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Post by Brindlefoot on Aug 10, 2018 2:09:06 GMT -5
The sun shown through the trees, and dappled the ground with light. Shadows danced and moved as a warm breeze ruffled the leaves of the trees above. Silvertail closed his eyes and savored the warmth of a beam that danced across his back. He was in no particular hurry this morning, and was enjoying his stroll through the forest. He would need to find breakfast at some point, but he was not starving just yet and the sun felt amazing at the moment.
Dust particles danced trough the light as it filtered through the leaves and lit the tom's pelt. Illuminated, it was easy to see him sitting there. He could hide if he wanted to, but there was no need right now. All was peaceful with the clan and he did not need to fear, especially this deep in his own territory. Anyone looking on would think that he was not paying any attention. The top sat with his head tipped up to the warmth and his eyes closed. Beams of light danced over an angular face with strong jaws. Even relaxed, his shoulders were large and solid, tapering down into a trim waist, with strong back legs and a long thin tail.
His fur was short and sleek, yet held the appearance of being silky soft. As the light hit it, it shone like it was made of true silver, shiny and almost metallic. Just the hint of a few stripes showed through from his undercoat and marked his back in a darker gray that was not quite so shiny and bright.
Silvertail may have looked like he was not paying attention, but that could not have been farther from the truth. His ears strained to take in the slightest noises of the forest. The breeze ruffling the leaves against one another, the tick of a bug under the bark of a nearby tree. Opening his mouth slightly he took in the scents around him. Smells of the forest filled his senses. The earth was still damp and fragrant from the dew of the early morning, that was one of his favorite smells. He could smell the soft scent of green growing things around him and took solace in their quiet presence. Taking another breath in, the scent of a warm body hit him. His stomach gave an agreeing rumble, it was time for breakfast.
Leaving his eyes closed, he listened for the beat of a heart or the scuffle of small feet on the forest floor. It did not take him long to find it, turning his head toward the sound he scented again, eyes still closed. Rabbit. Good, there would be enough left to take back to the clan even after he took his share. Listening again he didn't think that it was very far away, just on the other side of a tree, concealed from him. His eyes opened to reveal bright green irises that clearly showed what he was thinking even if he did not want them too.
As he dropped into a crouch. he listened for hos prey again. But this time he heard something that he did not expect: paw steps.
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Post by Daisypool on Aug 10, 2018 2:55:35 GMT -5
A reddish-brown tabby she-cat by the name of Redd stalked throughout the shadows of the forest with her mouth parted to scent for neaeby prey. She had picked up the scent of other cats around the area a little ways back but the she-cat's hunt for food was greater than her concern for running into trouble. The cat's pelt was covered in dirt and was slightly ragged as she hadn't been grooming herself well for over a moon now. Her ribs faintly shown on each side of her flanks, as the hungry loner hasn't had a stable bite to eat since she was drven off of her territory a few moons ago. The homeless tabby had been aimlessly wandering the land after being run from her home along with everyone she'd ever known, desperately searching for the place to find her next meal. Her once bright but now dulled with hunger amber gaze widened after a waft of rabbit crossed her tongue. Her belly suddenly rumbled painfully and she could already feel her mouth watering from the smell, and without another moment to lose Redd began tracking the scent to hopefully find its delicious source. She started to get close, as she could already begin to her the noise of its scrabblings in the dirt. Redd circled large shrub and emerged into a clearing. What she was expecting to find as she gazed into the large space was the rabbit ignorantly nosing around among the grass, not the huge silver tabby tom staring right at her as she came into view. Redd's eyes widened in surprise. Alarm rippled through her body and her pelt started to spike in anticipation. Foxdung! Another rogue! Redd thought fearfully, her claws flexing as she expected the cat to immediately lunge at her for running into him.
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Post by Brindlefoot on Aug 10, 2018 3:17:29 GMT -5
Silvertail turned his head to the sound of the steps just in time to see the cat emerge from around a shrub. He was up wind, so he was unable to tell if the cat was from another clan, but the state of it told him probably not. The delicate features of the tabby told him that it was a she-cat, but she was in quite a poor state. He took in the state of her ungroomed fur, and the ribs that shone through her pelt. What had happened to this cat?
She was clearly surprised to find him crouched there, and it dawned on him that she must have been after the prey that he himself was scenting. He looked at her hoping that she would see in his eyes that he did not mean her harm. He motioned to her to be silent, and then carefully turned back to the task at hand.
He crouched with his back to her, locating his prey once more. It had not moved far, still oblivious to the hunters that had it in their sights. Carefully, Silvertail stalked around the base of the tree until the rabbit came into view. He was happy to see that it was fairly large, and would suffice to feed the both of them. While it was not normally acceptable to feed others before the clan, the fresh kill pile had been full when he left, and he could not possibly leave her with nothing. He heard her stomach protesting from across the clearing, and her body condition told him that she was for sure starving.
All of his weight placed on his haunches, Silvertail prepared to attack. With a silent prayer to Starclan, he launched himself at the rabbit. It only made it a step or two when he caught it in his massive jaws, and dispatched it quickly. He walked slowly back around the tree, not sure if he would find her still there or not. He walked to the middle of the clearing, laid the kill on the ground, and sat curling his tail around his front paws, he looked in her direction.
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Post by Daisypool on Aug 10, 2018 3:45:46 GMT -5
Redd waited, her muscles bunched and her claws ready, but the cat bever made a move. She watched as the stranger looked her over and displayed a friendly demeanor, though the wild-smart she-cat was skeptical if he was just doing so for show or not. As the stranger signaled her to stay quiet and stalked away toward the scent if the rabbit, Redd considered making a hasty escape. She had no idea who thus cat was and what his true intentions might be, but for some reason a single spark of curiosity kept her dark paws rooted down where she stood. As a short amount if time passed, Redd watched with her amber eyes stretching wide in astonishment as the stranger padded back into view with the biggest rabbit she had ever seen dangling limply in his powerful jaws. She struggled to keep her jaw from dropping to the ground, and as the tom laid down the rabbit and turned his brilliant green gaze back onto her. Redd was hesitant at first to go up to him, as she was still holding onto the possibility that he was tricking her somehow, but before she even knew it her grumbling tummy pulled her paws toward the fresh-kill sitting at his paws. Redd slowly inched closer to Silvertail and his prey, and without taking her gaze off of the tom, ravenously began tearing into the warm flesh of the rabbit. The sweet stringy flesh of the fresh-kill was a taste Redd hadn't known in far too long. As she ate more and more her wariness of the strange cat began to fade, and her gaze lowered to her food as to savor every single bite.
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Post by Brindlefoot on Aug 10, 2018 3:59:45 GMT -5
Silvertail sat still as the she-cat crept closer. Slowly he could see the hunger winning over, and his heart gave a squeeze of sympathy when he heard her stomach growl. Silently he willed her forward. When she finally gave in and lowered her head to eat, he breathed a quiet sigh of relief. What was it about this cat that stirred a sense of concern in him? He had chased many rogues from his territory, but something told him that this one was different, and no true threat. At least not in her current condition.
He waited for her to finish before he attempted to speak to her. Careful to keep his voice quiet and unthreatening, he asked some of the questions that had been playing in his mind.
"I am not going to hurt you unless you give me a need to. What is your name, and what brought you to this place?"
His ears flicked to make sure that they were still alone. This deep in the territory, they should be safe from any patrols finding them. Hw was not ready to expose her to the rest of the clan yet. Finding nothing, he relaxed and gave her his full attention.
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Post by Daisypool on Aug 10, 2018 4:21:10 GMT -5
Redd made quick work of the rabbit, and within a few more moments the fresh-kill was reduced to nothing but fur and bones. The spunky tabby she-cat rolled over on her side and closed her eyes just for a moment, enjoying the delightful fullness in her stomach that had eluded her for what felt like a lifetime. Her brief moment of peace passed as the stranger spoke to her. Although she wasn't one to stick around with other cats for long, even when she still lived in her hone, Redd felt like she owed the cat at least a little more of her time for what he did for her. Her deep amber gaze set onto the taller cat as she replied "Good. That's a fight you don't want to pick, uh... whatever your name is." Redd nonchalantly licked her paw and drew it over her ear. "Name's Redd. And the scent of that rabbit was what brought me to this place." She eyed the stranger through the corner of her vision as she cleaned up her face and added "So I assume you've got a name too, yeah? Care to share what that is exactly?"
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Post by Brindlefoot on Aug 10, 2018 4:34:44 GMT -5
Silvertail watched as the she-cat stretched out before him. He waited patiently for her answer, and raised a brow at her tone when she did speak. He suspected that she was a lot less comfortable than she was putting on, but left it alone and let her have her appearances.
"My name is Silvertail. I am a warrior of Forestclan. I was out searching for breakfast when you found me. How long was it since your last meal?"
He eyed the remnants of the rabbit in speculation. It must have been quite a while since she had eaten in order for her to finish that much off in that short amount of time. He quietly noted that he would have to find himself something else to eat, and the thought brought a spark of amusement to his eyes. He turned his icy blue gaze back to her, and continued with the next question on his mind.
"What happened that you are wandering around all by yourself?"
His head cocked to the side as he asked the last question. He didn't figure that she would appreciate the question, and anticipated her irritation. Her other answers had seemed annoyed, he thought that this was sure to irritate her further. Hopefully she would not decide that it was enough to fight over. He doubted that she would be easy to beat even in her current condition, but hw outweighed her by quite a bit and did not want to have to put that to use.
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Post by Daisypool on Aug 10, 2018 5:16:30 GMT -5
Redd flicked her tail tip. Clans? Warriors? She had heard whispers of such things before but this was the first time she'd actually met a clan cat herself. "Well Silvertail, for what it's worth I suppose it's nice to make your aquaintance." she-cat meowed. Redd tensed a little as her thoughts dwelled on his next question. When was the last time she ate something besides that rabbit? Her eyes fell from Silvertail's gaze. She gave her chest a few licks before responding in a brisk tone "I don't know, a few sunrises ago?" The words Redd said were lies. Redd had probably gone more than a moon without eating something other than crowfood or Twoleg scraps, but Redd wasn't going to let Silvertail know that. She wasn't too keen on letting strangers she just met know about her weaknesses. And Redd definitely counted the fact that she was half-starved as a weakness. Redd had gone back to her grooming as Silvertail dropped his latest question on the rugged she-cat. Redd paused mid grooming and her eyes glazed over for a brief moment. Memories of that fateful night where she was driven out of her home flashed through her mind, but the she-cat pushed them away and regained her composure. Redd lashed her tail as she set her gaze back on Silvertail. "And why is that any of your business?" Redd meowed, her voice slightly angered. Redd huffed in annoyance, her gaze turning away from the tom to look at nothing else in particular. Redd let out a long sigh. More times than not it was hard for her to even think about what caused her to lose her home, and she didn't feel like talking about it with some random cat she just met would be any better. However, she was sure that if she just didn't say anything at all the tom would probably just keep pressing her about it, so after another short moment passed Redd meowed "I used to live by the shore. Things were fine for a while but some storms passed through and, well, then I didn't have anywhere to live anymore! That's all." Redd didn't look back up at Silvertail. Her gaze was darkened, and after a long moment of silence she went back to grooming her fur, nonchalantly acting like she never said anything.
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Post by Brindlefoot on Aug 10, 2018 5:32:07 GMT -5
The look that crossed Redd's face almost made Silvertail feel bad for asking the question. He bowed his head as she spoke, hoping to make it just the slightest bit easier for her. He supposed that it really was none of his business what had brought her to this point, he was just trying to figure her out. He could see the hurt and sorrow on her face and decided to follow a different line of thinking. No sense in making her more uncomfortable than she already was. Silvertail lifted a paw and gave it a few licks as he gathered his thoughts and decided what he wanted to do next.
"Are you still hungry? I need to find myself a sunrise meal, and we can find you something more if you are still hungry."
He hoped that the offer would ease some of her anger and make her more comfortable with him. He did not particularly want to go on by himself just yet, and thought that there might be a chance that she would come back to the camp with him if he took it slow. He bit at a clump of dirt under a claw and gave it a good wash before he turned his eyes back to her.
"I would appreciate your company for a bit longer if you are willing to give it."
Silvertail did not know what she would have to say to that, but there it was. He went on inspecting the claws on his other foot while he waitd for her to answer. He would not insist that she stay if she wanted to go on her way, but if that was the case she needed to head out of Forestclan territory. He hoped that she would agree to go with him so that he could talk with her some more. He had a feeling that despite her rough exterior and sharp words, she was in need of help, and would be a friend worth having.
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Post by Daisypool on Aug 10, 2018 18:35:05 GMT -5
Redd was happy to hear the next words out of Silvertail's mouth was something other than another deeply personal question. She looks Fred her head back up, her usually dull amber gaze lighting up as she thought of eating again. "You mean... you've got more food?" Redd's belly may have become a little heavy with the huge rabbit she just consumed, but Redd never knew when her next meal was going to be. Over time on her own she learned to eat as much as she can whenever she had the opportunity to do so, so Redd nodded her head. "Um... sure." she meowed, her voice still showing a hint of skepticism. Although Silvertail had so far proven to be anything but a threat to her, Redd refused to let down her guard. However, her rough demeanor faltered slightly as Silvertail went on to say he would like be in her company for a little while longer, and she gave her creamy chest fur a few licks to regain her composure. Redd's face burned with embarrassment and she turned her face away from Silvertail to hide her expression. Flicking her tail tip, the sharp tongued loner meowed "Well... it's not like I have anywhere else to be right now so yeah alright, whatever..." What Redd said was true this time. She really didn't have anywhere else to be. Besides, surely it wouldn't hurt to stick around with her new friendly acquaintance just a little while longer, right? Although Redd wouldn't admit it, not even to herself, she seemed to be enjoying herself eating and talking with this cat. So far nothing had gone wrong, so why stop now?
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Post by Brindlefoot on Aug 10, 2018 23:39:53 GMT -5
Silvertail cocked his head, the end of his tail twitching in amusement.
"Well, I don't have more food with me, but there is plenty more to be caught. It is a good green leaf, and everything is out and about enjoying the weather, it should not be too hard to find something more. Even the fresh kill pile in camp is full right now. I think we could spare a few squirrels."
Slowly he got to his feet and stretched each leg in turn. The sun had warmed him and relaxed his muscles, making it easier to move. It was still early morning and there was nothing particular to be done right now, so he did not see any harm in taking her hunting some more. Maybe he would have a chance to see her abilities as a hunter and tracker too before taking her to the clan. If she agreed to go that is, he wouldn't force her but hoped that she would agree.
Smiling at her he muttered a "let's go" and trotted off into the undergrowth, tail held high. It was not long before he came to a stop and scented the air. Here where the undergrowth was a little thicker, he could smell a buffet of small animals nearby. sitting down, he motioned for her to go ahead and pick her prey, and then curled his tail around his paws and waited, watching patiently.
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Post by Daisypool on Aug 11, 2018 2:18:45 GMT -5
Redd's amber gaze brightened as Silvertail talked of this land being plentiful with prey. Maybe the loner would be sticking around here longer than she thought? A smirking expression fell over her face as she imagined never having to go hungry again. Or at least for however long this 'green-leaf' Silvertail mentioned lasted. As Redd watched Silvertail rise to his paws she decided to do the same. With a strong heave the full-bellied she-cat pulled herself off the ground. She shook out her fur to clear any specks of dirt still clinging to her russet-red tabby pelt, and as Silvertail went off deeper in the forest Redd trailed not too far behind him. Redd paused beside Silvertail as he stopped to scent the air for prey. Redd parted her jaws to do the same, and as soon as the numerous and incredibly tantalizing scents wafted over her senses Redd's eyes widened in amazement. Wow... Silvertail wasn't lying. I've never smelled so many creatures in one place like this before! This forest is just full of surprises Redd thought to herself as she swept her gaze around the area. Redd nodded in understanding as Silvertail motioned for her to go ahead, and without another moment to lose the tabby stalked further into the thick undergrowth. Clinging to the shadows Redd made her way into the cover of a low hanging pine branch, and finally she had her target within her sights. A lone, plump mouse sat at the side of a mangled tree stump just a few tail-lengths away from Redd's pink nose, carelessly nibbling at an acorn held between its paws. Her natural instincts taking over, Redd's eyes locked dead on to her prey and the huntress bunched her hind legs together as she prepared to strike. Unsheathing her claws, Redd shot out from her cover and gave chase to her prey, as the moment the tiny creature saw Redd coming it took off squealing in terror before its half-eaten nut hit the forest floor. The chase was short lived, however, fir as soon as Redd was in range she swiped her outstretched claws at its flank and sent the mouse skidding to the side. Before the terrified creature could even react Redd sunk her claws deep into the back of its neck, killing it instantly. Redd proudly stood over fresh-kill, panting from all the effort of her hunt. The loner she-cat had admittedly gotten a little caught up in her hunt, so much so that she had completely forgotten that Silvertail was still in her company, and that he was still in need of something to chow down on. Redd nestled down beside the freshly killed mouse to take a bite out of it, oblivious to whether or not Silvertail was going to come out and join her to share in eating the mouse.
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Post by Brindlefoot on Aug 11, 2018 4:30:29 GMT -5
As the she-cat stalked ahead, Silvertail silently hopped onto a low hanging branch and perched there to get a better view of the scene. A mouse sat nibbling not to far away, its back turned to them in oblivious innocence. Redd dropped into a crouch and snuck closer. He watched with approval as she bunched all of her weight onto her back paws, and after sitting for a moment preparing went in for the kill. It did not take long for her to catch the mouse, and he nodded in approval as she caught her prey and took a big bite. Knowing that she would probably like all of the meat from her kill, he scented the air around himself and his blue gaze landed on a chipmunk that was foraging in the dirt nearby.
Silvertail stalked to the end of the branch and crouched there. He waited for the chipmunk to get a little closer, and then dropped off of the branch onto it and caught it in his powerful jaws. He lifted his head with the kill dangling limply and trotted back to where Redd was already enjoying her meal. He laid down with his meal between his paws, and took a bit chewing slowly. He sat reflecting on just how lucky he was to have such easy access to food, as clearly others did not. Silently he came to the conclusion that he should be more careful to be thankful for the things that he had.
The she-cat looked better already. Now that she had eaten a meal, her eyes seemed to regain some of their light, and he could tell that she was feeling better. Though some of the places that she had not yet cleaned remained dull, he could tell from the places that she had groomed that her fur was a bright orange and after a few meals he suspected that it would regain some of its gloss.
Silvertail took another bite and thought about how to start the conversation about the clan without scaring her off. If she agreed to go back with him, they would have to talk to the leader, but he would cross that bridge when he came to it. He had to get her to agree first. And if she did agree could he trust her? She had done nothing so far to make him think that he could not, but he had only just met her. He mulled all of this over for a few moments more before opening his mouth to speak.
"What do you know of the clans?"
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Post by Daisypool on Aug 13, 2018 3:07:54 GMT -5
Sorry for such a long poof! Long week DX ))
Redd was taking her time consuming the mouse she caught. With her stomach still digesting the rabbit Silvertail had caught for her, she was able to take it easy and enjoy the peace of moment, something the stray she-cat hasn't done in far too long. As she settled down some more on the patch moss beneath her Redd let her mind start to wonder. She thought of the strange cat named Silvertail that she had met. She's only known him for what seemed like mere moments and, except for the prying, he has been nothing but helpful to the starved russet-red tabby she-cat. Redd was already feeling so much better now that she finally got something to eat, and so far the company of Silvertail hasn't been too terrible. Kindness was something that was scarce in the land where Redd wandered, but Silvertail seemed to be unlike the rest of the wild cats Redd had the displeasure of meeting. Is every clan cat like him too? Redd wondered silently as she watched Silvertail emerge into the small clearing and settle down with some fresh-kill for himself. Redd had gone back to lazily picking at her food when Silvertail spoke up. Redd flicked one of her darker russet red-colored ears as she thought back to a conversation she'd overheard a while ago when she was scavenging in an old Twoleg crowfood can that mentioned clans. "Not much really." Redd admitted, turning her deep amber gaze to Silvertail. "I just know that clans have a lot of cats living in a group together, and apparently have really weird traditions." Remembering another detail she overheard about the clans, Redd tipped her head to the side and meowed curiously "Is it true that all clan cats sacrifice beetles to the moon whenever it's full? Because I think that's kind of strange."
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Post by Brindlefoot on Aug 13, 2018 13:56:53 GMT -5
(Honestly I have not been on either. I usually don't log on during the weekend, so no big deal! I totally understand the long week part. Hope this one goes better for you!)
Silvertail's eyes grew wide as he listened to Redd's last question. After a moment he let out a peel of laughter, but then caught himself. Not wanting her to think that he was being rude or thought her dense, he quickly explained, chuckling to himself all the while.
"No, that most certainly is not true. I myself would find something like that quite odd and disturbing. At least my clan does not do any such thing, I suppose that I can not speak for others, but I do not think that that would be a group that I would want to be a part of."
Silvertail thought for a moment on what to tell her and how best to approach the real question that he wanted to ask. He took another mouthful and chewed slowly in thought.
"We do not do any sacrificing at all come to think of it. We kill only for food, our ancestors do not ask us to take a life for them. We believe that the prick of light in the night sky are the spirits of our ancestors, that is Silverpelt. Most of the cats in the clan are warriors, they are the ones that guard the territory and do all of the hunting. We only fight when we have to in order to keep our clan and territory safe. We have a leader and a deputy, but deffinately not anything like sacrificing beetles. For the most part we keep to ourselves and help support each other."
Silvertail watched the she-cat as he spoke, looking for any indication of what she thought of the information that he was giving her. He hoped that she would not find their way of life too appalling and would be willing to at least give it a try. He did not like the thought of her roaming all alone and not even eating. Despite what she had said when he asked, he knew that it had been a long while since she had had a meal, at least one that filled her and was not crow food. The fact that he could see her ribs and the quality of her coat gave her away even if she did not want to admit it. He couldn't really blame her, he would not want someone that he had just met to know that he had such a weakness, let alone a cat from another clan.
"What else would you like to know? Have you ever thought of becoming a part of a clan?"
He thought it best to approach the real question slowly. He took another bite and waited for her to answer.
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Post by Daisypool on Aug 13, 2018 23:16:41 GMT -5
Alrighty then! I just didn't want you to think I just vanished out if thin air or anything ![:lol:](//storage.proboards.com/6575102/images/EYovFCWKvybdNMI4vmTh.gif) And thank you! I hope the same for you as well ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/6575102/images/lNtnPuxeCzkaKMNYVXVv.gif) )) If Redd had eyebrows the she-cat would of had one raised after watching Silvertail react to her question. With a flick of her tail tip the tabby thought quietly to herself Huh... Well then I guess it's not true after all. After Silvertail regained his composure and explained himself, Redd simply nodded and meowed "Okay, good. That's all I wanted to know." Redd chuckled to herself slightly as she pictured wild cats performing such a ritual and added "Yeah, I wouldn't want to hang around for that either. I mean, I've seen some folks do some pretty odd stuff before but that would definitely top it all." Redd casually took another bite out if her mouse as she listened to Silvertail tell her about the clans. As the silvery furred tom finished Redd was left staring absentmindedly into the forest, lost in thought as she tried to process everything he had said. For the most part, what Silvertail said about his clan seemed like a pretty acceptable way of life. Redd didn't know what to make of Silverpelt and the stars being their ancestors and all that, but as for the part about how the clan cats cooperate to survive together... Redd didn't know whether to think it was brilliant or completely insane. The russet-red tabby turned her gaze back to Silvertail. She noticed how his strong muscles were rippling beneath his well-groomed pelt and his eyes and fur shone brightly. Redd realized that if such a way of life could let a cat that looked THAT healthy exist in the wild, then there had to be something to these clans that worked well, but Redd didn't know if that life was for her. The concept of it was very intriguing to her if nothing else, she had to admit, but Redd has never worked well with others before. And Redd had become so accustomed to living by herself. Even before her life as a rogue she always preferred sleeping alone in a nest of her choosing. How could she possibly learn to live with some group of cats she doesn't know? Redd sighed. Blinking away her thoughts, Redd eventually meowed a response to Silvertail, who Redd had noticed to be staring at her with quite an eager expression. Swallowing a chunk of mouse she'd been chewing while she was thinking, she meowed "Well... the clans sound alright and all... but I don't know if that life's for me." Redd let her gaze drift off to the depths of the forest again as she continued. "I mean the way your clan works seems to be pretty good from everything you told me so far, but I've been living on my own for a while now, and despite the trouble I do enjoy the freedom." Redd's tail calmly swished over the forest floor as she took another bite from her mouse. "Besides I probably wouldn't fit in very well anyway, would I?" The scrappy tabby flicked her tail tip to herself to point her current state. Redd saw herself as skittish, rugged, scrawny, just an utter, complete mess. She thought herself to be the complete opposite of Silvertail in that moment. How could a rogue like her ever become a warrior like Silvertail? Redd's gaze dulled for a brief moment as she sat silently with her thoughts. She already knew the answer to that question.
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Post by Brindlefoot on Aug 14, 2018 3:26:57 GMT -5
Every clue that he could gain from Redd was conflicting. Her tail swished the forest floor calmly, but a variety of emotions danced through her eyes. Sadness, curiosity, fear, longing, he could see them all there. When she flicked her tail to indicate herself, it took him a moment to catch what she was meaning, but he was still having trouble, so he asked what she meant.
"What do you mean? There is nothing wrong with you Redd. You have had a hard time, but you have made it this far on your own. With some consistent good food, your coat will regain its shine. You should be proud that you have made it this far, but there is an easier way. The clans have rules, yes, but you are free to come and go in the territory as you like. All that is expected is that you fight for the clan when needed and contribute to the fresh kill. You have already proven that you are an adept hunter, so that shoud not be a problem. Come with me, see how the clan works, and then you can decide if you would want to stay with is for a while."
His heart hammered in his chest. There it was, out in the open, the question that he had been afraid to ask... Well, sort of, he didn't outright ask her, but close enough. Why was he even so worried that she would say no? He tried to convince himself that it was just for her own safety, but deep down he knew that it was because he cared what happened to her. He did not know what would happen if she went back to the life that she was living, but he did not think that it was an enjoyable or safe way to be living.
His tail skimmed the leaves that dappled the forest floor from last leaf fall while he waited for her to reply. The very tip twitching too and fro, a sign of anxiety that no one living anymore knew about. He pushed the thought of his long gone friend out of his head, and forced his tail to lay still. He turned his gaze to the cat across from him. He hoped that his speaking would not upset her, but it was too late now either way. He lifted a paw and began to wash the pads.
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Post by Daisypool on Aug 16, 2018 1:08:26 GMT -5
Redd stared off into the distance, her expression blank and unreadable as she processed Silvertail's words. The tabby couldn't lie to herself and say Silvertail wasn't starting to convince her, but still there was a little pull tugging at her heart to not give in. Sure she survived out on her own but just barely, but would joining this 'clan' really make her leader fe better? Or would it be just another huge mistake? Redd's whiskers twitched as she thought of Silvertail's offer to take her to see the clan. Perhaps once she saw the clan and how it all worked with her own eyes she could finally be able to make her decision? Redd let out a soft sigh and shut her eyes. She decided that she was going to just have find out. Eventually Redd turned back to Silvertail and meowed "Yeah, okay. I'm up for a little visit I suppose. But don't think that means I've decided to join just yet! I still haven't made my decision." Without waiting to see tom's response, Redd rose up to her paws and began to kick some dirt over the remains of her fresh-kill. After her meal was properly disposed of, the russet-red she-cat turned back to Silvertail and stood there waiting for him to begin leading her to his clan. Her tail tip was flicking in anxious anticipation, but Redd tried her best to act stronger than she looked. Redd flicked her ear and added "Well let's not wait here all day! I'm ready whenever you are."
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Post by Brindlefoot on Aug 16, 2018 1:53:54 GMT -5
Silvertail watched uncertainty flash through Redd's eyes but just as fast as he saw it, it was gone. His eyes caught the tip of her tail twitch and assumed that she was feeling some anxiety. As she stood to dispose of her kill, so did he. When all was taken care of, he was ready to go. She was fast to tell him that she was still undecided, but for now he was happy that she was willing to give the clan a chance.
"Don't worry, you can make up your mind later. There is nothing tying you here, and even if you did join the clan you can always leave. You just would be exiled from the territory if that happened. I am glad that you are willing to give us a chance. Come on, lets go home."
With that, Silvertail padded out of the clearing in the direction of the camp. Until he knew that she was loyal to the clan though he did not take her straight to the camp, instead he wound his way through the territory and took pleasure in the beauty of the woods around him.
The sun had risen higher in the sky and started to warm the earth for the day. As it filtered through the leaves, it cast a golden light that was softened by the canopy above. Dust and flecks of pollen danced in the beams of light that broke through from above, floating lazily to the ground. He took her by the stream that ran through the territory and stopped for a moment to lap the fresh cool water as it cascaded over the pebbles. It snaked down one edge of the territory, forming one of the borders, light dancing off of the surface like a million dancing diamonds. When they neared the camp, all that was visible from the outside was a cluster of trees. Pushing through a small gap in the trunks, he stood just inside and waited for Redd to make her way in as well.
Inside, the camp was alive with activity. Kits tussled outside of the nursery as the queens looked on, quietly chatting with each other. The elders lay in a patch of sun outside of their den either grooming or napping in quiet companionship. Apprentices and warriors spattered the clearing doing all manner of things, some training, some doing chores that needed to be taken care of for the clan. The medicine cat was not visible, but he assumed that she was in her den tending to all of the many herbs that she kept there. To the left of the entrance a low limb stuck out of the trunk of one of the trees that made up the wall, lichen hung from the branch and covered a den made by the trunk that had long since been hollowed out. perched on the branch, overlooking the camp sat a lone cat, the leader of the clan.
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Post by Daisypool on Aug 16, 2018 3:10:59 GMT -5
Redd swiftly trailed behind Silvertail as he led her to his camp. As they traveled, Redd glanced around every so often to see more of Silvertail's territory as they padded on. She noticed the territory was dense with rich green undergrowth and had many towering trees that blocked out all but a few small flickers of light here and there. Redd wasn't as used to the forest environment as most others were, she preferred a more wide open kind of land to dwell in, but the more time she seems to spend in forested places like this the more she grows used to it.I Before too long the pair reached the camp, and Redd's nerves started gnawing at the edge of her mind once she stood before the entrance. The overpowering smell drenched in the air of a countless number cats mixed together at once nearly took Redd off her feet, but the russet red rogue shook her head clear and marched on after Silvertail as he disappeared into the trees. Redd swept her dirty amber gaze across the camp and she was instantly awed with how many cats she saw all contentedly packed together in the secluded area. I don't think I've ever seen this many cats in one place before... Redd thought. There were so many cats talking and doing they're own thing out in this one place that Redd couldn't make out a word of what any of them said. She briefly met her gaze with a cat sitting atop a branch stoically casting their gaze upon the camp, but the shear intensity Redd felt coming off from the cats's deep gaze frightened Redd a bit and she quickly looked away. The tabby almost felt envious of the elderly cats she spotted blissfully relaxing in the warm sunlight, and a sharp twinge of something distantly foreign to Redd resided deep within her heart as she noticed the group of mothers with their young offspring hanging around outside their dens. Redd cast her glance back to Silvertail once more, who was standing a few whiskers away from Redd's side surely reading her reaction to the whole picture before her. Somehow gathering the strength to form words, Redd meowed "So, this is it huh? Besides how crowded it is... pretty impressive, I'll give you that."
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Post by Brindlefoot on Aug 16, 2018 4:37:57 GMT -5
"It is not always so crowded as this, it is still early and most of them have just finished eating and have not started the day yet."
Silvertail padded over to the overhanging limb as the cat atop it jumped down. The she-cat was pure white with short but visably soft fur that covered a lean but well muscled body. Her face was angular yet feminine with two bright green eyes that shone like emeralds in the sunlight. She eyed Redd curiously, but not unfriendly.
"Who might this be?" She said.
Silvertail answered with a dip of his head. "This is Redd. Redd, this is Cloudstar, she is the leader of our clan." Turning his attention back to the leader, he continued to speak. "Redd wandered onto our territory, and I had the pleasure of meeting her as I was hunting. She was curious about our ways, and is in need of a new home, so I offered to bring her here so she could see if maybe this was to her tastes."
Cloudstar looked Redd over with intrest, and then nodded her head. "You are welcome to look around, but I ask that Silvertail escort you as you are unknown to us and do not yet have any loyalties to the clan. I hope that you consider making this place your home." The she-cat sat down and motioned for them to carry on, then curled her tail around her paws.
"What would you like to see? Would you like a more thorough tour?" Silvertail turned his attention back to Redd, hoping that he could make a good enough impression that she would consider staying.
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Post by Daisypool on Aug 17, 2018 0:05:26 GMT -5
Redd stuck close to Silvertail as he began padding over where Redd saw the intense-looking cat overlooking the camp. She began feeling nervous again as she saw the cat leap gracefully down to the ground to meet the two, but Redd kept her fierce composure and kept her gaze steady as she saw the cat inspect her curiously. As Silvertail introduced her, Redd gave a small dip of her head, as she saw Silvertail do as he greeted her, and meowed "Hello... Cloudstar." Redd thought silently to herself Cloudstar? Silvertail? Do all clan cats have such odd names? Redd quickly pushed the thought away, as she had more things to worry about than the weirdness of their names at the moment. Once Silvertail finished explaining the situation to Cloudstar and she welcomed Redd to look around their home, Redd gave another courteous dip of her head and responded "Thank you, your... uh... highness. I promise to be on my best behavior and I'll be sure to stay near Silvertail." Redd had never spoken to a high ranking cat such as a leader before, and the russet red tabby tried her best to be as respectful as possible when addressing Cloudstar, although she was unaware that it may not of been as necessary as she thought it was. Redd calmly padded away with Silvertail when Cloudstar dismissed them, quietly relieved that her first encounter with the leader of the entire clan was over and done with. Redd swept her gaze around the camp again after Silvertail asked what she wanted to do next, wondering what it was that Redd wanted to see in the first place. Redd ended up shaking her head in indecision and shrugging. A glint of humor thought long-gone by Redd shone in her deep amber gaze, and the rogue she-cat flicked her tail tip and meowed in her usual snarky tone "Honestly it don't matter to me where we go first. You're the one who actually lives here Silvertail, aren't you? Why don't we get started with the basics or something? Like... I don't even know where where all of you clan cats sleep! I'd hate to have to sleep in a cramped den... do you folks even have a den big enough to fit everyone in your clan?"
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Post by Brindlefoot on Aug 18, 2018 0:25:45 GMT -5
Silvertail was impressed with the way that Redd interacted with the leader. Though he knew that Cloudstar would not be rude and mean, he did not expect Redd to pick up of the formality. Honestly she had been a little more formal than was necessary, but it was better to over-do than to not do enough.
"You have no need to fear Cloudstar. Though she is our leader, she is quite down to earth and friendly. Often she has meals with the elders and hunts for the fresh kill pile just like the rest of us. She will be more than fair and welcoming unless you give her a reason not to be, but no one wants to be on her bad side. We all address her by her name, she is one of us."
Silvertail hoped that he put some of Redd's unspoken fears to rest, but doubted that it did much to alleviate the stress of the situation. Glancing around the camp, he figured they may as well just walk the circle. He nodded to the leader's den.
"As you can probably figure out, that is Cloudstar's den. Over there by the entrance to the camp is the fresh kill pile, all of the warriors and apprentices contribute to it before feeding themselves. That is how we make sure that the queens and elders get fed as they can not hunt for themselves. Next to Cloudstar's den Is the nursery. All of the queens and kits live there."
The pile by the entrance was neatly stacked and half as tall as Silvertail. A variety of prey, from birds to moles an mice. It was a plentiful time of year, and there was not shortage of things to eat. Of course that would change come leaf-bare, but there was always enough to keep the clan comfortably fed.
Silvertail walked past the tangle of brambles that made up the walls of the nursery and flicked his tail to indicate it. Some of the mothers and their babies were outside enjoying the good weather and he nodded to them and replied to their mewed hellos. Padding to the next feature of the camp, they came to the medicine cat's den. A huge oak made up part of the wall of the camp, it had long ago been struck by lightning and the base split nearly in half. The opening was easily three or four tail lengths and opened into the massive trunk. The cats that started the camp long long ago had hollowed out the base of the tree, and dug pockets along the walls on the inside to fill with hers and webs. Silvertail led Redd into the spacious den and introduced her to the medicine cat. A young she-cat sat humming to herself as she moved herbs into one of the "shelves" in the wall. Her coat was gray and shiny like Silvertail's, though considerably lighter without any hint of his stripes. She looked over her shoulder and greeted them before finishing what she was doing. When she turned around fully, it was clear to see that her left eye was missing. The wound had healed smoothly, and the remaining eye was a deep green that stood out against her light pelt.
"Good morning Ashwing, how are you this morning? I wanted to introduce you to my new... friend, Redd. Redd, this is Ashwing, she takes care of all of the medical needs of the clan. Injuries, coughs, fevers, births, you name is, Ashwing can take care of it."
It was clear from the way that Silvertail talked about her that she was special to him. He had been there when the accident happened that took her eye, and felt somewhat responsible for both the accident and her. whether he was willing to admit it to himself or not (which he was not). After saying goodbye to the medicine cat, he padded out of her den and continued his tour.
The next den that shey came to was that of the elders. Silvertail explained that after they had served their time as warriors, the elders had earned a place of honor for serving the clan all of those moons and were taken care of by the rest of the cats in the clan. He nodded hello and greeted some of them as they padded slowly by, introducing Redd to a few of them who welcomed her warmly. A little distance away, apprentices tussled outside of their den.
The apprentices den was the smallest of all of the dens, and even it had quite a bit of room. Twigs had been brought into the camp and woven together to make the walls of the den, and then heather had been placed on the outside to complete the walls and give privacy to the den. Silvertail offered for Redd to stick her head in and investigate. When she was ready to move on, he padded in the direction of the warriors den. He had a feeling that this was the make it or break it of wether she would stay or not. He hoped that her definition of "cramped" was the same as his, because if it was this should be easy.
There was an space between the trees that made the wall of the camp, and saplings formed a sort of hallway down into the den. The warriors den was the only den that rested outside of the ring of trees, but it was for good reason. Silvertail led Redd through the space and into the den. Once inside the den was quite impressive. Compared to all of the other dens, this one was like a small camp all in itself. The walls were made of thick shrubs that had been lined with brambles to fill the gaps, they grew so close together that they were impenetrable and looked to be solid. low branches reached over the shrubs and served as the framework for the celling that was made of large leaves to keep the light and water out of the den, an inner layer of heather served to keep the heat in. The nests in the den were made of soft moss and some contained fluff found around the forest, but they were nowhere close to each other. Some of them were arranged next to each other or in small groups, but it was out of choice, not necessity. There was easily several tail lengths between the nests, and the whole center of the den was left open still.
Silvertail walked in a few paces, sat down off to the side, and curled his tail around his feet, the tip twitching once again. He turned all of his attention to Redd, looking for any clue as to what she was thinking or how she was feeling about all of this.
"Well, what do you think?" Much to his annoyance, even he could hear the anxiety in his question. It was all up to her now.
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Post by Daisypool on Aug 24, 2018 19:52:07 GMT -5
There was a lot to process, but overall Redd seemed to only like this place more and more. Everyone here had their own role and looked happy, their bellies were plump, and their pelts were as sleek and shiny as if their fur was made of starshine. Their home was a lot more roomy than Redd had previously thought, and Redd was impressed with how sturdy and protected the walls of camp seemed to be. If Redd decided to stay here, then there would be no more nights spent half awake in her nest in case a hostile creature wandered into her den. The red tabby she-cat flicked her ear. If she stayed here then a lot of Redd's problems would be alleviated. Redd was silent for a while after Silvertail spoke. His excited tone told Redd that he was very eager to hear her answer, but Redd was still trying to make up her mind. In the meantime, however, Redd wasn't going to let her new friendly aquaintance be disappointed. With a long sweep of her tail, Redd broke the silence and meowed "... This place seems... nice. I think you've got a pretty nice home here, Silvertail."
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Post by Brindlefoot on Aug 27, 2018 23:32:24 GMT -5
"I think so."
That is all that Silvertail could think to say in reply. Though he hoped that Redd would say yes to the proposal of a new home, it was ultimately her decision, and not one that he was going to rush her to make. He knew that it would change her life, but it was up to her to decide if it was a change for the better, and one that she wanted to make.
Silvertail's ears flicked as he pondered this. With a spark of inspiration, his eyes lit up. "Will you come with me? I want to show you something that I found! I think you will love it!"
Silvertail was almost bouncing on his paws in excitement. He had recently found something in the territory that he had not shown to anyone else, but he was excited to share it with his new friend. The moonstone was in the territory, and he would show her that if she decided to join the clan, but he thought that maybe this was even prettier than the moonstone.
His bright eyes watched her waiting for her to accept or decline his offer, his tail swishing through the air behind him in anticipation. Silvertail was usually an easy going cat, but this had him excited.
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Post by Daisypool on Sept 7, 2018 20:37:10 GMT -5
Redd seemed taken aback for a moment as she saw Silvertail light up with excitement. She wasn't expecting to see him filled with such emotion all of the sudden! So he does have more than one emotion? Heh, good. Thesset red tabby quickly shook it off however, and with a toothy grin she replied to the anxiously awaiting tom "Sure." She flicked her tail tip, waiting for the tom to lead her to whatever it was that had him so elated.
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Post by Brindlefoot on Sept 11, 2018 22:52:13 GMT -5
Silvertail grinned back at the she cat in reply.
"Let's go!"
He took off at a trot back down the tunnel that led into the den. He led her back through the clearing and out of camp. He could not wait for her to see what he had found. He had been wandering the woods one day and stumbled onto one of the most beautiful things that he had ever seen. A wave of anxiety washed over him suddenly, what if she did not think it was as impressive and beautiful as he did? He pushed the thought down, deciding that he would deal with it when he got that far.
He followed the shore of the stream, and wound his way into the trees. Finally he came to a halt and waited for Redd to catch up. He sat outside of an opening in the wall of rock that bordered the water here. Smiling at her, he took a step into the space within the wall.
The inside of the cavern was dim, the light from the crack that allowed them access supplied only a dim defused light. After a couple of steps he was sheathed in darkness. The floor was smooth and damp under paw, but it was roomy enough. There was room for him to stand at his full height and then some, with enough space to fit three or four cats more inside. A few stalactites reached down from the celing of the cave and touched the floor.
"Are you ready?"
He gave her a moment and then walked to the back wall of the cave and moved a piece of moss on the wall. All of a sudden the space came to life with a purple light. Light filtered in from the place that he had touched, but it shone through a large crystal that stuck out of the wall of the cave. The light from that crystal spread to all of the others that studded the walls. Each of them taking on their own color and sparkle, but all painting the walls with their light. The water shimmering on the other side of the wall caused the colors to dance together on the celling. Some crystals were the size of a cat, some a small stone, and others so tiny that they were just flecks in the rock. Each danced with purples, pinks and blues.
Suddenly nervous and embarrassed, Silvertail looked town at his paws and played with a leaf that had found its way into the space and now lay at his feet. Without looking up he inquired:
"What do you think?"
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