here and now [rainyday]

[NICKLE]

The sun was rich in the sky, giving way to tell-all signs that the weather was going to hold up and the impending storm would arriver later then expected. The grassy fields swayed in the gentle breeze and scatter brushes rustled in the wind as well. There was disturbance all about the territory, but the biggest was the stalking predator in the distance. The petite feline's white pelt brushes against the grass blades, the grass itself shuttering at the all to long pelt against it.

'I'm getting close.'

That was the thought, a simple thought, a thought that belonged to only one cat and that cat was the leader of a clan. The leader of Windclan actually. This clan so free and wild that they lived below the open sky to stay close to their ancestors. The feline's maw parted and he found himself at the lake shore - closest to Thunderclan territory. He remembered playing with his Shadowclan friends on the lake shore, right there and all the trouble they got into. His smile rose as he stood there and soon, he stopped, eyes shut and his shoulders shaking.

'I mustn't!'

He fled from the border, along the shore of the lake, his clan's camp could possibly even make him out from where they were. He was a strange white ball of fluff, running from one border to the next. His mind was raging with memories, memories of better days of love, of hatred and of betrayal. His body was inwardly shivering in pain and then, as if struck by Starclan he tripped, paws tumbled and his whole body launching forward - to wards the water.

"WHAT?!"

He yowled in panic as his body flew through the air an over a small stretch of water. Landing in said water he sank downward, the pull of his pelt dragging him down. To any normal sized tom, or she-cat even a large apprentice would be able to touch, but the leader could not. He padded against the water, trying to move and struggling so. His maw was above the ground - that he could managed, but his eyes were shut in panic as he struggled against the weight of his own pelt.

'Damn it!'

He hissed as he pushed forward slightly, paws just barely scrapping the ground, his head bobbing up and down. How embarrassing to get stuck in the lake. His paw missed the ground, his body lunging under and his eyes widen under the water. If only he had been larger, he would of been fine! Breaking the surface this time, his paws started to thrash about, anger in himself for not being able to pull himself forward. He knew, should anyone find him - or his body if it got that bad - that they think him a drowned rat for the way he was mostly fur, with muscles of course, but barely.

He fell back under the water - the storm that had threaten to not spill was upon him and he was stuck in the lake! He broke the surface, realizing the waves would push him close enough, but drag him away faster. He felt his jaws part and he yowled for help, his eyes catching the distant from of a feline - whether real of not on the shore. He yelped again as the water took him under again.

[`rainyday]

The sun was bright, lighting up the river that ran through the lush Riverclan territory. But dark clouds hung around the edge of the sky. They seemed innocent enough, and were only really noticeable upon a second look at the otherwise perfect skies. A breeze ran through the forest, a bit swifter then a harmless summer breeze. A storm was on the horizon, and it was only a matter of time before it broke.

A lithe she-cat padded through the forest, her mismatched eyes trained on the sky. The bright sun did not matter one bit to her. What was the point of focusing on all the bright things, pardon the pun, in life. The light would blind you, and you would be blind to the coming storm. It was a metaphor for life, one so simple, yet all were blind to it but her. How foolish those cats were. A cat, as long as they hid themselves within the bright light of the sun, could sneak up on these cats and take them by surprise. Such as Splashstar had herself.

The pale calico snickered, padding on. What she was looking for wasn't clear. To be honest, she was just browsing. It was her duty to know everything that happened within Riverclan and within their territory. Sure, her cats were loyal to her. But one may never know what happened behind their back, what lies and betrayals awaited them. Thinking about secrets being kept from her made her feel sick inside, as a fire brewed in her stomach. No, no secrets were to be held, she would never be blinded like the other fools in the forest.

A yowl pierced the air, making it's way to Splashstar's ears. They perked, and the leader looked around for the source of the noise. Just in the distance, she could see a figure in the lake, one that could not be Riverclan. A Riverclan cat would never put up such a fuss in the water. Upon padding closer, taking her sweet time, her eyes detected who the cat was. Snowstar of Windclan. The femme laughed silently, what a mouse-brain that clan had for a leader. But she couldn't let him drown, as tempting as it was. Sure, it would teach the tom a lesson, as for the whole clan. But upon learning that Splashstar had allowed the tom to drown, it would be war between the clans, and that just wasn't acceptable.

Splashstar dove into the water, quickly grabbing the tom's scruff and pulled him towards the shore. It was fairly close, and at this point, she could almost touch the lake floor. 'How pathetic, this is at most a fox-length away from shore, he should be embarrassed..' she laughed inside, climbing onto the lake shore and bringing the white tom with her. She let go of him and studied him. Yet again, pathetic.

Despite the awkwardness that was sure to come of this situation, it couldn't be all bad. Splashstar had saved Snowstar's life, the leader of Windclan. He would be in debt to her, something she would not take lightly. From this day, if she played her cards right at this moment, Windclan cats would be forever grateful to Riverclan. When she needed them, she could call upon the wimpy moor-runners and have them do her bidding. Not bad for a whole 30 heartbeats of swimming and pulling a cat out of the lake. But the relationship of the two clans depended on the next words said.

"Are you okay?" she mewed, concern flocking into her voice, her eyes wide and gazing at the tom with an equal amount of concern. She couldn't care less if the tom was about to lose his next six lives, but hey, it was easy to pretend. Looking at Snowstar, she frowned. "You have to be careful, I can't always be here to pull you out of the water; besides, next time a fish bigger then you will end up snatching you!" she joked. 'I bet every fish is bigger then him, just look at the size of the tom' were the scorn filled thoughts, which almost resulted in a little giggle. How sad.

[NICKLE]

He swore to the far reaches of Starclan that his life passed through his life again. He remembered the fox attack, how it attacked, tossing him and killing off his first life. He remembered the taunting the bullies teasing him of his size. He laughed at them now, look at him the proud leader of Windclan. A clan he found justice in and would always serve whether that be dead or alive. He felt his paw touch the ground and silent hope entered his heart and the next thing he knew, teeth settled into his scruff. The cat could swim, which quickly lead him to believe it was a Riverclan cat. He could feel the ground below his paws - sweet, sweet dry land and suddenly he opened his eyes, there stood an attractive she-cat, her scent familiar but he couldn't place it yet.

'Where...

His eyes flickered with confusion, the usual blank reserved look had fallen in his panic. He paused in his musings to take a look at his own appearance and inwardly moaned in displeasure. Now this cat - clan cat by the looks of it - would know the true extent of his body mass. This was added to his embarrassment, but he hide it behind that blank look he had placed moments after his silent save from his near death in the water. His lips however dipped slightly into a frown as he placed the she-cat easily. Her voice echoing in his ears and he instantly knew who she was.

Splashstar.

Are you okay?

No...

He pondered this, his maw remaining closed and his eyes calculating. He could say yes, and move away but the storm clashing about over head would be enough to make him find shelter close to the lake until the storm blew over. Standing on all four - his legs gave a different story and he sank into a sitting position, his eyes tired, but not giving his turn emotion of shock and panic. Of fear that he refused to let surface. That was when he shook his soaked pelt, letting the water sore from his fur and around him, letting his fur add some more volume, but not as it once more.

Starclan, you let a leader see my true size... how cruel will you be to me?

"You have to be careful, I can't always be here to pull you out of the water; besides, next time a fish bigger then you will end up snatching you!"

"I understand that I am shorter then the average adult cat."

He added monotone, but the light milf in his eyes acknowledged that he found only slight humour in her joke. She had saved his life - and of course it would of been a funny joke if it had been any other problem. He swallowed, eyes closed for a moment as he shook his pelt again, shiver and wishing for his thick pelt again. He disliked the water - that much was known now - and his jaws parted.

"Thank you Splashstar, you have saved my life."

'Indeed, I must look where I am going for now on.

His jaws snapped shut, tense muscles as he fought another shiver from the water, but his eyes closed to add a shaky breath. Snapping them open, he tilted his head slightly to the side and pondered whether to move from here to shelter -

"The storm will be getting worst, you may want to return to camp or seek shelter."

His eyes drifted up this time, not even the least bit worried about their being another leader from an enemy clan beside him. The lake shore was neutral territory - and they could very well still be on Windclan territory. His body shook violently suddenly - he never was good with the cold when his pelt was wet and the cold air the storm brought made it worst. He wrinkled his nose, eyes closed as he fought the sneeze. He shakily got to his paws and shook his fur once more.