~Silent Observer~

[>>Sparrow<<]

<sub>Candle-

In the bushes, hid Candlepaw, the young RiverClan apprentice. His cream-colored fur was slightly darker than usual, and it hung limp on his body. Droplets of water splashed to the ground. He sighed with relief...finally a scent other than RiverClan. ThunderClan scent was some-what bitter to him...but also...in a strange way...comforting.

He hid in the bushes, barely within the RiverClan border. He would not break the warrior code today...not ever. He knew if he was accused...he would not...could not defend himself. He cursed his muteness. He shook his head. I shouldn't be thinking that way... he told himself.

He sighed, half hoping a patrol would catch him and kill him...half hoping he could just run away...but he wouldn't...couldn't do that. He had to prove himself...and all others like him. He had to prove that he could be a warrior just as great as the first leaders.

He smiled to himself, knowing nothing in this world could make him leave...he had to try...he had to prove that disabled cats could be warriors...of course it didn't help he was a disabled kittypet... He blinked his dazzeling ocean-blue eyes, then, to distracted himself he scanned the border.</sub>

[!~[B]rightie~!]

A small wiry figure wove quickly through the ferns. It was almost deadly silent,besides the rushing of the nearby river. A sweet aroma drifted around what now appeared as a cat. The cat's smooth fur appeared to be a rusty orange in the shadow of a great oak tree. She moved nimbly into the sunlight. Her fur revealed it's self.

Her pelt was of a gingery color. On her forehead was a brown 'M' shape. Her brown fur frosted her back and ended at the tip of her tail. Her meadow green eyes shimmered as she caught a glimpse of the River Clan apprentice. She silently stalked the soaking cat.

As soon as she was on the left side of him and only a fox length away she sprang out of the bushes and yowled "Boo!"
She figured that the apprentice had already heard her. She let out a soft playful giggle and backed into the ferns again,only her head sticking out.

[>>Sparrow<<]

<sub>Candle-

The scent of ThunderClan blasted up his nose a second before the she-cat jumped out of the bushes. Why was I so slow...I'm normally quicker than that! he scolded himself.

He looked at the she-cat...she was pretty...very pretty, and for some reason, even though she was in RiverClan territory right now...he didn't want to attack her. The water on his fur continued to drip. How badly he wanted to shake it off...but it would be rude...he'd splatter her.

What am I think!? This is was ThunderClan cat for StarClan's sake! He sighed and focused on her emotions. She seemed happy enough...not hatred.

He blinked, not reconizing her face or her scent. He tilted his head questioningly. He couldn't talk of course...so she'd probably never find out his name...for some reason, this made him sad. Candlepaw looked at the ground, instantly feeling dejected.

He hated not being able to talk. He hated being a prisoneer to silence, the only time he could talk...were his dreams...which were usually nightmares.

Quickly he composed himself. He knew that his body language was a lot stronger than anyone elses... He knew his emotions could be read through his body and eyes.</sub>

[!~[B]rightie~!]

The she-cat looked at Candle with a soft stare. She saw his eyes question her. She knew what it meant.
"Oh, Hi!" she mewed happily.
"My name is Featherpaw but, everyone calls me Ivy!"

Ivy noticed the change in scent of where she was. She worked with her sharp mind and figured out she was not in her territory. She backed up the few inches so that she was in her territory,in case anyone came around. She mentally shrugged and took the steps over the border. She was already in trouble, what could it hurt.

Her bright facial features betrayed her feelings to everyone. Her dead mother used to tell her to squint so cats couldn't read her like a open book. Ivy was a very modest cat. She was always sweet and still is. She liked to chase things and play as well as simply enjoy the simple pleasures.

Ivy looked at Candle with a warm glow. Her insides churned with nervousness that she hadn't felt in a long time. She hadn't yet sensed that he was mute. So, she asked, "What's your name?" In her demurely voice.

[>>Sparrow<<]

<sub>Candle-

Candlepaw shook his head, his tail touching his mouth. If I could tell you I would...Ivy... he thought. He noticed her emotions were stronger than most others...he wasn't sure if this was a good or a bad thing... He started at her, willing her to understand...he couldn't talk, but if he could he would have.

Then he grinned, almost bitterly. I'm sorry I'm so...worthless... he thought. Her scent was sweet, but it was tainted with nervousness. Why are you nervious? In front of me of all cats... he wondered, curiously. She was definately different than any Clan cat he had ever met. With a pang he realized who she reminded him of.

He chased the though away, willing away the smell of smoke that seemed to always linger at his nose. He mentally flinched. I will not go there he promised himself. He wasn't exactly sure why...but he wanted her to understand. He wanted somebody to talk to...and he wanted it to be her.

The sudden rush of this epiphany scared him...even his emotions were rarely that strong...he was suddenly hyperaware of everything around him, the swaying of the grass, the rushing of the river, the sound of her gentle breathing, as well as his own. Then sun shinned down on his pelt, warming it, chasing away the last of the water. If he could have...he would have purred, it felt so good.

His eyes found Sunning Rocks...the place their clans had fought over ever since the boundries were set. He grinned bitterly, once again. He didn't really understand why the clans hated another...things would be much easier if they banded together...he sighed. A kittypet at heart...

Candlepaw's thoughts turned to Ivy...she was young, strong and didn't seem to have disablities...she was an asset to her clan...while he...what could he do...he could do nothing...nothing except keep secrets...he cleared his head, before he got depressed.

He turned his attention to Ivy...wondering why she wanted to be called that...but he realized he understood...after all, if he had the voice to object...they'd be calling him Candle, instead of Candlepaw.

Candle...Candlepaw...whoever he was, sighed. Life is so confusing... He stopped his wandering mind, before he forgot that he was close to the ThunderClan border with a ThunderClan she-cat...on RiverClan territory.</sub>

[!~[B]rightie~!]

Ivy watched Candle. She saw his head shake and his tail come up to his mouth. She understood and, she didn't care. She looked at Candle not once did she feel sorry fr him. She wasn't like that. In her mind everybody could do something.

Ivy sighed. "Well, I've got to know your name.... So, let's see. I'll be right back!"

Ivy wove back through the grasses. She picked up a stick,a piece of grass,an ant, a Lilly that she thought was called Night Lilly,a Dung beetle(Doing successfully so the stink didn't effect her), and she picked up a twig. She also gracefully stalked a chipmunk,in hopes of bringing it back too. She figured this stuff would be good enough for what she was doing.

Ivy carried some of the stuff back. She nodded at Candle as she did this. She went back and got all of the rest including the chipmunk. Once back at Candle, she smiled,laying all of the stuff out. "You know what all this stuff is called right?"

Ivy didn't wait for an answer. She continued. "Well, pick the one that has the same first sound of yours."

[>>Sparrow<<]

<sub>Candle-

Candlepaw couldn't help but to role his eyes. Of course I know what their are...I may be deaf, but I'm not stupid... he thought quietly. He had watched curiously as she brought back several items then he nodded in understanding.

His tail gentley touched the dead chipmuck and grinned. His cream tail neatly folded back over his paws. While she had gathered the items he had sat down in the cool ferns.

He could feel the first wave of understanding, then the way of inspiration, and then inticipation. He smiled to himself...laughing in his head...she was very curious.

Ivy was different...different then most cats...but not that it was a bad thing...actually, for him at least, it was a good thing. He waited, wondering what she would do next.

He blinked, wondering if she'd even understand what the Twoleg word 'candle' was. He stared at the scars that covered his bodies...like a real candle...he had experiance with fire...unlike his namesake...he could not tame it.

He absentmindly traced an almost-healed red mark on his shoulder...it hadn't been all that long ago...

Once again, the curious tom had to stop his wandering mind. He often had trouble staying focused...his imagination often took over him. He had so many questions he wanted to ask...none that he could ask.</sub>

[!~[B]rightie~!]

Ivy smiled gleefully. "Ok, So first sound is Ca!" She exclaimed. She looked down at the rest of the stuff. I hope this works. she thought. She had to atleast have something to call him,it was polite.

Ivy started wondering what the leader would say about her meeting a River Clan member. Ivy shook out the thought,there was bird dung lying on a rock near by that she could roll in. Ivy's eyes showed a bit of care as she saw his scars and wounds all over his body.

OoC:/// I'm off to school. Sorry it's so short. Maybe I'll get to add to it before you see it!

[>>Sparrow<<]

<sub>Candle-

Candlepaw nodded enthusiasticly. He glanced down at the other stuff...there was a lily...a Night Lily, but he wasn't sure she knew that. With a grin he gestured for her to wait. Then he vanished into the reeds.

When he returned he had an egg shell and an abandoned nest. He set them down then once again gestured to the chipmunk C, then the ant A, then the nest N, then the dung beetle D, then the lily L then finally the egg shell E.

He glanced at her, hoping she'd understand. It was totally irrealivent, but he wanted her to know...and he assumed she would add 'paw' to the end. It was only then that he noticed the...sympathy...maybe worry...that came off of her.

He flinched when the emotion hit him. Don't worry about me! he snarled in his head. He instantly positioned himself, so that most of the injuries pointed away from her, but it was impossible to hide all of them. He shot her a stern gaze, so he had been in a fire...big deal...he was alive wasn't he?</sub>

[!~[B]rightie~!]

Ivy looked at Candle. She looked at the items he had retrieved then pointed to. She tilted her head to one side and began to sound it out.
"OK," She said.
"Chipmunk equals Ca" She looked at the ant.
"Ant equals a and Nest is nnnn" She looked at the rest. "Kan-dull?" She sounded out. She said it again.
"Candle! Is that the flame on a stick I saw in a window at the two-legs house when I was a rouge?"

Ivy's eyes gleamed with excitement as she hoped she had the name right. She watched as Candle repositioned himself so she couldn't see his wounds. She tilted her head forward with an eyebrow upraised.
"It's OK to accept concern sometimes. No one will see you as less of a warrior."

[>>Sparrow<<]

<sub>Candle-

Candlepaw rolled his eyes. It's not that... he thought bitterly. Most of his wounds were from when he was a kit...not exactly battle scars...he wanted to dig his claws into the ground.

He nodded though, saying she had gotten him name right. Then he too had an expression that would be an upraised eyebrow if he had one. You a rouge...? he thought. Well we're not totally different...

He looked down, still he had been a kittypet...a weakling...a Twoleg toy. He glared at his paws then looked up, wondering if she'd say more. He was interested...she was very easy to...converse with.</sub>

[!~[B]rightie~!]

Ivy grinned. She had the name right. That was a start. "Yes, I was born a rouge." She said. She didn't at all feel like she was talking to herself. She continued. "My two brother and I were born as rouges deep in the forest. Our mother was sick and weak. So, she brought us here and died on the border. We have lived here ever since."

Ivy laughed as Candle looked at his paws so hard. She looked at his paws too. 'His body is so not so not...like the battling toms. His clan must not treat him for what he could be or is.." She thought. She snapped out of her thoughts and laughed again. "Something interesting down there?"

[>>Sparrow<<]

<sub>Candle-

Candle's head jerked up, instantly embarassed. He could feel his skin heating up...when he wanted to hide him emotions...the only way he could was to hide his eyes.

He smiled sheepishly at Ivy, trying to figure out how to explain, he really couldn't. I'm sorry... he thought. I can't talk to you...can't make you understand...

For some reason...this fact annoyed him more than usual...he had to try...

He looked at her willing her to understand him completely. He was about to tell her his story...but stopped. No...nobody needed to know the details...it wasn't like his story was a happy one.</sub>

[!~[B]rightie~!]

Ivy hesitated for a moment and looked at Candle. "Of course that wasn't all the details. I don't much like to dwell on details. Especially sad ones." Ivy babbled.Ivy looked up,her cheeks would've been red if her fur wasn't already. She looked up at Candle with modest eyes.

Ivy didn't like to dwell on things.But, she wished he could speak. He looked as if he was so much to say. Just then, her mind flashed an idea into her train of thoughts. They could work out a system. She had seen mute two-legs do it before. All of a sudden she blurted out "Sign language!"

Ivy started her brain working. She knew how to read two-leg a little bit. She did know where the library was in the town that was only a hour's walk away. She nodded to herself,still thinking. She reached deep into her mind to when she was a kitty pet for a small time. Ivy's mother's owner had taken Ivy into the library. She searched deeper. ' Yes!' She thought. ' The Sign language book with pictures was right in the front.'

Ivy looked at Candle with a challenging eye. "Are you ready for a challenge? An adventure?"

[>>Sparrow<<]

<sub>Candle-

Candle feinted surprise at her suddenly realiation. Then he eyed her strangely. I'm up to a challenge...but are you? he replied, to himself.

Then he started thinking about the sign language...the humans...when they were like him...used their hands to talk...just as he used his body...except it was way more complex than eimply body motions.

He wondered what she had thought of, surely he could not master it...and how to teach it to others...so they could understand...he felt slightly worried. But it was worth a shot, so he grinned at her, waiting.</sub>