Over the Edge with Gladepaw

[mouse]

"Be very careful, Gladepaw." The fluffy she-cat meowed to her apprentice. This was the first time she had been here in a long time. It made her a little nervous.

[Gladetail]

Gladepaw slowly stepped near the gorge with caution. Building up all her courage she glanced over and saw the water from the lake far below. Her eyes glistened in amazement and curiosity. Gladepaw stuck her head out a little bit more to get a better view of the water down below. It's so deep! Quickly though, Gladepaw's instincts kicked in and her desire to look beyond the gorge lost its touch as she backed away a few paw steps. But still, a small urge deep inside of her wanted to travel all the way down the gorge just to have a better look at it. Reality kicked in. I've got to be mouse-brained! Gladepaw scolded herself at the fact she was having such a strange thought.

[mouse]

"Its very deep, isn't it?" Sleetmask meowed to Gladepaw. She looked down at the water. "That would be a very bad fall..." She shivered just thinking about falling.

[Gladetail]

Gladepaw nodded slowly, trying to stay away from the edge so she wouldn't end up jumping off. Half of her still had the urge to see it again and it ended up over powering the rest of her body. Slowly and steadily she stepped back the ledge of the gorge and stretched her head over. The river seemed to start getting higher as the water rushed below. Gladepaw shriveled back.

[mouse]

"To bad the gorge is so deep. That river down there is full of some of the biggest fish Ive every seen." Sleetmask purred walking away from the edge toward Gladepaw. "So what do you think?"

[Gladetail]

By the time her mentor reached her, Gladepaw's legs were shivering, but not of fear, but pf curiosity to want to jump into the gorge. "It would be amazing to see the fish down there. I maybe some even as big as badgers! But I doubt that's possible."

[mouse]

"I've never been down there, but I've heard rumors that it is the best hunting spot in the whole forest. I bet one fish could fed half the clan." She meowed at Gladepaw.

[Gladetail]

Gladepaw's brain sparked an idea. It could feed the Clan? She gulped. "Sleetmask, has anyone attempted to go down there?"

[mouse]

"Yes, but its extremely dangerous. You must promise me to never go down there. I don't care if your a warrior and think it...." Sleetmask meowed in a very serious tone. She meant every word she said.

[Gladetail]

Gladepaw flicked her tail, half from annoyance and half from uncertainty. "Of course, I would never be that mousebrained!"

[mouse]

"Trust me. I lost my brother that way." Sleetmask meowed sadly thinking of Boldstream. He was her littermate and Roseflight's older brother. "Look, Gladepaw, I'm not here to tell you what to do with your life. I can only hope you make the right choices..."

[Gladetail]

Pain stabbed at Gladepaw. What have I done? She gulped. "I'm so sorry, I had no idea." Making up her mind, she nodded solemly. "I promise that I will never even think about going into the gorge."

[mouse]

"Its OK, Gladepaw. You didn't know that had happened. He died long before you were born when we were apprentices." Sleetmask meowed gently flicking Gladepaw with her tail. "He would have really liked you, because of your free spirit and good nature." She smiled.

[Gladetail]

She titled her head to the side and smiled, the brightness in her returning. "Let him rest in peace in the starry sky of StarClan."

[mouse]

"I prey for that every day." Sleetmask meowed with a warm voice looking down at the water at the bottom.