Post by Wildheart on Oct 31, 2009 9:02:55 GMT -5
Rootpelt didn't really look her age. She remained as wiry as ever, though perhaps not as limber as she had been in an earlier season. She has traveled this path to the highest den, that of the leader, many times before, and scaled the branches with confidence.
"Goldstar." The old ticked tabby rasped, and a murmur of assent came from within.
Goldstar was sitting to one side of his den, studying a pattern in the bark there with patience. He swung his head towards his deputy and dipped his muzzle. "Rootpelt. What's on your mind?"
She settled to her paws with a grunt. "Should have known you'd assume something."She grumbled, but the words fell on largely deaf ears, and she continued. "I'm retiring, Goldstar. I've trained my last apprentice, that's for sure. young Wildpaw - she beat me to a mouse that ran right in front of me this morning."
Goldstar was silent for a long while. When he spoke there was a gleam of sorrow in his dark blue eyes. "You have given long and valuable service to your clan, Rootpelt. You have earned your place among the elders - and I will miss your guidance."
She waved her thin tail impatiently. "Oh, don't start all that. I'm not joining Starclan this minute." she snapped, but there was no bite to the words, and Goldstar knew it. "I'll finish Wildpaw's training, but she's all but ready. Young little idiot sneaks out so often without me she'll barely notice I'm not there."
He chuckled, picturing her independent apprentice, and waved his tail. "Oh, I doubt that." He murmured, then rose to his paws. "I must speak with themedicine cats before I announce this. Thankyou, once again, Rootpelt." He nodded his head to her and slipped outside.
For a moment, Rootpelt looked around at the spacious den. She had known it was never her destiny to live here, to lead her clan. She only hoped whoever it was who did follow Goldstar, would keep Rootclan strong. Then the elderly she-cat followed her leader, leaving the den empty.
"Goldstar." The old ticked tabby rasped, and a murmur of assent came from within.
Goldstar was sitting to one side of his den, studying a pattern in the bark there with patience. He swung his head towards his deputy and dipped his muzzle. "Rootpelt. What's on your mind?"
She settled to her paws with a grunt. "Should have known you'd assume something."She grumbled, but the words fell on largely deaf ears, and she continued. "I'm retiring, Goldstar. I've trained my last apprentice, that's for sure. young Wildpaw - she beat me to a mouse that ran right in front of me this morning."
Goldstar was silent for a long while. When he spoke there was a gleam of sorrow in his dark blue eyes. "You have given long and valuable service to your clan, Rootpelt. You have earned your place among the elders - and I will miss your guidance."
She waved her thin tail impatiently. "Oh, don't start all that. I'm not joining Starclan this minute." she snapped, but there was no bite to the words, and Goldstar knew it. "I'll finish Wildpaw's training, but she's all but ready. Young little idiot sneaks out so often without me she'll barely notice I'm not there."
He chuckled, picturing her independent apprentice, and waved his tail. "Oh, I doubt that." He murmured, then rose to his paws. "I must speak with themedicine cats before I announce this. Thankyou, once again, Rootpelt." He nodded his head to her and slipped outside.
For a moment, Rootpelt looked around at the spacious den. She had known it was never her destiny to live here, to lead her clan. She only hoped whoever it was who did follow Goldstar, would keep Rootclan strong. Then the elderly she-cat followed her leader, leaving the den empty.
