silent, as usual ;:; open

[ICEPAW]

Icepaw's cerulean eyes flicked from the ball of moss to his grass-stained white paw. He had been lying outside the medicine cat's den for ages now, batting damp moss back and forth. The apprentice was dizzy from the constant movement of the green ball, and his normally ivory paw was the same hue as the grass around him. Icepaw blinked a few times, then lifted his head to stare into the camp. The ball of moss lay forgotten beside him.

The camp was abuzz with life. Warriors nodded to other warriors, apprentices found their mentors to train, and mates peered lovingly at each other passed entwined tails. Icepaw scowled. It wouldn't be long before the other cats his age found him, sentenced to the outskirts of camp, playing with moss like a newborn kit. The deaf apprentice shuddered, not at the words his littermates would say, but at the laughter and mocking in their eyes. I'll show them, he swore silently. I won't always be bound up like this.

His blue eyes slowly found their way back to the medicine cat's den. The tangy stench of yarrow was familiar to him now, after many days spent lazily tossing prey or leaves back and forth lying outside the den. The bitter aroma of borage was known to him. The sweet smell of catmint was more rare, but it was more pure than honey, more precious than gold, and by far the best herb in the den. I want to be a medicine cat. Icepaw thought decidedly. And, voice or not, I'll convince Willowshard to let me.

[Duskstar]

Duskstar padded out of his den, stretching his sleepy muscles before padding over to the fresh-kill pile. Snatching a lizard, the midfurred gray tabby took a few bites out of it, savoring the meat of the reptilian. Duskstar took another bite of his prey when he saw a flicker of movement over by the medicine cat's den.

Noticing Icepaw, Duskstar thought he looked forlorn sitting all alone over there, and Duskstar knew better than to just sit around doing nothing watching the lonely apprentice.

Who was his mentor again? Duskstar could never remember, but whoever it was needed to be patient, as Icepaw was deaf and didn't know how to speak. The leader began padding over to the white tom, but instead of greeting him with a mew, the large gray tom waved his tail casually.

[ICEPAW]

The Clan leader's smell reached Icepaw's nose long before Duskstar came over, his tail floating calmly behind him. Icepaw blinked curiously, then realized the nature of the gesture. The leader was trying to be friendly. This made the apprentice twitch his nose in indignation. When others tried to be friendly, his lack of hearing and speech always made things awkward. The only line of communication was visual, through charades and motioning. Icepaw tensed slightly and cast one last look at the damp moss beside him before flicking his tail in a silent greeting to Duskstar.

It took the white tom a moment to recognize what his leader clenched between his jaws. A lizard! Reptiles were always a favorite of Icepaw's. His blue eyes glanced to Duskstar's teeth once more, and he felt his mouth water. The apprentice looked then from the prey back into his leader's eyes- they weren't much different in hue from his own, besides being paler and icier. They always struck Icepaw as being like the lake right after dusk- no wonder the gray tom was named Duskstar.

The apprentice rose to all four paws, the ball of moss forlorn beside him. He nodded cheerily at Duskstar- though he suspected the leader was just coming over out of pity. I'm used to it. That's what they always do- and they never come back over again. Icepaw shivered slightly, and waited for Duskstar.

[Duskstar]

Duskstar stopped about a tail-length before Icepaw and sat down, hoping the apprentice didn't feel awkward around him. He knew some did; he was their leader after all.

He opened his mouth, about to speak, when he remembered that the apprentice could not speak. After he shut his mouth, he began to act out his words. 'Who is your mentor?' He at first showed him trsining himself then cocked his head to the side questioningly. Duskstar hoped he understood.

[ICEPAW]

Icepaw's blue eyes flashed slightly as Duskstar opened his mouth, as ifpreparing to speak. A chill breeze blew through the air, forcing the apprentice to shiver slightly, matching his cold emotions. Didn't his own leader recognize his deafness? After a short, silent pause, the older cat seemed to catch on and began acting out a short charade. The white tom wrinkled his pale pink nose in concentration, before coming to the conclusion that he was asking who his mentor was. The apprentice exhaled slowly. That doesn't make much sense, Icepaw thought coolly. He hasn't given me one yet.

The cerulean eyed tom blinked sharply before miming out his answer in a simple shrug, with a slightly cocked head, as if to say 'I don't have one yet'. But I want to be the medicine cat apprentice, he thought ruefully, glancing sideways at said den nearby. He half wondered if the leader caught his gaze, though the white tom doubted it. Icepaw turned his gaze back towards Duskstar, waiting for his leader's reply. So, what do you have to say now? He thought, the words sharp in his mind.