;//through the clouds there is a light.``

[Roxie !]

The time was late morning, and the sun was climbing high in the sky. Had one been standing in ShadowClan's murky marsh, however, they would have never guessed that it was nearly midday. It seemed that the sun never quite managed to break through the insistant mist here, so that the atmosphere always seemed cloudy and rather depressing. But it was the nature of a ShadowClan warrior to enjoy so much elements; to use them to his advantage and merge seemlessly with them as he stalked his prey. Bandedtail's practiced emerald eyes had long since adjusted to the fog that had settled upon the territory today. He was used to the slight dampness in the air that made his fur prickle, and the way that everything unnervingly silent when one wandered out into the bog alone.

Bandedtail preferred to hunt alone, actually. Hunting patrols were much to loud for his liking, though ShadowClan worked hard to make them as smooth and seemless as possible. He found his tactics more successful when he was of one mind, working alone. Of course, the silver tom knew he couldn't get away with staying out here all day. For a week ago, Bandedtail had been given his first apprentice: a young she-cat called Hazelpaw. While the warrior had been somewhat reluctant to become a mentor, he was still determined to succeed in training his charge. He wondered if, perhaps, he should have asked her to accompany him today, but thought better of it. Bandedtail had set out quite early on his hunting trip--at the crack of dawn, actually. Hazelpaw deserved to get a bit of rest before her training began.

He didn't spare the matter much more thought, for he was actually quite pleased with the outcome of his hunt. So far, he had managed to catch a vole, a woodpecker, and a lizard. Once again, Green-Leaf was proving to be a season when prey was plentiful. Bandedtail intended to enjoy the luxury for what it was worth, for he knew it wouldn't last forever.

His ears pricked cautiously as he padded along. The mist in this part of the marsh tended to stifle the scents of the area, and so Bandedtail knew to rely on his ears. Not a sound broke the eerie quiet upon the land, however, except for the quiet chirping of crickets some way off. It was a familiar sound, and one that Bandedtail found to be somewhat soothing. He slowed his pace a bit, wondering if it would be a good idea to turn back soon and collect the prey he'd already caught. Suddenly, there came a slight lurch, and the ShadowClan warrior almost stumbled. Narrowing his eyes, he squinted down at whatever he had tripped over.

It seemed he had stepped into a slight imprint on the ground, lower than the area around it. Bandedtail paused. On further inspection, he realized that it was in fact an animal print-- but a kind that he wasn't familiar with. It was rather oval shaped, with thin lines running through it. And it was very large. Removing his paw, he leaned forward and pressed his nose close to it, sniffing intently. He drew back almost immediately, his hackles prickling. Two-legs had been here. Peering ahead, he saw several more tracks in an according trail, accompanied by several pairs of smaller ones. A two-leg and several kits had been here. But why? What would they want in a place like this?

Whatever their motives were, Bandedtail didn't like this situation at all. He wished that the two-legs would simply let his Clan be. After all, you didn't see ShadowClan cats wandering into two-leg nests. He snorted and shook his head. This would definately have to be reported to the Clan leader. She'd no doubt wish to send a patrol out to evaluate the situation.

Mistystar had succeeded Goldenstar, his own mother. Bandedtail would never mention it to anyone besides perhaps his sister, Frecklenose, but he still thought of his parents at times. He could still see the pair of them quite clearly in his mind's eye, and the happiness gleaming in both of their eyes. Bandedtail almost wished he could have known more about both of them. But there was no use longing for it now--both Goldenstar and Thornleaf were in StarClan. It was a comforting thought, really, to know that they were still looking down on their old Clan.

At length, he paused and let out a sigh. He wasn't keen to continue following these two-legs' footprints. At any rate, it would be foolish to do so on his own. It was time to turn back.

[Otterpaw]

ShadowClan's medicine cat strolled through the Misty Bog calmly. Two things explained what she was doing out here: she was alone, and she had herbs clamped in her jaws. Burdock root, to be exact. Mottledface had been out collecting herbs. She noticed that her stock needed replenished earlier that day. Even though it was summer, and everyone was relaxed, Mottledface knew that accidents still happened. Also, a battle could break out at any time. There was tension in the air, which worried her. Mottledface was young, but she was not foolish.

She wondered if she should look to StarClan for some kind of sign. But maybe she was just being paranoid. unless she found evidence that something in the forest was wrong, there was no need for her to waste a trip to Mothermouth. She had a lot of other things to take up her time anyway. Being the only medicine cat in the forest was a difficult challenge. Not only did she have to attend to her own Clan, but Mottledface felt guilty about leaving the other Clans defenseless. Sometimes, she would make trips to their camps to drop off a few herbs. As a medicine cat, Clan boundaries did not apply to her as much. But it was tiresome work looking after so many cats.

Sometimes Mottledface thought it would be nice having an apprentice. Someone to help her sort herbs and make trips. It would relieve some stress. Maybe time would give her one. She knew to be patient, and trust whatever fate had in store.

She wasn't really paying attention to where she was going. Also, the mist made it hard to see. Suddenly she saw the shape of a cat looming ahead of her. Mottledface gasped, taken by surprise, and stopped just before she ran into him. She accidently dropped her herbs in her shock, and then cursed herself silently. As she bent to organize them again, she chuckled in embarrassment. "Oh, hello Bandedtail." For she had recognized the cat as soon as she dropped the roots. She had been startled by one of ShadowClan's own warriors!"What are you doing out here? Everything alright?" For it was a very foggy day in the bog, and Bandedtail's expression was slightly troubled.

[Roxie !]

He heard the newcomer just before he saw her. His ears swiveled in her direction, and he whipped towards the noise, muscles tensed. Of course, there was every chance that it was just another ShadowClan cat wandering the marsh, but Bandedtail's instincts made him wary upon being crept up on. Seconds later, however, it was confirmed that he had nothing to worry about. He recognized the tortoiseshell she-cat as Mottledface, the medicine cat of the Clan. She clearly hadn't meant to catch him on awares--in fact, judging from the way she had dropped her herbs all over the place, she was just as starled to see him. It was this wretched mist that did it. But, there was no use worrying about things you couldn't control. Bandedtail was pretty laid back in that sense.

He smiled slightly at her, and the way she was so clearly flustered by her clumsiness. He watched her for a moment, his tail tip twitching curiously, and then his gaze dropped slowly to the herbs she was trying to collect. A few of these had rolled over to Bandedtail's paws, tickling the tips of them slightly. Curtiously, he dipped his heads and nosed the roots towards the pile Mottledface had already been forming. He leaned forward a moment longer to make sure they were all in order, before raising his head again, making sure his whiskers brushed the she-cat's muzzle slightly as he did so.

Bandedtail was, to put it plainly, a flirt. Seeing as Mottledface was the ShadowClan medicine cat, he knew he couldn't push things to far with her. For one thing, it would be forbidden to display too much obvious affection for her, and for another, he respected her enough not to bother her...too much. She was, after all, quite pretty, and Bandedtail couldn't resist at least charming her a bit. It was in his nature.

"Forgive me for startling you, Mottledface." He told her smoothly, his tiny smirk widening into a friendly grin. The tom watched her closely, forgetting all about the two-leg tracks for a moment. "I was only trying to get some hunting done. It is, after all, a very beautiful morning, and while the bog might not be the best place to enjoy it...you sometimes find beauty in the most unexpected places." There was a mischevious glint in his eye as he spoke. Bandedtail knew that Mottledface wasn't stupid--she'd most likely catch the double meaning to his words. He also knew not to push things much, but all the same couldn't resist having a bit of fun.

His emerald green eyes widened slightly in mock innocence, and his long whiskers twitched in slight amusement. "But enough about me--how are you? I hope I'm not keeping you from something important." Bandedtail suggested, as if the mere thought of doing such a thing was appalling to him. He sat down, signaling her a wordless invitation to stay and chat with him, for a bit. Mottledface seemed to have picked up on his earlier wanderings, and he decided it was high time to turn the conversation around to her. The silver tom gazed at her keenly in anticipation of her reply.