i don't make the rules [open]

[t h e h a u n t]

while lessons learned

--[/center]

The nearly complete white tom had entered the clan's territory casually. Not like he hadn't noticed the scent change. Not like his first lesson as an apprentice was the Clan's boundaries. Or the respect of those boundaries.

However, today, Fallpaw had decided how boring the camp was. How monochrome is territory seemed. How much he wanted change.

And why not? Why couldn't he go an experiment? For all he knew, IceClan could have a mountain of fresh-kill piled up. The greedy rats probably did. Not like Fallpaw knew an IceClanner who was greedy.

Well. Not like he knew an IceClanner.

Anyway, when the GlacierClan apprentice caught had already a small, white rabbit. But he didn't hurry back to his clan's territory. Nor did he bury his rabbit (although that was because if he was chased off, he'd still have his prey).

For now, Fallpaw went around strolling and surveying the area. It was a good strategy to know your enemies' terrain. Gave you an advantage. He had gotten pretty far through IceClan's land. The scent of SnowClan started to drift through the air.

Perhaps the tom would have enough time to look through SnowClan before looping back to GlacierClan.

--
go down the drain

^{lyrics; lessons learned by
matt and kim
word count: 195}

[/sup]

[x-Ginger-x]

The aging she-cat was padding through the territory, seemingly on her own, when she spotted the apprentice. Gingerpelt's fur bristled uneasily, and she followed him at an awkward gate, swerving through the bushes. When she finally reached him, she exploded from the bushes and stopped in front of him. "And where exactly do you think you're going?" Her tone was icy as she faced the apprentice.

He couldn't have been an apprentice for too long, she could tell, but long enough. She didn't want to have to fight him, but she was ready, in case he decided to attack her. She noticed the rabbit, and could smell the Iceclan smell on it. "So, you're trespassing and stealing prey. I suggest you drop that rabbit, and return home." She stood in front of him, bristling, looking twice her size. She may be aging, but she hadn't lost her skill of fighting.

[t h e h a u n t]

thinking about tomorrow won't change

--[/center]

Whipped around at her voice, and the tom's green and orange eyes scanned the she-cat. Had she been tracking him?

A frown crossed the tom's face as his mouth gaped and the rabbit dropped. As if he was confused or shocked. Although it was an act, of course. Oh, the poor, lost apprentice. The warrior could either believe it or not.

IceClanners were pretty content cats anyway. Not hostile like GlacierClan cats were suppose to be. So Fallpaw viewed this she-cat slightly more gullible and easy-going than he would his clanmates.

"Uhm, what?" A false, yet convincing, blank expression crossed over Fallpaw's face. "Am I not... in GlacierClan...?" Taking a huge whiff of the surrounding air, the apprentice's scents were overwhelmed with the pungent smell of IceClan and both SnowClan.

He tried not to scowl as he cursed himself for being so careless. Got away with a small sneeze. Giving a weak laugh, Fallpaw muttered, "Err, yeah..." Acting embarrassed for his mistake.

Although acting so mouse-brained and careless hurt his ego, it was worth it to a degree. Rather than being punished or attacked. Held hostage. All the terrible things that could (unlikely) happen to him.

Paranoia kept him on his toes.

--
how i feel today

^{lyrics; lessons learned by
matt and kim
word count: 196}

[/sup]

[x-Ginger-x]

Gingerpelt's hackles raised as she realized this cat was playing with her. "You can't play me like that. I know all the tricks." She hissed. "And I know for a fact the Glacierclan border isn't near here. This is the Snowclan and Iceclan border. I'd expect your mentor to teach you that. Now I will tell you for the last time, leave or I'll make you." She spat, growling. she was tired of the stereotype that Iceclan was gullible, so she had wisened herself to all the tricks, and could tell this cat was trying to play her.

Knowing that made her angrier still. She was tempted just to leap at this cat, but she knew he was only an apprentice, and it'd be a wasted battle. She wanted him to get his first scars from another battle, not one where he knew he was in the wrong. It just seemed like over-kill. But if he made one more move on her side of the border, all sympathies would be lost, and her killer instinct would unleash itself.

[t h e h a u n t]

i might be alright, i guess

--[/center]

Grinned in spite of himself. Alright, act dropped. Maybe that wasn't the most wise of things. But he was only a few moons old, what'd he know about wisdom?

The apprentice had to admit, she was sharper than he credited her for. But that didn't really matter. Something inside of him wouldn't let her escort him back, as he expected her to do. That would be the smart thing to do.

Maybe she wouldn't escort him. He'd admitted she was sharp--not smart. No, no, Fallpaw shouldn't underestimate the warrior's intelligence. He'd have to talk his way into slipping into SnowClan. A challenge? The GlacierClan cat didn't normally bargain with other cats.

"Okay, you're right," With a sigh and roll of his green-orange eyes, Fallpaw stated, "I got bored. I've had to circle GlacierClan twenty million times over again. My deadbeat mentor never takes me anywhere and all the other apprentices are so soft and cute," He put sarcastic emphasis on his last adjective.

With a shrug of his small shoulders, the tomcat told the she-cat, "I needed a change of scenery. Isn't that understandable? " With a slight pause for thought, he added, "A thrill."

He was being sincere know. Maybe a bit too much?

--
if i wasn't such a mess!

^{lyrics; papillon by
the airborne toxic event
word count: 200 even .o.}

[/sup]

[x-Ginger-x]

Gingerpelt was so disgusted with this apprentice, she felt like she could vomit. "You're a cat of Glacierclan, who is supposed to stay in Glacierclan[/i] territory! If you don't like it, talk to your mentor or leader!"[/b] She meowed, rage filling her voice. This apprentice was so mousebrained! "If you really get bored," She steadied her voice, "Talk to your leader or mentor, and see if they can take you to places you've never been, like Ripple's barn." She took a deep breath and steadied herself.

The Glacierclan apprentice seemed to know what he was doing, and Gingerpelt noticed that. He seemed to have a smart head, whatever else he did, but Gingerpelt didn't like his attitude. "Oh, and by the way, if you ever get caught on another clan's territory that's not your own, the best way to get away unscratched is to be respectful." She put emphasis on the last word, hoping he would understand.

[t h e h a u n t]

and we all fall down,

--[/center]

A frown crossed Fallpaw. Man, she wasn't getting it. "Didn't I tell you? My mentor never takes me anywhere. Talking to her is like talking to the rocks!"

Not that he really spent enough time with his mentor to know that much.

Although the second part, his leader, was more convincing. The tom was sure Sapphirestar would be more than happy to spend time with her former leader's son. Or something.

However, he didn't really like her that much. Something about her was... too soft. His leader just didn't have much of a thought process like his. So he just doubted it would work out.

But how do we put that? "I'm sure Sapphirestar has better things to do. And her own apprentice and all," He sorta lied. It was all pretty much true. Why bother his leader with such trivial problems like boredom?

Get away unscratched? Not engage in a battle? But wasn't that where all the fun and excitement lay? In the battle? Perhaps he was coming off as trying to... avoid attack. But, then again, he didn't want to come on too strong and accidentally get himself killed. Where's the thrill there?

The point... oh, yeah, respect. Hm. Respect. "I thought you earn respect, not get it automatically," He stated. He shouldn't have to respect someone who has not displayed worthy qualities.

--
i tried

^{lyrics; i never told you what
i did for a living by
my chemical romance
word count: 219}

[/sup]

[x-Ginger-x]

Gingerpelt shook her head and sat down beside the apprentice. "What's your name?" She asked, before looking him up and down. He was much smaller than her, but a good size for an apprentice. She smiled at him, before sighing. "You should try asking Midnightdawn to take you herb-hunting. It might be a new, special experience for you. She would show you places you've been, but you'll never realize that there were herbs there. I did that with Spottedpelt once. It was amazing, realizing what hid in my territory." She nodded her head, hoping the young tom would understand. "Respect is something you earn, when you're equals. But when you face a warrior of a different clan on their territory, it's not usually the best idea to lie and pretend." She gently chastized him. Gingerpelt like the little tom, because he reminded her of her late son, Drumbeat. He always complained, too.

[t h e h a u n t]

we'll waltz like an army

--[/center]

His green and orange eyes narrowed a little as he looked across the territory, a quick glance. "I'm Fallpaw," He said his name, a strange tone hung in the air with it though. The apprentice felt his name need clarification. For a first, he felt he should explain who exactly he was to this enemy warrior. It was no unknown fact in his own clan, yet, he wasn't sure how well-known Hauntstar or his kits were among others.

Wait. Was she suggesting him do some medicine cat work? What if that came off as him actually wanting to become a medicine cat? What if, StarClan forbid, he be bound to the strict bondage of the laws and disadvantages of a herb gatherer? He would never get on top, never lead GlacierClan to greater glories.

"Uhm," He stated, with a rude accent, "I rather not." Although he was disarming all of her suggestions, it was his fault. He honestly had no one else to blame but himself for his boredom. Alas, he was still bored and still need something to burn his time.

He shrugged his shoulders to the old warrior's comment. Fallpaw guessed it made sense.

--
for the fear of our pain

^{lyrics; come in closer by
blue october
word count: 193}

[/sup]

[x-Ginger-x]

Gingerpelt shook her head. "You don't know what you're missing. Even if you don't want to be a medicine cat, it helps to know what herbs are needed if your clan is in a crisis. Who knows, you could end up a hero!" She meowed. "Hey, are you one of Hauntstar's kits?" She cocked her head to one side. "I remember him boasting at one Gathering." She grinned to herself as she remembered before the tom passed, he had said something about his kits. "Tell me, why are you named Fallpaw?" Gingerpelt settled herself down on the ground and waited for the little tom to answer. She knew Wolfstar wouldn't mind if she spoke to an apprentice. Gingerpelt had wisdom not many others carried, what with everything she had been through. She loved to share her stories with anyone who would listen.

[t h e h a u n t]

i guess that i miss you

--[/center]

Fallpaw shrugged his shoulders once more at her. Maybe. But the horror of being suggested to be a medicine cat was so overwhelming. Medicine cats were respected and everything, but they had no real power over the Clans. They didn't call the shots. Fallpaw could never do that. It would bruise his ego too much.

"Oh?" Fallpaw said distantly. "Yeah, that's what they tell me. But my mom and him apparently kicked the bucket before I ever knew them. So it's a little of an empty claim to me," Was he contradicting himself? Perhaps. But only his thoughts. Fallpaw wouldn't come off as it to this IceClan kitty.

In all honestly, he was a little bitter towards his claimed parents. Leaving three kits to be raised by others? The GlacierClan apprentice was sure that, had him and his sisters been anyone else's kits, they would be alienated from the Clan. Orphans, they were. Never knowing what their parents even looked like.

Where did "Fallpaw" come from? "I'm not sure," He said, absently looking around, "I'm skilled at climbing. So it couldn't be my lack of balance. Perhaps it has something to do with leaf-fall? I suppose one might think my pelt looks like the changing leaves upon snow."

His green and orange eyes looked up towards Gingerpelt. They had an ancient sort of gleam in them, that made it appear he was wiser than his age. "And what is my fine escort's name?" There was that hint of sarcastic politeness Fallpaw enjoyed using so much in his question.

--
and i'm sorry if i dissed you

^{lyrics; trailer trash by
modest mouse
word count; 254}

[/sup]

[x-Ginger-x]

Gingerpelt listened silently to the young tom's words before nodding. "I see. So you are a leader's kit... I liked Hauntstar. I'm sorry he died before you got to meet him. You would have liked him. You remind me of him a bit." She smiled at him, before chuckling softly. "That is a neat way to look at your name." She smiled and shook her head. "I don't know about fine, but my name's Gingerpelt." She dipped her head. "It's nice to meet you, Fallpaw. I see you are a young apprentice, but very smart. But the border patrol will be along soon, and they won't be as fond of you as I am. I suppose we'll meet at the next Gathering?" She looked at him, and smiled. She liked this young apprentice, and knew he would make a great warrior. Even though he was in a different clan, she wanted to keep an eye on him and make sure he was taken care of.

[t h e h a u n t]

could we fix you if you broke?

--[/center]

Gingerpelt. He committed it to memory. "A sort of naive wisdom, I suppose."

He pricked up his ears, and surely he could hear cats on their way. The tom was certain his GlacierClan scent would have lingered. His green and orange eyes looked up to Gingerpelt, "I suppose you gave me the chase of my life," He suggested very matter-of-a-factly. "Yeah. I'll catch you at the next gathering," He quickly said, before giving the direction of the patrol a quick glance.

"Later," He picked up his dropped rabbit, and much like the a rabbit had run from him, he ran. As fast as his leg could take him.

For a moment he considered still leaping over the SnowClan border and scoping out their land. But someone might have noticed his absence. Probably not, though. It's not like he was currently a major part of the Clan.

Or that his family ever worried about him. It was irrelevant. He headed back to camp anyway.

--
and is your punchline just a joke?

^{lyrics; speechless by lady gaga
word count; 159}

[/sup]