let's do some cleanin cleanin cleanin [#3]

[Deleted]

[@saphire]

Talonpaw's slim body entered the Medicine Cats' den, her gooseberry eyes flickering uncertainly. Flicking her long tail, the speedy she-cat sighed and set to work sniffing out the dead herbs and sweeping them outside of the den. The apprentice picked up the scattered moss used for water and stacked them neatly. At this point, she had been cleaning for awhile now. With another yawn, Talonpaw swept out the dead grass on the floor.

She was tired since she hadn't slept much the night before, having had a nightmare about DeathClan. Stretching her claws, the she-cat muttered something under her breath before ripping apart the old nests and replacing them with more nests.

(lazy)

[Forestbreak]

Forestbreak opened her eyes at the sound of withered, dry herbs brushing against the floor. Who was in her den? She was about to angrily leap up and confront them when she realized it was merely the rogue child she had tended to moons before. What was her name, again? Jade? In any case, the medicine cat's fur smoothed, and she stood up slowly.

"Hello, dear," she said quietly. "How are you? Thank you for helping clean out the den; I'm often too tired to do it myself," she chuckled. "How is apprentice life going for you?"

[Deleted]

Talonpaw's heart nearly leaped out of her throat when Forestbreak's voice broke her rhythm of cleaning out the den of old herbs and dead grasses.

" Hello, Forestbreak, " Talonpaw answered quietly. " I've been fine, actually. Oh, thanks Forestbreak. " Her voice changed into a warm purr.

" It's really good. Vaporcloud's a great mentor and I absolutely love training and being an apprentice in general. Cleaning out dens isn't so bad. It's all about getting a good rhythm and soothing the mind. " Talonpaw babbled cheerfully. " I'm going to get my assessment soon. I have yet to make more friends though. Ooops, my bad. I'm babbling as usual. " Talonpaw's facial fur burned in embarrassment.

" Sorry, Forestbreak. " Talon meowed apologetically.

[Forestbreak]

She nodded. "Vaporcloud's very nice. She's a friend of mine. You're lucky to have her as a mentor," Forestbreak commented. "I'm glad you enjoy training and aren't taking it for granted. Many apprentices your age do," the medicine cat said quietly, a wry smile on her face. "No, I don't mind rambling. It's nice to have somebody to talk to who isn't a kit that needs a thorn out of their pad," she laughed.

"Sorry I startled you, by the way. Didn't mean to do that." A laugh bubbled from her throat. "Anyhow, I do appreciate you coming in and cleaning."

[Deleted]

" Yeah. I really like Vapor. She's really cool. " Talonpaw repeated with a soft voice. " Hahaha, I've noticed. Some apprentices are too lazy to even clean a den. It's alright to startle me, I needed a little wake up. And cleaning is no problem. " The apprentice purred fondly.

Then Talonpaw's eyes clouded with both sadness and wistfulness. " Sometimes.. I miss my old home, and I always want to go back. But then I realize not only was I beaten out of DeathClan, I was .. exiled. " she choked out the last word in a quiet voice. " I always miss DeathClan when I feel like I need them most. "

[Forestbreak]

Forestbreak nodded. "She is... cool," she said slowly. The medicine cat wasn't very familiar with slang. "Yes, I haven't had a den cleaning in ages, and yet apprentices are becoming warriors willy-nilly. Either I'm a very unpopular den, or cats are skimping on their cleaning." She laughed quietly. "Well, thanks."

As Talonpaw spoke of her own home, her eyes quickly grew soft. "I'm sorry. I was born and raised in FireClan, so I have no idea what it's like to be born in one place and live in another. And, I hope you don't mind me asking this, but why were you exiled?" the she-cat asked, tilting her head. "Whoever would exile a cat as young as you were, and in such a cruel manner, doesn't deserve you in their excuse for a Clan." Her voice was bitter.

[Deleted]

Talonpaw purred fondly at the medicine cat, and the apprentice twitched her tail idly as she thought of the past with a sad mind. " I was ... exiled.. " she began. " because I stood up for RockClan after a raid on them. I felt really sorry for the raid, and I spoke up at the victory meeting. I told them that raiding was wrong, and I suggested we become more acquainted as a group. "

Talonpaw cringed at the memory. " I was forced away from the meeting when Badger attempted to attack me. I had to go with my instincts, so I dodged the attack. Although I was a kit, I was raised in a cruel manner. I was terrified to be attacked by more vicious, older cats. I ran, hoping to come across one of the clans. However, I was intercepted by a former ally who chased me up a tree and attacked me. I was only so little... and I was stupid. He broke my leg by pushing me off a branch. And as soon I was on the ground he attacked me viciously, scratching me everywhere. " Talonpaw's eyes were glazed over, recalling the events that happened.

" I lost consciousness. The next thing I knew, I was being shoved roughly beneath Badger, his eyes glittering with malice. I felt something in me start to crumble. I think it was my sanity. The older cat scratched my shoulder, and he tossed me off the rock. I remember I had looked up at him with tears in my eyes, then nothing afterwords. Next thing I knew, I was looking at you. " she murmured sadly.

[Forestbreak]

"That's a ridiculous reason to exile a kit," Forestbreak scoffed. "Of course you felt sorry for the cats raided. You have emotions. You feel pity. Any of those cats who didn't are imbeciles."

She sighed. "I don't know who this Badger is, but surely he knows never to attack a cat so young. What a cruel way to end up somewhere." The medicine cat nudged Talonpaw's shoulder. "You will be cared for here. We have nothing against outsiders in FireClan. There are plenty. My own brother was born a rogue,' she purred, smiling softly.

"I'm glad I was there to get you fixed up, then," she commented, smirking.