-Swiftpaw

Trying to make your life in a man's world. One of the hardest things in the world. How to get through it? To know when to lie, to yourself. You wake up in the morning thinking that this day might be different, today might change my life forever. Only to end up back at your nest at the end of the day, knowing that you live in hell. It's what keeps you going, being optimistic about the most depressing things in life. To grow, to live, to fight.

Waves of fury pulsated from Swiftpaw's heart, beating to the tips of her claws. Life was so unfair, but then again life isn't fair. The only way to make yourself wanted is to either be the best hunter in the world, a leader, a herb-freak, or the epic hero. To Swiftpaw, all WindClan had was speed. Sure we could chase intruders out, but wasn't her clan the one to invade others territory the most often? For their food burrowed underground a lot sooner than mice and voles did. 'Why are we so weak?!'

Though these were the thoughts that penetrated her mind, it wasn't what she truly felt in her heard. Swiftpaw was just sad, that every day was a strike of survival. To breathe for one more moonrise was a miracle, for anything could go wrong at any second. The beauty of the forest, the light upon the multicolored leaves in this autumn season, it was just breathtaking.

This tiny apprentice, with no extraordinary talent, padded towards the RiverClan boarder. Hoping to see the only cat that she had ever opened up to. 'He's an enemy, I'll probably fight him one day in battle; but I'm not loyal, to no one and no Clan.' It was a pitiful thought, though it was the truth. The truth that her own clan could never hear, or fear facing rejection. Already emotionally unstable, banishment would give her a reason to leave. All that she had, this land, this earth, this body.

'You mustn't think like that." A sand paper tongue rasped across a petite muzzle, whiskers shifting. In overall, Swiftpaw was rather beautiful. Her pelt blending from a sandy to tan. Black stripes running from head to tail tip with blotches of a warm wood color. Greenish tinted hazel eyes that hid so much emotion, and a white chin, chest, and underbelly. Petite white paws always taking such delicate steps, as if afraid to hard a bug under-paw. Swiftpaw was caring, she just didn't know how to express it verbally.

Walking to wards the gorge, hoping to meet Flamepaw, couldn't help but feel rather light hearted. 'Maybe we can... go... chase...fish? No... squirrels!' White whiskers twitching, directed her hazel orbs upward. The end of the world, the cliff that led down into the crashing and twisting ravine. Remembering valey how she had had an internal battle about jumping right before she had met Flamepaw. Smiling to herself, scented rabbit and instinctively looked around.

A lovely tan rabbit, nibbling on the last of the green grass, completely into what she was doing. Ears pricked, pupils widening, unsheathed her claws. But just as instinct told her to move into a crouch, remembered that she wasn't out here to hunt. The rabbit would get cold and rather disgusting by the time Swiftpaw came back to camp. Heaving a sigh, purposely reared up and stomped the ground. The rabbit raised it's head and dashed away; realizing that it's life would of been in danger.

There was Swiftpaw's caring factor again, even for prey. Shaking out her pelt, fluffing it up slightly, started her walk once more. The sun shone overhead, almost no white puffy clouds in the sky, though it was rather cold, especially with the wind chill. Reaching the gorge edge where a tree had fallen over it, creating a bridge from RiverClan to WindClan, nonchalantly leapt upon the bark and padded her way over to RiverClan.

Swiftpaw was not afraid of heights, but it still unnerved her that the tree seemed to creak as she leapt off the other side. Looking over her shoulder, to make sure she wasn't being watched, dashed forward to find the place where she had first met fluffy little Flamepaw. It was a fun run, feeling rather mushy found beneath her paws. It allowed a nice stroll with sheathed claws. 'What shall we do today?' All her worries seemed to fall down the gorge, it was a new day, a new breathe.

{743 Words}
{Listening to Viva la Vida}
{7-10 Muse}

-Swiftpaw

Hazel eyes scanned the green growth of RiverClan territory, noticing how the ground wasn't as squishy compared to her last visit. It was odd that WindClan terra firma was always dusty dry, curious to think such a difference could be made by a simple gorge. Not that it mattered, it was all one fillet of land and simple landmarks shoulder change that. 'Neither should scent marks.' It was rather a frowning factor that such blood must be spilled over a possession of an item. Though cats much old and wiser than her had set these rules; and most followed them. 'But then there are cats like me.'

Never daring to lie to herself about who she saw, Swiftpaw had ungrudging accepted the fact that she was different. Not real social with the other apprentices, not envy of the warriors, seeing nothing special in herbal memorization, or power. StarClan, for all this apprentice cared, was something that exited; but only to those who have clawed their way to power. She didn't want to be that way, she'd probably feel to guilty of knowing that her decision would affect others in maybe life changing ways.

Though these thoughts, the truth on life, were quickly wiped from mind as an orange pelt flashed out of the brush. Her insides gave a small jump that was visually seen as her tail gave a rather prominent flick. Through after a moment, white whiskers twitched as she realized who it was. Immersed in thoughts, hadn't noticed his scent. 'Or is it because I'm upwind?' Not really bothered whether to find out if this thought was right or not, was rather stocked at the abrupt change in personality of the tom.

Instead of stiff muscles attached to a fluffy pelt, Flamepaw was rather wriggly in his pelt; as if happy. Blinking hazel eyes, couldn't help but notice that his pelt was sleek and rather glossy around the torso area. It was amusing, because there was still a tiny bit of fluff around his paws just like the last time they met. Whereas Swiftpaw's pelt was sleek all the way through, just like her mother's a genetic trait. Whiskers twitched again at the board smile, how happy he was to see her.

'No denying we're friends, then.' It was a warming thought, it made her want to hug herself and jump for joy. Though it was a rather foreign emotion, so a wave of a long tail and a twitch of the cheeks was how she expressed her joy. 'Swiftpaw' Her name rolled off his tongue and could of run up to him and touched noses. Though keeping a small distance between them, gave a nod. "Hello Flamepaw."

This day all of a sudden became a lot warmer and happier. The sun's rays of sun high pierced through any fluffy white clouds that dared to block it from view. The wind gusted over the rather barren tops of RiverClan's trees. Though all the cold was brushed away with a fluffing of the pelt. 'What do you want to do?' It was a wondrous question, one that she had just asked herself. "Hmm... we could... urm..."

On a normal day, chasing rabbits for the pure glee of it was fun. Though it was risky to be on her territory with no brush to hide herself in. She'd want to check out his territory, but she could hardly stroll into his camp without them both being yowled at. "Urm..." ears fell back a bit, more in concentration in thought than in disappointment. "We could visit fourtrees... or just take a stroll by a 'safe' part of the river. Or... urm... well, what did you have in mind?" Determine not to make a bad impression, for he had agreed to see her again didn't he? Trying ever so hard, not to make him regret this decision.

{639 Words}
{Listening to Fairytale}
{8-10 Muse}

-Swiftpaw

How his paws seemed to shuffle, his mind whirling and pondering. Considering his own thoughts as well as their words. 'Their... not just mine... not just his... but both of ours.' Sitting down, paws tightly clipped together let a long fluid tail settle itself over petite white paws. How it made her smile, the feeling of being wanted instead of avoided. If a cat could blush, a pinkish flush would be showing upon Swiftpaw's face at this very moment.

Drawing a claw along the ground, drawing a straight line rather unsure of what to do with herself. Ears pricked to show that she was listening to his internal battle as well as his words. No longer has she had to feel lonely int his big empty world, if being friends with Flamepaw helped improve his life even in the slightest it would be well worth it. 'As long as no one gets hurt.' There was that nagging hint of worries in the back of the apprentice's mind, though nothing bad would happen. 'How could it?'

'We could swim!' His words spilled out like the raging rapids that RiverClan called home. Ears pricking up a bit more, raised chin with a rather surprised expression upon face. Eyes glimmering, tail tip gave a single twitch. Part of her was amused by his apparent regret at this suggestion, and surprised at it at the same time. Though with a light purr, a petite smile spread across Swiftpaw's jaw. "Yes... yes I can swim. I've been fascinated with water every since I was a little kit." As these words were spoken, a memory washed over this tiny apprentice.

A pool of water, how curious, normally she had been brought water in moss. Leaning forward, pressed nose to liquid only to recoil in surprise at the temperature and state. Leaning forward again, extended tongue to take a lap, when a combination of lost balance, and slippery footing concluded in Swiftkit falling in the half a foot deep puddle. Being only four inches high, it was quite a depth. Though instead of panic, wonderment hit the kit. Remembering opening her eyes and staring upward. To see the sun sparkling through the water. Like the heavens coming down to earth with the blurred yellow, golds, and blue. Bubbles issuing from her mouth. Was this what StarClan saw?

Though the cold and limited air supply forced Swiftkit to get to her feet and break the surface. Wading into shallower puddle, was shivering and cold to the bone. Yet the experience had brought up a new perspective. RiverClan cats could swim, so why not her? The surrealistic like property of going beneath the surface, the pressure on your ears, was compared to no other. Instead of being afraid of water, it was a treasure, like a locket passed down from mother to child. Accept this secret ambition, would one day lead the kit into Riverclan territory, to achieve the impossible.

With a jerk, couldn't help but feel that she had experienced that a mere day ago instead of moons. Was it a flashback? Or just a crystal clear memory that had surfaced to the front of her brain. To recall on such an experience on this time. Timidly pondering how to word her kithood into maybe a simple phrase, opened jaw to say. "When I was a kit, I fell into a large puddle. Though instead of acquiring a fear, I gained a personal desire to learn how to swim. A rather surrealistic dream for a WindClan cat, but you can do it; so why not I?"

The summarized story ended with a wistful urn in Swiftpaw's voice. Did Flamepaw understand her request? Even comprehend a fraction of her infatuation to water, not for life, but for hobby. Just a two-leg surfers would say; surfing isn't a hobby it's a way of life. 'Can I have my own way of life? Or is it just as impossible as visiting my sister in StarClan.'

{666 Words; Lol xD}
{Listening to I'm Lonely}
{8-10 Muse}