Subsiding [Open]

A black and white frame limped from the medicine cat's den. His fur, once bedraggled from days of being unable to clean himself, was now its normal sleek and shining appearance. Every muscle still ached and strained with each step. He might have been feeling much better than before, but there were still a few lingering effects of the sickness. Oceanlight had reassured him they would fade overtime and with the help of more herbs. But, for now, his lungs still burned as they took in the frigid air. It felt like they were going to explode from the sensation, but it was merely from their weakened condition and the fact it was a particularly cold day. Rippedsky suppressed the chills that threatened to leave him shivering against the weather.

Despite the fact it was slow progress, the deputy managed to make it to the freshkill pile with his head held high. There were very slim pickings. Only a couple birds, a squirrel, and mice lay strewn across the place that was supposed to feed the whole clan. The corners of his mouth wavered slightly. The medicine cats had offered to get him some food now that he could eat again, although, he had decided to go out on his own for the first time in about a moon. Rippedsky knew he had to eat something. There was no way he could take one of the larger kills, though. Pushing a scrawny bird away, he gingerly picked up a tiny mouse.

With a satisfied nod, he managed to pad a few steps away before he knew it was time for a break. His mouth still flooded with flavor, despite the frozen flesh of the creature. It felt wonderful to eat something other than the mouth numbing taste of herbs. Blue eyes scanning the clearing, he took another tiny bite of the mouse. Hopefully some of his clanmates would be coming out soon and he could share tongues with one like before. An even more exciting thought came to the deputies mind: maybe he could even rejoin them out in the forest sometime.

A small silver kit watched from the entrance of the nursery. He was supposed to wait until other cats were awake... he was technically another cat. Did it count when the cat looked so weak? Sedgekit huffed, striding out of the nursery with confidence despite a few snowdrifts being taller than him. He sat down next to the black and white cat, his tail tucking around his forepaws to keep them warm.

"Hey, you. Play with me." He demanded. His black spotted back shivered briefly as the chill made itself known. He ignored it, this other cat interested him. He'd been in that weird den since he had been born. His nose twitched at the weird smells of herbs and other medicine-cat related things "Who are you? You don't smell like a stray, but you smell weird."

A tiny kit appeared from the nursery opening. Rippedsky allowed a half-smile to overtake his features. Clan life still continued in his absense. While he did not know exactly whose kit it was, it was a Skyclan kit nonetheless. He straightened up a bit with his body still protesting. He saw a chill run through Sedgekit's body and laid his tail gently over the spotted back of the kit.

"My name's Rippedsky. I've been away for a bit, but I'm back now. Who might you be?" The deputy inquired softly. His blue eyes shone with an immediate love for another member of the clan. Even if a bit abrupt and demanding, there was something about the kit that reminded him of Elmcloud.

The silver kit huffed and flicked his tail when he felt the larger cat's cover his back. It felt nice over his short fur and the cold, but he wanted to play more than be warm. He recognised Rippedsky's name, the other cats kept talking about him. Even his parents spoke about him before they dissappeared. What was so special about this cat? He was big, there was certainly that.

"I'm Sedgekit." He replied, lifting his head and puffing out his little chest. "You shouldn't have gone away. You made cats worry." He nodded firmly. He stepped out from under Rippedsky's warm black and white tail, regretting it a little, but he pushed on until he was out of reach. "Will you play now?" He questioned, his tone still making it sound like a demand.

Mintpaw looked up from where she had been resting nearby, a worried look on her face. "Rippedsky?" She trotted closer, grinning. "A-are you o-okay?
W-what are you d-doing outside o-of the Medicine Cat d-den?"

OOC:
crap and stuff

"Well, it is certainly a pleasure to finally meet you Sedgekit," A rusty purr rumbled in the warrior's chest. He was happy to finally be around the kits again. Whatever had plagued him for so long was finally subsiding, he would not pass it onto the kit. It was such an unbelievable feeling to be around his clan again. Being stuffed into the medicine cat den was not the place for a deputy. His ear twitched at the kit's statement, and then persistent question, or rather, demand. There was no reason to not attempt playing with a kit, that would be a good place to start for getting back into the routine of patrolling and hunting, something which he planned to do the moment Oceanlight even breathed approval. Rising slowly to his feet, the black and white tom meowed, "Unfortunately, I could not help it, young one. But I am back now, and most certainly ready to play."

There was a short wheeze from his still recovering lungs, but nonetheless, he still crouched down to face his latest enemy. His gaze glistened with excitement. Right before he could strike, Mintpaw meowed. Somehow, he had missed her when he first came out. Had he known, he would have been sharing the now half eaten mouse with his adoptive daughter. A brief pang of sadness hit him as he remembered her mother, but the tom pushed it away. Instead, he managed to match her grin, "Were you hoping they'd keep me in there forever? Not even sickness can keep your old man down. Besides, I have to defend camp from this brute." Rippedsky motioned towards Sedgekit, allowing a slightly painful and playful hiss to escape his maw.

"Good." Sedgekit nodded, fluffing up his fur and crouching to meet Rippedsky's stance. When Mintpaw interrupted, he growled, sitting down and glaring at her in frustration. He had just gotten this cat to agree to play, and now they were being interrupted. He jumped up when he was motioned to, nodding his head in agreement until it caught up to him. His green eyes narrowed in played anger as he lashed his tail "Brute!? I'll show you." He growled, trying his best to sound as fierce as possible as he kneaded the snow beneath him, bringing unwelcomed cold between his pads.

A cold spike raced down Sedgekit's spine as snow crunched between his paw pads. Breaking his focused glare, he hurriedly licked his paw in an attempt to warm it. A small bit of snow fell to the ground and he glared at it angrily. Now that it wasn't hurting him, his focus on it was lost quickly as he turned his attention back to Rippedsky and Mintpaw.
"You should play too." He demanded. Lifting his head proudly, as if the incident just now had never happened. "All cats need to play." He insisted, certain that it was sound logic.

(OOC: It's alright Drippy XD Don't mind the basket of prickles here. )

Drearily, Swiftkit stumbled out of the nursery with his white fluffy white pelt groomed down thanks to Moonshine. His bright yellow eyes looked all around camp and quickly landed on a cat he had never seen before hissing at Sedgekit. I have to save him! Clumsily, he ran over to the black and white cat, who seemed even bigger up close. "Leave Sedgekit alone, mousebrain!" With his stubby little kitten legs, he managed to just barely reach the top of Rippedsky's leg.

OOC: frick late sorry

IC:
Mintpaw rocked nervously on her paws, still unconvinced. She was about to order Rippedsky to get some rest, but the silver kit made her have second thoughts. "All cats need to play."
Oh, so Sedgekit could just boss her around now, hm? 'Not on my watch!' The small apprentice jumped into a battle stance as another kit, a small white tom called Swiftkit, bounced towards Rippedsky.
"H-hah! Your petty r-rouge battle moves are no u-use against Rippedstar, t-the greatest leader o-of all time, and his loyal d-deputy, Mintfang!" With a triumphant squeak she charged at Swiftkit and gently batted his ears, her murky green eyes bright and mischevious. Now that she was sure Rippedsky was okay, why not have a little fun?

OOC: no problem, just didn't want to jump too far ahead of anyone ^^

Sedgekit glanced over as swiftkit raced over to join him. He hissed fiercly with a confidential smirk. He was ready to lunge out when Mintpaw joined in. He scoffed at the name, his green eyes glinted as he looked towards Mintoaw.

"Rippedstar?" He teased, his gaze flicked back to swiftkit with an arrogance that certainly didn't belong to a kit. "Please. You and your mangy rogue are going down!" He spat, lunging towards Mintpaw as she lunged to swiftkit, his little claws werent sheathed, but they were too small to do more than maybe scrape the apprentice. "Take that, mintbreath!"

OCC: AHHH IM SORRY GUYS. Also the use of mintbreath as an insult is A+

Rippedsky stole a glance at Mintpaw out of the corner of his eye. There was a playful gleam there. Even if the weakness still plague him, he felt far better than he had for the past moon. Despite his age, the black and white tom was more willing to play with the kits than ever. He pretended to slide his long claws out into the snow speckled earth, but quickly retracted them as a paw flashed out to tap Sedgekit on the top of his head.

"Rogue?" He feigned hurt for a brief second before shooting back a teasing hiss, "You pair have the brains of Riverclan and the hearts of Shadowclan, I have never seen anything more rogue!"