Lost in a Dream [Open]

Sore. That is what he was. The constant hunting, and patrolling took a toll on the dilute warrior, not to mention the side training he was doing for himself. He needed to be stronger, better for Thunderclan. The transition to Stoatstar had them.. well weaker, but honestly Starlingflare saw this as a good chance for Thunderclan to become stronger. Stoatstar could be strong, far stronger than Minkstar.

He stood off to the side of the camp, the sun shining through the trees warming the rather skinny tom. He stretched out, feeling the relief the motion brought his sore body. He stayed like that for a moment before standing up fully, his yellow gaze sweeping around the camp. Everything seemed in order.. well except one thing, but there was nothing he could do about it right now. Maybe with time he would be able to fix it.. To see the Thunderclan he wanted to see.

Softpaw sat outside the apprentice den having just gotten up he groomed his messy flurry fur that was sticking out in all directions from the sleep he had.

His father... errr well his adopted father had just become leader ... Minkstars death was unfortunate but Softpaw was sure his dad would be able to bring Thunderclan back to its full strength soon.  He was a little cautious of all the riverclan cats that had recently joined thunderclan... could they really be trusted?  Thunderclan was in dire need for more territory and if they could Softpaw was not against moving on Sunningrocks... would their new clanmates betray them if they made a move against riverclan?  He sighed it put Thunderclan in a difficult situation.

Glancing around he saw Starlingflare at the edge of camp... the tom was basking in the sunlight reflecting off his pelt.  His yellow eye scanning over the camp.  Starlingflare was so cool, and look at how strong he looked too!  Softpaw had to remind himself not to stare too long as he shifted his gaze someplace else... but he stole as many quick glances as he could back to the warrior in question.  His wounds showed dedication, commitment and loyalty to Thunderclan, Softpaw hoped he would one day be like Starlingflare, cold, calculated, cunning and willing to do anything to push Thunderclan forward.


While gazing at him, Softpaw moved around the camp slighly such that he could view Starlingflare from his blind side so as not to be seen just compltely in awe over him... he wasn't quite sure how Starlingflare would like that and guessed it would probably not be great... best not to be seen admiring him right? that was his logic anyways.  Seeing the bad side of Starlings face closer, he felt angry and upset. Whoever had done this to his clanmate would pay in blood if they were still alive.  Hmm but starling surely had taken care of whoever did this to him right?  

It was hard to say exactly how he felt about the handsome tom... did he love him? No not really he didnt even know him that well, hmm did he crush on him? perhaps but again not knowing him at all (or very little that is) made it difficult at best to tell if a crush was the right word for what he was feeling...

Perhaps a deep sense of gratitude and longing to be like him and an initial spark of interest was closer to describe what it was he felt.  He nodded having figured that out grinning.  Softpaw was ... well just that a bit of a softie but he saw Starling as the warrior he wanted to be... the warrior his clan needed right now... time to stop being a softie and play with the big crowd... if his clan wanted to avoid starvation they would need it...

Speaking of starving he could not help but notice how skinny Starling was...

Reaper King wrote:

the sun shining through the trees warming the rather skinny tom

He thought back to the gathering at all the fat river clan cats prancing around like they owned the place... he quivered a little in anger knowing his clanmate was out here hungry and that riverclan was to blame for hogging all the land.

Returning in from a patrol, two measly mice and a half-starved sparrow hanging from her jaws, Appledapple meandered back to camp. Her muscles ached from stalking through the heavy snowdrifts, and her brow was furrowed in frustration from the several catches she had missed, due to hunger or distraction or just plain clumsiness. Usually she was a better hunter than this. But the prey were not running well, and no more seemed to be spawning. And not only that, but the short amount of paws meant that of all the tiny prey they were catching, so many went into the mouth of those greedy fish-faces. That prey could be feeding Stoatstar, could be feeding their adopted kits, but no. The dirty interlopers that their former wonderful-but-honestly-still-a-bit-of-a-mouse-brain soft-hearted leader Minkstar had let in were still in the Clan, and she could do nothing about it. With Stoatstar so busy and unreachable, and the fact he would likely not listen to her anyway....

With a sigh of disgust, the tortoiseshell dropped her prey into the fresh-kill pile, knowing that the dirty RiverClan mouths would likely snatch it up before real ThunderClan cats could get a taste. However... as she glanced around, two familiar forms caught her eye. Her friend Starlingflare, and adopted son Softpaw. Thinking quickly, she picked her prey back up again and brought it over to the two. Mice for both of them, and the thin little sparrow for herself. "You look like a stick, Starlingflare," she told him with a joviality she didn't feel, nudging the fresh-kill towards him. "Eat up. I'd rather it go to you than... some other cats." She tossed the other one towards her opinionated, but strong, son. "You too Softpaw, better get some food in you before the dusk patrol."

Starlingflare had watched as Appledapple had dropped prey into the pile. He could feel his stomach rumbling but he wasn't going to take the food, not yet anyway. He didn't feel like he did enough today to warrant eating, but it seemed the choice was made for him, as his single yellow eye watched as his friend nudged a mouse towards him. He grunted out in response to her comment before speaking up. "I might be a stick but I'm a stick that is still here." He commented, before his yellow eye turned towards Softpaw. His yellow eye taking in the younger tom, and giving him a small smile, before turning back to his mouse. Softpaw must have appeared in his blind spot when he wasn't paying attention.

"I wasn't planning to eat til later, but yeah it's better to go to me than.. Well. You know. Has she even done anything to help around the camp like her kids or is she still just sulking and being dead weight?" He asked his companion, not caring really if anyone heard. The others needed to know the truth. Deadweight wouldn't be tolerated, at least he wouldn't tolerate it.

Softpaw had approached closer and sat next to his two superiors, mom offered her some food... err appledapple ... he always thought of her as mom as much as she didnt appreciate him using that term...

Well when thinking about things he figured he could use the term mom but would do his best to say her name.

The food smelled so good and he hadnt eaten in forever it felt like he gave a very grateful nod to Apple and did as she said he ate... wow that tasted so good. Thank you apple he purred in between bites.

The talk of anti riverclan did not bother him one bit because he agreed with everything said... He worried to himself that swan would turn on them if they ever attempted to go after sunningrocks... which they really needed seeing as how bad the clan was doing food and land wise... He didnt trust Swan at all.

Seeing that Appledapple and Starlingflare agreed he was very content, they were the two he looked up to perhaps the most.

He nodded in agreement as they spoke of such things.

A constant thorn in our side when we least need it... I wouldn't be surprised if she stabs us in the back if we ever go for sunningrocks he meowed quietly to them adding on.

he glanced around quickly seeing no one was around he continued.

Don't you guys think we should do something about it? he asked them tilting his head... but what could they do? Stoat seemed content with keeping them as Mink had been.

Hmm and his father probably didn't want to hear more suggestions from him seeing as how last time that ended in disaster. At heart, Softpaw was a loyalist wanting the best for Thunderclan (or the best that he thought it could be) no matter what that meant, sometimes that meant arguing with Stoat head on... ok bring it, he had plenty of grit for that... Thanks to Appledapple, he had enough fire... he just had to learn how to control it rather than it controlling him. The fire had controlled him during the deputy ceromony and it led to unproductive arguing and bad relations... stupid softpaw he scolded himself as he thought about all this.

However this was a perfect learning time, apple and starling and him were all in agreement, and they were similar to him in that they were not ones to stand by and watch their clan get pushed around, how would they deal with this? He honestly was on board with anything as long as some course of action was being taken.

What do you recomend we do Starlingflare? he asked the tom casually curious to get his thoughts.

Im willing to do anything to help Thunderclan

Appledapple took a bite out of the sparrow, spitting out feathers as she did so. It was more feathers than meat. But still, she had no cause to be picky. In this leaf-bare, she would eat anything that she could get. She continued eating, but left an ear pricked to Starlingflare's words. Of course... she should have known that he would feel the same way she did. The same underlying bitterness laced his words as he spoke, postulating the question of whether she was being any help. "I've never seen her do anything other than lay around and eat," the tortoiseshell responded before taking another tiny bite of her tiny fresh-kill. "And yet she still looks thinner than you, and even dirtier. At least the apprentices go out and hunt."

Then Softpaw spoke. Appledapple still wasn't sure what to think about her adopted son after his angry outburst in the deputy ceremony, but she knew that he had at least absorbed some of her viewpoints. He seemed to be of a similar opinion about the menace as well. "I hadn't even thought about Sunningrocks. I doubt she'd come to the battle, since she can barely move as it is, but the apprentices might switch sides," she murmured. "As to what can be done... Stoatstar seems fine with it. I think his love for Minkstar is keeping him from wanting to toss the RiverClan cats out. I loved Minkstar as well, but at least I can acknowledge he didn't always make good decisions. What can be done.... I honestly don't know. I've been thinking about it myself." Several times she had postulated leading the bedraggled white queen out in the territory, on the guise of a patrol, and blaming a predator. But she never left camp anyway... and she was not going to suggest such a thing to her son. Besides, it would probably be obvious it was her. It was a bad idea. Stoatstar would know. And yet... ThunderClan was suffering. Frustrated, she took another bite of the sparrow.

Reedpaw had just returned from a hunting patrol to hear the last few words of his mother. in his jaws swung a pigeon that the tom was rather proud of. he had to leap very high for it. dropping his catch, he bounded up to the group. "Thinking about what?" he asked curiously.

Starlingflare let out a hum as his mind wandered, his single eye looking over to Reedpaw as he approached the growing group, acknowledging the apprentice's appearance. "As much as I hate having the Riverclan cats here, the younger ones can be of use to us. They can be retrained, their loyalties turned. We can make good warriors of them yet," The gray tom said.

"Of course, they will need to go through some trials, make sure they are actually fit of the title of Thunderclan warrior. They are earning their keep for now, let's turn it into something good for us." The dilute tom said, his tail flicking slightly behind him. "As for their mother, she needs to go. She isn't going to be of any use, she grew up in Riverclan and her ties will ultimately remain there regardless of what lead her to coming here." His eyes narrowed, "She is going to slip up one day, and when she does, I will be there waiting." His tailed thumped against the ground more now, his thoughts going to how it would feel to sink his claws into the she-cat.

He straightened up, clearing his head. "Separate the kits from the mother. Make them feel welcome. If we can get the kits to turn on her, then that should break her."

Softpaw nodded listening to both of the warriors

Softpaw gave a smile  to his brother Reedpaw as he came over as well. He needed to get his brother on the same page as well. He didnt mind speaking openly about his dislike/hate towards the riverclanners, he didn't have a filter between his head and mouth.

"Yeah the strength of Thunderclan is the most important thing and should be our main concern, we cant have warriors with split loyalties..." he agreed with Starlingflare and glanced at Reedpaw as he said it wanting to get a read on his brothers reaction to this. Getting his siblings to agree with him would be key to the beginning of a strong core of Thunderclan.

He glanced back over to Starlingflare still intrigued by him and had a sense of longing to be like him. He gave him a wide eyed look like that of a child meeting their comic book superhero.

"... if there is anything I could do .... to ermm well ensure the success of our clan please tell me." he said hoping that Starlingflare knew exactly what he meant.

and he did mean it, he was willing to do whatever it took to strengthen his clan and he felt the best way to do that currently was to follow Starlingflare's lead, the older tom had so much more experience and it was clear he wanted the same, a strong Thunderclan.  Starling would show him how to solve their little... problem... and Softpaw was willing to do whatever Starling needed to solve this... issue

and I do mean anything he added on grooming his front paws, he said it casually as if it was an absolute given ... it was in a way a fundamental given.

Softpaws mind raced at the possibilities hmm maybe Swan would 'slip' near the river... or perhaps an 'angry fox' discovered her while Starlingflare and himself were on patrol with her... hmm so many possibilities, now not all of them had to be this extreme... if she took the hint to leave there would be no reason for any of this but if she didn't... well disliking of fish would quickly become a minor problem for her compared to what Softpaw had in mind.

and all the words he spoke were true to the core, if Starling told him to something it would be done no questions asked, assuming it served the greater good of Thunderclan which of course it would, Starling would always have that.
This is what he assumed

he didnt mind if Reedpaw heard him, it would let him see where reedpaw stood on this issue, he hoped Reedpaw would have enough sense to agree with him and if Softpaw was lucky, perhaps Reedpaw would even agree to help solve the issue

Reedpaw paused in shock. was his brother planning a murder?! he smiled uncertainly and replied, "Riverclan cats don't belong in the forest, no matter if they like fish or mouse. however, I don't think we should make them leave by... force. we should still respect the warrior code, right?" his gaze flited from face to face trying to find a look of compassion.

As Appledapple finished her sparrow, the conversation continued. She expected the dark considerations from Starlingflare... but Softpaw? That was a little surprising, that he was already catching onto the nuance of their speaking and even thinking about committing a crime like that. A tinge of unease touched her as she saw the tom grooming his paws. That wasn't something that apprentices should have to worry about. It should be taken care of by older warriors. Reedpaw, for his part, seemed more reluctant to even think about jumping to such extremes. Good. That was Appledapple's job.

"Nice pigeon, Reedpaw," she commented to him, looking up as he arrived. "You should give it to your father; I doubt he's eaten today." Then she turned her attention back to her friend and the other apprentice. "I haven't truly interacted much with the RiverClan apprentices to know, but I suppose it wasn't so much their fault that their mother dragged them here. If they can prove their loyalty, they might make good ThunderClan warriors. But the queen broke an oath. She can't be trusted in the slightest." The tortoiseshell warrior tilted her head. "You're charismatic, Starlingflare. You should try talking to the younger ones. I'm too abrasive-- cats don't like me."

Then her gray eyes slid over to Softpaw. "I appreciate the offer, but remember that you are an apprentice. You still have a lot to learn. Don't get in anything over your head. Grow and learn and become a warrior, and maybe then you can trust your judgement enough to make decisions like this. But for now, I'd rather you stay out of anything serious. Keep hunting, protecting the borders, and taking care of Dustcloud. Stoatstar would lose his mind if you did something rash again. Overreacting isn't a good way to show your loyalty." Appledapple glanced at her apprentice next. "And the same applies to you, Reedpaw. I know that I can lose my temper sometimes, but I want you all to be better. Think about your decisions. Do what is best for ThunderClan, of course, but leave the more difficult decisions to the warriors." Though the kits were adopted, they seemed to have absorbed some of her personality. Hopefully they wouldn't be burdened with her awful temper, but they would learn to control it more wisely, while still using it when necessary.

Reedpaw nodded at his mother’s words. At least she too agreed that they should at least give the Riverclan cats a chance. When he was a warrior, though, he definitely needed to get back the sunning rocks. Maybe they could learn to catch fishes, too. He purred at Appledapple’s praise about his pigeon. Though now that she pointed it out Reedpaw realised that Stoatstar in deed had not been eating. Was he worried that all the newborn kits would starve. He could go on more patrols if needed!

"Warrior code says to remain loyal to your clan." The gray warrior huffed out at the apprentices comment. "That is the first thing you learn, and they broke that, granted the younger ones didn't have much of a choice. We don't need a lazy code breaker in our clan, so she has to go." He said with a small one eyed glare in Reedpaw's direction but not enough to show he truly meant harm, just correcting the apprentice's thinking.

"I like what you are thinking Softpaw, but like Appledapple said you need to focus on your training for now, keep you head low and build trust with the apprentices. The more they like some of us the sooner we can break their bond with their useless mother." Starlingflare said, curling his tail around his paws trying to reign in his irritation with the Riverclan warrior.

He shifted his gaze to Apple, knowing that it really wasn't in her personality to interact with others. "You can still be of us Appledapple, while interacting with them directly might not be the best idea, you could always influence your kits to do so in your stead, or just show them a strong warrior out on patrols. If they look up to you that would be even better. No interaction needed." He was ready to see the heartbroken look on that queens face as soon as she realized her kits were leaving her behind. The sooner they got that the better.

Reedpaw nodded to Starlingflare's words. though he still wasn't comfortable with dividing the family or harming any cat, he could tell that the queen was a drain on their resources. they didn't have the prey to spare, and she wasn't hunting either.