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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Sept 23, 2015 23:56:02 GMT
When you get to the end of your rope, Tie a knot and hang on.
"No... You're... You really don't need to somersault every time you pounce."
"Why?"
"It's just.... Well, not something that's... required?"
Big green eyes, pale as lichen and bright as sunlight looked up at Starlingfur. Full of hope and excitement and some cross between curiosity and adoration. Their owner normally would have had to look down to face the she-cat... But... Given that the spotted tom they belonged to was curled on his back with a shrew clutched between his paws and, for lack of a better term, an absolutely sunshinily dopey smile spread across his face, he wasn't exactly in the position to be looking down on anyone.
Standing above the young warrior, Starlingfur once more asked herself how she'd gotten into this situation.
Despite her duties as both leader and a queen, Starlingfur still took time to herself. Not much, but as much as she could afford. She'd never been a social cat. Extended periods of social interaction exhausted her, and now that she was the leader of a clan those made up most of her life. Not that she didn't enjoy her position- no, she was growing to love it. The pride she felt for her clan, her clan, formed with her own two paws and the help of close comrades, could be compared to nothing else. But she still needed time alone. Time to unwind, time to relax. Time to walk under the moon and listen to the sounds of night.
That was what she'd intended to get, setting out from camp late after sending out the Midnight patrol. Her kits, still so young and small, were tucked away safely in the nursery. No doubt either napping or playing with the twins. Swanstrike and Featherpaw could watch them. Shadowfrost could watch the clan. Starlingfur just planned to watch herself. But instead, as she walked the borders of Cedarclan's territory, she'd come upon a tom. A tom who had been hunting in the oddest manner she'd ever seen.
His fur rippled under the moonlight, brown spots on a white pelt reminiscent of dust in sunlight. But his stance... Legs splayed, head cocked, tail straight out, it was like nobody had ever taught him to hunt. He'd been downwind and careful to step light on his paws, but the method was just.. all wrong. And when he'd leapt, he'd somersaulted twice once he had the chipmunk in his jaws. It was the strangest way to hunt that Starlingfur had ever seen. And Cedarclan's leader had trained many an apprentice.
She'd recognized the tom as Specklefoot, a recently made warrior. Normally names were hard for her to remember, but a cat with such distinctive markings was difficult to forget. After he'd... caught. His prey, Starlingfur had approached the tom. She'd asked him what he was doing, and he'd been ecstatic to see her. Seriously, just about jumping out of his fur. It had taken Starlingfur by surprise. The former loner had gone on about how excited he was to be hunting for the clan, and how he was training on his own to be the best warrior he could be. Starlingfur had appreciated the effort. It was rare to see such initiative in young warriors- although it had made her wonder whether she should have monitored his early clan activity more closely. He might have been better off in the apprentice's den than the warrior's... But he'd asked her if she wanted to hunt with him, and well.. She'd already been out. The tom seemed excited about it, and Starlingfur needed to get to know the new loners better anyways. And so, she'd agreed.
And now... here they were. Starlingfur just as baffled with Specklefoot's hunting technique as when they'd started, and Specklefoot as joyous as a kit in snow.
"It helps t' make sure that I really have a good hold on it. Is... there a better way to do that?" The young tom cocked his head to the side, a half-dazed expression on his face.
"Well... putting your claws in it helps."
Specklefoot seemed to open his mouth to respond, but a rustle in the undergrowth stopped both cats before either one could say another word. Someone was there, and they were certainly too big to be a chipmunk or a shrew.
732 words | Starlingfur | Late Night |
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Post by Shad on Sept 24, 2015 4:48:51 GMT
The two cats were not alone. More specifically, Dots was not alone. He was never alone, despite what the ungrateful bonehead might think. Maybe if he knew the truth, he would wish otherwise. The tom was soft headed, but even he had an ounce of self preservation. High, high up in the tree tops, up where the shapes were lost in the blanket of darkness, unpenetrable by the faint crescent moon's light, a smokey black form watched the brown tabby's attempts at teaching with a mixture of disgust and horrified fascination. This cat, Starlingfur, was showing an incredible amount of backbone to keep from ripping the infuriating tom's tail off. Ink could not stand stupidity and the bright young 'Warrior' had it in spades. The only spade Ink wanted from that brat was the kind he could use to bury him with but, sadly, that was not his call. Unable to handle the tom's incompetence after he completely bungled a practice pounce for the fifth time, Ink pushed himself to his paws, ignoring the tingle that sparked through his limbs as they were reminded of what blood flow felt like. He was used to being still for long periods. Cats thought spywork was oh so exciting. While the near-misses could be heart pounding, Ink would hardly call that a positive thing and most of the other time was spent watching. and waiting. and sitting. Often in uncomfortable and/or dangerous places because his marks just never could be considerate enough to hang out in public dens or nice, soft, marshes. It was like they did not even care for a poor spy's comfort. The smokey tom silently scaled down the tree a few taillengths before hopping to another branch with only the slightest shifting leaves, hidden by the myriad of sounds that gently carried through the woods in the dead of night. He quickly made his way across the territory on silent paws, taking a moment to stretch his cramped muscles. It was not often someone took over babysitting duty for him, even unwittingly. Most cats could not stand Dots' lack of more than two functioning brain cells. That silver shecat, Raven, seemed to be taking to him quite well though. Ink had been fully ready to step in when she led him out of the camp to help her collect herbs one day and lit into him with her sharp tongue. As Dots' Guardian, obviously he would have been charged with coming to the tom's defense if this Raven character had gotten physical, but he soon realized she was all meow and no claw. After that, he had been hard pressed to keep from dying of laughter and outing his presence at some of the venom that shot from that shecat's mouth. Every last thing he had ever wanted to rail against his insufferable nephew about, she had brought up and, somehow, managed to say straight to his face without sending him wailing for his mummy. If Ink could only figure out her secret, he could sell it in the city for millions. "Oh. Oh dear he does not seem to be over here at all."The tom's ears twitched. Now, this was a new voice. He had almost thought he had all of this 'Cedar Clan' 's cats down by now, short of the kits, but clearly he was wrong. He eyed the new face with interest from his shadowy perch. She was huge. HUGE. He had never even seen a cat that big. He had actually seen several dogs that would be able to stand up just under the shecat's belly. And yet... she gave off not even the slightest impression of hostility. Honestly, he felt like he was watching a bumbling, muttering sheep rather than a massive bear of a cat. Normally, cats like this tended to stay in the middle of large groups rather than venture out on their own. It went a long way to explaining why Ink had never seen her before, but not why he saw her now. "Doh! I know I saw Dots go out this way. Uhm..."Ah. A new twist to the tale, or tail, as Ink's was now curling and uncurling with curiosity. What did this shecat want with his mark? And what would she do when she found him? The shecat in question took three steps in one direction, then doubled back, the turned in a circle, then sniffed the ground, settled her shoulders and set off -in the complete wrong direction. Not a similar path, not on a curve, not even at a semi-correct angle. The complete. wrong. way. That kind of stupid had to require some sort of skill Ink hoped to the saints he never picked up. Good god. It's another one. Ink could not resist rolling his eyes. This cat was just as hopeless as Dots... but why was she looking for him now? It was a puzzle and Ink found a bit of mischief brush his fur. Just what would she do when she found him? The cat was obviously harmless, and the brown Starlingfur would definitely throw a wrench into this sheep-like shecat plans for the evening if they were courting oriented. Deciding he was only being helpful, the tom slunk around to the far side of the Sheep, away from where Dots would be, and loudly jiggled a bush, figuring he could spook the flighty cat into heading in the right direction. The Sheep's massive head turned toward him, blue eyes wide. Yes. Good. Now run the right way, little lamb."Hello? Dots?" The Sheep quickly started making her way toward him with her clumsy, loud stride. Ink had to scramble to get out of the way in time and just about hissed in exasperation. Oh yeah. This shecat was just as brainless as his nephew. Only they would be stupid enough to go running toward possible danger. They would probably run into a raccoon or a badger and offer to give the rampaging monster a hug. Changing tack, Ink slunk around to wiggle a few leaves in the other direction. The massive shecat predictably followed, just as clueless as a kit in a den of foxes. Ink chided himself as he worked. That was hardly fair. The kit would have more sense. He shouldn't insult his species by comparing it to these two. Ink might be callous, but even he had his limits. Swanstrike was tired and more than a tad disgruntled when she finally found the tom she had set out for. And - "Oh! Starlingfur!" the shecat broke out into a smile. "How are you this evening? I was wondering where you went off to. Are you enjoying your walk? Er,"The shecat's large, soft head cocked to the side as she looked at the two and Dot's strange position. "What are you both doing?" |
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Sept 24, 2015 5:31:29 GMT
It’s okay to get lost every once in a while.
Sometimes getting lost is how we find ourselves.
A cat pushed forward through the bushes, and- wow she was bigger than whoever he'd expected! Not that Specklefoot had exactly had any ideas on what to expect. He was still learning everyone's names here. There were just so many! But her, Specklefoot knew the big lynx she-cat. There might be a lot of cats in Cedarclan, but she wasn't the sort of cat you forgot. "Hi Swanstrike!" he chirped cheerily from his place on the ground.
From her own seat- much more vertical than his own, Starlingfur turned to the she-cat with a tired smile. "Good evening Swanstrike. I'm... well. And I was. Is- is there something the matter in camp?" a serious note flickered through the she-cat's eyes. Copper, copper, copper. Thats what he'd learned the color was. So serious, always working so hard. When she wasn't taking care of kits or going out in groups or having meetings, she was helping cats like him. And she was so smart! He was learning things about hunting that he'd never even known until tonight. Specklefoot didn't understand how she did it. But he admired her. He hadn't had a chance to talk to her much before tonight, but he was glad that he'd finally gotten the opportunity. And now Swanstrike was here too!
"Starlingfur's helpin me with huntn'!" he purred, moving his prey towards the pile and heaving into an upright position. Two pieces. All caught by him. It was incredible. Two moons ago, he couldn't have even dreamed of catching that much. In the days before he'd joined Cedarclan, sometimes he would have to go days without eating. And yet, now that he was here, his hunting skills were improving faster than they ever had before! It was remarkable! Those hunting groups were so helpful and nifty- he learned so much from the other cats when they were out hunting together. He hadn't gotten to go on very many, but he was enjoying the ones he could! And half of it was just enjoying being in a group and being able to help other cats too. Even if he didn't catch much. But he was catching more! And getting better! And now- and now! The leader of the group had stumbled upon him, and was giving him tips! Honestly, clan life was better than he could have ever dreamed.
"Why, she gives just the best advice Swanstrike. You wouldn't even believe." he shook his head, expression conveying his words. She was just so good at explaining!
Starlingfur coughed. "Yes, well... I was out on a walk, where I found Specklefoot hunting. His hunting methods are... unusual. And so I've decided to stop and give him a few tips here and there on how clan cats do things." such fancy wording! Specklefoot nodded in agreement, and the grin plastered across the muscular tom's face was as wide as the lake.
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Post by Shad on Sept 28, 2015 1:31:37 GMT
"Hm?" the shecat cocked her head at Starlingfur's rapid question, picking up on the slight tension that jolted through the queen's muscles. She gave a hearty, gentle laugh and tossed the idea aside with a merry lash of her tail. "No, no. Goodness, no. Nothing is wrong, silly. I left the kits with Raven. Don't worry. I know her. She'll be absolutely fine. Kits love her!"Raven The silver shecat had no idea how she had gotten herself into this mess. "WWWWWHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!" one of the kits, a brown one -er, the redish brown one- was sliding across the Nursery on a scrap of wet moss she had pulled down from the edge of the tree. "Stop! You'll hurt-""Check this out!" the brown kit that looked like the other brown kit was jumping up and gnawing on a dangling root that had grown into the decaying hollowed log. "Cool! Lemme try!" the other brown kit that looked like the first brown kit jumped on the first one. The brown one yelped and let go of the root, slamming down the ground and destroying the wall of one of the queen's nests. Raven wasn't sure which. The flowery one. "Don't!" she screeched, rushing over to the two, but then that brown one -reddish brown- was jumping on her back again and sending her face first into the other nest. The smaller one. The log was an explosion of moss and bracken as Raven coughed and sputtered and tried to claw her way back to her feet. "You're the best!" the reddish brown one squealed. Gah! Her eardrums! Gah! Her ears! The kit was on her head, clawing her ears to stay up. "Swansike never lets us have this much fun!""Look! Look! Look!" Oh Raven did not want to look. She did not want to see whatever thing these terrible creatures were plotting now. Sweet Elderberries. How did her friend do this? It was a mad house! But at least the den was still standing there was that to say at least. A horrible cracking went through the log, making Raven whirl around to see both of the brown ones had started up a game of jump-of-the-wall-as-hard-as-you-can-and-land-in-the-nest. The den wall! It was- "Wait! If you keep that up you'll-" Raven frantically scrambled over the destroyed nest bits, random mouse parts, and general mayhem of kits to stop the two brown ones, the reddish kit fell from her head with a disgruntled 'oof' and began to wail but she could not focus on that right now. The one brown kit was just getting up a good leap and he might- CRASH!A huge section of wall gave way and the brown kit tumbled through with a startled squeak out into the unknown bushes beside the den. The other kits whooped with joy and stampeded out of the den to explore and cause as much havoc as possible before the queen returned. Raven sat beside the wailing kit, exhausted and almost wanted to start wailing too. "Swanstrike," she mewed miserably to no one in particular, "Why do you hate me?" TT^TT The large white queen smiled, changing the subject. "So, what is... this, exactly?" she asked, her blue eyes bright and far too curious to be full of just a passing interest. She grinned. It was not a Swanstrike grin. It was not a Queen grin. It was an evil, evil grin. The grin girls get right before they shove their friends into an incredibly embarrassing situation and leave them to muck about in it. It was a grin that should have sent Starlingfur heading for the hills. But it seemed the leader was made out of sterner stuff. -Or maybe she was just naive. That would change. "Well, don't mind me at all," the snowy white shecat purred all too happily. "Please, please, go ahead with your training, Specklefoot."Just as the tom started to crouch again, the shecat gave a gasp of surprise. "Oh! You mean Starlingfur isn't helping you?" she mewed, shock clear as crystal in her voice. "Now, I don't know much about hunting and all that whatnot, but from what I always saw the trainee had to be much closer to his trainer. Very much closer. How would you learn, Specklefoot, if you can't really feel what the crouch is like? Unless-"Another gasp of shock. A cat could learn to dread those. Unbeknowest to Starlingfur, Raven already had and would have been long gone by now, hightailing it to anywhere but here. Swanstrike's blue eyes were stretched wide but something about them was far from innocent. "-do you not want to get too close to Starlingfur?" she questioned. "Surely you do not dislike our nice leader? Or," The queen's eyes flashed evilly. "-do you already have your eye on another lady and not wish to upset her? My, my, Specklefoot! How quickly you work!"
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Sept 28, 2015 23:14:22 GMT
When you get to the end of your rope, Tie a knot and hang on.
Starlingfur breathed a sigh of relief. Good. The last thing she wanted was for something to go wrong on one of the rare opportunities that she left the camp. Things were... difficult enough as it was. But- she'd left the kits with Ravenface? At that, Starlingfur quirked a brow. She hadn't exactly though her the kit type.. But Swanstrike seemed to know these matters, and as she'd learned, Swanstrike and Ravenface had known one another long before either of them had arrived in Cedarclan. There was an inkling of worry in her heart- as all new mothers would have- but the queen tried to suppress it. "I.... see."
"Ravenface's an awfully friendly cat. I bet she's doin just great with the lil things!" Specklefoot smiled his dopey smile, running a paw over his ear. Starlingfur tried to believe that.
"This.. Is hunting training." Starlingfur offered after a moment, nodding towards the two pieces of prey off to the side of their spot.
"I was showin her how I flip when I pounce, but she says that's not a good idea."
"If you sink your claws in, you won't need to."
"Oh, but I do that! They just still get away sometimes! Mice are awful slippery." the tom sighed, shaking his head. He quickly brightened up though, determination like diamonds in his eyes. "But I'll try harder!"
Well, he had spirit. And wanted to work hard. His genuinity showed clear on his face, hopeful and joyous and so youthful. Yeah... Starlingfur would help him. She hadn't had an apprentice in quite some time. And with all the kits in the clan at the moment, there was not a doubt in her mind that once those inhabiting the nursery were weaned she would be taking an apprentice on. This would be a good warmup. And the young tom before him, bouncing gleefully on his paws needed all the help he could get, it seemed. Swanstrike deigned not to intervene, taking a spot watching them with an odd smile. When she looked, Starlingfur quirked a brow at the she-cat, but said nothing. "Alright, show me your crouch again, Specklefoot." she instructed, turning back to the tom and wrapping her tail over her paws.
"Yes ma'am!" the spotted tom chirped, swirling around once before dropping into a crouch, facing the two she-cats. His legs were splayed again, head cocked, but his tail was bent this time. Did he just... make it up as he went along? He moved forward slowly, but the care put into how much weight was on each paw was minimal. He favored his right side, throwing his weight to his left, and it was just-
"Oh! You mean Starlingfur isn't helping you?"
Swanstrike's voice snapped both of the others out of their focus, all heads turning to face the huge she-cat. She quickly went on, speaking of how mentors should be closer with their trainees. Specklefoot nodded at every word she said, but Starlingfur was just getting more and more confused as the night went on. If Swanstrike was implying what Starlingfur believed- that was just... odd. She'd never trained one of her apprentices in such a way.
"Ohhhhh! I get it! I never thoughta that- maybe that'd help!"
Maybe it was just a mountain thing? But in the clans, apprentices were trained side by side with their mentors, not...
Oh, but she went on.
Her next words elicited a gasp from Specklefoot and eyes wide as moons from Starlingfur. What...?
"Oh no no no Swanstrike Ma'am!" Specklefoot gasped, becoming immediately flustered. "Miss Starlingfur is a lovely leader. I like her a lot! She's so smart and kind and helpful-" ... Starlingfur coughed. "But no! I don't- I don't ah... Have any lady friends. Cept Ravenface, but shes not a lady friend lady friend, just a friend whose a lady." he shook his head quickly. "No ma'am, I haven't had one since Embry got all... angry. And left." he seeemed to grow crestfallen for a moment, a bit of that hopeful light fading from his eyes. A more serious, mature look. A glimpse of something else. Who was Embry? It vanished slowly after a few moments, but he didn't return quite as chipper as he'd been. "But... I'd do anything if it helped me become better. Anything!"
Were they seriously suggesting that? Eyes were on her now. Starlingfur blinked. Was Swanstrike... serious? She wouldn't even know where to begin with that. Uh... "Swanstrike. Are these mountain methods that you speak of? Here, we do not train our cats in such ways. You seem to know what you're talking about though- and if the methods are as effective as they sound, why don't you show us first?"
803 words | Starlingfur | Late Night |
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