Post by silverfang218 on Oct 27, 2017 3:42:56 GMT
((bold dialogue is Sootkit, normal dialogue is Shadowpaw))
It had felt like he’d been thrashing against the water for an eternity when he finally struck a stone. His fangs dug into the scruff of the white kitten in his mouth as black spots dance against his vision, but he doesn’t let go of his bundle. Instead, the apprentice grabs at the stone with his paws and pushes off towards the shore. Finally, finally, his paws find shallow water and sand. He takes a few steps onto dry land, just far enough to get away from the water, before collapsing. Sootkit falls from his mouth and lands with a huff on his side, while Shadowpaw lands on his side next to the kitten. They both drift in and out of consciousness for a while, but Sootkit recovers first. “Hey… wake up. Please?” The kitten mews to his savior. “Don’t be dead. Please don’t be dead. I don’t… The kitten’s words dissolve into tears, and the kitten breaks down in the few moments it takes Shadowpaw to respond. “Hey, it’s alright, I’m okay.” The apprentice’s raspy voice is filled with exhaustion, but he’s not seriously hurt. Several scrapes and a plethora of bruises are scattered over his body, but Shadowpaw is very much alive. Alive and lost, with no warrior training to fall back on and no idea how far the river had carried them. If he had been by himself, Shadowpaw would have dissolved into tears with no idea how to continue. He would have let fear wash over him and consume him… but he can’t. Not with the scared white kitten tearfully looking up at him.
“Don’t worry,” Shadowpaw assures, forcing himself to his paws, “I’ll protect you, and we’ll get home alright. Will you trust me?” The kitten gazes up at Shadowpaw, sees the fear in those violet eyes, and slowly nods. “You are just as lost as me, huh? But. I trust you. My name is Sootkit. What’s your name?” The kitten’s voice steadies itself a bit. Shadowpaw can’t help but feel a bit of admiration for the kitten. At the same age, Shadowpaw would have been completely frozen with fear, unable to do anything but cry. “My name is Shadowpaw. Nice to meet you, Sootkit. We might be lost, but I know your mom is looking for you right now. And I’ll take care of you until we get back to her.”
The kitten instantly responds, while climbing to his tiny, soaked paws, “My real mom died in the fire, but the medicine cat and the leader are my new moms. And a queen named Nightfur. She adopted me too.” The kitten explains before asking, “I bet you are right though. We are sure to run into them soon, I’m sure!” Shadowpaw is stunned. He’s me. This little kit is me. “My real mother also died in the fire. We are a lot alike, lil guy. Sootkit… do you wanna be my friend?” When Shadowpaw asks if someone will be his friend, he is actually asking if the other cat loves him. This is how he’s created his own family out of his clanmates; being Shadowpaw’s ‘friend’ means a lot more to him than most cats know. Sootkit, though, completely understands Shadowpaw’s meaning. These two connect on a pretty deep level. “Yes! I want to be your friend.”
“Good.” Shadowpaw says, scooping up the kitten and putting the lil guy on his back. Sootkit is heavy for the small Shadowpaw, but the apprentice doesn’t care. He’ll protect his new friend, no matter what. And I must have been in the river for hours; the clans are forever away, so we better get started walking now.
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Days had passed, and the only reason either cat was still alive was because of Shadowpaw’s intelligence and the limited amount of things that Barkfur had showed Shadowpaw how to do prior to this. The apprentice wasn’t a great hunter, but he was getting by. Unfortunately, there was barely enough prey for one cat, so he had been giving his every catch to Sootkit. Sootkit currently was maintaining his weight, but Shadowpaw’s weight had already begun to drop.
He had stolen a bite of a mouse before giving the rest of it to Sootkit. Shadow’s tail curls around the kit in a protective manner, like a big brother or a mother protecting their young one. Indeed, the two had become rather close, though they were both missing their own families. Sootkit was a little trooper, having only broken down into tears once, crying about how much he missed Silverfang and Froststar (mom 1 and mom 2). Shadowpaw, however, breaks down almost every night after he believes Sootkit goes to sleep. Wildpaw. Hungrybelly. Barkfur. Owlstar. They are all waiting for me, I know it. But where are they waiting for me? Here, or in StarClan? Recall, he never got to see whether any of them survived the earthquake. He doesn’t know where they are. He doesn’t know if they are hurt. He doesn’t know if they are alive. Maybe they are lost just like he is? It doesn’t matter, Shadowpaw thinks, despair threatening to crush him as he looks out into the night from the small shelter they had found for the night, I’ll never see any of them again. I’m going to die out here alone. I’m sorry Wildpaw; I didn’t get to train or explore with you. I couldn’t protect you. Hungrybelly, I’m so sorry. I disappointed all of you; I’ll never make you proud. I’m so sorry. Owlstar, we won’t get to play or train together. I lied to all of you; I’m so sorry. Shadowpaw swallows hard, trying to stop the tears that had started to wet the fur around his eyes. Sootkit, sitting directly next to the apprentice, pushes himself against Shadowpaw’s fur; the kitten completely understands the apprentice’s thoughts. The kitten is here for the apprentice, no matter how dark things get.
That’s when he hears it, a crackle of leaves and a soft growl coming from the outside their shelter. “Sh, Sootkit,” Shadowpaw whispers. The only creatures out in this world besides Shadow and Soot are hostile, Shadow has decided. He slowly gets to his feet, careful and silent with his violet gaze focused on where the noise had come from. Sootkit stands beside him, his wide gaze on Shadowpaw. Shadow’s eyes squint as he looks out from their tiny shelter, no more than a crevice in the side of a cliff, really. There! A flash of orange fur and yellow fangs, much too large to be a cat. Shadow hisses softly, placing himself in between the fox and Sootkit. “I’m going to attack him, and you are going to run, alright Sootkit?” Shadowpaw mews softly. This kit, this freaking kit, is the only reason Shadowpaw continues to push himself. If Sootkit died, Shadowpaw would be alone. Alone and unwilling to keep going. In the face of that reality, a fox is a minor annoyance to Shadowpaw. He’d happily take on one hundred more!
Sootkit, on the other hand, wants no part of this fox business. “But… but it’ll kill you.” The horror in Sootkit’s whisper makes Shadowpaw purr softly. This kit cares for him a lot, that much is obvious. “Don’t worry about me; I’ll be right behind you. Just run fast and… and don’t look back, okay?” Sootkit looks doubtful, but nods nonetheless. “You better be right behind me.”
Shadowpaw nods to his friend and leaps at the fox. Go for the eyes. Shadow thinks, if there was one place I wouldn’t want to get clawed, it would be my eyes. He aims a single clawed swipe at the fox’s eyes and face before turning and running after little Sootkit, who had taken off as Shadowpaw had attacked. A single swipe isn’t going to keep a fox down for long though, and the fox swipes at the fleeing Shadowpaw. Shadow lets out a breath as he feels the fox score a hit into his shoulder. The furious apprentice turns back and aims another couple of swipes at the fox’s face, particularly its eyes and nose. With that, he turns and flees with Sootkit. The young fox, barely older than a cub really, decides that this prey fights back too much and to seek food elsewhere.
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Weeks had passed, and Shadowpaw’s limited hunting experience and repeated failures is taking its toll on the two cats. Sootkit was okay; Shadowpaw, however, is not fine. His bones are obvious through his pelt, and every pawstep falls heavily on the ground. His grey pelt is unkempt and shaggy, while his previously sharp gaze that seemed to catch every move has dulled. His bright purple eyes are constantly half closed as he just has to force himself to even move. The wound from the fox encounter is troubling him still, stubbornly refusing to heal. He’s had enough food to survive, but only just, and Shadowpaw’s body can’t take much more than this. He’d been giving every catch to Sootkit, and that kit is the only reason that Shadowpaw’s feet manage to keep moving.
He’s become unable to carry Sootkit on his back, as the meager weight of the kitten would likely cause Shadowpaw to collapse. Instead, the white kitten pushes against Shadowpaw’s legs in an effort to keep the apprentice moving. The two had become very close by now, their bond only rivaled with Shadowpaw’s bond with WIldpaw. They can read each other’s expressions and feelings, able to provide comfort to each other in these dark times. Shadowpaw had constantly reassured Sootkit that they’ll get back home, but Sootkit no longer believes it either. Shadowpaw has stopped mentioning home altogether. They’ve both just accepted that they will only ever see each other, because they are both going to die out here. There’s no hope, they have both realized. They can only pray that StarClan is waiting for them.
“We are going to make it. You just have to keep going, Shadowpaw! We are almost there!” Sootkit mews, saying anything he can think of to keep his friend on his paws. Sootkit would have to be completely stupid to not be able to see that Shadowpaw had been giving up food and comfort his sake. He feels bad, terrible in fact, that he can’t help at all. He doesn’t know how to hunt, how to take care of himself. He hates it; if he could help, if he could provide for himself, then maybe Shadowpaw would be in such bad shape right now.
Though, Shadowpaw’s ears twitch just after Sootkit finishes speaking. Instead of responding to Sootkit’s encouraging words, Shadowpaw’s tail flicks Sootkit’s side in their own silent signal to be quiet and stop moving. Shadowpaw’s eyes had fallen upon a small bunny; it would be hard for the weakened apprentice to catch, but it would feed both him and his charge for the day. He had to try. Crouching down, he begins to sneak up on the rabbit with the skill of a self-trained warrior; he’s gotten pretty good at hunting by now, trained by the sorrow of Sootkit’s hungry cries and by the frustration of the simple lack of prey. If he had been in peak condition, there would be no question, but weakened as he is, this will be a lucky catch. Sootkit’s eyes have finally found the rabbit as well, and the kit has ducked down and waits in complete and utter silence.
Shadowpaw springs, landing a killing blow to the rabbit’s neck. He had done it; neither of them will go hungry tonight. He returns to Sootkit, who squeals in pure joy at the site of the rabbit. Shadowpaw drops the rabbit in front of Sootkit, and they both gather around to eat it. They survive another day.
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An entire moon has passed since the earthquake before Shadowpaw and Sootkit find any other cats. Shadowpaw’s injury is infected now, and every single one of his bones are visible. His pelt is barely even grey anymore, more brown from lack of grooming and completely unkempt. His purple eyes are still dull, still tired, and hold not a bit of hope. Even if he were to return home right now, it’s likely that not only would the injury create a good scar, but his growth would also be messed with due to lack of food. Sootkit is also looking like he’s seen better days, beginning to look a bit thin. The kit has stopped talking, stopped trying to cheer Shadowpaw on, instead deciding to focus on keeping his own paws moving. Until… “Shadowpaw… look! Sootkit breathes, pausing to stare at a cat-sized figure not all that far away.
They had been following a small stream, knowing that at least they’ll have water to drink if they stick near it. They had unknowingly followed it right into IvyClan’s new territory… and it had lead them to the cat that Shadowpaw wanted to see most.
Shadowpaw’s weary gaze flicks up from the ground to this said figure… and for a moment, Shadowpaw believes he died and went to StarClan. “Wildpaw…” the apprentice breathes, only just loud enough for his kitten companion to hear. Then he shakes his head a bit, his gaze quickly focusing back on the familiar brown and spotted coat of his dearest friend. “WILDPAW! WILDPAW! WILDPAW!” Shadow’s raspy voice is weak, but he still yowls the name as loud as he can. His eyes tear up and his voice shakes as he addresses Sootkit, “We made it, lil guy. We made it.” With that, Shadowpaw’s legs collapse out from under him. He doesn’t pass out, but his legs refuse to carry him any further. Wildpaw can come to him.
Sootkit is joyful that Shadowpaw thinks they’ve returned to the clans, but also scared that his friend finally collapsed. “Wildpaw! Wildpaw!” The kitten cries out, repeating the name that Shadowpaw had said aloud. Wildpaw, Sootkit recalls, is supposed to be Shadowpaw’s best friend. The two missing cats have kept themselves moving by sharing stories of the cats they couldn’t wait to get back to, like Silverfang, Nightfur, Froststar, Owlstar, Hungrybelly, and Wildpaw. Of course, the spotted apprentice doesn’t necessarily look like Shadowpaw had described him to the snowy kit. Shadowpaw’s description had been quite a bit different, painting the picture of this perfect StarClan warrior angel of perfection descending from the starlit sky. Then again, after all this time, any clan cat seemed like a StarClan warrior leading them to safety to Sootkit; to Shadowpaw’s dazed eyes, Wildpaw was perfection and glory personified.
It had felt like he’d been thrashing against the water for an eternity when he finally struck a stone. His fangs dug into the scruff of the white kitten in his mouth as black spots dance against his vision, but he doesn’t let go of his bundle. Instead, the apprentice grabs at the stone with his paws and pushes off towards the shore. Finally, finally, his paws find shallow water and sand. He takes a few steps onto dry land, just far enough to get away from the water, before collapsing. Sootkit falls from his mouth and lands with a huff on his side, while Shadowpaw lands on his side next to the kitten. They both drift in and out of consciousness for a while, but Sootkit recovers first. “Hey… wake up. Please?” The kitten mews to his savior. “Don’t be dead. Please don’t be dead. I don’t… The kitten’s words dissolve into tears, and the kitten breaks down in the few moments it takes Shadowpaw to respond. “Hey, it’s alright, I’m okay.” The apprentice’s raspy voice is filled with exhaustion, but he’s not seriously hurt. Several scrapes and a plethora of bruises are scattered over his body, but Shadowpaw is very much alive. Alive and lost, with no warrior training to fall back on and no idea how far the river had carried them. If he had been by himself, Shadowpaw would have dissolved into tears with no idea how to continue. He would have let fear wash over him and consume him… but he can’t. Not with the scared white kitten tearfully looking up at him.
“Don’t worry,” Shadowpaw assures, forcing himself to his paws, “I’ll protect you, and we’ll get home alright. Will you trust me?” The kitten gazes up at Shadowpaw, sees the fear in those violet eyes, and slowly nods. “You are just as lost as me, huh? But. I trust you. My name is Sootkit. What’s your name?” The kitten’s voice steadies itself a bit. Shadowpaw can’t help but feel a bit of admiration for the kitten. At the same age, Shadowpaw would have been completely frozen with fear, unable to do anything but cry. “My name is Shadowpaw. Nice to meet you, Sootkit. We might be lost, but I know your mom is looking for you right now. And I’ll take care of you until we get back to her.”
The kitten instantly responds, while climbing to his tiny, soaked paws, “My real mom died in the fire, but the medicine cat and the leader are my new moms. And a queen named Nightfur. She adopted me too.” The kitten explains before asking, “I bet you are right though. We are sure to run into them soon, I’m sure!” Shadowpaw is stunned. He’s me. This little kit is me. “My real mother also died in the fire. We are a lot alike, lil guy. Sootkit… do you wanna be my friend?” When Shadowpaw asks if someone will be his friend, he is actually asking if the other cat loves him. This is how he’s created his own family out of his clanmates; being Shadowpaw’s ‘friend’ means a lot more to him than most cats know. Sootkit, though, completely understands Shadowpaw’s meaning. These two connect on a pretty deep level. “Yes! I want to be your friend.”
“Good.” Shadowpaw says, scooping up the kitten and putting the lil guy on his back. Sootkit is heavy for the small Shadowpaw, but the apprentice doesn’t care. He’ll protect his new friend, no matter what. And I must have been in the river for hours; the clans are forever away, so we better get started walking now.
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Days had passed, and the only reason either cat was still alive was because of Shadowpaw’s intelligence and the limited amount of things that Barkfur had showed Shadowpaw how to do prior to this. The apprentice wasn’t a great hunter, but he was getting by. Unfortunately, there was barely enough prey for one cat, so he had been giving his every catch to Sootkit. Sootkit currently was maintaining his weight, but Shadowpaw’s weight had already begun to drop.
He had stolen a bite of a mouse before giving the rest of it to Sootkit. Shadow’s tail curls around the kit in a protective manner, like a big brother or a mother protecting their young one. Indeed, the two had become rather close, though they were both missing their own families. Sootkit was a little trooper, having only broken down into tears once, crying about how much he missed Silverfang and Froststar (mom 1 and mom 2). Shadowpaw, however, breaks down almost every night after he believes Sootkit goes to sleep. Wildpaw. Hungrybelly. Barkfur. Owlstar. They are all waiting for me, I know it. But where are they waiting for me? Here, or in StarClan? Recall, he never got to see whether any of them survived the earthquake. He doesn’t know where they are. He doesn’t know if they are hurt. He doesn’t know if they are alive. Maybe they are lost just like he is? It doesn’t matter, Shadowpaw thinks, despair threatening to crush him as he looks out into the night from the small shelter they had found for the night, I’ll never see any of them again. I’m going to die out here alone. I’m sorry Wildpaw; I didn’t get to train or explore with you. I couldn’t protect you. Hungrybelly, I’m so sorry. I disappointed all of you; I’ll never make you proud. I’m so sorry. Owlstar, we won’t get to play or train together. I lied to all of you; I’m so sorry. Shadowpaw swallows hard, trying to stop the tears that had started to wet the fur around his eyes. Sootkit, sitting directly next to the apprentice, pushes himself against Shadowpaw’s fur; the kitten completely understands the apprentice’s thoughts. The kitten is here for the apprentice, no matter how dark things get.
That’s when he hears it, a crackle of leaves and a soft growl coming from the outside their shelter. “Sh, Sootkit,” Shadowpaw whispers. The only creatures out in this world besides Shadow and Soot are hostile, Shadow has decided. He slowly gets to his feet, careful and silent with his violet gaze focused on where the noise had come from. Sootkit stands beside him, his wide gaze on Shadowpaw. Shadow’s eyes squint as he looks out from their tiny shelter, no more than a crevice in the side of a cliff, really. There! A flash of orange fur and yellow fangs, much too large to be a cat. Shadow hisses softly, placing himself in between the fox and Sootkit. “I’m going to attack him, and you are going to run, alright Sootkit?” Shadowpaw mews softly. This kit, this freaking kit, is the only reason Shadowpaw continues to push himself. If Sootkit died, Shadowpaw would be alone. Alone and unwilling to keep going. In the face of that reality, a fox is a minor annoyance to Shadowpaw. He’d happily take on one hundred more!
Sootkit, on the other hand, wants no part of this fox business. “But… but it’ll kill you.” The horror in Sootkit’s whisper makes Shadowpaw purr softly. This kit cares for him a lot, that much is obvious. “Don’t worry about me; I’ll be right behind you. Just run fast and… and don’t look back, okay?” Sootkit looks doubtful, but nods nonetheless. “You better be right behind me.”
Shadowpaw nods to his friend and leaps at the fox. Go for the eyes. Shadow thinks, if there was one place I wouldn’t want to get clawed, it would be my eyes. He aims a single clawed swipe at the fox’s eyes and face before turning and running after little Sootkit, who had taken off as Shadowpaw had attacked. A single swipe isn’t going to keep a fox down for long though, and the fox swipes at the fleeing Shadowpaw. Shadow lets out a breath as he feels the fox score a hit into his shoulder. The furious apprentice turns back and aims another couple of swipes at the fox’s face, particularly its eyes and nose. With that, he turns and flees with Sootkit. The young fox, barely older than a cub really, decides that this prey fights back too much and to seek food elsewhere.
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Weeks had passed, and Shadowpaw’s limited hunting experience and repeated failures is taking its toll on the two cats. Sootkit was okay; Shadowpaw, however, is not fine. His bones are obvious through his pelt, and every pawstep falls heavily on the ground. His grey pelt is unkempt and shaggy, while his previously sharp gaze that seemed to catch every move has dulled. His bright purple eyes are constantly half closed as he just has to force himself to even move. The wound from the fox encounter is troubling him still, stubbornly refusing to heal. He’s had enough food to survive, but only just, and Shadowpaw’s body can’t take much more than this. He’d been giving every catch to Sootkit, and that kit is the only reason that Shadowpaw’s feet manage to keep moving.
He’s become unable to carry Sootkit on his back, as the meager weight of the kitten would likely cause Shadowpaw to collapse. Instead, the white kitten pushes against Shadowpaw’s legs in an effort to keep the apprentice moving. The two had become very close by now, their bond only rivaled with Shadowpaw’s bond with WIldpaw. They can read each other’s expressions and feelings, able to provide comfort to each other in these dark times. Shadowpaw had constantly reassured Sootkit that they’ll get back home, but Sootkit no longer believes it either. Shadowpaw has stopped mentioning home altogether. They’ve both just accepted that they will only ever see each other, because they are both going to die out here. There’s no hope, they have both realized. They can only pray that StarClan is waiting for them.
“We are going to make it. You just have to keep going, Shadowpaw! We are almost there!” Sootkit mews, saying anything he can think of to keep his friend on his paws. Sootkit would have to be completely stupid to not be able to see that Shadowpaw had been giving up food and comfort his sake. He feels bad, terrible in fact, that he can’t help at all. He doesn’t know how to hunt, how to take care of himself. He hates it; if he could help, if he could provide for himself, then maybe Shadowpaw would be in such bad shape right now.
Though, Shadowpaw’s ears twitch just after Sootkit finishes speaking. Instead of responding to Sootkit’s encouraging words, Shadowpaw’s tail flicks Sootkit’s side in their own silent signal to be quiet and stop moving. Shadowpaw’s eyes had fallen upon a small bunny; it would be hard for the weakened apprentice to catch, but it would feed both him and his charge for the day. He had to try. Crouching down, he begins to sneak up on the rabbit with the skill of a self-trained warrior; he’s gotten pretty good at hunting by now, trained by the sorrow of Sootkit’s hungry cries and by the frustration of the simple lack of prey. If he had been in peak condition, there would be no question, but weakened as he is, this will be a lucky catch. Sootkit’s eyes have finally found the rabbit as well, and the kit has ducked down and waits in complete and utter silence.
Shadowpaw springs, landing a killing blow to the rabbit’s neck. He had done it; neither of them will go hungry tonight. He returns to Sootkit, who squeals in pure joy at the site of the rabbit. Shadowpaw drops the rabbit in front of Sootkit, and they both gather around to eat it. They survive another day.
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An entire moon has passed since the earthquake before Shadowpaw and Sootkit find any other cats. Shadowpaw’s injury is infected now, and every single one of his bones are visible. His pelt is barely even grey anymore, more brown from lack of grooming and completely unkempt. His purple eyes are still dull, still tired, and hold not a bit of hope. Even if he were to return home right now, it’s likely that not only would the injury create a good scar, but his growth would also be messed with due to lack of food. Sootkit is also looking like he’s seen better days, beginning to look a bit thin. The kit has stopped talking, stopped trying to cheer Shadowpaw on, instead deciding to focus on keeping his own paws moving. Until… “Shadowpaw… look! Sootkit breathes, pausing to stare at a cat-sized figure not all that far away.
They had been following a small stream, knowing that at least they’ll have water to drink if they stick near it. They had unknowingly followed it right into IvyClan’s new territory… and it had lead them to the cat that Shadowpaw wanted to see most.
Shadowpaw’s weary gaze flicks up from the ground to this said figure… and for a moment, Shadowpaw believes he died and went to StarClan. “Wildpaw…” the apprentice breathes, only just loud enough for his kitten companion to hear. Then he shakes his head a bit, his gaze quickly focusing back on the familiar brown and spotted coat of his dearest friend. “WILDPAW! WILDPAW! WILDPAW!” Shadow’s raspy voice is weak, but he still yowls the name as loud as he can. His eyes tear up and his voice shakes as he addresses Sootkit, “We made it, lil guy. We made it.” With that, Shadowpaw’s legs collapse out from under him. He doesn’t pass out, but his legs refuse to carry him any further. Wildpaw can come to him.
Sootkit is joyful that Shadowpaw thinks they’ve returned to the clans, but also scared that his friend finally collapsed. “Wildpaw! Wildpaw!” The kitten cries out, repeating the name that Shadowpaw had said aloud. Wildpaw, Sootkit recalls, is supposed to be Shadowpaw’s best friend. The two missing cats have kept themselves moving by sharing stories of the cats they couldn’t wait to get back to, like Silverfang, Nightfur, Froststar, Owlstar, Hungrybelly, and Wildpaw. Of course, the spotted apprentice doesn’t necessarily look like Shadowpaw had described him to the snowy kit. Shadowpaw’s description had been quite a bit different, painting the picture of this perfect StarClan warrior angel of perfection descending from the starlit sky. Then again, after all this time, any clan cat seemed like a StarClan warrior leading them to safety to Sootkit; to Shadowpaw’s dazed eyes, Wildpaw was perfection and glory personified.