|H.unt, W.alk, T.alk ][B.lackpaw|

[-Briesingr [bree.sien.ger]-]

[.Duskfur.]
[.Stand strong, seargent.]

Wize green eyes scanned the undergrowth as Duskfur waited in the Spiderdawn forest. He had summoned Blackpaw to this spot earlier so they could train in the dense forest.

Either Duskfur needed to knock some sence into this apprentice, or he needed some sense knowcked into him. The times were changing, and ever-ready Duskfur needed to stay in the loop. Blackpaw was the face of tomorrow's warriors, and the senior warrior wanted to familierize himself with that face. It was because of that, and because Blackpaw had said to Whitepaw that he sucked at hunting, that Duskfur had invited Blackpaw on a patrol.

Duskfur didn't know what to think of Blackpaw at the moment. He seemed to be part Feverstar, part Violetrose, and part... wierdo? No, Duskfr couldn't think like that. He was too noble to think like that.

Just the thought of nobility made Duskfur stand up higher in the Spiderdawn forest. The expanse of trees in themselves were marvelous; enough to make any cat proud to be part of Ashclan. Duskfur had Spiderdawn's very blood running through his veins; he was proud to be a strong tom of Ashclan, even though he was reaching his 70th moon.

If times continued as they did, however, the pride of being a strong tom in Ashclan might just decrepite into dust. It was the she-cats who held the power now; with their Huntressess and female apprentices and the like, it was almost as if they were equal. And they seemed rightly so.

With the Suffregettes, Duskfur was worried. This group of elite she-cats seemed to strike fear into many warriors, and that couldn't be good for the next generation. Though Duskfur had kept the Suffregette group a secret with Groveshadow and Feverstar and aquantices only, he had no doubt that rumers would have spread throughout the clans. Though it was not in his power to find out, Duskfur was still curious how much apprentice and nannies knew about the she-cat group, or whether they were for or against them. With Blackpaw, Duskfur hoped to find out.

He heard a rustle in the brush next to him, and he wondered if Blackpaw had decided to join him after all. It had not been nearly a day after Groveshadow and him had met Blackpaw and Whitepaw on the hills; did Blackpaw think he was in trouble?

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[lostinstereo]

Maybe it's not my weekend.
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“Oooh, late, am I? I apologize, Duskfur.” mewed softly. He actually was, surprisingly. He’d been late because he’d been again staring out into the Suffragist territory, his paws almost over the border. But he’d remembered the meeting he had with the older warriors, and he’s raced through the territory towards Spiderdawn forest, leaving him looking ruffled. “I was somewhere else, just thinking. It’s a habit of mine, sorry.”

The dark-pelted tom sighed, and glanced around the shaded clearing. He admired the trees, actually. The ability to stand tall, no matter what happened, gave him a sense of awe. Well, almost nothing could bring them down, and he felt the same. “The thing that matters the most is that I did come, right?” he asked, grinning slightly. It didn’t feel as cold as it had the last time he’d encountered Duskfur, so the weather wouldn’t affect him so much today as it had before.

It did matter. Things would look suspicious if he just disappeared for much too long, whether he’d been doing anything or not. He nervously shuffled his paws on the hard, frozen ground and met Duskfur’s gaze. “Is something bothering you, Duskfur? You look like you’re thinking of something…..troubling. Is it those…um, what are they called? Oh, the Suffragettes! “ His voice took on a sweeter tone, reassuring. It was all a ruse though. “They’re nothing to worry about. They’ll change their minds sooner or later, but it’ll take a bit of time.” Blackpaw’s heart thrilled with the smooth lie. He hid it well, but he believed in what those She-cats believed so strongly, he was half-tempted to go join them. “They’re only she-cats,right?”

The older tom probably though he hadn’t known of them, but he was always paying attention the what other cats said, even when it wasn’t meant for his ears. So of course he knew. His listening skills were his best quality, besides his well-admired looks. The only thins, he considered dryly, that kept him from running off was the thought of being surrounded by mainly she-cats, some of them young enough to have the urge to follow him around like a shadow,

“Well, I guess we should get started, then, huh?”

But it's gonna be my year.
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[-Briesingr [bree.sien.ger]-]

“Oooh, late, am I? I apologize, Duskfur.”

The senior warrior raised his eyebrows at the smoothness in Blackpaw's voice; he wondered what the younger to was thinking.

“I was somewhere else, just thinking. It’s a habit of mine, sorry.”

Duskfur let an amused smile cross his maw. Right... thinking, he thought to himself, wondering if Blackpaw would continue to make small talk. He did.

“The thing that matters the most is that I did come, right?”

"True," Duskfur spoke in his deep voice.

“Is something bothering you, Duskfur? You look like you’re thinking of something…..troubling. Is it those…um, what are they called? Oh, the Suffragettes!"

Duskfur grimaced at the young tom's words. So they do know... he thought, but instead of saying nothing like he had been, he decided to speak up. He didn't get to.

“They’re nothing to worry about. They’ll change their minds sooner or later, but it’ll take a bit of time. They’re only she-cats,right?”

Duskfur shook his head sadly. By now, he could tell when someone was leading him on. Only telling him what he wanted to hear. By now, though, it didn't matter much; all Duskfur wanted to know was the truth, so when the battle came (which it certainly had to do, right?), he would be prepared. Duskfur was raised to be prepared, and he was always prepared. If only other cats in the clan could be the same way.

"Well, I guess we should get started, then, huh?”

Finally, he's stopped talking, thought Duskfur as he nodded. "Let's move towards the enborne, and follow our way back towards camp." He set out that-a-way, keeping his sense alert for any prey. Meanwhile, he spoke to their previous conversation.

"Blackpaw, I just want to let you know now that the situation is ten times worse than the warriors tell themselves and you." There was no, it's only a minor problem with him. "What the warriors haven't told you is that the Suffregettes are gaining members, and fast. They've already killed an entire patrol. This is not a minor problem anymore."

He let the words soak in fr a minute, and then continued. "What I want to know is this- what do the apprentice think of this? I'm not in the younger generation's 'loop' and I never will be, but I am curious."

Suddenly, movement caught his eye, and he leaped towards the roots of a tree, when he emerged, a plump squirrel hung from his jowls and they continued.

[lostinstereo]

Maybe it's not my weekend.
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“Really? A whole patrol? Well then….” Blackpaw sighed, looking down at his paws as the two walked along towards the Enborne. “How do you think we’re going to stop them if they keep growing? Not to sound weak…but what if we gave them a very small bit of what they want. Not the whole thing, but just a bit. A peace treaty or something, you know?” He watched the area for any sounds or sights of prey but everything seemed quiet. Some mouse-brained creature would pop up and he’d catch it, but right now he was tuned in towards the conversation.

“I don’t know what the rest of the apprentices think, but I’m not all that surprised it’s happened. I probably wasn’t supposed to notice, but some of the she-cats that left had never seems happy with what they were doing, whether they were helping the clan or not. If you believe in something strong enough, you'll do anything for it,I guess.” There was so much more that Blackpaw was dying to add; that he believed them, that the moment he could, he would run away to them, among many other feelings hidden just below the surface. Like he’d tell any other tom what he felt. It would get him in a heap of trouble taller than the trees around them.


He stood still as possible while Duskfur leapt at the squirrel. It was a pretty good size for the time of year, and Blacpkaw took it as a sign that he might catch his own piece of plump, juicy prey. The two hadn’t traveled much farther from the spot of Duskfur’s catch when the younger tom halted. Wait, he wanted to say, I’ve got something. But to speak would alert the fat little moue a few tail-lengths away of their presence. He dropped down and crept towards the little creature, who must’ve been collecting the last remnants of seeds before finally hiding away from the cold winds and snow. He jumped towards it, his paws ensnaring it as he made the kill. He stood back up, the little rodent clamped firmly in he jaws. There, he’d proven that he wasn’t that sorry of a hunter now. But when there were large drifts of snow covering the ground, they’d understand his problem. He was black, snow was white. The two colors just did not mix.


They walked along, a small moment of silence between them. Blackpaw was quite happy with the catch he’d made, but knew he could do better. It was only one fat little mouse. Ashclan needed more to eat than that.

But it's gonna be my year.
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[-Briesingr [bree.sien.ger]-]

“Really? A whole patrol? Well then….”

Duskfur ignored the comment. If he had it his way, it would be a double patrol, but he did not say anything.

“How do you think we’re going to stop them if they keep growing? Not to sound weak…but what if we gave them a very small bit of what they want. Not the whole thing, but just a bit. A peace treaty or something, you know?”

Duskfur shook his head in sadness. "No, Blackpaw. Giving them a little bit of what they want will just prove to them that what they're doing is working. And when they know that their plan is working, they'll only want more."


“I don’t know what the rest of the apprentices think, but I’m not all that surprised it’s happened. I probably wasn’t supposed to notice, but some of the she-cats that left had never seemed happy with what they were doing, whether they were helping the clan or not. If you believe in something strong enough, you'll do anything for it, I guess.”

Duskfur gave a nod. "Blackpaw, I noticed long ago that she-cats views were changing. Everyone noticed, Blackpaw, they just chose not to listen. And it's because we did not listen that this little group started up."

He watched as Baclkpaw caught a mouse. "Good," he commented as they continued to walk.

"Blackpaw, try to concentrate on the prey more. I know it's cold, but you just have to stuck your belly to the ground and live with it."

Going back to the subject, Duskfur said, "Blackpaw- what do the toms think? You can't honestly say that we're growing up as haughty and arrogant as when I was growing up."

[lostinstereo]

Maybe it's not my weekend.
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Blackpaw shrugged. “Try having a feather-thin coat year-round? You’re fluffier than a squirrels’ tail, Duskfur.” He thought mutinously, creeping along the forest floor. Every pawstep brought him closer to a new piece of prey, but he lifted his head to answer Duskfur’s questions. “Hm? The rest of the toms are miffed that there’s less huntresses to catch food, so now we’re out doing it. I’ll tell you the truth about what I personally think.” “Lie, let him believe you…but lie like your life depends upon it, you idiot.” the darker tom silently told himself.


Blackpaw shook his head. “I think it’s a misfortunate event that they left, and couldn’t realize the have the best lives they could ask for. Loners and rouges starve to death and freeze every day, and they have warm dens and food. Ungrateful little things.”



He didn’t know what to say to the second half of that. “Arrogant? Haughty? Aren’t we all at one point in our lives? That time when you think you can do anything happens to every cat, I guess. I noticed the changes in the she-cats. I just brushed it off. We all did, right? Couldn’t believe they’d actually do that to us?” He quieted down and pushed himself towards a tree, grabbing a squirrel right off the base of the tree’s trunk, carrying it along with the mouse. Was this little trip over yet? Blackpaw inwardly sighed, trudging onward, towards the Enborne, still raging along it’s banks at this time of year. It was an unstoppable force. What else could compare to it?

But it's gonna be my year.
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[-Briesingr [bree.sien.ger]-]

“Hm? The rest of the toms are miffed that there’s less huntresses to catch food, so now we’re out doing it. I’ll tell you the truth about what I personally think.”

Is that really all the toms are thinking about? Duskfur thought. Good... perhaps I'm just being paranoid. However, Blackpaw was not your average tom.

Duskfur reasoned that younger cats had more insight than the older warriors did; they were smarter and, though foolish, had great potential. These were the cats that would be his deptuy- even leader, if he got old evough. He'd best listen now so that he wouldn't be in shock when the time came for things to change.

“I think it’s a misfortunate event that they left, and couldn’t realize the have the best lives they could ask for. Loners and rouges starve to death and freeze every day, and they have warm dens and food. Ungrateful little things.”

Duskfur grunted but said nothing. Blackpaw was only mirroring what everyone thought. Duskfur didn't want to know what the clan thought; he wanted to know the other half of the story! Perhaps you're over-thinking, Duskfur... he thought to himself as the walked along the enborne.

Suddenly, he leaped high into the air, catching a bird that was swooping almost a foxlength above their heads. Burying it, he caught up with Blackpaw as he spoke.

“Arrogant? Haughty? Aren’t we all at one point in our lives? That time when you think you can do anything happens to every cat, I guess. I noticed the changes in the she-cats. I just brushed it off. We all did, right? Couldn’t believe they’d actually do that to us?”

Duskfur shook his head. The she-cats were always level-minded, now weren't they? he wanted to tell Blackpaw, but he kept his mouth shut. He wasn't in favor of letting the she-cats rebel; who was? But he couldn't make it sound like he wanted the she-cats to rebel. It might send the wrong message to this young tom's mind.

At the last bit Duskfur gave an amused smile. "Okay, okay," he said in mock bedrudgement. "I give up- there's no use getting anything out of you." He waited for Blackpaw's catch before continuing.

"Blackpaw- I might as well tell you that this is going to explode into a much bigger problem, one that will change the way cats live forever. You and the other apprentices will have to choose a side when the time comes; to go with the she-cats, or to stay and continue clan tradition. And it isn't just the male toms; it'll be theshe-cats, too, so watch out for them. I'm just letting you know right now that when the she-cats make their stand, I will not be killed protecting something bound to change. You must tell no one of this, Blackpaw," the stern warrior commended.

[lostinstereo]

Maybe it's not my weekend.
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Blackpaw walked along some more, but he was bored of running around and catching prey. It wasn’t like he head more important things to do, but anything was better than having his thoughts and words picked apart by some tom who probably thought he was all that.

Duskfur wasn’t saying much anymore, which Blackpaw was very much grateful for. Less chatter meant that the prying was either over, or almost done. He relaxed visibly; his steps becoming lighter, his expression softening a bit from it’s hardened mask, and his tail was held just a bit higher.

The dark-pelted tom watched as Duskfur lept high in the air, and waited for him to catch up. Why he hadn’t just slunk off yet escaped him. He had caught all he wanted to catch for the day, and had, for some odd reason, kept it with him throughout the entire hunting trip, He was odd like that. Not an ordinary cat at all.

He chuckled at the older tom’s comment. Good, he’d succeeded in keeping things quiet. He never slipped up, at least not on things as important as his own thoughts. Once again, he was glad that no one could hear his thoughts. The only things you had safe were secrets wishes and your own thoughts these days.

“I know it will. I hate to say it, but something was going to happen sometime. It just happened now. I don’t know what side I’ll choose. I don’t want to sound selfish…but I’ll follow instinct. I’ll know who I’m with when the time actually comes. I’m neutral territory right now. I don’t know what I think yet. I won’t tell anyone, I swear, Secret’s safe with me, Duskfur.”

Blackpaw sighed inwardly, knowing that his words would probably bring on another round of unwanted conversation. He tried to look like he didn't mid the chatter, and hoped the mask he'd put on was still convincing.

But it's gonna be my year.
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[-Briesingr [bree.sien.ger]-]

Duskfur saw the river bend where camp came up, and knew their talk was almost over. He was releasing too much, anyway, and Blackpaw looked like he wanted to got away. He was glad when Blackpaw chuckled; it meant that he wasn't having too bad a time talking to an old warrior like himself.

“I know it will. I hate to say it, but something was going to happen sometime. It just happened now. I don’t know what side I’ll choose. I don’t want to sound selfish…but I’ll follow instinct. I’ll know who I’m with when the time actually comes. I’m neutral territory right now. I don’t know what I think yet. I won’t tell anyone, I swear, Secret’s safe with me, Duskfur.”

An amused smile almost came up on Duskfur's lips, but he kept it well hidden. The rush of he water seemed to match the fall of the two cat's pawsteps, and Duskfur walked in silent contemplation. Blackpaw had probably caught more prey than he had in an entire day, so Duskfur was glad the apprentice had at least some exercise. The tom was so different from himself as an apprentice, and yet so similar; Duskfur didn't know whether he would've liked or hated Blackpaw if he was an apprentice right now.

Duskpaw had always been the quieter, serious type, like Blackpaw now, but he never had that smoothness. No, Duskfur as an apprentice was hard-working, eager, but bold and quiet at the same time. A quiet hero, his father had always told him. Live that way and you're sure to succeed. he remembered. It was something about Blackpaw, though, that made Duskfur squirm; he never knew whether the apprentice meant what he said or not.

Camp came into sharper focus, and he knew that they could not carry on any longer without wearing out both of them.

"This is where we go our separate ways, Blackpaw. I know you've been itching to get out of this, you don't have to hide it. I don't know what more useful things you have to do, though. Good luck, Blackpaw, and perhaps we'll talk another time." He knew that the apprentice would probably ignore him for a half-moon or so to get him off his back, but Duskfur didn't mind. He got what he thought he wanted, and he wouldn't keep bugging Blackpaw about it. He headed not into camp, but farther into the forest, thinking. Curious... he thought to himself. This whole shenanigan is so curious.

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[DUSKFUR OUT.]