Post by Cloven on Apr 17, 2013 1:57:50 GMT -5
[style=text-align:justify; margin-top:-8px; width: 325px; height: 400px; overflow:auto; float:left; margin-left:8px;][style=margin-top:-15px; padding-left:1px;]
Cloverleaf sat calmly by the waters edge, his tail moving absentmindedly over the bare earth behind him. Normally he was hunting around this time, but his mind was so full of absentminded thoughts he couldn't stay focused on prey long enough to catch anything.
The air around him was fresh and damp, carrying the scent of both new and old life. In the trees above him, birds were singing the song of evening chatter. In the undergrowth, squirrels and chipmunks could be heard scuffing about in search of nuts and such. Voles and mice moved about the embankment, barely noticeable due to the rush of the river. If not for the wind, Cloverleaf doubted he would have paid any attention to them.
He was almost able to break free of his mind, almost able to jump forward and catch the vole that was barely two fox lengths away, and yet something held him back. His thoughts circled around on themselves, repeating and over lapping, like the water before him. His mother had always loved coming to the rivers edge, right here. Where she could watch the fish, or go for a swim. She had once brought him and his sister here, showed them her little hide out, where her and Silvercloud, Cloverleaf's father, had spent a lot of their time. Right here, by the clover patch he was named for. What was so special about this patch of clover though? What had kept his mother coming back to it.
It seemed no different than any other patch of clover. With the clumsy purple flowers, and the little white ones too. The clover themselves seemed just like the others all over the land. Some small, some large, some half gone. All with three little leaves. He gave his white chest fur a few swift licks before returning his gaze to the clovers. Maybe they weren't all the same. Maybe there was something that his mother, or his father, had found in the patch that made it standout. What had his mother told him about it?
He could almost see her in his mind. Her pretty calico fur glowing in the sunlight, her large, green eyes dancing with memories as she told her kits of how she first got to know their father. Her voice was clear in his mind. Even after many moons, he hadn't forgotten her sweet, soft mew.
“I was about your age when he first started talking to me.” She had mewed, Cloverleaf had just been given his warrior name, so if she was about his age, he figured she would have been a warrior for as long as Softpelt had. So only a few moons. “I was sitting here watching him teach his apprentice how to fish, watching the young tom pull it's first fish from the river. He was so happy he almost forgot to kill it. Your father had to catch it before it slipped back into the water. I thought he was going to bite the toms head off, but instead, he laughed.” Her eyes had narrowed them, and a smile pulled at the whites of her chin. She must have been remembering it as clear as Cloverleaf was remembering this.
He lowered himself down next to the clover patch, sniffing one of the flowers in hopes it would bring him closer to the memory of his parents. “He then sent the tom off to hunt alone, coming to say hi to me.” she purred, closing her eyes for a moment. “As we mewed, he began to search through the clover, hunting something it seemed. Though what I couldn't have guessed. Finally, he pulled his head up, and sighed, 'for ages I've been searching for a four leafed clover, he explained. 'an elder told me about them when I was younger, and I've always wanted to see if they are real.'”
Cloverleaf found himself looking for a clover like the one his mother talked about, but he had yet to find one. Not that he knew what he would do with one if he ever did. It was just another plant to him, nothing special. And yet to his parents, it had started a beautiful relationship. Maybe if he found one, he would be able too... That was mousebrained. Like finding a four leafed clover would really bring love into his life. He snorted and sat back up, shaking his head with annoyance. Besides, there were more important things for him to be worried about right now.
Like hunting. He should have already caught something, he should be focused on that. The fish were jumping, the mice, squirrels, voles, and chipmunks were out, and birds were everywhere. And yet here he was, daydreaming about a stupid clover. He stood up, giving his whole body a shake. Freeing dirt and leaves from his thick, long fur. The weather was perfect for hunting, and he didn't want to waste it. Even if it was also perfect for a nap.
The sun was still warm, even if it was now fading, and the wind was just warm enough to keep off any chill the night might bring. Prey was full and plentiful, he would have be able to bring home enough for the nursery and the elders den in after just one hunt, and if he had spent the whole day hunting, as he should have, he would have been able to see to the apprentices and most the warriors. He would have been able to retire to his den feeling all puffed and proud after the long day, and yet now, he was going to be up all night on patrols to make up for the lazy day. And then he would most likely force himself into hunting before going to his nest.
Of course, most of the other warriors would have hunted, as well as most the apprentices, so it wasn't like the Clan was relying on him too feed everyone. They would be well taken care of, and he would pick a few things up before returning home.
A splash made him twitch an ear. Something was in the water. Something big- and long. Turning his head, Cloverleaf spotted a snake. Not surprising when he remembered how close he was to Sunning Rock. It was the size of the thing that shocked him. It would have easily been able to eat a kit, if not two, and would have killed a young apprentice without much problem at all. It reminded him off the one that bit his sister moons upon moons ago. He would have to warn the Clan, spread word not to let young cats out this far... Or he could kill it...
'Don't be mousebrained!' He scolded himself. 'If that thing bit you, you could be dead before anyone knew you were missing.' Flicking his tail with annoyance, Cloverleaf watched the snake slither out of the water and continue on it's way too Sunning Rock. It's black scales shimmering as the sun reflected off them. A few heart beats later, it was gone. Leaving Cloverleaf to either return to his absentminded thoughts, or return to camp.
He couldn't think anymore, though. Not absentmindedly anyway. His mind had stayed on the snake. Memories and worries mixing together as he put off going back to camp. Finally, he could bare it no longer. He forced himself to move, to start walking. Remembering only just before he got to camp that he had planned on hunting.
When he finally made his way into the camp, he had a dove and a robin, both had been easy to catch and quite plump. Perfect for anyone to share. He dropped him in the kill pill and picked out a mouse for himself, the smallest one he could find. He would eat, and share word of the snake, telling anyone who happened to glance sideways at him.
Finding a place just cozy enough for him, with little sunlight and a nice breeze, he crouched down and began to enjoy his meal, sending a silent thank you to Starclan for the meal.
***
Word Count: 1435 O.O
[/size][/div][/style][/style][/center]
