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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Oct 9, 2015 21:12:46 GMT
He had been horrified. Sharp wounds and raw flesh, the scent of blood and red on her paws and teeth. Tired eyes, blue as the waterfall and just as deep- but proud. She'd gone on about weasels and beavers and earth knew what else, and Stone had cleaned her cuts and chastised her recklessness. His heart had beat out of his chest, but he'd attempted to put on a strong face for his daughter. Plainly he'd told her about the dangers of those creatures, and that she was far too young to even consider fighting such things. She would always be too young to fight such things- he would never make her- never let her put herself in such danger.. He couldn't. He couldn't- he couldn't afford to lose her. Not again.
And today, she was gone.
Stone had told his daughter not to stray far while he hunted. She needed to let her scrapes heal, and privately he had worried that she might return to whatever dangerous things she'd been attempting. Stone hadn't wanted to leave their cave in the first place. They were still settling in. Scraping together nests from prey pelts and feathers and old moss- building a life. A new life- a safe life. But he had to, and he'd gone south. And when he'd returned to their new home with a fat goose in tow, Summit was nowhere to be found.
High and low he'd searched their cave, calling her name into every crevice and tunnel. Had she wandered further in, he'd wondered? And yet when he'd searched, he found nothing but stale scents of explorations passed. He'd returned to the forest, panic rising and head spinning. She was all he had left. She was vibrant and strong and oh so bright- but still so small. So young. He had to protect her. But oh, she had her mother's wandering mind. She must have run off, and Stone cursed himself for not staying closer. It was foolish for him to have gone so far with an injured daughter at home- one would think that he would have learned his lesson by now. The earth had still been wet with rain. Scents were washed away by October winds and thundering water. Her trails twisted and turned, overlapping and sometimes going in complete circles. It was nearly impossible to track. But Stone had to find her. He called her name through the forests, climbing to the peaks of the trees in search. He'd never been a climber- too strong, too thick. But he would do anything he could to get her back. It had only been half a day since he'd last seen her- perhaps more- but an overactive imagination and past experience haunted him. Memories of a brother, broken and beaten- he'd been her age, he'd been her age, he'd been her age. She was too kind, too innocent. Stone had done his best to shelter her from the harshness of the world, but what if he'd doomed her in doing so? He should have warned her more- trained her more seriously- been harsher in his lessons. But no, no, no. He would not be his father. But what did he know of raising kits, racing through the empty forest and calling out her name to no avail? Scattering birds from the skies and setting the earth athunder with heavy pawsteps? Maybe he'd thought he'd known more than he had. Or maybe he'd tried to pretend that he did, in order to make up for his own kithood. He had 'maybes' enough to fill the mountains, but they would do him no good now. What would do him good was determination. Golden eyes blazed as they raked the trees, searching every branch and bush with the ferocity of a wildfire. He turned stones, splashed through creeks, chasing every ghost of a scent north and south. The forests of the southern basin were so empty- so blank. Devoid of any undergrowth or peaks that could catch fur or make tracking easy. It was nothing like the mountains. Nothing like anything he was used to. Stone was as far out of his comfort zone he could be- if he had only just begun to settle into it- but he had to find her. Before anything else did. Before the mountain lions or the snakes or the bobcats and lynxes- before the wolves and the beavers and the coyotes and eagles. Not to mention the other cats. And he knew that there were strangers living in this basin- there always would be. And cats- cats could be the cruelest of them all. But no, no, no. He wouldn't let those thoughts creep in. He wouldn't dare. Stone would reach her before any kind of creature touched a single hair on her head.
"SUMMIT!" His voice was a roar- fierce and deep as a clap of thunder. Birds scattered from the trees, and crickets stopped their song. The massive tom waited, fur on end for a response. He'd called out so many times- and call after call, no response. But she had to be here somewhere. She had to be. This valley was massive- but if he had found her as a kit in the mountains, lost and a fraction of her size buried in the snow, he could find her now. He had to. |
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Post by Shad on Oct 10, 2015 3:06:03 GMT
The small orange tom looked over at his companion curiously. She was... fascinating. Puzzling. Intriguing. All of the words were accurate, and yet still somehow fell short of the mottled blackish brownish orangish shecat that currently slept beside him. She was almost as large as he was and yet she acted so young. Their current circumstance was viable proof he had gravely misjudged her age from the 10 moons he guessed initially, and even the 7 moons he had wondered over. All of the hunting practice had completely tuckered the shecat out and they had not gone too far before it became clear to Littleflame that they must stop for her to rest. Summit had protested valiantly, wanting to take him to her 'Daddy', but her eyes were already drooping and her legs heavy. The sky had darkened overhead into the latest brinks of dusk, more shadow than light clinging to the air, as the shecat/kit slept on. Littleflame had curled close to her to keep them both warm but would have to wake her soon. He did not want either of them to catch cold. He was highly susceptible in his weakened state and, if she really was younger than 7 moons -Sweet Brother, she could not possibly be under 6, could she?- her developing body did not need the stress of a night spent out in the open. Then Summit's ears flicked. The small tom watched her curiously, waiting for her deep blue-green eyes to open, but they stubbornly remained closed, fast asleep. Not a few more moments passed before her ears twitched again. And a moment more saw them moving again. It was actually quite interesting to watch and Littleflame amused himself for sometime doing just that, watching, but then his own ears started to pick up a noise. It was low, frequent, and short. He cocked his head curiously, wondering what it was. He strained to listen, still only catching wisps. For a while he heard nothing and then- "SUMMIT!"The call burst through the air with crystal clarity and much more force. Summit mumbled in her sleep and rolled over. The Masters help him. She sure slept like a kit. "Daddy," she mewed drowsily, her eyes still closed. She snuggled closer into the meager warmth of Littleflame's short fur. Daddy? Was that her father's voice? Littleflame supposed it was possible. And, if she was as young as she acted, any respectable parent would be out looking for her. Littleflame decided to give the tom a hand. "OVER HERE!" he called back. Summit grumbled in complaint at the loud noise, but did not wake. Well, that settled it. The mysterious caller was definitely someone she knew if they were reaching her thoughts despite being in an exhausted sleep deep enough that even Littleflame's howl did not arouse her. |
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Oct 11, 2015 17:48:50 GMT
What ought he expect? Silence? Another scattering of birds? His daughter's joyous pawsteps thundering towards him, her voice like song in the air? There were so many things that could have happened- or not happened- but the one that burst forth was the one he'd least expected. A tom's voice, answering his call. Stone stopped, heart pounding like a waterfall. It was unrecognized- not a tom from the mountains, nor one of the far and few between loners that they'd encountered in their time in the basin. No, this voice was completely new. Cracked, somewhat faint, but strong. And it was the best chance that Stone had. After a moment's hesitation, Stone thundered off in the direction of the sound. He didn't know what he would find there, and a mixture of dread and hope bubbled in his heart. It could all he'd hoped for and more, or it could be the last kicking of earth over his grave.
He followed the scent higher through the forest, weaving through trees and leaping streams. Undergrowth thickened as he ascended into the mosslands- a land which he had seen, but not yet deigned important enough to explore. But the forest was thick and winding here, with rough undergrowth and soft moss underpaw. And scent trails were left far, far more easily. Already he could scent Summit- her thick fur clinging to brambles and bushes as he passed them. But another scent mingled with hers now too- one that set Stone on edge. A tom. Older than her. He couldn't tell a thing about him from his scent alone- but he had to have been the one calling out. And if not... Stone gritted his teeth. What would a tom be doing with his daughter? Some stranger that neither of them knew? She was too trusting, what if she'd been hurt? Why hadn't she called out herself? Or what if.... that voice had been from a cat finding her body? No, no, NO! Stone steeled himself against his panic. He couldn't think like that. There was no scent of blood in the air- yet. He just had to keep going, and-
There. He saw it. A flash of orange fur in the distance, vibrant against the lush greenery and setting sun. Not Summit's- no, hers was an oaken brown, thick with swirls like moss and jagged cliffs. This pelt, from his place in the distance, looked an illuminated golden, bright as the sun. And then, he saw her. Curled on her side, right up against...
A fierce snarl ripped forth from the tom's throat as he pounded towards the two. With long legs and an incredible speed for his size, he reached them in an instant. But that size and strength certainly showed its worth as he crashed between the two, shoving the tom away with a force and taking his daughter's scruff in his jaws with the other. She was warm. She was here. She was alive. Oh, thank the earth. Stone bounded away a few lengths, daughter bobbing in his jaws- it would have been a sight, seeing such a large cat being carried. But Stone was all the larger, and it was as easy to him as carrying prey. He didn't look back at the tom as he set his daughter down, smoothing the fur around her face with his front paws and covering her with licks. "Are you hurt? Did he hurt you? I told you not to stray far- your injuries from yesterday are still healing! It's so dangerous down here- you can't just run off alone and wounded. If something would have happened to you, I...." He didn't even know what he would have done. Summit... was all he had left. All he went on for. She was the reason that he woke up in the morning. The reason that he hunted, the reason that he trained. She'd given him new eyes in this life, and he'd vowed to give her a better life than he'd lead. And if she would have died, he....
Stone careened over her, eyes stormy with panic, relief, and enough emotion to fill a sea. Summit's brown fur was ruffled, teal eyes sleepy as an Autumn morning's sky. He nosed her over all the same, checking for wounds and bruises and stars knew what else. He couldn't even put into words the relief that he felt at seeing her here though, and he quickly wrapped both his front paws around her, pressing her tightly into his chest. "Summit, I was so... I was so worried. Please, please don't.. Don't run off like this again."
And then, all at once, he remembered that they had an audience.
Amber eyes turned from bright and emotional to fierce and hard as he released his daughter, whipping around to face the tom. He bared his fangs, long and sharp as an Eagle's talons. "Who are you? What were you doing with my daughter?" He snarled, thick fur rising. The fading light reflected off of his golden eyes, turning them a blood sunset and setting the white of his coat alight with gold. He didn't know who or what this tom was, but he couldn't even finalize what emotions he should be feeling right now. They were too intense. Too much. Guilt, fear, fury, worry, embarrassment, anger. They boiled together, sparking along his spine and glowing in his eyes as he faced the golden tom. Who as he looked at now... began to realize wasn't an intimidating creature at all. Small- tiny, even. He hadn't seen many cats outside of the mountains, but this cat had to be smaller than Summit! Was he... her age? No, his face said otherwise. It was thin with wear- and his ribs stuck through his short coat like the branches of a tree. His eyes were a watery green- dull and ill like algae. This cat wasn't any killer- but what was he? And what was he doing with his daughter? |
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Post by Shad on Oct 25, 2015 23:11:12 GMT
The mangy shecat's blue eyes snapped open, mouth dropping open with shock as the music of the world swirled back to her ears and the landscape did the same, dipping and turning and shifting before her groggy eyes. Something had her. Its jaws were locked around her scruff and Littleflame's thin orange frame was yanked away from her side. She let out a shriek of surprise and alarm. "Summit!" Littleflame's roar was deep and filled with concern, making the shecat's fur bristle and her claws unsheathe in fear. Then her nose caught up to her ears and her father's scent was all around her. Her tiny claws disappeared back into her thick fur and she could see nothing except her father's vibrant black and white streaked fur smothering her on all sides. "It's okay! It's okay!" she trilled out quickly. Perhaps to Stone. Perhaps to Littleflame. Although, at the moment she felt the need to inform both. How silly toms could be. "Are you hurt?""No, I-""Did he hurt you?""No! He's-"Summit tried to get a word in edgewise but her father would have none of it. He was too frantic to let her speak, his song wild and fast as his heartbeat while he pulled her tight against him. The little shekit shrugged and simply let herself be surrounded by the warmth and love of her father's deep timbre and delightfully warm fur. He did not seem to be willing to let her speak any time soon, so she simply smiled wryly and set up a strong purr, lending her voice to the chorus of sounds in the forest, in hopes it would reach her father's own verse and call him. Behind them, Littleflame, who had jumped to his paws to defend the shecat, settled back down to sit. He had been alarmed by the abrupt entrance but it seemed Summit's 'Daddy' had simply been quite worried for her wellbeing. The tom decided to give them some time, instead studiously focusing on his fur and washing any minute collections of dust that might have accumulated. This cat was... large. Huge. Mountainous. That certainly explained Summit's size. Summit knew none of this though as she focused solely on her father, lightening his fears with her steady rumbles of joy and peace, brushing her face against his chest lovingly. He was begging her not to run off now. She had not run off! The very idea was horrifying! She would never leave her father alone! She had simply gone to check on Littleflame. She had been coming back. She had grown tired, the forest's song dull in her ears and her paws heavy as lead, leading Littleflame to gently offer her a break to rest. That was all. Of course she was returning. How could he think anything otherwise? Summit opened her mouth to inform her Daddy of this very important fact, but he had already moved on -to threaten her new Father! This Summit could not allow! What if her Daddy scared him off?! "Stop! Stop!" The black swirled shecat fought her Dad's grip, something she had not done for quite some time. She forced her way free and stood between the two toms, refusing to let her Dad to scare away the gift she had found for him. "Don't be mean to him," she said firmly. "This is Littleflame. I found him and hunted weasels for him all on my own," she mewed proudly, her blue-green eyes bright. "He has helped me practice my hunt all day and I was sleeping because I was tired or we would have come back sooner. I am very sorry. I did not mean to scare you."The shecat bowed her head solemnly for a moment, but then her exuberance was back and she snapped up to grin at her Daddy. "But I brought him back for us. I brought him back to be my new Father!"Littleflame cleared his throat and shifted awkwardly. Er. What exactly was Summit trying to do with this? He tried to - gently- intervene, reaching out a small paw to place on Summit's shoulder confidingly. The shecat turned to look at him obediently. "Summit," he tried uncomfortably. "Yes, sir?""Even if you are upset with your father, you can't just-"The shecat frowned at him, a look of confusion clear on her face, making Littleflame pause. "Why would I be upset with Daddy?" Summit looked back to the mountainous silver tabby. "I love my Daddy. That's why we need you."Now Littleflame was the confused one. Summit must have seen this for the large shekit explained patiently. "I used to have a Daddy and a Mother, but my mother was a bad cat who left." Littleflame's heart melted for the little shecat. The poor thing. "-So I want you to replace my Mother and be my Father instead! So I can have a Daddy and a Father and we all can be together. You said you would be my Father so now you and my Daddy can be together and make each other happy!" ...And now the tom's head exploded and his cheeks heated immensely. He opened and closed his mouth several times but no words came out through his embarrassment. This kit... had just... she thought... he and... The small orange tom could not find the words. Any words. His green eyes flicked to the large, imposing tom who was Summit's father. He could never...! Ah... well... That was to say... The tom was not even his type! And ACK! NOT THAT HE HAD A TYPE! LITTLEFLAME WOULD NEVER DO SOMETHING SO CRASS! NEVER EVER NEVER! Uh... but... um, even... that one time, with Ika... they were so different... there was no way and... Littleflame's cheeks blushed even more and his fur shot up in shock and embarrassment. Hopefully Summit's father -er, Daddy, or whatever! would have a better idea of how to handle this. |
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A flaming sword of burning righteousness and also fire!
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Post by ♏aple♢ on Nov 6, 2015 19:12:47 GMT
She was alright. She was safe, she wasn't hurt- any worse than she'd been yesterday, at least- and she was alright. Stone couldn't even contain his relief. But the issue of the tom remained. Stone's eyes were hard on the bony ginger creature, analyzing him roughly. Not a threat- not to him. But to Summit.. She was still so young, so small- maybe not for these lowlanders, but for a mountain cat.. She was his little girl. She was all he had left. And Stone did not take kindly to finding some ginger creature curled around her like a snake around a mouse. He was sitting, now. This position exxagerated his bony features even more. Sunken eyes, watery and green. Bones jutting out at all angles. A dull coat draped over broken branches. Part of him- a distant part- wanted to know when the last time this cat- however old it was- had eaten. But the more prominant part just wanted to know what the hell he was doing with his daughter.
Stone moved to step forward. But before he could, Summit was in front of him. She was protesting. Telling him to stop, not to hurt him. Stone narrowed his eyes cautiously. His fur still spiked, and it took all his effort to sheath his claws. But if Summit had something to say, he would listen before making his judgement. He owed her that much. He would not be the father that his had been, finding him alone with older toms. All he'd wanted to do was learn, and his father had killed them, before beating that will from him.. He would not do the same to Summit. He forced himself to calm. Deep breaths.
His name was Littleflame. An... odd name. Stone looked him up and down carefully. And- "THAT was why you were hunting weasels?!" he started, eyes shooting back to his daughter in an instant. She was hunting weasels.. For some stranger? Why would she even hunt weasels in the first place? "Did you hunt any more today?" his eyes turned to a glower. She had best not have. He couldn't see any scratches on her from the outside- but with fur so thick, it was hard to tell. He wanted to growl at the tom. Ask him who he was to make a kit hunt weasels. But he listened. And... oh. He'd... been helping her practice her hunting. Stone blinked, golden eyes still uncertain. She was sorry. And tired. Stone... sighed. She was a good kit, and she was trying her best. "I am... proud of you, Summit. But please, listen when I tell you to stay close. And weasels... Are not the best thing to practice your hunting on."
He was about to go on, but her next words stopped him. Stone's head jerked back, expression half hurt and half shocked. "... What?" her new... father? Panic immediately filled his chest. Had it ever really left in the first place? Yes, he was angry- but he was trying to be a good father. Was he not good enough? Was there more that he could be doing better? What could this cat do better than him? Stone's jaw was half open- and it only dropped further when she continued.
Oh no.
He could feel his ears heating. His face heating. His entire body heating with the burn of a thousand suns. OH NO. That panic intensified, but in a different way now. Embarassment and fear coursed through him like blood. "Summit-!" he gasped, mortification filling his golden eyes. Had she seriously just said that?! What had she told this tom? She- she and Raven were the only ones who knew that he didn't love she-cats, but that didn't mean that he....! Stone shook his head quickly- perhaps a bit too quickly as he tried to dispell the notion. What- what even- just.. ACK! That fierce demeanor shot away like a rabbit from its nest as it was replaced by nervous embarassment.
"Summit, you can't just say things like that!" he chided all too quickly. All too nervously. His words were disjointed. Stone slammed one paw on the earth, shaking his large head again. His humiliation must have been palpable. What must this stranger even think Stone risked a look at the ginger tom again. Oh stars. He looked horrified. Wonderful. Wait- why did he even care about this cat's opinion? No, who was that talking. He cared about everyone's opinions, no mattter how deeply or shallowly he knew them. No matter whether they got along or not. He cared too much. That was why he had always kept quiet about- WHATEVER. The possibility of- the idea that Stone would even- that he would ever- that he even wanted another mate-!!! GAH!
"Its... no!"
What about this tom would even make her say something like that?! |
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