[Taxx]

Teller of the Mountain Sky

This time, Skyteller left with just two guards; the little group of three made quick time down the mountain toward StoneClan’s territory. He couldn’t spare any hunters at this point, and he knew well enough the basic rules of respecting territory and minding the leadership- it would have been different had he been visiting one of the Clans he hadn’t yet, but he and StoneClan had a truce. The guards were merely in case he came across a threat between the cave and the Clan’s territory.

He vaguely remembered one of the cats that met him at the border; he had been part of the patrol that had been with Smokestorm when he’d come that first time. Skyteller hadn’t learned his name, though, and Hawkfall introduced himself and the two warriors- and the apprentice- with them. They cut their patrol short as Skyteller mentioned his wish to speak to Hawkstar, the four Clan cats leading the three Tribe to the camp.

Smokestorm met them at the camp’s entrance, set to go out on a hunting patrol when she saw the ginger tom with the patrol. She sent the four back to finish scouting the border, called another cat to take her place, and led the Tribe cats into the camp, toward Hawkstar’s den. Briefly her eyes raked over the two stout cave-guards, a hint of wariness in her eyes, but she said nothing aloud, calling out to announce herself and the visitors to the Clan’s leader, waiting for his reply before padding forward into the den.

Skyteller nodded to the cave-guards to wait for him outside the den as he followed the deputy and dipped his head to the other tom. “Greetings, Hawkstar. I hope the warming season is proving bountiful to you and your Clan’s hunters.”

BlooRey DVD    | table by amber

Tribe of Forgotten Waters

[BlooRey DVD]

Hawkstar

may your dreams be larger than mountains

The StoneClan figurehead had spent his morning somewhat unconventionally. He'd brought moss to the elder's den alongside Snowpaw and Palepaw, and chuckled with Wolfclaw and Hailstrike as the older cats took turns interjecting throughout the telling of stories from their past. Eventually, the two apprentices were released to their training, leaving Hawkstar in the elder's den. The old friends continued in quiet conversation, voices low. The conversation had circled to Eagletalon, the reminiscing bringing forth thoughts of their friend. Sharing a glance with Hailstrike, Wolfclaw rasped. "I think I speak for both of us when I say either one of us would have traded our life in place of Eagletalon's."

Hawkstar's maw twitched in a saddened smile. "As I would trade my remaining lives to undo what was done." The she-cat among the group blinked in understanding, but cut in. "You have as much family who would mourn you as Eagletalon. I don't believe StoneClan could bear to have lost you in that battle." Wolfclaw grunted in agreement, adding onto her comment. "But look at us. Who'd miss us, a cranky set of elders?" The former deputy chuckled as Hawkstar made a noise of disagreement. Silence stretched between them momentarily, before Wolfclaw's yellow eyes glinted with mischief.

"Do you recall the snake all those moons ago?" Hailstrike's ears pricked at the mention, and she narrowed her gaze thoughtfully. "First one of the season, somehow ended up in the middle of camp?" Recollection flickered in Hawkstar's mind, images of the situation, which had been dangerous and worrisome at the time, blooming to life in his mind. "Eagletalon was the first to act, was he not?" The StoneClan figurehead rumbled. Wolfclaw smirked, dipping his head in a nod. "He always was the most reckless among us. I do believe you were the second to jump into the fray, Hailstrike."

The she-cat made a noise somewhere between disagreement and a cough, though the smile twitching her lips indicated it was as they recalled. "StarClan, I've never seen Eagletalon dance the way he did that day. Had he ever faced a snake before then?" A purr rumbled in Hawkstar's chest, the big tom shaking his head. "We were all young and stupid back then. I doubt any of us had much experience." Another realization dawned on him, and he glanced at Wolfclaw in mock horror. "Does that mean... Once we were the young and reckless trouble makers with our hearts in the right place, looking to take on LightningClan single-pawed?"

As Wolfclaw and Hailstrike recalled the night they'd had to rescue Smokestorm, Herondive, Honeynose, and other young warriors from a hastily planned reclamation of Sun Stones led by Vipertail, the three old cats dissolved into fits of laughter. The laughter continued until Nightpetal and Crowdance returned from outside, rendering the den a little too crowded with a tom as big as Hawkstar in the midst. Still rumbling with laughter, Hawkstar bid his friends farewell and returned to his den. He was alone for no longer than a trip to the Moss Meadow when his ears picked up commotion.

Rising to his paws, he was prepared to head outside when Smokestorm's voice requested entrance. Ears pricked in interest, the aging StoneClan leader bid her enter. Seated just in front of his nest, Hawkstar waited as his deputy ducked inside, followed by the ginger coat of the Tribe's Skyteller. Though his eyes glittered with intrigue, he reined in his questions in favor of dipping his age-silvered muzzle to the other leader. "Skyteller, a pleasure to see you again. StoneClan fairs well this Newleaf, thank you for asking. I hope the mountain Newleaf has treated the Tribe similarly well?" He asked, a friendly smile upon his maw. "What may StoneClan do for you today?" He inquired, head tilting curiously as he awaited Skyteller's response.

leader of stoneclan

and may you have the courage
to scale their summits

background image | harley king | Taxx | table by phoenix

Note: 109 moons

[Taxx]

Teller of the Mountain Sky

It had been a few moons since Skyteller had last seen Hawkstar, but he looked well; a bit silver around the face, but that was to be expected with age. He was glad to hear that StoneClan was doing well, too. Smokestorm looked a little more lean than the last time he'd seen her, but the Time of Frozen Water was hard on every cat. Her survival proved her strength. "Likewise, Hawkstar. We are... well, there have been troubles, but we're working around them." For a moment, he hesitated about letting them know what troubles, and then decided to do so. Surely some of his Clan had seen his Tribe's hunting patrols, so probably best to give a reason for them. "An avalanche in the late days of the Time of Frozen Water claimed lives, and cut us from our typical hunting areas, so we've had to draw on the resources of the valley, but with the melting snow I hope those will no longer be necessary soon."

A shake of his head followed. "But that is not why I've come. Our hunting parties are providing and I would not ask for prey you need to feed your own cats. I came in the hopes of once again attempting to attend one of your Clan Gatherings." His thoughts flashed back to the last, horrible attempt, a slight flicker of fear at the remembered dash through unfamiliar terrain with foxes chasing the group of Tribe cats down, and tried to push it away. "I still would like to attempt to form an alliance with each Clan... if they're agreeable. I think a small group, myself, one prey-hunter and one cave-guard. Perhaps we could travel with you on that night?"

BlooRey DVD | table by amber

Tribe of Forgotten Waters