Post by Snakestar on Aug 10, 2011 22:01:53 GMT -5
Dawnpelt was lost. Completely, and utterly. She was mentally demoralized... so eager had she been to show how excellent of a warrior she could make, it suddenly occured to her that although her own camp was so familiar she could walk around with her eyes closed... she couldn't say the same thing about the surrounding terrain. As it was, long hours of lost wanderings had found her in the evening light, a lightly-colored bundle of fluff picking her way through the grass, hunched like a hunted animal. Eventually, she stopped in order to clamber up onto one of the rocks by the water, pink tongue licking at her whiskered maw as she contemplated trying to reach the shimmering surface.
Snakeface lay on his belly, perched along the branch of an old tree. He could see its age in the twisted bark and massive size. He could smell how it had sprung forth from the soil only to become one with the landscape. He loved it. If anything, it was a magnificent way to get a bird's eye view on the land surrounding his camp's open entrence. This being said, he was quick to notice the little she-cat as she prowled up to his pond to drink. The long tom would not begrudge water to a child, but he would confront her. She was a bit too close to his camp for comfort, and the other Clans were sneaky. Silent as a his slick-scaled namesake, he slipped off the branch and onto a nearby rock. Fluid motions brought him down, down to ground level. "Good day, young miss," he meowed amicably as he approached.
Dawnpelt strained to reach the water without falling off one of the ledges, paws placing themselves on whichever small bumps she could find. Her tail had flicked into the air to maintain her balance, gray eyes focused in on her target. However, upon an unexpected sound behind her... the fluffy tail became doubly so, puffing up. A series of scrapes could be heard as she attempted to scramble around to face the speaker... but this was difficult, with hind end in the air and her body leaning towards the water. Snakeface might have caught a flash of widened eyes, barely peeking over the top of the nearest rock, before she fell altogether with a startled miaow and into the shallows of the shore. How graceful.
Snakeface blinked in surprise at the other cat's flailage. Being a cat who emphasized grace and care, the display was quite different. Still, it was more kit-antics than anything to him, and he allowed a small smile of amusement. Disregarding prudence, this was his territory after all, he trotted the distance between them, stopping on a rock next to hers. "Are you alright, there?" The tabby peered into the shallow but muddy pond-edge, his bright blue eyes betraying a certain concern under the vivid amusement.
Dawnpelt struggled up to her paws, now looking considerably smaller. Her fur had been flattened, thanks to the water... but that didn't stop her from trying to bristle it. It stuck up in tufts, the apprentice walking stiff-legged and flat-pawed up onto a low stone at the shore. She stared at Snakeface apprehensively, her whiskers splayed. This wasn't any cat she recognized... which meant, in her opinion, she was in big trouble. And it was tough to appear threatening when dripping wet. "Who are you?" she miaowed, voice loud due to her apprehension. She quickly surveyed Snakeface's appearance, taking note of every little action... she wouldn't stand a chance, should it come down to a fight. Upon this understanding, her defensive stance turned to one that indicated she might bound away from the area.
Snakeface sat, a disarming gesture. He wasn't planning on going anywhere, and felt rather at home. There was no need to stand on formality. "Snakestar of ShaleClan," he replied, still smiling. He'd decided that honesty was the best policy when dealing with kittens. They were so vulnerable and impressionable with little delicate feelings. "I promise that you have little to fear in my presence, unless, of course, you prove to be a spy sent from another clan." He couldn't help but add the last bit. For all his smiles and graces, the tabby had climbed the ladder to the top with success, and he was worthy of it. "And you?"
Dawnpelt's sodden tail gave a twitch, sending a few droplets of water to arc through the air. She stared at Snakeface through all the words he spoke, ears pricked forward and an attentive look on the damp face. Eventually, the whiskers of her left side gave a flick. "If I were a spy... I wouldn't be admitting it," she'd answer warily. She glanced quickly to her side, ear angled back, as though she thought she'd heard someone sneaking up on her. But alas... nothing was there but the rocky area which had, no doubt, earned ShaleClan's namesake. "I'm Dawnpaw... " and here, her face fell a little, became a little more dark. "Apprentice without a mentor."
Snakeface's smile only widened at the smaller cat's pause and careful reply. She was turning out to be quite the charmer. "Good answer," he meowed cheerfully. He sombered up as she went on, though. Clearly the mood had shifted. Still, his smile lingered, small but present. "I'm sorry," he paused, allowing his sincerity to settle before continuing. "If it's any consolation, you may be in luck. I will take you on as my apprentice if you would join my clan." He could keep a close eye on her that way in case she was a spy, but he could also gain a good and true warrior if she wasn't. He was hopeful of the latter. Besides, he missed the days of simple warriorship, mentors and apprentices without the messy politics of leading.
Dawnpelt gave Snakeface a good, long stare, sodden tail still swaying to and fro like a limp frond of lichen. She hadn't bothered to shake out her fur yet... to do so would jar her senses long enough to put her in more danger than she was currently. From her perspective, anyway. Dawnpelt felt as though she was on tenterhooks. And yet.... she took a step forward, up onto a higher stone, to observe the ShaleClan leader. "I'm not of your Clan's blood. You would admit a cat of another Clan here so easily?" While still clumsy with age, her mind had always been sharper than her claws, but there were still plenty of things she didn't understand. But when she thought about it.... back at her old Clan camp... she didn't really know anyone there, close family long since been lost.
Snakeface was beginning to like this cat more and more. He had to admit he was a sucker for fellow thinkers. Hers was a good question, and he could fully respect that, spy or not. Pleased, the tom was all too happy to answer. "You are young enough to be more easily integrated into the clan regardless of your heritage and," he paused, a small frown creeping into his expression. "I will not pretend that we are entirely selfless. There is a war in these parts, and it is always good to have another set of paws. I assure you that my clan fights by the Warrior's Code and only when necessary. Your life will not be thrown away here." He stared intently at the kit, who was certainly not too young to be exposed to this knowledge.
Dawnpelt didn't answer for a long time, simply listening to his response. She slowly settled stomach-down on the stone, which had no doubt been earlier heated by the sun, and tucked her forepaws into her chest. She took a moment to simply think, new apprentice simply taking a breather so her mind could function better, sunbathing in the meantime to help her dry out. "If I refused, would you let me walk out of here?" she said finally, and her gray eyes opened to lock on the male. So intent was her gaze, one would almost think she was running a test.
Ivypelt. Lurking around lands that seemed to have been claimed by various cats without getting caught appeared to be tougher than before. Was this group larger or just more active? Alternatively, it might just be her imagination. Still, it was getting harder to hunt and still avoid the unknown felines, so maybe it was a good idea to finally make her presence known. In fact, at the moment she could only smell two nearby. That was few enough that if things didn't go well, she could probably escape. Making sure she was still downwind of the pair so her scent wouldn't carry, she crept cautiously towards them, picking the moment she stepped close enough to be spotted to interrupt their conversation and announce her presence with a meowed, "Hello." Choosing to leave out for the moment the reason why she was even there or what she wanted, she said no more, waiting to gauge the reaction to her appearance first. She hoped she'd been as stealthy as she imagined herself and managed to catch them by surprise.
Snakeface smile returned, though this time it was a little less benevolent and a little more thin, almost describable as repitilian. "I will make no move against you, though I cannot guarentee your safety past my borders." She had not yet seen his camp, and was therefore of little use to the other clans on matters concerning ShaleClan besides Snakestar's willingness to recruit which, if the other clans were honest with themselves, they were also in need of more cats. The tom sat, tall and straight, but also relaxed. He was in no discomfort, and his posture mirrored that. He was amused to find himself staring so intently eye-to-eye with such a young cat, but also impressed. Suddenly, another cat made herself known, and Snakestar was suddenly very glad he'd hung around camp today. This was twice that a loner had come very close to ShaleClan's heart. As the voice rung out, the tom jerked his head to the side to find the source. "Hello," he meowed with a thin smile. He was not happy to have been surprised on his own land, but he would play carefully. "Snakestar, and you?"
Dawnpelt attentively regarded his response.... and her ears flicked briefly back as though in pleasure. This was the kind of response she was glad to hear. However, her attention was quickly diverted by the arrival of a second feline.... and she craned her head to see who had arrived. This involved all kinds of head-bobbing and head-weaving like an attentive owl until she managed to set her gaze in on Ivypelt. For now, she was quiet... the other cat that had arrived as a distraction was welcome. It gave Dawnpaw time to think... and time to watch Snakestar when his back was turned, surveying every little nuance and action. Was this someone who would be a good mentor?
Ivypelt. Well, she was not greeted with immediate, outright hostility. That was a good sign, at least. Noticing that only one of the pair introduced himself, she glanced curiously at the smaller one. Snakestar's daughter, perhaps? No, they didn't smell enough alike. Not that it mattered, the more important thing was to figure out if she could live in peace with the group she assumed these two to be a part of or if she would have to find a new place to live now that her presence was known. "Ivypelt." While not coming from a clan, her mother had heard tales of them and chosen to name her children like the warriors, having quite missed the whole system of names changing as one got older. Thanks to that latter detail, the ending '-star' did not register to her as being a sign of a leader name, though the format told her that she had probably stumbled upon a clan rather than just a random group of loners.
Snakeface settled with a careful, but by no means unfriendly, demeanor. He didn't enjoy having his time with Dawnpaw interrupted, but he was the leader of a StarClan-blessed group, and he could deal. For now, the youngster would be moved to the backseat of his mind, though not entirely ignored. He turned his body as well as his head to face the newcomer, not wanting to seem disrespectful or, heavens forbid, get a sore neck from twisting it for too long. "Are you from around here, Ivypelt?" Though he rarely cared about backstories, she-cat's name was clannish and Snakestar didn't want to deal with the complications of having a cat from a nearby clan traipsing around his territory.
Dawnpelt eventually stood up and shook herself out, her fur having dried enough to not look like a drowned rat. Fur still stuck up in odd tufts here and there, looking a little more fluffier than usual thanks to being wet and un-groomed... but the apprehension from the kit seemed to have faded. She padded over, a little closer, to sit down a few feet away from the two and started to lick at her fur, coarse tongue grating over almost rusty red fur to flatten it back down.
Ivypelt. Ah, so a civil conversation would be possible. Deciding she was in no immediate danger, the tawny tabby sat down, though she still did not take her eyes off of Snakestar just in case he changed his mind and decided to attack her out of nowhere. "From around here? No, of course not. All the land around here seems to be quite thoroughly claimed by groups. I'm what I believe you would call... a loner? My mother just had a fascination with clans and thought it would be fun to name her children the same way." The cat looked amused by her own statement, as if she found her parent's behavior to be silly. "What about you and the little one, whose name I don't seem to have caught?" She had assumed that both lived in the territory as part of what she still took be one of those clans her mother had always been on about, but now seemed the perfect chance to find out, on top of the opportunity to hint that she wanted to know the other one's name.
Snakeface noted with mild surprise how willing Ivypelt had been to reveal her origins. He supposed it made sense, but he still found it odd (perhaps suspiciously so) that a loner had been so willing. Maybe he was just used to the wartime paranoia, but he'd keep it in mind. "Ah." What else could be said to that? "ShaleClan here is my home," he waved his tail at the land around him, smiling with fondness at it. It was a good place. The leader would keep an ear on Dawnpaw, curious to know how she would respond.
Dawnpelt lifted her head from lick-lick-licking her pelt flat, and regarded Ivypelt attentively. She studied the female a moment... before the cat straightened up and walked over to seat herself at Snakestar's side. No visible expression passed over the kit's face, simply that attentive, calculating stare she always seemed to harness. "Dawnpaw," the newly-claimed apprentice answered. "...Apprentice of Snakestar." Insert dramatic music here. Had this been a book, the chapter would have ended to make way for a new one.
Ivypelt. So it was a clan's territory she had found, after all. Her mother would've probably been quite envious, but there was no telling where that one had gotten to since her children became old enough to hunt on their own and had parted ways. Oh, well. She turned her head towards the smaller cat when she finally spoke. Apprentice, huh? She had a vague idea from her mother of what that meant, but the latter hadn't fully understood the concept, so it was a pretty hazy idea. Still, she at least knew that it meant this one was in the same clan as Snakestar. ShaleClan, he had said... It was worth a shot, at any rate. "Any idea if this ShaleClan of yours would allow a loner to join? I'll admit I'm asking because hunting alone seems to be a bit tougher here, with so little land undefended." The last statement was a bit ironic, she'd admit, given how easily she had snuck up on the pair in their own territory. "I can hunt and fight fine on my own, though," she added, in case her first statement suggested otherwise. "The weather and scenery here are just nice and I'd rather not move again if there's an alternative." Further explanation was given as an afterthought, in case anyone was suspicious of her motives for suddenly wanting to settle down somewhere when she was so used to wandering.
Snakeface kept himself still, not wanting to ruin the illusion that Dawnpaw had always been his apprentice since before this encounter, but for the small smile that remained, and would pass as nothing more than a continued expression of his affection for his clan and his home. "I'm sure ShaleClan would be pleased to have you. You need not look further." Two new members in one day? This was a very happy occasion. Granted, they were both relative strangers and Snakestar would be keeping a watch on both of them for a while, but it was all too possible that they were just as they claimed and would therefore become wonderful additions to the clan. If they turned out to be spies and liars and thieves, well, then the powerful clan leader could just have them killed later.
Dawnpelt glanced around the area again, her ears pricked as she studied it all intently. Nothing more was said for the time being... Ivypelt and Snakestar were talking, anyway... and she had decided this was a good time to start surveying the territory better. But this was a kit whose wanderings had gone unpunished... she was feeling a little full of herself, and was sitting erect and apparently attempting to appear heroic. Her tail flicked to and fro, chin lifted. Sure, she had pretty much defected... but here, she would get a mentor! And from someone who she might wish to learn from very much, even.
Ivypelt. It was really that easy? And to think she had put all that effort into remaining hidden before, such a waste. Well, it didn't matter any more, unless Snakestar was wrong about his clan's hospitality. Still, he sounded rather sure of himself. Did he have some sort of position of power within the clan? No matter, she would find out soon enough, assuming they really would accept her as easily as he seemed to think they would. It did seem a little odd for them to take in a complete stranger, though. She could've been lying about her identity for all they knew, though admittedly she probably would have made up something better if she were going to lie -- it would be too easy for them to be suspicious of her vague story and clan-style name. Still, it was too late to change her mind about anything since she'd already asked to join, so she'd just have to stick with it and hope they were as trusting as they'd have to be to take her in just like that. "So, where would I meet more members of ShaleClan? It would be nice to be able to go ahead and find out if I'm as welcome as you say." Hopefully she didn't sound too eager to find where they lived, though she was quite curious to see, and to meet more of these clan cats, find out what they were like.
Snakeface glanced at the sky before replying. It was getting to be around evening, which meant that Finchfur may have already headed the evening patrol out. Still, he was sure he or either of the she-cats would have noticed a three-or-four cat patrol. Hmm. "At camp," he replied, rising to his paws. Once they saw the camp and its location they would, in Snakestar's eyes, be fully committed to ShaleClan or else. In hindsight this would have been a good thing to tell them, but why apply pressure where no pressure was needed? "Though, my deputy, Finchfur, may have taken some cats out patrolling the territory." He paused before turning around and trotting towards camp, waving his tail as a sign for the two to follow.
Dawnpelt pulled herself up onto her paws, leaning back and settling most of her weight on her hind legs. This enabled her to stretch out her front, her eyes squeezing shut momentarily... and she rocked forward to stiffily stretch out both back legs. A bit flat-footed, she started to walk, until the cat eased into an easier gait after Snakestar once he indicated them to tail after him. "Finchfur?" ...Probably a good thing she hadn't lingered too long outside, then.
Ivypelt. His deputy? So this Snakestar did have some sort of position of power, or at least he was high enough that there were at least two ranks below him. Keeping this in mind, she stood up, stretched, and followed when the male signalled to her and the smaller one with his tail. Camp, huh? More and more questions were piling up, but she would simply have to be patient. Surely they would all be answered soon. Hopefully it would turn out that she could get along fine living with a bunch of other cats and that she wouldn't end up regretting this decision. Oh, well, that was all in the future, for now she had to focus on proving that she was committed to joining this ShaleClan and someone they could trust. No matter what the group was like, after all, certainly someone would find a new member suspicious. There couldn't be that many trusting cats in one territory, right?
Snakeface lay on his belly, perched along the branch of an old tree. He could see its age in the twisted bark and massive size. He could smell how it had sprung forth from the soil only to become one with the landscape. He loved it. If anything, it was a magnificent way to get a bird's eye view on the land surrounding his camp's open entrence. This being said, he was quick to notice the little she-cat as she prowled up to his pond to drink. The long tom would not begrudge water to a child, but he would confront her. She was a bit too close to his camp for comfort, and the other Clans were sneaky. Silent as a his slick-scaled namesake, he slipped off the branch and onto a nearby rock. Fluid motions brought him down, down to ground level. "Good day, young miss," he meowed amicably as he approached.
Dawnpelt strained to reach the water without falling off one of the ledges, paws placing themselves on whichever small bumps she could find. Her tail had flicked into the air to maintain her balance, gray eyes focused in on her target. However, upon an unexpected sound behind her... the fluffy tail became doubly so, puffing up. A series of scrapes could be heard as she attempted to scramble around to face the speaker... but this was difficult, with hind end in the air and her body leaning towards the water. Snakeface might have caught a flash of widened eyes, barely peeking over the top of the nearest rock, before she fell altogether with a startled miaow and into the shallows of the shore. How graceful.
Snakeface blinked in surprise at the other cat's flailage. Being a cat who emphasized grace and care, the display was quite different. Still, it was more kit-antics than anything to him, and he allowed a small smile of amusement. Disregarding prudence, this was his territory after all, he trotted the distance between them, stopping on a rock next to hers. "Are you alright, there?" The tabby peered into the shallow but muddy pond-edge, his bright blue eyes betraying a certain concern under the vivid amusement.
Dawnpelt struggled up to her paws, now looking considerably smaller. Her fur had been flattened, thanks to the water... but that didn't stop her from trying to bristle it. It stuck up in tufts, the apprentice walking stiff-legged and flat-pawed up onto a low stone at the shore. She stared at Snakeface apprehensively, her whiskers splayed. This wasn't any cat she recognized... which meant, in her opinion, she was in big trouble. And it was tough to appear threatening when dripping wet. "Who are you?" she miaowed, voice loud due to her apprehension. She quickly surveyed Snakeface's appearance, taking note of every little action... she wouldn't stand a chance, should it come down to a fight. Upon this understanding, her defensive stance turned to one that indicated she might bound away from the area.
Snakeface sat, a disarming gesture. He wasn't planning on going anywhere, and felt rather at home. There was no need to stand on formality. "Snakestar of ShaleClan," he replied, still smiling. He'd decided that honesty was the best policy when dealing with kittens. They were so vulnerable and impressionable with little delicate feelings. "I promise that you have little to fear in my presence, unless, of course, you prove to be a spy sent from another clan." He couldn't help but add the last bit. For all his smiles and graces, the tabby had climbed the ladder to the top with success, and he was worthy of it. "And you?"
Dawnpelt's sodden tail gave a twitch, sending a few droplets of water to arc through the air. She stared at Snakeface through all the words he spoke, ears pricked forward and an attentive look on the damp face. Eventually, the whiskers of her left side gave a flick. "If I were a spy... I wouldn't be admitting it," she'd answer warily. She glanced quickly to her side, ear angled back, as though she thought she'd heard someone sneaking up on her. But alas... nothing was there but the rocky area which had, no doubt, earned ShaleClan's namesake. "I'm Dawnpaw... " and here, her face fell a little, became a little more dark. "Apprentice without a mentor."
Snakeface's smile only widened at the smaller cat's pause and careful reply. She was turning out to be quite the charmer. "Good answer," he meowed cheerfully. He sombered up as she went on, though. Clearly the mood had shifted. Still, his smile lingered, small but present. "I'm sorry," he paused, allowing his sincerity to settle before continuing. "If it's any consolation, you may be in luck. I will take you on as my apprentice if you would join my clan." He could keep a close eye on her that way in case she was a spy, but he could also gain a good and true warrior if she wasn't. He was hopeful of the latter. Besides, he missed the days of simple warriorship, mentors and apprentices without the messy politics of leading.
Dawnpelt gave Snakeface a good, long stare, sodden tail still swaying to and fro like a limp frond of lichen. She hadn't bothered to shake out her fur yet... to do so would jar her senses long enough to put her in more danger than she was currently. From her perspective, anyway. Dawnpelt felt as though she was on tenterhooks. And yet.... she took a step forward, up onto a higher stone, to observe the ShaleClan leader. "I'm not of your Clan's blood. You would admit a cat of another Clan here so easily?" While still clumsy with age, her mind had always been sharper than her claws, but there were still plenty of things she didn't understand. But when she thought about it.... back at her old Clan camp... she didn't really know anyone there, close family long since been lost.
Snakeface was beginning to like this cat more and more. He had to admit he was a sucker for fellow thinkers. Hers was a good question, and he could fully respect that, spy or not. Pleased, the tom was all too happy to answer. "You are young enough to be more easily integrated into the clan regardless of your heritage and," he paused, a small frown creeping into his expression. "I will not pretend that we are entirely selfless. There is a war in these parts, and it is always good to have another set of paws. I assure you that my clan fights by the Warrior's Code and only when necessary. Your life will not be thrown away here." He stared intently at the kit, who was certainly not too young to be exposed to this knowledge.
Dawnpelt didn't answer for a long time, simply listening to his response. She slowly settled stomach-down on the stone, which had no doubt been earlier heated by the sun, and tucked her forepaws into her chest. She took a moment to simply think, new apprentice simply taking a breather so her mind could function better, sunbathing in the meantime to help her dry out. "If I refused, would you let me walk out of here?" she said finally, and her gray eyes opened to lock on the male. So intent was her gaze, one would almost think she was running a test.
Ivypelt. Lurking around lands that seemed to have been claimed by various cats without getting caught appeared to be tougher than before. Was this group larger or just more active? Alternatively, it might just be her imagination. Still, it was getting harder to hunt and still avoid the unknown felines, so maybe it was a good idea to finally make her presence known. In fact, at the moment she could only smell two nearby. That was few enough that if things didn't go well, she could probably escape. Making sure she was still downwind of the pair so her scent wouldn't carry, she crept cautiously towards them, picking the moment she stepped close enough to be spotted to interrupt their conversation and announce her presence with a meowed, "Hello." Choosing to leave out for the moment the reason why she was even there or what she wanted, she said no more, waiting to gauge the reaction to her appearance first. She hoped she'd been as stealthy as she imagined herself and managed to catch them by surprise.
Snakeface smile returned, though this time it was a little less benevolent and a little more thin, almost describable as repitilian. "I will make no move against you, though I cannot guarentee your safety past my borders." She had not yet seen his camp, and was therefore of little use to the other clans on matters concerning ShaleClan besides Snakestar's willingness to recruit which, if the other clans were honest with themselves, they were also in need of more cats. The tom sat, tall and straight, but also relaxed. He was in no discomfort, and his posture mirrored that. He was amused to find himself staring so intently eye-to-eye with such a young cat, but also impressed. Suddenly, another cat made herself known, and Snakestar was suddenly very glad he'd hung around camp today. This was twice that a loner had come very close to ShaleClan's heart. As the voice rung out, the tom jerked his head to the side to find the source. "Hello," he meowed with a thin smile. He was not happy to have been surprised on his own land, but he would play carefully. "Snakestar, and you?"
Dawnpelt attentively regarded his response.... and her ears flicked briefly back as though in pleasure. This was the kind of response she was glad to hear. However, her attention was quickly diverted by the arrival of a second feline.... and she craned her head to see who had arrived. This involved all kinds of head-bobbing and head-weaving like an attentive owl until she managed to set her gaze in on Ivypelt. For now, she was quiet... the other cat that had arrived as a distraction was welcome. It gave Dawnpaw time to think... and time to watch Snakestar when his back was turned, surveying every little nuance and action. Was this someone who would be a good mentor?
Ivypelt. Well, she was not greeted with immediate, outright hostility. That was a good sign, at least. Noticing that only one of the pair introduced himself, she glanced curiously at the smaller one. Snakestar's daughter, perhaps? No, they didn't smell enough alike. Not that it mattered, the more important thing was to figure out if she could live in peace with the group she assumed these two to be a part of or if she would have to find a new place to live now that her presence was known. "Ivypelt." While not coming from a clan, her mother had heard tales of them and chosen to name her children like the warriors, having quite missed the whole system of names changing as one got older. Thanks to that latter detail, the ending '-star' did not register to her as being a sign of a leader name, though the format told her that she had probably stumbled upon a clan rather than just a random group of loners.
Snakeface settled with a careful, but by no means unfriendly, demeanor. He didn't enjoy having his time with Dawnpaw interrupted, but he was the leader of a StarClan-blessed group, and he could deal. For now, the youngster would be moved to the backseat of his mind, though not entirely ignored. He turned his body as well as his head to face the newcomer, not wanting to seem disrespectful or, heavens forbid, get a sore neck from twisting it for too long. "Are you from around here, Ivypelt?" Though he rarely cared about backstories, she-cat's name was clannish and Snakestar didn't want to deal with the complications of having a cat from a nearby clan traipsing around his territory.
Dawnpelt eventually stood up and shook herself out, her fur having dried enough to not look like a drowned rat. Fur still stuck up in odd tufts here and there, looking a little more fluffier than usual thanks to being wet and un-groomed... but the apprehension from the kit seemed to have faded. She padded over, a little closer, to sit down a few feet away from the two and started to lick at her fur, coarse tongue grating over almost rusty red fur to flatten it back down.
Ivypelt. Ah, so a civil conversation would be possible. Deciding she was in no immediate danger, the tawny tabby sat down, though she still did not take her eyes off of Snakestar just in case he changed his mind and decided to attack her out of nowhere. "From around here? No, of course not. All the land around here seems to be quite thoroughly claimed by groups. I'm what I believe you would call... a loner? My mother just had a fascination with clans and thought it would be fun to name her children the same way." The cat looked amused by her own statement, as if she found her parent's behavior to be silly. "What about you and the little one, whose name I don't seem to have caught?" She had assumed that both lived in the territory as part of what she still took be one of those clans her mother had always been on about, but now seemed the perfect chance to find out, on top of the opportunity to hint that she wanted to know the other one's name.
Snakeface noted with mild surprise how willing Ivypelt had been to reveal her origins. He supposed it made sense, but he still found it odd (perhaps suspiciously so) that a loner had been so willing. Maybe he was just used to the wartime paranoia, but he'd keep it in mind. "Ah." What else could be said to that? "ShaleClan here is my home," he waved his tail at the land around him, smiling with fondness at it. It was a good place. The leader would keep an ear on Dawnpaw, curious to know how she would respond.
Dawnpelt lifted her head from lick-lick-licking her pelt flat, and regarded Ivypelt attentively. She studied the female a moment... before the cat straightened up and walked over to seat herself at Snakestar's side. No visible expression passed over the kit's face, simply that attentive, calculating stare she always seemed to harness. "Dawnpaw," the newly-claimed apprentice answered. "...Apprentice of Snakestar." Insert dramatic music here. Had this been a book, the chapter would have ended to make way for a new one.
Ivypelt. So it was a clan's territory she had found, after all. Her mother would've probably been quite envious, but there was no telling where that one had gotten to since her children became old enough to hunt on their own and had parted ways. Oh, well. She turned her head towards the smaller cat when she finally spoke. Apprentice, huh? She had a vague idea from her mother of what that meant, but the latter hadn't fully understood the concept, so it was a pretty hazy idea. Still, she at least knew that it meant this one was in the same clan as Snakestar. ShaleClan, he had said... It was worth a shot, at any rate. "Any idea if this ShaleClan of yours would allow a loner to join? I'll admit I'm asking because hunting alone seems to be a bit tougher here, with so little land undefended." The last statement was a bit ironic, she'd admit, given how easily she had snuck up on the pair in their own territory. "I can hunt and fight fine on my own, though," she added, in case her first statement suggested otherwise. "The weather and scenery here are just nice and I'd rather not move again if there's an alternative." Further explanation was given as an afterthought, in case anyone was suspicious of her motives for suddenly wanting to settle down somewhere when she was so used to wandering.
Snakeface kept himself still, not wanting to ruin the illusion that Dawnpaw had always been his apprentice since before this encounter, but for the small smile that remained, and would pass as nothing more than a continued expression of his affection for his clan and his home. "I'm sure ShaleClan would be pleased to have you. You need not look further." Two new members in one day? This was a very happy occasion. Granted, they were both relative strangers and Snakestar would be keeping a watch on both of them for a while, but it was all too possible that they were just as they claimed and would therefore become wonderful additions to the clan. If they turned out to be spies and liars and thieves, well, then the powerful clan leader could just have them killed later.
Dawnpelt glanced around the area again, her ears pricked as she studied it all intently. Nothing more was said for the time being... Ivypelt and Snakestar were talking, anyway... and she had decided this was a good time to start surveying the territory better. But this was a kit whose wanderings had gone unpunished... she was feeling a little full of herself, and was sitting erect and apparently attempting to appear heroic. Her tail flicked to and fro, chin lifted. Sure, she had pretty much defected... but here, she would get a mentor! And from someone who she might wish to learn from very much, even.
Ivypelt. It was really that easy? And to think she had put all that effort into remaining hidden before, such a waste. Well, it didn't matter any more, unless Snakestar was wrong about his clan's hospitality. Still, he sounded rather sure of himself. Did he have some sort of position of power within the clan? No matter, she would find out soon enough, assuming they really would accept her as easily as he seemed to think they would. It did seem a little odd for them to take in a complete stranger, though. She could've been lying about her identity for all they knew, though admittedly she probably would have made up something better if she were going to lie -- it would be too easy for them to be suspicious of her vague story and clan-style name. Still, it was too late to change her mind about anything since she'd already asked to join, so she'd just have to stick with it and hope they were as trusting as they'd have to be to take her in just like that. "So, where would I meet more members of ShaleClan? It would be nice to be able to go ahead and find out if I'm as welcome as you say." Hopefully she didn't sound too eager to find where they lived, though she was quite curious to see, and to meet more of these clan cats, find out what they were like.
Snakeface glanced at the sky before replying. It was getting to be around evening, which meant that Finchfur may have already headed the evening patrol out. Still, he was sure he or either of the she-cats would have noticed a three-or-four cat patrol. Hmm. "At camp," he replied, rising to his paws. Once they saw the camp and its location they would, in Snakestar's eyes, be fully committed to ShaleClan or else. In hindsight this would have been a good thing to tell them, but why apply pressure where no pressure was needed? "Though, my deputy, Finchfur, may have taken some cats out patrolling the territory." He paused before turning around and trotting towards camp, waving his tail as a sign for the two to follow.
Dawnpelt pulled herself up onto her paws, leaning back and settling most of her weight on her hind legs. This enabled her to stretch out her front, her eyes squeezing shut momentarily... and she rocked forward to stiffily stretch out both back legs. A bit flat-footed, she started to walk, until the cat eased into an easier gait after Snakestar once he indicated them to tail after him. "Finchfur?" ...Probably a good thing she hadn't lingered too long outside, then.
Ivypelt. His deputy? So this Snakestar did have some sort of position of power, or at least he was high enough that there were at least two ranks below him. Keeping this in mind, she stood up, stretched, and followed when the male signalled to her and the smaller one with his tail. Camp, huh? More and more questions were piling up, but she would simply have to be patient. Surely they would all be answered soon. Hopefully it would turn out that she could get along fine living with a bunch of other cats and that she wouldn't end up regretting this decision. Oh, well, that was all in the future, for now she had to focus on proving that she was committed to joining this ShaleClan and someone they could trust. No matter what the group was like, after all, certainly someone would find a new member suspicious. There couldn't be that many trusting cats in one territory, right?
