A I R P A W
Against her better judgment, Airpaw had gone out of camp on her own. WindClan had been tense- though she supposed it always had been. Around the time when she was born, her Clan had been split into two halves, those who wished to follow Desertstar, and those who wished to follow Sandadder. She was too young to understand the disruption in her home when she was a kit but as she matured under the watch of her father, Hailgaze, also known as the Clan deputy, she began to gain insight into much more.
When she reached apprenticeship, she was one of the lucky few who had been selected as the Clan leader’s apprentice. She would be under Desertstar’s care from now until she earned her warrior name. Airpaw couldn’t afford to be anything but diligent. There were high expectations for her; being the deputy’s daughter and the leader’s mentee, she was constantly on her toes for training. Only apprenticed for a moon and a half and she was already the head of the apprentices in WindClan when it came to hunting. It would only be a matter of time before her body toned like her father’s and she would become just as skilled in battling.
Thankfully, she wasn’t alone. She had her older brother, Dayfall, to watch over her while her father and mentor prioritized the shift in their Clan. He was always there for her to guide her and support her and she appreciated his help and insight as she matured on her own journey. But even then… Even then, the young feline did need some time away every once and a while to soothe her restless heart and soul. Lately, there had been this strange sensation pulling her away from the moors. Airpaw didn’t know how to explain it- whenever she went out in WindClan territory, there was something calling her past the moors, to the forest. Well, not literally calling her, but more like, a feeling deep down in her soul that urged her to go there. She had never felt anything like it before and she didn’t know what to make of it. But today she decided she would find out.
Hailgaze had always instructed her to be cautious around the borders with their fellow Clans, to respect them and not to go past them but for some reason, the sensation that was pulling her was pulling her towards ThunderClan. Airpaw nervously bit the inside of her cheek. It felt wrong to purposely be prodding at boundaries but she couldn’t ignore the feeling she had that something was calling her to ThunderClan’s territory.
Maybe just this once?
A I R P A W
Whatever had its grip on her seemed to have the same affect on the other apprentice. The inner turmoil of knowing that there was this invisible line that separated them battled against the magnetic attraction that made them want to draw close to one another. Airpaw had never felt anything like it. She had never wanted to be so close to someone before. And she didn't even know this girl. When Applepaw spoke and introduced herself so shyly, the WindClanner felt herself smitten by the utter cuteness she portrayed.
What's going on? She wondered. The cold, harsh breeze of the moors blew and it made her shudder but with it, it brought the scent of the other molly. A sweet, calming smell that enveloped her and made her feel like melting. Never before had she wanted to succumb to temptation so badly. This scentline that divided ThunderClan and WindClan... Did it have to come between them? Before today, she never would have dared to even think such a thing.
"My name is Airpaw." She replied, praying that her voice sounded stronger than she felt. Her paws shook but she sturdied herself and squared her shoulders in defiance. She wasn't going to give in here. "The scent of a hare is nearby. I was going to catch it and bring it home to my family," she lied through her teeth. Of course she lied. Regardless of the strange sensation that brought them together, Applepaw was ThunderClan. She was WindClan. They had been raised their whole lives not to trust each other.
"What about you?" She challenged, "you're so close to the border, one would think you'd dare to cross it."
Applepaw
Wow, her voice is like honey. Applepaw blinked slowly at the tabbied feline, the sight of her taking Applepaws breath away. The small creamy calico apprentice was drawn towards the Windclanner, taking small steps towards the invisible border, not daring to step over it the fear of Sandadder stopping the apprentice from giving herself to the temptation completely. The longer she was engulfed by the others' presence she could feel the fear losing its grip on her.
Applepaw didn’t know how to handle this newfound feeling, she spent so long training with Hazelface but nothing her mentor taught her could have prepared her for this moment. What would her clan think of if they saw her at this moment? She was meant to hate Windclan, they only ever caused problems for Thunderclan, they were predetermined to be enemies. Applepaw didn’t want to be enemies with whoever she was, she didn't know what she wanted but all she needed now was to get to know her more.
Swallowing hard, the mollys lips parted, “My name is Applepaw.” What was she doing answering this Windclanners question, she was Peachblossoms daughter she didn’t answer outsiders questions they should be answering to her. It wasn’t like that with this other feline, she wanted answers but she didn't want to demand them. It was like all of her confidence drained in front of the Windclan apprentice, her normally booming voice only a mere whisper, “W-what’s your name? Is there a reason you’re so close to the border?” Staring up at the feline, her gaze not daring to look away.
A I R P A W
Somehow, someway, she knew that someone would be coming to meet her here. She had no reason to believe that but there was just something deep inside her that told her to wait, to expect company. Don’t be silly, Airpaw, she scolded herself. You should be focusing on your training. The beige apprentice shook her head, as if to clear her thoughts and recenter her focus. Just as she was about to call it quits and make her way back home, time seemed to stop.
Approaching the border from ThunderClan’s side was a cream-spotted molly she had never seen before and yet… Her breath stopped. It hitched in her throat and made her heart thump wildly in her chest. Airpaw squinted, confused by the reaction she was having towards someone she had never even met before.
And suddenly, she spoke. A tiny little stutter of a greeting. Instinctively, her jaw clenched. Should they be so casual with one another, nearly atop of the scentline that divided their Clans? By now, most rival warriors would be at each other’s throats, threatening the worst should they dare cross the border, but for her, the temptation to ignore the theoretical line that separated them was immense.
“Hello.” She replied curtly, feeling tense and nervous in front of the smaller apprentice. But why? She still couldn’t understand it. This odd pull that seemed to flow from the ThunderClanner ahead of her. She hadn’t felt anything like it before. Not even from Goldenpaw, her supposed mate to-be. The boy that everyone in WindClan expected her to marry. You should leave now, the logical part of her demanded. Airpaw knew it was right and yet… She didn’t want to leave. She wanted to know more about this enigmatic girl.
“What’s your name?”
APPLEPAW
It was rare to find Applepaw lingering around camp if she could avoid it, though if it were up to her mother she’d be confined to camp permanently. Thunderclan always had its up and downs
Thudnerclan was supposed to be her home, it was where her family was, it was where she was raised so why did it never feel like it's where she truly belonged. Maybe that was part of the reason Applepaw chose to spend the majority of her time away from the camp, too many siblings and expectations to live up to. Her littermates had an easier time than Applepaw, they might have Peachblossoms blood but they don't share her face not like the apprentice did. Thunderclan looked at her differently, looked for her for orders and leadership like they did her healer mother. Even the other clans looked at her as if she was a monster who didn't follow anyones rules as Peachblossom did. As a kit sure it was great having cats part the way for you, but now she was her own cat, not her mother. She wanted Thunderclan to see her for who she was.
There it was, that feeling that constantly haunted the back of her mind. It was as if the winds themselves demanded her attention, pulling her towards the moors once again. Even during her kithood the winds called to her, Applepaw did her best to ignore them, only giving in once when she had the run in with Sandadder and met the burning passionate soul of Tinyflame. Her paws shaking as she recalled the Windclanners claws striking her down, she wouldn't answer the wind's call, not this time. Hunting would surely take her mind off of everything, closing her eyes, her mouth opened slightly allowing the scents of Thunderclan to flood the roof. What is that! An unfamiliar oddly sweet scent she had never experienced before overpowered the scent of the forest. Distracted, the molly found herself giving into her instinct and following the scent, which led her in the same direction the wind called her from: Windclan.
Thunderclan had always had their issues with Windclan ever since Wolfstar died to the claws of Wildstar after attacking the Thunderclan leader. It was mind boggling to the young feline why she was constantly being summoned to the moors. The closer she inched to the border a warm feeling washed over the molly Tinyflame? Was it the molly watching over the apprentice again. Feeling more confident Applepaw trotted closer to the border, a bright glare from the sun blinding Applepaw upon her arrival. Her eyes shut tightly trying to allow her sight to adjust.
Blinking open her gaze was met with that of another, someone new but somehow oddly familiar. Staring into the strangers gaze the world stood still, silence falling over them you could hear even the slow breathing of a mouse. Standing in their gaze every moment felt like an eternity. Swallowing hard Applepaws lips parted,
“H-Hello…”