Stormy goodness (p)

[Brackenpaw]

For @knot only please

The black and brown tom was already beginning to feel the affects of training. His limbs were stiff and he was feeling more tired than usual. He was just hoping that it would get better as he got older and more use to the whole concept of training and waking up early and working hard. Bracken lay in his nest, looking out the den, watching the sky grow dark. It was still about noon, but it felt like moon high. He could sense that a storm was approaching. It didn't phase him, because he really didn't think all that lightning and thunder was all that scary. It actually soothed him. He slowly closed his eyes as the rain slowly began to patter on the ground and thunder rumbled in the distance. 

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Knotpaw had woken up that day for training. It had been fun, but as the day progressed he grew more and more worried about the sky that was growing progressively darker. His training had been cut short right before it had rained. Knotpaw had sprinted back to camp and had just entered camp when the first drops began to fall. The apprentices' den was too far away to get to in time so Knotpaw took to hiding in the shadow of an overhand jutting out from the rock. His knotted fur was puffed up as much as it could and his eyes were darting all over the camp.

So maybe Knotpaw was overreacting a bit, but his biggest fear was water and now there was water coming from the sky. He had the right to overreact. Then thunder began to sound in the distance and he nearly jumped out of his fur. He pressed himself closer to the rock in an attempt to further himself from the rain. At least the rock was out of the way, because if anybody saw this sad display he'd be pretty embarrassed. Nobody knew he was scared of water.

[Brackenpaw]

The sky grew darker and the rain began to fall rather quickly. Brackenpaw watched with interest when he saw a cat dart from the entrance of the camp towards a rock. He tilted his head and watched to see if this cat would make an attempt to get into one of the dens. This cat didn't seem much older than an apprentice. Perhaps he should go see what was up. 


Bracken got to his paws and walked out of the den, ignoring the moss that clung to his fur and the rain that splattered all over his body. He quickly walked over to the rock and looked around before looking under the overhang to find none other than Knotpaw. He had met the tom the other day at their ceremony. But why was he here under the rock? The den was a distances of only 10 tail lengths from where they both sat right now. Knotpaw?

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Knotpaw was still pushed tight against the rock wall when he heard his name. He turned his head quickly to see who had seen him. The cat had become an apprentice at the same time that Knotpaw had and they had talked for a short time. He tried to look nonchalant, but every time he got closer to the rain his fur would puff up a little more and he'd push himself flatter against the rock face. He didn't want to appear weak, but he didn't want to touch the water even more.

"Um, hi, B-Brackenpaw." Knotpaw stuttered. The other cat was wet and thus made Knotpaw assume that he had been out in the rain. He felt his ears burning with embarrassment. If the other cat wasn't afraid of water then he probably wouldn't get why Knotpaw was so terrified. Thunder rumbled in the distance again and Knotpaw felt a shudder run along his spine. "Wh-what's up?" He asked the other tom, trying to act like he wasn't scared out of his wits.

[Brackenpaw]

His ears flicked as thunder rumbled again. He looked curiously at the other tom and sat down. Bracken watched Knotpaw push himself against the rock. Gazing out at the rain, he looked back at Knotpaw. He tilted his head once more and tried to figure out what he seemed to be frightened about. Bracken stood and moved closer. His fur felt heavy with water, so he shook himself dry, a few drops landing on the other tom. Oh... Ah sorry. He laughed. Are you okay? Why are you hiding out under this rock? It would be so much better in the den. I mean... His voice drifted off as he looked at Knotpaw with a curious blue gaze.

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The other tom got a little closer more out of the rain, but his pelt was still wet and Brackenpaw took to shaking them out as the best method to dry. When the water hit Knotpaw he yelped and scrambled back a bit before he was hit with a few drops of rain and scrambled back closer to Brackenpaw. He decided he could bare being close to a wet cat if it meant not having to be wet himself. Knotpaw was vaguely aware of the other apprentice's apology and then that he kept talking, but Knotpaw couldn't bring himself to really listen.

Knotpaw finally looked at Brackenpaw. "I'm n-not a big fan of r-rain." He managed to get out. The more accurate version of what he said would be that he was terrified of every form of water, but right now that didn't seem like the best idea. He still wanted to hold his peer's respect, whatever that meant, To Knotpaw that meant appearing brave and he was brave for the most part, just when water came into the picture he lost all ideas of being brave.

[Brackenpaw]

*Sorry it took so long. I've gotten busy and every time i could get on it was very brief.*
Brackenpaw tilted his head once more before watching the other tom retreat when he was hit by the water droplets. Something lit up in his head and he was about to say something when Knotpaw just told him what was wrong. He was scared of water! Now he understood. Why didn't he notice sooner? Ah well, he should probably help him out right? Yeah. That was the nice thing to do.

Hey Knotpaw. It doesn't look like the rain is going to let up anytime soon. And I understand that even just the thought of rain frightens you, but we should get to cover. I mean better cover than this. He meowed slowly. Unless of course you are fine here, in which case we can stay here. Brackenpaw blurted out quickly, trying not to make it seem like he was forcing Knotpaw to make a decision. He watched the rain begin to beat harder on the ground. It was amazing the sheer power of rain. It sorta fascinated him. But if Knotpaw didn't like it, he wouldn't force him to do anything. He gave his new friend an understanding, soft gaze and let a soft purr rumble in his throat, trying to sooth the tom.

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Knotpaw really should have run faster. If he had been faster than he could have been in the den right now instead of hiding under a rock with another apprentice he hardly knew. Brackenpaw started talking about how the rain wasn't going to stop and that they should probably get a better cover. Knotpaw looked up at the rain clouds that now completely blocked out the sky and then looked down at the puddles that were slowly growing bigger and closer to his dry place. He wouldn't be dry here for long if he didn't move, but moving anywhere meant getting wet.

"U-Um I think I would like to move, b-but it's raining really hard and I really really hate th-the rain." Knotpaw was trying to buy time in hopes that Cloudclan would just open a path without rain for him. He doubted it would actually happen, but wishing never hurt anybody. The Apprentices' den was probably the best place for him to go since it was so close, but even the small distance was freaking Knotpaw out. His ears were laying flat against his head as he tried to think of a solution.

[Brackenpaw]

Brackenpaw watched as the storm seemed to continue to get worse. It didn't look like it was going to let up anytime within that day. And every instinct in his body told him to move to a better sheltered area. Being under that rock didn't make him feel very safe, let alone dry. He maneuvered himself around Knotpaw and looked around the rock to see if he could find a path to get Knotpaw back to the apprentices den white staying dry. He turned his head and opened his mouth. I will be right back, I promise. He said with a smile before disappearing around the rock. 

He walked back and forth, testing possible routes. He had found one that looked promising, though it would still require Knotpaw to get slightly wet. But if he wanted to get to the apprentices den, then it would have to do. On his way back to the rock, he grabbed a fairly large leaf and carried it back with him. Brackenpaw came back into Knotpaw's sight and flicked his head to the side. He placed the leaf on the ground, Come on Knotpaw. I found a way to get you to the den. It's just this way. I can try and sheild you from the rain with this leaf and my body. I can't promise that you won't get wet, but I can promise that it won't hurt you. I'll be right there with you. He mewed softly, encouragingly, and picked up the leaf. He lifted his head high and watched Knotpaw with a gentle gaze. 

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Knotpaw was about ready to scream out of pure frustration. He had been stupid to hide under an overhang of some rock. It was his fault that he was stuck here now. At least Brackenpaw was there to help. If he had been alone then it was very possible that he would have already had some mental break. Why did it have to rain? Then Brackenpaw began moving and said something about being right back. Knotpaw watched as the other cat disappeared around the rock. He was left alone to look out at the falling water. If he ignored his fear he had to admit that it was fairly pretty, but with his insane fear of water added to the idea of it falling from the sky, he didn't want to think of the aesthetics of it all.

Once Brackenpaw was back Knotpaw nearly leapt out of his fur. The other tom had brought back a leaf and had apparently found a route for them to go. 'I can't promise that you won't get wet, but I can promise that it won't hurt you.' Those words were both terrifying and calming to Knotpaw. In the back of his mind he knew that water wouldn't hurt him, especially in not such a small amount, but the idea of getting wet, even a little bit, was worrying. The idea of Brackenpaw being there beside him made it better though. The other tom was nice and seemed genuine. Knotpaw decided that trusting him wouldn't mean death. "Okay. Let's do it." He muttered, trying to draw strength from somewhere inside him.