[Mis]Fortune ~ JaywingxPigeonpaw ~ private thread

[nightstorm]

There was a flash of fur bounding across the open moors. Two flashes of fur, actually. One was a frightened smaller figure, racing for its life, while the second was a larger figure, running for its dinner.

The scent filled her nose, intoxicating her. Jaywing pushed herself faster and faster. Nearly got it, she thought excitedly. The rabbit began to bound in a zigzag pattern, its feet flying faster than the eye could catch properly. The WindClan she-cat poured on the speed, failing to hear the roaring just ahead through the blood pounding in her ears. Her breath came in pants; she could not keep this speed up much longer.

Suddenly, the rabbit switched direction, bounding away. Jaywing began to turn, but was unable to turn sharp enough. With a pang of horror, the rushing sound registered, and she dug her claws into the ground, sliding closer and closer to her doom. With a terrified yowl, she managed to grasp the edge of the cliff, her claws beginning to slip. Has the gorge always been this close? she thought, her thoughts panicked. She scrabbled to stay on the cliff, but in vain. With another chilling howl, the she-cat lost her grip, tumbling into the water below...

Cold.

She was cold. Jaywing opened her eyes, only to squeeze them shut again. There was water all around her...she was under the water! She struggled to draw breath, but realized, with a detached, almost dreamlike air, that she simply could not breath water. Fish might be able to, but not cats.

Her legs were flailing, and Jaywing was able to break the surface, drawing sweet air into her lungs. "Help!" she wailed, wanting someone, anyone, to hear her, and help. She felt the warmth being sucked from her limbs by the harsh, unforgiving river. As she sank under once more, and rose again, coughing and spluttering, she began to realize that she was weakening. Her vision was dimming, and her strokes were slower and softer. She couldn't last much longer. A single thought ran through her head as she slipped under once again.

I'm going to die...StarClan help me!

[hedgie]

The Sky Glows

It was the kind of day where your paws wouldn't let you stay still. His mentor was so distracted by everything these days that if he was ever going to get anything done, it would have to be done on his own time. He had plenty of time these days, so there was no problem there. Pigeonpaw, clueless as to what he was really going to do, had flopped down beside the river on a sun-warmed rock, his dusty-colored tabby pelt blending into the rock's dappled colors. Of course, he couldn't go back to camp so he'd trying fishing. He'd caught a few medium-sized fish, dashing back to camp to drop the fish off before moving on again.

At least he was efficient, mentor or no mentor to help him.

I see it shining when my eyes close


He'd returned to his previous fishing spot, but couldn't seem to catch another morsel there, even for himself. The slim tabby apprentice walked onward, along the riverbank. A swim would be nice, but by the time this thought occurred to him, the gorge had popped up. Pigeonpaw padded closer to the gorge's edge, watching as the river water toppled over and through rocks and boulders, sending up a cool spray that soaked his face, water dripping off of his whiskers.

"Guess I leaned in too close." He mewed, padding away from the edge. The coolness of the water didn't bother him. Of course, he was a Riverclan cat, so it never really bothered him at all. When he'd been really little, the river had seemed so vast and scary, and this point of it still was. In you fell in, the chances of survival were slim to none. So it shocked him half to death as a rabbit ran over the edge and then a cat. His eyes were shocked open wide as he watched the stranger tumble, claws reaching at any possible hold.

The problem was, she had tumbled too far away from anything to grip and was falling into the water. Drowning. The other cat may have come from the Windclan side of the gorge, but he just couldn't let them drown. Glancing over the edge, he saw a faint way down on some rocks that jutted out from the gorge walls. They were slippery with water and moss, but he had to try.

I hear your warning but we both know

He leapt and scrambled, managing to hold a grip as he repeated the process, throwing himself into the water at the point where it became a bit less rough. It would still be a hard swim, but this was better than nothing. He was no hero, but there was a first time for everything. He slipped into the cool liquid, drenching his pelt as he paddled. he could see the other cat. a silvery-gray tabby, bobbing ahead. Increasing his pace, he started to catch up but he was tiring out himself. With one final effort, he scrabbled his paws in the water, finding purchase on a rock. Pushing off, he caught up to the stranger. The water slammed them against a rock, knocking the air out of him, but Pigeonpaw managed to drag the other cat and himself onto the shore. He was unsure of which Clan's territory they were on, but then again...was this really a time to care. Waterlogged, he nudged the other tabby, terrified that she might not wake up.

"C'mon," he hissed, pushing on the she-cat's chest, afraid that he might hurt her but desperate enough to try anything. "Wake up. You can't die. I'd have a hard time telling your Clan, so you have to wake up. Please!"


I'm gonna look at it again.



Lyrics belong to "Don't Wait" by Dashboard Confessional

[nightstorm]

Something was pushing on her chest. It hurt. Jaywing protested with a faint sound. It was dragging her from the comforting, warm darkness that beckoned to her. She just wanted to sleep...just wanted to be warm again. Why wouldn't the stranger leave her alone?

Suddenly, the sound of a hiss broke through the fog that surrounded her, and Jaywing's eyes fluttered open. "Who-Wha-Huh?" The she-cat struggled to sit up, coughing out more water than she thought possible. Jaywing spluttered for a few more moments, before her vision focused upon a tom, a little younger than herself.

"Where am I?" she croaked, trying to stand up and stagger away. To her mortification, Jaywing's legs were too weak, and the she-cat fell back to her side. "Who are you...what happened?"

It came back to her then. The scent of the rabbit, her pulse pounding in her ears. The scrabbling of her claws, and the terrifying plunge off of the gorge's side...and the icy shock of the water. The panic she felt as she went under, unable to breath...

Jaywing looked back up. "You saved me?" she asked incredulously. "Instead of letting me drown?" The scent, wet though it was, was obviously RiverClan. And what other Clan had cats that could swim that well? Her gaze once more roved over the other cat, taking in his young appearance. An older apprentice, or a new warrior like herself, she assumed.

[hedgie]

I'll meet you halfway


Pigeonpaw sat and watched the half-drowned she-cat, licking his pelt to get off as much of the pelt-soaking water he could. He still vaguely resembled a wet rat, albeit a large rat. Heart racing in fear, hating the suspense, the apprentice tom was about ready to start pacing but was afraid to leave her side in case she woke up. What if she didn't?

What if she died?

How was he going to explain that to her Clan? To his Clan? What if they thought this was all his fault, and that he killed her?! He hadn't. She'd fallen, run right off a cliff. Poor Pigeonpaw had seen it with his own eyes.

If you're coming the long way

As soon as those terrified, disoriented thoughts crossed his mind, the Windclan she-cat awoke, coughing up water. He felt so relieved he could've cried with joy. He wouldn't have to worry about that explanation, wouldn't have to fear those fictional, futuristic accusations. The tabby tom sighed as she spluttered out questions."We're either on the Windclan or riverclan side of the river, and I'm Pigeonpaw. Considering the fact you just asked who I am, I'm a Riverclan cat." He shrugged, feeling horrible as shse flopped back down onto the ground. She was obviously recalling what had happened, judging by her expression and reaction, so he felt he didn't have to explain that horrific ordeal to her. Thank Starclan.



Don't care what the people say

"Of course I saved you. What kind of cat would that make me if I let you drown? Windclan or not, I wasn't going to let you die." He replied, taken back by her newest questions. "Well, um...you're safe now and alive. If it's not rude, might I have your name?"


Of the prodigal runaway.



Lyrics belong to "Fire and Rain" by Mat Kearney.

[nightstorm]

Gathering up energy, Jaywing managed to sit up again. This time, she didn't feel so dizzy, and she began to lick at her pelt, trying to get dry again. She grimaced at the taste of the water. It didn't taste the cleanest. Oh well. The she-cat continued to lick at the fur on her chest, smoothing it down. She looked up as the tom introduced himself.

"It seems that gratitude is due," she said, her eyes friendly. "Thank you for rescuing me, Pigeonpaw. "My name is Jaywing. And for the record, no, WindClan cats are not stupid. Just me. I'm a mousebrain. I should have realized how close the gorge was." Jaywing shook her head. "I was so caught up in catching that rabbit that it didn't register until it was too late." She shivered.

"You know, many cats would have just stood by and watched," she continued. "I guess if you had done the same, that would have made you normal. Thank you for deciding that my pelt was worth saving. All it got you was a soaking, but you did it anyways." Jaywing blinked gratefully at the apprentice. Her eyes flickered over the apprentice, taking in his appearance.

"You're a little skinny for a RiverClan cat. I always thought they were supposed to be all fat like rabbits," she said curiously. It wasn't a mean comment; just an observation. "But you must be a strong swimmer. That current is pretty powerful..." She shuddered. "I couldn't fight it."

[Fail post...urgh. Curse this medication for making me sleepy...I gotta...post....*falls asleep at keyboard*]

[hedgie]

Let me light up the sky,
Just for you tonight.[/color]

She sat up and he felt even more relieved. This meant, he figured, that she'd be able to get home safely. Maybe she'd catch a bit of a chill, but he had no medical knowledge. He really couldn't tell how well she would fare. He paused to lick at his own pelt, though it was as dry as he could get it at that point. The rest was up to the wind and sunlight. Pigeonpaw's light-colored pelt was already getting dry in the places it was shortest, but the Riverclan apprentice still looked rather odd. At least his whiskers had stopped dripping.


Let me help you fly,
Cause you won't have time.

"Jaywing? That's a very pretty name." He observed. "Well, I was never saying you all are stupid. Everyone makes mistakes. I do, you do. Even leaders do, even if they won't admit it." Pigeonpaw shrugged, flicking a few water droplets off of his paws. "I don't even realize where the gorge is half the time, but then again..I'm not chasing after rabbits. You were hunting. It's completely reasonable that you were concentrating on that and nothing else. You just have good focus."

"Well..."he started. "I just couldn't sit back and let you drown. It would haunt me for a while. Even if you survived without my help, I'd feel horrible about not helping. If you had died, with or without my help, I wouldn't be able to look at myself the same. I felt like I had to help, or I'd be a killer. That isn't who I am." He'd always wanted to help anyone who'd needed assistance. The elders needed new moss? Why not? A Queen was hungry, but was unwilling to leave her kits? He'd get her some prey.

No big deal.

Saving a life fit into that category. She'd needed help, so he'd done his best to offer it.

Cover your eyes,
Get your disguise,

"Yeah. 'Pigeonpaw chuckled, looking himself over. "I'll be one of the first to admit I'm small. I grew up just fine, but I never really grew out, you know? My brother's a lot larger then I am. I don't mind though. I'd rather be slim than fat like some old rabbit. As long as I can swim, I'm good." Strong? He'd never thought of that. "Thanks. I never really noticed that. I guess I'm a good swimmer. I mean, I have to be, but there are cats in my Clan that probably would have drowned with you if they'd done what I did."

They won't ask you why,
They just watch you die.


Lyrics belong to "Light Up The Sky" by Yellowcard.
[/size]

[nightstorm]

Finally, her pelt was as decent as she could get it, under the circumstances. Jaywing quit licking at her fur, satisfied that it at least was dry enough, and that she didn't look like a rat's nest...or, at least, she hoped not. The she-cat blinked at Pigeonpaw gratefully. "Thank you. I'm glad you think so. I was glad that it was Jaywing, and not Jayclaw, or something like that." She grimaced. "But I am a mousebrain. Even the smallest WindClan kit knows better than to focus so hard. Besides, hunting a rabbit doesn't really take that much concentration. I guess I was just focusing on keeping up my speed. I almost had it too." She shook her head regretfully. "But it was kind of you to say so."

Jaywing cocked her head, studying the apprentice some more. "I'm glad then, that it was you that saw me fall, and not someone else," she said after a moment, her eyes serious, even though her tone remained light. "I'm sure my Clan would have missed me. I don't know how I could ever thank you enough. You saved my life, and I'll always be thankful for that." She dipped her head in gratitude, her tail twitching slightly. "And I daresay I'll appreciate life a lot more from now on, since I've been given another chance to try to remedy my foolishness." Her eyes brightened in amusement.

"Size doesn't really matter, as you just proved," she pointed out. "I'm rather small for my age too. Most WindClan cats are, but even then, I'm small by their standards." She chuckled. "Yes, I suppose looking like an old fat rabbit would be terrible," she agreed. "I'm of the same mindset, though perhaps in a different way. Size doesn't matter, as long as you can chase your food. I'm not very fond of swimming." Jaywing made a face, and flicked her tail again, sending a few more water droplets flying.

"But yes, you are a strong swimmer. To be able to survive that current, with another cat? I could never do that. I can barely swim!" Jaywing chuckled again, and managed to stand up again, this time without falling. Her blue gaze shifted up, to meet Pigeonpaw's. "I think much of my strength has returned," she said happily.

[hedgie]

Jaywing had been grooming herself the entire time since she'd come to, and he was hoping she'd stop soon. You could only clean yourself off so much that way. The duty-pelted tom shrugged. "Well, it's better than Pigeon...whatever my name'll be. I mean...Pigeon? Pigeons are scaredy-birds. Jays aren't." He sighed. It wasn't his fault he'd gotten a less-than-flattering name. Sometimes, parents just didn't make sense when they named their kits, but he was grateful that his name was far from strange. "You are not a mousebrain! Don't beat yourself up like that. It was an accident, a stupid mistake. We all have those moments, and some do more than others. This may just be because I'm a Riverclan cat, but rabbits seem like a pretty hard thing to catch. They're fast, but fish are too...they just change direction so quickly, which is why you probably went spinning into the water and that darn rabbit didn't."
"You're welcome, again. I guess it was just lucky that i was out and bout when I was. Who knows? There are a million things you could say. Fate, Luck, Destiny..all that stuff. I just like to think I was at the right place at the right time. Not a big deal, really, unless you consider the fact a life was aved this time. Than the deal is pretty huge." He chuckled. 'You aren't foolish, Jaywing...just a bit unlucky. Nothing that can't be remedied by paying attention."

She started to talk about size and he looked her over. She was pretty small for a Windclan cat, and he was pretty small for a Riverclan tom. so what? Who cares? They did their jobs well enough, despite a few hitches. 'Well, I'm not very fond of running. Swimming is my skill, so I guess it's good I'm in Riverclan and you aren't. Because if we were switched around, life would be far from easy for us. I am no rabbit hunter at all. Now give me a river full of fish, and I'm set."

She was feeling better? That was good. He had no reason to worry now. She'd be okay, and he wouldn't get in trouble. Now all he'd have to do is get back home and hope no one noticed the faint, watered-down Windclan scent on his pelt.