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Post by PudgeCat on Jul 17, 2019 14:48:48 GMT -5
Tall, graceful pines swayed in the soft breeze. The warm scent of new-leaf was sweet upon the air and it lifted the forest from the cold ache of a harsh freeze. Though, there was little bushes and undergrowth that grew in it was still a place plentiful for prey. Just almost dawn, the sun rising from its deep slumber closer than the night before, lighting up the horizon with an orange and yellow hue. Everything was alive, the birds sung from their perches and nests, the squirrels scattered themselves quickly grazing the ground for food and even among them was a long legged deer strolling past to find the meadow beyond.
A soft pink nose lifted, mouth parted to taste the fresh morning air. Badgerfur paused from the path that led south, eyes and ears alert for anything that could be pounced on. The young female decided to wake early, restless from a poor dream and left the camp for a lone hunt. Perhaps being out and working for her clan would put her anxiety at ease. Her long black tail idly swished and curled, a red woodpecker fluttering down from a tree. A blessing of new-leaf. Her body instantly crouched low, the wind against her as she stalked around a wide trunk to hide herself. The bird had yet to notice her, Badgerfur crept forward with tension and careful unsheathed claws.
She leapt; agile almost a tail length away and landed a swift smack on the bird's back to stun it. Painless, she killed it and sent a prayer to Starclan and to the bird so that her clan may live. It was a good hunt but her mind was clearly elsewhere. There was so much to be done yet. One bird could not feed her clan and wasting her time on silly dreams wouldn't either. She sighed, covering the dead woodpecker with a few needles.
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Post by PudgeCat on Jul 18, 2019 19:11:14 GMT -5
Badgerfur padded onwards the path. It was always an experience to see the different creatures who shared the world with the cats. Along the same path moving in the opposite direction was a young doe, eyes wide and ears perked curiously at her. If for any reason deers were aggressive, Badgerfur knew their hooves could smash and cut with iron force and the bucks grew massive antlers that pierced like claws. She respectfully moved to the side, letting the deer stroll past with a wet nosed snort in her direction. Her whiskers twitched, the deer moved quiet but not with the grace of a cat. The prey could be hiding.
Taking the chance, Badgerfur continued down towards the Upturned Pine. She enjoyed the Pine most of all in the territory. It was a great piece of history, moons and moons ago that the entire tree was knocked over in a vicious storm. Yet, despite it fallen the roots were connected into the ground and it grew. The branches rose from the lowered trunk and it lived as healthy as any other tree. She was sure that nothing could kill the Pine. It was more than a tree, it was the heart of the forest and it proved the resilience of life. She trotted at a gentle pace, not needing to rush but letting her muscles warm up to movement and exercise.
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Post by rose on Jul 18, 2019 19:54:32 GMT -5
Breeze opened his mouth in an attempt to get a scent - any would do; his attempts were returned with little reply. The land, though alive with whispers of bird song, seemed baren of any enemies. But what good was a lack of enemies when there was nothing to become hostile over? The tom's paws carried him quickly through the land - the trees swaying to soft lullabies in the wind were no longer intriguing him like they used to. Finally, his eyes landed on an entity that wasn't just another tree. His paws stopped moving when he realized the entity was moving, and he cursed inwardly when he was able to recognize what it was.
A monster. The thunder path seemed to loom before him like a raging river, though the tom had no option of turning away. Turning back would mean facing the rogues again, and that was something he simply couldn't do. Monsters continued passing by Breeze, and within his head, a small voice told him that there would be no end to the line of monsters any time soon, and that if he waited, he'd be there till sundown. Waiting would simply allow the rogues to find him faster. The tom was fully aware of the reason no monsters stopped for him - he wasn't a sight for sore eyes, and definitely not a sight for a two-leg in a hurry. His light gray fur was matted and dirty, his flank was adorned with wounds - barely healed. The thing the tom was most aware of, however, was that he was tired. His eyes no longer burned with passion, rather, with exhaustion. He needed a break, but he knew it wouldn't come soon. When the line of monsters seemed to slow, Breeze took off. His tail streamed behind him as a blur, and his mind was now void of thoughts. A red monster screeched to a halt at the sight of the cat barreling his way through the path. Now at the other side, Breeze stopped. He breathed. Still, there was no rest-stop. Not here; not now. The tom continued his journey - ignoring the pain that was beginning to grow in his paws.
It seemed to have been a while. The tom opened his mouth again to taste the upcoming air, ready for yet another drop of routinely disappointment, but he stopped when he sensed something. Another cat, perhaps? Peering ahead of himself, he spotted a tree. The shrub seemed odd, yet it seemed to him that if there was in fact another presence, then they were there only for the tree. Nothing else made sense, right? He quickly padded towards the tree nearest to him - miniscule in comparison to the great pine in the clearing. It was simply a blanket that would help him to disappear. He didn't want a fight, and perhaps approaching the other cat would be the start of one.
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Post by PudgeCat on Aug 1, 2019 14:40:18 GMT -5
(it didn't tell me anyone replied ;-;. oh hi. badgerfur has been changed to blackeye.)
Blackeye exhaled heavily as she approached the Upturned Pine. The clearing was wide, letting the rising sun rays shimmer along the short green grass. Within the territory, grass didn't grow much. Needles blanketed the earth instead but here where the forest broke open in a circle grass was able to burst forth from the ground. Walking on the softer ground was different and every time, Blackeye felt as if every paw sunk her body. She hated being so exposed.
Her tail tip curled idly, mouth slighted and ears at attention. One prey would not be enough to feed the clan. Reminding herself that the hunt was important, Blackeye tried to focus on the surroundings of the open clearing. It would be easy to just let herself relax after a hard sleep but she was a warrior and warriors didn't get to relax until everything was done. The day had just begun, she had duties to complete. Breathing in the warm scents, there was something different in the air. Her eyes hardened, sweeping around the clearing as she tried to taste the wind.
Another cat! Blackeye knew it was not another from her clan. Could it be a rogue or loner? She lashed her long black tail, body tensed as she crept further into the middle, the grass tickling her paws. Where ever the cat was, Blackeye was sure to find it. Getting closer she could taste the tang and iron of blood. Either injured or something even more vile. Blackeye let out a throaty growl,
"It would be wiser to show yourself." The female warrior remained calm but her voice laced with cold. "If I find you, I will show you only teeth and claws."
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Post by rose on Aug 2, 2019 10:20:46 GMT -5
A quiet hiss escaped the tom at the realization that he had been discovered. He cursed his wounded body and shrunk his figure down in the hopes that somehow, any how, the wind would take him, and he’d be able to leave this cat behind. His mind was on fire - though his thoughts were focused on one thing: survival. A fight with this cat would inevitably lead only to his death, and in the moment, the two sides of Breeze’s mind could only agree upon one thing - the tom was not ready to die. Where would he go once it was all over? He poked his head out from the side of the tree - his body still clutching onto the breath he had taken moments ago. From the looks of it, the other cat was a she-cat - and a well-built one at that. She seemed far from malnourished, a true contrast to the loner cowering behind the tree. He took a deep breath. If what she says is true, I can’t let her be the one to find me. Stepping out from the tree, the tom parted his mouth to speak. “I spared you the hunt,” he said. “Please, just let me leave in peace.” The light gray tom could only hope that this cat could find it in her heart to pity him. Based off of his looks alone, it would be far from difficult to convince her to feel that way, too. The fear he had developed from behind the tree moments ago had only deepened the tom’s exhaustion, and his physique was now far from threatening. The muscles that were once rippling from underneath his pelt were now worn and tired, while his form was the opposite of hostile. If this cat was looking for a good fight, this place wasn’t where she should’ve been to receive one. “I’ll let you escort me off of your territory, if that’s what it takes. I don’t want a fight.” He looked deep into the she-cat’s eyes, his own green ones sunken from his previous sleepless nights. “I’m not apart of any group. Just, please, don’t send me back the way I came. Hear me out, I beg of you.” The older version of himself would’ve scoffed at his words, he was sure of it. He would’ve laughed at anyone who had been reduced to this - in fact, any cat would laugh. But this was, unfortunately, his reality; he only hoped that the she-cat would believe him.
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Post by PudgeCat on Aug 4, 2019 17:24:47 GMT -5
It took only a few moments and the other cat had decided well. It poked its head out from behind a pine, slowly crawling and dragging itself out into the morning light. A male tom, thin and malnourished with exhaustion and fear hollow in his green eyes. The blood she had scented was dried and caked along his body with mud and pine needles. Blackeye followed the tom with watchful eyes, every pawstep he took seemed painful and as if in a moment he would collapse. This was not a rogue who wanted a fight. He could barely keep himself standing.
The warrior code would not allow loners nor would her clan. His pleas were desperate, submissive not to fight and willing to leave with her escort. The female straightened out her tail behind her, without aggression or fear, ears alert forward. Why would he not want to come back the way he come? What was out there? Blackeye assumed that the wounds were some reason why but she couldn't openly ask him. It wasn't her place. If she could help him, she wanted too. The tom needed food and water and rest. Maybe the warrior code didn't allow loners but it allowed her to help. The female warrior blinked,
"You're injured." Blackeye stated. Just for a night, she promised herself. One night to help him then he would have to leave. The clan didn't have to know. Her brother didn't have to know. The thought of lying to Badgertooth made her fur itch with unease but maybe afterwards when the loner was gone, he would have to understand.
"What is your name?"
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jump in.
Aug 5, 2019 11:07:19 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by rose on Aug 5, 2019 11:07:19 GMT -5
just saw this. working on a reply now))
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jump in.
Aug 5, 2019 11:52:40 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by rose on Aug 5, 2019 11:52:40 GMT -5
PudgeCat
‘You’re injured’, the she-cat said. That was her first observation? Her first formal words to the tom that weren’t a death threat was that? Still, Breeze held his tongue. He was in no position to be witty with this cat - in fact, not in the slightest. “Breeze,” he answered, when she inquired at his name. He held his head high with his words, though really, it was all an act; his own name meant nothing to him anymore. Now, ‘Breeze’ was no longer a tom who was skilled in battle and strong. He had been, simply put, reduced to nearly nothing. He opened his mouth to ask what the she-cat’s name was, though he got less than merely a syllable out before reconsidering. She’d want to know who he really was first, wouldn’t she? He wasn’t exactly in a good spot at the moment.There was no time for formal greeting - especially not now, when an enemy could be lurking in the shadows.
“I was exiled,” he meowed. The words came out in a heavy breath - it was a breath that signified that it was, in fact reality. He had held out on saying it aloud for days, afraid that speaking his truth would make it just that - true. “I was apart of a group once. Our leader was named Willow, and she was-“ he stopped again, his mind busily reminiscing. Willow had been a great leader. She was strong, independent, always somehow making the right choices - even if the right choice didn’t seem available - but most importantly, she was kind. Her kindness had never faltered, not in the face of difficult, not in the face of darkness. The light gray tom’s chest heaved in yet another sigh. “She was a good leader. We all respected her greatly. One day, she was nowhere to be found. But later on-“ his voice choked halfway up his throat. “She was found by the river - dead. All eyes turned to me as her killer. We had been spending a lot of time together, and it was suspected that that was because she wanted to formally chose me to succeed her as leader once she passed away. They thought I killed her to hasten that process. B-but it wasn’t me.” He looked to the she-cat, searching her gaze for a reaction. Perhaps she thought he was lying. “To top it off, they decided it wasn’t enough to exhile me. Their name leader, Birch, sent word through the group, and the entirety of the field where we resided-“ he glanced around himself without thinking; at this point, it was instinctive. Yet again, he was going to speak words that he didn’t want to believe the truth in, and speaking them would only make them more real in his world. “They want to bring me back to the group. Kill me, for allegedly killing Willow.” His head dropped at the name, sadness overtaking his being. “You have to believe me. I would never kill Willow.”
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Post by PudgeCat on Aug 5, 2019 16:22:40 GMT -5
Blackeye had no clue what in Starclan this loner was talking about. He spoke so fast and with such conviction, it made sense that he was scared and weak. Being chased off from what she assumed what like a clan, losing his leader Willow and having all of his friends not believe him. She wondered why they didn't though. Who was this Breeze in his clan? What was he like? All of this could be a trick to gain her trust, for her to aid him and him being the true killer of Willow. She twitched her whiskers with the thought of what to do next. If Breeze was a killer, she couldn't trust him and he could be no where near her clan. But Breeze was weak and injured. She wasn't there and didn't know the cats he spoke of.
Starclan guide me.
Blackeye would still help him but he would be on the edge of the territory, the furtherest from the clan camp. If Breeze attacked her, she could handle him but that didn't mean she wouldn't watch him well. This was a massive risk.
The female turned, "Stay." With a quick bound back into the forest, she came across an easy kill. Calmly dragging the bushy red squirrel back to Breeze, she stopped a few tail lengths away.
"Eat." Quick, direct commands. It wasn't friendly but not angry or mean. Sitting, she swept her long black tail around her front white paws and watched him.
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