No Time for Dog Attacks [open]

It was at the peak of midnight when Ravenclaw found herself most comfortable. It was easy for most of the clan to forget about her any other time. During the late evening and early morning, the clan was bustling to start or finish their duties, leaving her to hide out in the shadows; but in the height of the night, with StarClan watching over them all as they relaxed, at least then it was the most peaceful. The she-cat let out a weak cough, sniffling behind her paw and avoiding most other gazes. She'd been stuck in the nursery for moons, the medicine den even longer. Long enough to watch cats come and go, gatherings pass moon after moon, her own kit find his way to apprenticehood.

Her body had been sickly and crippled ever since she became a queen, slow to regain strength. She was certain it was punishment from her ancestors, from her adultery, her betrayal... There wasn't a night gone by that she didn't regret it.

... How much longer did she have to stay here?

The she-cat felt a low grumble in her belly. Instead of complaining, she buried her nose behind her tail and let her head rest.

Smokestripe lingered near the fresh-kill pile, shifting through the prey as he looked for the best piece to grab. Finally his eyes lingered on a plump frog, lighting up as he stepped forward to swoop it up before any other cat could do so. With the prey held firmly in his jaws, he turned and started to make his way toward the only place he could ever image going with such a fine meal - to Ravenclaw. While he could often distract himself with tending to Yewpaw and Sootpaw's training...It would be a lie to say that he wasn't worried sick about her.

She had been in Honeydrop's care for...Such a long time now and he couldn't deny the fear that awoke him every night with the terror that she just wouldn't be there any more. Sure, he could act like his normal self around his friends and apprentices...Give them idea that everything seemed fine but it was a lie. It was always a lie. He wasn't okay. He couldn't be okay with Ravenclaw as sick as she was. He took in a deep breath as he reached Honeydrop's den, pushing his way in with a timid glance around.

His eyes quickly landed on the sleek black form that was the she-cat that had stolen his heart, his stomach fluttering like the love-sick kitten he truly was in her presence. "Ravenclaw!" he purred as warmly as he could manage past his mouthful of frog, making his way quickly to her side as he dropped the frog down. "I brought you a frog," he said as he pushed it to her, sitting down as he curled his tail around his paws. He had always had a fondness for frogs...It reminded him of that night that a frog had managed to sneak into the nursery when he and Ravenclaw were just kits...Trying to catch it with in a effort to prove themselves.

While he wanted to smile at the memory, he found himself unable to as he spared a worried look at the she-cat. His heart dropped as he fought the need to just swoop in and comfort her the best that he could. He knew Ravenclaw would be disappointed if he got himself sick fretting over him but he didn't really care. But yet he held himself back as he leaned forward, trying to meet her gaze. "H-How are you feeling?" he questioned softly as he allowed himself to slump to the ground, tucking his paws beneath his belly as he waited patiently for an answer.

Her ears perked up, expecting Honeydrop to start trampling back into her den and sort through her herbs. One might have thought that Ravenclaw would have been used to the sight by now, but it always left a small nagging feeling of guilt in her stomach, like she was stuck in the way. It killed her staying in the den all the time. She wished she could go out and run patrols again. Even if it meant another badger being thrown in her face.

When she realized who it was, it was... conflicting. There was no way the black she-cat could hide away her smile, but it was hard to look him in the eyes all the same. "Smokestripe," she called over a sweet purr. Ravenclaw was all too quick to notice the frog he'd brought along with him. "My favorite, how'd you know?" She took a moment to stretch out.

"I'm alright... Okay, I think...?" The tip of her tail twitched with slight irritation. Just like that, she was quick to drop the happy patient facade. "I... I feel like I'm going to go crazy if I stay in here any longer!"

Smokestripe returned the purr as she stretched out, having spent enough time with Ravenclaw to learn her favorite prey...And the memories it reminded him off only made that fact sweeter. But as she drifted off on if she was okay, the warrior fixed her with a worried look at first but it turned into an amused purr as the she-cat vented her true feelings. "You sound just like Larksong when she got stuck in here for a long while," he noted lightly. "Maybe I should go get her so that you two can talk about it."

He let his lighthearted words settle in before his gaze turned to one of sympathy. "But I don't blame you. It was annoying enough to be cooped up as kits...I can't image how annoying this is." He paused at that, his head tilting slightly in thought before his eyes glimmered. "Say, I'll be happy to go on a walk with you if Honeydrop allows it. But until then..." he dipped his head in the direction of the entrance of the den. "How about we get some fresh air in the clearing? If Honeydrop gets mad..." he blinked. "You can just say that its my idea and how I wouldn't let you say no," he added with a purr as he rose to his paws, giving her a smile.

Maybe opposite of Smokestripe, she wasn't quite so polite enough to pass up the offering of prey while he talked on, listening in quiet amusement and her purr growing louder by the second. It was a small thing, and she was quick to scarf it down oh-so-elegantly, but it was enough to sedate her hunger. "There is never a bad time for 'she-cat talk', is there?" she mused, whiskers twitching. As nice as the offer sounded, and as sweet of a friend Larksong was, it was his company she found himself longing for... even if her gut told her that was selfish.

She might have been at least content there with him, but her eyes absolutely lit up at the idea of them walking outside. Simple as it was, it sounded like StarClan's blessing to her. "What Honeydrop doesn't know won't hurt her," Ravenclaw mewed with a hint of mischief. For a moment, she managed to hold his gaze, slowly pulling herself onto her feet. "I might turn to stone if I stay here any longer!" Her first steps were heavier than she anticipated, and she'd tried her best to hide the shaking from the tom beside her. It wouldn't be good for his heart if her poor feet gave out already.

"Just... stick close to me?" She offered a smile, her pelt brushing past his as she stepped outside. Just in case.

Smokestripe felt his heart race as he saw the glint that appeared in Ravenclaw's eyes, all to relieved that his simple suggestion of leaving the den had picked up her mood. He was on his paws faster then even she was, far to excited to see the struggle the she-cat had in holding herself up as he turned to glance outside of the den into the clearing. He was about to say something when he felt her brush past him, his skin heating up at the contact as he fought the silly feelings that rose in his stomach, the turning of his stomach and the loud thumping of his heart.

He moved after her as she stepped from the den, the light in his eyes gentle and soft as he purred softly. "I'll always stick close to you." It was a promise he meant - Ravenclaw was one of his best friends even before he had offered to masquerade as Pinepaw and Yewpaw's father to keep Ravenclaw from being asked any questions. Even if she didn't truly love him, he had vowed to stay with her no matter what and he wasn't the type to break promises.

Honeydrop had been even more stressed as of late. There were new sick and injured cats to take care of every day, along with the more seriously injured residents such as Ravenclaw. And she had to do it all herself. Roaringpaw had vanished a day ago, almost right after her sister Foxheart and Mousefang had disappeared. Her apprentice was gone, without a trace. Just like Puddlepaw. Terrified by the thought that she had lost another apprentice, the golden she-cat worked her than ever- collecting herbs, treating injuries, refusing to believe that the tom was gone forever. He had just gotten lost somewhere, that was all. He would come back any moment now. She knew it. A bundle of herbs in her mouth- tansy and burdock root and chamomile- she made her way carefully back into ShadowClan camp. Among her fears was that she might never be able to cure Ravenclaw. But as long as the she-cat ate her herbs and stayed in her nest, she should be- just as the dappled medicine cat reached her den's entrance, two cats made their way out- Smokestripe and a black she-cat. The herbs dropped from her mouth in surprise. "R-Ravenclaw- what in S-StarClan's name are you d-d-doing out of y-your nest? D-do you w-w-want to recover?" Her amber eyes were exasperated and slightly annoyed. No wonder the warrior wasn't getting better!

OOC: lol busted

OOC: And Winter jumps in cause she's bored and has nothing to do :D

IC: Snakeblaze felt the cool calm air of midnight lap on his ginger fur. He slowly blinked open his eyes, then got up and stretched. He walked out of camp to hunt. Once he was deep into the territory, he sniffed and used his ears to find out what type of prey it is, then he heard a familiar croaking, frog. He slowly turned his ears towards each other until he pinpointed the sound. He crept up until the sound was strong, since the smell of pine trees clouded his nose and he couldn't see in the dark, he used hearing. He leaped forward and caught the frog in between his paws before it got away. He dug it into the marsh and put some pine needles over it for future reference. He soon found a lizard near by, and caught that too. He dug up the frog, then left with his catch.

In the camp, he placed his catches on the pile, then saw Ravenclaw and Smokestripe hanging out. He grabbed a frog from the pile and placed it on the ground. he cut through the chewy skin and dug into the meat. After he finished, he saw Honeydrop had caught them. He walked towards them. "A little fresh air won't kill anybody." he mewed calmly.

It was like a chip of ice had found it's way straight down her back. Soon as she heard Honeydrop's sugary sweet voice, she felt like a kit all over again, ready for a scolding. But she wasn't about to cave so easily. The she-cat still had her dignity as a warrior. Probably. "R-Right," she took a moment to share a sheepish glance with Smokestripe, licking down the stray puffs of fur on her chest. "It can't be healthy being in that dusty den all the time either! I'm not an elder!" She looked longingly at the camp tunnel. "Com e with, if you're that worried..."

Smokestripe took a step forward when Honeydrop came bursting into the scene, his ears folding back as he stared as the medicine cat. "I-It was my idea, Honeydrop," he said as evenly as he could, a bit of guilt rising in his chest but he wasn't willing to back down. "I told Ravenclaw that she should get out of the den and I wouldn't take no for an answer. We aren't planning to go far, we just wanted some fresh air..." He paused as Snakeblaze came onto the scene, his ears perking at the sight of the young apprentice he had held finish the training for. He dipped his head in thanks at him before flashing the medicine cat a sheepish smile. "I understand that you want her to get better but Ravenclaw was about to go crazy being cooped up there for so long..."

Flicking an ear, Honeydrop listened to Ravenclaw and Smokestripe's words. The she-cat's poor mate had probably been worried sick about her health, and she wasn't surprised that the warrior who had spent so long in her den was bored out of her mind. She got bored herself in the medicine den, sometimes. But the sickness that the black she-cat had sustained was serious, and Honeydrop didn't want to make a mistake. Though she definitely wasn't the best medicine cat, she knew what she was doing. Probably. A vision of Darkpaw, dead of sickness on the ground, flashed into her mind, and the golden she-cat winced visibly. Then again, there was probably nothing wrong with some fresh air. And the warrior was healing nicely. A small walk out might be just what her patient needed. But leaving her without someone who knew the proper herbs and healing would be suicide. The ShadowClan medicine cat straightened up, eyes determined, decision made. "F-F-Fine. You c-can go. B-but I'm coming w-w-with you."

Snakeblaze blinked at Smokestripe and walked away towards the warriors den.