[ti]Private[/ti]The Paw Patrol (Murkpaw)

[Dragon]

Maplepaw woke up that morning feeling excited for he had been promised that he would get to do some battle training today. But as he woke his mentor had, had a change of mind. And instead of going off to do battle training like he had promised his mentor was sending him on a hunting patrol with another apprentice. He hissed angrily and glared at his mentors back as he padded over the the apprentices den to look for Murkpaw. "Murkpaw you awake? Get your rear in gear our mentors want us going on a hunting patrol just you and me." Turning his back he scraped his claws against the ground and muttered under his breath "which is completely stupid." Taking a deep breath he knew he needed to control his anger especially if he was going with Murkpaw. Maplepaw had been wanting to talk to the tom away from the clan ever since the news of Halfpaw at his apprentice ceremony... that he had to share with the whole freaking clan. His dream of beaten Halfpaw in a fight was crushed. So now he would have to do the next best thing and beat Murkpaw in a battle. But not today, today he just wanted to talk to him.

[GnawingOnIce]

Murkpaw was sleeping when Maplepaw’s call rang in his ear. He twitched an ear irritably and frowned, his drowsy eyes opening. The tom lifted his head and looked toward the entrance to see Maplepaw’s back to it. Murkpaw got to his paws, careful not to wake a sleeping Petalpaw beside him, and dragged himself out of the apprentice den. Once out into the cave, he stretched; taking his time, mind you. Why did they have to get up so early? And for what? He hadn’t caught everything the other apprentice had said.

“What are we doing, now?” He asked. It was probably for a patrol or training. He wasn’t sure what else it could be. Truthfully, Murkpaw didn’t care much for Maplepaw. Wasn’t his mother, Nettletooth, mentoring him? Murkpaw didn’t care much for any of his Clanmates, actually, apart from his mother, sister, and Petalpaw. Maybe he should start getting around more. He gazed at Maplepaw, waiting for an answer.

Tags;; Dragon
Notes;; n/a

[Dragon]

Maplepaw padded away from the entrance and sat down his tail flicking from side to side impatiently. When Murkpaw finally came out he asked what they were doing now. He rolled his eyes and sighed. "Our mentors want us to go hunting together... instead of the battle training they had promised me," he mumbled the last part under his breath. "So let's get going so we can get back." Standing up he turned around and began to lead the way out. Sure the other had been an apprentice a couple of moons longer than him but they were the same age and he wasn't going to let Murkpaw take charge. "Let's head to Lampsi Forest. With the weather starting to grow warmer prey might begin coming out to look for food after the long leaf-bare." At least tonight when he dreamed he could take all his anger out in his battle training with Sootface. Sootface was the only one he could count on. Maybe Gullpaw to but Gullpaw didn't know him he was just a tool for him to use but he could trust the tom to follow his orders as long as he continued to be nice to him and flatter him.


(Sorry I took so long to reply weeks are very busy for me.)

GnawingOnIce

[GnawingOnIce]

Murkpaw licked his forepaw and dragged it over his ear a couple of times, trying to wake himself up. “Hunting. Right.” He padded out of camp, not too far behind Maplepaw.

As they were treading through the thin trees, Maplepaw took charge to where they were going and called to Murkpaw. "Let's head to Lampsi Forest. With the weather starting to grow warmer prey might begin coming out to look for food after the long leaf-bare."

The tom flicked an ear. “You’re right.” he grunted. Murkpaw was too tired to care where they went, heck, he didn’t even care if they hunted in another Clan’s territory. He softly smiled to himself as they walked along, thinking of the times he continually trespassed on MothClan territory. Luckily, he had his sister to have all that fun with. Speaking of which, he had killed prey and hadn’t even brought it back to camp. He left it to rot. Maplepaw was alone with a killer and he didn’t even know it! Maplepaw probably feels terrible that poor, poor, Murkpaw had to watch Halfpaw get washed away by the river.
The split-faced tom found all this very amusing.

Tags;; Dragon
Notes;; n/a

[Dragon]

Maplepaw waited until they were a long distance from camp than stopped and looked around scenting for anyone from their clan. He sat down and curled his tail around his paws and looked at Murkpaw with a cold gaze. "I know I was ordered to go hunting with you but I've been wanting to speak with you for a while. So before we get on to the hunting part I have a few questions for you." He licked his paw and slowly drew it over his right ear where there was a nick from one of his many training sessions in the dark forest. "First off, I never believed Halfpaw drowned in that river, I think there is more to that story but I didn't want to bring it up in camp. You see I know Halfpaw was a good swimmer for he saved my life during the flooding. Now I've noticed how you looked at Halfpaw it was obvious you didn't like the flea brain." He paused letting his words sink into the toms head for a moment before he continued. "So my question is, what really happened to him? Did the two of you get in a fight and he fell in smashing his head on a rock or something? Or did you just kill him outright and then shove him into the river afterward to get rid of the evidence?" A smile crossed his face. "The only thing I regret about his death is that I never got to defeat him in battle. So what's the truth, was at an accident or was it murder? I'm curious to find out Murkpaw."

[GnawingOnIce]

Murkpaw halted when Maplepaw stopped. He looked around at first, listening for any signs of prey but was interrupted by the other apprentice’s words. Questions? This should go well.

Murkpaw kept a neutral expression on his face, maybe even a touch of hurt there, as Maplepaw chimed, “I never believed Halfpaw drowned in that river,” and continued on and on with accusations. He didn’t know that the brat talked so much. He let his expression falter into sadness and mourning as the other tom smiled at him.

His split-face looked down at his paws, not saying a word for a moment. His mind raced for a lie. Then, “Halfpaw couldn’t have seen it coming. We were walking along the riverbank and the ground was covered in icy sludge that day, as you know.” He allowed his voice to tremble slightly. “He got onto uneven ground and slipped. The river was rushing and the current was too strong, he was swept away. I tried running after him, but the river was just too fast and I lost him.” Every single word he spoke was a lie. He played it out well, he was good at this thing. Murkpaw left his head hanging, a melancholy look on his face. He shook his head. “I may not have liked him very much, but I never dreamed of laying a claw on him.”

And if Maplepaw still didn’t believe him? He could take a walk with him by the river, too.

Tags;; Dragon
Notes;; n/a

[Dragon]

Maplepaw looked down at his claws waiting for the tom to reply. When he finally did it almost made him laugh at the act he put on. It was a very good actor but if he hadn't watched him, Halfpaw and Petalpaw from the edge of the medicine cats den for two moons then watched how the tom acted over the past two moons of his apprenticeship he might believe it. But he had never seen the tom cry. Now as he spoke his voice even trembled but not a single tear was shed that he could see. He was pretty sure it was all an act. But he forced his face into a mask of sadness and bobbed his head. Maybe the direct route hadn't been the right choice to take. "Oh I'm sure it was icy but sadly I wouldn't know, I had only just moved back into the nursery after recovering from my broken leg so I hadn't been outside of camp yet." Now it was his turn to act and let out a soft sob and even let a tear shed. "I just wish I had been an apprentice, maybe I could have saved him. I just can't believe he would drown so easily," his own voice trembled and he let his lip quiver. "I'm sure you did all you could to save him," with this he led a glint in his eye as he looked up at him. If Murkpaw was paying attention he would realize he hadn't believed a word he had said and that this was all an act as well. But if he wasn't then there was no way he could tell he wasn't acting. The only sign was in his eyes. "I just wish," he let his voice pause there and waited to see how the tom would react.

[GnawingOnIce]

Murkpaw flicked an ear, listening. "Oh I'm sure it was icy but sadly I wouldn't know, I had only just moved back into the nursery after recovering from my broken leg so I hadn't been outside of camp yet."

“Oh. Right.” He dragged a paw over one of his eyes, pretending to wipe away an unshed tear. His one gold and one hazel eye flew to Maplepaw’s face as he let out a sob, but he was facing down. He went on to say he was sure Murkpaw did everything he could to save him. Murkpaw looked away for a moment and nodded slightly. That was a sudden change in mood, the tom observed. It made him suspicious. Though he assured himself that Maplepaw believed him enough to keep his mouth shut. He perked up as the other apprentice mumbled. “I just wish…”

“Wish? Wish what?” Despite being a murderer, Murkpaw still had that curiosity that seemed to come with every apprentice.

Tags;; Dragon
Notes;; n/a

[Dragon]

Maplepaw was having trouble keeping a straight face. His whiskers twitched from time to time and he wanted to just laugh at how the mouse-brained tom truly believed every word he said. How flea brained can one cat be? I mean seriously this cat was so gullible. He forced a swallow trying to swallow his laughter. But in the end, it broke out and he began to laugh loud and hard. "Oh...Oh my St...Starclan I can't believe how gullible you are. I tried to keep a straight face but I just couldn't." He collapsed onto the ground laughing. "Do you really think I believed a single word you just said? The only thing I wish is that I could have had the chance to defeat the half-wit before he died." He sniffed for real and wiped a tear away from laughing so hard. "Oh dear," he laughed a little more slowly starting to calm down. "I'll figure out the truth eventually you can count on that Murkpaw. I thought I'd try the direct route that failed then I thought I'd try the less delicate route but I just couldn't keep a straight face."

Getting up Maplepaw began to circle the tom slowly. "Maybe you are telling the truth and you didn't murder Halfpaw. Maybe it was an accident and your afraid to tell the truth. I don't really care which it is. All I know is that Halfpaw would have never drowned no matter how fast the river was. He saved my life when the flood happened and the water was even faster than. So if he did accidentally fall in I can guarantee you he isn't dead and he will be back... eventually... when he is ready. The question is when he does return what story will he give us? Did he just slip in as you said? Or did you two get in a fight and he fell in or you pushed him in. I guess I'll have to wait and find out. Good news is if he did just fall in I will have the chance to fight him and prove to the clan I am the strongest when he returns."

[GnawingOnIce]

Murkpaw was waiting for a normal reply and then expected them to get on with their hunting but was extremely off-set when Maple began laughing. Laughing! The fire in his chest that had been tame ever since Halfpaw had left their lives blazed and fumed at the tom’s words. Maplepaw was clever, he’d admit that much, but how dare he call him gullible! The black and cream apprentice unsheathed his long claws and anger was all over his face.

Murkpaw snarled and jumped to his paws in a swift motion and rammed his side into Maplepaw as soon as he had finished talking. “Halfpaw is dead and that’s the end of it.” He growled, looking straight into Maplepaw’s eyes. He knew this because he had torn his throat out and watched the life fade from his eyes. With a final turn he stalked away. “I’m going hunting.”

Tags;; Dragon
Notes;; feel free to end it with your reply