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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Sept 9, 2015 22:08:36 GMT
Did you cut your hands on me?
Are my edges sharp?
Shining sun, green leaves, rustling wind... It was a beautiful day in the marshes. And beautiful days made for busy cats. Or at least a whole lot of idiots making a ruckus in Cherry's home. Tramping all over the ground and tearing up the nests, they were a menace. Ruining even the best of days with their destruction, taking away Cherry's family like they'd never even been his at all. Still, there was one good thing about all of these stupid cats being in their home. One thing and one thing only. And that was Cherry being able to sneak out.
It had once been so hard. When it was only Cherry, his siblings, Mama and the tom and the she-cat, they'd kept such a close eye on them. Cherry was never out of his mother's sight, and if he ever did stray he found himself in a world of punishment. He hadn't known why his mother got so upset whenever he wandered off, but he didn't have to worry about that anymore! Yeah... he didn't have to worry anymore. He could slip through the clovers with ease, not a cat suspicious as he snuck off. Not like they would care anyways, even if they noticed. After all.. The tom spent all his time with his sister anymore. The she-cat was fat and never left the den. She used to be so fun! And Mama... Well, Mama was preoccupied with that dumb brown tom now. Maybe he had ought to be her new son. A stupid dumb cat with boring fur who knew how to move his mouth right and was irrationally big. Cherry snorted. Well... He didn't need them to have fun. He could have just as much fun on his own! They'd all see! Was that water in his eyes? No! Stop asking so many questions.
Turning his attention away from his (stupid) family, Cherry focused on having fun. Because that was what he was out here to do! Golden eyes were bright and filled with wonder as the kit hopped from fern to fern, tumbling through the marsh. He liked the feeling of soft earth beneatht his paws, and the scents were thinner out here. It didn't smell like blood or filth or fur, it just smelled like good. Like moss and water and tree bark and the clovers. Always his favorite clovers. It was so nice to feel the wind in his fur again. Too many cats in the home made the air all still. The warmth from all the breathing stuck to his pelt and made him itch. But not out here. It was nice and cool, and Cherry loved every moment of it. Not to mention that he didn't have to worry about any paws yanking him back when he strayed too far! Because there was no straying when nobody was watching you!
It was so dumb that he had to stay in the home all the time anyways. There was nothing bad out here. Cherry looked around. Bushes, trees, clovers. Nothing smelled scary, and nothing looked scary. However, something over there did look like water! Sitting up on his hind legs, Cherry strained to see into the distance. Water! Just like back home! A grin plastered on his face, Cherry dropped back to his paws and ran in its direction. And when he reached it, oh how wonderful!
Soft mud, moss, and stones lined the edges. It was bigger than the one back home. Why, this one had to be three of him long! He'd always loved to play in the water back home, but this one was lovely. Scrunching down, Cherry wiggled his haunches and tapped the surface. It sent droplets everywhere and ripples throughout. Letting out a trill of joy, Cherry launched himself into the stream.
Oh! This was deeper than the one before Cherry realized- but not until his head had gone below the surface. Everything felt different suddenly. Pressure built in his ears, and it felt like every hair on his body moved at once. And- he couldn't breathe! Quickly Cherry kicked his way up, gasping for air. He struggled towards the side of the stream- not much of a struggle considering it's width- and moved pating to the stones. That was different! He hadn't even known that water could be that deep! Different... but exciting. And fun! He'd discovered something brand new- something that was all his! Beaming from ear to ear, Cherry unknowingly let out a sharp trill of joy. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful! Immediately he launched himself back in, doing a bit of a sommersault this time. Oh this was the most fun he'd had in ages!
789 words | Cherrykit | Sunhigh |
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Post by Kibbles on Sept 25, 2015 23:15:37 GMT
Blue eyes shifted from the silver tabby pelt in front of them. The examined the territory around, but didn't see anything. He was pretty sure had heard splashing. But now there was nothing. Wait. No, there it was again. They weren't alone. And yet, the splashing wasn't loud enough to be a full grown cat, or fox, or badger. Probably just some prey. He looked at the beautiful she-cat in front of him.
"Silver, I'm going to go catch us something. Do you want to come?" he asked. He hoped she said yes. He loved spending time with her. He loved it when they spoke. And he loved it when she called him 'Her Bear'. He was hers, but not really. They weren't mates. They weren't lovers. He was her guardian, her protector. And that is what he will always be, although he hopes for more.
He came back into focus when her pale blue eyes met his bright blue ones. She had the most beautiful smile on her face, at least in his opinion. He practically melted as she looked at him like that. He almost didn't hear her response.
"Sure, I'll come."
Her voice was so warm towards him, so caring. And yet, there was nothing except that protector and protectee relationship there. And it hurt. It hurt so bad.
He turned and waved his tail for her to follow. He headed towards the splashing sound. When he got close enough, he crouched down and then.... leaped. As soon as he was at the peak of his leap, his fur bristled and he heard Silver gasp. that wasn't prey. That was a kit! A tiny, ginger and white kit!
He twisted in the air, landing awkwardly on his paws, twisting one in the process as he landed beside the puddle. He hissed in pain as Silver moved over to the kit, although not too quickly.
"Where is your mother, young one? Why are you alone?" she asked.
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Post by Shad on Sept 26, 2015 22:40:07 GMT
Cherrykit was missing. The dark brown apprentice tried to keep herself calm. She tried to follow his scent. She did not know much about scenting in the marsh yet. She had never had to track for real before. Sure, she had started practicing a few days ago, and she knew her own brother's smell by heart, but there were so many different smells, so many different directions, so many different paths he could have taken. The shecat's small black nose twitched frantically, going over everything that would be in Cherrykits reach -the things she could reach at least. Her brother was bigger than her after all. Back at camp everyone was always so busy. Even when cats were doing nothing, they said their were busy resting. Patchpaw tried to help as much as she could. She was so tired all of the time. Her paws were tired. Her legs were tired. Even her tail was tired! But she still had to watch her brothers. Their father was gone. Their mother was sick. Life was bad right now, but that was no excuse for what she had done. She had nodded off, just for a few seconds. She had been on the Dawn Patrol, then a Hunting Patrol, then training with Duskblaze. She had just thought Cherrykit and Gullkit were having such a good time play fighting. She had only meant to blink, her eyelids felt so heavy. The next thing she knew Gullkit was batting at her tail trying to get her to play, and Cherrykit had up and gone out exploring. She could not bring Gullkit with her, so she left her brother with that orange cat, Kei, the one with the broken paw that always seemed to get Tornpelt all up in a tizzy. She figured he could not do much running with that paw, but Gullkit was moderately well behaved so the tom should not have to. If she got back quickly. If she found Cherrykit. Where was he? What was he thinking?! Life was always a game to her brother! She had been to soft on them. She had to be tougher. She did not want to, but if they did not get apprenticed soon, what with her Mother being sick, and the clan struggling for the day by day.... she had no idea what would happen but the tiny apprentice did not want to find out. THERE!Cloves. Cherrykit loved cloves. He always smelled like them. The scent clung ever so faintly to a bush. She had a start, but she could not pick out anything else! This area smelled like cloves, but a little bit over here too, and over here. Ugh! Could her brother not just walk in a straight line? What was she going to do if something happened to him? What if he fell? What if he got his paw caught in a root? What if a snake bit him? What if he fell in quicksand? What if a rogue or a loner or a fox found him and ate him?! Rogues and Loners don't eat cats, she lectured herself sharply, trying to stay calm. Do they?Suddenly Patchpaw started her searching a lot faster, not liking that thought at all. She tried to think. Think. Think. Think. She was big now! She had to do these things! Cherrykit was her responsibility and she could not let anything happen to him! Patchpaw felt her pale blue eyes get slightly watery. She was little more than a kit herself, hardly half a moon into her apprenticeship, and she felt so overwhelmed all she wanted to do was cry. She couldn't do this! She just couldn't! She missed her mother. She missed back when Honeyheart was not sick and she could play in the Nursery and have fun and not work until she collapsed in her nest from exhaustion. She missed when her mother would gather her up in her paws and hum a soft lullaby to her and take care of her and not the other way around. Honeyheart was the one that had to be tended to now. There were whispers she was unfit to be leader. There were whispers her kits had been too weak and she could not live with the shame of them. There were whispers she was dying. Patchpaw blinked furiously to draw back the tears that threatened to overwhelm the young shekit. She had to be strong. Her Mother had told her she had to be strong. She had to take care of Cherrykit and Gullkit. She had to provide an example. She had to be the best, at everything, so no cat would ever think less of her family. She had to work harder than anyone, be stronger than anyone. Her mother had told her so. She had to do it, even if she couldn't. Even if it was too much for her, she had to do it anyway. She had. no. choice! But despite all the brave talk, the young apprentice had never felt so not-strong. She did not want to be strong anymore. She just wanted to go back to the way things used to be when they all were happy and everything did not get more and more wrong every time the tiny tabby opened her eyes. She just wanted- "AAAHHHHHYYYYYEEEEE!!!"The small calico's head snapped up, ears flicking around toward the noise. It was hoarse, and strange, and exactly like what Cherrykit sounded like when he was excited about something. Thank the Stars!Patchpaw lit out after the noise faster than her paws had ever carried her. She raced over roots and through bracken at a breakneck pace. Twice she stumbled and fell, scraping her knees and elbows against the harsh ground and splattering mud all over her coat, but she hardly noticed as she hurried toward the sound. She had been going the right direction it seemed. If she had only tracked him faster! She wished she had known more. She should have known more. She should have trained harder. She just never had enough hours in the day. Always there was something grappling for the tiny shecat's attention. Always there was someone that needed her, be it her mentor, her mother, or her brothers. She would have to make time for more training though. Even if it meant staying up later. This could not happen again. What if something happened? Sure he sounded happy and alright this time but what if-? Patchpaw screeched to a halt, legs scrambling to keep her from falling over, as she saw two cats -two rogue cats- leaning over her brother as he swam around in a pond. Holy Stars - Where they going to eat him?! Did they really do that?! Patchpaw's white-blue eyes went wide in terror as she watched the smaller cat reach for Cherrykit. They really were going to get him! She had thought it was just a kit's tale! "Don't you hurt my brother!" the tiny shecat demanded, fur bristling as she barrelws toward the two. The big one seemed to be distracted so she went for the smaller one, the shecat. She leaped forward and chomped into the rogue's paw, growling fiercely. Or, at least, as fiercely as a 6 moon old kit-apprentice who was hardly even the size of a big mouse can growl. She let go when the cats moved, and scrambled backwards to stand protectively in front of- "ACK!"Patchpaw yelped in surprise and alarm as the bottom of the pond dropped away sharply under her paws and her head dropped under. She would have cursed her own stupidity if not for her rather urgent concerns about breathing and paddling to stay above water. Of course she could not stand in front of Cherrykit. The water was deep enough for him to swim and she was smaller than him! Mousebrain! Patchpaw was not a bad swimmer, but she had been caught off guard and had not been near deep water for quite a long time. The scraggly calico sputtered and coughed and frantically tried to get her feet back on the root shelf underwater so she could protect her brother from the evil cats and not just flail around like a drowning rat. |
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Sept 27, 2015 16:21:58 GMT
Did you cut your hands on me?
Are my edges sharp?
One moment, Cherry was swimming around in a nice pool. Trying to open his eyes underwater, seeing how long he could hold his breath. The hopping had been fun, but there was much to see down here too! So much to explore and see and wonderful ways to play. And it was all his! But the next- half opened eyes saw furry brown legs plunge into the water beside them. Tiny and flailing, but so surprising to the young tom who hadn't even known another cat was nearby. Cherry gasped- before realizing that he was still underwater and had just let all his air out. The tom then shot to the surface, coughing and sputtering and- there were more cats.
Big cats. Grownup cats. A silver one and a brown one- and not ones that he'd seen trudging around their home either! Cherry coughed adn gasped before looking to the figure struggling beside him- his sister?! What was she doing here? He'd been so careful to sneak out! And- wasn't she busy with Duskblaze? Oh, no matter! Cherry grabbed her by the scruff, kicking with his own little legs for the shore. She wasn't a good swimmer- he had to help her get out. They were almost the same size so it was kind of hard (and she kept kicking him!) but it worked. Still, all the while he kept hard eyes on the tom and the she-cat at the shore. He didn't like strangers. And he hadn't seen these ones around his home.
Once they reached the land, Cherry put his sister down gently, giving her a few pats before moving to stand protectively in front of her. He didn't know what these cats wanted, but this was his place to play! If past experience had told him anything, that was all that strangers wanted. To take things and ruin them and make them their own, but he wouldn't be having any of it! His sister could share he supposed, but they weren't allowed! EVERYONE always took their spots, and it wasn't fair! But he hadn't lost his special den yet, and he wouldn't lose this water either.
"Nnnnnnnnooo!"
The tom opened his mouth, baring his teeth and trying to look as fierce as possible. Which, unbeknownst to him, wasn't the most terrifying. A short drenched kit with a slurred cry wasn't exactly the scariest thing in the forest. But he certainly tried to be ferocious.
420 words | Cherrykit | Sunhigh |
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Post by Kibbles on Sept 28, 2015 16:13:49 GMT
Bear looked at them after finally getting back to his paws. He could see Silver looking rather confused and shocked as the second cat appeared. they looked to be siblings. His blue eyes turned as he heard rustling. And then suddenly, a brown tom was in the air, screeching.
Bear tackled Silver out of the way, taking on the brown tom himself. The two cats rolled around, snarling and screeching at each other as they fought in the mud. Fur and blood went every which way and mud splattered every time one tom was shoved off of the other.
"STOP!"
Bear froze as his jaws were gripped around the tom's throat, claws digging into his chest as he pinned the younger cat down. He glanced at Silver and released him, moving back. He panted heavily from the fight, wounds in his pelt stinging from the air and mud that were in them.
"My name is Duskblaze, protector of these cats and mentor to one. You rogues are on Marshclan territory and will leave before I skin you both and line my nest with your fur."
Bear snarled loudly at the threat, but stopped when Silver walked forward.
"Calm yourself, Duskblaze. We were only making sure that this one was alright. He was alone before his... sister, I assume, came. From his speech, though, I can only guess he is deaf."
It happened so quickly, Bear hadn't had enough time to react. He watched as Duskblaze's claws lashed out, striking her beautiful silver tabby pelt. They raked across her cheek, causing her to turn her head from the force. He stepped foward, but her tail flicked, telling him to stop.
"You have no right to tell me to calm down, she-cat. You are on my clan's territory."
Bear looked between him and the kits and didn't see any sort of resemblance between them. He wasn't related. So why protect them? Not that they had been in any danger in the first place, but he didn't understand what this 'clan' was.
"We didn't come to harm them. I wish to offer our apologies for stepping into your territory and for causing fear. I am Silver and this is Bear. But you have caught my attention, what is this 'clan' you keep mentioning?"
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Post by Shad on Sept 28, 2015 19:17:28 GMT
They were saved! Patchpaw sputtered and coughed, trying to regain her composure, but once she had, she heard the most welcome voice in the whole world. It might have sounded harsh and angry and mean to others, but Patchpaw knew this voice, and more importantly whose side it was on, and that made all the difference. Duskblaze! Thank Star Clan. The little calico shook herself, sending the worst of the wet flying in all directions, and tried to nudge Cherrykit along the edge of the pond, away from the strange cats. They had to get out of her mentor's way if another scuffle broke out. Her soft grey eyes were pleading with her brother, please just go with her. Please do not make a fuss. She was scared. They needed to leave. Most cats would just tell the kit this, but with Patchpaw having two deaf brothers she instead had developed very expressive features. Her big eyes begged him to listen when she nudged him away. Her slightly raised fur told him she was scared. Her stiffened tail told him they needed to leave. All these tiny signals, ones cats only sometimes picked up on, would be clear as day to her brother. Patchpaw heard a snarl and blue-white eyes flashed behind her to see her mentor swiping the shecat across the face. The rogue tom put a paw forward and the young apprentice's heart clenched. It was two versus one. Could she help if it came to that? She had only had one battle training lesson before this. The rest were hunting, since she showed no aptitude for the skill and needed far more practice with it. She recognized the swipe her mentor had used -sort of,- but could she really fight? Both of them were so big! Even the smaller one was big enough to grab the frail calico by the scruff and toss her into the nearest tree with enough force to end the battle right there. Patchpaw bit her lip as fear nipped every hair on her pelt. If it came down to a battle, she would fight. She might die -oh, who was she kidding? She would die- but at least it would give her mentor a fighting chance. At least Cherrykit would be able to make it out okay. The calico swallowed, trying to stem her fear, and gave Cherrykit a quick lick on the head. Just in case. Just in case this was the last chance she got. Then she let her tiny kit-apprentice eyes lock on the two cats and her claws slide out to squelch into the mud as the cats spoke. She met her mentor's gaze for a fraction of a second and lowered her shoulders slightly into a hunting crouch, the only thing she seemed to be good at so far in their training. This crouch was the kind for hunting rabbits. The kind where you had to watch and wait for the perfect moment. She let him know she was ready if he needed her but until then she would watch. And wait. |
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Sept 28, 2015 20:17:11 GMT
Did you cut your hands on me?
Are my edges sharp?
Nose still clogged with water, Cherry didn't even scent another cat's approach. One minute there was nobody there, and the next there was a brown cat between he and the strangers. The tom. Oh, wonderful... Now everyone was here. Ears flattened and eyes growing increasingly upset, Cherry stomped a paw. Why did cats have to come and take every nice thing he found away? First the strangers, and now the tom.. And the tom would no doubt bring the rest of the stupid cats here too.
Wait- he had his claws on them. Cherry's head tilted in confusion as he watched the scene, the two brown toms locking together. It was like when he played with his siblings, but the look on the tom's face said hurt. Sometimes they accidentally hurt eachother when they were playing- BUT THIS WASN'T THESE CATS' PLACE TO PLAY! IT WAS HIS!
Oh, and he would definitely be in trouble. Of course he would be. Cherry always got in trouble wheneeeeever he left. The tom turned back to his sister, a disappointed look on his face. She tried to pull him out of the water, and Cherry followed without complaint. His head was low and he sighed. Why did his sister look so scared, though? Sure, they would be in trouble for sneaking off. But it would be no worse than usual. They would just have to stay in the stupid den for a few days... Or.... now that she slept in a different one, their own respective dens. He didn't like the sound of that at all.
But- these cats were distracted! Suddenly, his eyes lit up. The tom bounced on his paws, pawing at his sister's shoulder. They could run off! He sneakily tried to hop away- or, as sneakily as he could do all soaked and whatnot, urging his sister to follow. If they snuck off, maybe they could get back home before the tom! Or even better, run off and do soemthing even more fun! These stupid cats could have the dumb water. They could find other water of their own. And it would be even better than the water here. With more clovers and flowers, too! And no stupid grownups! Huff. But they had to be quick about it! Otherwise they would see!
There- she had the right idea! Crouching down all sneaky like. She was always so smart, with the best ideas and the best games. Cherry copied her as best he could, crouching down all flat like a spider. And then he nudged her along. 'Come on!' his eyes seemed to say.
447 words | Cherrykit | Sunhigh |
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Post by Kibbles on Sept 28, 2015 20:52:14 GMT
Bear watched carefully, seeing the brown tom stare at them in confusion. He didn't understand Silver sometimes either. She was so calm in the most dangerous situations. But that was part of the reason he loved her so much. His ears angled towards the younger two cats as he heard sloshing from the water and mud.
"Why do you want to know what a clan is?" Duskblaze hissed, causing Bear to focus on the brown tom again.
"Perhaps we could help it. I've been getting tired of traveling and would like a territory. From what I can tell, there is more than one family here, yes? You aren't related to these young ones."
That caught Bear off guard. Tired of traveling? Why hadn't she said so before? He could have gotten them a territory. He would have done it for her. But he hadn't known until now. And now she wants to join this strange cat and this 'Marshclan'.
"Marshclan is a group of cats who live with each other. We protect each other from harm and hunt for each other. We have a code of honor, which is why neither of you are dead right now."
Bear's fur bristled and he stepped forward again, tail lashing, but Silver's tail across his chest stopped him again.
"Could you be looking for more members? A code of honor is... rare for wild cats. I would enjoy it if you would accept my protector and I."
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Duskblaze looked back at Patchpaw and Cherrykit as the rogues asked to join the clan. They needed more warriors and these two had potential, especially the tom. The she-cat was calm and they needed more calm cats in the clan. He looked back at the rogues finally, sighing.
"Fine... we could use some cats like you both. We have kits back at the camp and we're going to need more cats to hunt for the oncoming leafbare."
He didn't seem happy about accepting these two into the clan.
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