The Troubles of an Elder

[Aleen]

Sunlight filtered through the leafy boughs, bring the morning to a close. Sounds of the forest could be heard, all familiar and nothing strange about them, like the chatter of birds, rodents scurrying about on the forest's leaf-carpeted floor, a soft breeze rustling the leaves, and water trickling by in a small stream. All these sounds and many more danced through the air, flowing together like instruments in an orchestra playing a gentle lullaby, and in this way were they welcomed by the ears of an old blue-pelted tom. It was soothing for him as he rested in the elders' den, knowing that forest life was going on as it always did, regardless of the troubles that were growing, shadows that were gathering.... That was the center of the elderly cat's thoughts right now. Somewhere something was happening that meant troubles for the Clans, though he didn't know what it might be. There always was, probably always would be, but so long as the good and honest could over come it, put it at rest for awhile longer, that's all that mattered, wasn't it?

With a sigh, the retired warrior sat up and started to give his back, the color of sapphires at the moment, a grooming. Later, his pelt would change to a shade that better matched his current feelings: stony gray. Old age could be quite depressing. It made those who suffer from it ache in body from limbs over used and in the soul from thoughts of what could've, should have, and would've been. It also brought strange and troubling questions to mind, like the one that was currently tugging at his mind, crying out for attention: should he continue to hold onto life? Most cats would say "no" straight away, thinking that the answer was obvious. A cat as old as Shadowmist, on the other hand, might not be so sure. His Clan was changing. Kits he had known since they were born were now warriors, with their own kits and apprentices, great leaders had come and gone in all the Clans, and few cats really knew who he was anymore, other than a elder with the interesting color changing coat. It might be time to let go of his fragile body and join the ranks of StarClan with his ancestors and friends. Then again, what if he was needed by his Clan? What if StarClan had something in store for him will he was still alive? Until he knew for sure it was his time to go, he would hold on. With another sigh, the ThunderClan elder ended his grooming and sat at the entrance of the den, wishing some cat would come and help him take his mind off the decision he would soon have to make.

[Fawnkit]

Fawnpaw bounded out of the bushes, nearly jumping on th old tom. She had been watching him for a while wondering weather she should go and talk to him of just slink away. But finally she couldn't stand it and jumped out of the bushes.
"Hello! why are you here all alone by yourself?" Usually there would be two elders together or more,not just one, all alone. Fawnpaw-who had always been bold to other cats-sat right in front of the old tom-her paws nearly touching his- and looked up at him with her clear, gentle, emerald stare. " My names Fawnpaw! I just became an apprentice!" The sun made the spot on the top of her tail, seem whiter. " Do you what me to hunt something for you? Like a mouse or vole or rabbit or anything?"As she said this she swung her head around as if looking for anything she mite be able to hunt for the tom.

[Aleen]

The old feline couldn't help smiling at this energetic apprentice he'd often watched, just as he had with ever other cat in ThunderClan. She seemed to always be filled with joy. For her sake, he hoped it would be a long time before the evils of the world affected her. His brilliant green eyes stared down into very similar ones, Shadowmist inhaled deeply.

"No, that's fine. I'm not very hungry right now. Thank you any ways, Fernpaw. What have you learned so far as an apprentice?"

The sapphire pelted tom already knew the answer to his question, with all his observations from the den's entrance, and yet still he had inquired. Long ago he had discovered that above everything else, that was the question so many new apprentices lived for. It gave them a chance to brag without it actually being considered bragging. Moving into a more comfortable position, the retired warrior prepared himself for the usual list of events that always followed the asking of that question, and let a silent thanks be said to StarClan. For at least few moments, they had granted him peace.

[Fawnkit]

"My name is actually Fawnpaw.But thats ok you got it wrong." Fawnpaw said looking up at Shadowmist with her eyes betraying that she was amused. Why she was amused is simple. She looks nothing like Fernpaw, Fernpaw has a very different colored coat from Fawnpaw.

"Sunpelt took me to Owl Tree, and told me to sniff around the base, and then a got awful smelling stuff on my nose and I ran and rubbed it all over Sunpelt. Later she told me it was owl pellets." Fawnpaw stud straiter as she said this, remembering how Sunpelt had reacted. " But we've just been working on jumps, and I'm really, really bad. Sunpelt says I just need practice. Who was your mentor and do you think you can teach how to do a better jump." Fawnpaw added the last hurriedly, eyes looking at Shadowmist that wanted to learn more about this old cat. "You must have seen a lot of battles." And with saying that, she leaped away and then turned to face him, her tail waving and her front paws crouched low to the ground. " Come on Shadowmist! Your not that old yet!"

[Aleen]

The old tom felt slightly embarrassed at his name mix-up, though he didn't let it bother him as he listened to the apprentice with interest. It was nice to hear about normal everyday Clan life. At Fawnpaw's challenge, he gave a little shrug. "Oh, who knows? I may very well be 'that old' by now, Frogpaw." The last word left a teasing twinkle in his eye as he slowly stood. "If you make me jump you'd better be ready to run and get Rippedbelly, or else I might be meeting my mentor again real soon. And let me tell you, he'd probably be laughing his kitty head off when I got to StarClan. But before I do any jumps, let's see yours." He sat down again to watch the lively she-cat as she performed her "really, really bad" jump. Shadowmist had trained his share of apprentices and watched even more, so he knew how to help them with that one thing they were really horrid at. It seemed there always was one thing that they just couldn't get down. Once they got past that, well, it seemed like they could do anything and apprenticeship zoomed by. In a blink of an eye they had all become elders, complaining about ticks while the new apprentices dug them out. The blue pelted feline had to hold back a laugh at the thought of Fawnpaw here becoming a grumpy old elder. It seemed so distant right now, and in truth it was. With a shake of his head, Shadowmist turned his mind back to the present.

[Fawnkit]

Fawnpaws shoulders sagged at the thought of jumping. " Shadowmist, be prepared to be rolling all around laughing." Fawnpaw's dull voice had barley any humor in it, not like her normal self. Fawnpaw backed away severally fox lengths away, just encase if she stumbled she wouldn't kill the old tom.
She lowered herself and began to creep forward, slightly rocking haunches back and forth, then she spray forward, her back feet propelling threw the air. Fawnpaw landed with all claws extended then turned looking at Shadowmist, a tiny spark in her beautiful eyes. " Was that good, O.K., excellent, terrible, or you are so bad you will never become a warrior."
Fawnpaw was fervently hoping he would not say the last on. She sat down and began to lick her back, glancing at Shadowmist once in a wile. Wile the sun shone even more brightly than before.

[Aleen]

Shadowmist thought a moment before nodding. "I think that was pretty good. Practice is almost all that you need, like Sunpelt said, but when you practice in camp have sheathed claws, just so it's safer. Try to creep around a bit. It might help a bit if you can get near perfect at balancing while your down like that. Okay?" He smiled warmly at young she-cat, green eyes sparkling. She'd get it down eventually, he was sure of it, and someday she'd be a great warrior of ThunderClan. The ancient tom's smile broadened, if possible, for now he knew the future, and it was a good one. Yes, evil would come, as it always did, but there was still goodness in the hearts of the young, so in the end it would be all right. His Clan needed him no more than any other cat, so he needn't hold onto life any longer than StarClan intended. When they called him he would go, happy and willing. The future was in good paws. That's all Shadowmist needed to know. Now he could end his life happy with the Clan he loved so dearly, free of worry. It too bad that Fawnpaw would never know how much she'd helped the elder before her. But that's the way things are.

[Fawnkit]

"Shadowmist? Who was your mentor? And could you maybe tell me stories of you fighting?" Fawnpaw asked. She sat down and looked at him strait in the eye. She wouldn't make him tell her even though she really wanted to know how was his mentor and learn about the battles he was in. she began to kneed the ground with her paws. She heard something scurry, but she would try to hunt later. "Maybe I could find Sunpelt and she could help me practice jumping while we Hunt!" Fawnpaw thought hopefully. She sheaved and unsheathed her long, thick, and sharp claws.

( sorry it was so short! My mind is totally blank for some weird reason. Aleen, should we have a fox come in, but whatever you do, I rrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyy! REALLY what to know who was shadowmist's mentor( if you have to make some one up) and the fights he's been in!)

[Aleen]

((sorry this reply took so long and I never had the name chosen for a mentor for Shadowmist, so his mentor has never really existed.))

The ancient warrior cocked his head as he looked carefully at the young she-cat. With a slight nod he said, "my mentor was a tom named Longstripe. He joined StarClan quite a long time ago, so I doubt any cat around here remembers him clearly." He paused a moment as he thought of his apprenticeship and other things long passed. A quick blink brought him back to reality and the bouncy feline before him. "And, um, battles? You think I actually fought?" He turned his head slightly to show the long white scar on his cheek a bit better. "Well, I suppose that's true. They were like most battles. Long, vicious tests of our clan loyalty as we gave it all we had. The cut on my cheek was my worst injury, and it really wasn't that bad after it stopped bleeding. Gave the other cat a pretty good souvenir too in that one.

"You know, a certain rage fills you as you enter battle. It's a good thing to, because it leaves no room for fear. You might be able to hear the sounds of other cats in fighting each other, but to you all that matters is your immediate opponent. It can be a fight to the death or one that drags on until you are both bleeding and exhausted and wishing that it would just end. And then, once it's over, you go home and lick your wounds, and then everything goes back to normal." He smiled at her warmly. Battles weren't the most pleasant subject, but then again, most things aren't. It didn't really bother the gray tom that much, now that his fighting days were over, like so many other things. In fact, he found it rather comforting to speak of things like that, strangely enough. He was a rather strange old feline, though he didn't know it.

[Fawnkit]

(but you still didn't answer my question about the fox *lifts eyes heaven ward*. just answer and then I'll be satisfied.( I would prefer though if you said "yes" because Sunpelt hasn't been on for a while))

"What did Longstripe look like? Was he a tabby? Was he a good mentor? Was he a good fighter? Was he mean? Was he hard to please?" All the questions just came pouring out from Fawnpaws mouth that she had to shout her mouth to breath, thought she could see more questions exploding in her mind. She took a deep breath to keep the questions from coming out and asked," What was the most memorable battle that you fought?" She sat down, but she was leaning on her front paws, in impatience. Her tail twitched side to side. "Shadowmist?" Fawnpaw asked hesitently. "Can you teach me to jump better so I can surprise Sunpelt that I've gotten better?"

(Sorryeh it is so short I couldn't think of anything! Aaaaarrrrrgggghhh!