Sliding on the Ice

[spottypelt]

[Halfmask]

Halfmask padded up to the small pond, her ears pricked for any sounds of prey. The cold leaf-bare had left Windclan territory void of much prey, and her clan grew skinnier and skinnier. She had excused herself from the camp on a solo hunting mission, hoping that she might frind some preyby the hidden pond.

Halfmask opened her mouth and drew in the cold air over her scent glands. She scented nothing but frozen water and stunted plants. She shook her he head to rid herself of the bitter dissapointment and sat down. The Sun was hidden behind a thick layer of clouds, but it should have been about sunhigh by now. The air in the hallow was eerily still as Halfmask sat and waited for a prey-scent.

There! She had it, a vole scuffling through the frozen reeds on the other side of the pond. Mouce-dung, it would take too long to skirt the pond, Halfmask thought to herself. She looked around, and then had an idea. The pond's surface was frozen solid, it should be strong enough to hold a cat. She cautiously stepped out onto the ice, one paw at a time, using her tail for balance.

Halfmask was about halfway across the pond when she heard an omonous cracking noise. The vole heard it too, and skuddled away, but Hafmask didn't notice. She was too focused on the huge crack straight down the center of the pond. Her eyes stretched wide as the chuck of ice she was standing on started to crumble, and she was plunged into the freezing water.

[wolfkitten]

Halfmask wasn't the only one out hunting today. Heck it seemed like most of the Clan was out hunting. The Gathering had been quite upsetting, and the entire Clan was either making sure they were secure, or going out to bring in more prey to keep their Clan strong, or as strong as they could in this season. Well Snowpelt would wander silently through the lands, also heading for the Hidden Pond to see if she could manage to find any prety that had not dissapeared for hibernation. She was denied rather firmly today and it was bothering her considerably. She was having difficulty trying to feed her beloved Clan... She sighed slightly to herself as she wandered by the Hidden Pond.

She heard the scuffling of a small vole, the same vole that Halfmask was tracking in fact... She would drop into her crouch, creeping up, paw by paw on the little creature ant the pond, until she and the small creature heard the lound crack at the pond. She furrowed her brows in confusion. Prey wasn't large enough to do that was it? Well the young but motherly she-cat would move quickly to the pond's edge, her eyes widening as she saw Halfmask in the freezing water. She recognized her imediately and called out to her. "Halfmask are you alright?" She would move quickly, testing the ice carefully, moving paw by paw. As she kept a slight distance from the hole, she found the ice held her, but she watched her Clanmate, ready to jump in to help her should she call out or seem to need it. There was no current, so if Halfmask could move her paws, she should be able to get out of that water.

(Hiya! Hope you don't mind my jumping in here If this was saved for someone, I'll gladdly pull Snowpelt, but just thought I'd jump in if you're alright with it.

[spottypelt]

((no probem! i wasnt holding it for anyone, just starting a little story!))

[Halfmask]

Halfmask's head broke the water as she flailed about in the cold water. She saw Snowpelt's white fur above the surface, and called out.

"H-help, it's-s freeezing in here!" She stuttered, trying to haul herself out of the pond, but flopping back into the water. The icy pond seemed to zap her strength, and the hunger didn't help. Her head went under breifly, only to re-appear second later, spitting with frustration. "I c-can't get a p-paw h-hold!"

Halfmask tried one more time to pull herself up onto the ice, scrabbling with her claws for better traction. She almost had herself out when small cracks started inching toward's Snowpelt's paws from the clawmarks she had left on the ice. The ice was going to crack again!

"Get back!" She yowled! hoping that Snopelt wouldn't fall in too. That would do no good for Windclan, having two sick warriors. And it was all Halfmask's fault! "Go! The ice is cracking!"

[wolfkitten]

Snowpelt would watch the other Warrior, her gaze scanning the water's edge quickly, watching as she scrambled at the edge o the ice. Snowpelt winced in sympathy as she cried out to her, and she would stretch out her neck, trying to get a hold on the soaked she-cat. "Come closer! I can't get you!" She watched as she scrabbled at the ice with her claws and tried to get a grip on her scruff.

She was oblivious to the cracks in the ice until she heard Halfmask's yowling. Snowpelt would lunge rapidly, feeling her teeth catch the back of Halfmask's neck, grasping her scruff and pulling hard, jerking back on her paws, scrambling back away from the cracking edge, hopefully dragging the soaked she-cat along with her. She would hold tight with her teeth, not about to let go. If the worst happened, she would be sliding into the water with Halfmask, but best case scenario, Snowpelt would be able to haul Halfmast out, and scramble backwards away from the treacherous ice with her. One could only hope she got so lucky.

[spottypelt]

[Halfmask]

Halfmask pushed up hard on the crumbling ice, her scruff in Snowpelt's teeth, and scrambled away from the receading edge.

"Hurry, Snowpelt!" She called, darting to the bank. She was soaked, but if Snowpelt went in, she would go in after her.

((Arg, it's so short! Sorry, but this is all I could think of saying without godmonding or powerplaying!!))

[wolfkitten]

Snowpelt would continue to pull hard against Halfmask as she scrambled onto the ice. She shivered, her heart pounding in her chest. Snowpelt did not like water... Especially cold water, it just soaked her snowy pelt and made her cold for hours. She would nod and finally release Halfmask's scruff as she yowled out to her and all four of her paws were on the ice. Snowpelt would then move quickly with all the speed of a WindClan cat to the other side of the bank, which was now closer. One final leap brought the small she-cat to land all four paws on the solid ground of the bank. And she would stand there, head low, panting softly, before looking to her Clanmate.

"Halfmask... You alright?" She would look her over quietly, not sure what to look for if she weren't. Mainly she would look for any wounds the ice may have given her, if anything. She didn't yet see anything obvious, but she would shiver a bit and move over to her, beginning to lick her fur lightly. She knew she needed to be dried quickly before the cold froze the poor she-cat.

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

FINISHED
...E aglepaw[/font][/size]

OOC: Heh, heh...You don't mind if I join in, do you? :3

.: With leaf-fall, it brings little prey, lots of snow, and in Eaglepaw's case: lots of bitterness. It was not like he was always that way. Eaglepaw has always been very introverted, and the biting cold seems to trigger him, making him even more self-concieted than usual. And then being the shy, quiet cat he is, Eaglepaw never really developed the social skills he needed to truely get along. Thus, he gives the impression of an arrogant, tempered cat streaked with aggression.

The freezing temperatures set him in just that type of grumpy mood today. There's nothing worse than waking up in a bundle of freezing snow from the rain that poured last night that froze on its way down to earth. This year's leafbare was definitely going to be worse. Prey is diminishing already, Eaglepaw thought to himself, evidently annoyed by all of the snow. They patched his pelt everywhere. He looked more like a tortoiseshell than a sandy brown cat with white paws. At least his tail was alright - its tip was naturally that white. Off-white, he reminded himself, and scowled quietly.

The hidden pond was just up front. Everything at everywhere flashed in transclucent white, sparking under the sunlight, glittering like a kit's eyes at an apprenticeship ceremony. Past the thrushes Eaglepaw went, and stepped out - only to slip.

[/blockquote]

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

OOC; I'm finished, Spotty ;3 Oh - and I'm a girl xD

[spottypelt]

[Halfmask]

"I-it's almost w-warmer in t-t-the w-water!" Halfmask meowed through chattering teeth. Any little breeze on the moor land stung her freezing hide like a bee. "T-thanks for s-saving me," She stammered, beginging to lick her fur the wrong way to warm herself up. "I c-can't belive I d-did s-such a mouse-b-brained thing!" She knew, even before she fell in the ice, that it probably wasn't thick enough to hold her, but she still got on! If Snowpelt hadn't been here to help haul her out of the water, Halfmask might still be floundering around in it!

Shivering and thanking Starclan that Snowpelt had come along, she didn't hear the small pawsteps of Eaglepaw until it was too late. The apprentice slipped on the icy slope of the pond, just as Halfmask lept forward, dispite her aching joints. She was determined to catch Eaglepaw before he fell in, too. All Windclan needed was more sick cats!

((sorry it took so long, i just finished finals week, so i promise ill be more active!!))

[wolfkitten]

Snowpelt smiled warmly to Halfmask, but shivered slightly herself. She hated the cold... She wished it would just warm up already, and was quite glad she didn't go into the water hersel. But she would walk beside Halfmask, before moving to lick her fur the wrong way as well, trying hard to warm the poor cat up, and dry her off. She would smile warmly to her, and shake her head just a little bit. "We all make mistakes Halfmask... Don't beat yourself up abotu it..."

She flicked her ears back as she suddenly heard the pittering of smaller paws, and would whirl around just as the Apprentice slipped toward the hole in the ice. "Eaglepaw!" She called out with fear for the younger cat, and she too would bound toward the hole in the ice, praying to StarClan that she could get to him before he got to the hole in the ice. The pond, which had always been a wonderful resting spot, was now so dangerous.

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

...E aglepaw[/font][/size]

OOC: Whoopsies - sorry 'bout the delay

.: A surprised shriek erupted into the air, sending unmigrated birds in flight. If he weren't in this situation, Eaglepaw would've thought, Mouse dung! And next I'm going to be blamed for scaring all the prey away! but alas, despite the comment's negative streak, he was in a situation that caused him not to do so. Colors flew in a blur, as a flurry of white, trees, and blue sky blended together like a cake mix (OOC; Yeah, I know cats don't know what cake is, but oh well xD).

"Eaglepaw!!" came a fleeting wail that reached his ears too late. The sandy-furred tom looked up to find two warriors, one shivering, one calling. His ears bent low in shame. What would Spicestar think? But as gravity pulled at his, a heartbeat short, he snapped back into focus, and a heartbeat short is too late.

The apprentices paws flailed helplessly on the slippery slope, unsheathing to reveal claws that failed to provide a grip. Rather, they cracked the ice and clumped-up snow, releasing a mini avalanche of frost upon his face. Blind and desperate, Eaglepaw missteped and - whoosh! - fell flat on his freezing underbelly. Chills shivered down his spine as the biting cold pinched at his pads. He dared not look at the pond. The sound of lapping waters, licking at the bank's edge, was enough to make his fur stand, frozen, on an end. As the world passed by, Eaglepaw knew one thing's for sure: nothing can save him from the icy cold waters, now.

[/blockquote]

[spottypelt]

[Halfmask]

A flash of fur and claws, and Halfmask barreled past Snowfur. The cold numbed her paws, but it was oddly calming, too. She skidded out onto the ice just behind Eaglepaw and clamped her jaws down on his tail, and pulled back, dragging the young tom away from the jagged hole in the ice and towards the bank.

"Sthorry!" She meowed through a mouthful of fur, knowing that getting dragged across the ice in this fashion must have been embarrassing. She would drag Eaglepaw all the way, if he would let her, all she knew is that she would NOT let Eaglepaw drop into the water, and she wouldn't let Snowfur either. "Almothed thrr!"

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

...E aglepaw[/font][/size]

.: The lurching icy water lounged forward, ready to leap from the hole of the worn ice. Eaglepaw braced himself as he slid right off the slope, and -- swoosh! -- was surprised the water didn't hit him. He was sure that he would've felt a slap in the face. The tom's nose was covered in snow, too numb to smell. But as his eyes opened to adjust to the blinding snow, he knew he was saved. Peering up, he saw the determined expression of a warrior.

But Eaglepaw wasn't grateful. His face shrivelled up, with his ears laid back and claws ready to be unsheathed. I'm not a kit! Don't carry me this way! Oh, StarClan, what would his mother Breezefur think?

"Sthorry," mumbled Halfmask through his fur, as if she could hear his thoughts. The apprentice could feel her every breath sink beneath his pelt, and for some time, it was rather comforting. But as the warrior attempted to meow through his scruff, "Almothed thrr!" Eaglepaw felt the slimy spit of saliva and immediatly curled his lip in disgust.

Now, Eaglepaw's the kind of cat that speaks up only when necessary, but, This time, he thought, this is necessary."Let me go! I'm not a kit!" he hissed, lashing his tail violently. "Let me go!"

But Eaglepaw was too blinded by pride to realize the risk of danger upon his actions.

[/blockquote]

[spottypelt]

[Halfmask]

Dispite Eaglepaw's thrashing and protests, Halfmask did not let go. It did make it a bit harder for her to pull him to safety with him thrashing about like that, but she didn't unclamp her jaws until she had successfully dragged the apprentice to the bank.

She released his tail when she knew he would be safe and shook her palt, splattering droplettes everywhere. "There, I let go. Happy now?" She asked bitterly. "It would do you good to show some gratitude for the cat that just saved your fur!"

[wolfkitten]

Snowpelt would bound after Halfmask as she darted ahead of her and pulled the Apprentice away from the hole in the ice. She snarled a little as she saw the ungrateful actions from Eaglepaw. She wrinkled her nose a bit in distaste, but looked admiringly to Halfmask. "That was very brave of you Halfmask... Well done... That was some quick thinking and quick actions..."

Snowpelt would look to Eaglepaw and narrow her eyes a little. "If you do not wish to be thought to be a kit... Perhaps you should stop thrashing about and acting like one... You could have fallen into the water, and I'm sorry, us WindClan cats are meant for running... Not swimming." Her gaze would soften a bit and she sighed slightly, shaking her head some and sniffing over the prickly apprentice slightly. "Alright... Let's get you both back to camp... Halfmask should head straight to the Medicine Cat's den to get something to fight off the chills and I'm sure the Elders could use some new bedding..." She would shoot Eaglepaw a meaningful glance that did not invite argument.