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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Oct 22, 2015 4:40:10 GMT
So big and spaceous, with high shelves like rafters. Light seeped in from the bush that covered it's highest point, and small holes curved into the walls. It didn't smell like horses or hay- just blood and empty. Stone. Sand. Old, stale scents. There had been cats here before- like in her barn. But their smells blended so smoothly together that Ray couldn't even tell one from the next. Even with her hunter's nose. Perhaps, she could pretend, that this place had once been like her barn in more than appearance. That cats had lived here, and that they had been friendly and kind. That there had been Mamas who told stories to their kits, and Grampas who snuck them extra mice. It probably wasn't true, but she could pretend. And maybe, if she and Wheat did a nice enough job... eventually, it could be a place like that. Ray hoped that someday, the heather that she was making their nests out of would smell like hay. Above the cavern, it seemed to stretch on forever. Fields upon fields of fading violet and vibrant red. Not as high as the wheat- and not nearly as high as the corn. But high enough to stretch twice Ray's size, and high enough to make everything around it disappear. A cat could get lost in a place like this. And Ray had all the plans in the world to. If this was going to be a home- a real, true home, like her barn had been, she would want to explore every inch of it. Every nook and cranny, every peak and valley. This was going to be her world. The idea of finally settling down- finally having a place to call her own again- it was bittersweet. And it made Ray smile. It also made her miss her family. She wondered often, if her Mama and Mum missed her. If Apple and Charlie were sad without anyone else to play with, and if her grandparents had too many mice now that she was gone. She wondered if they thought about her as much as she thought about them. She wondered if they looked for her. And sometimes, she wished that she'd said goodbye. Sometimes she told Wheat about her thoughts. And really, Wheat was the only cat she had left that she could talk to about those things. She didn't have anymore family, or any other friends now. Bluebell and Henry were worlds away, and Ray.. Well, Ray would probably never see her mothers again. But being with Wheat- it was good! It was great! She loved her friend. With all of her heart. She was strong, and brave, and a good fighter, and sometimes, she reminded her of Pumpkin with how independent and protective she could be. Wheat was good. Wheat was a wonderful friend, and Ray was happy to be here with her. But any cat would get homesick every now and again, wouldn't they?
Ray shook her head with a smile, patting down her heather into the sandy cavern floor. She might miss her family, but she would make this place her home. And she would do a good job, too! If Ray was anything, she was determined. And she was determined to make this place her own. She would make this place wonderful. She would make this place somewhere to be happy, and maybe even somewhere where lots of cats could be. Just like her barn. Or maybe even a different kind of good. But whatever kind it was, Ray would love it here. No- she already did! She loved the scent of the heather, as different as it was from the dry twang of wheat. She loved the smooth softness of the sand, as different as i twas from the earthy hardness of dirt. She loved how the cavern echoed when she yelled, and she loved running through the red fields around it. This valley was beautiful. It was spectacular! It was amazing! It was so different from anything she'd ever experienced. Maybe anything she would ever experience again! Sometimes, Ray felt like she was in one of her Mums's stories. And oh, the story was just beginning. Her smile turned to a grin, and then a trill as she flopped over on her pile of violet and red strands. She rolled around, taking in their scent as giggles bubbled forth from her chest. She and Wheat were all on their own! Like grownups! They were making their way in the world! No, they were making their OWN world! And it was FANTASTIC! They would build this place from the ground up, and Wheat would chase off all the scary cats, and Ray would help. And then, Ray would hunt ALL of the mice. And they would have a pile that stretched ALL the way to the ceiling, and the floor would be covered in heather, and it would be wonderful and beautiful and perfect. Ray was determined to make it so. And when Ray set her mind to something, she didn't give up.
Especially when she sacrificed so much to make it happen. |
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Post by Kibbles on Oct 28, 2015 18:49:10 GMT
Wheat made her way back into the cavern. Her paws were a bit muddy, but she was fairly clean besides that. Her ears flicked up as she heard Ray giggling and it just made her shake her head. What was funny? There wasn't anything funny here. It was just them and an empty cavern. If anything, it was quite boring. Still, she walked in with her own heather and moved next to Ray.
She began patting it down into the sandy floor, flattening it. She made it so she was still near the she-cat, but their nests weren't touching. No. Wheat didn't want her nest to touch Rye's. Nor did she want Ray to roll over to cuddle like she often did while they had been traveling. The she-cat had to learn to sleep in her own nest sooner or later anyways. Pathetic.
"What are you laughin' at? Nothin's funny in here. Make yourself useful and find somethin' to do," she said, patting down the heather even more. It was finally a nest. A permanent nest. She hadn't had a permanent place to sleep since before the two left the farm.
The farm. Hers had been just across the dirt road. And then she had been chased off. She hadn't had anyplace to go. And then Ray's family had taken her in without a second thought. They had known nothing about her, but she knew that Ray's mothers had known quite a bit about her family. She could see that in the way they had often looked over at the patrols.
They thought Wheat's family to be evil. To be murderers. And they were. Yet, they never questioned Wheat about her morals. Even when she "played" too rough with the kits. Even when she got snappy with one of them. Even when she had her moments of violence. They never once chased her away. And it made her wonder why.
Her bright orange eyes moved to Ray now. Out of everyone, Ray had stuck with her. She hadn't said goodbye to her family before leaving. She had wanted to come to keep Wheat safe, although it was mainly Wheat keeping her safe. And that thought made Wheat wonder even more. She had never wanted to keep anyone safe. They had to learn to survive on their own. And yet, she was here, protecting this she-cat whom often called Wheat a friend.
Wheat didn't have friends. She didn't have family. She was alone with an annoying little mouse running around her paws at all times.
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Oct 28, 2015 20:51:00 GMT
That oh so familiar scent brought a trill bubbling to Ray's throat. Like earth and iron and pine trees. A voice rang through their cavern, echoing like the mountains. It was such a pretty sound. The barn had never echoed. Some things were better here. Orange eyes snapped open and their owner rolled to her paws quick as a flash, a brilliant smile on her maw as she rose to meet her companion. Her friend. Wheat made her way down the wall path, and Ray nearly bounced as she waited for her. No- okay- she actually did bounce. But she couldn't help it! She was excited to see her friend! Even more excited to see what she though of all the heather she'd gotten.
"Welcome back Wheatie!" she purred, moving forward once her the larger she-cat had reached the bottom and pressing up against her. She didn't mind that her friend moved away. Some cats didn't like to be touched. Wheat didn't like it all the time. But it was just how Ray was. Very, very touchy. Very, very happy to see her best friend. Even though she hadn't been gone for very long, she'd missed her! Bouncing away, Ray trotted back to their pile of heather and flopped back down. She began to roll around again- more vigorously now- as if inviting Wheat to join her.
"There's just about everythin t' be laughin about! I'm happy, thats why I'm laughin!" she purred. They had food, shelter, and so much potential.. This place was going to be beautful. And they would make it that way. Ray and Wheat together. Looking over, she saw her friend patting down the heather into the moss. So helpful! So good! If Ray hadn't already been grinning, she would have grinned again. "You have nice big paws- you're such a good heather patter." was that a job? Heather patting? The housefolk seemed to pat the wheat back on the farm, so heather patting must be a job too! "Before you know it this place'll be just like home. Maybe even better! Well, it'd be hard for it to be better without lotsa cats.. But we can sure try! And who knows, maybe we can find even more cats?" she jabbered, taking in the scents of the heather and sand. She was so happy. Oh! Right!
"You like all the heather I got? Picked it right fresh! Its no hay, but I think its nice!" she chirped, flopping back onto her stomach. Seriously, this cat was as jittery as a rabbit. Watching her would have to make a cat dizzy. But she was just brimming with excitement! Starting a new life with her best friend in a whole new place! Who wouldn't be? |
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Post by Kibbles on Oct 28, 2015 22:25:09 GMT
Home. This could never be her home. Her family wasn't here. Death wasn't surrounding her. Not only that, but this... this pike fish was just so loud and annoying. Why hadn't she killed her yet? Why hadn't she just attacked her and ripped her apart. It would be so easy. Oh so easy. Just to dig her claws into the ginger fur and listening to the screams of agony and betrayal.
She was brought out of her thoughts when Ray spoke again. She looked down at her big paws and then looked over at Ray. She shifted uncomfortably. "I don't have big paws....," she said, making an annoyed face. She shook her head. Had her feelings really gotten hurt from that comment? No. She was becoming soft. Like the fly who was now speaking of the heather.
"Its just bedding, Ray. Nothing is special about it," she commented, tail flicking back and forth as she sat on her own bedding and shook her head again.
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Oct 28, 2015 22:58:07 GMT
Ray perked up, cocking her head at Wheat's expression before wiggling over and rubbing her head under her taller friend's chin with a purr. She was so fluffy and warm. A lovely tan color, just like her name. Ray hoped her fur would be just as long someday. And then, she put her nose on the ground and her front paws over her friend's. Wheat's were nearly twice the size of hers. "Yes you do! But its good. Your big paws make you the best nest patter, and really good at fightin and huntin!" she assured her friend, patting her paws a few times for emphasis. Her Mama had big paws like this. Big paws were good. Alas, Ray's would probably always be dainty and little like her Mum's! But that made hers all the better for sneaking into little places and grabbing quick prey.
Pulling her paws away before Wheat could slap them out of the way herself, Ray giggled. She looked up at her friend with sparkling eyes. She rolled backwards again, sprawling herself in the space between her nest and Wheat's. The heather tickled her nose, and she sneezed. "No no Wheat, beddin's important! If you don't sleep good, yer day won't be good. Thats why I have to pick the best, most colorful, prettiest and softest heather I can find!" she explained. They'd only been here a few sunrises now. And the first few days they'd just slept in the sand. And while that was well and good, this was so much better. Comfy and springy and great! And Ray was gonna get even more. Yep, a whole lot more! She was gonna cover the whooooole cavern. Just like the barn had been.
"Say, where were you at while I was getting the heather?" Ray realized now, looking back up at her friend. She lay on her back, heather sticking out of her mid-length fur and paws in the air. Still as much of a kit as ever with that curiosity glowing in her eyes. "Did you find anything good? Cats? Prey? Better heather?!"
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Post by Kibbles on Nov 3, 2015 1:14:48 GMT
Wheat went to smack Ray's paws away from hers, but the she-cat had already moved them. She snorted once at the comment, sitting on her bedding as she looked down at her paws. They weren't that big. She was fairly certain. Her brothers had bigger paws than she did! It wasn't that she had big paws. Ray just had really small paws! What a freak.
"I was looking around. Setting up some scent borders so other cats don't try anything. I made a small territory for us. And you need to stay within it so no one attacks you. Now that we have a home, I won't be around all the time to save you." she said.
Her eyes moved from her paws to stare at the bird brain that she called her companion. The idiot was just rolling around on her nest now. Wow. Maybe Wheat could just leave her here and continue further into the territories. Continue alone. Without having to worry about Ray.
Wait. No. She didn't worry about her. Wheat didn't worry about anybody except for herself.
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Nov 3, 2015 1:58:50 GMT
"A territory?" Ray beamed, looking up at Wheat with orange eyes bright as the sun. Wow.. A whole territory, just for them.. A place to roam outside of the cavern, just like the fields of corn had been to the barn. The grass wasn't quite as tall as the corn... But it was just as lovely. In its own, unique way. Oh, Ray just couldn't get over how different everything was. Good ways, bad ways... There was just so much... change. But that was life. Change, be it for better or for worse. And Ray was determined to enjoy as much of it as she could.
"How far does our territory stretch?" she questioned, scooting a little closer. And oh- she'd called it a home too! Ray was simply glowing, pearly teeth sparkling and eyes warm as fire. Or the Autumn leaves. Or maybe... the heather. They wouldn't be seeing many leaves if they lived here- not anymore. The place was so open... Oh, it reminded Ray so much of the farmlands. The forests of their journeys had always been just a bit closed off for her.. But this... this she loved. Everything about this she loved. "Could you show me tomorrow? I would love to see." She smiled somewhat more softly. It would be important to know where their home began and where it ended. Where she could go and where she couldn't. Their world verses the outside world. Oh, her heart just fluttered so... There was so much work to go into creating a new life. Blood, sweat, and tears. But adventure, too. And happiness. Especially happiness. |
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Post by Kibbles on Nov 8, 2015 22:17:06 GMT
Wheat let out a loud groan as Ray began asking the questions again. So many questions. What was so exciting about having a territory? A lot of cats did. Of course, being away from your own territory for so long made you miss one. And it made Wheat a bit excited too, now that she realized this was her home. Permanently. Until she decided to leave it or some cat stronger than her chased her off.
"I guess I can show you. And why do you keep scooting closer to me? You know better. Shoo. Go back to your own nest," she said, flicking a paw at the younger cat. She moved away and sat back down, on the opposite end of her heather. An annoyed huff left her now as she licked one of her paws and began moving it gently over her face.
"Is there anything you're not excited over? There's nothing special about this place. Its just a home. That's it."
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Nov 9, 2015 16:46:32 GMT
"Scootin closer to you? I am doin' no such thing!" Ray protested- all the while scooting even closer to her. Orange eyes glittered with mischevious fun. She was still barely more than a kit after all- no matter how she liked to think herself an adult, set out into the great wide world. She was young. They both were. Kits thrust into the lives of adults, wearing pelts too big and wielding hearts too small. "This is my nest. It's very cozy. You can share though." she meowed, wriggling fully into Wheat's nest now. It was bigger, because Wheat was bigger. Ray had been sure to give her extra heathers- whiiich she was now using. The she-cat flopped on her back, nestling in and crossing her front paws above her chest. Super cozy.
"When do you wanna show me? It ain't like we got responsibilities, or nesttimes. We can do anything... whenever we want!" Ray grinned up at her blissfully, though her eyes were shut. Sure.. they'd been doing whatever they wanted already for the past few moons. But.. those had been hard. Constantly full of moving. Constantly full of hardships, and fights, and empty bellies. But now... Now that they had a place of their own... It was really their own. No more running. No more fighting. No more cold nights and empty bellies. Home.
Naturally, Ray was shocked when her companion called the place just a home. "What do you mean just a home?" her eyes flew open, looking to the other side of the heather where Wheat had now taken her seat. "A home is different from a den, or a hole, or a place to stay for the night. Its..." the little she-cat narrowed her eyes in thought. "Hard to explain." she meowed finally. She remembered.. Her Mum's stories. Territories in the cities. Dangerous and dark places. She referred to it as her kingdom, but never as home. But Mama.. The farm was always home for her. "Home... means safe. It means warm, an it means permanent. It means a place you can always go back to, no matter how rough stuff gets. A place all your own- cept you can share it. A home is somethin real special, Wheat." she meowed, eyes trailing to the dusty roof. Special. |
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Post by Kibbles on Nov 11, 2015 0:17:23 GMT
"No place is permanent except for your own grave. Learn that or you'll just die trying to defend something that you can find elsewhere. This is a home for now, but a fox could easily walk through that entrance and kill us for it. Its just us two. We can't defend ourselves if a family wants this place for themselves. Learn that."
She glared at the younger cat as she rolled around. Yep, if she did one more annoying thing then Wheat was going to kill her. That thought made her happy, yet slightly depressed at the same time. Huh. She must be getting sick. She would never get depressed over losing another cat. She didn't care for anyone except for herself. Yep, she was getting sick alright.
"And get off of my nest. You're messing it up."
She pushed her, apparently, big paws against the smaller cat, shoving her right out of the heather.
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Nov 11, 2015 0:30:14 GMT
Ray stuck her tongue out. Oh boo. She was going to have to teach Wheat how to lighten up. But for now... Ray rolled out of Wheat's nest with the grace of a carp, flopping onto the sandy earth with a poof. She rolled back onto her back though, burrowing in the sand like a little bug. Well, maybe not all the way like a little bug. Hardly any of her was in the sand honestly- but still! An attempt was made. "We're a family now, and once we get nice n' big, we can fight just as good as any other family." she closed her eyes, sticking her nose up in determination. Family wasn't always blood. Mum had told her that. And Wheat was all she had left. That was family enough in Ray's book.
"And if a fox killed us here... Wouldn't that make this place permanant anyways? Since it'd be our grave, and graves are permanent?" Ray's eyes glittered cheekily- but before Wheat could do anything, she hopped up and ran to the other side of the hollow, laughing and dancing all the way. "Not everything in life is about fighting, Wheatie. You gotta enjoy it too." she purred, somersaulting in the sand. But- she quickly hopped back up again and began to walk around the perimeter of the cavern.
"My Mum, you know." she began, looking at Wheat again. "She used to be a city cat. And it was real hard to live there, and they all hated eachother and fought all the time, and she was awful mean. But when Mama took her to the farm, she was so surprised to see so many cats livin together, not hurtin nobody." she told the story. She'd heard it a hundred times, and had loved it each and every one "Then she learned that you didn't have to be mean or strong to be happy, you just gotta have cats who care about you and a place to call home." she nodded resolutely. She was leaving a lot of parts out, sure. But the basics were what was important! "Oh- and smarts."
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Post by Kibbles on Nov 11, 2015 0:58:19 GMT
Wheat bared her teeth. They weren't family. They didn't share blood. They weren't in any way related to one another. And everyone knew you had to have the same blood to be family. That was just common sense. Ray had a lot of things to learn, that was clear.
"Of course you have to be strong and mean! How else are you supposed to get things done? If I wasn't strong or mean, we'd both be dead. If I wasn't strong or mean, then we would have died a long time ago and the beginning of the journey here! No! If I wasn't strong or mean, then I would have been dead before I even left my farm! My brothers would have killed me! But instead, I killed them! To live! You don't understand what it takes to survive! You're just a dumb kit with no family around because you decided to follow a stranger to these territories! How mouse-brained can you be?! You should have stayed back with your 'mum' and 'mama'!"
Her claws were digging into the heather and her pelt was bristling. The bedding she was standing on was destroyed. The air around her was thick and tense. Her head twitched slightly to the right and a small smile grew on her face. It grew until it was a rather large smile. Although, it wasn't a happy one. It was rather sadistic and crazed. Her fangs glistened in the little light and her eyes seemed to have shadowed over.
"Or did you come because you thought you could change me? I can't change, darling. I'm messed up in the head. No one can change me. So you better get that through your idiotic head before I kill you."
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Nov 11, 2015 3:01:26 GMT
Ray's grin quickly turned to a frown. She resisted the urge to shake her head. She knew that would make Wheat mad. For real mad, not just play mad. She let her talk. Sometimes she got like this. Real mad at Ray when she said something that her moms or grandparents had taught her, about family or friends. When she talked about how things worked on her farm, or made a joke that Wheat didn't like. Usually, Ray played them off. But sometimes she just had to let her talk. Friends and family had to do that, sometimes. So she listened, and didn't object. Not for a long time. In fact, she didn't even move her face from that frown until she mentioned brothers. Brothers? Ray didn't even know that Wheat had brothers. Ray blinked.
She... killed them?
She felt her blood turn to ice.
That... she'd been traveling with Wheat for so long, and she'd... never even told her that. That would.. explain a lot. How angry she was. And how sad she was, even if she didn't wanna show it. Did she even know? Ray didn't know.. that a cat could kill their siblings. She would have.. never even thought of doing something like that to Apple and Charlie. Even the thought of them dead... Eyes glassy like prey and bodies cold.. Sent a shiver down her spine. But Apple and Charlie.. would have never tried to hurt her, either. Because they loved her. And then, a realization hit her. Did... Wheat not know what love felt like?
"I..." she meowed, looking down at her paws. Wheat's nest was ruined. She'd worked so hard on it. But... The things she was saying really hurt. Ray wasn't dumb or stupid, or a kit anymore. She was just.. trying to make things better. Ray was trying to make a nice home from them. They were far away from the farm, but that didn't mean that they had to be sad about it. She was trying to start a new life, where they could be happy. But she hadn't ever considered that maybe Wheat didn't really know what 'happy' was.
Ray looked up again finally, orange eyes meeting orange. Ray's gaze was gentle, hurt, but sincere. "I didn't ever say that. I don't wanna change you Wheat. I like you just how you are. Thats why I came with you. Bein alone.. makes cats sad. I didn't want you to be alone, and I didn't want you to be sad. Because you're my friend, and I care about you."
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