[Taxx]

Teller of the Mountain Sky

Sitting in a beam of sunlight, Skyteller stared into one of the pools on the floor of his den. Tail curled around his paws, he looked, waiting for anything out of the ordinary- anything other than the smooth surface of the pool, shimmering in the light and casting reflections on the walls, shivering with each breath of wind. There was nothing, but there was peace in that. The warmer season had come and prey was growing more plentiful. Before long the eagles and hawks would be fledging, and clumsy youngsters would mean more prey for the Tribe. Rising to his paws, stretching out the kinks that formed from sitting for too long, Skyteller glanced toward the opening that led to the larger cave. This was his domain, but sometimes he missed being able to mingle so freely with the rest of the Tribe. Now the young to-bes looked at him with admiration and wonder in their eyes, and the entire Tribe relied on him to lead them. Padding forward, the ginger tom left the brighter alcove for the dimmer, cooler cave. settling just at the mouth that separated the two and blinking around at the cats. His gaze fell on Dusk and the idea he'd been toying with sprang at him again. "Dusk!" he called to the younger tom. "May I have a word with you?" Fawn

made by redox of gs

[Fawn]

Dusk that Shrouds the Forest

If you get lost you can always be found

Prey-Hunter, 51 Moons

Dusk that Shrouds the Forest finished grooming his mottled pelt, faint traces of ginger, brown and black hair left in the wake of his cleaning session. Skyteller had called for him, and though life in the Tribe was much less structured and there was far less ceremony, Dusk still greeted their leader with reverence and warmth. "What can I do for you, Skyteller?"

Perhaps he wanted to ask how Dusk was fitting in now that he had a Tribe name as well? It was still hard for him to wrap his hed around, but Dusk didn't consider that a bad thing at all. Suddenly his NightClan life felt like forever ago. A distant, hazy memory. Thoughts of his siblings and best friend put an ache in Dusk's chest, but Dusk did his best to let go of those feelings.

Just as he'd decided at his ceremony, he couldn't dwell on feelings of loss or homesickness. Brightfeather was safe in StarClan now, and Darkblaze had his own family to take care of. He'd chosen his path.

Tribe of Forgotten Waters

172 Words // Taxx // Notes

[Taxx]

Teller of the Mountain Sky

Skyteller beckoned Dusk closer, inviting him into the alcove- he would reveal this to the Tribe soon enough, but for the moment he wanted to make sure it would actually work. And while they might be Tribe now, the former Clan cats would have seasons of experience in Clan ways. “I wanted to speak with you, that’s all,” he replied, settling down once more in one of the beams of light and inclining his head to Dusk, allowing him to do the same if he wished. “I was thinking that, some day soon, it might be worth reaching out to the cats of the valley, and I wanted to know more about them. Firstly, if they would be open to such a thing. Would they object to meeting with me, do you think?” Best to get that out of the way before jumping into the details of the Clans. There was so much to know- he’d so far gathered that there were at least three- NightClan, LightningClan, and RainClan. Each acted separately of each other, hunting and fighting to protect their own borders and driving out intruders. Was there any chance they would see him as a possible ally, or would they scorn him and the Tribe for their differences? Fawn

made by redox of gs

[Fawn]

Dusk that Shrouds the Forest

If you get lost you can always be found

Prey-Hunter, 51 Moons

Dusk felt a small pulse of excitement ripple through his pelt as he considered Skyteller's words. The Tribe would finally be reaching out to the Clans! This was exciting, yes, but it created in Dusk a peculiar kind of nerves. Almost as if he were afraid of what his new family might think of his old one, and vice versa. Muscling through these uncertainties, the tortoiseshell tom gave the healer his honest opinion.

"NightClan is open to diplomacy, or at least they were when I left. Rumor goes that StoneClan actually spent time with mountain cats in the past. TreeClan's always been pretty friendly. But for the other two Clans," Dusk shook his head. "I don't know what you can expect with them. My old Clan and RainClan didn't get along, or with TreeClan." In fact, did RainClan get along with any of it's neighbors? He had no idea.

"I think it's a good idea, though." He didn't want Skyteller to think he had no faith in him or his plan. "Just because we're different" (he felt a blooming warmth in his chest at 'we') "doesn't mean we have to be isolated. The Clans all gather once every full moon for a gathering, where we put aside our differences and share news and make announcements. Maybe the Tribe can be a part of that too."

The former night-dwelling tom glanced to the edge of the oasis, picturing the journey down into the valley. "Though we have a ways to go."

Tribe of Forgotten Waters

253 Words // Taxx // Notes

[Taxx]

Teller of the Mountain Sky

Skyteller mused over the words, glad to hear that a few of the Clans would be willing to meet him, hear what he had to say, possibly ally with. It wasn't necessary, not really, but this was the first time in many, many moons that they were living in an area where other cats, not Tribe and not loner, lived. "That's good to hear. Perhaps if we were to start with just those three you feel would be more open, the other two may follow suit?" The suggestion to attend a Gathering was met with mixed feelings- certainly it was ideal, but he was less sure about pushing himself into an event the Clans might consider their own, where they might react in a less than friendly way. "We do," he agreed. "But no matter the enormity of the task, there's no reason why we can't try. I believe it would be good to try one Clan at a time, and further action will depend on how these meetings go. What can you tell me about the Clan you came from? All I know is that they do not separate their hunters from their guards. Who leads? Do you know them well? Anything you think might be useful, please share it. I would not want to commit a blunder that would ruffle fur." Fawn

made by redox of gs

[Fawn]

Dusk that Shrouds the Forest

If you get lost you can always be found

Prey-Hunter, 51 Moons

Skyteller deserved a truthful assessment of NightClan, so Dusk did his best not to sugercoat it. "I grew up during Ravenstar's reign, and she was known for being... elitist. And NightClan was very hostile to outsiders; it was near impossible for a cat to join NightClan that wasn't born into it - unless you were a kit." It was a different situation these days, but he wanted to provide the Tribe's leader with enough background as possible.

Dusk neatly folded his hind legs into a seated position, intending to take his time. "There have been a few changes in NightClan's leadership since Ravenstar's time, but there are plenty of warriors around who still hold her views. I don't think they'd respect us, or respect me, even though I left the Clan with Foxfern's blessing. Pinestar seems reasonable, or at least not as openly hostile as Ravenstar ever was." Dusk's green-blue eyes found Skyteller's, and there was an apologetic note in his voice. "I don't think we should start with NightClan. Save them for last, maybe. By then, they will have heard about the Tribe, and they may view us in a more favorable light."

Or, they'll think we're forming alliances with the other Clans and won't want anything to do with us. It was a little difficult to predict just how NightClan would react, unfortunately. What had changed, since his departure? Had there been any major upsets? One thing was certain, the best way to get on any Clan's good side was to make it clear they weren't going to be competing with them for prey or territory.

If the Clans didn't feel threatened, Dusk could foresee it going smoothly. "StoneClan's territory is closest to ours. We could start with Hawkstar?" If he was still alive. Hawkstar must have been getting on in moons. Dusk secretly relished the chance to get news on the other Clans; he loved being a Tribe cat, but they were considerably isolated. A part of him missed Gatherings.

Tribe of Forgotten Waters

325 Words // Taxx // Notes

[Taxx]

Teller of the Mountain Sky

Skyteller couldn’t help the momentary thought- would he be willing to do this if Clan cats hadn’t sought him and the Tribe out? Certainly, even if he had, it would not be so easy- their ways were vastly different, and while he was more than willing to learn, he was grateful that there were cats who had the insight he and the Tribe did not. Dusk didn’t seem to be holding anything back, for which Skyteller was equally grateful. He listened, unable to help the concern that maybe he was reaching for something that wouldn’t go so well- this NightClan didn’t seem nearly as open as Dusk had mentioned; the idea of starting with another Clan- StoneClan- was met with relief. “Yes, that sounds like an ideal place to start. Hawkstar- that’s their leader?” He’d noticed the ‘star’ ending on both previous mentioned cats, and he wondered if, like Skyteller, it was a common name for the Clans’ leaders. “Tell me what you can about StoneClan,” Skyteller urged, shifting to settle more comfortably- this would be no quick discussion, and he needed to know as much as he possibly could be told. “As well, when we do go, I would like for you to accompany us. We cannot spare many cats, but I believe a cave-guard, and you with experience in both fighting and the Clans’ ways, should be enough.” He would rather not fight, but it would be good to have fighters with him just in case- Dusk was a prey-hunter, but his past experience in fighting would not put him at such a disadvantage as a prey-hunter born to the Tribe. “Would you be willing to come along?” Fawn

made by redox of gs

[Fawn]

Dusk that Shrouds the Forest

If you get lost you can always be found

Prey-Hunter, 51 Moons

Dusk wanted to warn Skyteller that his fighting skills were admittedly rusty, and the allure of joining the Tribe (for him, at least) had been the knowledge that he would not have to focus on fighting. It was not a matter of squeamishness or reluctance to shed blood for the home and cats he cared deeply for; it was a matter of his condition. Whenever his heart-rate increased, whenever his pulse began to pound in his ears, loud as a rushing river, the urge to sleep overtook him. Dusk was powerless to stop it.

His smile was meek, and he held back his initial desire to protest. "I would be honored, Skyteller. I do not believe fighting will be necessary," Dusk's tail tip flicked in thought. "Hawkstar's known for being reasonable and even-tempered. Wolfclaw, his deputy, seems much the same way." However...

Dusk had been gone so long from the valley, there was no guarantee that the names he remembered belonged to living, breathing cats - or dead ones. If the latter was the case, who was leading StoneClan now? Dusk did his best to set aside these concerned musings. Instead, with Skyteller's attention claimed, Dusk told him all that he could remember of StoneClan, NightClan, and TreeClan. He told Skyteller of which Clans shared borders with others, where the river split the valley, and which Clan was closest to the oasis.

It was an informative discussion, and though Dusk felt parched after so much talk, he felt satisfied, too, that he was contributing to the Tribe's well being.

Tribe of Forgotten Waters

258 Words // Taxx // Notes: Done!