Monster Watching [open]

Sunpaw made her rounds about Windclan's territory close to Fourtrees, scenting the air for anything, be it prey, predators, rogue cats, or cats from other clans. She relished the feeling of being a relatively new apprentice, and she especially loved being able to venture out of the camp. Today was the first time she found herself venturing farther than previous days, challenging herself to be bold enough to travel to the territory's edge. Maybe she could try to intimidate any hapless Shadowclan cats that happened to be wandering by.

Fat chance, she thought and didn't know if it was a realistic thought or merely a pessimistic one.

As she wandered, Sunpaw came across an acrid scent, and could just barely see a long stretch of black over the tall grass of the moors.

I wonder if this is the thunderpath? She had heard tales of monsters, trampling cats to death under black paws bigger than any cat. The thought sent a jolt of anxiety down Sunpaw's spine. She wondered if it was just an elder's tale, but seeing the expanse of black stone lent credence to the stories.

Suddenly, there was a roar, and something akin to, by far, the largest bug Sunpaw had ever seen went hurdling down the path, making Sunpaw jump with a terrified screech. It was Starclan knows how many times her size! The stories were true! Sunpaw wanted to run, but found herself frozen, trying to keep herself out of sight of the monsters. A short while after it passed, she found a lone tree off to the side of the thunderpath. She found she couldn't remember whether or not monsters could actually leave the black stone. She felt she didn't want to chance it and pelted off towards the tree. Surely the monsters couldn't get her there.

Once Sunpaw had scrabbled up the tree, she sat there motionless and watched the thunderpath closely.

"What are you doing?"

Perched on the tangled mass of roots, stained and partially barren due to the unnatural chemicals that permeated the area, Brindleface's austere features were just visible through the sparse presence of undergrowth and foliage. Sunpaw's terrified shrieking had managed to catch her attention from the patrol she had been traveling with, drawing her to the Thunderpath just in time to witness the young she-cat's frantic scramble up the tree. It was equally ridiculous and impressive, how quickly that the young apprentice had managed to scale the fairly sizable tree. It wasn't uncommon for new apprentices and younger warriors alike to find themselves terrified in the presence of a monster or two, but this was unlike anything she had seen before.

Unable to catch a proper glimpse of her youngest apprentice, Brindleface was quick to scan the thick foliage that curtained the opposing edge of the Thunderpath, warily searching for any presence of ShadowClan. After the last disastrous encounter she had with their infuriating Deputy, the last thing she wanted was to find him here again. "One would think you were a SkyClan cat, with how quickly you climbed!" She called, the faint rumbling of the monster rapidly dwindling into nothing more than an absent buzzing that hung in the air like a late greenleaf storm, "Are you alright?"

At this moment, Sunpaw didn't know whether to feel embarrassed or proud. On one paw, she could only assume her mentor had seen that whole display, but on the other paw, hey! There was a talent Sunpaw didn't know she had!

I'm alright! Sunpaw meowed with a shiver, remembering that awful monster. But I can't remember, can these things actually leave the thunderpath? Sunpaw could only picture one of those monsters trampling down the grass towards her or Brindleface. It felt like a waking nightmare that Sunpaw had a hard time coping with. She'd rather it be dogs or foxes. Those were less terrifying.

Oh! And how goes the patrol?

Faint ache blossoming between her shoulders at the strain of tilting her neck in such a manner, Brindleface's features pinched together as she peered up through the wilting foliage and debris that precariously clung to the branches that Sunpaw was currently hidden within. Even though there was much more shade provided by the trees, it was rather unpleasant to try and spot the golden she-cat while looking directly up at the sky during the afternoon. Ears perking up at the faint confirmation of the young she-cat's safety, the pale-furred molly circled anxiously atop the uneven footing of the roots- uncertain as to just how Sunpaw was going to get down from the branches. "They occasionally do, but it doesn't happen very often; I think I've only seen it happen once in my entire life. I don't think they usually mean to leave the Thunderpath, it's usually just an accident. I'd still never chance it, though." Brindleface called back, warily redirecting her attention to the aforementioned river of sticky black stones, unsure of whether or not she would rather see a monster or a ShadowClan cat. Just as well that they happen to smell the same.

"Patrol was well enough," She absently deferred after a moment of thought, "I'm more curious as to whether or not you think you'll be able to get back down on your own."

Oh. Sunpaw couldn't suppress a shiver. She believed her mentor when she said it didn't happen often, but the thought of the monsters leaving the thunderpath at all was...a bit horrifying! She felt a prickle of anxiety at the thought, wondering if she was even safe up there in the tree. That'd be one way to get down: a monster slamming face-first into it, knocking Sunpaw out of the branches entirely.

But speaking of getting down...

Oh. She hadn't even remotely thought of how she would get down. In fact, she didn't think this through at all!

Well, I can try! Sunpaw latched onto the tree, admittedly feeling less than confident about the ordeal. She tried to hook her back claws into the trunk to prepare for her descent, but found it hard to do without being able to see behind her. Truly, getting up was much easier than getting down. And being up that high was starting to make her queasy.

Maybe this is why Windclan cats stay on the ground.

The barren, grease-riddled earth beneath Brindleface's paws trembled faintly, the barley discernible shuddering of crumbling asphalt an indication of some faraway monster rumbling along without a care in the world. Somewhere, cleverly concealed in the thin foliage a tail-length or two above Sunpaw, a bird began to squall and chirp; likely disturbed by the unusual movement rocking the branches. The stiff breeze, made choppy and weak by the scraggly collection of wilting foliage that clung to the foul soil, only served to intensify the cloying scent of unnatural, acrid metals. Stepping back a pace or two away from the dull tree trunk, the pale-furred Deputy's head tilted back again as she attempted to monitor the younger she-cat's attempt to get down. The unpleasant mixture of broken pieces of the Thunderpath and stones overturned by the constant stream of movement clung to the tender underside of her paw, sending the occasional stream of fiery pinprick of discomfort resonating up her forelimb.

"Don't worry about rushing," Brindleface eventually called after a long heartbeat or two of terse silence, anxious at the prospect of the young apprentice losing her hold and falling, "just go nice and slow. Try and see if you can try and retrace your movements."

Sunpaw stared fearfully at the ground for a moment, then remembered she could close her eyes and feel her way down. Brindleface was right. All she had to do was take it slow and retrace her movements. So with each pawstep she made sure to hook her claws into the bark the same way she had to going up.

At one point, however, she set a back paw down and as she was maneuvering her second back paw, the bark gave way, leaving Sunpaw's back legs dangling from under her. Clinging for dear life, she scrabbled frantically for purchase against the tree.

Thankfully, she was successful. All four paws were back against the bark where her claws could hold her. After a shaky breath, she continued her descent down the tree. This time she tested her weight against each paw before setting the next one down beneath her.

After what felt like a moon, Sunpaw placed her paws beneath her on the rough earth. Just in time for another monster to go flying by on the thunderpath, causing Sunpaw to jump a short burst up in the air. That was a little embarrassing, she thought. But still she was down from the tree, thankfully.

Features occasionally tilting skyward every other heartbeat or so, in an attempt to observe Sunpaw's slow-going progress down the body of the elderly tree, the Deputy's expression was creased with a combination of concern and discomfort. Sniffing irritably, the Deputy was forced to pause for a moment- features drawn tight in an outward expression of her dismay at having to lick away the foul smelling debris that was embedded in the soft flesh of her pad. Hurriedly scraping away the lingering grit that pricked and poked at her, Brindleface watched as the young she-cat managed to clamber down the last few tail-lengths; only to catch herself caught off guard by another monster rushing by on the Thunderpath.

"I'm glad you were able to get down by yourself," The Deputy remarked after a moment, watching Sunpaw with a wry expression of amusement, "I don't think SkyClan would've appreciated having to lend a patrol to come fetch you from a tree."