::Wind:: at my Back

[A N N I E]

The bitter wind was relentless as it tugged at the silky strands of the feline sitting among the mid-height branches in a young pine tree. Around her, she could hear the crickets chirp and locus sing their quiet song that swelled every so often to a loud rumble. Beneath the underlying sounds of the night, the young she-cat could hear the sounds of her sleeping clanmates as they mumbled in their sleep, snored, or shifted. Windpaw sighed, closing her fierce amber eyes as she listened and felt the wind pull her fur forward, as if calling to her to leave. To see the sceaming, raging banshee of ShadowClan this calm was a rare moment and anyone who valued their life would not dare break it. In the short time since Stonepaw's death and Owlpaw's rejection, Windpaw had gone from worse to the worsest living thing in the camp. If that were even possible. Even though it was not spoken, many of the clan had already begun to guess who her real parent was. It was easy to see the connection with her real mother when Windpaw was in one of her raging fits. But that didn't matter. Frosteyes was dead and gone. And Windpaw was glad for it. She didn't need her dam around to muck things up. Snowfoot had done a good enough job, thank you.

Again the cold wind blew, chilling Windpaw's skin. It pulled her fur once more, calling and Windpaw rose to her tiny paws, claws digging to the bark as she threatened to slip. 'Too high. Next time stick closer to the ground,' she thought quietly to herself. She hardly ever slept on the ground anymore. She loved the trees for it was the only way she could ever be truly close to her dear Stonepaw any more. Snowfoot too. While her adoptive mother had not been the ideal parent, she was a mother to Windpaw nonetheless and Windpaw missed her greatly. Windpaw looked down at her paws as she thought of the long-haired, white she-cat who would so often sing to her. How ironic was it that she'd sing of her adoptive daughter being in a tree when all that Windpaw did in her free time was just that. Too bad the poor she-cat didn't know her desire to be so close to her deceased Stonepaw would be the beginning of the end for. Before Windpaw could stop herself, she felt the words rolling of her tongue, hardly audible above the sounds of the night unless one were directly under the tree she was in. "Caterpillar in the tree, how you'll wonder who you'll be, can't go far, but you can always dream...sorry, Snowfoot. Dreams don't come easily anymore, only nightmares and things that could have been. Good night you guys, see you tomorrow. If I stay up much longer, Cinderblaze will have my hide tomorrow." With a flick of her bushy tail, the apprentice turned away and began to leap down the branches. She was used to this pine tree. She no longer really needed to see where she was going, but she was smart enough to never climb higher than half the tree's height. That sense didn't mean she was careful though. She was completely confident in her abilites to climb this tree. After all, it served as her sleeping post the majority of the time.

She landed heavier than she normally did when she leaped off a high branch to the ground, but did care if she woke someone up. For Windpaw to actually be staying in came at night was unusual; she normally always snuck out and normally ended up getting caught. Not that the punishments ever really made a difference on her. While Onestar had at one point in her life, been a friend, she no longer really cared. As soon as he had dumped that last warrior to watch over her, Stonepaw's father, he had just kind of faded away. Not really, but in Windpaw's eyes, that was how she saw it. And being her mother's daughter, it was no surprise she looked at the little things so she could simply find something to be angry with or at. While Windpaw was still Windpaw, Cinderblaze had SOME control over the wild card. His patience and frank ways of putting things pissed Windpaw off to no end, but after a moon of being under Cinderblaze's training, she had finally learned something: fighting and cursing him out did no good. He'd state insults back at her or ignore her and take revenge in some form of brutal training. Windpaw had also found out something else: playful banter with her mentor was indeed fun and though she often paid for it the next day, the training he put the small, but supple she-cat through paid off. One of the youngest of the apprentices in the clan, Windpaw was quickly showing she was her mother's daughter not only in temper, but talent as well. She was a fighter and a darn good one at that. She had enough muscle on her tiny frame that would discourage most from truly picking a fight with her if they looked past her puny size. Windpaw sighed and flexed her shoulders, blunt forepaws digging into the dirt as she debated where to spend the rest of the night. In the warm, cozy apprentice den with the other, no good flea-bags? Or back up her precious pine in the lone, cold night sky?

[τhιsτlə]

____________________________Don't let the Nettle sting the Paw .!

Medicine Cat Apprentice of Shadowclan .!____________________________

You were a child who was made of glass,
You carried a black heart passed down from your dad,
If somebody loved you, they'd tell you by now,
We all turn away when you're down.

The large tabby crouched in the shadows of night. Darkness consumed his thick pelt, along with the whole of Shadowclan camp, and the felines residing within it. The pale wash of the moon, and faint glimmer of stars were the only thing to light the dense pine forest.

You want to go back to where you felt safe,
To hear your brother's laughter,
See your mother's face,
Your childhood home is just down to white bones,
And you'll never find your way back.

The medicine cat apprentice was not asleep, his broad form crouched in the shadows, tucked away at the darkness. His tabby head lay on his paws, striped ears pulled forward. Deep amber eyes were hidden behind eyelids. Nettlepaw was not dreaming. Nettlepaw was not resting. Nettlepaw was listening. The tom was soaking up the silence, almost enjoying it. See, this was the best time of all, for he didn't not get an annoying earful from the elders, or have to put up with the very annoying squeals of kits. Everything was just quiet.

And when you're gone, will they say your name?
And when you're gone, will they love you the same?
If not, that's okay.
If not, that's okay.

There was a soft voice carried on the wind. Oh so sweet, oh so quiet. Nettlepaw's ears drew forward, twitching with mild curiosity, though the tom made no move, still as stone. There was silence that followed, and the darkness was consuming once again, suffocating. However there was a gentle prod of paws in the darkness, and the slight thump as they hit the forest floor. Amber eyes slid open, narrowing into the shadows.

You are broken and callow,
Cautious and safe,
You are a boundless and beauty,
With fright in your face,
Until someone loves you,
I'll keep you safe,
But like them, I will give you away.

Nettlepaw knew of the feline before he saw them. Their scent carried Shadowclan, sweetened and perfumed that seemed to cling to the pelt of every she cat. The petite silhouette loomed in the darkness, as a slight grin would paint across the tabby's maw. So it was Windpaw. How charming.

And when you're gone, will they say your name?
And when you're gone, will they love you the same?
If not, that's okay.

"At this rate, you had better just sprout wings and live in those trees." Nettlepaw sneered, rising to his paws as he padded forward, paw by paw to meet Windpaw. "And tell me. Why is it, you like living up there so often?" The large tabby added, amber eyes narrowing in amusement. A ringed tail wound out behind him, the medicine cat apprentice held an innocent enough expression, though slight mockery shone in the dim light.

And when you're gone, will they say your name?
And when you're gone, will they love you the same?
Oh, when you're gone, we won't say your word,
But you know that's okay.
Don't you know that's okay?

[A N N I E]

> > Windpaw visibly jumped at the voice, spinning around and throwing an angry hiss into the air, long fur bristling, amber eyes glowing in the darkness. When she realized it was Nettlepaw, the medicine cat apprentice, she relaxed slightly, though not much. As kits, he'd been one of her worst tormentors when the mood swung around for him to annoy her, and his grumpy attitude now as an apprentice was always a challenge for her to ruffle. Well, more so than it normally was. She glared at him, shaking with the urge to do something, but Windpaw could say nothing as she stared. He would one day be a higher up to her, despite being only a moon older, and while she was always one to disobey Onestar or Addertooth, she doubted she'd want to mess with a medicine cat, apprentice or not. Who knows what would happened should he want revenge when he was treating her? Windpaw wouldn't put it past him to try something like that, even though the medicine cat code was against it.

> > She'd never been much of a believer in the codes anyway, warrior or medicine cat. She had never believed much in StarClan, though she did believe Stonepaw and Snowfoot were somewhere up there. Windpaw finally resolved to answer him and looked up at the sky with an angry scowl. She shouldn't scowl so much. He face was real pretty when she didn't, but that meant it wasn't....a Windpaw face. It looked weird. "I'd grow wings if I could, trust me. Anything to get away from this insufferable place," she snarled through clenched teeth. "I don't think I'm obliged to answer you. Why do you show interest now in my personal life when as kits you did nothing but torment me when the urge rose?" She growled at him, still looking at the sky. Everyone knew of the ending of Stonepaw and Windpaw's puppy love. Who wouldn't? It was what started her downward spiral into this hateful she-cat she was, after all. Maybe she was looking for signs of him, but the sky was silent.

[DropDeadAngela.]

Night was thick and heavy as a brisk breeze shook the ShadowClan camp. Absenteyes wondered how the night could be so menacing while the days recently were warm and sunny. Annoyance tugged at his paws until he decided sleep wasn't going to come to him easily, so he rose.
The faint echo of voices in the wind pricked Absenteyes' ears and replaced his frustration with curiousity. Mustering a weary yawn, he padded toward the entrance of the mecidine den, where the moonlight struck the camp's floor, and shards of it spilled upon his den. Pale as snow.
In a heartbeat, Absenteyes recognized Nettlepaw, whose piercing amber eyes seemed to light up the night. His apprentice was not alone. In the dim light of the moon, Absenteyes could just make out a scowl scratched across the face of the cat Nettlepaw was with. That was a clear indication of the cat's identity - Windpaw.
These days, Windpaw always had a smirk etched across her muzzle. Absenteyes blankly wondered why before he remembered her history with Stonepaw. Pity washed across his dull eyes.
Flicking his tail, Absenteyes tried very hard to listen.
"Why do you show interest now in my personal life when as kits you did nothing but torment me when the urge rose?" Windpaw hissed, with anger that surprised even Absenteyes.
Slinking from the shadows of his den, he emerged into the clearing. "Nettlepaw, Windpaw," he meowed with another lash of his tail. "Everything okay?" His agitation was too great to conceal.

[τhιsτlə]

____________________________Don't let the Nettle sting the Paw .!

Medicine Cat Apprentice of Shadowclan .!____________________________

Nettlepaw couldn't help but let a wicked grin paint his muzzle at the jump of Windpaw, and the surprised hiss that followed was only the more encouraging. She had whirled to face the tabby tom, her pretty pelt slicking out in all directions. Dear Windpaw, don't worry. "Oh, did I surprise you, Windpaw? I'm sorry, I didn't know you fright so easily." The medicine cat apprentice's words could have been innocent enough, though it was clear of the mockery laced delicately upon the silky strands of sound.

The she cat seemed to recuperate, however, and her voice rang out into an even reply. "Insufferable?" Nettlepaw echoed in false bewilderment. "This is your home, here in Shadowclan. It should not be the place of your disdain." The tabby echoed, though he could very well guess why she felt so strongly, and was about to give a confident reply to the latter of her statement when another voice came into the picture.

Nettlepaw swivelled his ears toward the familiar voice, and carefully twisted his body to let amber eyes meet up with the gaze of his mentor, Absenteyes. Nettlepaw could feel irritation pricking at his paws like an annoying thorn, the arrival of his mentor would surely shatter the tom's hopes of having a little fun at picking away the she cat's nerves. Amber eyes narrowed, then as though shrugging the thought, Nettlepaw went on anyway. "Oh no, Absenteyes. Everything's perfectly fine. I was just asking Windpaw here why she liked to be alone all the time. I mean, a lot has changed in her since Stonepaw died, don't you think?" The medicine cat apprentice meowed casually, casting a side long glance at the apprentice, knowing very well his words were meant to sting. "Such a shame."

[A N N I E]

'I hate him...' part of her mind whispered meekly. 'Shut up and quiet you're groveling, we hardly know anybody who remotely likes him, and he's suppose to be a medicine cat,' Windpaw sneered to her other half, the still kittenish part that had been left long ago. If looks could kill, Nettlepaw would have been rung and lain out to dry the minute he startled Windpaw. "Home? Yea right. 'Home is where the heart is.' According to half this damned clan, I'm lacking one, so thus, no home for me." The arrival of that silly medicine cat was an immediate put off. She bristled even more, an ugly sneer screwing up her small, angular face. 'Big talk for some who hides behind his mentor. The minute that stupid tom shows up, he shut up.' She turned to leave, already making head way for the came entrance tunnel, when she heard his words.

Ice prickled her paws. Her ears stung with the loud wailing of that night and her eyes burned with the feeling of the blood gushing into her amberite pools. That had been the first time, and not the last, she'd snuck out of camp. Barely 4 or 5 moons old, she'd got pulled into the fight and luckily she hadn't been hurt at all other than a bruised cheek. It was because of her lack of wounds that Onestar had decided to keep quiet about the battle the she-kit had fought in. Yes, fought. Windpaw was built for fighting even if she was small, but being small gave her the advantage. Those that did not know her would assume her weak and slow. Low to the ground, it was hard to swipe her legs out from under her and get at her tender underbelly. Her muscles, even as a kit, were developed for fighting, so Stonepaw had broken the rules and taught her a battle move or two. It was those moves that had saved her that night...but didn't spare the opponent's neck she'd latched onto. Windpaw had killed, and while she didn't kill against the warrior code, for her own life had been in danger at the time, she was not afraid of killing another and that was what made her so dangerous.

She was not afraid of the warrior code. Afterall, as it stated, her own existence was against it. Yes, there were cats that popped up with kittypet heritage and maybe they were of two clans...but loner and ShadowClan? It had happened very few times in the past. So when the twisted of her heart grew to strong to bare, she turned around to face the larger apprentice. She was not bristling nor did she even have a look of anger in her eyes. Only deep despair flashed, briefly, before they darkened to a hollow look. "No one talks of him when I'm around." And then all hell broke loose. With the loudest battle cry she could muster, Windpaw was leaping at Nettlepaw, every battle move Cinderblaze having taught her rushing into her brain...as well as the two advanced moves Stonepaw had taught her. 'We're so dead...' her other self wailed helplessly. 'Shut the fuck up.' Part of her mind did recoil at the thought of attacking a medicine cat. Even for her, this was...low, at least in her mind. The others could expect nothing more from her. There was a hesitation in her muscles, a slight, minuscle twitch, but none other than maybe Nettlepaw saw it. 'Screw the damn code.'

[♠ Spade ♠]

Something wasn't right. There were voices murmuring back and forth outside his den. Only the camp guard should be up and even if a cat had just woken up to make dirt, neither of the voices sounded old enough to be the guard...not that he could remember who had been assigned the duty. Onestar's head shot up when he recognized the voice of Windpaw, the apprentice he had sort of taken in after her mother had vanished. The young she-cat didn't sound happy and that generally didn't bode well for her Clanmates, especially if she was talking to another young cat alone. The soft murmur of a third cat told Onestar of the arrival of Absenteyes and when the second voice responded, he finally recognized Nettlepaw. All the cats sounded rather unhappy, even if they tried to conceal it.

He figured he had better go make sure things didn't get out of control. Rising to his paws, the great white tom stretched luxuriously before slipping from his nest and out of his den. His fur fluffed up against the wind as he squinted to try and locate his Clanmates. He got out there just in time to see Windpaw turn around and threaten Nettlepaw. "Windpaw, is everything..." ...alright.

[/color] The last word caught in his throat as the warrior apprentice attacked the medicine cat apprentice.

Now his fur was standing on end with alarm. He'd seen this before, when he was a younger warrior Windpaw's mother Frostyeyes had done almost the exact same thing several seasons ago. He flashed back to the day Frostyeyes had attacked her own brother, the medicine cat apprentice of the time. When he came back the present and his amber eyes focused on the two apprentices fighting, his claws were dug into the dirt and his tail was lashing at the similarity of mother and daughter.

He longed to rush forward, grab Windpaw by the scruff and throw her off Nettlepaw, but his legs seemed to be made of stone as he looked on, his eyes sparkling with shock and bewilderment. [/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[τhιsτlə]

____________________________Don't let the Nettle sting the Paw .!

Medicine Cat Apprentice of Shadowclan .!____________________________

"Oh, but you must have a heart." Nettlepaw replied softly, his voice growing to be an almost mockingly soft purr. "One that has no heart cannot experience such emotions as the anger and fury you always seem to place on the ends of your lips. Or the sorrow that seems to come about when-... well, I think you know perfectly well who I'm talking about." The large tabby purred with a sly grin that could have been owned by that of a devious fox. Perhaps he was being cruel, such a poor medicine cat his personality portrayed. But the pitiful she cat could have begged him to go on. It was like dangling a wounded raven right before his eyes. He wouldn't have been able to hold himself back, the bird just dangled there, helpless and ready for the kill. Why not put the poor creature out of its' misery. A best of both, you know? Nettlepaw could dispatch the creature of it's life, to feed the hungry fires tearing at his stomach. And that poor raven would be out of its' misery, would it not?

Alright, so it wasn't exactly the same, but the thought was there. Windpaw needed to toughen up anyway, everyone in Shadowclan knew she grieved for the young Stolenpaw's death. With a little exposure, perhaps the she cat would learn to move on. If ever warrior grieved for the death of a clan mate as Windpaw did, Shadowclan would not be able to cope as it did today. And Nettlepaw would be fueled at his own harmless prods anyway, quenching the fire that burned hungrily in his stomach to just let it out on this she cat, and soak in the twisted anger and pain she felt all the same.

And the reaction of Stonepaw's name, you ask? Hah, well it could have been priceless. Nettlepaw felt so empowered at this. To see the mixed, dark emotions flash through her pretty little eyes for the quickest pulse, for her muscles to instinctively tense beneath a fine pelt. And for the glossy coat that blanketed ever fragment of her bone to rise as though Nettlepaw really had stuck a claw out at her. Oh how horrid Nettlepaw was being. For a medicine cat in the training, he certainly did not have the traits of one. In all honesty, he'd always been a warrior at heart, and wouldn't hesitate to fling himself into battle right there, however it was the love of herbs that took over. But no matter how strong the interest, Nettlepaw's true colors would always shine.

Windpaw spoke something after that, the fury building deep within her chest. And just like that, the dainty she-cat launched her frame toward the young tom. Nettlepaw had to admit, she was surprisingly fast. Instinctively tensing, claws sliding out of their sheaths, amber eyes flashed for the quickest heart beat. However there was hesitation in the movements of the young warrior to-be. Quickly taking advantage of this, Nettlepaw let her paws collide with his pelt, let them drag him down. However he rolled with the movement, twisting to spring free of the she cat.

Nettlepaw sprung away, bucking out his hind paws in hopes to derail her in some way, though he didn't pay much attention as to if he actually connected. His shoulder stung, but he didn't mind as the large tabby spun around, crouching half a cat length from Windpaw. Again that wicked grin returned, his pelt fluffed up, not in anger, but with excitement. Adrenaline pumped through his veins like a natural high. "My, Windpaw, I didn't think you'd have it in you. To attack a medicine cat? Now that's a little low, don't you think?" Nettlepaw sneered, whiskers quivering in amusement. "But don't worry, I don't mind. In fact, I found it quite... lightening." He purred, digging the tips of his claws into the fine dirt under his paws.

Flexing his fore paws, the large tabby's amber eyes gleamed with anxious excitement, never straying from the petite she cat. "But now you've got me curious." Nettlepaw went on, tilting his head ever so slightly. "I'd like to see how your battle training is going, care to show me? I might just throw some moves in there myself." He mused, straightening up ever so slightly. In so many words, the devious Nettlepaw was pretty well saying he'd like another go at this. He'd certainly be ready, and release some of that steam that had been pricking at his paws. Unannounced to him, was Onestar looking on a few short paces away.

[A N N I E]

'Score one.' She thought smugly, even as his large tabby frame practically crushed her. His rolled sent her crashing first to the ground, pain flaring in her shoulder as he crushed her. The breath was driven out from her chest in a great whoosh and too late, she remembered Cinderblaze's instructs. "You're fast and nimble, you can dodge well and move in quickly. You are built nearly perfectly for battle. But you're small size is also a great disadvantage. Almost any cat can crush you or pin you. Don't EVER get pinned, Windpaw. Never. If it happens, fight. Scream, kick, shred, do everything possible to get out." Windpaw staggered to her paws, muffled a cry as hindpaws battered her face. She scrambled to her paws, pride smarting, but in that moment, when she spun to face Nettlepaw and flung herself back at him, it was all Frosteyes. The battle screech, the deadly intent in her eyes. She offered no words anymore in retaliation, too enraged and blinded by her fury. She wanted blood and she craved it like a vice. 'We're breaking the code...' her inner voice whimpered. 'What code? It's just words. Besides, he's no medicine cat. Not to me.'

Windpaw's body twisted midair, claws sweeping downward, feinting an attack at Nettlepaw's face, but the real attack focused on his hindlegs. Her claws weren't built for the normal slice and dice routine. No, they were painful rips, pulls, and tears, skin torn open by sheer force, not sharpness. Her mind was set solely on the battle, running through what manuevers Nettlepaw knew, but she knew she could take no chances. Knowing that by jumping behind him, he could whirl around and meet her with claws before she even spun to meet, she showed her uncanny flexability. As her forepaws touched down without a sound, she twisted her hind end over to land behind her, already in position for the expected move. Her shoulder flashed a sign of pain, but she stubbornly ignored it. Her head was always turned towards her opponent, never once did her eyes flash to reveal her planning. No. All this was instinct and in her blood. She didn't need sight to fight like her mother or execute the moves she'd so carefully drilled into her mind.

Windpaw rose on her hind paws, battered with her forepaws before dropping to all fours. Once more she twisted strangely, bringing her hind claws to take over her front claws, but still managing to keep a somewhat forward approach so as to not turn her vulnerable back to her opponent. The muscles underneath her right shouler, the shoulder facing away from Nettlepaw, quivered under the pressure. She wouldn't last long, she knew it, but she obviously didn't care. She was putting everything into this battle.

[τhιsτlə]

____________________________Don't let the Nettle sting the Paw .!

Medicine Cat Apprentice of Shadowclan .!____________________________

It was soon brought to realization that Windpaw was in fact really pissed off. She wasn't just mad, she was solely focused on bringing the young tom pain. It was both saticefying, and all the more terrifying. She didn't even respond to his taunts, perhaps she was ignoring his words, perhaps she was letting them fuel her anger. Nettlepaw wasn't sure, it was pleasing to see how easily he could get under the young she cat's fur, however the thought occured that he might have taken it too far. And knew very well he'd suffer both from injury and punishment.

The large tabby scarcely had time to react when once again Windpaw through her fine frame at him, however this time she lashed her claws out and had nimbly whipped away. Pain ran like fire across his muzzle and cheeks where her claws had tore at his flesh. Recoiling instinctively, Nettlepaw pinned his ears back, rocking back onto the sole pads of his paws in escape. A snarl of pain and fury tore from his lips, however Windpaw was already gone.

The pain lanced through his body as through she held her claws twisted in his flesh, and feral growl rising from his chest, Nettlepaw reeled almost blindly after the she cat, throwing his own body with outstretch claws at her. Windpaw was fast, that he knew, but if Nettlepaw could get his paws around her, she'd be his. The medicine cat apprentice was pretty ticked as well. Fair game now.