Collecting Moss

Runningpaw ran towards the stream that marked the border to RiverClan;his fur bristled as he remebered nearly drowning in that very same stream. It wasn't a stream now,though,more like a river with it's swirling brown currents. He shivered and padded up as close to the water as he dared,finding a patch of deep moss. He sank his claws in,scratching up the bright green,damp moss.

OOC: Hope you don't mind her sudden apperence. . . ;p

Mintpaw had gone out solo hunting but wasn't having much luck. She was tired after her long chase after Cinnamonkit. She noticed a cat down by the stream, well more like river, that was the border with RiverClan. She went to go look and see who it was. As she padded towards it she reconized Runningpaw who was collecting moss. I can't seem to catch anything so I'll see if he needs any help. She meowed teasingly from behind him, "Having fun, as I would presume?"

Runningpaw shrugged,but a glint of humor sparked in his eyes. "I'm still an apprentice. And Nightfeather has a mate now,with kits,so..."he trailed off,realizing he was more than likely never going to have those things. All because of Spiderfang. He growled softly and plunged his claws into the soft moss,ripping it violently from it's roots.

Mintpaw watched Runningpaw rip the moss up with more force than nessesary. She also swore she heard him softly growl. She asked, "You need any help with this? You wouldn't have to carry as much back if I did." She stole a glance at the rapids surging in the stream and shivered at the thought of the cold water. That would be a disater for anyone, possibly even a RiverClan cat, to fall into that.

"Uh,sure."Runningpaw shrugged,moving over to make room for his denmate. "Don't worry,"he said,seeing her glance at the water. "It's not that hard to swim."

Mintpaw thought that hard to believe but she had to trust him and not be scared. She started ripping moss up in long strips. Continuing on her work she still shake off the cold feeling she got from the river. "So how much should we get? Maybe a little extra for some other beds," she thought out loud. She continued saying, "Still don't trust the river much at all."

Runningpaw laughed,a stressed,raspy sound due to the tear in his throat. "Really. Your looking at the one survivor of that river."he said,nodding to the stream.

Mintpaw stared at him, wide-eyed. "You fell into it?" She shook her head a little playfully meowing, "No wonder you're not pratically hissing at the river. Wow, I sound completely mouse-brained!" Did I really say that out loud? That battle and chasing after Cinnamonkit has done something serious to my brain!

Runningpaw nodded,a teasing glint in his eyes. "It was scary. But Duskshadow saved me,along with a RiverClan warrior." He rolled the moss he'd collected into a ball,and began working on another,claws working furiously.

Mintpaw teased back with a shocked voice and expression. "You're not thinking of pushing me in are you?" She also rolled some moss into a ball but squished it a little under her paws to make sure it was compact. Besides her teasing she still felt a little scared. Water and me don't mix well at all.

"No! How could you think such a thing?"Runningpaw said in mock horror,his eyes wide and innocent. He laughed and grabbed the moss ball in his teeth,shaking the water out of it to keep it dry. He grabbed the second ball of moss he'd made and squeezed it together,feeling his paws get soaked. "Want some?"he offered,pressing on the moss to get the water on the surface.

Mintpaw laughed and quickly threw a small bit of wet moss at Runningpaw's face. Also gathering up the moss she had collected, putting some in her mouth and the rest under her chin. She could bet a whole rabbit that she looked funny. A decent sized piece dropped and bounced away in the direction of the river. She set the rest down growling, "Fox-dung!" She padded over to where it had stopped which was only a few mouse lengths away from the edge. As she bent down to pick the small ball up she felt the ground shift slightly. She froze in place, terror siezing her whole body. As it shifted more she got a hold of herself again. She tried to leap back, hoping it was enough so she wouldn't slip into the swirling currents.

Runningpaw leaped towards Mintpaw,ready to steady her if she was unsteady. "Are you okay?"

She panted, "I think so." She probably just had a brush with death. If she hadn't made it she would have surely been swept away by the brown waters. It's like that feeling I'm getting is a warning from StarClan to stay clear away from the river. She caught her breath and quickly went back to her moss pile. "How about we head back now, okay?"

"Alright."Runningpaw agreed,grabbing his two moss balls in his jaws and under his chin.

Mintpaw picked up her's as well and began trotting back towards camp. She paused looking back, as much as she could anyway, to see if Runningpaw was following.

Runningpaw trotted after Mintpaw,a sliver of amusement in his eyes. "It's not like the river's gonna come after us."he teased playfully.

She replied just as playfully, "Don't say that if you don't want it to!" She began trotting again next to Runningpaw.

OOC:I'll make a post in camp

Runningpaw laughed,loping into the camp. He headed towards the nursery to drop off the moss.