it's cold.

[Halfstar]

Her amber eyes pierced through the air as she pulled herself out of the warrior den. Dew clung to everything and the sun was rising now, the dawn patrol would be back soon and the camp would thrive with activity like it always did. Her brother was still sleeping in the warrior's den, she looked around, she could feel the cold as it wrapped around her. Leaf-bare was an unforgiving season and kits sometimes got sick and died, it was a harsh time for all clans.

Cats were scattered here and there in the camp but most of the cats were sleeping. She let out a sigh, sitting down she started to wash herself, what else was there to do? She had not been assigned, yes, to do go out and hunt for the clan nor had she been assigned to do a border patrol.

ooc; sorry, it's short.

[/size]

[*QUAKE---claw]

Quakeclaw sat at the edge of camp, watching the goings on in ShadowClan; he either had been assigned any duties from his leader, Pantherstar, yet. Seeing Echostorm washing her fur, Quakeclaw got up from his sitting position and went to greet her.
"Hello, Echostorm; Pantherstar give you any duties for the day yet?"

[Halfstar]

As the sound of paws made their way to where she was, she stopped washing herself, her ears flicking before she actually looked up. Calmly she looked at him as he spoke, her tail wrapped around her legs and her head tilted as if it helped her to think. "Not that I know." She mewed, looking towards the leader's den, though whether he was in there or not, she didn't know. "I need to stretch my legs though, so hopefully soon." She purred, motioning with her tail for him to sit by her, plus she needed the warmth of another cat, the sun may be rising but that didn't mean that it was warm. "What about you?" She questioned.

She and Quakeclaw were not the best of friend's but despite his temper, which came around every now and than, he was a loyal Shadowclan cat and they got along.

[/size]

[*QUAKE---claw]

Quakeclaw took her invitation to sit by her happily. He too, needed some warmth. It was the heart of leaf-bare, and this morning was fiercely cold.
"No, he has not. I haven't even seen him since yesterday evening."
Quakeclaw spoke with a meow of worried emotion; he held great respect for their leader. After all, Pantherstar was the one who gave him the chance to prove himself as a loyal and worthy Clan cat. For that he would be eternally grateful. And Pantherstar not showing up at first light for Clan duties, worried him.
Turning to Echostorm, he voiced his concerns.
"Do you think something's wrong with Pantherstar? He is usually up earlier than this."

[Pantherstar]

OOC: Sorry for being late.

Inside the dark comfort of his den, Pantherstar stirred. He had been within a deep slumber, dreaming of chasing, jumping and capturing bumblebees in the forest when the morning cold crept upon him and his eyes opened to the dim morning light. Slowly he stood and shook the cold chill from his body as he walked towards the cave entrance.

[Halfstar]

She purred as he took her invitation and the wave of heat from his body hit her, it felt nice, very nice, especially while this morning was colder than usual. She listened quietly, noting Quakeclaw's worried tone as if he were a Queen and he were talking about his kits. "I think he's fine. I would want to sleep in in this weather." She meowed, trying to calm the younger tom down. She sniffed the air, their leader's smell reaching her nose despite the fact that he was probably still in his den.

"I think he just woke up." She purred, licking the Tom on his shoulder affectionately, hoping that would calm him down a bit. "We should see if we can do anything." She meowed, glancing towards Pantherstar's den than back to Quakeclaw.

[/size]

[*QUAKE---claw]

Quakeclaw instantly relaxed; he smelt Pantherstar's scent too. He must've just woken.
"Yes, let's go see," Quakeclaw said, standing up and beginning to make his way over to his leaders den.

[Pantherstar]

Pantherstar reached the cave entrance and lifted his nose to smell two of his clan approaching. He could tell instantly that it was Quakeclaw and Echostorm. He glanced out and around the camp, the sun seemed to be bringing a bit more warmth to the territory now. Focusing back to his warriors "Good morning Quakeclaw, Echostorm, how are you both?".

[Halfstar]

She let Quakeclaw walk in front of her as she followed him to their leader's den. Her whiskers twitched with humor over the way Quakeclaw was to their leader, who knew a Tom could be like that. She purred as their leader made his way out of the den, the sun now coming up and the dawn patrol coming back. There was still coldness in the air and would be for some time but the sun was nice on days like this. She dipped her head in greeting and in respect to Pantherstar. "Awake." She meowed, stretching once more. "And you Pantherstar? It's not like you, after all, to wake up as late as this." She purred with amusement, her eyes teasing.

[Pantherstar]

"Yes I know, lately sleep has been a welcomed relief from the cold days we've been having" Pantherstar replied with a laugh. He held great respect for the tough she-cat. "How are you this morning Quakeclaw?".

[*QUAKE---claw]

Quakeclaw purred a reply. "Cold, but that's to be expected," he said with a slight chuckle, his good humor returning easily. "Any special duties you have for either of us, Pantherstar?"

[Pantherstar]

Pantherstar glanced at Quakeclaw, the young cat had proven himself one fine warrior "I have you both on evening patrol, however that is a while off. If either of you please, the fresh kill pile could use some items. You know the queens and the elderly need their food for strength in this cold".

[Halfstar]

"We will go." She replied, dipping her head in respect and lifted her head again, "Shall we take any more cats?" She questioned, sometimes it was good to have more cats and sometimes not though in the end, it was Pantherstar's choice whether it was just her and Quakeclaw or them and more clan cats.

[Pantherstar]

Pantherstar thought for a moment "Yes, you can take Swiftheart with you. The three of you will be a hunting patrol. Please be careful, this cold has been unkind to us".

[Thistlestar]

Swiftheart was walking back into camp, and heard Pantherstar say her name. Curious, but sort of aware of what it probably consisted of, she walked over to the huddled threesome in the snow.
"Did I hear my name?" she asked with a slight chuckle, sitting down next to Pantherstar and looking at him questioningly.