One Terrible Evening... }open{

[}M.idnight]

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[atrb=background,http://i56.tinypic.com/9uaj2r.jpg] 'Pain... So much pain. And blood. There's a lot of that too.'

[/i] Stumbling along a small path, worn by several paw steps over the year, a young black leopard walks. With ever paw step, pain surges throughout his body, making him trip over tree roots and other forest debris. A trail of blood following him. He looked up to the sky. 'Completely pitch black, not even a moon to help me see where I might be going.' He thought with desperation. He push forward, trying to ignore the searing pain from the cuts and claw wounds.

His father had found him again, and really meant to kill him. 'Or was that another black leopard?' He didn't know anymore. So many things had tried killing him on the journey. He was close to the end, both figuratively and literally. He could feel his body give up on him, paws feeling heavier than normal and his breathing more shallow and ragged. "I hurt so bad, mother. I don't think I can go on much longer." He stepped down and his paw slipped, causing him to fall forward. 'I can't get up... I'm done for. Barely eight moons old and I think I'm close to the end of my rope. Maybe my father was right.' He thought with a shudder.

He curled up on his side, right under a large tree. He looked up at the branches, watching them sway a light breeze. 'Ugh, I can't give up! I need to keep pushing forward! Some other big cats told be about a group of cats like me called Leopardclan. I have to know if it's real.' He struggled to his paws, limbs shaking and head feeling like, but he started to walking.

Breaking into a small run, he could feel every muscle in his body screaming at him to stop, all the cuts and wounds searing with immense about of pain and fresh blood soaking into his dark pelt. As he neared a entrance to something, he didn't know to what, his vision started to blur and his paw steps slowed. 'No, no, no! I have to keep going. I can feel that I'm close.'

He gulped down large breaths, feeling his chest tighten. He stopped running and even stopped walking. He lied down near the entrance, trying to catch his breath. His eyelids felt heavy but he refused to fall asleep, and tried his best to stay somewhat awake.

Word count: 404
Character: Ravenpaw
Background song: Mother Murder by Hollywood Undead
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[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/208jjgl.jpg] [scrolly:h(452),w(400),sy] THE clearing was quiet, in the height of summer, a gentle breeze caressing the guarding trees that surrounded it. Gentle slopes led to the clearing's heart where a single black leopard sat. Golden eyes observed the empty clearing, confusion coloring his visage. Normally cats crowded the clearing, leopards, tigers, lions, cheetahs and others he'd never known. Tonight though, it was void of life. What was going on? Looking left and right, Midnight confirmed his suspicion. No one was there. Finally drawing his amber gaze skyward, he looked up to where a navy blue night sky was studded with bright silver stars. Just above the treetops, a full moon was perched like a graceful white bird. It was the only sky Midnight had ever seen and seeing it now, he felt a smile tugging at his lips, until a flicker in the stars caught his eye. HIGH above, one of the stars threw itself from the heavens. Black ears perked up. Another flung itself earthward. Wary now, Midnight stood, eyes never leaving the sky. One by one the stars began throwing themselves from the heavens, abandoning the navy blue sky and plummeting to the ground. Midnight's heartbeat picked up and hammered in his narrow chest. WITH a gasp, Midnight jerked awake. Amber eyes flared open only to see...nothing. Breathing ragged, Midnight sat up, slowly taking in the familiar scents of his clearing off of the LeopardClan camp clearing. He was in his den, tucked in the tree where he'd slept since he joined the clan. His amber eyes were milky gold, clouded by cataracts and rendering him blind. His dream was over but he could still see it in his mind's eye, stars throwing themselves from the sky. He'd had such a dream before. When he had woken up, his mentor, Goldenclaw, had been dead in his nest, taken to StarClan in the night. SUCKING in a deep breath and letting it out, Midnight pushed himself up and out of his den dug under a large tree. He knew where each other nest was, some tucked in hollowed logs or dug into the roots of other trees. These nests were where his patients slept when they were needed. Tonight however, the small clearing that was Midnight's domain was quiet and empty. Sightless gold eyes swept the clearing, his nose doing the seeing for him. No one had come in, not since Cloudclaw had dropped off some prey for him just before dusk. The knowledge that his home was undisturbed did not sate the restlessness that crawled under Midnight's skin however. Wondering if Wrenstar might be awake to share his dream with, Midnight moved through the screen of undergrowth that divided his den from the rest of the camp clearing. He felt the openness of camp around him, heard the quiet snores from the warriors den and felt the cool moonlight caress his dark pelt. ALL was calm and quiet. UNTIL Midnight smelled blood. EARS perking, claws unsheathing, the sleek leopard bounded toward the camp's entrance. He knew the route by heart, he knew every inch of the territory better than any warrior so he made it in record time from his clearing across camp. Slipping through the entrance, Midnight followed the stench of blood until he felt the tip of his paw brush something when he went to take a step. Fur. Mentally sighing at his lack of vision, Midnight carefully lowered his head and swept it from left to right until he touched it this time with his nose. Yep, fur. A small body was sprawled just in front of the camp entrance. Midnight's brows furrowed. Too small for a warrior, too big for a kit. Wasn't LeopardClan without apprentices at the moment? GIVING a gentle nudge to the small thing, Midnight spoke, his voice calm and soothing, "Little one, can you wake up for me? For just a moment?" Tagged;; Ravenpaw Word Count;; 650 Background Song;; "Call Me" by Shinedown Notes;; I couldn't resist since Midnight is the medicine cat and all, later we'll probably need Wrenstar if he's not already in the clan [/scrolly]

[}M.idnight]

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[atrb=background,http://i56.tinypic.com/9uaj2r.jpg] A small sound came from the young black leopard’s throat; somewhere between a gurgle and some sort of word. He slowly opened his eyes and felt warm, soft grass beneath his paws. There was no pain, no blood, just him and the sun against his back. ‘But it was just night a second ago…’ He walked forward, birds chirped around him and he could hear the sound of other big cats about. They looked at him and smiled, but went back to what they were doing. Then he saw her… “Mother!” He roared happily, a purr followed him as he rushed forward. He nuzzled against her chest, and felt as if his heart would burst. “I’ve missed you, but you've been dead for so long…” Then reality hit, hard. He looked up at his mother, tears in his eyes. “I- I’m not dead… Am I?” Worry was thick in his voice. Taking a step back, he felt his stomach heave. “No, little one, but you are very close, sadly.” Pain clouded the larger black leopard’s eyes as she looked down at her son. She placed a paw on his head, muttering unheard of words and closing her eyes. Fear pulsed in the young cat’s heart; he didn’t want to die! She removed her paw and looked back at him. “You have to go back. You can’t be here, not yet at least.” She took a deep breath and then continued. She placed her cheek against his and muttered in his ear, “You have to promise me something. Wake up, my son. Can you just wake up for me? For just a moment…” The world around him started to fade, and he saw a tear slip down his mother’s cheek. Then, everything came slamming back into his body; all the pain, the feel of the dried blood and the ache in his muscles. He quickly forced opened his dull golden eyes at the sound of a voice mixed with his mother’s. His body jerked hard as he tried to stand, opening up his wounds once more. His claws slid out, digging into the soft earth beneath his paws. “Please don’t kill me! I’m too young to die!” His voice held desperation and fear entered his eyes. He tried to take a step back and let out low growl and a very pitiful hiss, before collapsing back down on to the forest’s floor. His body quivered and his breaths came in shallow and raspy gasps. His heart thudded in his chest, causing him even more pain. He looked at the other cat again and a whisper escaped his mouth, “Please, I just want to live. I’m not ready to die, I was even told so.” Word count: 453 Character: Ravenpaw & Midnight Background song: I Don't Wanna Die by Hollywood Undead Notes: It's all good. And he is part of the clan, I think. I put him in the clan when I filled out his application. So I hope it's all good.

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/208jjgl.jpg] [scrolly:h(452),w(400),sy] DESPERATION was a tone Midnight hated to hear in any cat's voice. It meant they were much worse off than they may appear, whether physically injured or emotionally compromised. The younger cat's voice was alive with desperation as he babbled. Keen ears picked up the shift of foliage under his paws. His claws were out. Midnight sat up, pulling his nose out of range of the young claws. Sightless gold eyes stared toward the younger tom, their milky golden gaze looking just at his paws. Now he recognized the voice where before the blood had made it nearly impossible to tell. Ravenpaw, an apprentice much like he had been. The product of loners that had found the clan not long ago. Midnight knew it was a hard transition to make and knew walking nightmares happened, but that couldn't be all that had gotten this youngster out of camp at night and then coming back sliced up and bleeding. "PEACE young one, I kill no one. My claws slice herbs, not flesh and I'm sure a clever tom like you could outrun me with ease. Come now young one, I can help you. Come closer and let me see and tell me, who told you not to die?" MIDNIGHT'S voice was calm and soothing like a gentle caress on bird wings. This was a cat many thought should be furious about his lot in life, that should be angry at StarClan for being rendered blind but in all honesty, Midnight felt only peace. He saw what he needed to see through his ears, nose and sense of touch. Herbs sang to him in their special way, his world was mapped and certain, wounds showed themselves to his gentle examinations. He did not need to be a warrior to feel pride in himself. Midnight was content with his lot in life as LeopardClan's medicine cat, just as his mentor before him. He saw the stars in his dreams and brought healing and health to his clan. It wasn't always easy but Midnight fought the same battles his clanmates did, just against smaller opponents. THIS apprentice, one he did not know well, was frazzled and desperate and tired. Midnight didn't need to see him to know the young one had been through rough times. Someone had attacked him, whether clan or loner, Midnight did not know. He would have to wait for the younger cat to tell him, if he would. Midnight had known violence when he was brought to the clan, roughed up once or twice by clan-born apprentices that didn't appreciate sharing their den with a loner. Goldenclaw had promptly taken Midnight into his own den, given him his own nest and in short, given him home. Goldenclaw had been a wonderful mentor and friend. Midnight only hoped he could be half of what his mentor had been. If he achieved that, he would have done plenty in his allotted life. WHAT got Midnight was what Ravenpaw had said. He said someone had told him not to die. A lot of warriors said that in his presence, that they were StarClan cats, usually family or friends that had passed on. If the apprentice was injured enough to see StarClan though, that told Midnight he was worse off than he was letting on. He could speak and move enough to get out of Midnight's reach but that didn't necessarily mean a lot. Midnight needed to inspect the young tom without getting a nose full of claws if it was at all possible. Tagged;; Ravenpaw Word Count;; 590 Background Song;; "Save Me" by Shinedown Notes;; ok ^^ i wasn't sure [/scrolly]

[}M.idnight]

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[atrb=background,http://i56.tinypic.com/9uaj2r.jpg] The apprentice looked up at the bigger cat, even though his vision was somewhat blurry. ‘He’s blind? Interesting.’ He moved slowly to obey his orders, getting shakily to his paws and stumbling over to the medicine cat. He sat down, with ears drooped, shouldered hunched and head hanging. He felt tired, so very tired, but he couldn’t fall back asleep. He knew what would happen if he did that again. ‘I can’t die just yet. I haven’t done anything yet!’ A tiny voice yelled in his head, causing him to flinch ever so slightly. He raised his head slightly to look at the cat’s face and answered his question in a small voice, “It was my mother. She was the one who told me I can’t and shouldn’t die yet.” He took a shaky breath. “That’s not normal, is it?" He dropped his gaze back to his paws; they seemed so far away from him. Then again, everything felt far away. Every muscle hurt and he felt light-headed. The pain in his wounds had disappeared, or he had just gotten used to it. He felt the world sway around him, his stomach clinch and his claws sink into the ground to steady himself. He looked back at the black leopard. “How long will it be until I heal? I’m not going to die, am I?” He held a steady gaze, though every inch of his smaller body screamed for him to lie down. His eyes looked duller then normal and his face had almost a look of defeat on it. He wanted to know, needed to know, if he should prepare for the worst or breathe a sigh of relief. ‘I don’t want my father to know that he could have been right. I will live, if even just to prove him wrong. He won’t get the best of me, not today anyway!’ He still held his gaze on the medicine cat as he looked over his tattered body. He searched his face, looking for answers unseen to question unspoken of. As he searched, he felt more and more comfortable around this cat. ‘Something about him gives me hope. I think I could live happily in this clan. I may not be a substitute for mother, but it could be a close second.’ He let out a long sigh, leaning his head against Midnight’s shoulder and let his warm body help him to stay here in this world. Word count: 408 Characters: Raven & Midnight Background song: Goodbye by My Darkest Days

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/208jjgl.jpg] [scrolly:h(452),w(400),sy] HEARING the little one scuffle unsteadily closer, Midnight offered a small smile probably lost in the night's gloom. Leaning closer, the dark-pelted medicine cat began examining the kit. It didn't take much for Midnight to 'see' the world around him. His touches were feather light, a bare brush of whiskers or the cool of his nose. In his mind's eye, the healer constructed a mental image of Ravenpaw. The apprentice was in a slumped position, a posture that suggested exhaustion most likely from blood loss. His ears drooped and he had an air of tiredness but also of fear that Midnight could practically taste. Moving down the younger cat's neck, Midnight began skimming his nose over the apprentice's flanks and legs. Small wounds and large wounds alike littered the tom's pelt, slicing open sleek fur that was still a bit kit-soft. He gently probed the wounds, finding most of them clotted closed and a few on his legs still sluggishly bleeding. “IT was my mother. She was the one who told me I can’t and shouldn’t die yet. That’s not normal, is it?" RAVENPAW'S words stilled Midnight's examination for a moment before he continued, interest and contemplation in his foggy gold eyes. "It isn't unheard of," Midnight appeased the young tom. "You must have a great destiny for StarClan to turn you away and rouse me in the night. I will take you to my den and then we'll see how long it will take to heal you." GRIPPING the apprentice by the scruff of his neck, Midnight lifted him. He was big for a kit and heavier than Midnight had expected but the medicine cat lifted him with relative ease. Turning, the older tom began making his way into the camp proper. Some would be nervous about being held by a blind cat but those that had been carried by Midnight knew they were in safe hands. Midnight's gait was steady and smooth, born from moons and moons of retracing the same routes and learning every obstacle they held for him. PASSING through a screen of bracken and brambles, Midnight moved into the clearing apart from camp. Moving to a fallen log that had been hollowed, Midnight set Ravenpaw in the next tucked within the log. Nudging the apprentice to make sure he was properly in the comforts of the nest, Midnight turned and slipped into his own den, sniffing through the stores of herbs tucked into notches in the den wall. Picking out a few berries, some poppy seeds, cobwebs, and a few choice leaves, Midnight gathered them all in a fern's frond, folding the long leaf into a package. Picking up the package, Midnight turned and slipped out of his den and strode toward the nest where he'd left Ravenpaw. CROUCHING down beside the nest, Midnight began chewing berries and mixing the leaves into a paste. "StarClan has been in my dreams as well tonight. It is nothing to be ashamed of young one, it is a gift. Have you dreamed of them before?" DABBING his paw in the paste and berry mix, Midnight delicately dabbed the paste onto the wounds. It would sting a bit but it would numb the wounds in moments. Once the wounds were covered in the numbing paste, Midnight placed swaths of cobwebs over the paste to keep the paste from getting rubbed off. Tagged;; Ravenpaw Word Count;; 562 Background Song;; "Moonlight Senota" Notes;; <3 [/scrolly]

[}M.idnight]

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[atrb=background,http://i56.tinypic.com/9uaj2r.jpg] Ravenpaw let the older black leopard take him away from the forest. He curled his tail and paws up close to him so as to not make the medicine cat trip. He watched has he was carried though a curtain of branches and bracken. Being carried like this reminded of his younger years, when his mother would carry him to new places. He closed his eyes and felt safer in this tom’s paws. He was placed in to a hollowed log and instantly curled up in the nest. It felt so warm and it made his muscles stop aching. He watched as the medicine cat walked away and felt fear bubble up in him again. He didn’t want to be left alone. He first saw large black paws, then a bundle of leaves and berries, then Midnight. He smiled weakly and laid he head on his paws, watching the medicine cat mash up the herbs into a paste. He soon felt where the tom put the paste and cringed as the berry and leaf mixture touched his wounds. The pain quickly subsided as the herbs worked their magic. He felt better, but not by much. He still longed to fall asleep, but he didn’t want to be rude. He continued to watch the tom work. “It is nothing to be ashamed of young one, it is a gift. Have you dreamed of them before?" The question bounced around in his mind. He thought for a moment, confusion in his eyes. He raised he head from his paws and coughed slightly, to clear his throat. “Well, no, actually I haven’t. Just tonight and I only really saw my mother. I mean I saw other cats, but not as well she was… I swear it was almost as if she was still alive.” He voice quieted at the end and he dropped his gaze to the medicinal mixture. ‘Why had I been able to reach that place? Why was I so special?’ The thoughts rushed into his head. He didn’t understand. “Tell me. What makes me to special that I got to visit with Starclan tonight? I’ve been had it happen to be before so why now? I’m not so different from any other cat here. I just don’t quite get it.” Frustration kicked into his voice and his tail tip quivered. ‘Why me? Surely there’s someone more special, like Midnight or the leader.’ He licked one of his paws in slow, rhythmic motions. He was still confused and kept one eye on the cat treating his wounds. Word count: 426 Characters: Ravenpaw & Midnight Background song: When You're Young by 3 Doors Down

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/208jjgl.jpg] [scrolly:h(452),w(400),sy] A quiet rumbling purr of amusement rose from the black tom as he carefully sorted through the plants he had brought from his den. Skilled paws and an even more skilled nose sorted through the strong smelling herbs until he found the leaves he'd been looking for. Bowing his head, the tom worked the leaves into a paste before putting it back on another fern frond. Dabbing his paw again in the new paste, Midnight applied it delicately to a cut on one of Ravenpaw's back paws, the pad sluggishly bleeding but the cut itself being quite shallow. The herb Midnight placed on the gash would harden in minutes to protect the shallow cut while the apprentice rested. Work complete, he sat back and turned his head downward, looking in the direction of his young patient. "EVERY cat is special," Midnight told the young tom kindly. "Tonight they visited you in your time of need, just like they do with myself and Wrenstar. I'm sure every warrior sees them at some point." Wrapping his tail around his paws, Midnight arched his neck and gave the fur on his chest a few quick licks. "When I was brought to LeopardClan, my mentor asked me what I could see. I told him I could see stars because I had dreamed of a beautiful clearing with a sky full of stars. It was StarClan's message for me to give Goldenclaw. Every dream you have of them is a message, sometimes spoken clearly and sometimes not. Both tonight and the night Goldenclaw died, I dreamed of falling stars. I did not know what they meant at the time but the message is clearer this time. As it was with you." Nudging a leaf with three poppy seeds on it toward the apprentice, Midnight moved to stand. "Eat these and get some sleep young one. Tomorrow you will speak with Wrenstar about what happened to you tonight." GIVING himself a shake, the black pelted leopard gathered the left over supplies. It had been a long night for everyone and Ravenpaw needed rest, not the constant babbling of a medicine cat. Pausing as he cleaned up, Midnight inhaled a deep breath. The scents of his home washed over him like a comforting tide. Trees. Earth. LeopardClan. Herbs. Berries. Faint prey scents. Nothing to suggest further trouble would be rousing in the darkness. AT last satisfied that his haven was indeed safe, Midnight picked up his left over supplies and turned to go back to his den. He would need some sleep before he went to Wrenstar at dawn. If he didn't get to her before she woke up, he'd never get a hold of her. She was a wonderful leader but as restless as they came and Midnight simply did not have time to go searching all over the territory for her. Sending warriors was practically useless as well seeing as half of them either didn't have time themselves or wouldn't find her any faster than he could. In the end it would just be easier to rest for a bit and then go to Wrenstar's den at dawn and see if they could find out what had injured Ravenpaw so badly. Tagged;; Ravenpaw Word Count;; 536 Background Song;; NA Notes;; NA [/scrolly]

[}M.idnight]

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[atrb=background,http://i56.tinypic.com/9uaj2r.jpg] The young tom smiled at Midnight’s words. They made him happy and less frustrated. He let out a massive yawn and wiped a paw over his face, trying to wipe sleep from his eyes, but it wasn’t helping. He was getting more and more tired by the minutes. Ravenpaw watch as the medicine cat pushed three seeds towards him and got up to walk back to his den. He licked up the seeds, crunching them between his canine teeth. They tasted weird, but were doing their job. He whispered a small goodnight to the tom and curled over on his side. He tucked his nose under his tail, paws folded underneath his body. He felt safe here, much safe that out there in the forest. Midnight was a nice black leopard, very caring and sweet. ‘I’m glad he didn’t get mad about all the questions I asked him.’ He thought with a small smile. The pain he felt was disappearing and fatigue was replacing it. He welcomed it this time, not trying to fight it. He closed his eyes, sending up a silent prayer to Starclan. He thanked them for not letting him die tonight and that Midnight was there to find him. He also sent a prayer to him mother. “Thank you. You saved me from certain doom. I owe my life to you. I hope I’ll get to see you again, hopefully when I’m not sitting on death’s front door step.” He sighed, snuggling down into the nest. He knew his life would be better here. He already had a friend. As sleep fell over him like a heavy blanket, the sounds of the camp around him and the breeze in the trees all acted like a lullaby to him. All he was missing was his mother and Luna lying right next to him. He would sleep well tonight and be ready for the morning’s events. Word count: 318 Characters: Ravenpaw & Midnight Background song: the birds outside my window Notes: FINISHED! Now we wait for Wrenstar.

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/208jjgl.jpg] [scrolly:h(452),w(400),sy] IT was the coo of a mourning dove that roused Midnight. He opened his cloudy golden eyes, the blackness of sleep giving way to the blackness of wakefulness. As usual, before he did anything else, Midnight breathed in deep to study the scents of his clearing outside. Herbs and cool, misty morning air greeted the blind medicine cat's nose. Birds cooed and called sleepily as they roused from their nests, much like the sleepy warriors dragging themselves from their dens to go out on patrols or to hunt or train. Midnight didn't envy them in the slightest. If he truly wanted to, he could probably get away with a bit more sleep since he couldn't hear any movement from his young patient. That however, was not something Midnight did unless his den and clearing were empty since patients needed constant care. So, despite the fact that it was barely dawn, he pulled himself silently from his warm nest and wriggled out of the den's entrance. In moments his ebony paws were damp with dew as he silently tiptoed toward his slumbering patient. LEANING in close as he crouched beside a sleeping Ravenpaw, Midnight inhaled deeply and sought out any signs of infections or new bleeding. Nothing. He could smell the stale blood and the herbal paste he'd made the night before. The cobwebs would need changing soon but that could wait a bit longer until Ravenpaw chose to wake up. The poppy seeds had been perfect for sending the apprentice off to sleep, ensuring fewer nightmares or dreams since it seemed he was prone to them. Flicking his tail from left to right as he thought, Midnight decided he'd sleep a bit longer and rose to stand again. CAREFUL to remain as silent as the dead, Midnight padded away from the hollow log where his patient laid. Slipping through the screen of bracken and brambles, Midnight counted his steps as he strode through the camp's heart. Warriors were groggily groaning as they rose for their duties, some still snoring softly in the shadows of the den. Midnight heard a few familiar voices but didn't stop to socialize, knowing most of his clanmates were too cranky in the morning to be good company anyway. Instead he made his way to the tree stump that was the freshkill pile. Opening his mouth, Midnight breathed in the crisp morning air. The mist tickled his tongue as he drew the air over the scent glands in the top of his mouth, sorting through the scents of the smaller prey kept on the pile. Larger kills were generally shared by a patrol when they returned, seldom left for others since the patrol did all the work to catch them. That didn't bother Midnight so he simply sorted through until he found a pair of rabbits, fresh kills not even dew covered. ADJUSTING the pair so he could carry both, Midnight picked them up and turned, wondering in the back of his mind if Ravenpaw had woken up while he was gone. He sort of hoped not. He had noticed the scent of fear around the young apprentice when he had gone to his den the night before, almost like the little one was afraid of being alone, though Midnight couldn't imagine him being afraid within the camp's confines. Shrugging to himself, Midnight moved to go back only to pause when he caught a whiff of Wrenstar's scent. FRUSTRATION shot through the black pelted tom as he put down the rabbits to properly inspect the breeze. Yep. The clan leader's scent led straight toward the entrance to the camp and there was no second fresher trail of her coming back. Abandoning the rabbits just to make sure, Midnight made his way to Wrenstar's den and poked his head in. "WRENSTAR?" he called softly in case he was wrong and she was still sleeping. SILENCE greeted him and the echo of his voice in the empty den. Fabulous. Typical. Shaking his head with a sigh, Midnight went back to the rabbits and picked them up. He should have been quicker but oh well. Wrenstar couldn't stay away from camp forever. Tagged;; Ravenpaw Word Count;; 693 Background Song;; "The Impossible" by Joe Nicholas Notes;; [/scrolly]

[}M.idnight]

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[atrb=background,http://i56.tinypic.com/9uaj2r.jpg] The sound of bird chirping back and forth to one another in the trees above his head woke him from his slumber. The morning’s light filtering through cracks in the hollowed log he was put into last night. He uncurled and rolled over, eyes still closed and paws stretched out in front of him. They hung outside of the hollowed log and stayed that way for awhile. When he rolled over, he could fell the sharp sting of his wounds over his small body. After a long sigh and a loud groan, he lazily opened his dull golden eyes. He blinked and narrowed his eyes against the sunlight. He crawled out of the log and stood up next to his next. His eyes widened as he watched leopards padding in and out of the camp and out of dens. He’d never seen so many cats in one place and this place took his breath away. He took a step back and could feel the stinging pain in his pelt. He looked away from the clan’s clearing to his pelt. A frown crossed his face and his heart sank a bit. ‘So many cuts and scratches… Rotten loners and rogues…’ He thought and then a face flashed before his eyes. ‘Dragon, he’s join a band of rogues. It the same band of rogues and loners who did this to me, no doubt about it.’ He heart sank even farther. He wanted to crawl back into his makeshift next and cry, but he knew he couldn’t. The small apprentice looked around the clearing again, still amazed by what he saw. He padded to the middle of the clearing and watched as several of the clan members smiled at him or gave him a look of pity. Anger flared in his belly. He didn’t need anyone feeling sorry for him. He knew he was a pitiful sight right now, but hated to be reminded. He shook his head and started padding around, visiting all the dens and exploring every inch of the camp. He poked his head first into the warriors’ den and was almost run over by a large male leopard. He let out a low growl and pushed him out of the way. He walked away and padded to a smaller den. He poked his head inside. ‘Huh, it’s empty? Strange.’ He walked around and checked a few other dens and found that they, too, were empty. He poked his nose into the medicine cat’s den and a familiar scent washed over him. ‘This is the den of the cat who saved me last night.’ He thought with a smile. He poked his nose back out and looked toward the back of the camp and decided to check that too. He padded over there, sniffing around and picking up two cat scents. One he didn’t know and the other was the cat he met last night. He walked around it and saw the familiar black leopard tom. He ran over to him and rubbed his head against his shoulder, purring like crazy. “Good morning!” He purred. Word count: 515 Character: Ravenpaw & Midnight Background song: The Catalyst by Linkin Park Notes: yay <3

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/208jjgl.jpg] [scrolly:h(452),w(400),sy] STANDING just outside of Wrenstar's empty den, rabbits hanging from his jaws, Midnight prepared to turn and head back to his own den when he heard the scuffle of young uncoordinate paws. Dropping his prizes, the leopard tom sniffed the morning breeze even though he knew there was only one young cat in the camp at the moment. Ravenpaw was up and about. Sightless gold eyes swept the area, though he naturally saw nothing. It was a reflex perhaps from when he'd been very young before the disease from his grandmother Farra had captured his vision. Or maybe he did it to look more normal, for whatever reason though, Midnight still moved his eyes as though he could actually see and blinked like a normal cat though he didn't react the same when light changed since he couldn't sense the change. Now though he could smell and hear the approaching youngster and turned himself so he faced toward the sound as a chipper young voice meowed a greeting. "GOOD morning!” INTENSE purring filled Midnight's keen ears as the young apprentice greeted him by pressing against his shoulder. Midnight leaned his questing nose forward and brushed his nose against the youngster's head in greeting. The sightless tom took the moment to build a mental picture of his patient. Naturally Ravenpaw was small, perhaps a bit small for even an apprentice, but his fur still had a touch of softness that indicated he was only just passing out of kithood. Midnight leaned back and turned his head toward Ravenpaw though his gaze rested someone where around Ravenpaw's front paws. "YOU should still be resting, little one," Midnight chided gently though a soft purr warmed his tone. "I don't believe I told you that you could be up and about quite yet, you had a rough night." RECLINING on his haunches the dark colored tom swept his paw in front of him until he brushed one of the rabbits he'd taken from the fresh kill pile. Nudging it toward Ravenpaw, he swept his paw again until he found the other rabbit and pulled it toward himself with a gentle tug of his claws. "EAT up, and then it's back to my den. Those cobwebs need changed and you'll need a new dose of herbs to keep them from stinging," Midnight told Ravenpaw, all professional and on task, as was his tendency. HE'D been a healer since Goldenclaw took him in. Memorizing herbs had been instinct, cateloging their many scents simple. Remembering what to mix with what had taken some practice but within a few moons, he'd begun mixing most of Goldenclaw's pastes and cures. Gently seeking out internal injuries or breaks in bones had been especially easy since not even a normal medicine cat could see those injuries on a normal basis so it had been easy for Goldenclaw to teach. Now certain mannerisms simply were too instinctual for the black-pelted healer. Putting his patient first and being brisk with their treatment and health was just normal for him. He hoped Ravenpaw wouldn't mistake it for rudeness, he simply wanted to make sure none of the scratches got reopened or infected since there were quite a few of them. Even though he couldn't see Ravenpaw, Midnight knew half of the apprentice's pelt was plastered with cobwebs due to the scratches. He simply hoped Ravenpaw hadn't shaken any off or broken open his wounds while moving around from the den. Tagged;; Ravenpaw Word Count;; 576 Background Song;; "Written in the Stars" by Tinie Tempah Notes;; [/scrolly]

[}M.idnight]

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[atrb=background,http://i56.tinypic.com/9uaj2r.jpg] Ravenpaw groaned a little bit when the medicine cat told him the he really shouldn’t be up and moving around yet. He kneads the ground with his paws and flicked his tail back and forth. “But it was much more exciting out here than in that hollowed log.” He looked at his pelt. “Nothing’s been reopened.” He said, his dull golden eyes sparkling as he talked. ‘Or at least I hope nothing has been reopened.’ He shrugged his shoulders slightly and looked back over his shoulder to clearing. “How come most of the dens are empty? I was exploring and saw no one in them, except for the one over there. I nearly got ran over by a big leopard.” He mewed with slight pout. He looked back at the black leopard and sighed. “Why do you need to change them? What happens if you don’t?” He was a very curious cat and liked to ask many questions. He always liked to learn about each and everything in this big would. He watched as Midnight tossed him one of the rabbits that he had and heard his stomach growl loudly. It had been a few days since he had eaten, but he was small already, so it didn’t show much. He lowered his head to take a bite; letting his canines sink into the rabbit’s fur and meat. He purred loudly and finished off the rabbit in a few hungry gulps. He licked his lips to rid his maw of any leftovers. He smiled at the tom, knowing full well that he couldn’t see it, but he hoped somehow that he knew. “Thank you so very much!” He stood up and stretched, feeling his wounds tighten as he moved. He felt a small trickle of blood run down his shoulder from a large gash. ‘Oh no, I didn’t mean to do that.’ He thought with a frown. He looked at the black medicine cat. “I’m so very sorry. It was an accident.” He flattened his ears against his head and looked away from the tom. ‘If he was my father, I would have had more scratched added to my pelt. I should have stayed in the log and this never would have happened. Maybe I should go to his den and wait for him, before I reopen anymore of my wounds.’ The sad thought snaked its way into his head, making his heart sink. He started to pad in the direction of the medicine cat’s den. His paws dragging on the ground with each step, tail dragging the ground as well. “I’ll wait for you the den.” He muttered. He walked with his head low. ‘He must think I’m mouse-brained. I should have listened to him. After all, he knows better than I do. Then again everyone does, according to my father.’ He sighed. Word count: 474 Characters: Ravenpaw & Midnight Background song: Midnight Runner by Pendulum Notes: Aww poor Raven. His father still haunts him. D:

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/208jjgl.jpg] [scrolly:h(452),w(400),sy] AMUSEMENT sparked in the dark leopard as he listened to Ravenpaw recount his adventures around camp and ask his questions. It reminded Midnight why he loved dealing with apprentices. Their innocent curiosity was simply fascinating. They asked the most basic of questions that often required complex answers. Not a lot of cats were willing to give those complex answers but Midnight loved them. He loved the apprentices that dared to ask those questions because more often than not they were the precious few that deserved the answers. Nibbling at his own rabbit, Midnight decided to wait to answer Ravenpaw so that the apprentice wouldn't choke trying to ask another question. After a few moments though, the dark tom sat up sharply. He heard Ravenpaw moving around, probably standing up, and thanking him for the meal but that wasn't what drew the blind cat's attention. Before Ravenpaw even realized what he'd done, Midnight could smell it. BLOOD. A gash had reopened. STANDING up, Midnight opened his mouth to ask Ravenpaw to sit and let him examine the new opening until the apprentice's voice stopped him before he could start. 'I’m so very sorry. It was an accident. I'll wait in your den...' DEJECTION and sadness colored the apprentice's tone making Midnight's ears twitch. Again he opened his mouth to speak but Ravenpaw was already leaving. Midnight's keen ears could hear his tail tip dragging in the dirt. Startled by the sudden change in the curious apprentice, Midnight was on his feet and moving forward before he could really think about the action. "RAVENPAW stop," Midnight said softly, trotting up to the apprentice only to slightly misjudge the distance. He bumped the younger tom's flank and stumbling. Muttering a curse to his blindness, Midnight stood still for a moment trying to reorient himself. The noises of camp and chattering warriors filled Midnight's ears and he felt the blood rush to his head. Sounds thudded against Midnight's eardrums and he felt as though the world was tilting under his paws. He closed his eyes even though his view didn't change...or at least it shouldn't have. A field of stars exploded in Midnight's vision and he felt himself distantly fall to the ground, landing on his side. A tiger stalked toward him, paws scarlet with blood and yellow eyes lit with bloodlust. An ugly snarl twisted its maw and Midnight could see a pink tint to its teeth. Turning his head, unable to move his feet to flee, Midnight saw a flash of dark golden brown. A lioness lunged at the tiger and they began to fight. Claws slashed through the air, snarls and growls rumbled like thunder. Midnight felt something crawling around his paws and looked down. Rivers of blood pooled around his feet and he felt it pool in his mouth, trickling down his throat, metallic and heavy. Looking up at the fighting pair he saw the lioness fall and the tiger roar in triumph before the scene faded to black. MIDNIGHT blinked. His world was black again. He felt himself panting but he felt detached. His breathing was uneven and raspy and he felt his paws shaking but he couldn't do a thing about it except lay helplessly and wait for the aftershocks of the vision to fade. Tagged;; Ravenpaw Word Count;; 547 Background Song;; "If Today Was Your Last Day" by Nickelback Notes;; had to think of something [/scrolly]

[}M.idnight]

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[atrb=background,http://i56.tinypic.com/9uaj2r.jpg] The young apprentice turned his head to see the leopard tom follow after him. He fell sideways when he had crashed into him. Ravenpaw could feel more of his injuries open up and the sting of them as dirt and dust collected in them. He shook himself and winced. Licking a few of his wound clean of dirt and blood, he looked back over to Midnight. He saw that he was acting funny, distant in a way. The young cat stood over him, nudging his shoulder and belly with is nose. "Are you okay?" His voice held much concern in it. He sniffed the tom's pelt. 'What do I do? I'm no medicine cat. I'm useless right now!' He thought with desperation. He padded around the dark pelted leopard and stood next to his back. He licked between his ears, worry clouded the young tom's golden colored eyes. "What happened? I didn't hurt you, did I?" Padding back around to the medicine cat's belly, he placed a paw on his flank and rubbed his forehead against his cheek. "I was in the way again. I'm always in the way. Just like I was when I was peeking into the warriors' den." Ravenpaw lied down next to the medicine cat, eyes focused on him. He didn't what he should be doing or what caused this. 'Surely it didn't happen just because he bumped into, right?' He wondered, kneading the ground with his paws, claws leaving little lines in the dust. "I'm sorry. I don't know what I did, but I promise, I won't do it again." He muttered, running his tail tip over the tom's flank. He watched as his paws twitched and his chest heaved as he breathed. Ravenpaw felt so helpless. He didn't know what could help him and placed a paw on his paw. He kept his eyes on him, worry made them look duller than then actually were. Word count: 321 (wow, lame Dx) Characters: Ravenpaw & Midnight Background song: Labyrinth by Oomph Notes: Poor Midnight D: