Is this right for me?

[wildshadow]

Adderstar needed a break from her duties of a Leader. It was so tedious, having to make all the boring decisions. Currently the small cat was supposed to be discussing the pros and cons of butting up a dam in the Warrior's den. On the one hand, it would give them more space(that they didn't need) and on the other hand it would take up their warriors' time, when they should be hunting and patrolling their borders. The only up side to being a leader was that she got to name apprentices as warriors. She hadn't gotten to yet, but there were a few apprentices that were working their way to becoming warriors. There was a surprising lack of kits, however.

Now, however, Adderstar was ignoring her duties as a leader. She needed a break, and the best way to do that was to hunt. The small leader had trotted out of camp and off onto the moors, fancying the taste of rabbit. No apprentice would have to bring her fresh kill today. That was another thing the femme didn't like about being a leader, she was often so busy she couldn't eat in the clearing of camp with her clan.

Adderstar stalked slowly across the moors, a large buck rabbit in her sight. The gorse and heather were perfect camoflage for the small cat and her yellow eyes glimmered in anticipation. Just a little closer, a few more creeping steps. Suddenly Adderstar exploded from the patch of heather she had been hiding in, the rabbit jumping and beginning to run. The cat hadn't judged how close the rabbit was to its warren, and just as she gained on the prey it nearly disappeared down its rabbit hole. Adderstar was able to grab a leg in her jaws but the rabbit squealed and squirmed, kicking out with its strong hind legs. The small cat tried to drag the rabbit out of the hold but it was moving around too much. With a final scratch across her nose Adderstar lost her grip and the traumatized buck disappeared out of sight. Adderstar stalked away, tail lashing in frustration. If she had lost her meager hunting skills she would be extremely mad.

[~*Bright*~]

Brightstream weaved her way through the tall grass and heather. Her ears pricked and eyes darting every which way. She was looking for rabbits, or any kind of prey for that matter, but most of it were the quick hopping rabbits. The one Brightstream was good at and loved was hunting. She loved chasing the furry creatures across the moors and trying to keep pace with them. If anything could provide a challenge, it was chasing rabbits. So far, she had only caught one, but she hadn't been out long.

Another scent caught her attention. It was one of her Clanmates, but not just any cat. The cream-yellow she-cat slithered her way over to where the scent was coming from. Then she saw a small shape sitting in a clearing. The feline was none other than Adderstar, Leader of her Clan. Brightstream tilted her head to one side as she watched the Leader. She looked upset and mad. Of what? She wondered if she should go over to Adderstar to see what's wrong. Brightstream wasn't the kind of cat to just pad up to someone and demand what's going on. She was a bit shy, especially around someone higher up than herself.

But her curiosity and sympathy got the better of her. She's also the kind of cat who can't stand seeing any cat upset. She slowly padded out from behind the heather and approach Adderstar. "Um, hello there, She mewed, dipping her head in polite. She sat down next to the Leader and stayed quiet for a few minutes. She glanced at Adderstar, wondering what to say. Then finally just asked; Is there something wrong?" She did want to know, but didn't want to get yelled at. She hated when cats did that.

[wildshadow]

Adderstar turned her head to look at one of her warriors. If she wasn't mistaken it was Brightstream, a good cat. A little timid, but good. Eventually the larger she-cat spoke, Adderstar wasn't too angry, just a little upset. She felt as though she could trust Brightstream. True, perhaps she should speak to her deputy or medecine cat about her concerns, but that seemed too official. The small tabby-striped calico cat crouched down on her haunches, lowering herself even more, belly brushing the ground.

"I just missed a rabbit. I even had its leg, but it escaped me. Brightstream, have you ever felt useless? I feel that way as leader. I'm meant to fight, not make decisions and lead a clan. It seems I can't even hunt any more, how long until I forget how to fight?" All the while Adderstar spoke into the ground, from which came warm smells of gorse and peat. It was the scent of WindClan, lonely and comforting. Hopefully Adderstar's clanmate wasn't disappointed in her. The she-cat was confused, she was not a member of StarClan yet, she didn't know everything.

[~*Bright*~]

Brightstream noticed the burrow where the rabbit must have disappeared. She was near it enough to stare in it. Obviously it was dark and it seemed to go on forever. Most likely has another exit somewhere else. She glanced back at her Leader, who had now sunk further to the ground. "It's okay. Everyone misses every now and then." She tried to pick her words carefully, hoping they would help cheer Adderstar up. She understood the feeling of disappointment when missing a piece of prey. It always made her feel that she let her Clan down, but she does her best to bring at least one rabbit or other prey to camp.

Then Adderstar started asking her some surprising questions. Brightstream was in a shock silence. Why would the Leader ask her, a young warrior, such questions? She had no experience in leadership skills, never even had an apprentice. As she stared at Adderstar, thinking of a way to reply, she realized just how small her Leader looked, not just in size either. The creamy-yellow she-cat could never picture herself as Leader, it would to much for her. But this she-cat in front of her had taken up the duty and may be proven too difficult for her to go on. Then Brightsream was reminded of a similar time in her life.

"Yes, I have felt like that." She started quietly, staring at her white paws. "When I was an apprentice, I had a hard time learning how to fight. I couldn't remember hardly any of the fighting moves and in battle, I just...freak out and start attacking everyone." She closed her eyes as horrible memories of failure and disappointment came flooding over her. Her brother mocking her, the other apprentices laughing, the other warriors shaking their heads in shame and then her mother dieing... She shook her head, trying to clear these dark memories. I...thought would never be a good fighter. Let alone a warrior. But then my mentor helped me find a way to fight better, without losing it. I tried to push myself to be stronger and more determine." She raised her head to look at the blue sky. "I kept telling myself even though I'm not a good fighter, at least I'm great at hunting. And if I can't protect my Clan well, at least I can help keep them from going hungry."

She paused and took a deep breath. Then she turned and face Adderstar. "Since I'm not a Leader, I do not fully understand the pressure and demand that you feel." Her voice was full with confidence and her eyes shone a strength that's hardly even there. It was rare for her to feel this way, to feel this strong. But this time, she was sure of what to say. "But I've seen how your handling it and I can tell that you'll be a great Leader, no matter what happens. In all honesty, you'll make mistakes, but that's ok. No Leader is perfect. I mean we've all seen that at Gatherings and other times right? Even the greatest Leaders have made mistakes." She smiled and continued; "But we learned from our mistakes right? I was always told that we all learn from what we've done wrong, so that way, if a similar situation happens again one would know what to do, right?"

She flicked her tail at the Leader in a calming way. Then she remember the other thing she said. I don't know what to say about your hunting skills. They could be getting a little rusty if you hadn't used them since becoming Leader. But those kind of skills don't leave you, no matter when you last hunt. That also goes for battle skills, their there even when your born. We just made them better with the training. Though I'm probably not the best example." She giggled at her last comment. But when she finish, the strength in her eyes began to dim and though she was gazing at her leader, it wasn't directly at her. Brightstream waited for a reply, staring with curiosity yet nervousness at the same time.

[wildshadow]

Adderstar listened to her warrior, her spirits slowly rising. Brightstream was right, and she was confident in her own abilities. Perhaps the small she-cat had been worrying for nothing. And as for her hunting, she had never been that good to begin with. Sitting up Adderstar looked at her companion with bright yellow eyes. "You're right," she mewed, "I just need to take more time to keep myself sharp. Maybe I'll go on more ptrols. Oh, and don't tell anyone I said any of this, word might get out. We can't have any of the other Clans thinking I'm weak. That's the one problem, you know? Cats don't take me seriously so I have to prove myself."

Adderstar stood up, stretching a little, limbering up. She would try hunting again, exercise, and in the near future she'd go on a patrol. The femme stalked off, opening her mouth and scenting for something to eat. She waved her tail at Brightstream, inviting her to join her. Then, a woody earthy smell hit the roof of her mouth. There was a rabbit. Adderstar stalked through a patch of gorse, actually able to follow a rather targe rabbit trail through it. This time luck was with the small cat. The rabbit was close to her concealed hiding spot and once her hindquarters were clear, Adderstar launched herself off, running at speeds only a WindClan cat could reach, claws extended for better traction. The rabbit began a turn and the she-cat turned with it, catching it and biting its neck. Finally she had succeeded.

[~*Bright*~]

Brightstream smiled as her Leader started to cheer up. In all honesty, she was worried that Adderstar would get more depress, or even angry at her. But seeing her Leader feeling better made the creamy-yellow she-cat feel happy at being able to help her. She nodded her head. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone" She understood if Adderstar didn't want her to tell anyone about this converstation. It probably wouldn't look good if the others thought that the Leader was consoling in young warriors instead of her Deputy or medicine cat. But the thought made her feel sad, like she wasn't important.

Then she saw her Leader taking off into the undergrowth. She took off after her, scenting the smell of rabbit. But she abruptly came to a halt as Adderstar dove through a small space between some bushes. Brightstream was about to go in, but then thought that if she tried, she would shake the bushes and possibly startled the rabbit. She didn't want to scare away the prey Adderstar was after, so she went into a different direction, trying to keep the scent of her leader nearby. Please Starclan, help her catch this rabbit./color] She prayed, feeling that if Adderstar misses this prey she would become upset again.

As she came around a shrub, she saw Adderstar with the rabbit. "Congratulations" She mewed catching her breath. She then scented another rabbit and took off in the direction of the scent. Soon the rabbit came into sight, nibbling on some grass. As the yellow she-cat drew nearer, the furry creature took off and the chase began. She weaved her way through the grass, gaining on the rabbit. But as she was about to leap for a grab at it, her hindleg got stuck on a rock. Letting out a startled yowl, she tumbled onto the ground and saw the rabbit getting away in the tall grass.

Sighing, she mewed, "See what I mean, even the best hunter will miss." She didn't see herself as 'the best', but as a really good hunter. She felt disappointed watching her prey escaping, especially because of tripping over a stupid rock. Normally Brightstream was aware of the environment around her when hunting, but she was trying to show off to her Leader to be paying attention. As she tried to stand up a sharp pain went through her leg. She let out a painful hiss and turn around to get a look at her leg and saw blood trickling down it. She did her best to lick the blood dry and tried to stand on it again. The pain came again and she cringe this time.

"Uh, Adderstar? I, uh, hurt my leg." She called out, slight hurt in her voice. She lifted her leg a little and the pain lessen. She still had it on the ground, but was holding it at an awkward position. Panic began to fill her as she tried to pad forward, but it came as a limp. She was unsure if she could make it back to camp like this.

[wildshadow]

Adderstar watched the light cream warrior set off through the moor grass even as her own rabbit took its dying breath. It seemed the poor creatures were too dumb to know when cats were around. The leader shoved her kill under the root of a shrub to keep it safe while she snuck around heather gorse and grass to catch sight of Brightstream in action. From what the small she-cat had heard Brightstream was an excellent hunter. Unfortunately, it seemed that the warrior was offset by Adderstar being there, as she tripped over a stone. In the warrior's defence, the stone was rather large and the same color as the surrounding moor. If the calico herself had come across it there was no doubt she would she would have tumbled head over paws.

As adderstar trotted up to Brightstream she smelt the scent of blood. She increased her pace and raced over to the larger cat. Brightstream's leg was bleeding and she held it at an odd angle. When the cream clolred cat tried to walk she limped. Adderstar cursed under her breath. It was a regular hunting accident, and surely nothing that the medecine couldn't fix. Still, it was a stress on the clan, and Adderstar couldn't help feeling responsible. If she hadn't distracted Brightstream this wouldn't have happened. Still, this was no time to worry about such things. "Do you think you can walk if I support you? Or should I get Lilyfall?" Adderstar crouched down and sniffed at Brightstream's paw. It reeked of blood, but didn't look too mangled from the outside. But then, she was no medecine cat.

[~*Bright*~]

Brightstream glanced at Adderstar. The Leader looked frustrated again. She grind her teeth, not in pain, but with nervousness. She thought that Addstar was upset at the creamy-yellow cat for getting hurt and not at herself. Quickly, Brightstream shook her head. "I'm so sorry, Adderstar. I-I normally pay a-attention to my sur-surroundings, but I-I guess that..that I wasn't..." Her explanation trailed off. A lot of times when she's in an uncomfortable situation, she would stutter or even not finish a sentence, especially when she thinks no one would listen.

Brightstream tried her best to not flinch away when the Leader bent down to sniff her leg. Though the pain died down a bit, it did stung a little when Adderstar's whiskers touched the scratch. "Uh, I guess we could try walking back and see how that'll work." She wasn't actually sure which would have been the better choice, but she wanted to prove to the Leader that she was fine and capable of moving, though she knew that she'd be out of doing duties for the next few days. It wouldn't be too bad, with the heat coming and all, it would be nice to lay in a cool spot for a while. But at the same time, she didn't want to be seen as the weak little she-cat who can't take care of herself. But there was nothing she could do to change what has happen and she kept reminding herself that this has happen to many other cats before her.

She awkwardly padded to stand by her Leader, trying not to limp so much, and began slowly heading towards camp. It was sort of awkward, slightly leaning against someone who was a few inches shorter then herself. But she didn't want to say anything about it. Brightstream sure believed that Adderstar probably feels the same way. Then she remembered something. "I caught a small rabbit earlier. Nearby, I think." She glanced around and saw the bush where she hid her catch. She glanced at Adderstar, the question shone in her eyes. It was small enough for either of them to carry it, so if the Leader didn't want her to carry it, Adderstar can.