Unlucky {STONESHADE}

[Snapple]

Dovewing stood patiently beside a tree, her underbelly almost touching the ground. She was in a pouncing pose, ready to attack a mouse. It was about 3 foxtails away from her, and she was sure she could catch it if she concentrated enough. So she stood quietly, staring at the small rodent, ready to pounce.

And she did, but all she heard was the crunching of leaves under her paws. A squeaking mouse was running off, and she chased it. She kept pouncing, but never came out with prey. She sighed and gave up, plopping down beside an oak tree and closing her eyes. She was tired of trying to catch prey; she wasn't the best at it. She was having an unlucky day, so far at least.

She began to doze off, her whitish pink eyelids slowly closing over her hazel eyes. She glanced around before she fell asleep, seeing autumn leaves everywhere on the ground. Wind blew a leaf onto her nose, and she didn't mind. She was too exhausted to brush it off. Finally, she dozed off, slowly falling into the deep, dangerous hole she knew as sleep.

Dovewing snapped awake as she felt a small smack on the foot. She looked around, and she saw nothing for a moment, but when she blinked she saw something she wasn't expecting: it was another cat. A tom, she knew; he was bigger than her. He was gray. She tilted her head and meowed quietly: "What do you want? Uh-uh... I-I...I mean..."

[SMOKE*]]]

(I don't have a table yet for Stoneshade, so you'll have to bear with me.)

Stoneshade stared down at her, eyes slightly narrowed. He wasn't a mean cat - He was just confused. Why in the world was she laying down on the ground, snoozing, when she could be finding prey for the Clan for a meal tonight? "What are you doing, lying down for, Dovewing? You know the Clan always needs as much prey as it can get." he asked, tone slightly stern, as if a father being strict with a child, yet he sat down, curled his tail around his paws as his eyes warmed, and he stared down at her. "We best be heading back to camp, anyway - The patrol's already back at camp. They sent me to retrieve you." he commented orderly, before standing, walking a little ways, and turning back towards her, expression expectant as his tail slightly swished from side to side. If it was Leafshade who had been sent to retrieve her, she would have got the beating and scolding of a lifetime for falling asleep on the job, but Stoneshade was more of the 'verbally stern' type, and didn't enjoy physically punishing others if he knew that he could do it another way and they would respond the same way.

[Snapple]

(Neither do I, besides the picture down here vv)

Dovewing stared at Stoneshade for a few seconds before scrambling to her feet and pouncing to catch up with him. She was ashamed that one, she didn't catch anything, and two, she had fallen asleep. Her ears twitched. His words echoed in her mind, not making her feel any better. She felt Stoneshade's tail gently swipe over her back accidentally, but she didn't mind. She didn't say anything about it. Her right ear twitched again, which happened when she thought. She remembered Stoneshade's brother, Leafshade. He was such a flirt, but he was strict. He would have literally beaten her if he found out about her sleeping. She was glad Stoneshade came instead. "I'm sorry, Stoneshade... I was trying, I was trying..." She whispered silently, afraid of his response. He could yell at her, forgive her, and more. She looked at the tom quickly before turning her head away slightly. She could see the camp now, a welcoming but frightening sight. She held her breath before she crossed the border, and then felt a wave or relief.

[SMOKE*]]]

Once inside the camp entrance, Stoneshade turned towards her, voice grave, eyes mirroring the same emotion. "Promise me you won't do anything like that again so long as I'm apart of this Clan and able to keep an eye on you." he commanded, muscles rippling underneath his thin pelt. Basically, in his 'language' or perspective, he meant "Promise me you won't disappear without letting me know again." Turning back towards the camp, he padded in, before going to the fresh-kill pile and picking out one of his own pieces, before casting her a sideways glance and going to sit over by Leafshade.

Leafshade's expression wasn't exactly that of relief as he spotted Dovewing, and he tried to not make Stoneshade any more mad by getting angry at Dovewing himself. Turning back towards his brother, he began small talk, and luckily, Stoneshade bought into it - If he hadn't, only StarClan knows what he would do.

[Snapple]

"I promise, Stoneshade. I promise..." Dovewing whispered, her voice shaking slightly. She watched him walk away and to his brother, Leafshade, who didn't look too pleased with her. Dovewing tried to glare back, which looked more like a squint. She didn't know how to act tough, she wasn't someone to fight too much. She picked a carcass out of the freshkill pile and sat down. She pinned the rat body down and began to eat it, finishing it in a short amount of time. She was starving from chasing prey without any luck.

Dovewing glanced at the brothers. Leafshade and Stoneshade seemed to be pretty entertained with each other. Dovewing had the urge to stand up and go over to the two of them, but she held back and closed her eyes. She didn't want to fall asleep again, but she always felt drowsy after eating. She felt her body go limp and she began to fall asleep, but she stayed awake, half-conscious.

She woke up fully after a few moments and darted to her feet, thinking someone was going to see her and scold her. She looked around and sat down again, realizing that, for once, it was peaceful.

[SMOKE*]]]

Stoneshade's gaze drifted over to her ever so often, but Leafshade continued to snap at him a bit to gain his brother's attention once again. Finally, Leafshade's expression grew hard, before his chest move, a sign of a sigh, before he nudged Stoneshade in Dovewing's general direction. Stoneshade gazed at his brother with wide eyes, and tried to resist, but Leafshade was obviously stronger than he, and finally, Stoneshade was pushed towards the young female warrior, until finally he was a mouselength from her. "Why don't you come and join us, Dovewing." Stoneshade suggested softly, eyes warm. "You seem lonely, and we could always use one more in the pack." he chuckled softly, before turning and walking back towards his brother.

Leafshade still had a bit of a scowl on his face, but at least now his eyes sparked in pride for his brother's confidence in speaking to Dovewing.

[Snapple]

Dovewing sat around in the quietness, enjoying her day. The Turkish Angora's ear twitched slightly, thinking about she should do for the rest of the evening. She stretched her paws out and yawned. She wasn't aware of much around her, she just got lost in her mind and what she was thinking about.

Dovewing looked up as Stoneshade came over to her. She tilted her head, thinking he was going to scold her again. But he didn't, he invited her to come sit with his brother and himself. Dovewing gladly accepted, trotting to catch up with Stoneshade as he walked to his brother. She was reluctant to talk to Leafshade, but her mother taught her that it was impolite to not greet someone if you come to them. So, she bowed her head respectively. Hello, Leafshade. She said quietly.

She sat down quietly and did not speak. She saw Leafshades annoyed face, and she giggled. She looked down, her ear twitching. She giggled again at the thought of Leafshade's annoyed face. She was different, she thought different things were funny. Something Leafshade would think would be funny, Dovewing would think would be completely serious.