>> Silver pelt was sleek and body was slim, the muscles gliding comfortably under his skin. The deputy who normally went hungry was back to looking healthy and in top form again with the arrival of new-leaf. Bloodclaw had changed in the first cold months of leaf-bare as deputy. He had opened up considerably ever since his ascension to his rank. He went out of his way to talk to every warrior and while he was obivously uncomfortable about it, Bloodclaw was making an effort to get involved as not only just someone who hunted for his clan. Now he was in charge of starting to know his clan. So far, he knew a little about most of the warriors. They knew a little more about him. Such as his friendship with Shadowstar and Moondust, knew that for some odd reason, Jadewing disliked him. Bloodclaw was trying to fix that. Many knew he had two apprentices in his career, that it had been nearly three seasons since his last. They knew the fate of both had been tragic and the blows of both had hit Bloodclaw hard, especially Fernpaw. But most of all, they knew the thing that was the reason for Bloodclaw's new found personality. Or rather, who. The young, pretty, small, newly named warrior, Wintercall. The silver Bengal's father had been a rather goood friend of Bloodclaw's before he closed himself to the world, but many elders could see the beginnings of something more than friendship.

>> Bloodclaw was currently pacing back and forth outside Shadowstar's den, tail twitching in anxiety. Did he really want to do this? Yes, it was time he step up to the challenge. He couldn't hide from his fears forever. He'd give RiverClan a fine warrior, but most importantly, the first warrior to ever be taught by Bloodclaw. Bloodclaw would defend that apprentice with his life, merely because he couldn't stand another horrible accident like Fernpaw and Twigpaw. Also, this kitten was special to him, for she was like Fernpaw. Standing at his full, impressive height, the deputy took a deep breath and marched the den's entrance. "Shadowstar, may we talk?" he asked, surprised at how strong his voice was. He didn't feel that way inside.

--Yay!!! I love history!--

>> Bloodclaw jerked at the sudden appearance of Shadowstar's green eyes, even though he had been waiting for them, they still startled him. He glanced around, his eyes tinted with orange as the light was dimmer this close to the den. Then with another deep breath, Bloodclaw slipped inside. He blinked a few times to allow his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The tinted orange faded slowly to bright red. The normally bloodshot eyes were clear today. He'd been get good rest lately, now that he had settled into the routine of being deputy. Bloodclaw sat down, staring at his paws for a while. Shadowstar was older than Bloodclaw, but when Blood had first been made a warrior, he'd been much more outgoing than one ever thought he would be. Shadowstar was one of the first of his friends and though they were older and had grown apart, Bloodclaw still viewed Shadowstar as a close friend, especially in his book. Shadowstar had been there the day they found his sister's blood on the border of RiverClan and WindClan. He'd been on patrol with Bloodclaw when Fernpaw had been killed. Though he had never seen Blood cry, Shadowstar had seen one of the greatest warriors RiverClan has ever known go struggle throughout his life. Just as Bloodclaw was struggling now. Normally he was one to get straight to the point. "I'd like to know...have you chosen mentors for Crocuskit and Shardkit?" Before he was deputy, Bloodclaw would have simply refered to the kittens as 'the kits.' But this new Bloodclaw slowly appearing was different. The old Bloodclaw was slowly coming back, but not completely. He was being reborn. His personality as time passed, with the mate he'd find in Wintercall, with the return of his sister, and with the first warrior naming of his own apprentice, a new Bloodclaw would be born. A mixture of the young warrior he once was, and the warrior he had been in his dark time. But none knew these surprises that awaited Bloodclaw. Other than StarClan and the Prophet himself.

--that's okay! Mine's not much better. hmm...how about I introduce Autumnstep? Gives something more to RP on and such--

>> Bloodclaw blinked at Shadowstar's question and then smiled. The smile reached up to gently touch his eyes, a rare moment. He was glad Shadowstar had left him not a chance to ask. He wouldn't feel as comfortable. Bloodclaw's tense, lean muscles relaxed and his posture took on the more regal, comfortable stance everyone was used to. "Crocuskit, if you don't mind. I...just by looking at her...I can tell..." his voice trailed off as he struggled to put what he felt everytime he looked at Shadowstar's granddaughter. And he wasn't sucking up. "Everytime I look at her, I can see all the potential she can be. But that potential is fragile. Just the slightest nudge in the wrong direction will change her future. I guess you can call it intuition, but she needs a different approach than the other apprentices. She needs a gentle hand. I know I can bring out the best in her." Bloodclaw looked up, a fire in his eyes that had not been there in a while. He was actually excited about taking on another apprentice, though the pain from Fernpaw's death was still there.

>> Bloodclaw smiled and nodded, his chest puffing out slightly. The pain was still there, as it would always be, but Crocuskit would do him well, just as Shadowstar predicted. It would push him ever closer to recognizing the love he already felt for Wintercall. Bloodclaw paused a moment to think at Shadowstar's question regarding the patrols. "I planned on leading it along the WindClan border. The sunhigh patrol reported a strange cat's scent hanging around the border, on the thin strip of land that belongs to neither WindClan or RiverClan. But if you want to, you can..." His voice trailed off. Him lead the clan to the Gathering? Bloodclaw nodded, a little nervous about this request, but he trusted his leader and knew Shadowstar was well-prepared for anything. Bloodclaw turned to slip out of the den, but paused, looking over his shoulder to his leader. "Be careful where they scented the loner, though. Whoever it is, was in a fight along the border with the cats from the Horseplace. He might end up being hostile."

--I figured it would be better if Shadowstar stumbled upon Autumn, if you don't mind that is--

>> Bloodclaw nodded, ears swiveling about his head in different directions. As he slipped into the open, the fading light turned his eyes a shadowy orange. Soon they'd be crimson until morning again. He gave a soft yowl that brought the four he had chosen that morning for the evening patrol into the open and gathering around him. He hadn't chosen a warrior with an apprentice to join the patrol for he thought Brookepaw might be attending the gathering. Besides, he had wanted the patrol to be swift and experienced warriors made everything faster. He sat down beside Shadowstar, waiting for the tabby leader to give out more directions. Bloodclaw's thoughts were obviously not on the task at hand though; something had gripped his attention, hard at that, and refused to let go.

--blah, crappy, no Bloody muse right now--