I will not be like a bird bred in a cage, I thought, too dull to fly even when the door stands open. |
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INVENTORY
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Post by Ginger on May 15, 2019 22:58:19 GMT -5
And even though it's hard, and I may struggle through it all you may see me stumble, but you will never see me fall. Thistlepaw padded silently alongside the other Lightningclan apprentices, her head alert as she saw a full clearing of cats in the foreground. Excitement raced through her body as the smells of other clans began to pour into her nose, almost overwhelmingly. Thistlepaw inhaled deeply, taking in all the scents and attempting to decipher each clan as she had been trained. It was incredible.
Before she even realized it had happened, Thistlepaw found herself completely surrounded by cats from different clans. She jumped up and down a few times, hoping to catch sight of her fellow Lightningclan cats, but they were nowhere to be found. They must have been on the other side of the clearing. It was no matter to Thistlepaw, however, as she was very intrigued by the assortment of cats all around her.
Stoneclan. Easy to discern their earthy scent from the other clans. Rainclan. Easily the quickest cats to identify-- that smell of fish and dampness was unmistakable. Treeclan. A strong scent of pine was pervading through the air. Nightclan. Frogs were an unusual smell, so this scent stuck out quite a bit. Each clan had its unique scent, so easy to make out with the correct practice.
Thistlepaw sat down, proud of her accurate sense of smell, closing her eyes and eavesdropping on the conversations around her. As she relaxed, a new smell came upon her: tree-like, earthy, yet also damp. Thistlepaw snapped her eyes open in annoyance, hoping to find the source of the smell. Using her nose to guide her, she laid her eyes on a slim tortoiseshell tom. The young tabby slowly made her way over to where he was, and the smell got stronger as she noticed there were a few others like him.
"You must be one of those tribe cats," she said abruptly, forgoing a simple 'hello.' Remembering her manners, Thistlepaw flicked her tail and sat down in front of him. "I'm Thistlepaw."
Thistlepaw 6 Moons || LightningClan || She-Cat 323 Words || Made By Fawn || Fawn
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Post by Fawn on May 16, 2019 8:34:35 GMT -5
Dusk that Shrouds the Forest Home is when you're right where you should be Prey-Hunter, 63 Moons Dusk had left his heart in the mountains; it was being kept warm in the nest shared by Dawn on Golden Petals, Stone that Blocks Stream, and Splash of Leaping Trout. His brother Dark wasn't the only one feeling the strain and deep-set fear of being back in the valley; being back at the place where the foxes had spilled so much innocent blood.
Dusk was grateful Snow had remained home, though his heart told him she wouldn't have minded an opportunity to visit with her old Clan, rekindle old connections. Those kits came first, though. Pebble's kits had somehow fallen into their care - maybe with a bit of luck, maybe with a little divine intervention - and neither he nor Snow were willing to jeopardize their well-being for anything.
The tortoiseshell tom couldn't help but glance back the way he'd come, wishing just a little that the clouds might cover the moon so he could return home early. This is important, though. For the Tribe's diplomacy with the Clans. He could imagine Skyteller felt nervous, afraid of a repeat of the greenleaf gathering. There were a few cats amongst the Clans that were looking at the Tribe cats sideways - or with open scrutiny and suspicion.
Dusk had done his best to smile and appear friendly, but before long, he found himself off to the side, somehow alone with his thoughts.
Well, almost alone.
A young white-chested she-cat with neat tabby markings approached out of the blue. 'You must be one of those Tribe cats.'
"That's right," said Dusk goodnaturedly, recognizing the scent of LightningClan on Thistlepaw. "Though I used to be a Clan cat like you. My name is Dusk that Shrouds the Forest, but you can call me Dusk."
There would undoubtedly be a barrage of questions, and Dusk privately braced himself for it. Cats young and old took an interest in his history, his reasons for doing what he had done.
Tribe of Forgotten Waters 322 Words // Ginger // Notes Taxx (Snow mention!)
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I will not be like a bird bred in a cage, I thought, too dull to fly even when the door stands open. |
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INVENTORY
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Post by Ginger on May 16, 2019 21:06:46 GMT -5
And even though it's hard, and I may struggle through it all you may see me stumble, but you will never see me fall. Dusk that Shrouds the Forest. What a mouthful! These tribe cats were odd, that was for sure.
And yet, Dusk was different and somehow even more odd than the rest of the tribe cats. Thistlepaw pricked her ears when he mentioned he had used to be a clan cat. What could possibly happen to make someone leave their own clan? Thistlepaw shuddered at the thought of abandoning her own Lightningclan. The only instance in which she would do something like that would be if Firestar had exiled her. Even then, Thistlepaw would struggle to shift her loyalty to a new group of cats.
Thistle was appalled by Dusk admitting he had once been a clan cat, but she did not want to scare the tortoiseshell tom off. The young tabby thought to herself for a moment, attempting to formulate a gentle way to ask her burning questions. "What sort of terrible thing happened to make you leave your home?" And, of course she blew it right off the bat. "I-I mean, I don't mean to judge you, but I just can't fathom it." She shuffled and looked her paws on the ground, embarrassed by her bluntness. I really need to get that under control.
Thistlepaw 6 Moons || LightningClan || She-Cat 204 Words || Made By Fawn || Fawn
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Post by Fawn on May 27, 2019 1:38:18 GMT -5
Dusk that Shrouds the Forest Home is when you're right where you should be Prey-Hunter, 63 Moons There it is, thought Dusk with a kind of detached humor. The wide eyes, the utter shock. He was given his own taste of alarm at Thistlepaw's blurted question, which forced the senior tom to laugh a little sadly. "Nothing terrible happened. I wasn't a good fit for my Clan. I loved NightClan - I still do," he glanced to the great rock, even though he did not recognize the leader and deputy in charge of NightClan these days. "And it's because of that, that I left. What would you do, Thistlepaw, if you thought your presence was a burden to the Clan and to your family? If you weren't living up to who you were meant to be?"
The question was posed kindly, the tortoiseshell tom encouraging her to think the situation over first before answering. Dusk wanted to engage the kitten in a mental exercise, rather than go into a long-winded explanation of why he had made his choice - and what all of this had meant to him. It was a Gathering, but there was such a thing as oversharing.
Besides, Thistlepaw might instead decide to gossip with her Clan rather than hear his side of the story. Dusk fervently hoped she was open to a healthy conversation instead of firing up the rumor mill. He hadn't told her so she could sing like a sparrow to the rest of her peers.
Dusk's tail, primarily black despite his ginger-splotched body, flicked and twitched in counterbalance to the patient smile on his maw.
Tribe of Forgotten Waters 252 Words // Ginger // Notes
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I will not be like a bird bred in a cage, I thought, too dull to fly even when the door stands open. |
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INVENTORY
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Post by Ginger on May 28, 2019 22:08:17 GMT -5
And even though it's hard, and I may struggle through it all you may see me stumble, but you will never see me fall. Dusk's question perplexed Thistlepaw, sending the mind of the young apprentice into a frenzy of mixed feelings. If her clan was hurting due to her, what would she do? Abandoning the clan was wrong, but hurting the clan was equally wrong. It depends on the type of hurt I caused. Thistlepaw eyed Dusk with narrow eyes. What happened to this tortoiseshell tom to make him feel unworthy of his own clan?
Then again, those Nightclan cats are picky. Thistlepaw looked Dusk in the eye, prepared with a thoughtful answer to a thoughtful question. "I love my clan more than anything. As much as I wish I could say I know what to do in that situation, I really have no clue. It's too hypothetical, and every situation is different." Thistlepaw thought for a moment, her posture shifting into an erect one as she slowly backed her words with more confidence. "I recently learned that every cat is the same, but every clan is different. The cultures we were raised in will forever impact how we view the world, so I could never quite understand how you viewed that situation as a Nightclan can..." Thistlepaw's eyes softened, yet her form remained strong. "But I can understand the pain that must have come along with that decision. Pain, among all things, is universal."
Flicking her tail in a friendly manner, Thistlepaw added, "You don't seem like the cat to just turn-tail and run away at any issue." And the young apprentice genuinely meant it. Dusk seemed wise and friendly: the sort of cat who just knew what to do.
Now that that formality was out of the way, Thistlepaw felt as if she could let down some of the walls that she had put up before the Gathering. There was no need to appear aloof at such a kind cat. "So, having lived both a clan life and a tribe life, what is the best thing about each one?" Her ears pricked forward with genuine curiosity, excited to broaden her horizons.
Thistlepaw 6 Moons || LightningClan || She-Cat 355 Words || Made By Fawn || Fawn
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Post by Fawn on Jun 15, 2019 20:58:44 GMT -5
Dusk that Shrouds the Forest Home is when you're right where you should be Prey-Hunter, 63 Moons The answer Thistlepaw gave was enough to make him stare at her in surprise. Such thoughtfulness and eloquence was hard to find in a cat so young, and Dusk felt himself feel moved by Thistlepaw's astute observations. A tiny part of him - a not so tiny part of him - that still missed his cavern home and wished for the life of an ablebodied warrior, shocked him with how much he would have enjoyed being her mentor.
But they were Clans apart, and now worlds apart. The kitten couldn't have been much more than six or seven moons, yet already Dusk recognized the budding intellect of a diplomat, or even a future deputy if she kept that curious spark and willingness to learn from others.
Dusk purred, the dark and ginger patched fur on his face seeming to grow warm as he smiled. "You are wise beyond your years, Thistlepaw. Pain is universal, but I like to think friendship and compassion are as well. Now let me see…"
Tail curling neatly at his paws, Dusk turned over Thistlepaw's question in his mind. The Tribe and NightClan shared a few similar core traits - loyalty, the division of labor, respect for elders, queens and ancestors alike - but they were indeed different breeds entirely. An oak was a tree, a spruce was a tree, but they were easily distinguished from one another.
"The best thing about the Tribe of Forgotten Waters," Dusk began, humming thoughtfully beneath his breath as he found the words. "Is that each cat does what they're best at. Our strongest and toughest cats become Cave-Guards, who watch over our home and the hunting parties that go out. Leaner cats who aren't very well suited for fighting but have a talent for hunting, become Prey-Hunters, like me. I've had battle training, but knowing that my brother--" Dusk gestured to Lights Blazing in the Dark, who was always nearby, the tom with the bent ear looking as capable and controlled as ever. "--knowing that Dark has my back makes it easier for me to concentrate on hunting."
And now for NightClan… Thoughts of his first home drew a faint sigh from the Tribe cat's maw, his gaze refocusing not on Thistlepaw but on the small group of NightClan cats that had attended the gathering. Some he recognized; most, he didn't. "The best thing about NightClan is how they mentor their apprentices. In the Tribe, our To-bes -- 'paws like yourself -- are assigned Guides, but each group shares the workload of raising our To-bes to their set roles. I see the benefits of it, and I am the Guide of a young prey-hunter to-be called Eagle, but I know that there are more experienced cats all around me to help Eagle succeed. I had a great mentor in NightClan. His name was Nettlefur, and he was the wisest, kindest, most patient cat I've ever had the pleasure of knowing."
Dusk smiled, but there was a thinness to it that denoted the melancholy taking root in his chest. He hadn't thought of Nettleheart in a while, and the memory of his mentor still left pinpricks of pain with the realization that the tom had departed for Silverpelt. "Having only one cat to train you can backfire, but there is an equally strong chance that you'll form a valuable bond. It's like having a… third parent to guide you and look out for you. It's a wonderful thing, to have someone be invested in your future." To have someone willing to overlook your flaws and push you forward despite any setbacks.
Tribe of Forgotten Waters 593 Words // Ginger // Notes
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I will not be like a bird bred in a cage, I thought, too dull to fly even when the door stands open. |
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INVENTORY
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Post by Ginger on Jun 27, 2019 0:05:39 GMT -5
And even though it's hard, and I may struggle through it all you may see me stumble, but you will never see me fall. Thistlepaw beamed at Dusk's praise, her whiskers perking up ever so slightly. His addition to her sentiment caught her off guard. Friendship and compassion. Universal? For clan cats, that was not very possible. However, Tribe cats did not have to fight the battles of their ancestors against enemy cats they knew nothing about. Was it possible for clan cats to ever come to a consensus over the words that Dusk had just said? "Do you think.." Thistlepaw began, faltering because she was stepping into an uncomfortable conversation. "Is it possible for the all clans to forget past quarrels and live as... friends?" The more the young tabby thought of it, the less likely it seemed. However, Thistlepaw still entertained the possibility of a warless world in her head.
Once Dusk got into talking about the tribe, Thistlepaw shook the thought out of her head temporarily. Having Prey-hunters and Cave-guards seemed pretty odd, but Thistlepaw quickly made a connection. "Lightningclan has tunnelers and warriors who don't learn to tunnel. It's not quite like your system, but I think I can understand." Tunnelers were small cats who were quick thinkers, and the other warriors were the larger cats who seemed to cover four strides in one as they ran. The young tabby smiled up at Dusk as he gestured to his brother, Dark. It was really sweet that these two protected both each other and the tribe. "That system sounds like it works for all of you tribe cats, but I don't think it would go over well here. Warriors seem to want to provide in every way for the clan, whether it be in battle or on the hunting grounds."
Thistlepaw thought of Batear as Dusk started to talk about the differences in training. She tried to picture every Lightningclan warrior looking down at her and expecting her to learn how to hunt, fight, and patrol. It made her shudder with fear. Some of those warriors were the most intimidating cats she had known. Lucky for her, Thistlepaw had Batear, a gentle mentor who had taught her and was still teaching her not only warrior skills, but skills in compassion and understanding. "I agree with you. I would be too embarrassed to learn under the scrutiny of a lot of warriors." She smiled. "Plus, my mentor Batear has been doing a phenomenal job. That 'wisdom beyond my years' has been fostered by her. I am inspired by how much she cares."
Thistlepaw had noticed that Dusk's happiness seemed to have become a tad more strained. Was she upsetting him? Thistlepaw, before she could stop herself, blurted out: "Do you miss your mentor? Do you miss Nightclan?" Thistlepaw grappled with understanding the complex nature of Dusk's pain. "I mean-- I don't want to disrespect your new home...But I think I would miss it. Not even the big things and the cats, but the little things." Thistlepaw took a breath before explaining herself, "The feeling of pride at naming ceremonies, the friendly to not-so-friendly encounters on borders... Stuff like that." Thistlepaw knew she would miss the wide open space for running more than ever if she ever had to leave Lightningclan. Thistlepaw 6 Moons || LightningClan || She-Cat 529 Words || Made By Fawn || Fawn
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Post by Fawn on Jul 9, 2019 17:44:13 GMT -5
Dusk that Shrouds the Forest Home is when you're right where you should be Prey-Hunter, 63 Moons "Is it possible for the all clans to forget past quarrels and live as... friends?"
The question swirled through Dusk's head like a rogue storm-cloud, dampening his thoughts of the Tribe enough to focus on Thistlepaw's hopeful gaze. "I don't know," he answered truthfully, tail lifting and falling in gentle rhythms against his paws while he sat. "There's enough bad blood between some of the Clans to fill a river. But... With each new generation born, I believe there is a chance for peace - so long as the older generations don't pass their grudges on to young cats such as yourself."
The tortoiseshell tom looked at the assembled cats, pensive and wondering which among them were being unfairly influenced by senior warriors, and which were being allowed to form their own thoughts and opinions about Clan relations. I hope Thistlepaw keeps asking questions. Her mentor seems kind and knowledgeable. Thistlepaw's future seemed bright, in that aspect. Dusk's whiskers twitched as he smiled, wondering if the next time the Tribe attended the Gathering, he would be meeting her again with a warrior's name.
"Do you miss your mentor? Do you miss Nightclan?"
"Every day," confessed Dusk, smiling despite the wave of homesickness threatening to engulf him. "Every day. I love the Tribe and my new home in the mountains - but it's like you said. The little things. There are friends I haven't seen in moons that I used to see every morning, evening and night. At least I have kin with me, my brother Dark and his daughter Ebony." It was a great comfort to him to have them both join him in the Tribe, though the circumstances had been nightmarish - to put it lightly. The fox attack at the last greenleaf Gathering had claimed many lives; among them, Dark's son, Shadepaw.
The time for wistfulness drew to a close, however, as the cats upon the great rock seemed to be stirring.
Tribe of Forgotten Waters 321 Words // Ginger // Notes
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