Join us in an exciting story full of twists, new discoveries, a rich mythology and the search of what lays at the core of the Clans of the mountain. After sealing a pact with two fickle gods, Helios of the Sun and Aletheia of the Moon, twin clans live under the shadow of their pact, and the price paid to live another day.
YOU CAN APPRECIATE THE LIGHT... BUT BEFORE THAT, YOU MUST KNOW DARKNESS.
The Sun and Moon rain down chaos and tragedy over the Clans, as punishment for crimes finally revealed. Tension rises between both groups as they're forced out of their homes, and a call from the past haunts those with enough sense to listen.
Rainpaw was still feeling irritated after not being allowed to battle the hawks and save the kitten the other day. She remembered her mentor scolding her, once again, for being too reckless and suggesting the worst training ideas. Rolling her eyes at her mentor's previous anger when she had once suggested "testing out the warrior code by hunting over the border". The pale brown tabby still could not help feeling more than agitated at his fury against her. And that had been in her first training session. What a first impression, huh, Rainpaw? the apprentice asked herself, a growl playing at her lips in pure annoyance. It's fine. I don't even care about impressions, anyway! And I better be finally learning to fight today! It felt as though having a tinge of reckless ideas inside her was enough to have her cast out of her clan, at the rate her mentor had punished her.
Allowing a sigh to escape her parted lips, Rainpaw glanced up at the sky with hope. Clouds were gathering with the firm promise of incoming rain. She quite liked the rain, perhaps because she was named after that same weather. Still, as always Rainpaw prayed to their gods that it would be much more than just simple rain - of course, she was nonetheless wishing for a deadly storm, for thunder and lightning to strike and for her adrenaline to pump like the heartbeat of prey seconds before it is brutally murdered. If I'm lucky, I'll get that storm I've wanted today!
While I wait... Rainpaw cast a rapid gaze into a circle surrounding the camp. Mushroombelly did tell me to make friends, and I haven't exactly met the other apprentices yet. Emitting a curious glimpse at the other apprentices bouncing from their den, Rainpaw studied them with interest. There was Aspenpaw, Hawkpaw.. meh. Rookpaw, Turtlepaw, and Houndpaw seemed fine, and while Rainpaw was about to head over in Turtlepaw's direction and introduce herself in the most... polite method possible, another apprentice caught her eye. He looked almost snobby, dead even, as he padded casually through the camp's clearing. That must be Mintpaw. I've heard a little about him. Hell forbid he spots me looking his way, I wonder what he'll do? Then again, negative reactions often brought satisfaction into Rainpaw's mind. Not serious arguments, or seeing cats in pain, of course not - but slight or even strong agitation from other cats sparked pleasure within her; perhaps because it meant she was acting reckless... the word that always plummeted enthusiasm through her. Mintpaw appeared interesting, however, and Rainpaw examined him a few moments more.
The snow-white Bengal tom wasnβt an early bird by any means and what irrated him was when his mentor took him on a hunting expedition to practice his hunting skills. Now Mintpaw, was back in the camp with his collection of three frogs he snatched off the fresh-kill pile to work on beheading them. At last, he could prank the queens in the nursery by leaving the frogs in their nests to find when they laid back down. But this afternoon the young tom had been bolder and snuck into the leaderβs den to leave Spiritstar a beheaded frog or two in her nest. Now Mintpaw had settled down back under the shade of the tree, as his ice-blue eyes focused on the den. βThat should leave our leader squawking for a day.β A deep chuckle escaping as he raised one paw to rasp his tongue over it.
But the feeling of someone watching him from across the clearing, made the young bengal unsettled. Shifting his position where he sat to scan around and lock his eyes with another apprentice across the clearing. βWhatβs she looking at me for me?β the single thought now stirring in his mind as the hackles on the back of his neck started to rise with an anger that was just fueling on inside of him. Mintpaw, narrowing his eyes after a mere moment before, pushing up onto his paws, and walking closer to where the other apprentice was. βDidnβt anyone ever teach you that staring is rude?β scoffing out the question as a low growl rumbled in his throat. Refusing to be intimated by the apprentice whomever she was. βIβm Mintpaw but, you probably already know that so who are you?β asking the question in a single lash of his tail, now waiting for the she to speak her turn.
Rainpaw was suddenly startled by the exasperated meow of the apprentice now facing her way. The tabby cat wasn't too sure how she felt about such a frustrated, offensive retort from him. She knew, from the talks of her Clanmates, that Mintpaw wasn't exactly the sweetest feline in their camp boundaries. Rainpaw suppressed an irritated sigh at his unnecessary response. Didn't he know that Rainpaw was still a relatively new apprentice in their Clan? Well, then again, it's not like that stops me from being reckless and capturing their attention, the white-pawed she-cat thought as a satisfied smirk played at the thin edge of her lips. Perhaps, if this cat was already so hotheadedly against the young apprentice that she was, reciprocation was required. I didn't even do all that much. Rainpaw pushed herself, displeased, to her small snow-white paws as she stood before a possible rival. Well then, if he wants to interrogate me for living my life, I'll allow him! It was satisfying to infuriate him anyway!
Pale brown fur bristled stiff as the young feline twitched her small, ruffled ears at Mintpaw's words. "You think I'm so rude, do you?" The retort escaped her smooth tongue before Rainpaw could even move to quickly shift it away. "I'm simply curious. My mentor taught me it was good to make friends with cats from both MoonClan and SunClan. I haven't spoken with many of the others yet, but you half remind me of myself so I couldn't help but feel interested." Pride blurred the patterned she-cat's attitude, along with noticable sparks of aggravation allying her ire mind. She scoffed as she heard his fathomless growl of indignation. Of course, he was just as sensitive as her intuition first assumed. They were similar, in that sense at least. Knowing the talks Rainpaw had previously caught from a few of the other apprentices and warriors, it excited the tabby to know that Mintpaw was a cat of mischief and malapertic behaviour - much like herself, although her own shameless crimes came from... well, the only decent example that could possibly explain Rainpaw's recklessness was the famous occasion when she suggested "testing out the warrior code by crossing the border" to her mentor on her first training session. Even now, the young apprentice still believed it wasn't such a horrific idea, despite her mentor's anger and her punishment for even coming up with such a thing.
"Yes, I know who you are. Hence my curiosity." The bengal's tail stomped the clearing floor with the purest resentment, and in an audacious return Rainpaw too whisked her tail - although for her it swished over her forepaws, sending tiny speckles of dust to the boundless sky above. "I'm Rainpaw. Relatively new apprentice, I suppose. But I have enough experience and I know what I'm doing, so don't provoke me just because I'm not so old and magnificent!" Nothing would have agonized Rainpaw any more than this Mintpaw attempting to argue with her about her position and time in training. However the feline could still feel intrigued at what his next retort would be. ..How much would that annoy her, or would it just bring Rainpaw even more enthusiasm?
Narrowing his ice-blue eyes at the other apprentice who was named Rainpaw. The audacity she had acting all stronger than she was. βHmmph I wouldnβt dream of provoking youβ¦because Cloverberry would have my head on a platter. So, I must behave but, stop staring or else your eyes are gonna be stuck in that position.β Mintpaw growling out the bitter fueled words as he lashed his tail behind him. Swallowing down a hard lump that was accumulating into his throat over how her eyes were intimidating him. It was if Rainpaw could see into his soul, and it made the young tom shift on his paws.
βRainpawβ¦. can you move? I was on the way to go get frogs to behead them and put them in the nursery. The queens hate when I do itβ¦but I love seeing them get all upset about it. Hey if you donβt snitch about me putting the frogs inβ¦. you could perhaps join me?β tilting his head as he asked the question. Deep down the snow bengal could sense Rainpaw had a rebellious side like he did. βI mean I donβt mind if you wanna help me place the frogs in the nurseryβ¦I just-I just have to behead them.β A smirk rising to his lips as he turned to trot to the fresh kill pile to snag a frog off the top and then following off to the shadows to place it down. Looking up and waiting to see if the other apprentice would follow him.
Oh, the sweet satisfaction playing in Rainpaw's heart as she watched the other apprentice narrow suspicious eyes at her! The young tabby absolutely adored this feeling, relishing in the fulfilment every time she annoys any cat - although it always felt so much better when the cat was a fully-grown warrior. The older, the better! Rainpaw thought with contentment. However, knowing that Mintpaw appeared almost as - or just as - rebellious as her, pulsed excitement through her paws. She wished so badly to know more about him - and if her observation about his possible rebelliousness was correct or not. Rainpaw thoroughly prayed that she was right about him. Imagining the mischief she could get up to with another cat by her side to help orchestrate a duo-devilry had her paws twitching within seconds.
At Mintpaw's first response about provoking her and a cat named Cloverberry, Rainpaw's ears fluttered once more. Praying this examination of hers was correct, she recognised a now-bitter scent escaping his previous one as he meowed about having to behave himself. He doesn't sound like he likes behaving very much, Rainpaw admitted hopefully to herself.
Once again Rainpaw's cute ears perked with interest as Mintpaw proceeded to request her to move herself. Yeah, she was planning a retort again, and - wait, he's putting beheaded frogs in the nursery?! I wish I thought of doing that sooner!And he likes seeing them upset over it. She was meticulous and marvellous indeed with her observations! Mintpaw really was tremendously similar to herself. Elation sparkled her eager emerald eyes at her fellow apprentice's offer. This is it!"Well, how can I turn down a suggestion like that?" The she-cat's mrowl practically hurtled itself out, it was so fast. "Of course I'll help. How could I say no!" She, too, felt a delighted smirk cross her lips - before enthusiastically bounding to follow him. She didn't mind at all if Mintpaw wanted to behead them himself - the contempt at her roguery with another orchestrator at her side was enough for young Rainpaw. I don't even care if my mentor finds out. He'll claw my fur off, sure - but it'll be nice and satisfying to watch him blow up over it!
Glancing up at his clanmate the other apprentice as she got closer to him and looked quite intrigued to cut into the frog like he had. βMmm you havenβt earned slicing privileges yet miss Rainpaw.β Another smirk forming onto the young tomβs face as his tail lashed behind him before shoving the frog foreword. βHere you carry it and letβs be quick about putting the frog in the nursery where Thistleflower is. The Queen sleeps a lot, and we can place one in for her to be surprised on.β Mintpaw letting a low growl escape from his throat as he pushed up from his sitting position to lead the way across to the nursery.
Stopping at the entrance as he peered into the sleeping queens that were all hunkered in their nests. βHmmm if you really wanna be a prankster like meβ¦.go place it into her nest without getting caught.β His brows rising with the dare as he peered into the nursery again and locked his ice-blue eyes onto the sleeping she-cat. This was almost going to be too easy, and to hear the she-catβs shrieks about it would be a joyful melody to his ears. Mintpaw, glancing at Rainpaw as he flicked his tail behind him beckoning for her to go on ahead and leave the frog in her nest.
As the lithe she-cat quickly trotted towards her clanmate, she inwardly grinned at this opportunity. The prospect of slicing through a frog and terrifying a poor queen would be enticing, let alone terrifically reckless... Oh, she just couldn't wait any longer! Claws itched through the musky soil surrounding them as Rainpaw arrived, gleefully, beside him. Eagerly the young apprentice listened, even when Mintpaw claimed she "had no slicing privileges". As much as the little brown tabby wished she were able to cut through the plump bellies of viridescent frogs, Rainpaw divulged to herself that being able to make mischief and orchestrate pranks alongside another cat was all she ever needed. "Well, slicing privileges could count as rules, which I don't like, but whatever." Her long tail excitedly whisked over the gorge of ground beneath her as she expressed a delighted bounce. Finally! I've been waiting for this.
Once again enthusiastic as Mintpaw apprised her to carry the limp, begrimed body, Rainpaw jocosely snatched the corpse and felt a smirk play her lips. "I just can't wait to watch that nasty shock Thistleflower's in for," she meowed enticingly. A quick mission, in and out of the nursery, to mastermind a magnificent trick. Ears twitching with fluttering ardour, the pale tabby brown apprentice bounded, still remaining silent, after her fellow clanmate.
They halted instantly as the duo reached the nursery's entrance. Queens of unique shapes and sizes slept, serene and still - one of which included Thistleberry herself. Rainpaw's ears perked feverently as Mintpaw declared that she should place the corpse beside the queen's nest. "Well, of course," Rainpaw murmured, praying not to wake the quiet queens yet gazing exuberantly towards them, like a tiger after spotting it's precious prey. "I'm more than honoured to have the privilege to do this. Trust me, there's no way I'll get caught!"
Subsequently Rainpaw slithered acutely close past the clan's drowsing mothers, frog dangling helplessly at her jaws while her paws prowled silently over the soil. Using every tactic and strategy she could remember being taught by her mentor Mushroombelly, Rainpaw wriggled between two of the queens - getting uncomfortably close to waking one of them - before plopping the deceased animal right beside Thistleberry's nest. Now, Rainpaw glanced around for a challenging route out. The young she-cat loved taking too many risks.
Abruptly, an idea flickered through the apprentice's mind as she analysed for her escape path. Great! I'll creep to the side of the den first! Then I can escape, and I'll still experience the thrilling risk of possibly getting caught.
Holding his breath as he peered inside the nursery his eyes locked onto Rainpaw as she crept into the nursery with the frog. At least he had now conned another apprentice into taking the heat with him. Maybe then Cloverberry wouldnβt yell at him again if he told her he had a partner in crime this time? Mintpaw, exhaling the breath of air as he waited for Rainpaw to return to back out. Pinning his ears as a shriek filled the air, causing the snow bengal to pivot around on his paws and run towards the shadows of the camp with a chuckle escaping. Sitting back down in the shade
βDid you hear Thistleflowerβs shrieking sheβs very upset and we did good together!β Mintpaw raising one paw to gently high-five with Rainpaw, if she accepted it. Once high-fiving Mintpaw curled his long tail over his paws to tighten it, then uncoiling it and repeating the entire process over again. βSo was that your first time leaving a frog in the nursery? How does it feel pranking others like that?β asking the questions with genuine curiosity glowing in his icey blue eyes for what Rainpaw had to say? Leaving frogs was always an adrenaline rush to the system, with the skills it took to not get caught till after the fact.
Exhilaration pumped excitedly through Rainpaw's lithe, flowing figure as the thrilled she-cat raced avidly from the leafy nursery. Yes! A terrified shriek clouded the camp's air, and the eager apprentice recognised the shriek to belong to Thistleflower. Oh, the euphoria that raptured her heart and embraced her soul as the ear-pitching scream echoed, causing much chaos to quickly arise from the previously-calm warriors now crowding the queen's den. Bounding swiftly through the thin leaves coating this area's edge of the campsite, the young kitty leaped with ebullience to Mintpaw's side, quickly spinning round to pin her eyes onto the mayhem of disruption that interrupted the once-collected air of MoonClan's camp. Satisfaction enveloped her; a welcoming claw of pride and revitalization; a rhapsody of being fluttering through her veins. This was reckless!
Puffing out a sharp pant, Rainpaw released an ardent smirk at Mintpaw's mischevious meow. She accepted his high-five, whisking her tabby tail tenaciously over her paws as they sat and watched the spectacle they had staged with precise accuracy. "How could I miss such a satisfying shriek?" Claws dug with anticipation into the soft soil of the ground. Catastrophes like this were always a blast to witness - especially when she herself had co-operated with orchestrating such a cataclysm! Mushroombelly will really have a go at me for this! Rainpaw thought with a playful grin touching her lips.
Mintpaw's next question sounded as though he felt genuinely curious as to what her answer would be. This surprised Rainpaw - just ten minutes ago, the two apprentices had been quarrelling like kittens. Now, the mischief they had caused was exquisite for both of them, as they shared their triumph in jubilation. She answered honestly, "Actually, I never even thought of putting frogs in the nursery before today," she confessed. "But I've always wanted to pull a master prank on other cats like this! It feels so exhilarating I could burst!" Once again, the young feline's tail swished back and forth, with joy at that previous moment's rush of adrenaline as she had left the commotion.
Another smirk forming to the young tomβs face as his long tail curled over his paws for a moment. This had been fun pranking another queen with the help of another apprentice this time. βSo, youβve never once thought of putting a frog in the nursery? Well, I must be the only sane one around her. Iβve thought of it ever since I was a kit. It always upset my mother Monarchmask so I figured why not upset the rest of the queens right?β the teasing joke escaping as he talking about his mother the cat he disliked the most. Mintpaw, inhaling a breath of the cold air around him as he locked his icey blue eyes on the she in front of him. βLooks like weβll both be taking the blame huh. We should really be the frog beheaders of Moonclan and piss off our mentors more.β A chuckle escaping out at his casual statement about it all.
This apprentice was funβ¦.in fact she was just as pranking as he was and that made a small smile curl onto his lips. βYouβll have to get me again and we can leave more frogs in queenβs nests. Or why not go big and go for the elders?β Mintpaw asking the question while scuffling his paws on the ground to not show that much emotion on making a first acquaintance other than his mentor Cloverberry. Rainpaw, however was different than most apprentices in the clan and she wanted to help prank others with the frogs just as much as he did. βD-do y-you wan-wanna be my frog friend?β Mintpaw stuttering out the question in a single huff as he adverted his icey blue eyes down to the ground in an embarrassment that was now coursing throughout his entire system.
"Nope, never once thought about putting frogs in the nursery before I met you," Rainpaw meowed enthusiastically, a giddy response to Mintpaw's first question. There were so many unique and different ways to orchestrate any recklessness, there was absolutely no possibility of Rainpaw just happening to come up with this, too. Although, she had to admit to herself that it wouldn't have been any worse than today had been so far if she had come up with a similar plan of tossing frogs into the nursery to frighten all the queens, and in turn accidentally bumping into Mintpaw and therefore meeting him that way. Excitement surged through her veins. Oh, the wrath that would escape from Mushroombelly when he discovered this outrageous trick of mischief! Oh, the thrill that enlightened Rainpaw with sparkles buried within her emerald pupils every single time she thought about this! Oh, she couldn't wait!
Her claws dug hard through the mushy soil coverage beneath her paws as she recognised Mintpaw's next comment about both cats taking the blame for this. Rainpaw had never once experienced being lectured for her rebellious actions with another orchestrator beside her. Naturally, she pondered what this would be like. "I wonder how that'd go," she wondered aloud. "Our mentors'll have our ears off, probably! The longer we prank them, the more tempestuous they'll become against us." The pale brown tabby apprentice quite liked that idea. She visualised it with amusement - orations of fury, wraths of rage and total chaos spiralling even further out of control than what was proven to be possible this morning with the nursery frogs. A smirk manipulated her lips as the idea entertained her mind, and she was lucky she even heard her fellow's next statement - oh, yes!"Yes!" she voiced her mind once again. "Let's be MoonClan's frog beheaders. This'll be absolutely phenomenal! Imagine the look on their faces when they find out we've teamed up." A purr of satisfaction slipped from Rainpaw's throat, rippling her fur with ebullience like the light ripples of moonlit water after the falling of a delicate leaf. Except Rainpaw was far from delicate - she bounded with radiance onto her paws, their white tips almost shimmering in the sunlight as the apprentice began to pace in circles to keep herself as calm and distracted as possible.
Mintpaw just continued talking; meowing all the phrases and questions Rainpaw wanted to hear without her even trying to persuade him to speak them. Pranking the elders instead of the queens - a higher risk, of course, but wasn't that the point? I'm in it for the shrieks of cats, obviously, but also for the thrill of adrenaline when I take huge risks like this! Her mind whirled; a playful palimpsest painted by a rush of fascination for whatever was going to happen now.
However, Mintpaw appeared more than shy to Rainpaw when he asked his final inquiry. It was strange - not exactly displeasing, really, just odd after the confidence and knowledge he had illustrated during today's prank and catastrophe. "Do you wanna be my frog friend?" Surprisingly, the question sent a splash like a rainbow across her heart. A shy Mintpaw was certainly a likeable one - one who could quickly transform from an irritated young apprentice to the cleverest prankster alive; then, straight to a nervous kitten when performing simple tasks like making friends. Rainpaw had no friends, really, either - resulting in even more of a surprise to her at the butterflies surrounding her stomach: a friend! She never knew she needed this.
"Well, it doesn't take a clan leader to guess what I'll respond to that," she stated, her voice ringing with a clearness. "Of course we can be frog friends! This'll be the most fun thing in the whole wide world!" Her whiskers twitched with a passionate ardour. This is amazing.
The snow white bengal tom focused his icey-blue eyes on the brown tabby she-cat Rainpaw who had accepted his friendship invitation. βWait till Cloverberry finds out I made a friend an actual apprentice friend.β The thought making Mintpaw let out a quiet purr starting to rumble from deep within his throat, causing his entire body to vibrate with a joy. βWell, we should meet again in a few days for some more frog planning for what we should do next to the queens to rouse them up.β Asking the question with his brows raising before, getting up to his paws, while shaking out his pelt. βI had fun this time with you Rainpaw, we really should do it again. But I think Cloverberry will really claw my ears off if I miss this training session.β A small sigh escaping out as he turned but, not without giving Rainpaw one final glance, before letting his paws carry him off to where his mentor was waiting for him to begin the training session.
