Camp [♥x] {oh.how.boring}

[[:; [h] e a r t ::♥]]

Wintersong looked around camp, and finding nothing that caught her amber gaze, so the decided to go on a walk.
{ MOVIN WINTERSONG TO THE LAKESIDE}

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

Raytail looked up, seeing two fairly familiar warriors pad into the warrior's den, both appearing to be lovesick. Although Raytail was rather amused at this, he couldn't help but acknowledge the aching heartbreak of losing Dewstripe. If she were here, they'd be spending all their time together right now -- doing the same thing that those two warriors were doing, except without the cooing words since Dewstripe had never been one to listen to words of flattery like that. Even though Raytail remained his dignity enough not to break down and sob, tears did spring to his eyes. Immediately, he exited the warrior's den, unable to keep his calm and placid state any longer.

But who could he confide in? Maplestar was speaking to a familiar she-cat warrior -- Crystalrose, was it? -- and the two apprentices he had spoken to earlier were there. Three warriors streaked into the elder's den, one screeching at the others at the top of her lungs. Other cats were milling about Camp, but Raytail wasn't sure which he could speak to about this aching feeling as if he had lost a part of himself mentally.

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[frosty ♥]

Every blade of grass glittered, the world seemed alive and well. A bright, illuminating creature aroused ahead, it was a beautiful white feline. Two gleaming azure eyes blinked, tints of lighter shades of blue were strewn across her ocean blue eyes giving them a rather exotic look. The dainty white warrior took a few delicate steps out of the warriors’ den. Her body was slim and lithe, for use many purposes. She padded to a near by water source and bend down in a graceful movement, the icy water giving her body a burst of exhilaration once she lapped up a small amount of the sparkling liquid.

The name placed upon this white she-cat? Dovefeather, to resemble her fluffy white coat and gentle behavior, many say it fit perfectly. Once the she-cat had her fill of the cooling water she sat down amongst some grass and began to groom her luscious coat in long, rhythmic strokes. Her voice was rich with an England accent, adding on to her exotic ways. Her mother was kittypet, most likely she was taught that way to speak before Dovefeather decided to leave the soft life and join EarthClan. Her mother didn’t want her only daughter to depart but this wasn’t the life fit for the she-cat.

Once she finished smoothing her fur she stood and trotted toward Maplestar and the she-cat warrior that sat beside him, her finely shaped head held high and her pawsteps soft and quiet. She acknowledged Crystalrose and her leader with a dip of her head, “Maplestar?” she asked softly, her eyes gazing into his own with a glitter of unease and amusement “shouldn’t the sunhigh patrol be going?” she asked, her head cocked ever so slightly to the side in this innocent, confused sort of way. She glanced at the sky to emphasize her inquiry then returned her azure orbs back to the features of the handsome tomcat’s face.

[Battooth]

Maplestar nodded, sighing softly. "The elders will have my tail for letting those three make so much noise," he meowed to the pretty she-cat next to him. "Those three make more noise than the monsters on the Thunderpath."

Another bout of yowling erupted from the elder's den. Voices overlapped, young and old, although both furious. Maplestar was able to make out Spottedpelt's voice easiest.

"IF YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN, I'LL HAVE YOUR TAILS FASTER THAN YOU CAN SAY 'MOUSE'. IF I EVEN CATCH YOU LOOKING AT A MUD PUDDLE, YOU'LL BOTH BE DEAD!"

Maplestar glanced at Dovefeather, an annoyed look in his eye. "Go right ahead Dovefeather," he meowed, "I'll see if I can't get one of those three to go with you and let out some energy." He dipped his head to the she-cats and stalked towards the elders den.

"ALL OF YOU SHUT UP! Vineclaw! Snowspot! Patrol! Now!"

The two toms bounded out of the elders den, their bodies low with fright. They had been mildly alarmed at their sister's attack, but their sister with the enormous tabby leader against them... Well, let's just say they knew when to cut and run.

Snowspot glanced at Dovefeather and Crystalrose. "Maplestar said we had to patrol again," he said, ducking his head in embarassment.

"With Dovefeather," the tabby hissed as he came up behind them, Spottedpelt in tow. "Go. Now." Snowspot and Vineclaw nodded meekly to their leader, moving to stand near Dovefeather. Spottedpelt gave the two an angry glare.

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

Crystalrose watched with a slight hint of amusement in her chocolate brown eyes as Maplestar quickly took matters into his own paws, sending out Vineclaw and Snowspot out on patrol with Dovefeather. "We certainly do have a few... loud cats in the Clan," she remarked quietly, a teasing look spreading across her face. Her ears had twitched slightly and she had given a wince when Spottedpelt's frustrated voice had sprang up above all the others as well as when Maplestar had entered the elder's den to call Vineclaw and Snowspot to patrol.

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[frosty ♥]

Dovefeather glanced at who was going and her fur prickled, the pranksters of the clan, Vineclaw and Snowspot. She returned her gaze to Maplestar, a pleading look in her sparkling azure eyes. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to say anything that might offend the two crazy tomcats, she sincerely didn’t want to leave with them alone. Who knows what they would do to her, a few wild images scorched her mind making her mentally shrink away. She searched her leader’s face to see what he would say.

She flashed a look back to Spottedpelt who was furious, she had splotches of mud stuck on her pelt and her eyes were burning with hostility. Snowspot and Vineclaw looked frightened out of their fur, she saw no laughter or amusement in their eyes this time. What did they do to Spottedpelt to make her so angry? Her thoughts flickered through ideas that involved mud. They sure did have some dirty tricks, she concluded.

She herself wasn’t the type to play tricks or have anything to do with making someone feel bad or hurt. She didn’t criticize like some cats but rather told them a polite tip. In front of leaders or deputies she was also polite and respectful but she had to admit deep inside her heart she did have some feelings for her beloved Maplestar. It was obvious he had some feelings for Crystalrose from the way their pelts mingled together but she couldn’t control her affection like medicine cats. At first she thought it was just kit-love but when she became a warrior it remained.

[Battooth]

Maplestar caught the desperate look in Dovefeather's eye and purred softly to himself. "Actually Dovefeather," he meowed, "I'll need you to stay in camp. Vineclaw, Snowspot." He turned to look at the two toms. "I want you both to go out and hunt. I'd like a rabbit each and a bunch of mice in the fresh-kill pile by the end of the day."

Snowspot opened his mouth to argue, but Vineclaw had already agreed. The brothers stood and trotted out of camp and into the forest, flicking their tails in good bye.

Spottedpelt watched the two go, her pelt still bristling. "If they never return, I'll be the happiest cat alive." She flopped down and stretched her neck to groom the fur off her hind legs.

"Don't say that," Maplestar meowed. "You're glad they're your brothers, you're just ticked because you fell for a trick of theirs."

"Fell in a mud puddle!" the leopard-print female spat between licks.

Maplestar choked back a laugh then turned to look at Dovefeather. "Feel free to thank me for saving you from those two," he joked. The tabby stretched his front legs out, having cramped for whatever reason.

[frosty ♥]

Dovefeather purred in reply once the two brothers trotted away. "Really, I'm thankful for the escape" she paused for a moment to give her fluffy white chest-fur a few swift, gentle licks then continued "I don't know what they would have done to me" she sat down next to him, purring softly all the while. Who knew that he was actually going to let her stay in camp instead of sending her away to the horror of falling for a trap or getting mud on her white coat.

The she-cat rasped her tongue over her paw then drew it over her ear until she was satisfied. Usually when cats wanted to relax they'd share tongues together, she wondered whether Maplestar would accept it when Crystalrose was sitting a few tail-lengths away from them both. Her tail tip twitched once in confusion though she didn't know much emotion from the outside other then being happy that she was in camp then patrolling or getting tricked.

[Battooth]

"I know what they would've done to you," Spottedpelt growled moodily.

Maplestar had to surpress another mrrow of laughter. "You can come patrolling with me later Dovefeather," he meowed. "And Crystalrose, if you want to come, too, I'd be fine with that." He would be very fine with spending a little while with the two she-cats. He figured he was fairly good friends with both of them, and friends were held dear to the tabby. "Spottedpelt, d'you-"

"Nah," the spotted she-cat meowed, interrupting the leader. "I'll stay here for the rest of the night, if you don't mind. Maybe leave tomorrow when there aren't many puddles." She glared at the entrance, then resmued her grooming.

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

"Sure, I'll go," Crystalrose responded in a nonchalant tone, although she couldn't help but slightly wonder why Maplestar had invited Dovefeather. After all, his pelt was being pressed against /hers/ right now, correct? Shaking off thoughts like that and giving herself a furious mental reprimand for not being corteous -- even in her own mind -- she gave a slight purr to back up her agreement to Maplestar's invitation.

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[frosty ♥]

The beautiful white feline smiled toward Maplestar, her azure eyes bright with gratitude and mild affection. "Why thank you,” she purred softly, her purr being melodic and soothing. Her England accent in her quiet words, after a moment she scooted closer to the tomcat as another harsh wind blew past. The trees above her head rattled as though shaken from the airy attack, somewhere in a tree there was bickering as though a squirrel was afraid or angry. None of this applied to the she-cat for her mind was buzzing.

Maplestar had just invited her to come along with him on a patrol, before he asked Crystalrose! Even though her thoughts flashed through her mind like wildfire she didn’t dare look at the she-cat who’s pelt was brushing Maplestar’s own fur but instead kept her glittering eyes focused on her leader. She glanced at Spottedpelt and felt a rush of pity, “I hope you can get that mud off your fur” she commented as she watched the warrior rasp her tongue over her pelt. She turned her gentle gaze back to Maplestar and smiled.

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

Great. With Dovefeather now showing off to Maplestar, frustration toyed within Crystalrose's emotion. Sadness welled up within her eyes, but she was determined not to let it show. "Maplestar, I'll stay behind," she meowed, averting having to look into his gaze or Dovefeather's. With her head which was normally held in a regal and proud position hanging down low and her tail dragging lightly on the EarthClan Camp ground, she padded away from the two cats, refusing the tears that threatened to spill out in a torrent like a sudden rain storm.

...Her one chance for love. It was true, she had indeed favored Maplestar since a while back, but only now had he shown her any sign of affection by pressing his pelt lightly against hers. Her cream-colored pelt tingled a bit where his pelt had touched hers, but she ignored it. Again, she was without someone that she could love.

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[Battooth]

Maplestar watched Crystalrose go, surprise and hurt glimmering in his eyes. "Alright," he meowed after her. "We'll go later then." He turned to look at Dovefeather with a questioning glance. "What was that about?" he meowed exasperatedly. "I thought she was happy around me. I'm not annoying, am I?"

[frosty ♥]

Dovefeather's eyes fallowed Crystalrose as she padded away, confusion washed at her paws like a black river. What had she done? She hadn't said anything offensive, correct? She had just accepted Maplestar's invitation to go on patrol with him. There wasn't anything wrong with that, surely? She cocked her head to the side as she thought.

She turned to her leader and gave his ear a lick "No, of course you're not" she paused to glance in the she-cat's direction then returned her azure eyes to her Maplestar's own "I'm just as curious as you why she just left." The white she-cat sighed softly, "I'm sure she'll be fine if you give her some time" she meowed, her own mind hopeful.

[Battooth]

Maplestar nodded blankly to Dovefeather, then returned his gaze to Crystalrose. He tried not to let the hurt show on his face. The tabby cleared his throat and meowed, "Well, I guess we should be leaving soon then." A sudden yowl or pain grabbed his attention.

An enormous tabby limped through the entrance of the camp, smelling strongly of blood and rouge. The tabby threw itself down, it's sides heaving. Upon closer inspection, Maplestar saw the cat wasn't bleeding badly, but had been for a while.

The leader of EarthClan bounded to the rouge's side. "Who are you?" he asked.

A single eye opened and the other cat looked at him through glazed blue eyes, so much like his own. "Maplestar," the cat rasped. It was a tom, and a large one at that. The tom was even bigger than Maplestar, but the two looked so much alike. "Maplestar... Please help me."

"Who are you?" the tabby leader asked, slightly frightened. "How do you know me?"

The enormous tabby coughed. "I- I'm Bear," he rasped. "I know you because I knew your mother." The blue eye closed again and he groaned in pain. "Please Maplestar."

Maplestar nodded, although he longed to ask the other cat about how he knew his mother. "Our medicine cat isn't here," he meowed, "but I will not turn a cat in trouble away. You can stay in my den until Ivorywing returns." He grasped the larger tom's scruff in his mouth and heaved. "You're going to have to help me," he meowed.

Bear's hind legs scrabbled behind him and he heaved himself forward. Bear managed to regain his footing for a moment.

Maplestar gasped at what he saw of the rest of the tom's face. Bear's right eye was missing, and above it was a large cut. The larger cat's jaw was twisted slightly and he was missing a tooth. How the cat wasn't dead yet was beyond the leader. Maybe StarClan was looking out for him.

"My den's just over here," he meowed to the larger tom. "Here, follow me." The two tabbys made their way across the clearing to Maplestar's den and when the EarthClan leader had gotten Bear settled down, the larger tom almost immediately fell into an exhausted sleep. The tabby leader left the tom inside his den and returned to Dovefeather.

"That was strange," he meowed, "And very abrupt. Sorry about that." He blinked apologetically.