-Rhap- Decisions.

[Mothwillow]

It was getting dark but the sun still was shining proudly in the sky, I emerged from the warriors den on delicate paws, they were professionally soundless. I was debating on if I should go on a last minute border sweep, or hunting. I padded towards the fresh kill pile. It was a hole dug in the ground where we kept our food, there were only about four pieces of prey in the pile. However as I looked across the camp I was hit with the realization that I was one of the few warriors still there. 

I should probably do both, I concluded in my head, my thoughtful orbs of heterochromia iridium began to close as I listened to the sound of movement. A cat was nearby. My eyes flipped back open like a switch, my creamy body slithered from the nearly empty pile of prey towards whatever was nearby.

It was behind a bush, my tail which was striped with orange was flicked curiously, my pale orange ears swerved to bush and before I knew it I was pushing my way through the undergrowth to see who this was. As I got closed the sent of Pearlstar began burning my nose. It must just be him. I thought to myself, my brow raised. I was about to turn around but I made the mistake of taking one last step forward, breaking through the bushes, where I found myself literally nose to nose with the leader.

I'd stepped right into him.

[Pearlstar]

Pearlstar had been doing his business behind the bush what the heck man returning from a walk all on his own. He often found that the solitude brought him comfort, and allowed him to clear his thoughts a little better. He recapped all that had happen within the last moon: the clans had begun to rebuild after a huge wipeout, and he had been elected leader. At his age, most cats would be barely apprentices. He was good at what he did, but there was no doubt the majority of the clan questioned on whether or not it was his physical experience they should worry about, but his mental. Pearlstar was only nine moons old, but regardless, he felt old.

The feline's eyes widened in absolute befuddlement as he found himself face-to-face with a cat he could not identify on spot. Blinking several times, he was relieved to find it was Mothwillow. He had been considering making her his successor, though at this point many cats were suitable candidates; they were all older than he. Still, his deputy would have to be somebody who could be a mentor figure that he had never had- not that he needed mentoring, but he would need support. And he wasn't sure that Mothwillow, being the quiet type, however wise she was, was fit for the job. Still, HazeClan in general was a work in progress. He shrugged to himself. He may find himself quite surprised.

He tipped his head, cooling his facial expression to betray none of his worries; he couldn't have any of the clan doubting his capabilities.

"Mothwillow," he greeted, with a tip of his head.

[Mothwillow]

Quickly I recovered myself from the electricity like shock that pulsed through my veins. I stepped back, my pale ginger paw raised to brush my muzzle, where I'd accidentally touched Pearlstar. The tom was young, but I too was at a young stage of my life, I was only older than Pearlstar by four or five moons. I had faint memories of when I was a beatific kit, complaining about the noise Pearlkit made when he first entered this world.

I grinned as I saw the familiar facial expressions of Pearlstar remembering me. He said my name and dipped his head to me, I flicked my tail and lowered my head, my tail tip flickering in greetings.

"It's a nice day for a walk, isn't it, Pearlstar."

I could smell the forest on him, it was obvious he'd been taking a stroll, I had a habit of noticing small details many cats would dismiss. My pretty face glowed as stepped back making room for the leader, should I invite him to hunt, or patrol with me? I wondered... or would he be to tired from his evident walk?

[Pearlstar]

Truth be told, Pearlstar was tired. He had been overexerted from the expectations of his clan- making his journey to get his nine lives, greeting other clans and somehow trying to convince them that even though he was nine moons he could still make a dedicated, successful leader. His favorite of his associates, by far, was Antlerstar, with all her odd quirks.

But he couldn't say no to Mothwillow's request. Perhaps he would be seen as weak- besides, he couldn't remember if he had issued a border patrol that morning. Not that there are nearly enough cats for a whole one, he thought, grimly. The war had wiped out nearly all of the clans.

"It is," he nodded, nearly solemnly. "Let's check the borders. I thought that I had spotted some new markers this morning."

This, of course, was a lie, but he was in no mood for a hunt. And besides, maybe there would be some foreign clanners lazing about.

[Mothwillow]

I smiled at him, kind warmth lit up in my large eyes, I could tell by a simple glance, Pearlstar was tired, I didn't blame him, he was young and in charge of bringing an entire clan back, then again it made sense, this way Pearlstar would have a chance of a long life, considering he got his nine lives as an apprentice.

"You must of read my mind, Pearlstar."

I grinned, a musical chuckle dancing it's way out of my voice box. I flicked my ear in the general direction of the closest border. My gaze was absorbed by the forest, our territory, was a breath taking sight, we were water cats. Out territory was full of puddles and small lakes, streams filled with fish flowed straight through our territory, we even had a water resource outside of our camp. We were a well established clan. 

"I was just about to go on a hunting and border patrol by myself to check up on things.. though I'm glad for company."

I spoke in a soft, angelic tone, my face brightened theatrically as I spoke. Though I'd be running around all day trying my best to keep the borders up to date and marked, I was full on what seemed to be a never ending energy.

[Pearlstar]

"You lead," he continued, trying to swallow a yawn. This was not something Pearlstar would have normally said, but he was ever so weary and really just wanted the day to be over with so he could return to his den to sleep. Complaints would only cause complications, though, so he bitterly nodded as if to confirm his prior statement.

Tail twitching, the tom followed behind Mothwillow, staring at his paws as he walked. He knew every inch of HazeClan's territory. He knew where every root grew, where every puddled welled. So why did he feel like a stranger in his own home? He dragged behind her, putting maybe a foot and a half between the two, and his eyes began to shut on their own. Not that he was falling asleep or anything.

It wasn't long before they came to the ShadeClan border. You begin marking the other side, he ordered, firmly. Maybe there's a place I can take a nap while she's distracted..

[Mothwillow]

He wanted me to lead? Well of course I could do that. I took the lead, my tail held high, twitching every once in a while to communicate the usual patrol orders. I slithered through the territory with no complication, I was an open-minded she-cat with a chaos of thoughts mixing in my head.

I could almost feel myself falling asleep as Pearlstar began to fall into a daze behind me. His vibes were strong and easy to read, a yawn escaped my strong jaws but I kept moving. Once we reached the ShadeClan border I was ordered away, I was sure I could tell Pearlstar's real intentions as I walked away towards the end of the border.

Now that I was in a different location my mind was wandering, and then I spotted it, a bug. A massive body of eight furry legs was etching it's way through the swampy territory. My creamy body rubbed against the border, my sent was covering Pearlstar's last border marking. Now that the main task was done I felt drawn towards this creature.

On steady paws, I managed my way to the crawling.. thing. As I got closer I could make out it was a spider, a large hairy one with oranges and blacks. I touched it's back with the tip of my tail, my eyes were calm pools of amber and sky. 

"How are you?"

I asked the creature, my voice was silky, and smooth... yet there was something behind my voice that indicated more was going on in my head, then just this silly spider. I wasn't crazy, I was just friendless, friendless enough to attempt to converse with a curious spider. 

[Pearlstar]

Pearlstar's ears pricked as he heard Mothwillow speaking to someone. Was she directing her greeting to him? No, that wouldn't make sense. His tail twitched. Maybe there was a cat at the border she was confronting, but when Pearlstar opened his eyes, he was flustered to find there was nothing. Nothing to his knowledge, anyway. She's crazy, he sighed.

Rising to his paws, he trotted over, only to find that there was something. Not a cat. Not even remotely close to the size of a cat. A spider? Pearlstar tilted his head.

"You're talking to a.. spider?"

(Crap post but I didn't know how to reply to that cx)

[Mothwillow]

I'd been staring at the small creature wishing it would speak back to me, I wished for it desperately to be able to talk, cat. I shrugged, i was just about to turn away from the spider when I heard 'You're talking to a spider?'  Well, apparently I was, I joked to myself in my head. I looked up to see Pearlstar and my ears naturally flattened against my head. 

My pretty face was innocent, I raised a brow to the leader, then glanced to the spider. I stayed quiet my tail low and silently drifted towards the border. I wondered what on earth I should say. I paused, hoping to think of a creative outcome.

"Well, Pearlstar, who else am I to converse with?"

Instead of stopping there I went on, changing to an entirely different subject. Well, not entirely, it was about the borders. I'd rather stay professional than have the leader see me as a freak for being.. different. Everyone saw me, as a freak.

"I didn't find any sign of intruders at the border and remarked it, of course."