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Post by Taxx on Mar 20, 2018 21:17:03 GMT -5
Newleaf Day Six: As the icy grip of leafbare loosens its hold on the Valley and newleaf rapidly approaches, cats are encouraged to take advantage of the warmer days and the return of prey, but with the heat comes a warning, beware of snow slides!!
 Sunrise On Fallen Snow Prey-Hunter of the Tribe YOU KNOCKED ME DOWN, BUT I GOT UP With the snow melting and the icy paths giving way to stone once more, Snow had felt the itch of restlessness in her fur, the need to go for a walk in the sun and feel its warmth. Briefly, she had considered going alone, but the thought of company had appealed to her, and she’d ended up asking Dusk along.
The former NightClan cat was not the one she had expected to find a friend in, but here- where boundaries did not exist and they were both Tribe, there was no reason to treat him coldly. He was no longer NightClan, any more than she was LightningClan. And he was easy to get along with, quiet and friendly.
Snow walked side by side with Dusk’s right, her good eye faced outward to catch any dangers that might strike, but so far there was only the scent of new growth and a trace of prey. They had been chatting freely, and only when they reached the rough slope, the aftermath of a landslide, did Snow pause, her tail flicking lazily as she glanced upward. “There’s a cave up there. I heard a couple to-bes talking about it. Want to take a look?”
GET READY 'CAUSE I'VE HAD ENOUGH Fawn notes |
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Post by Fawn on Apr 19, 2018 22:16:28 GMT -5
Dusk that Shrouds the Forest If you get lost you can always be found Prey-Hunter, 51 Moons ”That could be fun. Better us, than the to-bes.” Dusk replied, thoughtful. There was a certain kind of allure about mysterious places that younger cats - apprentice-aged, especially - could not resist. He did not want an adventure into a cave to turn into a rescue mission, or worse, a tragedy. The cave had a wide mouth, but as soon as Dusk approached, he could feel how narrow the walls were - and how potentially unstable this exploration trek could be.
Still, it was a chance to do something for the Tribe.
"Truthfully, I'd feel safer with a cave-guard watching our backs," Dusk looked at his ginger-and-white companion, thoughtful. "But it doesn't smell like anything's home. I can--" The tortoiseshell tom caught himself, and dipped his head in silent apology. He wasn't going to treat her differently owing to her semi-blindness, just as the others treated him the same in regards to his sleeping disorder. "Would you like to go first?" She deserved to be asked, and Dusk was content to either lead or follow.
She was a LightningClan cat, tunnels were second nature to a cat of that Clan. And as for Dusk? He had spent nearly his entire life living in a cave. He knew how to navigate in dark areas, together, they would be just fine. But we'll go slow, just in case.
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Post by Taxx on May 2, 2018 11:28:19 GMT -5
Sunrise On Fallen Snow Prey-Hunter of the Tribe YOU KNOCKED ME DOWN, BUT I GOT UP “My thoughts exactly,” Snow replied, padding with Dusk to the cave and peering inside, sniffing carefully to check for any scents that hinted at anything dangerous lurking out of sight. Didn’t apprentices- to-bes- somehow seem to wind up in all sorts of trouble? The Tribe’s youngsters were just like the Clans’ in that aspect. “I think between us two, we’ll be all right,” she commented. “As you said, it seems empty.”
The damp, cool air wafted over her as she took a step closer, pausing again as Dusk spoke and considering the question. “I’ll go first. It seems okay, but you can never be too careful.” Who knew how stable it was? Just because everything looked okay, didn’t mean it was. “Tunnels are tricky,” Snow continued as she took her first steps into the cave, moving slowly. “Think you’ve got them figured out and they prove you wrong. A cave-in, a flood caused by rain, or a creature that overnight moves into a well-used tunnel.”
Ears pricked as she paused, listening for any out of place noises- the creak or groan of stones moving against each other or the sound of fur or claws that would indicate hostile creatures lurking out of sight. So far, so good, but Snow continued to move cautiously.
GET READY 'CAUSE I'VE HAD ENOUGH Fawn notes |
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Post by Fawn on Jun 17, 2018 12:35:29 GMT -5
Dusk that Shrouds the Forest If you get lost you can always be found Prey-Hunter, 51 Moons Snow spoke with experience, and Dusk's pelt prickled lightly as he tried to piece two and two together. Is this how she damaged her eye? In any of those incidents she had mentioned? Dusk did not ask. He did not want to appear rude or insensitive; StarClan forbid he offend her, and their exploration of the blocked cave turn into a long, agonizingly awkward trek.
Dusk followed Snow's progress, his green-blue gaze on the soft tip of her gingered tail. When the terrain grew a little more comfortable to walk on (the ground felt pleasantly cool to his paws, a little reminder of home), and his thoughts had come full circle to all the ways they had adapted as Clan cats living with the Tribe, Dusk spoke up.
"Can I ask you something?" Dusk slowed, letting her know with body language that he would prefer they stop to speak rather than walk on without their full attention on their surroundings. "It's about the Tribe of Endless Hunting and StarClan. I have kin in StarClan," admitted Dusk. "Skyteller hasn't spoken to me about the Tribe of Endless Hunting, I learned most of what I know from Peregrine. That said... It sounds a lot like our StarClan. But I can't bring myself to simply turn my back on StarClan."
He still took comfort in the words may StarClan light your path. Did that make him any less of a loyal Tribe cat? Dusk wasn't so sure. He would fight and die for these cats. Yet when his spirit left his body and drifted into the afterlife... Where would he go? Was there a place of limbo, for cats like him? It sounded lonely. Worry flickered through the tortoiseshell tom's eyes, his expression tensing.
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Post by Taxx on Jun 28, 2018 21:42:09 GMT -5
You knocked me down, but I got up Dusk’s question interrupted Snow’s investigation of the tunnel, and she glanced back at him. He had paused, standing a tail-length back from her, and she flicked her tail in acceptance, unsure of what he had to talk to her about, here, that couldn’t be done elsewhere. Turning back as he began, Snow settled at his side, her thoughts quickly spinning as he spoke.
She hadn’t really considered the question; she knew she got looks when she praised or called on StarClan, but the habit was so deeply ingrained that she couldn’t shake it. But Dusk was right: they were Tribe cats now, by choice. Did birth matter? Did loyalty? Would StarClan refuse her because she had turned her back on the Clans? Or would they welcome her anyway, knowing how hard the decision to walk away had been?
“I have kin there too,” she replied. “I know how you feel. But I’m not sure… we grew up on tales of StarClan, never knowing there was anything else. I don’t know- if I had to choose, I would want to join StarClan, to see my mother and brother again. Perhaps we can talk to Skyteller? He doesn’t seem to commune with the Tribe’s ancestors like the Clans’ medicine cats do with StarClan, but they must speak with him somehow. It could be worth a try?” What else could they do? This was their home, but the ways of the Tribe were still so new to them both. Sunrise on Fallen Snow 63 Moons Prey Hunter Tribe of Forgotten Water Fawn || Made by Fawn || Notes |
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Post by Fawn on Jul 12, 2018 16:11:07 GMT -5
Dusk that Shrouds the Forest If you get lost you can always be found Prey-Hunter, 53 Moons Dusk's heart was not soothed on the issue of faith and afterlife, but they had a path they could take now. Maybe, with Skyteller's help, they would find answers at the end of it. Dusk that Shrouds the Forest dipped his head in gratitude, glad he had spoken up.
"Good idea. We can tell him what we find in this cave, too." If we find anything at all. It was going on deeper than he'd anticipated, and Dusk was surprised to catch the stale scents of mice or lizards hidden within the rocky crevices. Why would prey choose to live in a place like this? There must be a water source of a food source nearby.
Something further ahead that supported the existence of life.
Dusk resumed their walk, carefully twisting his tortoiseshell body around a rocky protrusion. "Careful," he mewed reflexively, tail brushing Snow's whiskers for guidance as he briefly took the lead. When the path widened again, he let his pace slow to allow Snow the chance to lead again if she wanted it.
"You mentioned your mother and brother. My condolences. My sister, Brightfeather, died a short time before I joined the Tribe."
A dark day in his life. One of the darkest. "And my mentor, Nettlefur. I'm fortunate to still have a brother, Darkblaze, in NightClan. My parents were elders when I left, though it's been several moons..." He trailed off, wondering quietly if they had passed on into Silverpelt while he was here, disconnected from everything he had once known.
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Post by Taxx on Jul 17, 2018 14:53:19 GMT -5
You knocked me down, but I got up A dip of her head as Dusk approved her plan, and then they were off again, continuing down the tunnel. Snow let the tom lead for a bit, and when he slowed she moved to keep pace at his shoulder, whisking her tail around to flick his hind leg to encourage him to walk with her instead of falling behind. He offered sympathy for her own losses, mentioning his own before trailing off; for a moment, the thought of the ones she hadn’t mentioned sent grief welling up within the she-cat. Snow’s steps froze, her whole body tensing as she struggled to deal with the unexpected surge of misery from the loss.
A deep, rasping breath before she managed once more to wrangle herself into control, and then flashing a quick glance at Dusk, but the lingering echoes of grief made embarrassment impossible. “Sorry,” she muttered, and moved past him, taking the lead. She knew Dusk deserved more than a single word of apology, but how was she supposed to even bring up the loss- share it with another who couldn’t have known how devastating it had been to lose her mate and kits all at once?
Caution alone slowed her steps, first-hand experience with the dangers of tunnels keeping her from breaking into a run to escape the concerned or confused questions from her companion, but she said nothing else, unsure of how to start any conversations that steered away from past losses.
But a whisk of fresher air met her as she turned a corner, whiskers brushing the side of the tunnel, and her eyes now made out the dim light from a crack. A glance over her shoulder, one ear twitching in question as she nodded toward the crack- silently asking if he was up to investigating further. Sunrise on Fallen Snow Prey Hunter of the Tribe of Forgotten Waters Fawn || Made by Fawn || Notes |
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Post by Fawn on Jul 24, 2018 21:14:34 GMT -5
Dusk that Shrouds the Forest If you get lost you can always be found Prey-Hunter, 51 Moons Snow fell into a moody silence, and he respected the privacy of being in one's own head. Dusk instead held his tongue, keeping his company as unintrusive as possible. Snow seemed to have much on her mind; it was good to talk about heartfelt matters, but he couldn't help feeling a little apologetic that he had possibly dredged up bad memories by doing so.
Dusk did not have the gift of Sunpulse's rhyming charm, or else he might have spun a few golden lines meant to make her smile or at least lift a little of her sadness. He wasn't particularly clever, either; but he was supportive, even if he did not have any immediate means of showing it.
So used to the tunnel's dim, almost nonexistent lighting, the tortoiseshell tom squinted at the stark beam slipping in through a crack in the wall. When his eyes adjusted, he saw Snow looking at him curiously; want to see where this goes? She seemed to be asking. Dusk nodded, curiosity, not disrespect, having the prey-hunter take the lead to investigate this tunnel further.
His nose twitched as fresh scents - and a fresh breeze - stirred the air before him. Excited, Dusk did not mind the narrow press of stone against his pelt as he slipped around some jutting rocks, the ground beneath his paws turning to more familiar terrain. It was less stone and more mossy, both soft and firm from the detritus and overgrowth just ahead.
Dusk's pulse quickened, spotting a clump of familiar looking flowers. "That's goatweed! I--" He took two steps forward but did not get far; his peculiar condition, which had made few appearances since his joining the Tribe, let itself be known. The tortoiseshell tom landed rather uncomfortably on his face and chest, body slumped to comedic effect in the meadow.
A light snoring sound rose from him.
The worst injury he had sustained would likely be to his pride, when he woke up.
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Post by Taxx on Jul 25, 2018 19:38:44 GMT -5
You knocked me down, but I got up No words came in response to her actions, and she was grateful for it. Being pushed into talking about it wasn't what she wanted right now. Dusk seemed to understand that, and now silence fell over them. The thin beam of light, however, gave them both something else to focus on, and Snow pushed away the lingering misery, putting all her attention on the side tunnel.
Dusk's nod cheered her; she hadn't wanted to come so far only to turn back when they were close to sunlight. He took the lead and Snow followed close on his heels, ears upright and all senses honed as the light grew brighter. She eased her way around the boulders and stopped dead at the sight that met her gaze. The sun shone brightly on this little oasis, a small pond providing water for the grass and bushes that grew thick.
The quietest squeaking caught Snow's attention, but instinct to chase and pounce was drowned out by Dusk's voice, and then her attention was caught by the way he broke off abruptly, a muffled thump made her head whip back to where Dusk had been, alarm making her fur prickle at the sight of him slumped on his face and chest- and then relief as he began to snore smoothed her fur.
Of course, his ailment. He wasn't hurt, just asleep. Hesitating for a moment, Snow reached out, gently hooked a paw over his shoulder and tugged him over onto his side. Sitting at his side, she tucked her tail over her paws and waited, her gaze flicking back and forth between him and the little meadow, just waiting for him to regain consciousness once more.
The flutter of his eyes further eased her worry, and she visibly relaxed, waiting until his eyes fell on her and sparked with recognition before flicking her tail at the plant. "You said that was- goatweed? You recognize it from NightClan's territory?" Sunrise on Fallen Snow 63 Moons Prey Hunter Tribe of Forgotten Water Fawn || Made by Fawn || Notes |
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Post by Fawn on Jul 27, 2018 7:09:52 GMT -5
Dusk that Shrouds the Forest If you get lost you can always be found Prey-Hunter, 51 Moons Consciousness returned to him almost as quickly as it had left. Dusk sat up, blades of grass sticking to his predominantly dark chest fur, the faint ginger markings in his coat almost resembling pollen put there by his tumble.
"You said that was- goatweed? You recognize it from NightClan's territory?"
I... what? StarClan, he'd done it again. Dusk's condition had triggered on several separate occasions, sometimes right in the middle of the Tribe's encampment, but there was something particularly embarrassing about it happening in front of Sunrise on Fallen Snow. She was tremendously kind, however, and though he saw knowing in her eyes over what had transpired, she carried on the conversation as usual, saving his dignity better than he could save it himself.
"Y-Yes," he stammered, finding his tongue again. Rising to his paws, Dusk stepped carefully through the foreign grasses to an unassuming shrub nearby. "This is goatweed. The medicine cat of NightClan, Smokefur, figured out that if I chew the flowers, I can stay awake more easily." Dusk's paw caught one of the long-stemmed stalks, drawing the plant down to eye level so Snow could have a better look.
The shrub had yellow flowers, in a common five-petal array. He thought they were pretty, not just because they improved his life so much. The most important part of the flower lay in the frilly center, the tendrils sticking up like cats' whiskers, a small bead of red capping each one. When chewed up, the juice inside the flower actually looked blood red; it had been shocking at first, but Smokefur had reassured him it was supposed to look like that.
Tribe of Forgotten Waters OOC: Snow can suggest they bring their discovery to Skyteller? |
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Post by Taxx on Jul 30, 2018 13:31:16 GMT -5
You knocked me down, but I got up Dusk rose, the confusion in his eyes fading as he focused on the conversation Snow had picked up from where it had suddenly ended. Gazing at the flower, Snow nodded along as Dusk explained what it was. She hadn't thought that there would be herbs that could help him, but he certainly seemed excited to see it, and the she-cat wondered if having this herb would really limit the number of... falling-asleep-times he went through. To her, the plant was just another plant, even if a useful one, and she’d never cared much to find out what the various plants a medicine cat used looked like, or what they did for a cat.
She leaned forward to sniff at it, but it just smelled like a plant- sun warmed leaves and a trace of sweetness from the center. “It’s a good find!” she purred, cheered by what it meant for Dusk. “They can’t know about this; nobody’s ever mentioned coming through here. There’s plants- and prey.” Breathing deeply, her tail flicked at the scent of mouse and vole that hung in the air around them.
“Come on!” Spinning around, Snow brushed the tip of her tail across Dusk’s shoulder as she headed back for the tunnel. “Let’s go tell Skyteller. I can’t wait to see the look on his face when he sees what we’ve found!” Sunrise on Fallen Snow 63 Moons Prey Hunter Tribe of Forgotten Water Fawn || Made by Fawn || Notes |
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