ReedClan
Lakeripple

Lakeripple gazed unhappily at the ground. "They think it was my fault, because Rainpaw was given to me just a few moons after I became a warrior. I didn't train have to as long, because as a kittypet, I'd successfully hunted birds and mice in the garden. Most of the clan didn't trust me then, they thought I was too young." Lakeripple glanced at Swanflight, and after looking into his eyes, realized he really did have nothing against her.

"I'll be more careful next time, I wasn't exactly intending to eavsdrop. I wanted a word with Falconstar anyway about prey bones I found late yesterday on the border, then I saw you guys. Now that I think about it, they smelled a little like Kitty. But that's wierd because the way she was talking, she just wandered into the woods earlier today or late last night, Lakeripple puzzled, half to herself. "I would have told him earlier, but one of the older warriors told me to get some sleep, so I did." Shrugging, she stood and gave a quiet "thanks" to Swanflight, before trotting towards the camp entrance where Sanflight was waiting.

((I'm not sure, I'm confused too. I'm holding off on LeafClan right now, because I'm waiting for replies.))

ReedClan

Lakeripple swished her tail. She knew they should wait for Falconstar, but it was already past sunhigh, and the clan needed to be fed. She looked inquiringly at Sandflight. "Should we wait?" she asked the other cat, not sure of the good waiting might do.

Lakeripple looked around the camp. This whole day had been chaotic so far, and poor Swanflight. His role as deputy was something he wasn't used to yet, she could tell. Lakeripply also knew, that while Falconstar might be a good leader, he wasn't always fair. Would he kick Swanflight out of his position, if he can't play his part in holding the clan together? Lakeripple wondered. Sometimes she didn't think she really knew how her leader's mind worked when it came to the clan, and it made her feel like a kit, vulnerable because she was clueless.

Lakeripple looked up again, they had been sitting for a while. "I'm going, if you want to wait for Falconstar, go ahead, but I want to eat tonight," Lakeripple meowed to Sandlight. With a swish of her silver-striped tail, she slid through the camp entrance, and out into the forest.

---

Echopaw glanced at his mentor, and then looked to Swanflight, dipping his head. "Who all is coming?" he questioned the deputy. "I think Jaypaw is near Falconstar's den, would you like me to go get him?" Echopaw added politely, trying to show some respect and inteligence, instead of asking stupid questions.

ReedClan

Echopaw gave a little bounce followed by a squeak of excitement. "Kitty, who's Kitty? Can I go tell Jaypaw, why isn't Riverstone coming?" The apprentice started asking all sorts of questions, not bothering to notice some of the anxiety in Swanflight's eyes.

---

Once out in the forest Lakeripple raced off, letting her muscles relax, and striding along at ease. It was nice to get out and move, to just leave all her worries behind. She paused at a little stream to lap up a few water droplets. Lakeripple then bounded across, and paused to scent the air. Water vole! Instinctively, she crouched, ramming her ears forward to detect any signs of movement, trying with all her might to hear any scuffling sounds. There! The little furry creature was nibbling a seed a few fox-lengths away. Careful not to rustle any fallen leaves with her paws, Lakeripple creapt forward, leaned back, and launched herself through the air. She landed square on the vole's shoulders, and dispatched it with a quick bit to the neck.

Lakeripple scraped some moss and dirt over her catch, and continued on through the sun dappled forest.

[[I love potatoes. Is it too late to join? If not, would it be possible if I could join?]]

ReedClan

Calming down, Echopaw nodded, and gave his shoulder a couple quick licks, trying to preserve some of his pride. He'd acted too much like a kit in the past few heartbeats. He didn't look at Redwing, afraid to see dissappointmeant there. Instead he contented himself with heeding Swanflight's request of alerting Jaypaw, and began to trot, head and tail down, ears plastered to his head, across the clearing towards him.

"Hey, Swanflight wants us for a patrol," he murmured to the other apprentice. He nudged his friend (Or littermate? Did we agree on Elmirse as their mother?) taking comfort in his scent.

 ---

Lakeripple had managed to catch two small mice and a black bird so far. She was feeling quite proud of herself. The sun hadn't shifted much, so she still had plenty of time to get some more hunting in. Angling her ears, she dropped into a hunter's crouch, eyes fixed on a red squirrel foraging in the leaves under a large beach tree in front of her. Before the squirrel knew what was happening, it was dead. Lakeripple kicked some leaves over her catch, and decided to work her way back to the spot she had found the prey bones from Kitty.

Lakeripple hadn't gone far though, when a rancid scent hit her parted jaws. Fox! The young warrior was emediately filled with fear. Elmrise was back in the camp nursing newborn kits, and by way of the fox's scent trail, it was headed in that direction. Fear coursing through her, the silver warrior flung herself into action. She was racing back to camp, leaping over brambles and kicking up leaves. The camp barrior was in view! But Lakeripple skidded to a halt, spotting the red shape sneaking around the side of the bushes. There was no choice.

Hissing and spitting, she ran towards the fox, intending to drive it away from the wall so she could call for help. That way it wouldn't crash right through, into the camp if startled by her yowl. Up close, she noticed it was still very young, and seemed quite alarmed to see the cat racing towards it. It gave a bark of fear, and leaped into the bushes. Lakeripple took the opportunity to call out: "Fox!"

ReedClan

Echopaw took one, wide-eyed, frightened look at the deputy before racing towards the nursury. Just outside the protective branches, he could hear the sounds of tiny kits, and soft, comforting voices. "It's just me, I'm coming in," Echopaw hissed in a gentle, non-threatening way. He crouched and slid through the entrance on his belly, trying to make himself appear smaller in front of the kits, so as not to alarm them with his size. He wasn't a very big cat, but to the kits, he might just look like a monster.

Inside, the light was dim, and there was little space so Echopaw remained crouched. He crawled carefully towards his mother and siblings. "If you want me to go outside and guard, just say the words," he murmured, keeping his voice calm.

---

Lakeripple snarled at the great red furball in front of her. She could hear comotion inside the camp, and was praying someone had heard her call.

Lakeripple advanced slowly, hissing and spitting at the young fox, it seemed to be paralyzed with fear. But a few tail lengths away, the fox shifted, raising its ugly head to sniff the air. It's slitted yellow eyes narrowed gleefully, and it shot her a look of pure venom. It bared its fangs. Lakeripply paused, her muscles tensed, waiting. What was the fox doing? Her question was soon answered. A second fox leapt out of the bushes, to stand snarling and barking at her in front of her kit. This fox was much larger, russet colored, with its claws visible, glinting in the sunlight that streamed down through the leaves.

Lakeripple felt herself recoil inside. If she tried to run, the fox would catch her. If she stayed in place, surely both foxes would tear her to shreds? She was shrinking, afraid of the monsterous wall of red fur in front of her. But and idea sprang into her mind. Bunching her muscles, she prepared to leap, hoping to land on the other side of the two foxes. Closing her eyes, she crouched, and sprang. Lakeripple felt herself sailing through the air, then WHAM! The she-cat had hit a tree. Dissoriented, her head spinning, Lakeripple instinctively began to claw her way up the bark. She had forgotten about the danger below, her only thought was to reach the lowest branch, where some part of her mind, kept telling her she'd be safe.

"Alright," Echopaw murmured quietly, gazing in wonder at his tiny little brother. It was a beautiful and strong little tom. Echopaw was looking forward to seeing this tiny little cat become a warrior someday. He could tell that Yewkit would be a valuble cat in the clan. However Echopaw was worried by Rabbitfoot's lack of confidence. How would the clan survive if she was unsure of herself in a moment of need?

Kepping his head down as not to brush the roof of the den, Echopaw stood and slipped over to sit beside his brother, near to the entrance, but not inside it. Echopaw remembered when he had found out Elmrise was his mother, after returing to the clan. The clan had been in dissaray when he'd gotten lost. After a few moons of stealing from twolegs he had managed to find his way back, ruffled, but unharmed.