Joy of the Chase

Cedarfur gave a slight gasp, showing her surprise to see another cat around. She knew the voice of her leader, but she still turned to gaze upon him. Under the she-cat's black and ginger fur, her skin upon her face grew hot with embarrassment. She didn't like other people seeing her in a weak state. She was a deputy, weakness was not a thing she could show. So many looked up to her to be strong, the light in the darkest cave. Sadness and pain were something she could never show in front of another, now her leader was seeing her like this. The dark furred tom's words made her ear's perk and as he spoke she slowly turned back to the tree. Memories of her parents flashed in her head and it brought a smile to her face. "Proud you say.." Those words made her chuckle, just slightly. Her parents raised her to be proud and unafraid, to take the world by the neck and show it the way of the Clans. Yes, Cedarfur was meant to be a warrior, even before she was born. Maybe being deputy was always in her future, maybe her parents prepared her for such a task. No matter the answer, the she-cat loved them all the same.

As Ravenstar spoke of them being the wind, a gentle breeze blew through the forest. Closing her eyes, Cedarfur raised her head and felt the breeze graze her neck. It was as if her mother was rubbing her chin with her gentle tail. That was something she always did to show her love to her family. When the tom finished speaking, the deputy looked at her leader with warm amber eyes. "You know the same goes for you. I'm sure your parents are filled with endless pride seeing their son as the leader of the Clan." 

His words had caught her off guard. It was true that she very happy to be deputy, very honored that he saw her as worthy out of all the warriors in Darkclan. Yet, to be leader would mean something she didn't want. By her becoming leader would mean the fall of Ravenstar. Cedarfur didn't want to be a leader, not if it meant the death of her current one. Besides, Cedarstar didn't have a good ring to it, not like Ravenstar did. "Being deputy is swell and all, but I'm not cut out to be a leader Ravenstar. Besides, you will always be around to lead us. You won't lose one life because I will take every blow for you. My life is yours." Cedarfur bowed her head to show her deep devotion to the Clan and it's leader. 

Maybe it was a good thing that her parents raised her to be deathly loyal to her clan, but it was to the extreme. To the point death didn't bother her. If she was going to die in order to save one of Ravenstar's lives, she would do it. The same went for every cat in the clan, from kit to elder. Yet, it seemed Cedarfur was the only one in her family who would do so. "I just wish Poppypetal and Mistpatch could understand that. They are to care-free and wild. Given they are young, but still. I feel I have failed them as a sister, if mother raised them they would never be like this." Cedarfur had let out a sigh, but quickly realized that she was releasing her inner frustration to her leader. This was not the behavior of a proper deputy. "Oh pardon, I don't want to bore you with my silly younger sisters." Cedarfur looked away, trying to hide the embarrassment that was taking over her face.

Cedarfur needed to get her mind off the thoughts in her head. They were pointless and worth nothing. She had more important things to worry about, like food for her Clan and it's overall health. At the moment she was making sure her leader was happy and not filled with her silly thoughts. It was time to break away from the talk of the dead and it what was alive and around them. When he made a joke about her comment, she gave a light chuckle. "If I'm calling you old then I'm calling myself old. Keep in mind that I'm only a few moons younger than you Ravenstar. I was inquiring that you can take a break, you are busy worrying about the clan and I'm a better hunter." The she-cat stuck her nose into the air and purred as she joked about her greatness. 

The sound of her leader's footsteps made her turn her head. With curious amber eyes, she watched as the worthy warrior proved his leader worth. With skill and time by his side her caught and killed his prey with ease. As all warrior did, he said his prays to Starclan and then turned to her once more. As he approached her, she purred and used her tail to flick his nose. "Alright, I will admit that you have skill as well. Shall we eat?" Of course, she thought of the Clan and how they also needed prey. "After we finish we can go on a hunt together for more prey. I'm sure everyone is hungry and who doesn't love warm freshly caught prey for breakfast." Cedarufur purred and giggled with delight. This was her more cheerful side, one that was separated from her when she became a warrior and deputy. Maybe it hide deep inside her when she realized she had more responsibilities and childish games had to be put behind her. 
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Word Count: 318
Tags: Ravenstar

Cedarfur just purred when she watched and listened to her leader. He was a very good leader, but he was also an amazing tom. Being a leader was not only about making battle choices and speaking with Starclan, but also about being able to connect with the Clan. Without the support of the Clan the leader is just another cat with no power. Thinking back to Ravenstar's ceremony when he was becoming deputy, Cedarfur couldn't think of one cat who disagreed with the decision. He had connected with everyone as an apprentice and as a warrior, he was supported and when he became leader, even Starclan had his back. As for Cedarfur, she was oblivious to what she noticed about Ravenstar. She never thought of herself being deputy and being leader never crossed her mind. Of course, with time she grew on the idea of being deputy, she had to like her new job. 

The she-cat watched as her leader settled down by the Great Pine and began to eat his catch. The black and ginger furred kitten did the same, grabbing her snake and settling down close to the dark furred tom. Taking a bite out of the snake, she savored it at first. The taste and the texture seemed like heaven to her. After the first bite she began to eat her prey in faster and larger gulps. She didn't have time to sit around and enjoy the forest. There was a Clan that needed feeding and she would answer their calls of hunger. As she quickly ate her prey, she glanced over at her leader and noticed his expression. It was known that Ravenstar and his mentor would sit by the tree and eat. Known fact that his mentor greatly enjoyed the company of the pine, so of course such habits and interest would fall upon Ravenstar, not that it was a bad thing. Cedarfur also had her moment with the great pine and others important to her.  When she was an apprentice, her mother had become pregnant with her younger sisters, her father took her out into the territory to have some bonding time. They would hunt around this area a lot and would share one of their kills. As they enjoyed their time together, her father would tell one of his many stories about his younger days and stories of Darkclan's great heroes. 

Cedarfur finally finished her prey, after Ravenstar finished his. Naturally, the tom would take charge and lead, so when he began to run off she followed without question. Knowing the territory, she knew where they were heading and didn't questions, not that she ever would. When they came to a stop, her amber eyes began to search for the same thing that Ravenstar spoke off. When he changed his words, she gave him a side glance and smirked at him. "Very funny Ravenstar." Her amber eyes began to search around the last place she had seen the natural land bridge. With the growing light and lessening fog, the she-cat found it. "Over there," she pointed her tail in the direction of the wood. It had shifted a little ways down due to the current, but thankfully it was still usable. 
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Word Count: 538 
(Dang where that come from?!)
Tags: Ravenstar