Meeting in the Cavern (Stormpaw and Oakpaw only)

[Cinder]

Ignoring the pain in her shoulder, Stormpaw limped rapidly through the tunnels leading away from Sharpstone Cave. She had slipped off without anyone knowing, but wasn't sure how long her luck would last. The other cats probably wouldn't be happy that she was sneaking off, into territory that she hadn't explored, to meet a cat from another Clan.
She snorted. Bossy furballs!
Besides, Oakpaw's my friend I should be allowed to be worried about him. What if he was hurt in the battle? Fear gave wings to the young cat's paws.
Suddenly the tunnel widened, and Stormpaw found herself in a huge cavern. Many tunnels led off it, presumably going to different caves. They all looked the same.
She lifted her head and scented. At first, all she could smell was water and rock. Then she picked up the scent of other cats, but it was very faint and she couldn't tell which way they had gone.
Which cave was StormClan staying in? And which tunnel was right? Her tail drooped as she realized that she had no idea.

[Skye *Sukai-chan*]

Skysong was looking around for her apprentice, Stormpaw. She was starting to get irritated that she hadn't found him yet when she caught her scent. She looked around expectangly, and when she still didn't see her, realized that there was a bend in the tunnel that she had entered. She glaned behind her, she could still see the cats in the main cavern. A little perplexed, Skysing followed the scent into the tunnel. A few minutes later, she found her apprentice looking a little dissapointed about something. "Stormpaw?" she called. "What are you doing here?" she added once she had caught up.

[Cinder]

Stormpaw jumped, eyes wide. "Skysong!" She thought frantically, trying to think of a good excuse. "Well, um... I couldn't sleep very well, so I thought I should take a walk. To help my shoulder get stronger, you know."
The apprentice cast a nervous look behind her, tail twitching. Agh! Why did she have to show up now, of all times? Turning back to look at her mentor, she grinned nervously. "Say, do you know which cavern StormClan is staying in?"

[Kiri-chan]

(sorry my post is late... and is the story good enough for Skysong to believe? I tried to be creative without raising suspicion. *grins*)

Oakpaw was all too happy to leave the cave his Clan was staying in. It wasn't exactly very cheery with all the crumbled rock everywhere. A part of him did see some interesting places to explore, but right now he just wanted to get away and see how everyone else was, especially Stormpaw. He'd seen her fighting bravely and while his back was hurting from a bunch of scratch marks and his right paw hurt from when he'd landed on it funny, he was determined to see how Stormpaw was.

His bravado lasted up until he neared the Central Cavern. He groaned to himself at realizing he didn't know which cave EmberClan was staying in and lingering around in the Central Cavern was risky since if he stayed there too long someone might see him and want to know what he was doing. He grimaced as he realized the best way was to just slink carefully down each tunnel until he could tell which cave she was staying in and then... well, maybe throw a rock at her to get her attention. I don't know! He thought to himself, I'll deal with that once I figure out what cave she's in.

Oakpaw was working on a good excuse to have handy should he get caught in another Clan's cave and have to explain why he was there when he heard voices. Peering carefully over the edge of a rock, he saw Stormpaw! Oh no, and her mentor Skysong. Knowing he hadn't been seen or heard yet, Oakpaw thought fast. He really wanted to talk to Stormpaw, but had a feeling Skysong might not be happy about it. Chewing his lip, he looked around, scrambling for an idea as his eyes landed on a cobweb while Stormpaw asked if she knew which cave StormClan was staying in. Eyes widening, he knew he had the perfect excuse.

Adopting a casual, but slightly hurried demeanor, Stormpaw trotted around the rock like he was supposed to be meeting Stormpaw there on purpose. He smiled at the older EmberClan Warrior as he came over to greet her. "Hello Skysong." He meowed respectfully. "Good to see you again. I was just meeting with Stormpaw to get some more herbs." He explained to the Warrior before looking over at Stormpaw.

"Heathersky needs more cobwebs right?" He said with a nod to Stormpaw, asking if he'd remembered correctly. "Crystalpool needs more cobwebs and marigold real quick. I think she mentioned she saw some up near the mouth of the cave." He said, looking again at Skysong. "We won't be too long." He said hurriedly. Outwardly he kept up his respectful demeanor while inwardly begging Stormpaw to play along and for Skysong to take their story at face value and leave.

[Cinder]

Stormpaw's sapphire eyes lit up as she saw Oakpaw hurrying towards herHe's alive! But before she could say a word, her friend was meowing something about finding herbs for Heathersky. What's he talking about?
She grinned as she realized Oakpaw's plan. Brilliant! This is a perfect way to give Skysong the slip.
"Yes, she needs a lot more cobwebs," she meowed earnestly, "and marigold would be great. She's down to the last few scraps." Suddenly her eyes widened as an idea occurred to her. "Skysong, could you maybe fetch some cobwebs while Oakpaw and I go get marigold from the mouth of the cave? I'd get the cobweb myself, but if I slip I might hurt my shoulder again. And you're such a brilliant climber," she added, hoping to flatter her mentor. .

[Skye *Sukai-chan*]

Something was going on, Skysong could tell. But she couldn't figure out what. She understood that the two apprentices didn't want her there, and it seemed like Stormpaw was reliaved when Oakpaw showed up. To her, it seemed like they had planed this. Skysong was getting a little concerned, and only a little of it that Oakpaw was a StormClan cat. She was much more afraid that two friends between rival Clans wouldn't go over well. Without Skysong permiting it, her thoughts progressed and she realized that Oakpaw and Stormpaw might become much more then friends. That wouldn't be acceptable. Her suspicions rising due to Stormpaw's over-flattering, Skysong decided to try and see just what was going on between these two. "Sure!" she said. She remebered that Heathersky and Crystalpool were mad at each other. Something was definatly going on. "Yeah, I can get some cobwebs!" She trotted off, apparently forgetting everything else when the Medicine cats needed herbs.

[Cinder]

Stormpaw flicked a suspicious glance at Skysong as the warrior trotted away. That was a little too easy...
Whatever. If her mentor was being a mousebrain, that was fine. She hadn't seemed suspicious about an EmberClan apprentice working with a StormClan apprentice.
Not caring whether Skysong heard her or not, Stormpaw turned and grinned at Oakpaw. "It's great to see you again! I was worried that you had been hurt..."
Hoping it wasn't too bold of her, she licked Oakpaw's ear. "I'm glad you're okay," she purred.

[Kiri-chan]

(thanks Skysong. *grins mischieviously*)


"Yes, she needs a lot more cobwebs, and marigold would be great. She's down to the last few scraps. Skysong, could you maybe fetch some cobwebs while Oakpaw and I go get marigold from the mouth of the cave? I'd get the cobweb myself, but if I slip I might hurt my shoulder again. And you're such a brilliant climber,"

Oakpaw was relieved when Stormpaw not only played along, but came up with a brilliant way to get rid of Skysong. He felt a little guilty at tricking a Warrior, but the nagging suspicion that Skysong had a feeling they were up to something spurred him on. As she meowed an agreement and left, Oakpaw breathed a sigh of relief and grinned over at Stormpaw as she stepped closer to talk to him.

"It's great to see you again! I was worried that you had been hurt... I'm glad you're okay,"

He flushed red under his fur at her lick and kneaded his paws self-consciously into the ground. "Thanks. I'm glad you're okay too. I was so worried when I saw you hit your head, but I couldn't stop to run over. I saw you get up, but I, I just had to make sure you were okay Stormpaw." He said earnestly, looking into her face, but still blushing like a kit. What is wrong with me? He mentally asked himself. Yeesh its just Stormpaw!

Grateful his fur was hiding his flaming cheeks, he dropped his eyes from hers and shyly pawed a rock at his feet. "Maybe we should go get some marigold. You know, at least look like we were gathering herbs. I think there really was some near the mouth of the cave." He said as he stood up. "How, um, how's your shoulder? Is it really hurt bad?" He asked as he walked with her.

[Cinder]

Stormpaw blushed under her fur. "It's not that bad. I've got a real battle scar now!" She grinned at Oakpaw, then began hurrying up the tunnel towards daylight. "Yeah, let's go get the marigold," she called back over her shoulder.
She knew that it was kind of mean to just start scurrying away without waiting for him, but she didn't want him to see the emotions swirling in her blue eyes. Why are you being such a mousebrain? she told herself sternly. It's Oakpaw. He's just a friend.
She flashed a quick look back at the other apprentice. An odd feeling took hold of her, like her stomach was filled with butterflies.
Stop it! Stormpaw shouted at herself. You're being ridiculous!

[Skye *Sukai-chan*]

Skysong heard relieved voices comeing from behind her. Yeas, something was definatly going on... she just didn't have any idea what. She immpatiantly snapped a twig with a cobweb hanging delecatly between two prongs and set in down. Three more of those and she glanced behind her. Stormpaw and Oakpaw hadn't moved to get the marigold. Skysong walked around a rock, as if to see if there were any cobwebs over there, then slinked quietly back to where the two were standing to see if she could hear anything.

ooc- before you worry- the wind, thunder and rain will to much for her to hear- she'll get thier tones. Enough for suspisions, but not good for anything else.

[Kiri-chan]

((ack sorry for the long wait! I didn't know Stormpaw had already posted before Skysong. eeep.))

"It's not that bad. I've got a real battle scar now! Yeah, let's go get the marigold,"

Oakpaw smiled, glad to know she was okay and nodded as she agreed to get the marigold. She hurried up the tunnel without him and Oakpaw wondered for a second what was up before sprinting to catch up. "Hey wait for me!" He called with a grin as he caught up. She glanced back at him as he caught up and he smiled at her. He wondered why his stomach suddenly turned over and why his paws suddenly felt sweaty. Stop being weird! She'll think somethings wrong with you. He mentally snapped at himself before turning and facing forward.

As they approached the entrance of the tunnel his tail drooped at seeing how hard it was pouring. The good news was he was right about having seen some marigold, the bad news was most of it was outside in the pounding rain and lightning. Not wanting to set paw outside, he sighed and looked around. "Well, at least we can say we looked." He said glumly. Knowing they should probably head back if they weren't going to pick marigold, he felt a little disappointed and wished they had some excuse to stay away for a bit longer.

He kicked a small pebble into the rain and watched as it was soon drenched and a small rivulet of water coursed around it, a miniature island surrounded by a miniature stream. Looking back over at her, he smiled a little. "You ever played in the rain before?" He asked suddenly. It was just water... and it didn't feel all that cold... Grinning a little mischieviously he watched and waited for her reply.


((lol did you want them to play in the rain for a bit? they'd have a lot of fun explaining later why they were so wet.
Oakpaw - uh, picking marigold?))

[Cinder]

ooc- Okay!
Stormpaw: Uh, there was a big puddle and the marigold was, um, on an island in the center...

Stormpaw grinned back at Oakpaw, blue eyes shining. "No, I haven't." He's really cute when he smiles like that, she thought.
Stop it! she snarled to herself, unable to believe that she had actually thought that.
Waving her tail happily, she jumped into the stream, sending up a huge wave. The cold water soaked through her fur, and she shivered slightly. "Come on!" the apprentice called to her friend. "Last one to the island is a rotting mouse!"

[Kiri-chan]

(sorries for the wait! and sorry its so short.)

"No, I haven't. Come on! Last one to the island is a rotting mouse!"

Oakpaw grinned back at Stormpaw. Her eyes remind me of summer skies... he thought to himself before catching his thoughts and wondering why he was daydreaming about summer skies and running through a meadow with Stormpaw. Ok thats the last time I eat a cricket on a dare from Blossompaw! He told himself as Stormpaw leaped into a puddle, splashing him.

Giggling, Oakpaw ran out into the rain and was drenched in seconds. The water felt a little cold to his skin after being inside the warm cave. Not caring, he gleefully leaped into a puddle and sent up his own wave of water. He shook his head to clear the water out of his eyes and grinned as Stormpaw ran off. "You better run, cause I'ma get ya!" he called after her as he raced after her to tackle her in a game of chase wrestle tag.

[Cinder]

Despite the cold shock of the water, Stormpaw was giggling too. She darted forwards, sending up a wave of water that splashed over the rocks.
She heard Oakpaw calling after her, and grinned triumphantly. Yes! We're gonna play tag! "Eek! I'm so scared!" she called, pretending to cower in fear.
The grey apprentice raced away, splashing through the puddles and sending up a rain of spray. Water hit her right in the eyes, blinding her for a second. She winced, then screeched in surprise as she tripped over a rock. The apprentice fell with a gigantic splash into the puddle, a smile twitching her whiskers.

[Skye *Sukai-chan*]

Skysong was staring, dumbfounded and Stormpaw and Oakpaw went out into the pouring rain and starting... goofing off. To her, it looked like they were dileberatly puting their health at risk for a few short laughs. She was mainly concerned for her apprentice's safety, especialy after her recent injury. She was aslo disproving, this was generaly beyond the behavior accepted by the Clans. As Stormpaw triped over the rock, Skysong stopped thinking about it. "Stormpaw!" she called, a sharp edge in her voice. She walked out into the rain, hissing a little as it pounded into her fur, chilling her in seconds. "Stormpaw get over here!"