Friendship Never Ends (Elf/Maskpaw)

[Poppy]

Ashfoot sits in his den wondering if he should go herb gathering since he is low on marigold and borage leaves. 'Maybe I should take a cat with me, for protection but we're low on warriors, maybe an apprentice will do.' He thought as his tail tip flicked from side to side. The pure white tom steps out of his den, the waking sun brightly glowing among cats in the camp. Ashfoot looks around for a cat to go with him, but he saw no one. 'Someone will come up.' The medicine cat started to walk towards the apprentices' den and sticks his head in, some apprentices were still sleeping, it was only dawn. "If any apprentice wants to go with me to gather herbs, meet me at the camp entrance."

Ashfoot pads toward the entrance of camp and lays down, tucking his front dark gray paws under his pure white chest, patiently waiting for an apprentice to come trotting out asking him if they could go with him. His brother, Lionstreak stops by Ashfoot and dips his head respectfully. "Greetings, Ashfoot, why are you here by the camp entrance?" Ashfoot looks up at his younger brother and smiles. "Hello, Lionstreak. I'm going to gather herbs in Cricket Forest, but I'm going to let an apprentice come with me, just for experience I guess." Lionstreak nods and speaks once more. "Alright, well have fun then, Ashy." Ashfoot smiles and nods in agreement. Lionstreak stands and walks away, Ashfoot then sees an apprentice slowly emerge from the apprentices' den.

[elf - - -]

Maskpaw

The night had been long and hard on the small black and white she-cat. The lack of warmth from her oldest brother and the coolness her other brother gave her the evening before had settled well into the night, leaving her awake trying to form the words to apologies. She had gotten lost once more, sadly a bad habit of hers, and had worried her older brothers to no end. Most cats had gotten used to her fumbles and getting lost and would send her mentor into the forest to relocate her. Hunting was terrible.

Her eyes opened and amber eyes peered out from the black fur that covered from just above her nose up. Odd how it reminded her mother of a mask and thus had named her such. She peeked at her brothers who were awake and meowing about their training exerises today. 'And my mentor is taking me to the training hollow to fight.' Meowed Ravenpaw loudly, to which Larkpaw rolled his eyes and replied, 'You mouse-brain our mentors are training us together - oh good morning Maskpaw.'

She froze where she lay, her eyes shutting quickly, only to reopen upon her siblings laughing. 'We're over it, get up, get up!' The two apprentices yowled as they tackled their sister and Maskpaw felt the two heavier toms as they landed on her and she felt a soft laughter file through her lips. When the two toms heard their mentors, they stopped, Ravenpaw with Maskpaw's ear in his mouth, and Larkpaw who was pinned under Maskpaw.

'Got to go, see yeah sis!' The brothers left the den and were gone. Maskpaw stopped where she was and she felt flustered as she groomed herself quickly, removing the scattered moss from her pelt and padding from the apprentice den. Her head was low, and the shyness was obivious from where she stood as she awkwardly padded from the den, trying to remain unnotice. But that was a loss cost. She felt eyes upon her fur as she lifted her amber eyes to see the white furred, grey-pawed, blue eyed medicine cat Ashfoot looking her way.

Nervously, she bit her lip and padded over curious as to why he was staring, but still being naturally worried. 'A-Ashfoot, i-is there s-something you n-need?' Why did her voice have to shutter. She inwardly cringed and hoped the older tom wouldn't comment on her awkwardness, but where she wished many still did and thus she awaited to hear his reason.

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[Poppy]

Ashfoot sighed as the apprentice finally showed who they really were. It was the young apprentice Maskpaw, he hadn't really spoken to the young she-cat much, maybe she wanted to come with him. "Hello Maskpaw, I need to gather herbs for my den, would you like to go with me?" He looks at the she-cat and gives a small smile. "I need a cat to go with me to carry any extra herbs I find on the way back." Ashfoot looks at the apprentice and stands up, licking his chest fur to lick away any dirt clinging to his white pelt.

Ashfoot looks at the camp entrance guard and dips his head to the tom. "I will be back soon, I need to gather herbs." He glances back at Maskpaw. "She is coming with me, I thought it would give her a little experience in herbs." The white tom goes over what he needs once more, and waits for Maskpaw's answer to his question. "Plus, it will give you a day of deserves rest from training today. I bet you will probably enjoy the free time." He gives a small, flirty small even without noticing that he was doing so, and to an apprentice, a she-cat way younger than he is. He looks down to hide his embarrassment.

[elf - - -]

'Hello Maskpaw, I need to gather herbs for my den, would you like to go with me?' Maskpaw's eyes lifted from where they lay on the ground to catch the smile the tom was giving her. Simple, nice. 'I need a cat to go with me to carry any extras herbs I find on the way back.' Maskpaw nodded, agreeing with the idea, but not stating it. Her whiskers twitched as her eyes followed his tongue as he cleaned his chest before averting her eyes.

'I will be back soon, I need to gather herbs. She had followed the tom to the entrance. 'She is coming with me, I thought it would give her a littler experience in herbs.' Her face reflects a small shy smile as she stares at Ashfoot and then the guard. 'Plus, it will give you a day of deserve rest from training today. I bet you will probably enjoy the free time.' She tried to look convincing before weakly answering, with a shy whisper, 'I love to help.' The flirty smile froze her in place as her ears became very hot. Her embarrassment was clear on her face.

'Lead the way.' She meowed to the older tom, eyelid batting as she struggled to remain calm and collective. 'Remember your brothers taught you how to act calm.. you can do this Maskpaw.' She thought as she pressed forward, looking unconfident in where she would be following the tom. She had not noticed the others embarrassment over her own sadly.

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[Poppy]

Ashfoot nodded when Maskpaw agreed to go with him. As he started to walk out of camp, he noticed the birds were singing up in the trees, he could smell prey in the air. His mouth watered at the scent of prey, realizing he hadn't eaten before he and Maskpaw left. He figured he would make it until they got back at sunhigh. "So, Maskpaw I just realized that I haven't spoken to you in a couple of moons, ever since you were 3 moons old." Ashfoot slightly glanced at the she-cat, wondering what else to say. "How has your training been going?" Ashfoot from just looking at her, could tell that he didn't need to ask that since she looked pretty healthy young she-cat. Sometimes Ashfoot wished he would have never been interested in becoming a medicine cat but it is nice to have a lot of respect from other cats.

Ashfoot looked around him, then back at Maskpaw, he noticed the way she has black markings on her face, that's probably how she received her name as Maskpaw. It was a very interesting name at that. His pale blue eyes grew wide. 'Oh great StarClan! I'm thinking and admiring an apprentice! I need to stop thinking about her and focus on collecting herbs for the clan. But, Maskpaw is so sweet and shy, I couldn't ignore her now that I've really noticed her. StarClan, what do I do?' Ashfoot looked down at the grass beneath his paws and closed his eyes, letting his ears and nose guide him.

[elf - - -]

The birds chirped their merry little songs above their heads, and the smell of prey hung in the air around the duo. Her paws padded against soft soil and brushed against dew that clung to the grass blades below. Her eyes were wide in awe as always at the forest awoke, bringing life back to the darkness that held it in the night. Her whiskers twitched when a voice registered in her ears. 'So, Maskpaw I just realized that I haven't spoken to you in a couple moons, ever since you were 3 moons old.' She blinked her eyes in response.

3 and a half moons thank you very much. Her mind meowed pointedly, but she left that tiny factor out. Her lips making a shy little smile as the tom asked her another such question, 'How has your training been going?' Her eyes fluttered up to his blue eyes and she bit back a very rushed out, panic response. She felt the need to prove she was not the unconfident little she-cat was she right now. Swallowing her embarrassment she took a deep breath and meowed, 'My training... i-it's been alright. I g-g-got l-lost a-again.' Her voice seemed to drift off as she spoke, eyes closing to hide the embarrassment she felt.

When she reopened her eyes, Ashfoot was looking down and she felt curiosity bubble in her throat. What was he doing? Was he praying to Starclan? Was he sensing the herbs through his paws - honestly, how else did medicine cat's find these things?!' - or was he simply... no he couldn't be embarrassed. So she paused in her steps and padded closer, her curiosity winning over her shyness. 'What are you d-doing?' She asked, a kind smile on her face as she pondered what the tom might be doing.

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[Poppy]

Ashfoot listened to Maskpaw as she answered. 'My training... i-it's been alright. I g-g-got l-lost a-again.' Ashfoot rested his tail tip on the poor she-cat, he has been noticing that several warriors every other day have to go on a search party to look for Maskpaw, he opened his eyes and looked at her, she looked embarrassed at telling him she had gotten lost again. Then she stopped and asked him what he was doing. How does he answer this? He possibly couldn't tell her that he was thinking about her. So, Ashfoot answered her as best he could without giving away the fact that he was hiding something. "I...um...was going over my list of herbs that we need to gather." Ashfoot was saved from any further questions, even though he liked curiosity himself, there was some marigold in front of them. "That's one of them actually. Do you know what it's called?" He liked to quiz cats on herbs to remember what they are and look like because one day, he wouldn't be here and he at least needed some cats to learn different types of herbs.

Ashfoot picked a few of the marigold leaves and flowers, laying them in a single pile, so they could come back later this way and pick up the leaves and flowers. "I can help you not get lost if you'd like Maskpaw." He offered the young apprentice. Ashfoot picked up some leaves and padded over to a bush and stored them behind it, doing the same with the flowers so no one would be poking around his stock and take them somewhere else, then he would be really mad. Although, Ashfoot is kind to some cats, the ones that don't give him any respect for who or what he is, he snaps at them.

[elf - - -]

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[atrb=background,http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq95/amanda1472/mask2_zpsd99dbf21.png] Her words had stumbled out and when she felt fur press against her, her body stiffen. Eyes locking on the invading body part - a mere tail - and she raised her eyes up. Then she had asked him what he was doing, of course she had been curious and thus, when he replied with a quick, 'I...um...was going over my list of herbs that we need to gather.' Her pondering mind drifted to more questions but was silenced by the tom speaking to her. That's one of them actually. Do you know what it's called.' Her lips twitched into a frown and some distant part of her brain sighed in annoyance. 'Not the medicine cat here... but...I could give it a try.' She swallowed nervously. 'M-Maybe.... tig- no... I... I don't know... 'm sorry.' She added the last quickly, head ducking down as she felt the embarrassment creep over her once more, the smell of her fear at being wrong and fear of hatred floating off her body. Her whiskers drooped at the knowledge of being wrong and she couldn't bare to look up at the older white tom, settling at looking at his grey paws. I can help you not get lost if you'd like Maskpaw.' He meowed, and Maskpaw listed her head then, curious. How could one help her? 'How?' Her voice sounded lost in that moment. Confused and drained, as if she truly did not believe she could be not. 'I have the worst sense of direction, I don't even know where I am... even now.' She felt the soft fire that had burned in her voice die down into a pitiful, shy meow as her head drifted to the side to look at the trees. She knew not of which way she came, and now looking at Ashfoot, her eyes pleaded for the help, but her voice would not ask of it.

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[Poppy]

Ashfoot nodded at the she-cat's guess at the leaves and flowers. "This is called marigold, the leaves and flowers are fed to a cat that has cold chills because of a fever. The flower petals are chewed up and placed on an open wound to keep infection from starting up. It sounds all confusing but you'd probably have to become a medicine cat apprentice to understand any of this, but nice try." He smiled softly and began to walk toward a small patch of borage leaves, Ashfoot reached up and picked a few from the green bush. Once he had a mouthful, he padded back over to Maskpaw. "Do you recognize this scent, your mother probably had this scent when you were in your first couple of days of your life." The medicine cat wondered why he was really teaching her all of these herbs, she surely didn't want to become a medicine cat, when would she use any of the herb in her lifetime anyway?

Ashfoot let out a silent yawn, he hasn't slept well the night before, maybe it was because he kept on trying to get in contact with StarClan, but he hasn't heard anything in several moons. Maskpaw had asked him how could he help her get a good sense of direction. "Use your nose, Maskpaw, remember different scents along the way so you can find your way back or leave stray objects in your path so you can find your way back to camp." He hoped he was truly helping her and not confusing her anymore than she already looked at the moment. "Smell the different scent around you, and make those scents very familiar to you, so the next time you get lost by yourself, seek out those familiar scents and follow your nose." Ashfoot noticed that Maskpaw looked out into the trees. "Are you alright?" He didn't want her to feel embarrassed for getting lost so many times, maybe as she grew older, she would also gain her sense of directions.

[elf - - -]

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[atrb=background,http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq95/amanda1472/mask2_zpsd99dbf21.png] This is called marigold, the leaves and flowers are fed to a cat that has cold chills because of a fever. The flower petals are chewed up and placed on an open wound to keep infection from starting up. It sounds all confusing but you'd probably have to become a medicine cat's apprentice to understand any of this, but nice try.' She let his words sink into her brain before she grinned up at him. Some adventurous side of her was beginning to wiggle it's way through. 'It's still fascinating to listen to.' She knew what marigold was for, had seen Ashfoot apply it once or twice, but she didn't know it's true form and thus, she peered closer at the flower before hearing him speak again. 'Do you recognize this scent, your mother probably had this scent when you were in your first couple of days of your like.' She purred in agreement. 'Borage Leaves, helps produce milk for mother.' She meowed as she padded behind to tom with a stronger hold. Her smile was still shy, but a beam was growing as she listened to him explain how to not get lost. 'Use your nose, Maskpaw, remember different scents along the way so you can find your way back or leave stray objects in your path so you can find your way back to camp.' She pondered this, and with a firm nod, she decided that she would try this action, although it would probably be pointless. 'Smell the different scent around you, and make those scents very familiar to you, so the next time you get lost y yourself, seek out those familiar scents and follow your nose.' She nodded once more, taking a deep breath and her heart fluttered. Ashfoot's scent filled her scent glands and she closed her eyes. She could use this scent to find her way home. Upon the realization, she turned her head and only upon hearing him did she look back. 'Are you alright.' He asked and she turned her eyes back with a curious glint. 'Peachy! What els-se are we getting?' Only a small shutter this time around as she fluffed up her pelt in excitement.

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[Poppy]

Ashfoot nodded at the apprentice's answer, it was pretty good that Maskpaw was quite the curious cat. "That's great Maskpaw. The more questions you ask, the more I'll answer them the best I can."Ashfoot had asked Maskpaw what the green leaves he had in his pile and the young she-cat had replied with the right answer "Good, these are borage leaves." He smiled and flicked his tail tip from side to side. The medicine cat watched as Maskpaw smelled the air, hopefully remembering the scents around her to one day find her way home. Then something the young she-cat did,really surprised him, she had turned her head. What had she smelled? Another cat's scent? Are they in some kind of danger? He couldn't do anything but use his claws some and few battle moves. They wouldn't be able to do anything but run back to camp or attempt to fight for this young she-cat.

Ashfoot smiled, and sat down on the dusty earth. "Hmm...I think that I need some more comfrey. Then I think we should be done after we get comfrey, but I don't want to return to camp after that, so it's up to you, what would you like to do?" Ashfoot's heart fluttered when he thought about spending time with Maskpaw. 'What am I thinking? I shouldn't have a crush on Maskpaw! Is there a possible chance that she may like me as wel? Would she be patient enough to become my future mate when she becomes a warrior?' Ashfoot hoped secretly that Maskpaw would become his future mate.

[elf - - -]

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[atrb=background,http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq95/amanda1472/mask2_zpsd99dbf21.png] Her whiskers twitched as she pondered this. She had looked for a scent that would single her home, and the fresh and close scent of Ashfoot leap above the very obvious other scents that lingered. But her heart had sped as she let his scent circle around her, it was a nice scent - fresh and covered with the sweet smell of herbs. She wondered if there was any chance of the tom finding out her attraction to his scent, how it made her heart race with each wave of herb-fresh scent lingered in her nose. Her eyes raced over the tom's appearance quick, her heart fluttering in her chest before she looked out past them. The long white fur scent shivers down her spin, but good; crush worthy shivers. His blue eyes were outstanding, while she only held amber eyes. Her smile, once shy, turned slightly to a straight face as she pondered why she was so flustered over the tom that was her medicine cat. Sure she had heard of many medicine cats who bared kits, and had kits and ... was the rumor true? She had never met one personally, but had heard rumors that Robinsong from Frostclan had done just that; and with the previous leader too. With a shake of her own pelt, she saw that Ashfoot had settled down onto the dusty earth and was speaking to her. '-need some more comfrey. Then I think we should be done after we get comfrey, but I don't want to return to camp after that, so it's up to you, what would like to do?' Her eyes widen as situations flew threw her head and then she grinned, something she thought she would have to force, came naturally and that only installed a little fear. Had she truly fallen for the medicine cat? Probably. Would he ever view her in such light? Probably not. 'We could walk, maybe hunt. I could help you with some battle training.' Was... did she just tease slightly. Her own eyes were slightly widen at her action of playful teasing, but her grin stayed bright and light non-the less. 'I mean, you're in charge really, I've just never really... been giv-given the choice.' She added, biting her lip before raising her head, and a daring look on her face. She padded closer, that sheepish look growing with each step and she bumped the tom's shoulder with her own. 'Come on, it'll be fun.' She added, more for herself then him.

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[Poppy]

The small white and black she-cat grew still for what seemed hours but then Ashfoot soon caught the quick movement in Maskpaw's amber eyes. Those amber eyes were the color of sweet honey, a color which a cat could get sucked in and lost forever. Ashfoot had hardly even noticed that Maskpaw began answering his recent question. 'We could walk, maybe hunt. I could help you with some battle training.' He pondered that for a second, wondering if he would look stupid trying to do some unknown moves that were beyond his power, all he knows is basic battle moves. He's ought to give it a try, right? It couldn't be too bad, after all Maskpaw won't be hard to fight because she is smaller the he is. He nodded in agreement. "Let's try some battle training first, I only know the basics." The white tom shuffled his dark gray paws in embarrassment. 'Why did I say that? Now she'll think I'm too scared to go against her!'

'I mean, you're in charge really, I've just never really... been giv-given the choice.' Ashfoot shook his head lightly. "Since your going to teach me some battle moves, today you are in charge of me." He lifted a paw, lightly cuffing Maskpaw's ear, playfully. When Maskpaw started to walk toward him, his heart began to beat faster, as she grew closer and closer to him and then playfully bumped into his shoulder, a wide smile crept into his face.

[elf - - -]

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[atrb=background,http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq95/amanda1472/mask2_zpsd99dbf21.png] Maskpaw's smile grew sweet with excitement, the battle training, helping another the thrill of adventure! Her whiskers perked slightly at the reminder of her brother Shadepaw, and how he had awoken her. Sure they were at odds sometimes, but she had learned most of her training from him, or practiced most of it. With a smile she bounced lightly on her feet, the shyness seemingly melting away. 'Let's try some battle training first, I only know the basics.' Her whiskers twitched with amusement and with a bright smile she did something outside her comfort zone and placed the tail onto his shoulder and meowed happily. 'I bet you know more, I've only got basics and a few other moves under my paws.' She meowed. 'Plus you-you'll have size advantage, which is good to have.' 'Since your going to teach me some battle moves, today you are in charge of me.' If it was possible, her fur would of ran red with embarrassment. His cuff made her whiskers twitch playfully and then she bumped his shoulder and she purred. 'Okay, onward!' She meowed, bounding off in search of a clearing. It only took a moment before she quite literally tumbled into one, and turned to wait for the medicine cat. 'Let's start with what you know?' She meowed excitedly.

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[elf - - -]

dead