story time! -- open to everyone

[Leopardripple]

Leopardripples old brittle bones had been hiding in the back of the den, she watched apprentices come and go, no one noticed her yet still continued to clean her nest. She was still brought food but no one ever stayed or asked for a story. Sighing, the onyx elder sat down with her tail wrapped around her paws as she looked around and narrowed her eyes. She lay her ears to her skull and stood with her bad leg limping to the entrance/exit of the den. The female poked her head out and hissed slightly when the sun blinded her. She quickly shook her head and then looked around for someone ANYONE in the outside of the den.

Sighing, her tail went and hit her underbelly and she shook her head laying down. She decided to wait and see if anyone would walk by. She needed some company it had been moons now sense she heard anyones voice and even longer sense Hawkbreeze died. She was lonely. Blinking her venomous green eyes she growled and tapped her tail annoyed with life. "Maybe I should go visit Moonpool or Koisplash" she mewled.

[Dewpaw]

Dewpaw had never heard about or been too aware of the elders of FireClan. Of course, she was aware of the rank, and how respected and honored elders should be, and she always longed to talk to one, for to even speak to such a knowledgeable and wise cat would be an undoubted honor. However, in kithood and through her days in her early apprenticeship, she had been led to believe, or it seemed it was implied that there were no elders in FireClan anymore. Either that, or it wasn't fitting to visit them or pester. She hadn't paid much attention to the elders den because of these implications, except to curiously peer at it and examine it a bit sometimes, but other times while in camp she hadn't done so. She had seen some curious little hints, though. Sometimes she saw some cats bringing food or materials to make nests to that particular den, which made her curious if there was an inhabitant there. If so, the apprentice hardly wanted to miss an opportunity to perhaps meet and speak with an elder, and dishonor any elders by ignoring their presence in the clan if such a way. That is, if her assumptions were correct, but they had to be, she rarely assumed wrong, in her opinion.

So, the young cat decided to actually investigate this, and at least explore the elder's den a bit, for even if it wasn't the ideal thing to do, her curiosity usually dictated her actions in such matters, unless it was a direct disobedience or breach against commands, and this hardly seemed the case. So, that particular day she headed to the fresh-kill pile, a certain sparkle in her eyes, and her whiskers twitching a bit in anticipation. Dewpaw grabbed a piece of prey from the fresh-kill pile, not intending it for herself for once, hopefully. She slowly approached the rather distanced den in the camp, her tail flicking. As she came closer, she noticed how a figure seemed to peek out for a moment before slowly vanishing back in the shadows of the elders den. She felt excited and fascinated upon glimpsing this, and her breath and steps quickened as she soon reached the den, and was standing right outside of the entrance. She leaned her head down and gently laid the piece of prey she had fetched on a patch of grass beside her, then meowed in a cautious but still slightly loud tone. "Hello?" She guessed there was another cat inside the den, but she also had to be certain about it, and as she meowed, she dipped her head, quite hoping and eager for a response.

[Leopardripple]

Leopardripple had accepted that she was alone. Firelight and Hawkbreeze were dead, Shadowwing was missing, and there were no other cats even close to the age of elderhood. Sighing, she dragged her freshly made bed closer to the front of the den to get more heat. It was getting colder out and she had no one to huddle up with so this was her best chance at warmth. The she-cat flicked her tail from side to side and sat the bed down. She then stretched her old achy bones and sat down wrapping her tail around her legs.

She flicked her ears and sighed as she started to clean her pelt. Kits just don't seem to be interested in elders anymore. she thought to herself. Then her old gray nose twitched and she sniffed. Crouching she started to crawl toward the entrance of her den. She saw a white small figure laying limp there and she raised her hackles and hissed until she realized it was simply a rather large field mouse. She shook her head and relaxed her body as she continued to move forward to grab her dropped off meal.

Leaning forward to swat it to her with her paw she started to reach but then stopped and her venomous green eyes lit up with what seemed to be panic. She stepped back and straightened her posture. It was the voice of a apprentice. Breathing calmly she poked her graying head out to see a gray tabby with eyes that were just full of curiosity. Flicking her tail she stepped out fully and looked down at the smaller female.

"Hello.. have you come to see me? D-Do you even know whom I am?"

[Dewpaw]

Dewpaw's heart leaped when she heard noise in the shadows, and a paw actually reaching out to grab the piece of prey she had brought. So it was true, there was still an elder in FireClan. The revelation was thrilling, and also a bit shocking. She couldn't believe she wasn't aware of it for all this time, and it felt both disrespectful, and it also meant the elder probably didn't get much attention, which also didn't seem right. She watched the figure inside the rather shadowy den, only seeing a pair of glowing green eyes, feeling a bit tense, and her danger instincts being a bit provoked, but there was really no reason for it. She waited both excitedly and curiously, having to restrain these feelings however, for the sake of being calm and poised. The apprentice saw a dark colored cat poke her head out, then soon stepped out fully.

She stepped back a bit accordingly, though her eyes met the other cat's with avid curiosity, yet respect. This was a retired warrior of the Clan, and it was necessary to be respectful to such a cat. She looked up, and listened attentively in response, then was quick to nod. "Yes, I have." She meowed in a mild yet still friendly tone, then paused for a moment at the second question. "You are a respected member of FireClan. It is an honor to meet an elder." She stated, dipping her head, and her eyes still sparkled. It would undoubtedly be best to show the utmost respect first, before pestering with questions. She was better at restraining her curiosity then other more hyper or excitable apprentices she had seen, though she still had plenty of it, as well as a tendency to get fascinated or obsessed at times with something mysterious or puzzling. This was a time when her curiosity had actually paid off, and she hoped to perhaps talk with this elder, as well as perhaps provide some company, hopefully not being annoying in the process.

[Leopardripple]

[ i apologize for the slow replies I am trying hardest to do what i can its been so busy lately ]

Leopardripple flicked her ear and then sat down and nodded. "Good so not everyone has forgotten that we exist. Correct I am a elder, my name is Leopardripple. Who are you?" The onyx she-cat asked as her tail smacked the ground and she yawned her white teeth showing. There was yellow specks on them and some had fallen out due to old age. Her fur was thinning she use to have extremely thick fur. But old age was finally catching up to her. She sighed and stretched her legs out before shaking out the moss and leafs from her fur.

She smiled. "Oh I'm nothing special believe it or not I act like more of a apprentice more than anything else." she stated. "So, I know how apprentices use to be, I am curious if they are today. is there any questions you have for me?" the graying black kitten asked as she tilted her head to the side.

[Dewpaw]

(Oh no, it's completely fine! It's a pleasure to roleplay with you anyways, it's okay if the replies are slow sometimes. I must apologize as well if my replies are ever late either.)

Dewpaw shook her head in confirmation that the elders hadn't been completely forgotten, though she in truth wasn't too sure of the entire truth in the gesture. After all, it had seemed to be that there were no elders in FireClan for a while, and the illusion had been effective. She still felt puzzled about this disrespectful action, and thought that perhaps this situation should be changed. It certainly was an unfair and probably unpleasant one for this elder. She flicked her ears in acknowledgement when the older cat stated her name, then nodded and dipped her head when her own name was requested. "Greetings, Leopardripple, it is a pleasure meeting you. I am Dewpaw." She meowed cordially with a pleasant and bright expression, then also sat down, curling her tail around her paws properly. The apprentice watched Leopardripple's movements with a carefully discreet observation, and also admiration showing in her gaze.

 She was unsure how to react to the next statement of the other cat, for the elder surely still had much more experience and wisdom then a learner in the clan. It was still pleasant to know however that the other she-cat could relate more to apprentice such as herself, and therefore would probably be very nice company, though it was undoubted that the elder would be even if this wasn't so. Dewpaw's eyes lighted again when the other cat asked if she had any questions. She indeed had many questions, but she supposed it would be best to go slowly, and ask questions that weren't in an annoying way. This often didn't work, however, for if she had too many detailed questions in mind, they would soon fade from mind before she could properly think to ask them. "Are there any other elders in FireClan?"

She started by asking this inquisitively, eyes widening slightly at the possibility that perhaps Leopardripple was the only elder in the clan, which was a bit of a lonely thought, and she felt sympathetic for the other one if this was so. "How long have you lived in FireClan? Have you ever met cats from other clans... or been to other clans?" She realized that it was probably enough questions for now, and dipped her head as a signal that she was done speaking for now, and then looked back up to meet the other cat's gaze with her own eager one. She was quite eager and curiously excited about this situation, and also curious to get to know Leopardripple a bit better, instead of just wanting to satisfy some lack of knowledge, for she wondered quite prominently if the black she-cat was lonely.

[Gosling]

Were his ears deceiving him? Goslingpaw was ill for a while, keeping himself away from the rest of his clanmates. 'I really hope that Silverwhisker did not freak out when I never showed up to training, or Snowflurry for not keeping in touch with him.' The himalayan gave out a large sigh,wondering why he did not do those certain things. What if Silverwhisker and/or Snowflurry refused to speak to him from now on?

Anyways, there seemed to be some noise coming from the old den - the elders'. It was strange, for there was usually nothing that the apprentice heard from there, until now. 

So he popped his head in, taking in a nasty odor. Yuck, how did the elders manage to live in here? This was far worse than living in the super active and messy apprentices' den. He saw a young gray apprentice, and the infamous dark elder. Whatever her name was, Goslingpaw could not remember at the moment. Although the two strangers seemed to be in a conversation already, the male slid into the den towards them.

'Greeting, Leopardripple, it is a pleasure meeting you. I am Dewpaw.' So Leopardripple was the name of the elder and Dewpaw his denmate. Boy, was he glad that was clarified. Dewpaw's next words caused him to wonder the same as her - 'Are there any other elders in Fireclan?' By the looks of it, Leopardripple was living her in solitude. Why weren't there other elders around? That was strange. Unless they all passed away already. He stepped back at the idea of death. Leopardipple could be a reaper of death for all he knew due to her crazy history.

Instead of making his presence in the den obvious, the tom stayed near the entrance, keeping his distance from the two. Maybe Leopardripple knew his mother.