Lighten Up (Lily)

[Twineheart]

@lilykit

It was another blazing hot greenleaf evening in Sunsetclan. The ocean breeze doing little to curb the waves of heat that seemed to glare down on all who entered the territory. It was this heat, and Heronpaw's odd fascination with the abandoned twoleg structure that had him wondering in that direction. He walked rather slowly but with his usual pep. Even the wretched heat wasn't enough to ruin the cheerful tom's mood. Waving his white tipped tail through the air, he enters the cool shadows of the twoleg structure. Glancing up he inspects the structure curiously. Remembering his first adventure there. It had been with his mentor Stormrunner, and he had of course wondered away on his own. Smiling a little at the memory, Heronpaw pauses on the cracked and beaten pathway to the abandoned structures entrance. His jaws part some as he scents the hot air, hoping to perhaps smell a mouse or two. He purrs when he scents a ton of mice, his paws shifting some. He flickers his ears head tilting as he attempts to pin point a unsuspecting mouse. It seemed the mice in and around the twoleg structure were rather dim witted. Making them even easier to catch than the average mouse.

Hearing rustling amongst the long grass which brushed the twoleg den, Heronpaw stalks off after his quarry. His thick shoulders moving seamlessly as he crept up on his prey. but at the last second when the mouse appeared before him Heronpaw managed to somehow trip over his own paws. The mouse of course noticed and darted off. Heronpaw gives chase even though he knows the attempts as in vein. Sliding to a halt he nearly crashed into the side of the den, his paws scrambling over sand and grass in order to stop. He does just barely and shaking sand from his pelt he chuckles. Seemingly unfazed by his failure he glances around with his wide vivid green eyes, hoping to find another mouse or perhaps a bat.

[Deleted]

'Blazing hot' was an understatement, according to Featherstep. Her short pelt did literally nothing to stop the heat wave from making her feel like dying, and her feathery tail was off on a worse fate. She was relieved for a few short seconds, as she gazed out into the ocean, when the small, weak wind blew throughout her pelt. That was enough to make her feel better, but her mood was still as terrible as always, especially when the heat overtook her senses again. It made her irritable; well, more than usual.

It seemed as though she was always like that nowadays, no matter what had happened. Even if a good thing did happen, she couldn't find the joy in her to celebrate it. All she could do was look on the bad side of it, or complain about it even when it was exactly what she wanted. It was never enough for her, but in her defense, she didn't want anything but one thing in particular: her family to be the same it was back then. She knew it would never happen, though, so nothing was ever good enough anymore.

She, herself, had never been to the abandoned Twoleg nest. Featherstep never had a reason to go here, but the sweltering heat was the perfect reason to make her first visit. Her paws thudded against the ground as she ran towards the shadows, her little piece of Starclan at this point. The second she got there, she plopped down, feeling the warm shade ease the burning sensation she felt on her pelt. Her breaths were slow as she enjoyed the feeling, not knowing an apprentice of her clan was inside.

Her jaws were agape in a yawn, but they quickly shut when she heard a sudden slamming from further inside the nest. She wasn't alone, as the noise was way too loud to be a measly piece of fresh-kill. She jumped to her paws, cautiously padding over to the sound. Her paws were quiet along the ground, her body hanging low to the ground as though she was stalking prey. Her pale green eyes searched the area, and after a while, she spotted an apprentice. Upon closer inspection, she noticed it was the tom by the name of Heronpaw, form her own clan. She hadn't talked to the tom before, and now was the perfect opportunity to make a new friend.

Or push another one away, she thought bitterly.

She took a deep breath, a small smirk on her face. She built up her haunches, and she exploded from her spot. She had aimed to pounce on the tom, but she wasn't sure if she had built up her legs enough to reach that far.

[Twineheart]

@lilykit

Featherstep had indeed 'built up her legs enough'to pounce right on top of Heronpaw. The action causing the robust tom to fall over onto his side, with a exclamation of surprise. Now laying on the dusty ground, the grey-blue tom glances upwards to see just who had pounced on him. His big vivid green eyes dancing not with anger or annoyance but mirth. " I'm not sure I'd make a very good catch for the fresh kill pile." He jokes at her, a laugh catching in his throat. He grins, toothily content to lay pinned beneath the she-cat who's name he was unsure of. He lets out a rumbling purr, vivid gaze scanning the she-cat for a reaction. but at the same time trying to pull her name to the surface of his thoughts. He knew he recognized her from camp, but what was she called...?

Featherstep! Yes that was right! " What brings you out here Featherstep?" He asks the warrior, surprised to find her there let alone, pouncing on top of him. He remembered the first time his mentor had shown him the place. Stormrunner hadn't wanted to stick around long, but Heronpaw had had other ideas. He'd dragged his mentor inside for a bit of exploration and even to this day he found the place fascinating. Maybe it was because of his mysterious past or maybe he was just odd in that way. Whatever the case, Heronpaw never passed up a chance to visit. but rarely did he ever encounter another cat around. It seemed the whole clan avoided the place. but then again, they all avoided twolegs.

Heronpaw had never seen a twoleg up close. Not even once but he couldn't imagine just running away in fear. No he'd want to check it out, to examine it. To experience it for himself. Could they all really be so terrible? What harm could they possible do? Didn't they lack any claws or fangs? Where all questions that he constantly asked himself.