Bad Idea! [c]

The moon, almost full, bathed the landscape in an almost ethereal glow. The air was crisp and still, making every single breath visible on this cold night. The moor was transformed into a blanket of shimmering frost.

Cloudypaw felt a shiver run down her spine as she padded cautiously outside of her clan's makeshift camp. Brrr! This was her first time outside of the camp, apart from a brief kit adventure with Galepaw, but this time was different. She was free - an apprentice. Pride surged through her, along with the thrill of independence. All of the time Morningmoon spent fussing over her made this moment feel almost bittersweet. The world beyond the camp seemed vast and unknown. This is it. Nobody will know I came out here. Even if they did, why would they care? She was still struggling with the fact she was no longer just a kit.

Her paws crunched softly on the frosted grass as she made her way through their makeshift territory.  Her eyes were wide and excited, taking everything in. It was beautiful. She had heard complaints about it from cats longing to go home... But this was her home and everything she had ever known. Her nose twitched as she caught a faint scent on the breeze. It was almost nostalgic, reminding her of the first time she peeked out of the nursery. It was unmistakable. Mouse.

She dropped into a makeshift crouch, following the scent. She looked silly. It was reminiscent of the crouches she did with Galepaw moons ago. Her mentor, Eaglefly, has yet to teach her how to do one properly. But in this moment, she depended purely on instinct. The scent drew her closer to the boundary of Windclan's temporary territory.

She had it in her sights. A mouse exploring the moor, chewing on something it had found. Her mouth watered. How cool would Galepaw think she was, catching a mouse without her mentor's guidance? Her fantasies of catching her first freshkill were almost crushed as soon as she thought them. The mouse spotted her and immediately started to run, dropping what it was inspecting. "No!" She yowled out in surprise. Please! She rose from her crouch and gave chase. Come back, please!

She didn't realize it, but she had just passed the WindClan boundary.

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Cloudypaw was convinced she almost had the mouse, despite it being numerous tail lengths ahead of her. I almost have it! Just one more pace! And then... Suddenly... She didn't have anything at all. The breath was knocked out of her in an instant as she crashed into another cat.

...What? She blinked, disoriented. Her heart was pounding. She slowly stood back up. She was quiet for a second, trying to process what just happened. "I... Uh.." The gravity of the situation hit her. A strange tom in her territory that she didn't recognize. This was an apprentice's worst nightmare: an encounter with a total stranger on their first venture outside the camp. She studied him: he was massive and battle-scarred. There's no way I could beat him in a fight. She quickly assessed.

She could feel the weight of his beautiful gaze as he waited for her to respond to him. "You're..." ...in WindClan territory. She glanced behind her, towards home, and her stomach dropped. How far did I run?! "...I'm so sorry." She mewed, her gaze softening as she looked up at the tom. He's a SkyClan warrior. Oh no. Tigerdance will hear about this at the gathering. I'm in so much trouble. "I didn't mean to." She stammered as her pelt got hot, "I was trying to catch that mouse, and.."

She trailed off when he offered to teach her something. This isn't the reaction she thought she'd receive. He was way too friendly for another clan cat. Why would a SkyClan warrior want to help me? "But, aren't you from SkyClan?" She questioned his motives. She didn't want to get anyone in trouble, and she'd prefer just to forget this encounter. She longed for her brother to be here, to save her.

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"I am from..." WindClan. She hesitated. "Well, I'm not from any clan either. Just a loner. I'm Cloudy." -paw. Cloudypaw replied, trying to be nonchalant. She felt a tang of guilt, but it was better than revealing who she was. What if he hated clan cats? I hesitated. Ugh. Her mind was racing to come up with a believable story in case he asked, but she opted to try to direct his attention from her origins. "Who are you? Where are you from?"

He looked healthy. He had a gorgeous pelt apart from the scars that parted it. Clear eyes and massive. Clearly, he was well-fed. She couldn't say the same about her home.

The guilt made it hard to maintain eye contact, so she briefly looked down as she sat down in front of the tom. Though, her eyes sparkled. She realized the potential she had here. Ever since Tallshadow had explained their history as WindClan, she was curious about rogues and loners. How did they interact with their ancestors? Where did they live? What kind of structure did they have? She could find out all of that, right now. She could pretend to be Cloudy for a few moments to satisfy her curiosity, and no one will know.

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Cloudypaw couldn't help but feel offended. Morningmoon had explained why she was named that, and it was completely unrelated to her appearance. Though, she just flicked her ear. How was she supposed to explain any of that?

Gouge. Her whiskers twitched. Rogues have such interesting names. Honestly, what a weird name for a cat that seems so passive, charming, and gentle. While he was battle-scarred and massive, she couldn't help but be unsure if he was the one who initiated those battles. As Cloudypaw continued to speak to him, the aura that radiated off of him was very calming. With her terrible lie being accepted, she can finally breathe.

"What kind of predators?" She questioned instantly as soon as he ended his sentence, quickly regretting it on the off chance it'd reveal her identity. "I'm glad you're here now. I am from the south, although I've been with my family this whole time. We just stick together."

She felt embarrassed she didn't know the world like he did. But, it would be great to have this cat's guidance. Every cat at WindClan was so sick, and maybe she could learn something that'd save her clan. "I don't have the experience you do." She admitted, upfront. "You should tell me all about it and teach me. I'd love to see your camp!"

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Cloudypaw held her breath as he prodded more into her history, waiting for some emotion out of Gouge. Anger, that she lied and that she's a clan cat that took up precious territory. Brought her sickness to the lakes. Maybe even sadness that she wouldn't trust him because of stereotypes made by her clan. She dreaded the confrontation and the loss of this opportunity to learn something other than her clan's culture. Most importantly, she dreaded losing someone that could end up important to her. The lack of space between them that he maintained amplified this fear. There was no way she could get away if he was as terrible as Morningmoon made rogues seem.

Though, he didn't do any of that. In fact, he completely changed the course of their conversation. The offer to meet again in two days stunned her, and her jaw dropped slightly. What? She couldn't even get a response out until he was almost gone. She straightened her back and yelled out to him, "I'll be there! You'll SEE!" She promised.

She felt a pang of sadness he was gone, hanging out in the area they met for a few moments in hopes he'd turn back around. The thought of just following him passed her mind, out of frustration and impatience. She didn't learn anything about him - who he truly was, where he was from, nothing. But then again, she didn't say a single truthful thing to him either. The unknown was mutual. She felt guilty for doing that, but she didn't really know why. Why did it matter so much?

She sighed, eventually rising to her paws and turning towards WindClan territory. She glanced behind her a final time before taking a few steps forward. She glanced up at Silverpelt, realizing how long she was probably gone. Oh no. She broke out into a messy sprint in the snow, slowing down as she reached the camp to avoid detection.

Her eyes were wide as she reached the entrance, her heart beating with the thrill of potentially getting away with it. She can fantasize about the future visit later, first she had to make it home alive and in secret.

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Cloudypaw instantly stopped in her paw steps as she saw Galepaw step out in front of her. She tensed as she pushed back her ears, her eyes widening in shock. She was so close to the camp entrance. He looked so... Unhappy. Potential outs flooded her mind, desperate to avoid this confrontation. I could turn around and tail it... No. Ask Gouge to take me in tonight? Too late for all that.

Guilt washed over her as he spoke. Morningmoon. Her promise. Her plans with her family. Surely, Galepaw would understand, right? He had to, as her brother. They've shared everything together. She dipped her head to the ground in shame. "Galepaw," she whispered, "I would never, ever intentionally ditch our plans with mom. I lost track of time, and I'll never do it again."

She looked at him, making steady eye contact. Expecting they'll be there for a minute, she sat down with her tail curled neatly over her paws. "I got caught up near the border, chasing a mouse," She explained her case. "I... met a cat. A tom. He wasn't from the clans!" Her eyes sparkled with interest and fascination, expecting Galepaw to share it too. "Isn't that so cool? He wants to see me again. I could learn so much!"

She expected Galepaw to share the same sentiment, studying his features and looking forward to his excitement.

Galepaw

Galepaw's gaze softened on his sister as she admitted her fault and promised never to hold them up again. He nodded, and followed her lead and sat down with her, perking his ears to listen to her story. Certainly, she has a good reason for it, right? he considered. I should at least hear her out. That's what I'm here for, after all.

So she was hunting after all! he thought with relief. His pelt pricked uncomfortably when he thought about his sister going over the border. Into another clan's territory, perhaps? Oh no! he thought, his eyes rounding with concern and alarm. Did she get caught by a patrol? He felt anxiety bubbling up in his chest, his heart rate picking up. I would shred any cat who dares to lay a claw on my sister!

His anxiety shot higher as Cloudypaw explained that the cat was, in fact, a rogue. Rogues aren't bound by the warrior code! he thought with alarm. They have no honor! He opened his mouth to voice his concerns, until... was that... fascination in his sister's eyes? Admiration, even?

Galepaw's heart dropped.
Cool? he thought in icy shock. See her again? A filthy rogue?
The words spilled out of Galepaw's mouth faster than he could think them. "You met a what?" he spat, his hackles raising, "See you again??" he echoed with mixed shock and anger. "That's not cool, Cloudypaw, it's dangerous! Can't you see that? It could be a trap! There's no way you can trust a cat who lives outside the warrior code. They have no honor! You could get hurt.. or... or killed!!" Galepaw's voice raised in a panic. "What was a rogue doing so close to our border, anyway? What if he's planning something?" Galepaw's heart was beating harder than when he chased prey. His mind whirled.

"There's no way!! We need to tell Sootstorm about this immediately!" he hissed, and turned his back on Cloudypaw, ready to leap straight back into camp to find the deputy.

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Cloudypaw flinched at his intense, unexpected reaction. It would've been less painful if he just raked his claws across her muzzle instead. Him shutting her down was so out of character for him - this couldn't be the Galepaw she thought she knew - was this Goldengale corrupting him? She expected Galepaw to want to come with her to meet Gouge, or be extremely nosey to learn everything she learns. Not this. Not in a million moons did she expect him to act like this.

"Galepaw, wait!" She called out as he turned around, her voice desperate and pleading. "Please!" She rose to her paws instantly, swiftly blocking his path back to camp with a fast scramble. Adrenaline was pumping through her veins, and she took a few deep breaths. "Please... Galepaw. Give me a chance to explain. I just wanted to share this with you. Something exciting, not cause trouble or make you upset. I know it's weird.. He's not dangerous or unhonorable like you said. He was so kind and friendly. We're going to be friends, whether you like that or not."

She firmly held her ground, her pupils slitted and her ears flattened. "Please, let's keep this between us. I don't want you to jump to conclusions and make Sootstorm and Tigerdance upset for no reason. He's harmless, we're not. Trust me, you're my brother." She begged, her voice a whisper to avoid detection from their sleeping clanmates. She hoped that she could appeal to her brother somehow by bringing up their bond and keep this encounter a secret. She desperately wanted to continue to build her friendship with Gouge. She could learn so, so much.

Galepaw

Galepaw's back arched defensively as his sister blocked his way into camp.
"Get out of my way, Cloudypaw," he warned. "I can't let you see that rogue. They're all dishonorable and dangerous!" Galepaw's blood boiled beneath his pelt. His breath came in gasps as he struggled against his illness. Getting angry only seemed to make the symptoms worse, but Galepaw couldn't stop. "He was kind and friendly? Cloudypaw, don't you know that's exactly what he wanted you to think? He's going to set a trap for you! I won't let you go see him again. You can't!"

"Jump to conclusions?? Don't you remember what Morningmoon taught us? You can only trust your own clanmates!" A low, guttural growl was rising up in Galepaw's throat. His vision was filled with images of Cloudypaw running away from him, being unable to catch up to her. A huge cat rising up above him, staring down into him with resentful, burning amber eyes. This is it! He thought in a panic, his eyes narrowing. I can't let her go! Something terrible is about to happen!

"Trust you?" he spat, "How can I trust you, when you're so willing to break the warrior code and betray WindClan -  betray me - just to satisfy your own morbid curiosity? How could you be so... so... mouse-brained!?" Within the grip of blind rage, Galepaw lashed out at his sister...

Galepaw uses Front Paw Strike dealing 6 damage and -7 SP.

Galepaw
20 / 20 HP
53 / 60 SP (60 - 7)

Cloudypaw
14 / 20 HP (20 - 6)
60 / 60 SP

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Cloudypaw opened up her mouth to argue with what he was saying. To argue against being an awful code-breaker. That she was betraying her clan. This was her home, how could she hurt them? She was trying to help them by learning! That he could trust her, that she was his sister. As soon as she took a breath in to speak, he lashed out at her with unsheathed claws that glinted in the moonlight.

Tensing, she squeezed her eyes shut to protect them, and she quickly ducked her head to try to avoid the blow. But, she failed by a mouse-length. Her ear stung as his claw slid through, causing her to release a soft cry in pain. She almost immediately felt the warmth from the blood saturating her fur. Though, it quickly turned cold on this icy moor.

She stared back at him with a look that was almost indescribable - mixed with many emotions. Pain, betrayal, sadness, grief. The lack of being understood, or even an attempt to be understood, by your own littermate and bestest friend. The fact he'd even accuse of her being such a terrible cat. She couldn't even recognize him anymore. He told her that he'd protect her and that they were united in this world. I guess that was a lie.

Her eyes welled up with tears as blood dripped down her cheek, dripping down to the snow below. She flattened her ears to her face and wrinkled her nose in anger.

And, without a single word, she left him there. She turned around and slowly walked back into camp.