Average? Right! [OPENZZ]

[Soleil]

Hardly Average

Sprucepaw never got a moment's rest. Between hunting (and trying to keep up with the warriors in the patrol), training, and looking after the elders, he was tired to the point of falling over. He had finally managed to get a little time to himself in the apprentice's den- rare as it was that it was empty.

Sprucepaw sat in his neatly kept nest, tail wrapped around his paws. It was past sunhigh by a fair amount, but the sun was still warming the clearing. It was a nice evening, he had to admit. The temperature had cooled significantly, and surrounded by the rustling needles above him, he felt at peace. The sun was in the sky, slowly sinking towards the horizon and casting him in soft gold and pink hues. The wind whistled softly over the pines, like a hushed ocean tide breaking continuously. It was brisk, but he felt sheltered. This was his favourite time of day. It was still light out, but some stars were already blinking in the sky- the evening patrol should be going out soon.

Several cats were sprawled out in the clearing, sharing tongues and eating together, but Sprucepaw had eaten some while back and didn't feel like socializing- nor did he ever. He was content from his position from behind the bushes in the comfort of his nest. He looked away from the clearing and around his denmates' nests- all horribly messy, with little bits of feather from someone's meal. Sprucepaw felt a little subconscious about his denmates' behaviour- they could at least keep their nests clean! Sprucepaw managed it with little effort, and he was busier than all of them combined!

He slowly rested his head on his paws, still facing towards the open space and socialization of the clearing. He was getting more and more drowzy, and the clamor was fading to a low buzz, like a bee. Like the bee that was lazily making it's way from flower to flower in front of him. Sprucepaw watched as it landed on a flower, making the whole twig tremble under the bee's weight. It was an interesting sight, and he had never much took note of it before.

He remembered the last time he had been alone like this- back with his mother. Sitting curled up next to her with a warm breeze ruffling his fur, bathed the warm, gold light of full-leaf. Looking out over the meadow, hearing the stream murmur nearby. The rise and fall of her mother's flank gently lulling him to sleep....

Sprucepaw was in the meadow. The sky had overcast and the bellies of the clouds were dark with rain, and the wind had picked up, ruffling his fur and howling in the trees surrounding the meadow. He was rooted to the spot, even as the rain started splattering down in heavy droplets. He was rooted to the spot even as lightning flashed high in the clouds of this summer storm, even as the thunder shook him and made his ears ring. His mother had just died, and Sprucepaw was rooted to the spot. He wailed at the top of his lungs and pitched his head back and forth, sobbing for breath. He heard the rumble of more thunder, his head bent still. The increasing rain coursed down his muzzle and soaked him, but he was not cold. The atmosphere was humid and stifling. Sprucepaw wished desperately that it was winter- at least the cold could force him to his feet and force him to journey to those god-forsaken clans Breeze had told him to go to. Those stupid clans, they couldn't replace Breeze, never.

But no, it was high summer, and while the rest of the forest cherished this rain, Sprucepaw hated it. His misery had boiled into a quiet rage, and he let out a roar, with all his sadness and pain in it. His voice cracked the already thin, high scream and Sprucepaw bent double, coughing violently. He could not roar, could not express his rage.

Sprucepaw woke up with a start. He blinked away the confusion at the lack of rain or meadow, instead crowded by the walls of his den and the other sleeping apprentices. He had overslept and missed his evening patrol!

[Cloudbat]

Swallowpelt's grumpiness was higher than usual. First, she had to go on the dusk patrol, just when she was settling down with Otterfur to share a sparrow, and Aspenheart called her name. She was very tempted to tell him to stick his face up his behind, but one did not say such things to the deputy.

Quickly apologizing to her mate, and making a slashing motion in the direction of the gray tabby tom, she stalked over moodily, claws ripping up portions of the ground wherever she stepped.

Then the green-eyed PineClanner had the nerve to tell her to fetch some dozy apprentice. What was she, his servant or something? He could do it himself. But it wasn't worth it to pick a fight, as it rarely was.

Muttering curses under her breath, the large scarred she-cat sniffed the air and grimaced. Wet, so tracking would be difficult. Brilliant. As if her job wouldn't be hard enough without some snot-nosed brat in the way.

Making her way to the den, she stuck her head inside and immediately spotted a dark gray tom slumbering in his nest.

"Hey, lazypaws! Get your butt out here or I'll rip it off and take it out for you! We're late, and I'll feed you to Gingerstar if we're any later!"

Though she was still in a bad mood, the heavyset dark warrior grinned for a moment. That ought to get him up.

OOC: Cause we all know Gingerstar loves apprentices for dinner. They're her favorite food. ;P xD Apologies for borrowing Aspenheart, Pyro, but I figured it was plausible since he does organize patrols ;P

[Soleil]

Sprucepaw shook the dream from his head and bolted upright.

"Oh! Right!"

He literally leapt to his feet, every trace of sleep gone, his paws tingling. Sprucepaw swayed and his vision blurred a as blood rushed to his head. Balance regained, he leapt after Swallowpelt, who had already started stalking over towards the entrance of camp. After catching up to the rather surly she-cat, Sprucepaw quickly stretched to sleep-stiffness out of his limbs and apologized.

I'm so sorry I overslept! I didn't mean to...." They raced to catch up with the rest of the patrol that was eager to get out of camp.

Sprucepaw quietly berated himself for being so mouse-brained. How could HE of all people oversleep and miss a patrol, even if he was fatigued by the battle training and hunting he did earlier? This was the first time it had ever happened, but even then he couldn't forgive himself. He HAD to be reliable. Burning with shame, he followed the patrol as they raced out of camp.

[Cloudbat]

Though was he was slightly impatient, Loonstep felt sorry for the young tom. No one deserved to be woken up by Swallowpelt, even if they had overslept. At least he seemed eager to fulfill his duty.

"It's all right, Sprucepaw." The black and white tom said kindly to the young PineClanner. "Just be careful next time, all right?"

Normally Loonstep would not be quite so lenient, but he figured the little apprentice had already paid enough, being woken by the grumpiest cat in PineClan. Swallowpelt snorted at his words, but he ignored her.

His tone turned businesslike as he checked the sky, hearing the cries of night birds and smelling the faint stench of mouse bile from the medicine den, his claws tapping the grainy earth.

"All right. Swallowpelt, I'm leading the patrol, but as a senior warrior, where do you suggest going?" He inclined his head to her, hoping this might placate her.

The scarred warrior grunted; but her green eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "I'd say the cluster of young fir trees near the west border; there's bound to be a squirrel or two there, maybe a bird if we're lucky."

Loonstep nodded. "Very well. Let us go." The bi-colored tom turned, short tail waving, and padded out of camp toward the dense forest.

OOC: So, Soliel, do you want to start a hunting thread and make that your reply?

[Soleil]

OOC: Sure- I'll get started on that.