Heat

[Surrle!]

The air was thick with fog, but in the heat of early evening it felt more like the whole camp was sweating. In the center of camp, Mousepelt lay, trying to ignore the heat. She blinked once, twice, and then closed her eyes, hoping for a distraction.

[sea]

Scorchleaf had just left the shelter of the den, and she felt the sun waves beat on her dark brown pelt. It took her orbs a while to get used to the light, and she finally saw Mousepelt lying aways. "What are you doing out here? You're gonna give yourself a burn! This sun in really intence today." she said, making a conversation.

[Surrle!]

OOC- *frown* my post was longer before, I swear... *shrug*

<sub>Urk. The cheerful voice was welcome enough, but Mousepelt had always felt that Scorchleaf had to be faking to be so bubbly and social. No cat likes other cats that much and means it. I won't burn... she thought, but instead she shrugged. "I'll be okay. I just came out here, anyway. Elders' ticks," she lied smoothly, turning to lick at her pelt. It was easier, she found, to look at someone when they didn't think you were looking at them- like, for instance, peering up at a dark she-cat while giving the ruse of grooming. Mousepelt's fur was already shining, and she licked in the same spot a few times before she turned away again. Strange. She actually seems concerned. She won't catch me, she assured herself, trying to convince her heart that it was okay to lie about Elders to a cat that loved them so much and practically knew all of their gossip and life-stories.

Her problem with Scorchleaf wasn't really unjustified- they were opposites. Scorchleaf was the poster cat for VervainClan- well-groomed, well-toned, smart, social, and besides which she was nice. To everyone. Mousepelt just couldn't understand it. A part of her welled up with bitterness- she could have been that cat- and the other part envied her fellow Clanmember for being so... real.</sub>

[sea]

(Holy crow! She's jealous? That's a first... )

Scorchleaf made a kind but sympathetic smile. "Would you like me to get some

mouse bile? I'll remove them if you want me to." She offered. She hated the thought of

having something on her fur. It sounded so annoying and painful. She looked at the elderly

cat. She was very clean, and it was a little hard to believe she had any ticks. She smiled

again, and said, "Do you know if any of the other elders have ticks? I could do them as

well, I was going to hunting soon, so after I am done with that I can get you guys something

to eat. That way you guys can enjoy yourselves. I would love to hear some of the old stories

again. " she added.


She looked at the entrance, and decided she wasn't in any hurry to hunt. She liked hunting,

loved it, but right now in this heat she really decided against it. Helping the elders was

something she enjoyed, and they were very nice whenever you were kind to them. Not to

mention they knew things she never knew. They were wise, and she admired them. They

had lived all these years, and they were still here. To put out their wise suggestions if

needed, or even if they weren't. She didn't care if they were old, they were once young and

free, now weren't they? They had been her age, had experianced much of what Scorchleaf

had and hadn't. She only wished she had the knowledge of what they had. [/color]

[Surrle!]

Mousepelt's ears flicked back sharply and she hissed, eyes narrowed, "I'm not an elder," Any sort of kind thoughts evaporated at that moment. "I'm a warrior, you mousebrain!" She stood indignantly, fur prickling, her amber eyes intense. Everycat makes mistakes, part of her protested, while the other insisted, even I know the elders from the warriors! Nobody could possibly be that ignorant! It was an insult!

OOC- Well, she was jealous. I guess she still is.

[sea]

Scorchleaf didn't know what to do. She had just insulted one of her own clanmates! How could she do such a thing? "Oh, Mousepelt, I am so sorry! You don't have to hunt today if you don't want to. I will do double. Oh, Mousepelt...I am so sorry... She couldn't beleive herself. How could she do such a rude and ignorant thing? She bit her lip, trying not to let the tears of anger rush up and ruin her. She would stand there like a good cat, to listen to her own decipline like a wise cat. She gulped, and waited for the shouting she deserved.

[Surrle!]

<sub>For some reason, Mousepelt's heart softened and she sat back down, her fur beginning to lay flat. She stared down at her paws. "Yeah, well..." she wasn't sure why she wasn't yowling her head off, but before she had a chance to think about it, she added, "Everybody makes mistakes." What?

I need a friend, she decided, then continued, "I'll hunt with you if you want. Just don't tell my brother about the mistake." She looked up, then, and her amber eyes glistened bitterly in a way that she felt tears would start coming if she didn't blink. She blinked, once, twice, then added as an afterthought, "He'd never let me live that down."

The usual surge of fear, anger, and hatred filled her as she thought of Shrewleg, who had recently become even more hostile. She wished he could pick on someone else.

That's why I need a friend, she thought, someone needs to know.</sub>

[sea]

Scorchleaf was surprised at her sudden kindness. When she mentioned her brother, she said, "Of course! I would feel stupid just saying that I did that. Of course you can come hunt with me! I get so lonely on hunting patrols, and actually there is another cat who I am going with. Wanderingspirit asked, too. You want to come? The more the better!" Her heart suddenly sputtered in happiness, she wanted a friend more than anything. She was always alone.

[Surrle!]

_{Mousepelt didn't have to force a smile, it took over her face, lighting up her eyes and curling up the corners of her mouth. "I'd love to, Scorchleaf. I'd get Ashpaw to come too, only she's going with Spiderstar." She stood, this time slower, and stretched lazily. "Let's go find Wanderingspirit, shall we?"}

[sea]

One of Scorchleafs' own smiles errupted on her face. She was happy and her heart was bursting in happiness. She loved the fact she might actuall be befriending someone. Her heart swelled even more at the thought, and she smiled. "Yes, Wanderingspirit!" she said happily. Then she added, "We can just meet him here. He said he would see me in camp. So...why are you so worried about your brother. I don't mean to pry, just tell me to mind my own business if I am." she hated cats who forced her to tell her business. She didn't have to tell them anything in her opinion.[/font]

[CATxOFxICE]

Wanderingspirit padded back into the camp, his usual neat fur was slick and damp from the humidity. His white fur stood out in the earthy camp, he stretched his muzzle wide in a yawn as he padded over to Mousepelt and Scorchleaf. He dipped his head at the two she-cats.

"My apologies for being late. I lost track of the sun while I was training Smokepaw." The white tom flicked his tail and sat down as he waited for the other two cats to reply.

[sea]

Scorchleaf smiled. "Don't worry about it. I only wish that I had an apprentice." she laughed. "OK, so let's go hunting!" and she bounded to the entrance.

[Surrle!]

_{Mousepelt nodded at Wanderingspirit as he yawned. He looks tired, she thought, but if he wants to hunt, why not? "Don't worry, Scorchleaf. You'll get an apprentice soon, I'm sure. Who knows? It could be ony a few moons from now that you'll be joining me and Ashpaw in a patrol!" The strangest feeling enveloped her- she was genuinely happy. Not faking it, for once. "I'll tell you about Shrewleg later, if you'd like," She mewed softly, glancing at the dark she-cat."For now, let's hunt!"}

[/center]
OOC- Where to?

[CATxOFxICE]

[OOC - You pick]

Wandringspirit purred in agreement and padded behind Scorchleaf. "The prey should be running well today, with this weather." He gave his pelt a coupl quick licks. "No matter where we go we're bound to catch enough prey to feed half the Clan."

[Surrle!]

{{How 'bout the swamp? Okay with you, Ember?}}

_{Mousepelt smiled again, this time almost shyly. "You're right, the weather's great for hunting! The swamp will be full of prey." She couldn't look Wanderingspirit in the eye- why, she wasn't sure, but she didn't test it. She hoped he didn't think she was being rude. She shuffled her dark mottled paws, awaiting confirmation of her choice of place from either cat.}