Post by Taxx on Nov 17, 2017 10:38:35 GMT -5
It was still early when Rumble left the cave, the sun’s light obscured by clouds, with intermittent growls of thunder in the distance. It might be the best sort of day for him to take this on- the weather, hopefully, would be in his favor. Still, his first stop was at the pool of water lower in the valley; the mud at its edges would make decent cover for his ginger fur. Plastering himself from nose to tail, Rumble resisted the urge to shake it back off- the uncomfortable feeling and heaviness would pass, and since he would be on his own, it was offer a measure of security. Didn’t mean he had to like it.
Then he set off. He had taken this task partly out of curiosity for the surroundings of the cave and partly to check for other hunting places that would benefit the Tribe. The weather might be poor, but where rabbits and mice gathered to find their own food, the birds that hunted them would follow.
The sky lightened as he went on his way, a beam of light breaking through the clouds now and then. He marked possible hunting sites, where grass grew thicker and prey-scent was heavy, making a note to ask whichever Tribe cats came to hunt how the prospects had been.
As he’d been considering turning back, completing the check as he circled back toward the cave, a new scent caught his attention- this one the heavy smell of cats. Not Tribe- Clan? He hadn’t realized he’d come so far. He knew little of the Clans, besides what the former members had told him, and none of them were here to answer his questions now. Five Clans- which was this?
Padding forward, Rumble bent his head to a fresh marker. It was a warning, he knew that much. Each Clan clearly etched out their own boundaries to tell the rest to keep out, and defended them with tooth and claw against any intruders. Would they see him as an intruder if he ventured any farther?
Part of him was tempted to test that- but he only took a step backward. No point in stirring up trouble; he was no threat to the Clans and their way of life. Rumble couldn’t imagine having to be so vigilant all the time- against other cats, at least. So much wasted energy, fighting and patrolling all the time, when they could get along, help each other, hunt and fight as one very large group against outside threats.
Padding along the border, keeping a good two tail-lengths from the scent, he kept his eyes open. The smell carried hints of water, stale and fresh, with some sort of meat smell he couldn’t name. Didn’t smell too great, in his opinion, but there were traces of mouse too.
Ahead, a flash of movement caught Rumble’s eye and he lifted his head. A she-cat, creamy fur with dark markings along her face, ears and tail. He didn’t say anything; she was smaller than he but she might view him as an intruder- these cats were trained from a young age to attack any outsider for the sake of their Clan. He did offer a wave of his tail, a friendly gesture he hoped she’d return; further interaction lay with whatever action she chose to take.
@hellion
Then he set off. He had taken this task partly out of curiosity for the surroundings of the cave and partly to check for other hunting places that would benefit the Tribe. The weather might be poor, but where rabbits and mice gathered to find their own food, the birds that hunted them would follow.
The sky lightened as he went on his way, a beam of light breaking through the clouds now and then. He marked possible hunting sites, where grass grew thicker and prey-scent was heavy, making a note to ask whichever Tribe cats came to hunt how the prospects had been.
As he’d been considering turning back, completing the check as he circled back toward the cave, a new scent caught his attention- this one the heavy smell of cats. Not Tribe- Clan? He hadn’t realized he’d come so far. He knew little of the Clans, besides what the former members had told him, and none of them were here to answer his questions now. Five Clans- which was this?
Padding forward, Rumble bent his head to a fresh marker. It was a warning, he knew that much. Each Clan clearly etched out their own boundaries to tell the rest to keep out, and defended them with tooth and claw against any intruders. Would they see him as an intruder if he ventured any farther?
Part of him was tempted to test that- but he only took a step backward. No point in stirring up trouble; he was no threat to the Clans and their way of life. Rumble couldn’t imagine having to be so vigilant all the time- against other cats, at least. So much wasted energy, fighting and patrolling all the time, when they could get along, help each other, hunt and fight as one very large group against outside threats.
Padding along the border, keeping a good two tail-lengths from the scent, he kept his eyes open. The smell carried hints of water, stale and fresh, with some sort of meat smell he couldn’t name. Didn’t smell too great, in his opinion, but there were traces of mouse too.
Ahead, a flash of movement caught Rumble’s eye and he lifted his head. A she-cat, creamy fur with dark markings along her face, ears and tail. He didn’t say anything; she was smaller than he but she might view him as an intruder- these cats were trained from a young age to attack any outsider for the sake of their Clan. He did offer a wave of his tail, a friendly gesture he hoped she’d return; further interaction lay with whatever action she chose to take.
@hellion