Post by `Kin;; on Sept 14, 2009 15:27:00 GMT -5
A rasping-skritching sound could be faintly heard form the training hollow. It was the sound of claws being worked and sharpened over and over on a tree trunk. The owner of the claws, a she-cat of unusual appearance and questionable age. The last time she had been seen by a cat outside her Clan, she was mistaken for a warrior. Though, not for gratifying reasons. It was simply due to her size. Though she was only nine moons old, an apprentice, she was the height of a young warrior. She simply looked older. The fur along her spine was raised in her frustration. She was always mistaken for a full warrior for that one reason. Never for her dedication or for her maturity. Never for the fact that she knew the borders so well, or for the fact she was so good at hunting, or for the fact that she always did as asked by her superiors. Her lips drew up.
This was becoming more and more a frequent thing. Echopaw never let herself be so emotional around others. The way she had figured it was that if she never bore out her feelings, things wouldn't hurt so much. The constant humiliation by the other apprentices. The way they left the less attractive duties to her. She loved the elders, but cleaning out their bedding got to be very tedious and boring after a while. She cursed to herself. If only...If only she hadn't looked....
[flashback]
Echopaw, now a fresh apprentice, was exploring the territory on her own. One of the other new apprentices had made a comment about her heritage, and she needed to blow off some steam. She purposefully climbed up a tree, to a low branch. It had the most perfect view of places far off from the NightClan territory. Including the Twoleg Place. She knew the her parents were over there. Her real ones. She also knew that she was banned from ever going near that place, and had been ever since she had expressed wishes to meet her real parents. Why was she banned from meeting her parents? It was her right to, right? She was aloud to at least talk to them just once, wasn't she? It's not like she'd get lured into a kittypet's life...
Leaping down from her branch, with her tail held high in her resolution, she began to march toward the border. It was her birth given right to at least know her parents names, right? With a determined nod, she began to pad faster. But the sound of several sneering laughs stopped her dead in her tracks.
"Hehe, looks like the kittypet is lost, don't it?"
"Or, is she going to go find her kittypet parents?"
"Ha! That look tells me she was going to do just that!"
"Did she forget that the Leader banned her from going there?"
"Well, she better not forget this: She's gonna do what we say, or we're gonna tell the Leader that she was sneaking off to the Twoleg Place!"
[/flashback]
Echopaw hissed, slashing out at the tree. Large chunks of bark went flying, and more followed as she swiped out several more times. Her long claws got hooked into the softer flesh of the tree and stuck. With a few strong tugs, she ripped her claws from the tree, bringing a few pieces of the soft wood with them. Kneading her claws on the soft earth to clean them, she snapped around to face the training hallow. Her eyes flashed with her pent up frustration. She then charged toward the center of the hallow, meaning to attack an invisible foe. Slowing slightly while coiling strength in her hind legs, she pounced upward, front claws hooking into an invisible pelt and back paws working hind claws into soft underbelly. Twisting and landing on top of her unseen foe, Echopaw sunk her teeth into the invisible scruff and shook her head harshly for side to side. It was a maneuver she has worked on alone for a long time. She planned to unveil it next time there was a fight, to impress her mentor and possibly earn some respect. Of course when she had first started on it, she was much to slow for it to work. Now she did it with blinding speed.
Echopaw had an incredible dedication and the strongest desire the protect and prove herself to her Clan. To do this, she will be the best at everything, though she is doubted. She will take out any cat that would do her Clanmates harm, even if it means protecting those who have tormented her. She will hunt the best prey for her Clan, even if she were a breath away from starving. She will become the best warrior the Clans have ever seen, even if it means dieing long before she's ready.
This was becoming more and more a frequent thing. Echopaw never let herself be so emotional around others. The way she had figured it was that if she never bore out her feelings, things wouldn't hurt so much. The constant humiliation by the other apprentices. The way they left the less attractive duties to her. She loved the elders, but cleaning out their bedding got to be very tedious and boring after a while. She cursed to herself. If only...If only she hadn't looked....
[flashback]
Echopaw, now a fresh apprentice, was exploring the territory on her own. One of the other new apprentices had made a comment about her heritage, and she needed to blow off some steam. She purposefully climbed up a tree, to a low branch. It had the most perfect view of places far off from the NightClan territory. Including the Twoleg Place. She knew the her parents were over there. Her real ones. She also knew that she was banned from ever going near that place, and had been ever since she had expressed wishes to meet her real parents. Why was she banned from meeting her parents? It was her right to, right? She was aloud to at least talk to them just once, wasn't she? It's not like she'd get lured into a kittypet's life...
Leaping down from her branch, with her tail held high in her resolution, she began to march toward the border. It was her birth given right to at least know her parents names, right? With a determined nod, she began to pad faster. But the sound of several sneering laughs stopped her dead in her tracks.
"Hehe, looks like the kittypet is lost, don't it?"
"Or, is she going to go find her kittypet parents?"
"Ha! That look tells me she was going to do just that!"
"Did she forget that the Leader banned her from going there?"
"Well, she better not forget this: She's gonna do what we say, or we're gonna tell the Leader that she was sneaking off to the Twoleg Place!"
[/flashback]
Echopaw hissed, slashing out at the tree. Large chunks of bark went flying, and more followed as she swiped out several more times. Her long claws got hooked into the softer flesh of the tree and stuck. With a few strong tugs, she ripped her claws from the tree, bringing a few pieces of the soft wood with them. Kneading her claws on the soft earth to clean them, she snapped around to face the training hallow. Her eyes flashed with her pent up frustration. She then charged toward the center of the hallow, meaning to attack an invisible foe. Slowing slightly while coiling strength in her hind legs, she pounced upward, front claws hooking into an invisible pelt and back paws working hind claws into soft underbelly. Twisting and landing on top of her unseen foe, Echopaw sunk her teeth into the invisible scruff and shook her head harshly for side to side. It was a maneuver she has worked on alone for a long time. She planned to unveil it next time there was a fight, to impress her mentor and possibly earn some respect. Of course when she had first started on it, she was much to slow for it to work. Now she did it with blinding speed.
Echopaw had an incredible dedication and the strongest desire the protect and prove herself to her Clan. To do this, she will be the best at everything, though she is doubted. She will take out any cat that would do her Clanmates harm, even if it means protecting those who have tormented her. She will hunt the best prey for her Clan, even if she were a breath away from starving. She will become the best warrior the Clans have ever seen, even if it means dieing long before she's ready.