Flying through Smokey air [closed]

Sitting on the Lone Stump, Smokepelt watched as the sun slowly set behind the Highstones. It was a beautiful sight as the large rocky figures became giant silhouettes, soon to disappear in the darkness of the night. The deputy often wondered what was beyond the massive hills but assumed it was far to great of a journey for a cat to make. Besides, who knew what lived up there! Giant foxes, twolegs, the possibilities were endless.

Drowning his troubles with random thoughts of the Highstones, for a few moments he almost forgot about his transgressions and his worries about the future. Unfortunately for him, the guilt was too much for him and his pelt itched with overly worried thoughts. Not too long ago he'd broken a cat's jaw and for that, an unavoidable war between RiverClan and WindClan was brewing and everyone could feel the rising tension in the air. It was some cat's fault for stealing prey, but with his actions added to the equation that most likely pushed Fishstar over the edge, he prayed to StarClan that him and his clanmates would be alright. What agonized him the most was the fact that when they went to the recent gathering, RiverClan was noticeably bigger in numbers.

With his head overwhelmed with thoughts and concerns, Smokepelt didn't notice the soft sound of familiar pawsteps that came up behind him.

"Greetings Smokepelt." The new medicine cat apprentice said using the new formal greeting she was taught to use when it came to higher ranks. Well she decided to try it but she didn't like how it sounded when greeting the deputy. "That isn't fitting for you at all. Maybe the other medicine cats and other higher ranks, but I know you too well." Starlingpaw said as she padded up beside the deputy and then sat down. "It's a nice evening."

Turning around to see Starlingpaw, all his worries and fears were washed away by her presence. Purring as the she-cat joining him, she was the cat that cat whom he wanted to spend time with the most. He was a bit flattered by her formality towards him, but stayed quiet, agreeing that it didn't exactly fit the occasion. "It most certainly is," Smokepelt replied happily, although looking down to Starlingpaw, the happiness soon faded away. All that he wanted to tell her, it might be for nothing. Now that she was the medicine cat apprentice, there were different rules.

"So, how are your medicine cat duties going?" he meowed softly, trying to be supportive. Of course he assumed she was proud to be this new rank given she was originally a ThunderClan cat, so being rude wouldn't do him any good. Waiting for a reply, he went back and forth between a couple options. On one paw, he could live happily, on the other, he could end up as an exiled cat. So which would he choose?

Starlingpaw looked away. "Getting used to the new set of rules is difficult. I was used to one set for a long time, and now I'm having to relearn a new set and basically ignore the other ones I was taught, but it's good because I don't prefer to fight." Starlingpaw said. "Learning what the herbs do, and things like that is pretty interesting. Mixing them together can make for some pretty interesting stuff." She told the deputy. She didn't expect him to understand the different type of herbs but he could probably appreciate their healing power.

Listening intently, he nodded in understanding. So, she really was strict on her new rules. Considering the possibilities and consequences while the apprentice spoke, he knew what he wanted wouldn't be able to happen. She was a medicine cat apprentice, not a warrior and thus things were different. As much as he wanted to share his ideas with her, he wasn't ready to disobey the Warrior Code and knew if they found out, his clan would be ashamed of him.

"Sounds confusing... but fascinating all the same," he meowed with a smile, trying not to show his disappointment. Maybe they could still be closed friends if anything. Besides, having close relations with a medicine cat was always a nice thing to have. "Well, it's good to see how well you're being able to learn it all," he chuckled, knowing that he'd never be able to stuff all that information in his head, no matter how hard he tried.