Post by ♏aple♢ on Aug 31, 2015 6:15:39 GMT
When you get to the end of your rope, Tie a knot and hang on.
Long and grueling had been the returning trek from the gathering to the pebble pool. Normally, a few miles wouldn't take as many hours as it had. But the returning trek had in fact, not been a normal one. No, cats of all heritage and ages had traveled through the basin together after the night of the blood moon. A sign from Starclan some had said. Starclan had abandoned them, others had said. But most present had agreed that sign or no, this war had to end. The clans had to reform, and cats had to return to being cats, rather than beasts. But such large numbers could never agree, and so the gathering had split into two. One lead by safety, one by experience. The first group had left that night, while the second had stayed until morning.
Staying until morning had seemed the rational choice. They had young cats and pregnant queens among them, and plenty of plans to make. The group had hunted, rested, and planned their course of action. Lead by a she-cat named Starlingfur, they had set off early the next morning for the land dominated by towering cedar trees. But we return to our point. Large groups of cats cannot travel both quickly and safely. It had taken time to return, and now as their leading members paws touched the cooling waters for the first time, the sun was sinking past its halfway point.
Bright blue afternoon light spilled through the towering trees and dappling the forest floor below. The air was hot and sticky, clinging to the pelts of warriors and rogues alike. Rarely warm weather in these lands, even for Green-Leaf. That, too, had made the walk a difficult one. Exhaustion showed in the eyes of many, and some leaned on others for support. Traveling by night was easy. By the light of the red moon, the forest had been warm, but not uncomfortable. Resting for the night had done them well, and in a more wakeful state they'd had time to talk throughout the trek. About where they were going. What they would do once they arrived. What was to come. But now that the cats had finally reached their destination, sparkling waters stretching before them, things had come to a standstill. Cats waited for orders.
Starlingfur sunk her paws into the pool with a soft sigh. Copper eyes closed, relishing in the chill. She knew that walking by day would have been good for these cats, but having lived by night for the past year- and having never truly gotten used to a day schedule- she was more tired than most. Not to mention her pregnancy. She'd attempted to hide signs of her exhaustion, but now that they were here.... No. There was still much to be done. Opening her eyes slowly, Starlingfur pulled her paws from the pool with a more inward sigh. Yes, very much to be done.
She turned to face the crowd. Cats of all ages, colors, sizes and heritages lined the forest in front of her. Such a large group. Every time that Starlingfur found herself facing them she was taken aback anew. These cats.. had chosen to follow her. These cats thought her to be a cat worthy of following, of leading. Starlingfur knew not whether she would- or even could live up to their expectations. But by Starclan she would try her hardest.
"This is the Pebble Pool." she meowed, gesturing with her tail. On the way she'd explained how she, Birchtail, and Ravenmist had made a home for themselves within the caverns below. Half a moon they'd been living here, but now Starlingfur began to wonder how much longer they could stay. It was a beautiful land, and they'd set up a small border. She'd noted it to the rest of the crowd as they'd passed through the scent line. But neither their cavern nor their territory would be large enough to support this many cats. Especially with more on the way. Such had also been explained on the journey here. They would have to return to what had once been Dawnclan's camp. Eventually. But for now, the air was hot and her paws were tired. They had work to do, but repairing an entire camp and walking miles more would not be among their tasks. Today, at least.
"I know how many cats here would like to rest. I myself am among them. However, there are things that must be done first and foremost." she meowed, padding halfway around the pool. It wasn't visible from the outside, but from beneath the sloping overhang hid a cave. This place would be where the queens, kits, elders, ill, and injured cats could rest. It was too small for everyone. But all around the pool lay bushes and trees. "We will need to dig temporary dens beneath the bushes that line the pool. As mentioned, the cavern below is too small for everyone. But if work is done quickly, we should be capable of digging enough dens for each cat to have a place to rest tonight with time to spare." she meowed, padding back to stand in front of the group. "We will work on territory expansions tomorrow, temporary camp refining in the days to come, and repairing and moving to our- hopefully final- camp once we've regained our strength and organized. For now however, we will also need a hunting patrol. If we are to work efficiently and quickly, we must have food." Looking through the crowd, Starlingfur searched for cats who would be better suited to hunting than digging. Rookshadow would be a fine candidate- slender, small paws. But.. Starlingfur wanted to keep her close for now. Selfish perhaps, but she wasn't ready to let her friends go just yet. Crooked-Eye had a build better suited to digging... And Birchtail and Ravenmist both knew enough about this land to be more helpful here.
"... Firecloud, Fernheart, Boltfang, Dixon, and Bracken." She had spoken with these cats at the gathering. Gotten to know the ones that she hadn't already been familiar with, even if only by clan and basic background. She knew that none of them were familiar with this territory. Save for Boltfang, perhaps. He had been lingering in this land... Either way, so long as they stayed within the scent lines, they should do decently. "I will leave it up to you where you go. Although the northern area should be most plentiful this time of year." she meowed. She may be leader, but she still had trust to earn. Respect to earn. If Starlingfur was one thing, it was not a controlling cat by nature.
She would stay with the cats digging. Starlingfur already had her eyes on a few good bushes... She would be sleeping in the cavern below no doubt. Especially if Birchtail had any say in it. But what kind of cat would she be if she didn't assist in this? A lazy, foolish, self-centered cat. One with no scope fo the larger picture. ... One that she had been many moons ago, but wasn't any longer. One that she was still learning not to be, day by day.
"...Let us get begin."
1223 words | Starlingfur | Evening |
