Sin's Desire (Private-Iva)

[Kovu]

A pretty she-cat scenting of the marshy earth was curled up into a tight little ball of depression one lazy evening after the snake had been destroyed. She felt useless. Friendless. And hopeless. Lynxstep had rejected her...The one Tom she truly cared about and had feelings for...Her heart had been shoved aside because of technicalities...Sootpaw didn't feel related to Lynxstep at all...She never had and she never will. Though not one to cry, Sootpaw lay there in her ball and sighed; looking out into the four areas of land around the Gathering Place. The Hollow Lake. Peace for all four clans was held in this one truly remarkable place. How StarClan managed to discover peace for the clans in This one exact place, Sootpaw would never know. Always was she awed by this place and had yet to actually attend a Gathering. She was too young though...that seemed to be the answer to everything now, however and she sighed again.

Before her eyes looked straight across at ReedClan territory. Since they didn't share borders, Sootpaw had been wildly fascinated and intrigued by the fourth Clan of the Lake...What wonders were out there in the reeds? What kind of cats?

[tunnel]

It was another, hard worked day. The apprentice had trained, caught prey, trained, then caught yet more pray.. Yet, when arriving at the camp, exhausted, the only acknowledgement of his efforts was his unamused father wondering why he was back so soon. Shiningpaw couldn’t even bark a reason back at him; he simply had turned around and slipped from the camp without a word.

It was useless to try and point out his hard work- it wouldn’t be enough for Storm, or, as he went by now, Stormcloud. Prove yourself, he would always say- prove yourself worthy of the clan that accepted your sorry hide. Surely he could do that and act like a normal apprentice, not a perfect cat- working machine? He was so unreasonable!

He briefly wondered if Stormcloud would follow him to try and talk.. Probably not. He was probably too busy talking to some other warriors or Ashpaw, his little brother. Why did Ashpaw get it so easy..? Ever since he had lost his tail, the grey tom had always been nicer to him.

Shiningpaw didn’t realize it, but he had walked quite far in his attempt to escape his troubles. All the way to the neutral lands. Out of Reedclan territory... Should he stop? These were neutral lands, but his father would probably holler at him for leaving anyway. Never mind Tricklestar, if she had a problem with it.

He almost turned around at this thought, picturing his father not just unamused with him, but angry. However, he caught a scent on the breeze- one that made his hair stand up. Another cat? Not like his and his siblings foreign scent, or even that of the Reedclan cats he was beginning to recognize- something different.

It was then when he noticed the she-cat, sitting near the lake. He barely saw her, be he himself must’ve been long obvious; near-white fur shimmering in any amount of light, almost like an apparition slipping into the bushes from the great beyond and back into the world of the living.

What to do? He was frozen for a moment, large green eyes focused on her. Eventually, perhaps without a lot of logical thought, he took a few places forward and neared the other cat. He had been told of the Warrior Code and all that jazz, and how it was inappropriate to go bouncing toward cats of other clans..But, this was the Neutral lands, wasn’t it? How could it hurt?

“H-hi..I’m Shiningpaw..” Okay, so, now he either got mauled, or it went as good as he hoped it would. She didn’t seem vicious..But looks could be deceiving. He had learned that from Stormcloud.

[Kovu]

She had turned around abruptly and had stopped wondering about ReedClan when her mind fly to the second reason why Lynxstep had refused her...Of two different Clans...It was forbidden. But could she choose who she loved? And Sootpaw thought, no, knew that she was in love with the StormClan cat...even I it was wrong in the eyes of every cat out there; she winced; even Lynxstep's eyes. Sootpaw fell over in a slump and a sigh. Maybe she should just stop loving him...

The MarshClan she-cat was suddenly yanked out of her hugely distracting thoughts by a tomcat introducing himself. She fluffed up and whirled around to face him and gasped in surprise. She had expected to see a cat she knew, perhaps, or at least someone from her Clan. But she puffed up in surprise to see this Tom...a ghostly white apparition..."Are you from StarClan, Shiningpaw...?" her father's pretty blue eyes shone and were dazzled by the 'glowing' tomcat and widened in awe. She had never seen him before so it was an understandable question...

[tunnel]

Shiningpaw was startled by the sudden motion, stepping back slightly and puffing up himself, though, his shiny tipped fur didn’t have much length to puff up with. He was expecting a hiss, but there still wasn’t any aggression- only surprise. So he steadied himself, green eyes wide at the question.

From Starclan? Starclan where the dead cats long passed, who watched over the forest. He sertaintly wasn’t one; he was very much alive, and very much new. If not exactly in age, even though he was only a few moons, than in experience as a clan cat. He tried to smile a bit, but still remained a little confused. When he spoke, there was no ancient wiseness of Starclan in his voice- only a slightly foreign meow, which was very much still of this earth. He didn’t notice how his pelt shown oddly; most of the cats he had grown up with had shown in the similar way.

“No, I’m from he- Reedclan… - Is everything okay..?” In her bright blue eyes, he thought he had seen something- before now, when she was flopped there apparently without noticing him. He was obviously a social expert, so, before he had even properly met this cat and actually introduced himself he was caught up in the aura of sadness. He was bad at this kind of thing.

He shook his head slightly, and let his tail loosen up. It really wasn’t his business. It wasn’t..But he couldn’t help but remember his own frustrations and sadness. He could say he had never quite met a cat who seemed to be troubled, as well.. Ash was sad, but Ash was dense. And his father was just downright mean.

[Kovu]

Ans he shocked her again. With his question of concern. He didnt even know her name and already she could tell he was a caring cat...Like Lynxstep. No. She had to stop thinking about him. She took a shaky breath and mewed lightly, her voice pure and kind, "A ReedClan cat...Wow...I was just wondering if I would ever have the priveledge of meeting one and here you showed up, as if my thoughts could conjure up cats!" she laughed softly. Yeah, right.

She had pointedly ignored his concern until now when she gave a small shake of her head, "Nah, I'm fine. Tom troubles," she winked, "You know?" another giggle. Then she realized that the tom still didnt know her name or her whereabouts, "Oh! I'm Sootpaw, and I live in MarshClan." she smiled as she showed him one of her webbed paws from walking all along the wetness of her territory.

Her blue eyes glowed in a friendly manner though she knew she shouldnt be with an enemy cat; but surely he
knew not to attack in neutral lands as did she? It appeared that way; though he just looked a little stiff. "Say, you talk kind of differently than I do...Do all ReedClans have thay accent? I hear they take in cats from all over the place! Are you from somewhere outside of ReedClan?" she wondered, mystified once again by this most amazing creature.

[tunnel]

He smiled at her friendliness, giggling slightly at her idea of suddenly conjuring up cats. “I was just going for walk.. Cool timing, though.” To get away from my father, he almost added, but it wasn’t necessary to tell a cat he didn’t even know the name of yet. Apparently, the reason for her sadness was tom troubles. He had to blink a little strangely at that. No, he uh.. didn’t know about those, exactly.
He nodded slightly at her name, tail flicking in greeting.

Sootpaw of Marshclan. That was..The clan nearest the
Marshes? Once..Cragclan? He tried to recall what he had been told and taught. Yes, that was the one. He had heard them to be especially nasty..Of course, that was just the opinions of various cats in the clan, not an actual word. He assumed that meant they weren’t like some kind of tribe-cat that liked feeding kits two eagles as sacrifice or something like that- just the regular chit-chat that came when groups formed against each other. Clans, rogue cat gangs, alley cats, house cats, combinations of them all- it was all the same. Everyone thought the other was evil. In truth, neither usually was- it just depended on one’s position and their point of viewing.

“Nice to meet you, Sootpaw.” He smiled again, mentally realizing this worked to prove his theory. She didn’t seem to be trying to maul him, after all. The next question made him think a minute. Talk a little different? He had noticed that, too, but about the Reedclan cats. So, he assumed that they too thought he sounded a little strange- not just a Marshclan cat. He knew how to respond- then thought it over. Being a cat from an ‘enemy’ clan was one thing. Being a cat accepted into an enemy clan from another lifestyle all together was completely different.

Finally, with slight awkwardness, he settled on the truth. He hoped he wouldn’t get a good reaction- but, alas, better now than later, right? “Yeah..Me and my Father and Brother were kittypets.. We used to move around alot with them, but now we're with Reedclan.." Now came the reaction; he braced himself slightly.

[Kovu]

It was indeed good timing. They had managed to meet each other in their good timing and Sootpaw was pleased. Though he didnt seem to know about tom troubles; she figured him to be a newcomer to romance. Ah well. He was smart that way and Sootpaw knew she should have waited...Anyhow, now the tom looked perplex; as if he was figuring her and her clan out. He must be very new to ReedClan indeed...Though his scent was wild and mysterious, it also smelled quite tame and herby almost...Something calming was attracted to his pelt.

Ah! He was a traveller! Her eyes widened slightly. A kittypet? Oh, well, she didnt mind that really. Friends were just friends in the long run; no matter where they came from. Poor thing; he looked worried. Oh, but he neednt be! Sootpaw began to purr softly, her eyes on him and head tilted somewhat barely on one side. She oughtto make him relax, "We have a medicine cat who used to be a kittypet." she blinked, a soft reassuring smile on her face, "There's also Tricklestar. She was born one and look at her now!~"

[tunnel]

He waited in tenseness for a moment, but quickly relaxed; tail giving a greatful swish as his kittypet blood didn’t get him hated. She didn’t seem to mind..Which was good. He didn’t understand why everyone had to dislike everyone else, just because they came from different places. Of course, that was his opinion- he had moved two houses already, and he was barely apprentice aged!

It was his turn to be amazed; his own eyes widening like bright green moons. “Tricklestar was a kittypet?” This idea mystified him- he really hadn’t talked with the leader, apart from the joining and learning thing, and even that had most likely been in the paws of his father over himself.

Tricklestar a kittypet once? It was an amazing idea! Maybe he would fit in, some day- even if his doubt wasn’t that great to begin with. Actually, it had gone down over the days- damned father, making him paranoid. He felt a bit better now. He could even feel himself purring.

He purred at this reassurance, and then at his new found friend. Hetook a few pawsteps nearer, and set himself down; bright gaze sweeping over the area then back to Sootpaw. “It’s a very nice here. This is the gathering area, isn’t it? I wonder what it looks like full of cats..” Mystifying, he thought, maybe a little scary.

[Kovu]

Sootpaw nodded enthusiastically, "That's right! So if even a kittypet can join the ranks of top cat, then you have a good chance of succeeding as well, Shiningpaw." she smiled helpfully, glad she was able to cheer her new friend up a bit. When he moved closer and sat down, she gave her chest a couple of thoughtful licks and purred after hearing his purr; noticing that their purrs melded together rhythmically, "I think so, but I've never been to a Gathering yet. I just became an apprentice about a moon ago. But it won't be long; maybe we'll see each other at the next one!" her blue eyes lit up in excitement at the prospect of seeing all kinds of cats she had never me before and a tingle raced through her. Friends. Oh, she couldn't wait. And of course another point of being excited for the Gathering was to be able to see Shiningpaw once again.

[tunnel]

He felt his pelt warm at her reassurance, watching the sky momentarily and picturing himself as a great senior warrior, respected among the forest and the first one to go to if anyone needed advice. It would be rare- he seemed to be greatly over looked in his short life, by everyone from the clan cats to the random ally felines. Imagine him, as a great warrior! He would truly belong somewhere then. Somewhere that didn’t stink of stale air and sing the melody of fatherly snapping and idiot brother mutterings.

He listen in amused to her musings about the gathering; tail dragging over the grass once and body tensing slightly in excitement. He couldn’t even imagine it- all the cats gathered at the lake, from all four clans! He had thought Reedclan`s numbers where amazing., and Reedclan was only one of the four! There would be so many possible friends about. Of course, that also meant..Alot of possibly enemies.
His fur bristled at the thought, remembering several other apprentices who were hardly as kind as Sootpaw. And a few loners on the way, too- of course, the loners hadn`t cared much about him being a kitty pet, as did the clan cats, but they had always found something else to pick at. It really was quite irritating.

And a little..Scary. He pictured himself, suddenly surrounded on all sides by hatful cats. It made him shiver slightly, but he pushed the thoughts away fast enough,. He shouldn`t be worrying so foolishly! It would have a good time. Oh, and he could even find Sootpaw- then they could travel around together, seeing as she had never been to one either.

“When we get to come, we should meet by that rock. That way we’ll be able to find each other in the crowd of cats, if we both are able to come at the same moon..” He pointed toward a small half-boulder with his tail, and wiggled to his feet; once again imaging the magical scene.

[Kovu]

She puffed herself up completely purring now, "I'll make sure I get to go to the Gathering...Now you have to do the same thing, mister!" Pawing him, suddenly playful before giggling and hopping around him with a little happy strut. Sootpaw was an odd sort, but she made for great company once you got to know her.

The daughter of a forbidden romance frisked about him as if they were already best friends. "Why that rock?" she wondered softly, suddenly curious and calm but her toes wiggled as well as his as she loomed into his face. Gorgeous blue eyes round with soft curiosity.