the long awaited hunt [open]

[D I R E]

P a l e s t a r

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My heart is really on it's knees
But i keep a poker face so well
That even mother couldn't tell

It has been a long time, since her lithe form padded around in the forest. Quiet, alone without the constant chatter of her clanmates. Though a leader she may be, she was a warrior first and foremost. The calling of the hunt had long been unanswered; too busy taking care of things to hunt. How she missed it, the adrenalin pulsating in her blood, the scent of fish or vole, the triumph rush as she caught the prey with hard work. Pale yellow eyes shimmered in the rising sun, daybreak a chance to relax and test out her hunting skills. Usually someone one would hunt for her, but not today. Soft light broke over the hills, sending her territory in golden hue. Moving like liquid the she-cat worked her way out of the somber woods.

Below, winding like an azure snake was her calling. The river, like all Reedclan cat’s she was an adept swimmer, more so than most. Thick shoulders pounded through the heavy waters and pushed past the currents. Already she felt the cool water brushing against her legs. However she was careful, winding down the ground paws padding gently. She couldn’t scare away the prey, but were her hunting skills rusty now that time had passed since she hunted. Would she make a simple error that any apprentice would make, shaking her head firmly the she-cat walked onward. Confidence stirred in her heart, she was leader, and she could do anything. Breathing in the crisp air, all around leaf-bare was fading against the oncoming snow.

Landing with a thud on a river bank, Palestar stretched. Too long without exercise, it strained her to be a diplomat, a leader when in her heart she ached for the fighting and hunting from her warrior days. Whirling blue water with chunks of ice, beneath were the slow moving fish that had begun to hibernate during winter. Bringing a dusty gray paw forward she gingerly dipped it into the icy water. It sent a shiver down her spine, a small frown graced her maw, and perhaps it was too cold to hunt for fish. Some cat would say it was too dangerous for her as a leader. Grimacing, the she-cat sighed. This day wasn’t going to plan, she was free for once! Free from being a leader and becoming a warrior, to hunt and fight for her clan. But in the end she knew that leading the clan was more important. That’s why I was chosen, to lead this clan into greatness. Starclan, I shall make Reedclan the greatest clan the forest has ever seen. However kittenish that dream may sound Palestar would try to accomplish it. When her family died all she had was her clan, and she made it her life to provide for the clan. Palesmoke, the new deputy and the death of Fisherstar, she had come into power.

A fierce, prone to violence she-cat never squandering her time for relationships. Her mind was set on one goal, becoming leader and she accomplished it. But what now, where would she lead her clan, into the fiery arms of danger? Sitting down on the cool sandy bank, Palestar gazed far out. A silent morning meant time to think. Her mind was loud and jumbled with worries and fears, the calling of elders, the complaints of her warriors, the ceremony for her cats. So much to do, she was the type to lead a charge into a battlefield not compromise with her fellow cats. It was a change for her, having to talk to solve things; however she was willing to change. To an extent.

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[Gentle]

THE WIND SEEMS to never stop as it blows, such integrity in its lips, such fierce force in its breath. It chills and ices and makes the whole world go cold with its sighs. So often it feels the need to exhale into the world, and today was no exception. In fact, it seemed to be the windiest day in a while.

It hadn't started out like that. At first it had been calm and graceful, which was so what the orange she-cat admired. But then it grew angry and violent, at which cat she didn't know. But whoever made it mad didn't matter, for they all had to pay and suffer under its chilling breath that day,

The wind was so violent, in fact, that Gentlecall feared to step out of her medicine cat den. But it died down eventually, and she felt the urge to get out for a bit. The sun was just peaking through the clouds, so at least she had some light.

Thank goodness I don't live in GustClan... thought the medicine cat as she stepped out of the camp and passed the throng of trees. I'd surely be flying by now. No no, the river is good enough for me. And today the river was exactly where she wanted to go.

Being in ReedClan, Gentlecall could swim as well as the next ReedClan cat. She wasn't great, but she was certainly better than another, a different clan cat. The SunClan oafs, the GustClan mongrels, and the NightClan thieves were no match for the running rapids. They were too clumsy, too big, or too small. They truly underestimate the power of the ReedClan cats. Fish-faces? Lazy fur balls? Ha! That's what they think. But when they least expect it, a ReedClan cat can pop out of nowhere and fight with the best of them.

Yes, Gentlecall liked herself exactly where she was. Well, for the most part anyway. She enjoyed ReedClan above all others, for various reasons stated above, but the clans in general... well, that's where she had a problem. It wasn't the idea of the clan that bothered her- no, the thought of unity and helping one another was a brilliant one indeed. But the rules, the stupid laws... they were rather ridiculous. Not mating for love, not letting loners in... they were harsh, and the punishments were just as cruel. You made one false move and you're either dead or homeless. And, as a medicine cat, she felt that it was her job to allow the leader to see these troubles and change them. But all in good time, of course.

Pushing some green curtains aside, she revealed the water to herself, and she gasped. It was not from the waves of blue that she was startled, but the cat sitting near them. For there, hunting in the home of the fish, was Palestar, the great leader herself.

Gentlecall watched for a bit, momentarily indecisive. Not being the most violent or ambitious cat, the orange and white she-cat would easily run or flee, unless it involved protecting another, which was another matter entirely. But she always feared not the leader but the leader's power, and what would come out of her own mouth. If she even squeaked of not liking the rules, she could be severely punished.

Palestar was not the sweetest cat either, as far as Gentlecall knew. For the medicine cat had only just been upped from apprentice when her old mentor died less than a moon ago, and Palestar had become a leader recently as well. Gentlecall was not used to her, but she assumed they'd have to get close, for the bond between medicine cat and leader was like no other. And so far Gentlecall knew that Palestar was ambitious and determined, which could be good or bad, depending on which direction it was pointed in.

Deciding that they'd have to get to know each other sometime and that they may as well start now, Gentlecall stepped slowly up to the side of the river. She sat next to the leader, wanting to let her see her first, as not to startle her.

"Greetings, Palestar," she said quietly she respectfully dipped her head. "Beautiful day, isn't it? Well, except for this wind...." Her body faced the water while her green eyes turned to the leader, settling patiently on her figure as her ears were perked to the soothing sounds of the rapids dancing over the rocks.