x.save the sierra.x }{ [open - warriors and appren

[Sky]

Crash's patrol wasted no time in journeying out of the camp. The winds were as strong as ever, although the rain had let up slightly. Not knowing how long this surge of light would last, the sped across the island in a race of time.

The patrol came upon the cold brook, usually a small stream of icy cold water that gently poured into the Sea of Reflection. However, the storm's violent winds and rain had caused a major overflow of the spring, which was now more lukewarm than icy, from the tropical rain flashes.

Working quickly, Crash jumped upon one of the palm trees in the grove and used his thick, sharp unsheathed claws to slowly but steadily climb his way up the tall, slender palm. Turning to the others in the patrol, who were in awe, he yelled, "Don't just stare at me, you oafs! Do something!" He had particularly cross with his warriors today, but the clan's wellbeing was concerned, and deeply in danger.

Continually clawing his way up the height of the palm, her reached a thick, long front. It was well rooted in the tree, but it was a beauty, a perfection for making the dens in the camp. As his claws could not release themselves from the bark of the tree, or he would fall, Crash sunk his teeth into the frond and shook vigorously to loosen it.

The threads of other fronds holding the branch up ripped, and the frond sagged downward. "Look out below!" He shouted, warning the young apprentice who stood underneath the falling branch. Without a moment to spare, the apprentice darted out of the way right before the frond came crashing to the ground.

[[I.n.k}#/]

She was part of the patrol. But then again an apprentice coming of the age where she received her real name she should be participating in patrols and whatnot. The rain had stopped, which was a relief. It seemed like all that happened here was rain rain rain...that or wind wind wind.Her paws soaked up the cool wetness as they touched the sodden ground.

Following Crash her orbs followed the cold brook. She had learned as a younger apprentice that this trickled itself into The Sea Of Reflection. She noticed that it had overflowed, more than likely from the downpour they had been receiving. Shaking her head she thought of how much the island changed within minuets.

As Crash jumped up onto one of he many soaked palm trees, Ink widened her eyes in surprise. She watched his muscular body move quickly up the palm. Ink watched as he yelled back to them. He called them oafs, for staring. And yet the apprentice continued to stare.

Suddenly she was filled with terror, if he fell this could be his death. That wasn't the way to start a new life. The dens still needed to be made and all the cats still needed to be rounded up. Sighing she heard a startling crack. Looking around she froze, and realized just what it was.

She watched the branch fall, and his strong voice shouting at her. Quickly she dove out of the way and the branch crashed onto the ground. That could of been her life, her death. Looking up to where Crash stood she gathered a strong voice. What do you want me to do!?! Although apprentices should know what to do, let alone older apprentices...she didn't.

She had no clue whether she should go help or if she should be doing something else. These thoughts were shaken off as she realized she would be getting her warrior name very soon. Maybe even today...hopefully today.

[Sky]

Turning his head downward to the staring crowd, he felt a slight surge of satisfaction. The warriors and apprentices who had been staring with laziness just moments ago were busy at work. Three warriors had lifted the freshly fallen frond off the wet ground and were moving it out of the clearing, making room for more. Others has begun to climb the other palms in the grove, and were in different stages of climbing. Some strong warriors had reached the peak, and were razoring through the fronds, while younger apprentices were still only a few tail-lengths up.

Watching those who weren't climbing, he spotted Ink, a senior apprentice, seemingly staring off into nowhere. He had trained with Ink a few times, and she was a diligent, hard-worker. She was to have her warrior ceremony in a few days. I've got to talk to the council about that... he thought, his mind drifting. Getting it back on track, he shouted to the she-cat. "Ink, try to get this frond, it's smaller, and you should be able to handle it. "

Sawing his claws through another branch, the lighter frond fell to the damp ground with a loud crash.

[[I.n.k}#/]

Her eyes darted around, watching the other warriors and apprentices get to work. She still did nothing, unless waiting was something, but to her it really was nothing. She shook her head, this was all quite confusing her. Her claws dug into the ground, trying to clear her mind. Finally a reply came from the tom high in the trees, Crash.

So a lighter frond would be coming, that was fine by her...as long as the rain stayed away, and the wind didn't pick up. She stared as the smaller branch fell to the ground. She ran over to it, sinking her teeth into the branch. It tasted odd, tree blood leaking into her mouth. Ick! How she wanted to spit it onto the ground. BUt she wouldn't, she was working...not complaining.

She would take it over to where other warriors had gathered and were placing theirs. As she walked, the frond's long leaves tickled her stilts and she jumped every now and then to get the tickling sensation off of her. She set the branch down, nodding to the warriors, as they were older and deserved respect. She then scampered back to where Crash was still high in a tree.

She saw he was still sawing branches off with his claws and teeth. She climbed up one of the trees, her claws sharp and digging into the soft bark. She was lean and agile, much smaller than a normal cat her age would be. She was a silver bengal after all. As she reached the first frond she saw it was smaller. Her teeth went to work, biting into it as far as they could. Her claws soon took over.

The sliced through the branch and it fell, bouncing once and then laying lifelessly. She turned, shimmying down the tree. She worked quickly, running down at an alarming pace. SOon her paws reached solid ground and she was dragging the smaller frond off to another group of warriors.

She had to admit, she was quite proud of herself. She had climbed many trees, but this feeling made it seem as if it was her first. She stared at the sky, and then ran back to the group.

[]

[Sky]

Crash watched the apprentice as she skillfully scaled the tree and retrieved a frond from the palm She really was ready to be a warrior. He would be proud to have her as a warrior under his command.
Turning to the tree once again, he knew her could not cut anymore fronds if he wanted the tree to flourish in the summer.
Admitting he could not do any more on this particular tree, he took a wild chance. Carefully removing his claws one by one from the bark of the tree, he made a huge leap--from the high palm down to the ColdBrook.
The winded roared in his ears as he fell down. The air was chilled, and he shivered. just a second before reaching the plunge of the water.
His altitude and inertia plunged him deep into the water. Of course, he was an expert swimmer, and skillfully padded to the surface of the water. He blinked his blue eyes and shook the droplets of water out of his damp ears.

[[I.n.k}#/]

She watched him. Was he crazy! Although that did seem like something fun. Ink found herself wanting to do what she had just watched. But she held herself back as Crash plunged into the water and then came above it. She started laughing, her sides heaving as she almost fell over.

Her stilts carried her swiftly to the edge of the water, as she waited for Crash to make it back. She would help all she could, though he more than likely wouldn't need her help. AFter all he wasn't chosen for his position because of looks...it was because of skill. Though he could of been chosen for looks.

She had to admit though Crash was much older than herself he was quite the looker. He was a handsome cat...unlike many of the cats she had met. She let a paw run over the water as she waited and as cats cleared out of the area. Much work had been accomplished in this little time.

[⋆Nova⋆]

Stay with me,
We are all that is left.
Never forget.
Sand & Swift

Two lithe figures hurried towards Cold Brook. Their golden eyes glowed in the dim light, like small suns. The gusts of wind, seemed to push them away from their destination, but they pressed on, flank to flank. The sky was blocked out by angry storm clouds, and a torrential rain pelted the cats below.

Sand and Swift dug their claws into the soggy earth and leaned against each other for support. Being smaller than most apprentices, they were constantly pushed back by the storm. The wind threatened to pick them of their paws with each blow and the world seemed to be against them. But, they had each other. As if they lended energy to each other, the two small cats slowly began to make their way towards the patrol. They seemed so far away in the rain. Finally, the twins reached the patrol. It seemed as if everybody was just picking up anything they could use to rebuild shelters.

No time to waste. the tom thought bitterly spitting out a mouthful of grass. Sand looked comfortingly at her brother. She nudged his flank and quickly licked his head affectionately. The two cats stooped in the wind, while dragging palm fronds to the warriors who would carry them back to camp.

SPLASH. The noise could be heard over the wind. Looking around, Sand spotted the Supervisor, Crash. He was pulling himself out of Cold Springs. Swift looked around, wide eyed, for a falling palm tree. Seeing none, he realized that their leader had jumped. Feeling foolish, he quickly turned back to the work at hand.