had to do something...a trick or something to make the other go away. If the cheetah had any sense it would do a systematic search and if nothing else follow the more or less obscured scent trail of the apprentice it was after. Sunpaw's eyes flicked to the trees. She could climb, escape to the branches, but she had no idea if cheetah's could climb trees. Strangely Sunpaw knew she'd feel bad if she abandoned the other to get caught. She sure hated it when she got left behind to take the fall for a prank. Turning her gaze back to the cheetah, Sunpaw waited expectantly for some stroke of brilliance as the ferns nearby rattled dangerously as the other cheetah passed closer by. Tagged;; Monarchpaw Words;; 1028 Singing;; "Airplanes" by B.o.B ft Hayley Williams Notes;; ^^ [/scrolly]

[` hatter !]

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[atrb=background,http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo205/wowee333/MONARCHMIDDLE2.png] Monarchpaw hovered over the cat she had so rudely just tumbled into, ears flicking to and fro, spotted and slick pelt ruffled from the fall. Only by sheer surprise had the cheetah been able to set the larger lion in motion, off and over the rock. It wasn’t a secret, never was it questioned. The other clans were simply larger than CheetahClan, in size and stature. In mouths as well, or so Monarchpaw believed. Never had the apprentice thought less of her clan. They were quicker, they were more cunning, they were agile beyond belief. For a moment, just a moment, as her smaller frame crouched just above the stranger, she pictured Dawnflower. Her tackling a tiger? Monarchpaw shuddered inwardly at the thought. If her opposition tried hard enough, they could easily break her in half as easy as they could snap a stick, with a crack and no second thought. But lions could be oafish, over-confident. Large paws, even broader heads. Cheetahs were streamlined, could slip through the cracks of battleplans others could not. And as aware as she should have been that the lion before her could crush her, it wasn’t exactly a prominent thought. The look on the other female’s face was almost comical, so flabbergasted at what to do. As she gave a small shove, wiggling out from under her flank, Monarchpaw rolled off of her, the soft grass muffling the sound. Idiot. She thought with a roll of her eyes. Now this cat, this lion, would give them both away. She was positive Slittedwing wouldn’t take kindly on cats from other clans, even more so than her own. Could this apprentice not hear the sounds of an incoming presence? The hiss was somewhat hostile, more so simply annoyed. Monarchpaw supposed many cats would be if randomly thrown to the floor and kept in silence for multiple minutes, vulnerable under an outsider. No fun. Monarchpaw winced slightly, ears still straining for signals of a roaming medicine cat, as the other apprentice took a powerful leap onto the side of the mysterious rock. Moon beamed onto her back, making it glow silver and grey, as if a member of StarClan. Like a lock in a key, realization seemed to form on her face, and a sudden wild curiosity. Of course- this probably looked bad. Running from her own kind in the late of night. Not like the lion could judge her- how was it that SHE had come across such a hidden and secret place? LionClan territory wasn’t exactly close to their present position. Everyone had their own demons to run from. For some reason, the question in the cat’s eyes made her own orbs dance with coyness. This moment reminded her of sharing secrets with old den-mates. Upturned faces waiting for her withheld ideas for a new journey. But how could that be right? This wasn’t even a cheetah. Monarchpaw stared into the lighted golden eyes, watching as she dropped back down beside her, hunkering low to the long, leafy grass. “Any ideas?”Well, that was a good question. They could set an elaborate plan, leading CheetahClan’s medicine cat far from their spot. Or even cover their scent trail meticulously. Set false leads. But, all-in-all, Slittedwing was smarter than that. She would see them as they were; cheap and inexperienced ruses. The lion was clearly waiting for her to say something brilliant, something that would lead them to safety. But no, as she flicked her speckled tail, Monarchpaw merely shrugged, murmuring with sureness she nearly always felt. Sure, Slittedwing could very meticulously scan this area, seek out the hiding place of her prey. It would just take her too long. From past experience, Monarchpaw knew the old hag very dearly treasured the solitude of sleep. “Puhh, she doesn’t care enough about me to bother hunting my pelt down for the rest of the night. Her old, rattly bones are failing her.” She smirked, a tiny uplifting of half her maw, and cocked her head to the side, as was a pesky habit of hers. As if on cue a cold, strong voice resonated in the distance to her left. “I know you can hear me you little brat- I’ll deal with you when you get back to camp. Enjoy the use of your legs while you still can.” Breaking into a wide, open-mouthed grin, she explained passively, glancing at the ceiling of stars in an amused fashion before returning her arrow gaze at the cat. “She’s kidding, of course. Okay, well, kind of.” Followed by a light as air giggle, like a stream bubbling along. Now they, whoever they was, had the entire clearing to themselves. To explore. An adventure. Bracing her muscles, she scrambled up the rock, finding this broad face more difficult than the front. Awe, that’s what the feeling was. She could imagine herself giving speeches to her many followers, in bundles just below her paws. They would want to know her and would care about what she had to say. The blanket of stars; even they seemed to be listening. The many ancestors of StarClan. One day, one day. “What is this place, anyways?” She said this as a murmur, nearly to herself. Pivoting to face the tawny-colored apprentice yet again, Monarchpaw murmured airily. “I would kick you off of my territory, but I’m not really sure who’s this is.” She paused, and then swept her tail above her, almost like a greeting. “I’m Monarchpaw, by the way, unnamed lion.” Notes- Bleh.

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[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i43.tinypic.com/1z2kui0.jpg] [scrolly:h(368),w(475),sy] PRESSING her belly against the soft grass, Sunpaw flattened her ears against her head as a raspy voice snarled through the night. Laying so close to the other apprentice, Sunpaw couldn't help but notice how small cheetahs were. Sure, she was probably taller than Sunpaw would ever be, but the other felt...tiny, almost breakable. Like a bird kind of. The idea of fighting one of these oh so delicately boned cats almost made the ten month old lioness laugh out loud. She held it in though, choosing instead to listen intently to the sounds of the other cheetah leaving. Half ignoring the other apprentice, Sunpaw crept forward to peek around the side of the big rock. Tawny colored orbs swept the dark shadowy undergrowth. No dappled pelt shifted between the leafy fronds. After several minutes, it silence reined again and Sunpaw turned her head to look around at the other cat. 'WHAT is this place, anyways?' TIPPING her head back a little, the young lioness straightened up to see the cheetah standing atop the rock similar to how Sunpaw had been before she'd been so rudely tackled. For a moment, Sunpaw could only wrinkle her nose in distaste, feeling as though her private adventure through the night to this mysterious place had been ruined. Sunpaw wasn't used to sharing her adventures after all since she was one of LionClan's few apprentices at the moment. The other apprentices didn't always like her either. They said she was bossy and cocky, always biting off more than she could chew. Funny how Elkwhisker so often said the same. They were just jealous. Still, Sunpaw was always up for trying something new so she let the interruption roll off of her. "I don't now what it is. I found a path patrolling this afternoon but I didn't ask about it. Nobody ever answers my questions." BUNCHING her muscles, Sunpaw leaped at the rock. Unlike the spindly-limbed cheetah, the young lioness didn't have to scramble gracelessly up to the top. Her leap held much more power in it thanks to the strongly muscled haunches nature had developed over the centuries. Her leaps were calculated and easy, well practiced movements after spending several moons ducking, dodging and tussling with her mentor during various training sessions. Coming to the top of the boulder, Sunpaw felt cool moonlight lay itself luxuriously over her pelt, turning the dark gold color to light silver. Reclining on her haunches, Sunpaw looked the other, Monarchpaw, up and down with a wary eye. Elkwhisker had always said not to bother with cats from other clans. Tigers were secretive, cheetahs were crafty and leopards were bad-tempered. That had been his assessment of the other clans in a nutshell. From the sound of it, that other cheetah had fit the bill but what about this one? She was younger and she acted friendly enough...and it wasn't like Sunpaw had a lot of friends...What did she have to lose? She knew better than to spill clan secrets. "MY name isn't nameless lion," Sunpaw snapped before she could stop herself. "It's Sunpaw and I don't think it belongs to anybody, or at least it doesn't anymore," Sunpaw said, wrapping her dark-tufted tail around her side. "I know I left LionClan territory but I didn't smell any new border so...I guess this is loner territory." IT was kind of a sad thought really, to think a place as beautiful as this was left to loners to grapple over. For some reason it just seemed wrong, like this place should belong to a clan. STANDING up, Sunpaw looked around the clearing. To the east of the boulder she saw a thick tangle of bracken that for some reason caught her attention. Bunching her muscles she sprang off of the top of the boulder, sailing effortlessly through the air and landing easily. Bounding toward the bracken, Sunpaw sniffed around it curiously. The scent was very faint but it nagged at Sunpaw's memory, making her frown. Stepping into the undergrowth, Sunpaw found another narrow twisting path leading away from the clearing. It was nearly overgrown, just like hers and probably Monarchpaw's. Pulling her head back, she looked over her shoulder at Monarchpaw. "ISN'T TigerClan territory in this direction?" BOUNDING directly across from the bracken tangle, dodging the big rock Monarchpaw was perched on, Sunpaw skidded to a halt in front of a fragrant growth of wild mint. Looking through the undergrowth, Sunpaw again found a narrow almost overgrown path leading away. Frowning deeper, she back peddled into the clearing again and looked at Monarchpaw. "AND LeopardClan is that way," she twitched her tail. Looking up at Monarchpaw, Sunpaw cocked her head to one side curiously. "Why do all these paths lead here?" Tagged;; Monarchpaw Words;; 815 Singing;; NA Notes;; ^^ [/scrolly]

[` hatter !]

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[atrb=background,http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo205/wowee333/MONARCHMIDDLE2.png] The stranger was spunky, this Monarchpaw noted immediately. Even as a cat of an entirely different species nailed her to the ground while admiring the pretty scene, she didn’t seem frightened. She even crept around the clan rock, to be very sure that the coast was clear. It was, of course. Slittedwing was a blunt little thing, with a lack of stealth. If she said she was leaving, it was guaranteed that she would. A fluid leap brought the lion gracefully beside her. Inwardly, Monarchpaw cursed her less powerful frame. Show-off. She turned her head, to glance at the golden coat, light in her deep eyes, before returning to inspect the clearing. She was disappointed to find that the hidden hideaway had begun to lose its appeal. Now, there was still a mystery as to what it is, and then managed to contain her attention; however, the space no longer looked so vast, the stars not so bright. Easily distracted, easily bored, and forever looking for a new sight or challenge to discover. She tilted her chin to the sky, the beacons of light sending ribbons of starlight onto her muted orange pelt, washing the color in a silvery sheen. Really, she should stop talking to the lion, leave and report this to her superiors. Evade the risk of spilling clan secrets, as her tongue would likely do. Monarchpaw was not this rational of a thinker. Besides, this was her adventure. How could she let this cat take it all for herself? As another thrill, she had never been so close to a lion before and found this one in particular interesting. Wouldn’t it be so exciting to learn things about LionClan that none of her fellow co-operatives knew? It would be like a secret advantage. Apprentices were running short in her own clan- how could speaking with another endanger CheetahClan, if only for company? Dawnflower probably wouldn’t mind, she told herself, a little half-smile overtaking her features. Then again, perhaps she didn’t have to know. Really, no one needed to know. This could be a place of their own, if only they could find out what exactly this place was. "MY name isn't nameless lion. It's Sunpaw and I don't think it belongs to anybody, or at least it doesn't anymore. I know I left LionClan territory but I didn't smell any new border so...I guess this is loner territory." Sunpaw. Puh. She didn’t look a burning ball of brightness travelling through the sky. Then again, Monarchpaw didn’t really look like a butterfly, per say. The tone of her voice made Monarchpaw huff; no need to be snappy, now. As for the idea that this was loner territory, she pondered this, remembering how she had pictured cats upon cats gathered below her, hanging on her every word. How could a space so useful, so clearly meant for a purpose, be laying in disregard? The clan territories were large, but really not that large. This wasn’t a piece of land they could have simply overlooked for moons upon moons. To herself, Monarchpaw shook her head in puzzlement, delving into memories of elder stories. Nothing. As Sunpaw leaped from the rock, landing easily and effortlessly, Monarchpaw considered being stubborn and staying put, waiting to be told where she was going. Her curiosity as to what Sunpaw could have been hunting down ultimately overweighed her pigheadedness, and she followed in tow, making very certain to time her jump to the ground with a precise manner. It didn’t matter if Sunpaw noticed or not, she wouldn’t be bested- even for the smallest of things. She loped lightly to where the lion apprentice was searching, looking contemplative. Her nose seemed to be searching, and Monarchpaw noted for herself how similar the undergrowth was to the path she had entered in. Just as Sunpaw piped up, she detected the very faint whiff of tigers, meeting the other’s gaze with a quick nod. Instead of following her as she bounded off in the other direction, Monarchpaw looked to her right, hidden behind a giant, dense wall of ferns, and picked up not only Sunpaw’s musky aroma, but other lions, old and nearly overshadowed but there nonetheless. "And LeopardClan is that way.” All four clans, leading to one single area. That certainly wasn’t a coincidence. She returned to face Sunpaw, an equal curiosity and excitement in her voice. “They had to have met here. Our ancestors, that is. Why else would they all lead to this clearing?” She blinked, flicking her tail, an acute lightness flecking her eyes. Sunpaw would have come to this conclusion as well, Monarchpaw was nearly sure of it. Had they really found an ancient ground, forgotten and abandoned? That would have meant that dozens and dozens of cats could have stood in this very place. They could never be sure, unless really asking someone who would have remembered, but it was a plausible idea. Notes- :)

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[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i43.tinypic.com/1z2kui0.jpg] [scrolly:h(368),w(475),sy] SUNPAW'S tail flicked to and fro behind the young lioness as she regarded the four paths they had found. LionClan, LeopardClan, TigerClan and CheetahClan? Meeting here? It seemed like the only reasonable idea but Sunpaw's only question was why? The clans had always been independent of one another. If one clan sought out another, it was for an alliance to attack another clan. Sunpaw hadn't even been alive the last time such an alliance had been made. When was the last time this clearing had even been used? Why had it been abandoned, if it really was a meeting place? A frown furrowed the young she-cat's brow as she turned her head to look at the big rock at the clearing's heart. Her honey eyes then went to Monarchpaw, the scrawny cheetah was looking at her expectantly, except for once Sunpaw wasn't quite sure what to do. SHOULD they go tell the clans that they'd rediscovered this mysterious meeting place? Sunpaw was pretty sure Swiftstar would be interested, he was pretty open minded about most things. But what if he knew why the clearing had been abandoned and got mad at her for bringing it up? Sunpaw's tail twitched irritably as she began to pace, long loping strides one way and then turning abruptly to pace the other way, golden eyes looking at the dark grass under her paws. She couldn't tell Elkwhisker because he was be sure to get mad, and only because she'd left the territory alone in the middle of the night. Don't even get her started on how mad Elkwhisker would be if he found out Sunpaw had been with a cheetah, even if that part wasn't even her fault. "WHY would the clans stop using this place?" Sunpaw asked suddenly, sitting back on her haunches with a huff. "The trails looked really worn into the ground, like they'd been used for a long time and then suddenly everybody just...stopped. But we can't show anybody because I bet they'll get mad...Elkwhisker always gets mad when I show him stuff." SUNPAW was frustrated. That much was obvious. She was a fantastic leader, confident and forward-thinking but...she was no fan of puzzles and long, drawn out plans. She just didn't have the will to sit still long enough and plot things out if they didn't really interest her. Trying to riddle out what this place was and why it was suddenly so unimportant, yeah that was more sitting still than Sunpaw really cared for. Plus she couldn't even figure out why she thought it was interesting or important at all. It wasn't like anyone would start using this place again just because a pair of weirdo apprentices had found it. The leaders and warriors might be curious for a little bit but then they'd walk away and it would be abandoned again. Totally pointless. A waste of time. In the end it just wouldn't be worth it to risk getting in huge amounts of trouble just to show that they'd found a clearing when there wasn't even anything special about it. Okay, it might have been a meeting place at one time a long time ago, might have been. So what? There were millions of clearings in TigerClan and LeopardClan while LionClan and CheetahClan were practically nothing but one big clearing. This place wasn't special, it was just...weird. LOOKING over at Monarchpaw, the young lioness curled her tufted tail around her side to her paws, the end curling slightly. "Who were you running away from anyway?" FROM the sound of it, this cheetah, Monarchpaw, had been running from a clanmate. A cranky clanmate. Sunpaw was of course no stranger to it since she tended to get on the last nerve of many of her clanmates but the young she-cat found it oddly amusing that she wasn't the only one. Her mother, Skyfeather, used to tiredly say that if there were two of Sunpaw, she had no idea what the clan would do with the two of them since Sunpaw was always getting into trouble or annoying someone or another. Normally she didn't pay much attention to the lot of it, dismissing it as a lot of fuss over nothing but now she was interested. Did all apprentices get in trouble like she did? She'd been the only apprentice in her clan since she'd been named an apprentice and given to Elkwhisker to train so Sunpaw had very little to observe in the way of how other apprentices acted. The idea of not being the only troublemaker or youthful spirit in the clans intrigued Sunpaw, perhaps more than her starry discovery of the mystery meeting place. Tagged;; Monarchpaw Words;; 812 Singing;; "Wild at Heart" by Gloriana Notes;; sorry it took so long! [/scrolly]

[` hatter !]

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[atrb=background,http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo205/wowee333/MONARCHMIDDLE2.png] As Sunpaw’s mind raced into what exactly they should do with this discovery, as did Monarchpaw’s. On one hand, the look of awe in her clanmates eyes as she animatedly described the tale to how she had come across this discovery grabbed her attention. They would ask her questions, she would lead them to this very spot, relish in the fact that she had been the one to locate the lost clearing. But Monarchpaw was not so egotistical that she would not consider the consequences. Lurking from camp late at night, fraternizing with an apprentice from another clan. Tearstar, the introverted fellow, might even venture up the need to punish her. Perhaps give her elder duty- or worse.. helping the medicine cat. At this, Monarchpaw shuddered, distaste of the idea forming like bile on her tongue and beginning to pace as Sunpaw did. Another habit; one they seemed to share. Besides, they would never be able to return to this spot without being bombarded by quarries; she wasn’t really sure she wanted to give it up. A secret; an adventure, just for their eyes. Her clan could wait for just a second. Yes, they would keep it to themselves. In reply, Monarchpaw nodded to Sunpaw, who was looking frustrated. Thinking, that’s what she was doing. Don’t hurt yourself now, she mused at herself. The look passed, and Sunpaw seemed to have moved on. It wasn’t the history that was really important anyways, just the idea of this small piece of freedom. It was an odd thought, clans meeting together all at once. If that were to happen now, she could only imagine the bloodshed and feuds that would break out. Impossible, the clans being on peaceful grounds. Had they actually don’t that in the past? She shrugged, dropping the idea entirely. It made her brain hurt. “Dawnflower would probably tell me to stay away, that it was dangerous.” She drew out her last word, like a nettle sting. Dangerous, pfft. This place was harmless. Mind you, Dawnflower thought everything was a danger. Of course, her and Sunpaw seemed to be the same in this. “They probably wouldn’t believe us, anyways. Being only lowly apprentices, that is.” The side of her mouth curved up a tad in a lopsided grin and for just a moment she considered knocking into the lion’s shoulder as she always did with her brother when sharing a joke. But this wasn’t Harepaw, and she restrained her self to the grassy floor. "Who were you running away from anyway?" Monarchpaw smiled to herself, shaking her head just slightly. She had nearly forgotten her hunter in the questions the clearing had brought. She wasn’t exactly jumping with joy at the idea of returning to camp. If she had simply stayed in her nest and explained to Slittedwing her innocence, there would have been no punishment. Then again, she wouldn’t have met the golden apprentice. Let bygones be bygones as they say. “That would be Slittedwing. Old as time, cranky as a hog. If you couldn’t tell, I’m her favorite.” Her voice was dripping in sarcasm, distasteful and crude. It was probably disgraceful to treat her clan medicine cat as such, but that really wasn't Monarchpaw's problem. Slittedwing was asking for it. No one liked her. She turned to sweep the clearing one more time, blinking up at the glittering stars, lingering there for a couple of seconds before returning to gaze at Sunpaw, running her forepaw over her ears. “Oh, and I’m sorry for tackling you into the dirt. Didn’t really have a choice.” Alright, so maybe she had somewhat of a choice- she could have just whispered a warning. Spur of the moment was how she rolled. The cheetess shrugged nonchalantly, tone only half-way apologetic. It wasn’t like Sunpaw was injured or anything. Notes- Short my dear, and long wait ._.' *hands cake to make up for it*

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[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i40.tinypic.com/103zwcj.jpg] [scrolly:h(293),w(440),sy] SLITTEDWING? Sunpaw shot Monarchpaw a questioning look. Did all cheetahs have funny names? The other one, Monarchpaw's mentor, Dawnflower or whatever, had at least sounded normal. Sunpaw couldn't imagine any lioness ever naming one of their kits 'Slittedkit.' That just sounded...wrong. Rolling her golden eyes at the oddness of the willowy-framed felines of the savanna, she trotted back over to the big rock in the heart of the clearing. Muscles already well developed at ten moons old coiled under her short gold pelt and in one fluid motion she leaped on top. It was a big boulder, bigger than most she climbed but Sunpaw was a strong jumper and climber. She'd even had one of the other warriors, Leafshadow, teach her a few tricks since the older lioness was also an avid climber. Sunpaw liked the prospective height gave her, the change of view so to speak. It was nice to see things from a different angle from time to time instead of peering at it through the tall grass. Maybe that was why cheetahs were so tall? So they could see things the lower-down cats couldn't? Sunpaw mentally swatted the thought away. Cheetahs were just weird. "IT'S okay," Sunpaw said when Monarchpaw apologized for knocking her down earlier. Unlike cheetahs, lions were made of tougher stuff, not all thin and gangly with bones like the birds, light and thin. "Elkwhisker throws me around a lot during training, I'm used to it." Padding to the edge of the rock and looking down at Monarchpaw, Sunpaw dropped into a crouch, golden eyes backlit by the moon. "What's your mentor like?" IT was a question she probably wasn't supposed to ask. If he were here, Elkwhisker probably would have given her a good swat upside the head with one of his big paws. He'd say something along the lines of she needed to learn to keep her mouth shut or there were some questions you don't ask, especially since Monarchpaw would probably think Sunpaw was digging for CheetahClan secrets or something. To be honest, the young lioness didn't care about clan secrets, she didn't even know any about her own clan. They were just apprentices after all. Deputies, medicine cats and leaders were the ones that knew the secrets and Sunpaw had no desire to hunt up any of those from CheetahClan, especially since the medicine cat sounded like a ray of sunshine to be around. Sunpaw just wanted...some kind of companionship was about the closest she could figure. She was lonely in LionClan. Sometimes Elkwhisker was okay but there weren't other apprentices for her to spar with or bicker with or train with when her mentor was busy with whatever it was warriors did. Leafshadow liked her well enough and Stormwind was always up for a game but in general Sunpaw didn't know any cats her own age. It was...really depressing when she actually thought about it. HAVING somebody to talk to, spar with and vent to...was it odd that something like that appealed to Sunpaw more than guarding clan secrets? She knew she shouldn't be talking to a cheetah. Lions were supposed to be proud and noble with all the strength and family they needed wrapped up neatly in the clan. For a long time Sunpaw had bought into the idea and still believed quite firmly that her clan and family were her biggest strengths. They may think she was annoying sometimes but the cats like Runningfire and Loudheart and Stormwind made it nice, they believed in everyone and had hearts of gold. Now though there was another apprentice that knew the stresses of an annoying mentor and the lack of cooperation from other apprentices when it was important. She would understand. Surely things like that weren't exclusive to a single clan? IT would be nice having someone around that wasn't constantly calling Sunpaw small or telling her she should settle for just being a warrior like everyone else. As far as lions went, for her age Sunpaw definitely wasn't stocky and muscular. She followed a line more along her mother's physique, thin but powerful, as pretty as a picture. For right now she still looked a bit out of proportion because her feet were a tad too big but she was still growing. By the time she became a warrior, if ever, she'd be without a doubt an eye-catcher, supple and beautifully gold with bright eyes and a sleek form. For now she was just...small. Leaders weren't small. No one hesitated in pointing that out to her. Ever. Leaders weren't snobby little apprentices that got in over their heads or constantly got under people's feet. Leaders were strong and smart and beautiful and sure of themselves. They were cats with experience and power on their side. Not little lionesses that dreamed too big. MAYBE Monarchpaw had that problem? Cats that didn't listen or didn't want to listen... Tagged;; Monarchpaw Words;; 851 Singing;; "Girl Next Door" by Saving Jane Notes;; ^^ these two will be such good friends <3 [/scrolly]

[` hatter !]

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[atrb=background,http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo205/wowee333/MONARCHMIDDLE2.png] Monarchpaw could not restrain the jealous prickings at her little heart as Sunpaw so fluidly and effortlessly slipped onto the rock yet again. God, they just kept going back and forth, and it wore on Monarchpaw’s limbs. There had to be something more entertaining in this clearing then a stupid, ancient boulder that though once was cherished, was now entirely pointless. Pft. Sunpaw could jump high- so what? She doubted- no, knew, that the lion could never catch the prey that graced CheetahClan territory. Ha, what a funny joke that would be, the clumsy, savannah-dwelling creature lumbering after a piece of prey. Monarchpaw could imagine even the gazelles giving a chuckle as the slow feline trailed behind. She mused to herself, lips crinkling into a sly smile. "What's your mentor like?" Well, that was a good question. How could she describe Dawnflower without delving too deep into her history? Lately, she had been trailing cats like Rapidfire, no doubt with nudging from Dawnflower, and inheriting training from them. It was simply the only way to do things, if a little bit unorthodox. A defensive quirk sprung up in her mind, wanting to protect her mentor from the glare of Sunpaw’s disapproval. She did not see her new friend understanding the reasons that attributed to Dawnflower’s timidness. Then again, Monarchpaw never really pictured herself buying into it, either. Sunpaw seemed the type to aim big, follow her heart, never look back. Become a warrior worthy of respect. At least, this was what Monarchpaw could gather in their first encounter. Perhaps she was shy, perhaps she was just looking for a friend. Was there many apprentices in LionClan? Was CheetahClan the only clan short of young cats? Her mind was wandering, this she knew, and it took her a few moments to respond to Sunpaw’s question. She shrugged languidly, deciding upon portraying her in a brighter light- stretching the truth as she liked to do. Besides, she didn’t want to give away a possible weakness to a lion, if only to avoid being bested. “Dawnflower is easy to get along with. She doesn’t push or anything like that, but she’s a great teacher.” Alright, so she was a fine teacher. The beginning was true, or at least mostly true. After their initial moon of a speed bump, the two, mentor and student, had found a happy medium or distance and closeness. Monarchpaw was still known to roll her eyes at a command, feel frustrated if Dawnflower refused to show her something, or come very close to shooting barbs of cruel words, but they had grown used to one another, even left camp on occasion for exploration, after a constant stream of nagging from Monarchpaw, rather than business. Compared to her Dawnflower, this Elkwhisker (vaguely, Monarchpaw pictured what an elk with whiskers would look like) sounded harsh. The question itself was actually quite intrusive considering the clan barrier. Any warrior in CheetahClan, she was sure of it, would find it inappropriate at best. Sunpaw was just making conversation though, looking for a.. friend? The idea was alluring to Monarchpaw. Secrets and sneaking around in the night to visit a cat of an entirely different species. What an idea. The greatest adventure of all time. Harepaw would probably be disappointed if he ever found out. It wouldn’t last long though, and therefore Monarchpaw wasn’t all that worried. Harepaw, along with many other clan mates, could never stay mad at her for long. Well, minus Slittedwing. Her pretty gaze fell upon the sky, and she silently imagined StarClan ancestors leaving their starry heavens to greet her. Generally, her faith in StarClan was more of a mandatory thing- not so much on a deep level. She heartily swore to them, using their name in vain, and occasionally praying futile things. Standing here, with the blanket of the milky way hanging over head, she felt oddly connected to them. She planted herself to the grassy flooring, allowing the breeze to ruffle her fur and sweeping her spotted tail over her rosebud paws. She returned her attention to Sunpaw, squinting up through golden eyelids, and said bluntly. “It’s weird that we’re talking like this, you know. Cheetahs and lions aren’t supposed to be friends.” She smiled then, a small smile. “It’s kind of a good weird, though, don’t you think?” Her eyes filled with a mischievous light. Notes- I love them<3

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[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i43.tinypic.com/1z2kui0.jpg] [scrolly:h(368),w(475),sy] JEALOUSY shot through Sunpaw when Monarchpaw finally started describing her mentor. From what she heard, Dawnflower sounded nice. That wasn't to say that Elkwhisker was mean but from Sunpaw's point of view he was pushy and stuffy, full of old ideals and too much loyalty. He'd never talk to a cat of another clan, never even glance at them. Heck, if one was on fire he probably wouldn't so much as kick dust at it. That was how lions in his time were raised apparently or something like that. Lions also tended to be a bit...rougher than other clans except maybe TigerClan. Sunpaw was pretty sure it had to do with the size difference. She couldn't imagine cheetahs sparring without someone snapping a leg in two by accident, as thin as the limbs looked. She simply couldn't imagine something like that taking down a gazelle or antelope. They could probably outrun it with ease but actually bringing it down? That required weight and hard muscle mass. It funny actually, thinking of a cat like Monarchpaw out hunting an elephant or something. They probably didn't even consider those a possible food source in CheetahClan. In LionClan it was a rare treat when the leader gathered the clan in one big hunt. It was usually an annual occasion sometime in the summer when prey was hard to find because of the droughts. Either way it didn't sound like Monarchpaw's mentor regularly sent her tumbling across the training clearing with a single swat to the head because he forgot his own strength. Nope, that was all Elkwhisker. "LUCKY," Sunpaw muttered, laying her head on her paws and looking down at her dapple-pelted companion. "My mentor seems out to kill me just because he's so big and forgets how strong he is sometimes." THE thought struck the young lioness that maybe Monarchpaw had never seen a fully grown male lion? If clans used to gather here, then maybe at one time a young cheetah would know but in this day and age chances were slim to none that Monarchpaw had crossed a male lion. Imagining it in her mind, Sunpaw imagined the young cheetah would laugh at the sight. Sunpaw was so used to the bushy manes and size difference between males and females that she thought nothing but of it but Sunpaw had glimpsed a cheetah patrol once and saw that there was next to no difference between male and female cheetahs. Minor size difference at best and maybe the spots were a little off but that was it. It was a wonder you could really pick a male form a female honestly. Thinking of it in her mind, Sunpaw could just imagine Monarchpaw laughing at the sight of Elkwhisker if he came barging into the clearing, out hunting Sunpaw for leaving camp. 'IT’S weird that we’re talking like this, you know. Cheetahs and lions aren’t supposed to be friends. It’s kind of a good weird, though, don’t you think?' ROUNDED gold auds perked up when Monarchpaw spoke again making Sunpaw raise her head a little from her forelegs. She angled her head to one side and regarded the mischievous expression on her...friend's face. She thought about it and found herself smiling in response. Yeah, it was weird. There were so many things they didn't know about each other and so many physical differences between them. Monarchpaw was taller than her but as thin as a branch while she was powerfully built and growing finely into a supple lioness's frame. Sunpaw could jump and pounce thanks to her powerful legs but Monarchpaw was as fast as a striking snake. Sunpaw's frame was built to take a beating, layered with firm muscle and deep gold fur. Monarchpaw was willowy and graceful, all delicate bones and small paws with light fur dappled with black spots. They were so different and yet...Sunpaw didn't want to hate her. Didn't want to leap down and sink her claws into the other's fur. Didn't want to make her bleed the way the clan taught her. She'd been taught how to hunt cheetahs, to let them run until their speed ran out and then take them down when they were tired, using their greater weight as an advantage. Sunpaw had no desire to put those teachings into action. Instead she dropped down off the big rock so she was standing in front of Monarchpaw, moonlight sliding over her short pelt. "YEAH, it's weird but I think weird is usually good," Sunpaw agreed, tufted tail waving behind her in a friendly fashion. "You're not as stuck up as my mentor said cheetahs were, it's nice to know." A light of mischief came into Sunpaw's eyes, lighting up their honey gold color, a smile curling on her maw. "But I bet you still fight like sissies." THERE was no real menacing in the tone, no threat, just teasing. Sunpaw seldom got to spar with other apprentices, seeing as the only other apprentice that had shared the den during her apprenticeship had been Stormwind right at the tail end of her own apprenticeship. Stormwind had moved out about four days after Sunpaw had moved in, moving up to become a warrior at sixteen moons leaving Sunpaw the only apprentice. Now she was feeling restless and wondered if Monarchpaw would take the challenge of a friendly spar. Sunpaw would sheathe her claws of course, seeing as her long hooked claws could easily tear apart a thin cat like Monarchpaw with no thick skin or muscle to protect the bones. SUNPAW dropped into a crouch and watched to see what Monarchpaw would do. Tagged;; Monarchpaw Words;; 970 Singing;; "Blackout" by Breathe Carolina Notes;; ^^ [/scrolly]

[` hatter !]

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[atrb=background,http://i376.photobucket.com/albums/oo205/wowee333/MONARCHMIDDLE2.png] Without really becoming aware of it, Monarchpaw felt the warming twang of sympathy for Sunpaw. The thought of Dawnflower bowling into her, forgetting her own strength, made the she-cat chuckle aloud. What a hilarious thought. That would be the day that she sprouted wings and flew across the broad oceans in one giant swoop. As much as she wanted strength, she didn’t want it to come with the price of being batted around like a teddy bear. Male lions seemed like tyrants, from what Monarchpaw had seen of them. Their bushy manes, so perpetually odd-looking, and their proud, glazed-over eyes. The difference in size was so odd, so pointless. Why would males be larger? Clan mates were supposed to do the same amount of work, lend equal hands in hunting and defending the camp from intruders. What if only females were occupying the camp, all the toms sent out to patrol borders, when a horde of lynxes invaded? They would be at a clear disadvantage. The muscle masses in cheetahs varied from cat to cat, but never from gender to gender. It made females seem like the weaker sex, when they certainly were not. Monarchpaw had really only seen a patrol of lions, up close, once. Her eyes had widened at the oncoming opposing clan mates, tensing her muscles for hostility or scrimmage. They had passed with merely a cordial nod- but not before the young apprentice could catch a glimpse of the over-done hair flowing from the lion’s broad (excessively so) head. The femme had attempted to stifle her giggle, overwhelmed by how ridiculous it all was, but it tumbled from her maw, making way for a fit of laughter. The warriors had scolded her, narrowing their eyes in embarrassment, but it had only made her choke on her laughter even harder. Woe is life. Like that hunking beast could catch up to a speeding gazelle, unless, of course, the thing was injured. Had that male been this Elkwhisker? He definitely could have been, based on Sunpaw’s description. If this was so, she hadn’t liked the look in his eyes as he passed her by. Too self-assured. Distasteful of her clan, of cheetahs. He could’ve taken her small frame down in a well-aimed swipe, and he knew it. That is, if he could catch her. Without even meeting her companion’s mentor she was sure she would hate him. Even now, sitting in the starry clearing, she could feel her dislike blossoming. Snap judgements, what Monarchpaw was infamously known for. When Sunpaw smiled back at her, Monarchpaw’s smile lifted even higher, beaming in the cascading moonlight. So she felt it too, this oddly, or maybe not so oddly, matched friendship. If she had been a lion, or if Sunpaw had been a cheetah, they would have been inseparable, with their even personality and will for excitement. Perhaps it was destiny, in this place so close to StarClan. It’s not like she was stupid enough to betray her clan or anything like that. She wanted a friend, and therefore she would have a friend. It was instilled in their bones to have a general dislike for the other clans, to feel like they are your competition. It’s always been like that, few stories ever portraying the other species in a positive, peaceful light. There was never many tales about them, period. They coexisted, yes, but never too closely. So why was Monarchpaw finding herself unwilling to muster up any animosity, any venom, towards her new friend. How could she? That is, hate the mirror image of herself, despite their clear unlikeness in image. When the lion, a couple moons older than she, landed in front of her, Monarchpaw met her stare evenly, a quick challenge blooming. “And you’re not as pigheaded as everyone thinks lions are. You must be a freak then, hey?” She teased, turning to the side. “How much would you bet on that?” Her keen eyes flickered over Sunpaw’s flank, weighing the possibilities. Size, bulk, and strength, her weaknesses. Agility, litheness, and quick-thinking, her advantages. She was deftly sure she would be able to dodge, leap back, and turn with enough speed, though if she outright attacked it was likely her paws would be countered and thus far dragged to the ground. A dangerously playful curl on her fine face as she completely turned away from Sunpaw, shrugging loosely, as if to prepare her muscles. A brawl with someone her own age, what fun. A treat that could possibly become a habit, if she played this correctly. Without so much as a warning and quicker than sound itself, she whirled, pulled herself just slightly to the left, subtly as not to seem predictable, only noticeable. At the very last second, she tilted right, dragging her willowy paw in a hook as to catch Sunpaw’s waiting front legs from under her. The apprentice ducked low to the floor, to defy a swipe from above. Whether she came to a solid hit or not, Monarchpaw returned to her previous position with an adder-fast precision. Something Rapidfire had managed to drill into her mind. Lions were head-on fighters, therefore you had to be the opposite. Anger them, threaten pride, goad them, be crafty as to come out on top. A game, a well-played game. Notes- nay

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[atrb=background,http://i43.tinypic.com/1z2kui0.jpg] [scrolly:h(368),w(475),sy] When Monarchpaw accepted her challenge, Sunpaw could have leaped for joy. She hadn't sparred in forever! Not with anyone her own size anyway and Monarchpaw was probably as close as she would get to that. The older cats she was forced to spar with easily out-dueled her in minutes, landing a solid strike to her head or knocking her flank and sending her back legs flying out from under her. Facing a cat like Monarchpaw almost left Sunpaw unsure of exactly what to do. Monarchpaw was no lion. She wasn't big and bulky and despite what clan law might dictate, Sunpaw didn't want to hurt her. Those thin legs looked about as breakable as dry sticks and what about her ribs? There seemed to be almost no muscle between the spotted fur and delicate ribs. Add that to the fact that Sunpaw knew cheetahs were fast and it was obvious this would be an interesting match. A solid, spry lioness against an agile, flighty cheetah. Oh well, it would be good practice even if Sunpaw didn't want to think of using this against another cheetah. Pushing the thought away, Sunpaw lashed her tail, gold eyes lighting up as they regarded the spotted apprentice across from her. Normally, lions were taught to attack first. Attacking first let you direct the battle, let you make the moves and put you one up on your opponent. Not to mention most lion versus lion fights were battles of strength so they usually ended up crashing together like boulders, but that wasn't the point. Sunpaw was always told to get the first move, draw first blood. Why exactly, she couldn't say. Elkwhisker was big on the hows and whys of battle but Sunpaw not so much. She just found a groove that worked and stuck with it, even if it didn't really agree with her mentor's ideals. On a normal day though, Sunpaw didn't mind being quick to start a battle and making the first moves. Now though she was against a totally different animal, literally, so she decided to be a bit smarter about her fighting and see what Monarchpaw would do before she attacked. As fast as an angry adder, Monarchpaw was moving. In the blink of an eye she lashed out with her paw. Sunpaw moved on instinct, drawing her front paws up and back, prancing back a few paces, feeling the tips of Monarchpaw's claws brush her front leg. A little slower and she'd have lost her footing, easily. Planting her paws, Sunpaw forced herself to analyze and think like Elkwhisker was always telling her to. Thin legs, low muscle density on sides. Legs were vital for running, for fleeing. Immobilize the legs and land a solid blow to the ribs to wind her. Three strikes and Monarchpaw could be stunned if Sunpaw was right. The trick would be getting close enough since Monarchpaw was quite quick with lashing out like some sort of irritated snake. And the one thing Sunpaw had learned about cheetahs was that their claws didn't retract like hers did so she'd have to watch it but she kept her own claws sheathed. If she could bully her way close enough and land a solid headbutt to Monarchpaw's side to wind her, Sunpaw could flip her on her back and win the duel. An idea came to mind and the young lioness was in motion. With two powerful bounds, Sunpaw threw herself into Monarchpaw's personal space. She was barely a whisker's width from the cheetah's nose, more or less nose to nose with her. Lashing out with one of her paws, claws hidden, she aimed to strike Monarchpaw's head. She didn't put as much force into it as she could have or probably would have if she was sparring with a clanmate but she didn't want to hurt Monarchpaw. WIP Tagged;; Words;; Singing;; Notes;; [/scrolly]