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Post by luckgandor on Aug 28, 2017 13:46:36 GMT -5
summary/toc A red tail in the mouth of a swallow...Faced on both sides with conflicts with the Red-Tail society and the Clan of Air, the Clan of Fire is in a perilous way. They even come close to considering leaving the mountainside where they have lived for generations... that is, until an unlikely ally comes in the form of an ex-Red-Tail member named Elisa. Renamed Swallowpaw, she becomes a valuable asset to the Clan of Fire, until her loyalties are tested. Will she choose her Red-Tail family, or her Clanmates?CONTENTSFansAllegiancesDynamicsPrologueChapter 1Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 |
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Post by luckgandor on Aug 28, 2017 13:48:21 GMT -5
fans FAN LIST
None yet! Be the first?
REVIEWS
None yet! Be the first? |
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Post by luckgandor on Aug 28, 2017 13:55:47 GMT -5
biological dynamics UPPER DYNAMICS
Have the most rights, are generally considered more dominant.
Alpha - generally seen as the most dominant. Stereotypically seen as aggressive, dominant, strong, and tall.
Beta - generally seen as a step below Alphas. Stereotypically seen as breadwinners, peace-makers, egalitarians, and intelligent.
Gamma - generally seen as a less-aggressive, more submissive type of Alpha. Stereotypically seen as caring, kind, thoughtful, and intelligent.
Epsilon - generally seen as the bridge between Upper and Middle dynamics. Stereotypically seen as sneaky, manipulative, authoritative, and controlling.
MIDDLE DYNAMICS
Have more rights than Lower Dynamics, but are not as high up as Uppers. Generally considered more neutral.
Delta - generally seen as "almost Betas." Stereotypically seen as intelligent, empathetic, a little wild, and fast.
Theta - generally seen as "almost Omegas." Stereotypically seen as mischeivous, intelligent, quick-witted, and funny.
Zeta - generally seen as the "universal giver and receiver." Stereotypically seen as tricky, fickle, calm, and intelligent.
LOWER DYNAMICS
Have the fewest rights, are generally considered weak, needy, and submissive.
Iota - generally seen as the bridge between Middle and Lower dynamics. Stereotypically seen as crafty, wily, wild, and careless.
Sigma - generally seen as aggressive Omegas. Stereotypically seen as aggressive, short-tempered, solitary, and asocial.
Omega - generally seen as the caring, motherly ones. Stereotypically seen as weak, needy, motherly, and submissive. |
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Post by luckgandor on Aug 28, 2017 13:58:05 GMT -5
allegiances THE EARTH CLAN
LEADER DUSTSTAR—silver Gamma female with bright yellow eyes; silver-haired as a human with dark tan skin and bright yellow eyes
DEPUTY ECHOWHISKER—gray Sigma male with round amber eyes; gray-haired as a human with pale skin and amber eyes
HEALER IVYFIRE—silver Iota female with dark yellow eyes; silver-haired as a human with dark brown skin and dark yellow eyes
OMICRONS Uppers, Lowers, and Middles without kits
CROOKEDWINTER—long creamy white furred Gamma male with amber eyes; creamy white-haired as a human with light brown skin and amber eyes
BLOSSOMSUN—creamy brown Theta female with bright hazel eyes; creamy brown-haired as a human with medium brown skin and bright hazel eyes
OPALFIRE—white Epsilon male with light amber eyes; white-haired as a human with pale skin and light amber eyes
WETBELLY—stocky black tabby Iota male with dark blue eyes; black-haired as a human with light brown skin and dark blue eyes APPRENTICE Spottedpaw
AMBERLIGHT—thick bright orange tabby furred Gamma female with dark hazel eyes; orange- striped haired as a human with dark brown skin and dark hazel eyes
PINESPRING—very short-legged brown furred Theta male with ice blue eyes; brown-haired as a human with black skin and ice blue eyes
SHALLOWCLAW—solid black Delta female with dark hazel eyes; black-haired as a human with medium brown skin and dark hazel eyes
LAMBDAS Rabbit Feet who have passed their first heat/rut and are ready for their Omicron assessment/are no longer being mentored
STONEPAW—gray tabby Gamma male with a white chest and paws and deep blue eyes; gray-and- white haired as a human with brown skin and deep blue eyes
RUNNINGPAW—thick creamy white furred Delta male with pale amber eyes; thick creamy white-haired as a human with light brown skin and pale amber eyes
SORRELPAW—short snowy white furred Sigma female with bright amber eyes; short snowy white- haired as a human with fair skin and bright amber eyes
TALLPAW—brown and white furred Iota male with bright yellow eyes; brown-and-white haired as a human with pale skin and bright yellow eyes
CLEARPAW—brown Sigma female with blue eyes; brown-haired as a human with dark brown skin and blue eyes
PEBBLEPAW—white furred Iota male with teal eyes; white-haired as a human with medium brown skin and teal eyes
RABBIT Young ones above six years of age; in training
FEET
SPOTTEDPAW—bright orange furred Alpha male with blue eyes; orange-haired as a human with very dark brown skin and blue eyes
DOES Pregnant ones or ones nursing/caring for kits
LYNXSTREAM—silver Omega male with yellow eyes; silver-haired as a human with pale skin and yellow eyes (mother to Opalfire’s kits: Stormkit, Harekit, and Emberkit)
SHREWLIGHT—gray Theta male with dark hazel eyes; gray-haired as a human with dark brown skin and dark hazel eyes (mother to Amberlight’s kits: Swiftkit and Sunkit)
KITS Young ones under six years of age
STORMKIT—silver Epsilon female with yellow eyes; silver-haired as a human with pale skin and yellow eyes
HAREKIT—silver and white tabby Epsilon female with yellow eyes; silver-and-white haired as a human with pale skin and yellow eyes
EMBERKIT—white Epsilon female with amber eyes and silver splotches; white silver-splotched haired as a human with pale skin and amber eyes
SWIFTKIT—pale orange Theta female with dark hazel eyes; pale orange haired as a human with dark brown skin and dark hazel eyes
SUNKIT—pale orange Omega male with dark hazel eyes; pale orange haired as a human with dark brown skin and dark hazel eyes
ELDERS Retired Omicrons who are no longer in active service
BREEZEEYE—thick-furred silver tabby Alpha male with yellow eyes; silver-haired as a human with tan skin and yellow eyes
REDJAW—short ginger Omega female with dark amber eyes; ginger-haired as a human with black skin and dark amber eyes
YELLOWFLOWER—brown Sigma female with white paws and deep blue eyes; brown-haired as a human with dark brown skin and deep blue eyes
RELATIONS
Lynxstream and Opalfire are mates.
Stormkit, Harekit, and Emberkit are siblings. Their parents are Lynxstream and Opalfire.
Shrewlight and Amberlight are mates.
Swiftkit, Sunkit, and Spottedpaw are siblings. Their parents are Shrewlight and Amberlight.
Wetbelly and Shallowclaw are siblings. Their parents are deceased.
Yellowflower is Amberlight’s mother.
Breezeeye and Redjaw are Duststar’s parents.
Crookedwinter and Wetbelly are mates.
Stonepaw and Tallpaw are siblings. Their parents are Crookedwinter and Wetbelly.
Runningpaw, Sorrelpaw, Clearpaw, and Pebblepaw are siblings. Their parents are deceased.
THE FIRE CLAN
LEADER CHERRYSTAR—soft bright orange tabby Iota female with stormy green eyes; soft bright orange- striped haired as a human with black skin and stormy green eyes APPRENTICE Swallowpaw
DEPUTY NIGHTSTORM—stocky black Alpha male with a white tuft on his chest and teal eyes; black-haired as a human with pale skin and teal eyes
HEALER TWILIGHTFEATHER—thick gray furred Gamma male with bright blue eyes; gray-haired as a human with dark brown skin and bright blue eyes
OMICRONS BRIGHTSMOKE—ginger Beta male with white patches and dark yellow eyes; ginger-and-white- haired as a human with light brown skin and dark yellow eyes
DAWNNIGHT—thick creamy white furred Alpha male with bright green eyes; creamy white haired as a human with medium brown skin and bright green eyes APPRENTICE Eaglepaw
TORNFOG—long-furred silvery tabby Beta male with dark blue eyes; long silver-haired as a human with pale skin and dark blue eyes
EBONYBLAZE—black tabby Theta male with a white tail tip and teal eyes; white-tipped black- haired as a human with dark brown skin and teal eyes
APPLECLOUD—fluffy silver tabby Delta female with dark blue eyes; silver-haired as a human with light brown skin and dark blue eyes
WAVEHAZE—silver tabby Theta male with hazel eyes; silver-haired as a human with very dark brown skin and hazel eyes APPRENTICE Fennelpaw
SPIDERCLOUD—black and brown Delta female with bright yellow eyes; black-and-brown haired as a human with pale skin and bright yellow eyes
MINNOWNIGHT—thick black furred Iota male with amber eyes; black-haired as a human with medium brown skin and amber eyes APPRENTICE Asphodelpaw
WETCLAW—thick ginger furred Omega male with dark amber eyes; ginger-haired as a human with very dark brown skin and dark amber eyes
FROSTNOSE—long gray furred Omega male with dark yellow eyes; gray-haired as a human with medium brown skin and dark yellow eyes APPRENTICE Cinderpaw
WEASELFROST—thick brown furred Omega male with yellow eyes; brown-haired as a human with dark brown skin and yellow eyes
WINTERTOOTH—bright orange Iota female with bright hazel eyes; bright orange-haired as a human with dark brown skin and bright hazel eyes APPRENTICE Snakepaw
RIPPLEWHISKER—bright orange Sigma male with light blue eyes; bright orange-haired as a human with dark brown skin and light blue eyes APPRENTICE Loonpaw
LAMBDAS COLDPAW—fluffy gray furred Alpha female with bright blue eyes; gray-haired as a human with dark brown skin and bright blue eyes
QUICKPAW—long creamy brown furred Delta male with blue eyes; creamy brown-haired as a human with medium brown skin and blue eyes
MOTHPAW—golden brown furred Sigma female with green eyes; golden brown-haired as a human with black skin and green eyes
FLASHPAW—soft black furred Sigma male with bright blue eyes; black-haired as a human with light brown skin and bright blue eyes
RABBIT
FEET SWALLOWPAW—tortoiseshell Beta female with green eyes; black-and-orange haired as a human with dark brown skin and green eyes
EAGLEPAW—soft snowy white furred Zeta female with bright hazel eyes; snowy white haired as a human with pale skin and bright hazel eyes
FENNELPAW—longhaired grey-brown Delta female with distinctive markings and amber eyes; grey-brown haired as a human with light brown skin and amber eyes
ASPHODELPAW—grey-brown tabby Zeta male with gray eyes; grey-brown haired as a human with medium brown skin and gray eyes
CINDERPAW—golden tabby Omega female with a white tail tip and blue eyes; golden-striped haired as a human with medium brown skin and blue eyes
SNAKEPAW—brown and white tabby Sigma male with green eyes; brown-and-white haired as a human with pale skin and green eyes
LOONPAW—black Omega female with white markings and amber eyes; black-haired as a human with light brown skin and amber eyes
DOES PLOVERSTREAM—longhaired black and white Delta male with gray eyes; black-and-white haired as a human with light brown skin and gray eyes (mother to Nightstorm’s kit, Falconkit)
FLECKHEART—gray tabby Zeta female with blue eyes; gray-striped haired as a human with dark brown skin and blue eyes (expecting Applecloud’s kits)
WASPPELT—light grey longhaired tabby Theta male with distinctive markings and green eyes; light grey-striped haired as a human with dark brown skin and green eyes (mother to Spidercloud’s kits: Waxkit, Cormorantkit, and Sagekit)
KITS FALCONKIT—stocky black and white Delta male with gray eyes; black-and-white haired as a human with pale skin and gray eyes
WAXKIT—longhaired gray tabby Delta male with yellow-green eyes; gray-striped haired as a human with dark brown skin and yellow-green eyes
CORMORANTKIT—longhaired black tabby Delta female with yellow eyes; black-striped haired as a human with light brown skin and yellow eyes
SAGEKIT—black and white tabby Delta female with yellow-green eyes; black-and-white striped haired as a human with light brown skin and yellow-green eyes
ELDERS ROBINFACE—gray tabby Epsilon female with blue eyes; gray-striped haired as a human with black skin and blue eyes
RELATIONS
Ploverstream and Nightstorm are mates.
Flashpaw and Falconkit are siblings. Their parents are Ploverstream and Nightstorm.
Fleckheart and Applecloud are mates. They are expecting two kits.
Wasppelt and Spidercloud are mates.
Coldpaw, Waxkit, Cormorantkit, and Sagekit are siblings. Their parents are Wasppelt and Spidercloud.
Robinface is Fleckheart’s father.
Fennelpaw and Asphodelpaw are siblings. Their parents are deceased.
Swallowpaw is the outsider, who used to be named Elisa.
Quickpaw, Eaglepaw and Snakepaw are siblings. Their parents are Dawnnight and Weaselfrost.
THE WATER CLAN
LEADER CLOUDSTAR—calico Delta female with bright green eyes; white, black, and orange-haired as a human with dark brown skin and bright green eyes
DEPUTY DANDELIONFACE—ginger tabby Sigma female with orange eyes; ginger-striped haired as a human with light brown skin and orange eyes
HEALER NETTLELEAF—longhair black-and-white Omega male with orange eyes; black-and-white haired as a human with pale skin and orange eyes
OMICRONS RAILCLAW—longhair brown tabby and white Delta male with amber eyes; brown-striped and white haired as a human with pale skin and amber eyes
FOXSTORM—ginger furred Delta female with a white chest and green eyes; ginger-haired as a human with medium brown skin and green eyes
SPECKLEHEART—light gray tabby Theta female with yellow eyes; gray-striped haired as a human with pale skin and yellow eyes APPRENTICE Eelpaw
MURKCLAW—gray tabby Iota female with gray eyes; gray-striped haired as a human with light brown skin and gray eyes
MALLOWFACE—black-and-white Omega male with one blue, one brown eye; black-and-white haired as a human with very dark brown skin and one blue, one brown eye
LAMBDAS STOATPAW—tortoiseshell Beta female with a white tail tip and green eyes; black-and-orange haired as a human with fair skin and green eyes
STARLINGPAW—longhaired dark gray tabby Beta male with brown eyes; dark gray striped haired as a human with pale skin and brown eyes
RABBIT
FEET EELPAW—brown tabby Omega male with distinctive markings and amber eyes; brown-striped haired as a human with black skin and amber eyes
DOES THYMENOSE—pure white Theta male with deep blue eyes (deaf); white-haired as a human with fair skin and blue eyes (mother to Cloudstar’s kits: Squirrelkit and Grousekit)
PHEASANTFOOT—light brown tabby Delta male with a lighter brown belly and green eyes; light brown-haired as a human with dark brown skin and green eyes (mother to Railclaw’s kits: Mistkit and Hollykit)
ASTERSTREAM—ginger furred Omega male with a white belly and hazel eyes; ginger-haired as a human with light brown skin and hazel eyes (mother to Foxstorm’s kits: Magpiekit and Honeykit)
GOLDENFANG—longhaired golden-brown tabby Sigma male with brown eyes; golden-brown striped haired as a human with medium brown skin and brown eyes (mother to deceased Hawkflight’s kits: Snailkit and Bramblekit)
KITS SQUIRRELKIT—orange and white Delta female with deep blue eyes; orange and white haired as a human with medium brown skin and deep blue eyes
GROUSEKIT—calico Theta female with deep blue eyes; orange, black, and white haired as a human with medium brown skin and deep blue eyes
MISTKIT—brown tabby Delta male with a white chest, belly, and paws, and green eyes; brown striped and white haired as a human with light brown skin and green eyes
HOLLYKIT—longhaired dark brown tabby Delta female with white paws and amber eyes; dark brown striped haired as a human with light brown skin and amber eyes
MAGPIEKIT—ginger and white Omega male with hazel eyes; ginger and white haired as a human with dark brown skin and hazel eyes
HONEYKIT—solid ginger Omega male with hazel eyes; ginger haired as a human with dark brown skin and hazel eyes
SNAILKIT—black and brown tabby Sigma male with blue eyes; black and brown haired as a human with black skin and blue eyes
BRAMBLEKIT—golden brown tabby Alpha male with blue eyes; golden brown striped haired as a human with black skin and blue eyes
ELDERS OTTERFOOT—golden tabby Epsilon male with baby blue eyes; golden striped haired as a human with dark brown skin and baby blue eyes
RELATIONS
Thymenose and Cloudstar are mates.
Stoatpaw, Squirrelkit, and Grousekit are siblings. Their parents are Thymenose and Cloudstar.
Pheasantfoot and Railclaw are mates.
Eelpaw, Mistkit, and Hollykit are siblings. Their parents are Pheasantfoot and Railclaw.
Asterstream and Foxstorm are mates.
Magpiekit and Honeykit are siblings. Their parents are Asterstream and Foxstorm.
Goldenfang was mates with Hawkflight.
Snailkit and Bramblekit are siblings. Their parents are Goldenfang and Hawkflight.
Otterfoot is Goldenfang’s father.
Speckleheart and Murkclaw are mates.
Starlingpaw’s parents are deceased.
THE AIR CLAN
LEADER GANNETSTAR—tortoiseshell Epsilon male with white paws and amber eyes; black-and-orange haired as a human with pale skin and amber eyes
DEPUTY HERONFACE—tortoiseshell and white Omega male with yellow eyes; black, orange, and white haired as a human with fair skin and yellow eyes APPRENTICE Nettlepaw
HEALER SNAKECLAW—dark brown tabby Beta female with white patches and green eyes; dark brown striped and white haired as a human with fair skin and green eyes
HEALER
TRAINEE APPLEPAW—pure white Sigma female with orange eyes; white-haired as a human with light brown skin and orange eyes
OMICRONS FIRWHISKER—longhaired black-and-white Gamma male with yellow eyes; black and white- haired as a human with brown skin and yellow eyes
RUSSETCLOUD—ginger-and-brown tabby Zeta female with white markings and green eyes; ginger, brown, and white striped-haired as a human with light brown skin and green eyes APPRENTICE Yewpaw
SHADEWHISKER—ginger tabby Zeta female with white markings and green eyes; ginger striped and white haired as a human with light brown skin and green eyes APPRENTICE Sleetpaw
DIPPERFLOWER—light brown tabby Delta male with white paws and amber eyes; light brown striped haired as a human with dark brown skin and amber eyes APPRENTICE Rainpaw
LOACHSTREAM—grey and white Delta male with orange eyes; grey and white haired as a human with light brown skin and orange eyes APPRENTICE Troutpaw
FIRENOSE—brown tabby Omega male with gray eyes; brown striped haired as a human with fair skin and gray eyes APPRENTICE Ploverpaw
BATCLAW—dark gray tabby Omega male with gray eyes; dark gray striped haired as a human with fair skin and gray eyes
LAMBDAS MOTTLEPAW—dark brown tabby Delta male with a white belly and green eyes; dark brown striped and white haired as a human with light brown skin and green eyes
LEECHPAW—pure white Theta female with amber eyes; white haired as a human with tan skin and amber eyes
RABBIT
FEET NETTLEPAW—light grey longhair tabby Beta male with distinctive markings and icy blue eyes; light grey striped haired as a human with light brown skin and icy blue eyes
YEWPAW—black-and-white Alpha male with yellow eyes; black and white haired as a human with fair skin and yellow eyes
SLEETPAW—grey-and-white Alpha male with orange eyes; grey and white haired as a human with pale skin and orange eyes
RAINPAW—light brown tabby Alpha male with orange eyes; light brown striped haired as a human with dark brown skin and orange eyes
TROUTPAW—longhaired black-and-white Theta male with blue eyes; black and white haired as a human with fair skin and blue eyes
PLOVERPAW—black Omega male with white markings and pale blue eyes; black and white tipped haired as a human with black skin and pale blue eyes
DOES MOUSELEAF—golden brown tabby Zeta female with a white belly and amber eyes; golden brown and white striped haired as a human with fair skin and amber eyes (mother to Russetcloud’s kits: Littlekit and Molekit)
SKIPPERCLOUD—calico Theta female with yellow eyes; orange, black, and white haired as a human with light brown skin and yellow eyes (mother to Dipperflower’s kits: Gorsekit, Dunnockkit, and Gullkit)
HAZELFUR—ginger tabby Omega male with white paws and green eyes; ginger striped and white-tipped haired as a human with light brown skin and green eyes (expecting Gannetstar’s kits)
KITS LITTLEKIT—golden-brown tabby Zeta female with amber eyes; golden-brown striped haired as a human with light brown skin and amber eyes
MOLEKIT—ginger and brown tabby Zeta female with amber eyes; ginger and brown striped haired as a human with fair skin and amber eyes
GORSEKIT—calico Delta female with golden yellow eyes; orange, black, and white haired as a human with dark brown skin and golden yellow eyes
DUNNOCKKIT—light black and brown tabby Theta male with amber eyes; black and brown striped haired as a human with dark brown skin and amber eyes
GULLKIT—calico Theta female with amber eyes; orange, black, and white haired as a human with dark brown skin and amber eyes
ELDERS DARKCLOUD—solid black tabby Alpha female with blue eyes; black striped haired as a human with fair skin and blue eyes
KESTRELCLAW—brown tabby Omega female with white paws and brown eyes; brown striped haired as a human with fair skin and brown eyes
PARTRIDGEFACE—ginger tabby Epsilon female with white paws and green eyes; ginger striped haired as a human with light brown skin and green eyes
RELATIONS
Mouseleaf and Russetcloud are mates.
Skippercloud and Dipperflower are mates.
Hazelfur and Gannetstar are mates.
Kestrelclaw and Partdrigeface are mates. |
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Post by luckgandor on Aug 28, 2017 13:59:38 GMT -5
prologue Soft paws trotted across blood-stained ground towards their destination. Twilightfeather made little noise as he made his way towards Cherrystar. The bright orange tabby she-cat’s fur stood out against the darkness of the air, and there was a bandage wrapped around her leg. The bright whiteness of the bandage contrasted starkly against her fur. Twilightfeather would know; after all, he was the one who applied the bandage.
“Twilightfeather,” Cherrystar meowed softly as he approached. She instinctively knew it was him, even without having to turn around. The tip of her tail twitched. Twilightfeather flicked an ear. “How are they?”
“Nightstorm is fine, already yowling about how he doesn’t need any help,” Twilightfeather replied calmly, though there was a hint of disdain in his voice. He leaped up onto the stone Cherrystar was sitting on, sitting down and neatly curling his tail around his paws. “Eaglepaw’s wound was not as bad as I thought it would be. The gash on his neck is shallow, and it bled a lot, but it will heal. And finally, Applecloud is fretting over Fleckheart. She’s worried the kits may have been hurt, though I assured her they were not.”
“She is right to be worried,” Cherrystar commented. “That Red-Tail took no notice of her pregnancy when he hit her. They have no morals.”
“I do hope you realize how serious this is,” Twilightfeather continued. “They’ve never come this far in before. This is a new low, even for them. Perhaps we should consider moving camp --”
“No,” Cherrystar replied firmly. “And risk showing them that we are weak? We are the largest Clan around the mountains. Where would we go? There are thirty-five of us, soon to be more. There is simply no way we can move, even if we wanted to.”
“Perhaps there is somewhere beyond the mountains? These Red-Tails are a threat, and with the Clan of Air pushing into our territory...” Twilightfeather trailed off, turning his head away from Cherrystar as he mused over his own thoughts.
“We would be risking the lives of our weakest if we left now,” Cherrystar said, more conviction in her voice.
“We are risking their lives now,” Twilightfeather urged. “We don’t have to go tomorrow. Just please, consider my words.”
Twilightfeather turned his eyes towards the stars, narrowing his eyes. “The Ancestors have been so quiet lately.”
“I was under the impression they were usually quiet,” Cherrystar mewed. “Is there something wrong with that?”
Twilightfeather shrugged. “It’s unusual. Usually I would get a message once a month. Now, I am lucky if I get one every six.”
They both went silent for a while as Twilightfeather stared at the stars. And then, suddenly, it happened; his eyes glowed as the fur along his spine rose, his claws digging into the stone as he went rigid.
Cherrystar knew better than to say anything while this happened. She kept quiet, watching and waiting for the episode to be over. She had only been present for something like this once, back when she was a rabbit-foot, and at first she was terrified. Now, however, she faced Twilightfeather’s sudden moment to be over.
When Twilightfeather finally calmed and relaxed, Cherrystar leaned towards him, her muzzle only a few inches from his shoulder. He dipped his head, body shaking.
“Well? What was it?” Cherrystar asked.
Twilightfeather looked at her with wide eyes. “They said – they showed me an image. An image of a bright red tail in the mouth of a swallow.” |
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Post by luckgandor on Aug 29, 2017 11:51:42 GMT -5
chapter 1 Elisa woke suddenly in her bed, curled up with her tail tip resting across her nose. She sneezed, shaking her head as she looked up, staring towards the window across the room. The moon filtered down through the curtains, bathing the room in a pale, silver light.
She had just woken from a strange dream. Elisa had been traveling through the forest in her feline form, moving gracefully in a way she had never moved before through the trees. Then, suddenly, she stopped, staring, as a swallow flew down from the trees, a fluffy red tail clasped in its beak.
Immediately, Elisa’s hunting instincts kicked in, and she crouched down to stalk it. Her body moved like water through the tangled grass and undergrowth, her paws making no noise as she slid forward. Unable to stop a small wriggle of her hindquarters, she finally leaped. Just as her paws were connecting with the sparrow, the dream faded, and she had woken with a jolt.
Uncurling from her curled-up position, Elisa stretched, the claws on the tips of her fingers gripping at her bed sheets. She sheathed them as she sat up, resting on her knees as she rubbed at her eyes again. Her stomach growled angrily, and Elisa grimaced. Of course. Dreaming about catching and eating that swallow had made her hungry.
Swinging her legs over the bed, Elisa tip-toed out of the room and down the hallway towards the kitchen, dressed in her tank-top and sleep shorts. The socks on her feet helped to keep her quiet, and she absentmindedly tucked a lock of black-and-orange hair behind her ear as she went.
After securing a midnight snack – a spoonful of peanut butter – Elisa headed towards the back door. She opened it, revealing the lavish backyard garden, then took a deep breath of the crisp night air. As she did, her body began to change, morphing from her tall human form to a small, furry, feline body.
Her tortoiseshell fur blended in with the shadows and light of the moon as she weaved her body through the bushes and undergrowth, parting her jaws to taste the air. The scent of rain hung heavy around her, and the little round stones beneath her paws were slick with water.
The wet flowers around her released a pungent scent, reminding Elisa of the scent her Omega mother and sisters gave off. She scratched at one of the bushes and took some time to mark it, kicking pebbles underneath it after she did.
Upon reaching the fence of her backyard, Elisa bunched her muscles, leaping from the ground to the top of the fence. Her claws gripped the edge of the fence as she balanced precariously on top of it. She stared out into the dark forests beyond, pricking her ears and angling them towards the darkness. If she listened hard enough, she swore she could hear whispers, something calling for her to venture further in.
Just as she was preparing to jump down, a familiar voice stopped her, and she winced.
“Hiya, Elisa!” Elisa turned to see her sister – younger than her, a sleek black tabby – making her way towards the fence. At only ten years old, the young Omega still had a round face and bright blue eyes full of hope. She had already stopped going to school, as was customary for ten year old Lower Dynamics in Red-Tail society, and their parents were already preparing her for a life of bearing kits and serving an Upper.
Elisa herself was a Beta, which meant she was able to escape most of the indoctrination of the Red-Tail society, but she was not exempt from it. Rather, Elisa was being groomed to become a dominant Beta, the breadwinner of the family, and the one who would sire litters of kits. Even though she had more choices as a Beta, and was still allowed to go to school, it was not what Elisa wanted.
She wanted more.
“Hello Teagan,” Elisa greeted her as she attempted to jump up the fence in one smooth leap. The girl hesitated, however, and clung to the top of the fence with her front paws, scrabbling at the wood with her back ones. Elisa leaned over, gripping her by the scruff to help her up onto the top of the fence. “You need to be more careful.”
“I just wanted to join you,” Teagan said, smoothing her ruffled fur and sitting down carefully on the fence, lifting a paw to groom her face with. “What’re you doing, anyway? Mom and Dad say the forest is dangerous. You weren’t thinking about going in, were you?”
Elisa shrugged. “Maybe I was, maybe I wasn’t. What’s the big deal even if I was?”
Teagan’s eyes went wide. “Elisa, don’t you know there are vicious people out there? Terrible people, they’ll rip you limb from limb and eat your innards!”
“That’s just a silly story made up to scare kits,” Elisa snorted. “People don’t live out there. We Red-Tails own this territory, and everything around it. The only place to live is at the foot of the mountain by the river, and everyone knows it’s too dangerous to live there.”
The black tabby turned her head away, yellow eyes wide and worried. “Still... what if you did get hurt, Elisa? Aren’t there bears and wolves out there?”
“I wasn’t going to go that far,” Elisa reasoned with Teagan. “Just a couple of yards in there, just to see what it’s like. Maybe I’d even catch something!”
“Dad would like it if you got those pesky songbirds,” Teagan said, nodding her head. “But... wouldn’t they be asleep now?”
“Let me worry about that,” Elisa said, putting a paw on Teagan’s shoulder. “I’ll be right back, I promise. You won’t even know I’m gone.”
Teagan still looked hesitant, even as Elisa jumped down and headed towards the treeline, past the neatly-groomed backyards and trimmed grass.
“Alright, but don’t go too far!” Teagan called out, and Elisa flicked her tail to acknowledge her as she disappeared into the shadows. |
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