|
Post by Squirrelbite on Mar 29, 2017 17:07:11 GMT -6
(( Crystalbird im pretty sure i said i'd make a thread for us a while ago buuut i never got around to it so here we go!)) Squirrelpaw padded confidently through TreeClan, her tail held high. She found that she absolutely loved the territory, and if it were up to her, she would never go back to camp. The fern gully was particularly interesting, having a different feeling than the rest of the territory. It was mystical and secluded, and Squirrelpaw enjoyed the solitude, something she had never gotten when she was in camp.
Perhaps Squirrelpaw would be better off as a rogue, she thought. Putting up with other cats was so exhausting, it took all of her willpower not to tear some of her clan-mates ears off.
The only thing keeping her around was ambition. Deep down, in her core, Squirrelpaw wanted to have power. She deserved it, every cat around her was weak and mouse-brained, and they were running TreeClan into the ground when they had the potential to be feared and respected. It wasn't fair. Despite what she'd said, Squirrelpaw couldn't care less about one's origins, she cared about their merit, and keeping her clan safe. By allowing any rogue to join TreeClan, Arrowstar was making them look weak and vulnerable for any cat with bad intentions to destroy them from the inside.
Feeling more confident than ever about her plans, Squirrelpaw continued to explore the deep gully, keeping an eye out for prey. However, something else caught her attention- a familiar scent, one that made Squirrelpaw's lip curl.
"What, are you watching me because you think I'm going to do something bad?" Squirrelpaw called out, her tail twitching slightly.
|
|
|
Post by Crystalbird on Mar 29, 2017 18:20:54 GMT -6
Crystalbird was poking in and around those little nooks and crannies in the Fern Gully. Not easily noticeable places tucked away under branches, and inside logs. Why? She thought it was a great thing to have a strong sense of places to hide and such. She figured it was never a bad thing to know the land as well as you could. Was it paranoia? Maybe a little bit. She'd explored the treetops in the territory well, enjoying the height of the trees, making it easier to avoid wandering cats down below.
She needed to learn the territory aside from way up high, even if being up in the trees like birds was a Treeclan trait. Thus, why she was in more or less the opposite of high in a tree: Down at the bottom of a gully.
Usually she didn't have such a chance to play tricks on other cats... But in a clan there were constant prime pranking targets! Not that pranking others was her reason for being in Treeclan, she wasn't that shallow. Though, she was rather upset with Yellowburr and thought his head was full of rocks and cobwebs... And she wanted to stick his nest inside a large, moldy log she found... She came to Treeclan looking for something. She wasn't sure if she knew it now. Was it company? Or something....? All she knew is that she didn't really want to leave. She'd grown attached to this place and its inhabitants, even if some of them were rather bratty and arrogant in her opinion. Jeez, would it kill them to have some faith...?!
As she had her head stuck looking inside a log, judging its moldiness... She heard someone call out from behind. A rather familiar, bratty someone call out from behind. She sighed, and backed up out of the log. She turned around, and lifted her head to give Squirrelpaw an unimpressed look.
"Watching you?" She tilted her head. "You do realize I just had my head in a log, right? How am I supposed to stalk apprentices from inside a log? I think you'll find your logic is lacking."
|
|
|
Post by Squirrelbite on Mar 31, 2017 18:52:16 GMT -6
Squirrelpaw rolled her eyes at the deputy. How could've TreeClan let itself come to such a state? She had not been alive when Spiderstar, the previous leader, was in charge, but she hadn't heard anything particularly bad about him.. Perhaps that's why he disappeared- He'd seen what was happening, and left before he had to rule over such a sorry excuse for a clan.
"Well, I couldn't see your head from where I am, so I didn't know that's what you were doing." The reddish she-cat said evenly, shrugging. Squirrelpaw was exasperated with Crystalbird, but she was able to calm herself by remembering that soon enough, the current deputy would be gone and Squirrelpaw would be in her place.
Her assumption hadn't been unreasonable- Squirrelpaw had gotten into an argument with the deputy, and why else would she be out here? Sticking your head into a log was a stupid, pointless thing to do.
"What are you doing, looking for bugs?" She asked, flicking an ear. It wasn't hard for her to act civil, erasing any traces of annoyance from her voice, expression, and body language. Though, she was the slightest bit chiding, like a mentor pointing out the obvious to an ignorant apprentice.
|
|
|
Post by Crystalbird on Mar 31, 2017 20:02:05 GMT -6
Crystalbird honestly figured Squirrelpaw thought herself real important. Hah! It wasn't that easy to run a clan. Sure, she wasn't the leader... But she saw enough to be convinced of the difficulty. That was the thing with cats... They were.... Well, cats.
Which meant dealing with a lot of cats. Some like Beechroot, some like Squirrelpaw, and some like Dogfang. All colors of the irritating rainbow of annoying personalities. Well, aside from Beechroot. She hadn't talked to the guy, but she'd seen him around. He seemed infinitely more decent than.... Most cats she was faced with.
"I wasn't even facing you." She pointed out. "Are you telling me you're eyesight is so bad, that I only look like a furry blob to you...?" She questioned. She wondered if she should be hunting if her eyesight was that bad.
Crystalbird could see no signs of Squirrelpaw's nasty attitude, but she knew it was there all the same. The kid might be a phenomenal actor... But she wasn't born yesterday. She was pretty sure the feisty brat hadn't had an abrupt change of heart.
"Not right now, but it's nice to know where they are." She replied casually. She was most certainly going to find centipedes and leave about as many as she could carry, and shove them all into Yellowburr's nest.
|
|
|
Post by Squirrelbite on Mar 31, 2017 20:18:56 GMT -6
Squirrelpaw blinked coolly, not reacting negatively to Crystalbird's immature and petty response. A deputy was supposed to be a role-model, and a positive influence on young cats, not.. whatever it was that TreeClan had. Face to face with this walking disaster, all Squirrelpaw wanted to do was purify her clan as quickly as possible and make sure nothing like this happens again.
If Arrowstar wanted to appoint a rogue as deputy so badly, he could've at least chosen Dogfang, and the fact that he made Crystalbird deputy just showed how absolutely poor his judgement was. He was either completely mouse-brained, or sabotaging TreeClan on purpose.
She didn't respond to the white she-cat's jibe, and acted as if she had never heard it. Arguing over semantics was pointless. "What were you doing, then?" Squirrelpaw licked her chest, which was somewhat ruffled from the exploring she'd been doing.
Crystalbird might be 'clever', but she didn't take her position seriously, and she had no place in TreeClan.
|
|
|
Post by Crystalbird on Mar 31, 2017 20:36:47 GMT -6
Crystalbird honestly wanted to strangle Squirrelpaw. Only a tiny bit. She repressed that urge, however. She was supposed to be better than some bratty kid with far too much salt! Of course, there was the problem where she was barely mature enough to function... And acted even more immature... But she couldn't help it! She needed to blow off steam somewhere, and it was best expressed through pranks and her own salt thrown at others.
.... Honestly, she still wasn't sure why Arrowstar picked her of all cats to be deputy. She wasn't exactly what looked like to be prime deputy or leadership material, since terrifyingly enough... If Arrowstar died, then she'd be leader. Scary thought, huh?
"Looking for good places to hide things." She replied casually. It wasn't wrong, right? She totally wasn't lying. This wasn't unethical or wrong. Definitely not. Anyone who said otherwise would be in for a long argument. A long-winded argument that would never end.
((Little does Squirrel know, that Crys does a fair bit of acting herself huehuehuehuehue She actually acts like the sarcastic prankster mostly being it makes her look unappealing ahahah))
|
|
|
Post by Squirrelbite on Mar 31, 2017 20:56:43 GMT -6
"Oh, okay." Squirrelpaw nodded, as if that were a perfectly acceptable response to hear from a mature, fully grown cat.
It wasn't. What would Crystalbird have to hide, anyways? Of course a former rogue would be drawn to being sneaky and trying to keep things from other cats. The only clan she belonged in was DeathClan, and Squirrelpaw doubted that she would even last a day there.
She flicked her tail. "I was just trying to hunt." Squirrelpaw explained, though it seemed the white deputy didn't care why a new apprentice was out alone in the territory, where she could get lost, hurt, or accidentally cross a border.
It wouldn't help Squirrelpaw to be rude and nasty, even if she disliked Crystalbird, and she found that it was easier to get information from cats when you agreed with them. Like her mentor, Beechroot, where Squirrelpaw had to play the role of a misguided young cat whose heart was in the right place before he actually taught her anything.
|
|
|
Post by Crystalbird on Mar 31, 2017 21:08:07 GMT -6
Crystalbird didn't really believe that Squirrelpaw was fine. Still, she didn't really question it.
She somewhat understood that it seemed somewhat shady, especially with the anti-rogue thoughts flying amongst the rebels. Honestly, the sneaking part was probably only Crystalbird's quirks. Not that she had a copyright claim on stealthiness, but not every loner was like her. She was sure some were far more honest than she was, honestly.
She tilted her head. "Trying? Hm... Would've expected a more confident response from a cat like you." She commented. Squirrelpaw seemed rather prideful, she was surprised by the lack of confidence in the answer, honestly.
She decided to try a bluff. "Alright. So, I know you're on the side of the rebels. Their rhetoric fits in with your line of thinking." She stated bluntly. "I'd prefer if you were straight with me." She didn't actually have any definitive proof or claims from Squirrelpaw. She only knew that it was a strong possibility, considering Squirrelpaw's past words and actions.
|
|
|
Post by Squirrelbite on Mar 31, 2017 21:43:38 GMT -6
"Well, I was just made an apprentice yesterday. I'm being realistic." Truly, Crystalbird didn't understand Squirrelpaw's personality, but that was fine with her. She didn't want the deputy to know her, she didn't deserve to. And if it meant that Crystalbird was kept on her toes, that was even better.
She blinked in surprise upon hearing the white she-cat's bold accusation, a mystified expression forming on her face. "What makes you think that?" She tilted her head to the side, her long, thin tail waving slightly.
"Is it from when I spoke up against Fallenpaw? Or when I accused you of not properly taking after your clan?" Squirrelpaw asked, watching Crystalbird carefully and judging her reaction. "I don't think it's very reasonable to make an assumption like that. Of course I disagreed with Fallenpaw, she was being mouse-brained, but that doesn't mean I disagree with every cat on the loyalist side. And as for the ceremonies.. Well, it hurt that you were too busy to do mine, but you could make an appearance at Bumblepaw's, just because he's special."
The look in her eyes had changed, to something unreadable. "For your information, you're wrong. I'm not one of those cats who think that only pure-bloods belong in TreeClan."
|
|
|
Post by Crystalbird on Apr 1, 2017 12:27:28 GMT -6
Crystalbird tilted her head and simply shrugged. "Eh. I suppose." She replied. Squirrelpaw wasn't an enigma. She really wasn't. She was a pain in the neck that tried to be cryptic, but ultimately slipped up a lot. She really did. If she really didn't want to make herself out as a threat, she wouldn't have done a lot of things that she did.
She waited for Squirrelpaw to rant on and on and finish. Clearly, she was trying to make Crystalbird feel like an idiot for accusing an apprentice like that. She tilted her head. Squirrelpaw had an odd talent in making her expression relatively blank... But the white-furred deputy tended to take in all of a cat, not just the face. Including history and past actions.
"You sound awfully calm for a cat whose just been accused of being on the opposite of the divide from the clan's leadership." Crystalbird remarked. "There's the guilt trip laced words you just spouted at me." She added. "Also, you mentioned Needleclaw. Just makes you seem the slightest bit... Less than happy with Arrowstar's decisions." She concluded.
She shrugged. "You could be lying. Or you could be telling the truth. You're making it rather difficult for me to trust your word. You clearly don't trust me to do my job, so why should I trust you to be honest with me?" She asked, tilting her head.
((omfg I think Squirrelpaw is well written but I just want to S T R A N G L E H E R she's just making everything super hard oml))
|
|
|
Post by Squirrelbite on Apr 1, 2017 12:55:12 GMT -6
((to be honest, i'm keeping a lot of squirrel's background and feelings under the rug bc i want it to be secret and i want cats to misjudge her.. though crystals doing a p good job by being suspicious of her.)) Squirrelpaw was getting bored of this. Crystalbird was an annoying, boring, and pointless cat, and all Squirrelpaw wanted was to be rid of the waste of space. She did not have the attitude of a clan cat, much less a deputy, and it was just.. very, very mouse-brained.
"All you did was accuse me, and it wasn't really surprising. You clearly don't like me, and it seems like all you're doing is focusing on my flaws." The Abyssinian she-cat stated calmly, her gold eyes glimmering. If Crystalbird had taken a different approach, instead of being callous and pretentious, then perhaps Squirrelpaw would have gained some respect for her. But no. "I know who I am, and what I stand for. Your false accusations won't change that."
She flicked her ear. "Yes, I like Needleclaw. I think that he's a smart cat, and a good warrior, and I am a bit unhappy with how Arrowstar has been doing things. I think that rogues should be allowed into TreeClan, but not so freely, as it potentially puts us in danger of sabotage. Is that so wrong?"
Squirrelpaw continued, her voice smooth and steady. "I like Needleclaw, but I also like Beechroot. I like to judge cats based off of their personality, not their birth or alignment."
((lol she's definitely evil tho))
|
|
|
Post by Crystalbird on Apr 1, 2017 15:06:14 GMT -6
((Mmmmm I see. I'm not that good that keeping secrets lol. Ahhhhh I see. Well Crys is kind of not the best person in general.... She's got a good heart but her suspicious and paranoid mindset probably makes problems and stuff.))
Crystalbird watched Squirrelpaw in silence for a moment before shrugging. "Okay, I believe you." She said suddenly, apparently having a complete change of heart. "I'm not that stupid to keep pressing you. I mean, you're just an apprentice. You're probably not hiding nearly your every thought and emotion from everyone around you." She said casually.
At the very least, Squirrelpaw had admitted to being a rebel sympathizer. She was willing to guess that she was on the rebel side, but alas... There wasn't much proof. But the white-furred deputy imagined the apprentice would have to reveal her true colors sooner or later, if she was a rebel. She'd do something against the loyalists sooner or later, and there would be no more room for lies or denial.
Crystalbird was dead set on trusting her paranoia.
"Well, you haven't shown me much of your apparent virtues." She remarked. "You've expressed dislike at how I do my job. From what I see, you're spirited and unafraid to state your opinions. I don't think that's bad." She shrugged. "You were right about not doing your ceremonies earlier. That's why I did them." She was admittedly annoyed that Arrowstar didn't do them himself, since it clearly would've had a more positive impact if he did them. And on time.
But it didn't pan out that way, so now the rebels have more reasons to not want to try and work with Arrowstar.
|
|
|
Post by Squirrelbite on Apr 1, 2017 15:34:37 GMT -6
Squirrelpaw nodded, her tail still twitching back and forth. At least Crystalbird was being slightly more reasonable, even if she was still very annoying. That was to be expected, though- a tiger can't change its stripes, and a lazy deputy can't change its nature.
"I am just an apprentice. I'm still growing and learning, and these experiences are shaping what kind of cat I'm going to be." Squirrelpaw said, more than self aware of her position. "What do you expect, when I've grown up with a leader who can't be bothered to do ceremonies, and a deputy that thinks I'm a rebel, just because I disagree with how some things are being done?"
She narrowed her eyes, a frown planted on her face. "I do have virtues, thank you very much. I've shown that I actually care about the state of this clan, and that I'm willing to listen to multiple sides of an argument." Crystalbird could've seen that on her own, but Squirrelpaw believed that she chose not to because the apprentice had been honest with her.
|
|
|
Post by Crystalbird on Apr 1, 2017 15:46:16 GMT -6
Crystalbird blinked slowly, her actual expression not changing in the slightest. She actually had a life of experience to learn how to do such things, like hide her emotions behind false masks. Heck, she still did that. She was doing it right now. She hadn't felt comfortable enough to show a large aspect of her personality to anyone in Treeclan.
Then she tilted her head. "You do realize mistakes are a thing, right? And they exist?" She asked for clarification. "I suppose I've been a bit close minded. But... You've been working off of data that barely exists to form your opinions. I think you should hold off on judgement, if that's how you believe I should behave." She smiled slightly, though it came off a bit condescending. She had a bad habit of giving off the impression she was a real fox-heart. "You know, to avoid hypocrisy and all that fun stuff."
She rolled her eyes. "Every cat has flaws and virtues. Oh, and my advice? Try to reword the things you say if you're trying not to be antagonistic." She chuckled. "I could've sworn you just implied that I don't care about Treeclan. Almost like you don't think that someone like me with my background could care for this clan properly. Careful, there."
|
|
|
Post by Squirrelbite on Apr 1, 2017 16:04:26 GMT -6
"How is that a mistake? Did you and Arrowstar just forget about my existence?" Squirrelpaw's lip curled. "Typical." She did not elaborate, leaving Crystalbird to decide on her own what that comment meant, whether she was talking about the deputy, or herself.
She let out a sigh, her the tip of her tail touching the ground, looking somewhat dejected. "Honestly, it feels like you don't care about me, or anyone who doesn't agree with you. You're mean, sarcastic, and snippy, and don't tell me that I'm the same way. You're a fully grown cat, and the deputy. You're supposed to help cats, and lead them, and be a role-model. Why are you even in TreeClan, Crystalbird?"
Squirrelpaw narrowed her eyes, waiting for the white she-cat to deflect her comment somehow.
((im getting so lazy ;A;))
|
|