Yet Another Day

[ber !]

Oakstar's eyes flickered open, alert. Always alert. He rose to his paws in a quick, fluid motion, shaking off sleep as he stretched his limbs. Just another day, he thought, grimacing slightly. His body felt energized from the sleep, yet he had no desire to leave his den. The tom sighed, pushing away his own dark thoughts so he could make his way out of his den. He was light on his feet, and when he reached the entrance of his den he glanced around with alert eyes. Always alert.

As soon as he detected no danger, he let himself slightly relax. He was feeling quite famished, so he made his way over to the fresh-kill pile. He picked the warmest looking mouse and took it over to the entrance of his den. His mouth salivated at the delicious scent he breathed in. His pelt tingled, and as he set his prey down, his claws were already unsheathed.

Oakstar took his claws and sliced the mouse's belly open. The skin flapped to the side, exposing the creature's organs. He dug into his meal, tail twitching in glee at the taste of blood oozing into his mouth. After he was finished eating, he clawed more at its remains, bloodying his paws. The leader let out a low chuckle of sick enjoyment, and his eyes shined in delight. Oh, the blood, the blood. The delicious red liquid which engulfed his paws, staining his fur. How happy the crimson color made him.

[Cloudfeather]

Maplestep slinked out of her den, glancing around calmy as she stretched. Smiling she walked over to her leader and dipped her head to him politely,"Oakstar. Sleep well?", she asked as she glanced from the mouse to him, not bothered by the scene. It just made her wonder about him and why he was so mysterious all the time. He had been an apprentice when she was a kit, he had given her her full name a few moons ago. She sat, looking around.

Her intelligent and curious eyes missed nothing in the camp, she knew most everything. She was more of a watcher than a doer. Her clan leader was much larger, that much was obviuos. The white parts in her pelt reflected the rising sun, making the gold in her eyes dance. She looked back to him, amusement in her voice,"Didn't your mother teach you its not good manners to the one who caught the mouse if all you do is play with it?", she asked teasingly.

Their was a glint in her eyes, something along the signs of laughter as she smiled at him. He was such an odd cat, of course that only made her want to learn more.

[ber !]

And thus enters reality. As quickly as it had came, his alone time was gone. His claws flexed in silent anger, but composed himself. Oakstar drew his tongue silently over his bloody paws. His tail flicked in slight joy at the taste. After he finished cleaning his paws, he pushed the mouse away. He was wondering what to say to her first remark when her second comment hit home.

And boy, home did not like being hit.

Oakstar raised to his paws, stepping a little in front of the she-cat before rounding on her. His eyes were bright with fury, and he secreted venomous resentment. But his face was still composed as he stared her straight in the eyes as he spoke, voice even and calm even though he looked ready to murder her. "Did your mother ever teach you manners, like how bringing up their dead mother might upset them?" he said coolly, his eyes cold. Oakstar's lip twitched before he stalked away from her, looking for an escape.

[Cloudfeather]

Maplestep chuckled,"You don't scare me and you know it. You haven't ever scared me. I've known you for awhile and you know how sorry i am about your mother.", she said and slipped up next to him. She nudged his shoulder gentaly,"Look i'm sorry. I know what will cheer you up though, a hunt?", she asked him.

She knew he liked hunting. She frowned and tilted her head,"Come on Oakstar. You know you wanna...", she said. She wasn't trying to do anything than cheer up someone shed know her entire life though she hadnt known him his. She smiled and her claws scabbled at the ground.

"Please?", she said. Her tail flicked behind her in excitement, she liked hunting. Not for the reasons he did but she stil quite liked it.

[ber !]

Oakstar snorted, tail flicking in agitation. She should be scared. She had no idea how he fascinated about murdering and torturing other cats. Then she'd be scared. She wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing his sick thoughts. Her nightmares were his dreams. She could never know how sometimes when he at the Gathering he'd pick out a cat, just a random cat, study it, then fantasize slaughtering it. Maplestep would be horrified.

After reassuring himself with these thoughts, the leader flicked his tail, looking away from her. "I suppose a hunt will do me good. And you, you look fatter by the day." he remarked sarcastically before slipping through the gorse tunnel, already imagining digging his bloodthirsty mouth into a squealing, struggling creature. His paws were careful, his thoughts blank except for the occasional identification of a scent.

Oakstar grunted in frustration. He knew he was appointed leader because he was more loyal than any other cat and would do anything to save it, but that gave no reason for other cats to try and become his friends. He respected each one of his clanmates though, even Maplestep, who could be compared to a thorn in his paw.

[Cloudfeather]

Maplestep smiled and followed him, rolling her eyes,"It'll do you more than good your not looking so hot yourself.", she commented as she walked past him. She had paitence with him for some reason, she glanced back at him and sighed. "Oakstar be honest, do you even know why you enjoy blood? And please don't get snappy. I may annoy you to no end but its for a reason.", she said and continued walking. She sometimes worried about him, he had a temper worse than her and with the combination of his bloodlust he could do something extremely stupid.

She leaped a log neatly and stopped to wait him, a worried look in her eyes,"I know you stubborn. Your alot like me in some ways, in others completely differnt but you know i'm trustworthy. I think your tangled inside, and possibly afraid to come to terms on certain things with yourself. Again, don't go icy. Your decent enough to give a thought out response.", she said and crouched, scenting the air.

[ber !]

Oakstar was not surprised nor angered by the she-cat's question. He had been expecting this question for a while. Expecting was a polite word. He had really stayed up all night torturing himself into finding an answer without giving away his actual insanity. As leader, the tom knew the clan respected him and looked up to him, but although they would never question him, he knew they would question his tendencies. So, finally, Oakstar came up with an answer that was completely true. It was the best way he could put his bloodlust into words that wouldn't horrify his clan.

"Maplestep, I understand your intentions, but don't you think some things would be better left untouched?" Oakstar said calmly, flicking his tail to and fro in complete calmness. He stopped and looked into her eyes. After a second, despite his strong instincts, he decided to himself that he trusted the she-cat. She had always been a loyal warrior to Great Jungle Clan and was a valued warrior. His heart ached in brief happiness at his clan's devotion towards him and the clan.

[Cloudfeather]

Maplestep sighed,"I believe this isn't one of them. I just worry about you, i know its odd but i do. The fact your temper is so short, your impulsive, and the blood lust...I just don't want to see a good leader fall because of something like this. It's happened before, and your smarter than that i know, but still. You might do something one day, even on accident..", she said and held his gaze evenly. Her eyes were narrowed slightly as they searched his for something, anything. But she knew she'd find nothing. He was to good at hiding things.

She sighed and shrugged,"I just hope you can get out of whatever hole you may end up digging yourself and know if something like that happens then your clan may not support you..", she said and looked away. She turned and started walking again, wanting to take this conversation a little further from camp.

Sliding under a low hanging branch she jumped up onto a branch beside it, lying on it and waiting for him again. Her tail curled and uncurled as she thought.

[ber !]

Oakstar scoffed, his guarded expression dropping to show the humor he found in this statement. His tail flicked and he easily launched himself up onto a branch that hung a little bit away from the she-cat, but enough to where they could still talk quietly. His tail waved in the air beneath him, and he licked his paws before drawing them over his ears.

His voice was a light purr, something not common with the tom. "Dear Maplestep, I'm not a mousebrain. Although I have strong bloodlust and a short temper, I'm also wise enough to put that aside to when it's needed." He looked thoughtfully out in the forest, ears flicking. "Vinestar knew this. When he appointed me, he wasn't just doing it because he had a tender spot for me when I had lost my family, but he had faith that I would lead this clan with everything I have. And have I let you down yet?"

The tom's heart ached at the rememberence of someone who cared very deeply for him. More so than his suicidal mother. Vinestar's mate had died giving birth to the kits, and the kits were too small to live. He knew what it was like to lose everything he loved, which is why he was so in love with Oakstar's ability to keep on going even as a kit he had lost everything dear to him.

[Cloudfeather]

Maplestep shook her head and sighed. She glanced up at him, her tail curling and uncurling beside her. She shrugged,"I know that and i do not doubt you inability to lead or your judgment. I just do not wish for something to happen. Your a good leader Oakstar you deserve your position, I know. You were always loyal to the clan from what I saw as a kit and apprentice, in all truth i somewhat looked up to you for your loyalty and ability to cope. I looked up to some of the other warriors also for the fact that they were all good fighters and balanced hunters..", she said.

She looked up, a little startled at his slight purring. She hadn't ever heard him purr but she instantly relaxed a bit as he purred. Now she knew he was being more open with her and more relaxed himself, that thought calmed her. She sighed and rested her head on her legs as she stretched her six-toed paws out.

Maplestep closed her eyes, listening to the sounds of the forest. Her brown ears flicked as they caught the sounds of Parrots in the canopy above them. She flicked them to the left and one ear swiveled back as she listened, trying to find some good prey to hunt.

[ber !]

Oakstar's claws tore at the mossy branch, letting his long tail lash in joy at the feeling of claws being stretched. He was rather enjoying himself, not very usual. By now the busy tom was typically patrolling or hunting or ordering cats around. But he did enjoy that too. Being leader was something he loved, and there were few things he loved.

"Thank you, Cloudfeather. But do me a favor next time, and let me worry about leader, and you can worry about obeying me or getting your ears clawed off," he growled playfully before leaping off the branch and looking around. "Let's head to Starlit Stream, shall we? There are probably a few water voles out sunbathing on such a beautiful day."

With a flick of his tail he headed away from the camp. At a the top of a ravine, the path marked by footsteps of his warrior ancestors branched off in three different directions. The one towards the left took you to the training hollow, the one straight forward took you farther into the forest, and the one to the right took you to the starlit stream. Without hesitation Oakstar took off on the right path, tail tip dancing as he held it high.