FloodClan Camp

[Riverstar]

FloodClan Camp

The FloodClan camp is located upon the ridge that overlooks the flood lands. The warriors' den is placed on the edge of the ridge so smart, older cats will not be stupid around the cliff. The apprentice's den is located next to the warriors den away from the ridge and the leader's den is located underneath flood rock. Little streams of water drip from crack above his den, giving it a curtain of water. This rock is used for calling Clan meeting and Riverstar's den is located beneath it. On the other side of the rock, due to all the nooks and crannies used for storing herbs, the medicine cat's den can be found. Closest to the entrance, but heavily protected by a collection of stones is the nursery and the elders' den.

Warriors, apprentices, queens, and kits interact here in the safety of the wall of brambles and under the watchful eye of their leader.[/center]

((Picture will come soon of the camp.))

[Riverstar]

Riverstar felt the droplets of water that fell from the lip of his den plop pleasantly on his head as he stepped out into the clearing. The white spotted leader stretched and shook his pelt clean of the ice cold droplets, his tail lashing above his head as he stared around the clearing. The fresh-kill pile looked pitiful, but the Clan was having a very hard time this leaf bare. His favorite meal, muskrat, seemed even more scarce than normal. Quietly he turned around and mounted the calling rock, watching over the silent clearing. All was calm for now.

[Marshpaw]

Marshkit lifted his head cautiously, looking around the nursery, searching the shadows for hidden enemies. He shivered, and his pelt prickled. Like eyes were watching him. He shook his head. He wished this constant fear would leave him alone. There was a rustle behind him, and he leaped away, stumbling backwards in fear. He whipped around, looking for the source of the noise. One of his denmates had shifted in their sleep. He sighed, still trembling and slunk out of the nursery into the dimly lit camp. He searched the clearing frantically, trying to find that distinctive white pelt. A wave of relief crashed over him when he saw Riverstar sitting outside of his den. He crept nervously over toward the tom he saw as his father. "G'morning," he murmured, looking up at him timidly.

[Riverstar]

Riverstar switched his eyes over to Marshkit, who had just slunk out from the nursery. He was getting older and would be having his apprentice ceremony soon. The leader had to remind himself to find a capable warrior to teach the timid tom. Slowly he stood up and walked over to the blue-eyed kit, purring gently as he leaned down to touch his nose to Marshkit's forehead. "Good morning Marshkit. How is my little kit doing this fine morning? You must be looking forward to your apprentice ceremony soon," Riverstar meowed with some clear pride. He had worried about the small black kit in the early days when he had just brought him to the Clan. Now he was ready to take that next step.

[Marshpaw]

Marshkit reached up nervously to touch Riverstar's nose. "I guess," he murmured. Part of him wasn't excited at all. Leaving the camp to go out into the forest of shadows and danger? A shiver ran through his black pelt. And what if his mentor didn't like him? And what if he got lost? And what if there was a battle? Worries rushed through his mind, making him cringe inwardly and curl into a tight ball. But Riverstar seemed to have such faith in him. He forced a weak smile and looked back up at his leader.

[Riverstar]

Riverstar flicked his tail just a little bit, purring gently as Marshkit pushed his nose against his own. He knew that the timid kit was probably not overeager to enter the ranks of the warrior, but FloodClan needed good warriors now. He needed to make sure that Marshkit was ready. With a light purr, he lowered himself into a crouched position, putting himself at a better height with the small tom. "Come now Marshkit. I know you want to stay here and be pleasant and safe, but you know that you are going to have to go through the ceremony. So, I come to you now with a proposition. Do you wish to be the apprentice to our medicine cat?" Riverstar mewed with a questioning glance. His medicine cat would probably be more interested in having such a timid cat as an apprentice then a warrior who wants a tom willing to learn.

[Marshpaw]

Marshkit looked up at Riverstar, a hint of hope igniting in his heart. "You mean...train to be a medicine cat instead of a warrior?" The tiny kit smiled, liking the idea of instead of being in the action and battles, he would be trained to treat the cats were out there, fighting and getting hurt. With teeth and...and claws. He shivered at thought of a battle. But the life of a medicine cat didn't involve fighting, did it?

[Riverstar]

Riverstar nodded slowly, the compassionate leader seeming to have found Marshkit's week spot. He did not wish to fight, and that was perfectly alright. StarClan had different plans for this kit. "Well then, I shall talk to our medicine cat and see if she shall have you on. Why don't you go grab us some small prey pieces and you and I shall eat. How does that sound?"

[Marshpaw]

Marshkit brightened and smiled up at the regal tom. "Okay," he mewed quietly, scuffling under his paws to the fresh-kill pile. He peeked around one of Riverstar's legs at the pile and eyed the prey hungrily. He spotted a small mouse at the bottom. It was probably very young; it was small but still rather plump. He licked his lips, his mouth watering as he stared at the piece of prey.

[Riverstar]

Riverstar stood up a little bit as Marshkit dashed under his legs. The leader purred a little and lashed his tails, leaning over to look under his legs at the prey pile. It seemed that Marshkit had already found his choice prey and was eyeing it like a true predator. He stepped forward slightly to turn around, crouching close to Marshkit. He was going to egg the little tom-kit on a moment. "Now you see your prey. Keep your tail down, your paws light. Prepare yourself and then lunge. Now go get your prey."

[Marshpaw]

Marshkit crouched down and slunk toward the tiny mouse, his paws no louder than a feather falling to the ground. His blue eyes were wide with determination as he crept closer and closer toward his prey. As soon as he was no more than a mouselength away, he tensed his muscles and lunged at the mouse, pawing at it timidly at first, but soon he was wrestling with it gleefully.

[Riverstar]

Riverstar sat there quietly when he began to crawl forward to the fresh-kill pile. When Marshkit was playing gleefully with the mouse, Riverstar stood up and walked over to the fresh-kill pile, taking a pitiful looking vole. The mouse that Marshkit would happily feed the small future apprentice, but the warrior would still have some hunger clawing at his belly by sunhigh with his food. Leafbare was chasing away the prey and he needed to feed his Clan. He sat close to Marshkit, tucking in and engulfing the vole in two bites. "You shouldn't play with your food Marshkit."

[Marshpaw]

Marshkit ducked his head embarrassedly and rolled back onto his belly. "Sorry Riverstar," he murmured, smiling weakly. He turned back to the mouse and took a small bite. He licked his lips hungrily and took another bite. And another, until all that was left of the prey was a small array of bones. He looked back up at the large tom. "Riverstar?" he muttered nervously. "W-what if I'm not ready to be an apprentice?"

[Riverstar]

Riverstar had already begun to clean his paws and whiskers when Marshkit finally began tucking into his breakfast. The spotted leader twitched a little when he began to speak again, giving a light flick of his ears to show that he was listening. When Marshkit was done asking his question, Riverstar set down his clean paws, scratching at the packed dirt beneath them. "You are ready. Every kit is ready at six moons. This is how it is to be. Besides, once Duskfur gets ahold of you, I bet you will learn things that you will love."

[Marshpaw]

Marshkit shuffled his tiny black paws. "Maybe. But..." He hesitated, not wanting to sound overly worried. "But what if Duskfur doesn't like me? And what if he doesn't want me as an apprentice?" He looked down at his paws, his heartbeat in his ears.