Open to Join Hit 'Em With the Old Razzle Dazzle (5TL20)

Adventurous hearts, wild and free, dance to the rhythm of destiny
⥼ ⭒ ۵ ⭒ ❦ ⭒ ۵ ⭒ ⥽

 Brindlepaw popped up with a bounce on her toes, tail lifting with acknowledgement as she approached the fresh kill pile. It seemed that she wasn't the only one with satisfying their hunger on their mind. White whiskered twitched with amusement as she watched the small warrior wrestle with the body of a limb hare. One must have ran away with its tail tucked between his legs as it fled Windclan. Fortunate for her! That was exactly what she had wanted - and it seemed no better fortunet than keeping her expectations as lofty as they were.

"Oh, Greypebbles!" He mewed back, blinking as the tom took the initiative to greet her. He was a rather quite sort, and Brindlepaw didn't really have time to worry about those who struggled to find their voice. She would reward him though, and the lines of her angled face turned in a small, tight smile. "Whatchu' been up to, my friend?" She was friendly enough, but perhaps she sounded a bit too sweet.

He had openly invited her to sup, so she lowered herself down on her paws, tucking her body over them so that her blue belly ticked the ground. With a single outstretched claw she began defluffing its stomach, raking long lines of brownish fur where she shook out the excess. Coyotekit could use it, or something along that like, not that she'd volunteer to see it be delivered to them. She'd see to her duties if needed, but she wasn't about to voluntarily do apprentice work - not when she was so close to becoming a warrior.

"You became a warrior at twelve moons, right?"

Blissful at best, clueless at worst
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Larchpaw had seen her sister come in from her run, but she was busy doing her best to fix a small hole in the apprentice's den wall. It was near her next and the slight breeze that had come from it annoyed her all night. Shoving the last bit of bramble in, Larchpaw exhaled loudly. It wasn't her best or most beautiful work, but hey, it did the job, right?

She could hear that Brindlepaw was chatting to Greypebbles by the fresh kill pile, and considered joining them. She wasn't really hungry, but it felt like a while since the cream she-cat had talked to her sister. Plus, when did Larchpaw not want to chat. 

Trotting over, she shimmied her way in between the two cats, mewing a friendly 'Hello!'. She had just heard the last bit of their conversation, one being something about warriors. 'Oooh, are you talking about when you were made a warrior? Guess what, me and Brindlepaw and Dovepaw are gonna be warriors really soon. Our training is going great! I'm super strong and ready to fight off all the enemies! Did you know that last gathering I helped guard camp? That was a whole warrior duty I got to help with!'

Adventurous hearts, wild and free, dance to the rhythm of destiny
⥼ ⭒ ۵ ⭒ ❦ ⭒ ۵ ⭒ ⥽

 Hmph. Bravery and compassion. Bravery for what, running away from a fox? She didn't voice the tiny thought the buzzed like a fly in her brain, otherwise the tom might have gone quite turtle-shell shocked. She had held her tongue, quite a graceful mood she was in, wasn't she? Her maw opened to offer a lukewarm responce, something about wondering what she would be named for... before the harrowing voice of her sister crept in from nearby. Soon the dreadful, cream tabby was upon the, souring the mood with as much tact as a newborn sparrow.

"Don't you think he knows already?" Brindlepaw sighed, utterly exasperated before Greypebble's voiced as much. "Hello, Larchpaw." Grumbling through her teeth, it was as pleasant as she could manage. If Greypebbles had paid any attention, it was a note lesser than the one she had used to previously speak with him. It didn't matter how well Larchpaw's training went. Greenfang wasn't Moosestar. He had star in his name for a reason, and in Brindlepaw's mind, made her shine even more brightly in comparison.

"I remember that actually. I heard you from my nest. If fighting our enemies don't work out, you can always talk their ears right off. Might make for a good distraction. Keep 'em confused and stupified." She mused, half callous, half practical. The other clans might easily fall for such a trick. Sitting back on her haunches, she hoped the tom was still holding the hare for her. Once enough fluff had been scruffed from its hide she bore into it with her fangs, tearing the carcass open where she made quick for its still warm innards.

Blissful at best, clueless at worst
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Larchpaw's chatter seemed to have overwhelmed Greypebbles, but Larchpaw was utterly clueless to this fact, happily continuing conversation. His response was quiet and simple, but Larchpaw didn't mind. Not everone was a talker after all, though he seemed fine chatting with Brindlepaw... but this never crossed her mind.

'Yes, but I was just making sure, okay? No need to be such a grump Brindlepaw. It's very exciting, and I know you are just as excited as I am, don't even try deny it!' It was something most apprentices looked forward too and she was so close to being there! Larchpaw was oblivious to how she had slightly soured the mood around the two cats, and made herself comfortable. Knowing Larchpaw though, she would likely get bored soon and end up leaving, probably to go bother someone else. 

'You know, that could work. Talk to my enemies until they get so sick of me that they leave, but I'll make sure to give them a nasty scar first. Maybe I could charm them instead, sway their loyalty and bring them over to my side? I don't think I have any charm though.'

There was hardly a pause in the conversation before Larchpaw continued, 'I never really asked you this before, but what's it like training with Moosestar, Brindlepaw? Oh and Greypebbles, your mentor was Bravesong right? You couldn't have gotten a better mentor. Did you like having him train you?' She looked at both cats with wide, expectant eyes. She was so absorbed in her training with Greenfang, she didn't really think that maybe other cats had different experiences during their training, and she wanted to know what it was like. 

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As the small grey tom gazed at the two bickering sisters, he didn’t utter a single word, there wasn’t really much he could say, it was as if Larchpaw had stolen his words and used them for her own tales. Most of her words were directed towards Brindlepaw, though the words seemed to blend into one another, there was something about Moosestar and mentoring. And using charm against enemies? 

"I don’t think charming enemies into submission is the best tactic" Greypebbles added, almost as quiet as a squeaking mouse. But he knew that Larchpaw would have barely heard him though her excited chatter. It was only when his name was mentioned that he listened closer to her words. As he thought that anything that included him must have needed his attention in some way, though it could have been the complete opposite. He was willing to listen and take a chance like that.

Fortunately, Larchpaw has asked a question that Greypebbles could actually answer, but it seemed to be more about a Bravesong than anyone else. "Bravesong was my mentor yes" he answered quite simply, Larchpaw still overwhelming him with her chatter. With a few breaths, trying to keep himself composed he spoke again "He was a good mentor. We were close when I was a kit though" he replied, surprised he could even give a decent answer

"Does that make me sound bias?" He asked, his bobbed tail twitching uncomfortably behind him

Adventurous hearts, wild and free, dance to the rhythm of destiny
⥼ ⭒ ۵ ⭒ ❦ ⭒ ۵ ⭒ ⥽

 Watching Larchpaw animate herself like she did was exhausting in its own way. Like knocking the wind out of her. Yet Brindlepaw felt as if she was being very patient with her sister right now, even if she couldn't quite understand 'taking the hint'. Greypebble's himself seemed quite out of sorts, and the she-cat wanted to try and steer the conversation back to what it had been before Larchpaw had stepped in.

"If only it were that easy, sis. I think it might be better to learn all you can from Greenfang. She probably wouldn't find it such a good suggestion, right?" If Greenfang knew how silly her sister was being, she might be reprimanded. At least Moosestar didn't encourage such fantasies - even if she was only teasing. There was no doubting Brindlepaw's apptitute for warriorhood.

Bravesong's mention war more of less greeted with a bit of nonchalant disregard. Shrugging her shoulders, she continued to pick bites from the hare. "Yeah, yeah... Bravesong certainly earned his name. But don't you find the fact that he's a Queen now... a little weird?" She mewed, swallowing with a poiant ear flick.

Blissful at best, clueless at worst
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Larchpaw loves her sister, but she was safe to say they weren't exactly too peas in a pod. Their personalities clashed, and while Larchpaw didn't mind all that much, she had a basic understanding that her sister did. She had better siblings anyway, ones that didn't mind her endless chatter or energy, or just out up with it because they had a genuine fondness over her. 

'I'm just playing around. You're so boring Brindlepaw' she said while giving her sister a light nudge on the shoulder. 'You never know though,' she said, turning her gaze over back to Greypebbles. 'If I lure them into the trap of my outstanding character, it means no one has to get hurt' 

She tried to make it a little clearer that she was joking this time. But Larchpaw wasn't even sure if it fully was a joke, as she could imagine herself doing something silly like that during the midst of a battle. It wasn't long before she was drawn from her own thoughts, and flashed her sister an almost hurt look at Brindlepaw's casual brush off of Bravesong. 'What do you mean weird. He is taking care of Coyotekit, something I can't see you doing, that's for sure.' She spat. It was a while since Larchpaw felt like this, but it seemed as though Bravesong meant a lot to the cream tabby. 'Do you think it's weird just because he is a tom? Plenty of she-cats die during kitting, and I'm sure many sires would step up and take up the role of queen if they cared enough. If I ever have kits, I can tell you now that I want that sire contributing just as much as I do. Bravesong is doing an absolutely wonderful job, and maybe if you actually paid attention to someone other than yourself for once you would realise that.'

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As the she-cat's began bickering, Greypebbles' fur bristled with worry and a little bit of fear, as much as he didn't like fights, he wasn't exactly one to mediate them at all. Greypebbles flattened his ears and shuffled further away from the bickering sisters, his bobbed tail fluffed out like the rest of his pelt to the point the short tail looked like a grey colored moss ball that had been sitting in the sun for too long and begun to fray.

"There's no need to bicker..." The young warrior winced, but he doubted that the two would hear him, as he might have shuffled just out of earshot, though he didn't know for sure, due to the words of Larchpaw and now Brindlepaw being blended together in a frightening ball of hisses and fowl mouthed comments. So Greypebbles wasn't sure who exactly said what. But he knew that Larchpaw was right, in his eyes anyway, some cat had to take care of Coyotekit, and there was no queens in the nursery, so it had become a job for Bravesong, and just because he was a tom, it didn't make him any less capable.

Greypebbles took a few deep breath, shutting his eyes to focus on the words being said more closely. If Larchpaw were to have kits? He thought to himself, he never even thought about the idea of having kits and now Larchpaw was bringing it up in a now, tense conversation. "I agree, if I were to sire a litter I'd like to be involved in raising them, it's the responsible thing to do" He said a little louder to make himself heard among the bickering

Adventurous hearts, wild and free, dance to the rhythm of destiny
⥼ ⭒ ۵ ⭒ ❦ ⭒ ۵ ⭒ ⥽

 It was as if she had struck a nerve within her sister. And all because of Bravesong. Why did he have to bring them strife even now? Her ears flickered against the back of her skull, maw scrunching in a tight, controlled frown as she listened to Larchpaw go on and on. Brindlepaw had kept her composure much into this point, and her eyes darted curiously towards Greypebbles to gauge his reaction to the unfurling drama.

"Greypebble's right." She mewed with a certain mused tone. Not even the silver warrior attempted to defend his old mentor even as he bade them to cease. Hmm. "We shouldn't be bickering." Perhaps he was so confrontation averse that he woudlnt' do much more than attempt to reason what he would do in case he ever sired a litter. A part of her supected she wouldn't be cut out as a queen anyway; it sounded too boring looking after a couple of helpless fluffballs.

"Bravesong certainly isn't doing a bad job, but you should have heard Wildcry grumble about how she wants another litter - Kestralswipe turned out alright, didn't he?" Savagefox wasn't the type of cat to aspire to, but he certainly was entertaining.

Blissful at best, clueless at worst
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With her fur still bristling, Larchpaw sat back down again. She felt a little overwhelmed, but regretted nothing. 'Fine. But just because I'll shut up doesn't mean I agree with you' she hissed, though her tone was calming down, returning to normal. Really she had little interest in having kits. She liked freedom and spending moons in the nursery didn't seem like something that suited her; but if the time ever came where ThunderClan was in desperate need of new kits, she was sure she would step up and do the job. As long as someone helped her. 

What she was sure about though, is that she would defend Bravesong to her very limits, even if it meant shattering relationships with her own sisters and clanmates. 

'Wildcry wants another litter? Maybe Kestrelswipe turned out fine, but if they end up anything like her we're in for trouble' she said with a snicker. StarClan, we do not need any little Wildcrys running around, please.

She had pretty much relaxed now. Not entirely, but enough that she remembered Greypebbles was there. 'Sorry. Sibling things, you know?' she said with a shrug. Greypebbles seemed to agree with her opinion about sire's taking an active part in raising a litter, but in Larchpaw's eyes it was hard to see the tom raising kits at all. He was a bit quiet, meek even, but, he was still young. Maybe if he hung out with Larchpaw enough she would pass on her enthusiastic chatter to him!

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"I wouldn't know" Greypebbles replied to his clanmate, his bristled fur beginning to lie flat as the tense atmosphere of the conversation, or perhaps argument, if one could call it that, had calmed down and there was no more insults being thrown blindly. "I wasn't born with any and Pigeonwing didn't have another litter, after all I was still a kit when she.." Greypebbles soon paused, the only time that his words seemed to flow was when he spoke of his mother and he didn't wish to dampen the mood so somberly.

"Nevermind" He added, flicking his ear. He had never met his father, but was aware of the connection his father had with Goldenstar, the past ThunderClan leader, the same connection that Kestrelswipe had with Goldenstar, Goldenstar had been his father's sire from what he had heard, once or twice from his mother. "I'd rather say that I didn't have a lot of experiences with my mother if any at all" he added, glad he was able to speak a little more fluidly at the calmness of the situation, but also glad that Bravesong was not getting ridiculed as he was not long ago. 

Greypebbles kneaded at the camp floor with his paws, the small tom at a loss of words once more, if he couldn't even hold a proper conversation with two apprentices, what in the name of StarClan did he plan to do in a battle? He supposed it should never come to that at any stage with another clan, but if it did, he hoped he wasn't involved immediately, but if his clan were in dire need, he would race into the fray, even for Brindlepaw and Wildcry, perhaps even Savagefox as well.

Adventurous hearts, wild and free, dance to the rhythm of destiny
⥼ ⭒ ۵ ⭒ ❦ ⭒ ۵ ⭒ ⥽

 Even as tensions were dying down, Brindlepaw watched both cats with the intensity of a hawk. Her pelt didn't bristle as such, but her paws itched for a swat. Maybe she would have if Greypebble's wasn't so privy to their conversation. Still, Brindlepaw smiled at the spotted tom as Larchpaw assured him it was between sisters. "Siblings may bicker, but they mean well enough." Most of the time. The length of her tail swept at the debris beneath her. The loamy earth in camp was rather brittle from the lack of proper rainfall, but it made good purchase as her claws tilled the soil beneath her feet.

"Hey I got a fun idea. Would you three want to spar? Either Larchpaw and I can practice our moves on you, Greypebbles, or we take turns exchanging shealthed blows." Her eyes possessed the same sharpness as a drawn claw as she stared at the young warrior, wanting nothing more to taste his mettle. if her and her sister worked together she wondered if they could make him run with his tail tucked between his legs like how he ran away from that fox.

Blissful at best, clueless at worst
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Larchpaw could sense a little dismay in Greypebbles' voice as he trailed off mid conversation. Instinctively, she shuffled a little closer to him in an attempt to comfort, though unsure why she did so. 

She nodded at Brindlepaw. They may argue, but they loved eachother. Well, Larchpaw loved Brindlepaw at least. Especially when she suggested things like a spar. For once Larchpaw was on the same wavelength as her sister, and gave her a quick grin. 'Two apprentices against a warrior. Sounds pretty good to me!' she said kneading her paws into the ground happily. With her sister by her side, Greypebbles had no chance, and Larchpaw wasn't one to go easy on others, for she found it fun after all. 

'You better watch out, Greypebbles. We're pretty good if I'm completely honest' she laughed, meaning no ill intent, hoping for a lighthearted spar. Though she really hopes she would win....

'I've learned loads of moves, and I'm nearly a warrior and Greenfang is my mentor. Brindlepaw's mentor is Moosestar and shes also learned so much and is also nearly a warrior! We'll show you how to really fight' Everyone already knew everything she had just said. They had literally just talked about it earlier but, like usual, Larchpaw did what Larchpaw did best...

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A spar? Greypebbles thought about it for a short while, as much as he would enjoy teaching the apprentices some of the moves he learnt in his own training, two against one seems rather unfair. But he could probably remedy this situation quite easily. After a few licks of the thick fur that clung to his chest. he glanced back at both of the she-cats who seemed rather interested in beating him to a pulp. 

"A spar is fine" He stated, flicking his bobbed tail as if there was a longer tail attacked to it. "Fine, only if it is one on one, none of this two versus one business, with breaks between, I don't want to become a limp leaf" Greypebbles meowed. He knew that one of them would speak of him as afraid, and so what if he was? Fear is rather normal in any cat, he'd like to see those two she-cats face a fox 3 times their size on their own. "We don't want anything unfair do we"

Greypebbles gave one of his ears a flick, as if to dismiss any other compromise, this is the only way he would spar with the she-cats, one at a time and with breaks between, he wasn't going to waste his energy on being pummeled by apprentices.

Adventurous hearts, wild and free, dance to the rhythm of destiny
⥼ ⭒ ۵ ⭒ ❦ ⭒ ۵ ⭒ ⥽

 Larchpaw was right about one thing. Together few cats stood a chance against them. She hadn't kept much progress on Dovepaw and Mistyleaf, but she assumed Dovepaw could hold her own too. Tilting her head back, her ear lobbed to the side, a cocky expression causing her grin to twitch. Surely Greypebble's wouldn't diagree with their terms? Not a conditioned warrior against two meager apprentices?

Yet the very mention of their plot seemed to turn sour. Foiled by Greypebble's fear - or perhaps wisdom, he instead suggested one on one fights. Break in between each fight. With a loud sigh and a sideways smirk at Larchpaw, Brindlepaw stepped forward. "If you cower at the very thought of facing both of us, then we can oblige you. Breaks in between are fair as well. Claws sheathed, of course." Came the she-cat voice of lofty logic. Against two experienced apprentices, Greypebble's might not have a chance.

"I'll go first." Volunteering herself for the first bout, Brindlepaw lowered herself into a prepared stance, feeling her weight settle above her toes.

Blissful at best, clueless at worst
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She could sense her sisters disappointment, but at the same time a tide of satisfaction washed over her as Greypebbles opted for the one on one option. So he really did think he would loose to two apprentices. Either he was weak or Larchpaw and Brindlepaw were intimidating for whatever reason. 

'Alright, but just know we have already won once knowing you were too scared to fight us at the same time!' she giggled, while her tail flicked mischievously. Seemed like Brindlepaw wasn't the best influence on the usually sweet Larchpaw, but she was happy and that was all that mattered. 

She nodded as Brindepaw offered to go first, trusting that her sister would make a good first impression for the both of them. She took a step back, giving them both the room they needed for the friendly spar, and watched with anticipation. She was is used to fighting Greenfang that Larchpaw couldn't help but knead her paws into the ground with excitement

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Greypebbles knew that the she-cats thought him to be weak, what else would they think? Given his soft hearted demeanor and he had to admit to himself, he was rather meek compared to the two apprentices. But he made the decision to promote fairness, so he knew what he was up against, not only because he didn't know if he could hold himself against both apprentices, well nearly warriors at this stage, at once. He assumed it was the wiser decision, if not for his health than for his pride at least.

Without heeding the she-cats' comments, her lifted himself to his paws, giving his bobbed tail a quick flick to hide his surprising excitement for the spar. It had been a while since Greypebbles and Bravesong had ever sparred, and he was worried that those days were far over with, so maybe he would be able to help out a few apprentices finish honing their skills before receiving their names. 

"Well come on then, it will be next moon if you two don't trot along now" The small tom spoke, shaking his pelt off before bounding to the opening to get in and out of camp, glancing behind him with an uncommon playfulness "We don't have all day you know" He purred loudly, as much as these apprentices were treating him as if he were weaker, he decided it was kit-like to heed their chatter. Instead, he should try and match their energy, despite the lack of words he would be able to muster up.

His eyes met Brindlepaw's for a moment, giving her a small smile and he gave a similar expression to Larchpaw shortly after "I'll meet you both at Sandy hollow, Brindlepaw you can finish that hare if you want, maybe you could share it with Larchpaw" He cooed softly before bounding out of the camp.