Dark before Dawn

[Talonfang]

Talonstar sighed as he padded from his den, sitting at the entrance and peering across the camp clearing. It was quiet as every cat still slept in their warm nests, only the faint outline of the cat on guard beside the entrance. Narrowing his eyes in the gloom darkness right before dawn, the leader couldn’t quite see just who was on duty but decided to leave it be. Turning his eyes towards the stars he wondered what Starclan thought of his new reign. So far it had been quiet, peaceful, but nothing in his life had ever stayed that way for long.

Raising a paw, he licked it and drew it over his ears thoughtfully before he dropped his paw to glance across the clearing towards the camp entrance. Maybe some hunting would clear his mind……

[Blazenheart]

Blazenheart awoke from her nap wanting to stretch her legs after being stuck in the nursery. She quietly padded outside of the den to find two outlines. One seemed to be on guard, while the other was by the leader's den. Is that the leader? she wondered. Slowly padding across the clearing she reached Talonstar. Another new leader. How many leaders will she go through before she die. "Hello, what brings you here this early?" she asked curiously.

[Talonfang]

Motion caught the tom's eyes and he glanced over towards the Nursery as the orange she-cat slipped free of its warm embrace. He flicked his ears curiously at her as she slowly came closer, her eyes turning up to him before her voice reached out to touch the long hairs upon his ears. It was a simply question but the broken silence had not been expected and he takes a moment before giving up an answer. "The quiet" he replied, his deep rumbling voice just barely loud enough to be heard. "And you? What has woken you so early?"

[Blazenheart]

"The quiet? Interesting. I've been sticking around in the nursery for too long. It's very uncomfortable to sleep with stiff legs. You should try it." Blazenheart joked as she began to stretch her stiff limbs.

[Talonfang]

Talonstar couldn't imagine every being a Queen with the responsibility of kits. Staying trapped in camp for so long, caring for such needy creatures. Though he knew kits were special to the clan, hope that life would continue, Talonstar generally shied away from them until they were nearly apprentices. It was only then that he would take special care to study their personalities and decide which warrior would suit their needs. Flicking his tail at the she-cat he gave her a crooked smile. "I will leave that to the Queens"

[Blazenheart]

Blazenheart let out a quiet mroww laughter. "Of course! That's certainly not a leaders job." Her eyes finally adjusting to the dark, she could make out the large tabby tom. I wonder how he got his name. Blazenheart jolted up in surprise. She had forgotten to introduce herself! That was unlike her. "I forgot to introduce myself." she meowed cheerfully, "I'm Blazenheart."

[Talonfang]

The she-cat seemed generally light hearted, her laughter dancing around them until she fell quiet again. It seemed embarrassment enfolded her just as quickly and she was spilling her name, causing the large tom to dip his head in acknowledgement. "It suits you" he replied before glancing to the top of the camps barrier as sunligt began to glow along its top. Soon the camp would be coming to life and his quiet would be no more. "What of your kits?" He asked curiously, not yet ready to dismiss her company.

[Blazenheart]

(This might seem weird for a queen...)

"To be honest I don't have any. Why I'm a queen? I don't know." Blazenheart sighed, her ears drooping slightly. Though the leader seemed friendly, she wished he hadn't asked. She shrugged it off as she looked down at her paws.

(Sorry for the shortness. I might have to go to bed soon.)

[Talonfang]

Curiosity pricked at his pelt making the tom look more closely at the she-cat. If she did not have kits then why was she not staying in the warriors den. Surely she should be? But the uncomfortable look she gave made the tom leave the subject alone for now and instead venture onto another. "Then do you care to hunt with me?"

[Blazenheart]

Blazenheart's ears pricked up. Hunting! "Sure!" She replied, happy to change the subject. "Where do you want to go to hunt?" She asked, her tail swishing from side to side at the thought of hunting.

[Talonfang]

At her answer, the big tom stood and stretched before flicking his tail for her to follow. "Lets hunt along the stream" he said before padding towards the entrance. He quietly slipped out without explaining himself to the guard, his ears pricked and his eyes alert in the growing light of the land around them. All seemed well and quiet, only the swish of fur as he lead them along towards the gently babbling stream of water that cut through the territory.

As they neared, Talonstar parted his jaws to drink in the scents around him. Instantly vole reached his senses and he dropped into a crouch. The soft sounds of the skittering feet tickled his ear hair and suddenly the little creature dashed out from the tall grass that lined the water's banks. Instantly the tom launched himself, his large paws landing upon the little body and a quick bite to the neck ending the prey. Raising his head, he glanced back to Blazenheart.

[Blazenheart]

Blazenheart had followed the tom as the grass tickled her paws and the early morning sky glossed her pelt. The warmth made her pelt tingle while the mouth-watering scents of prey flooded through her nostrils.

She noticed that the leader had crouched as he stared intently at the vole. She slowed as she watched him pounce.

"Great catch!" she praised as the tom looked back.

[Talonfang]

Talonstar gave a nod to her praise before he carried the vole over to the base of a tree and scrapped dirt over it to collect later. He then ventured over to the water's edge where he crouched down and lapped at the freezing water's surface. Once his thirst was satisfied and the taste of prey washed away, he stood and glanced around.

[Blazenheart]

It was her turn now. Blazenheart parted her jaws. Scenting a mouse, she automatically went into her crouch. She stalked towards it quietly putting one paw in front of the other. Unluckily she stepped on a twig, making a loud crack that seemed to echo in her ears. The mouse turned it's chubby head, and started to run off. Blazenheart caught up to it easily. She dashed in front of it and whacked it with a blow of her paw. I am out of practice, she thought. I'm glad it was slow. She carried the fat, juicy mouse over to Talonstar. 

[Talonfang]

Talonstar had watched the she-cat hunt, her words floating back into his mind of being stiff from staying in the nursery so long. He could tell she had spent some time there due to the way her hunting went but at least she caught the rodent and so he said nothing on what it had taken to catch it. "The clan will enjoy that" he commented, seeing the size of the mouse.