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Post by Fawn on Feb 22, 2013 15:02:25 GMT -5
LIONSTAR & ONYXKIT
The tiny patron saint of discord danced just out of her brother's reach, her whiskers buffeted against her cheeks by the rush of air in accompaniment with Crimsonkit's swing, golden eyes aglitter with their familiar mocking glint, as if to say can't catch me. Mention of the Sparkling Brook, however, put a new sort of curiosity all over her dark features, the thin she-kit prevented from asking any further questions - though they all knew she was going to go with them, whether they let her walk with the group or she dared it alone - by the mesmerizingly ominous presence and animation of Grayowl.
His name did not match the rest of him, in the eyes of a creature who had never before seen such stealth; the fact that he knew her name did not bother her - lots of cats did, nor did Onyxkit exactly make it hard for them to forget her. Used to causing trouble for the warriors in particular, Onyxkit, for one precarious moment, honestly wondered if she'd ever put a thorn in this ghostly, ghastly feline's nest without knowing it was his. If Onyxkit had had a broader vocabulary and a larger collection of memories and nouns with which to draw a proper comparison from, she would have likened him to a silvery spider or the clever black-footed fox, a fantastic adapter to anything nature threw at them with an underlying, tension-causing note of kill or be killed philosophy thrown in there.
The black kitten's eyes widened. And then she grinned, showing her pointy milk teeth as Onyxkit attempted to mimic his circling. How does he do that? Seeming as though to glide across the forest floor, painted within the she-cat's hyperbolic imagination were fleeting, poignant images of a gray-backed owl sweeping low on silent wings to scoop up anything it wanted. And then the image became a fox, that slunk through the undergrowth, over fallen limb and through snaring bramble, ready to snap up into it's jaws anything that wandered too close.
There, it was decided. This Grayowl character her brother was very entranced by was cool. He wasn't like the others. Silently vowing never to do anything to his nest - the hollowed out look of the gray tom's eyes did not mean that he was utterly devoid of emotion, Onyxkit observed, it simply meant that his wrath had not yet been stirred, right? Intending to be properly behaved, Onyxkit licked down the charcoal fur along her narrow chest, head bobbing with her quick pace, before she mewed in a giddy - but respectful tone, eyes locked on the phantasmal TreeClan tom. "May I come too?"
He wouldn't say no, would he? He wouldn't just let Crimsonkit go and not her! Wait until Copperkit finds out. He was going to be just so jealous.
~*~
With putting Wormkit under the twin spotlights of his brightly gleaming eyes, Lionstar had unintentionally ruined any chances he'd had of soothing the young tom's worries, of patching up any tears he had ripped in Wormkit's understanding of the world and the authority within it when he'd suggested they break the rules. His stomach clenched unpleasantly, but he knew an awkward conversation when he was having one, and he had learned through his deputyship in particular, the telltale signs of someone lying to him. Fleeting glances, twitchy tail, overacting to try and appear nonchalant; in little Wormkit's case - a tom who was so much more mature beyond his moons - it was the words he spoke that were slightly contradictory to what little knowledge Lionstar had of the younger creature's personality, and the tiny shiver down the tabby kit's frame confirmed his suspicions.
Lionstar suppressed a sigh and the urge to rub his face with his paw, as if he might wipe away his struggles and his stress with one good swipe. Congratulations, Mr. TreeClan Youth, you've gone and messed things up by trying to be fun. Perhaps Wormkit would be able to show genuine enthusiasm and curiosity once they got there? Of course he might view this little outing as Lionstar pushing him out of the nest a few moons too early, and start to feel a little panicked by being forced to confront the world so soon. Wormkit was smart. He was introspective and clever, he was not like a normal kit, and thus wouldn't have normal-kit desires and habits.
Rather than go to the sparkling brook, what if Wormkit had wanted the opportunity to meet with the elders? Or perhaps see the inside of the leaders' den? Maybe he'd even wanted a glimpse inside the healer's place of residence, to learn all that he could about his Clan or a future craft. Trying to salvage the situation, Lionstar smiled at Wormkit gently, nodding to show that they could both rejoin the group; "Let's go, can't let Grayowl get too used to being in front." He mewed with mock, light competitiveness. He wanted Wormkit to know that should he ever have any sort of problem, social or emotional, that he was allowed to talk about it, allowed to seek higher council to have his worries soothed and his problems at least partially solved, if possible.
But would Wormkit ever go to him now, if he'd done such a smashing job of disappointing him?
Lionstar didn't want to think about it. Right now, he surmised as he saw the surprising obedience Onyxkit was showing to their resident gray ghost, his only goal was to prevent Grayowl from raising some sort of kit-cult, or gain any more sheep in his eerie flock with even stranger goals. Just why Grayowl had taken such an interest in the pair of kits in front of him, Lionstar would never know - and didn't think he'd like the answer he'd get if he ever asked.
I'll be keeping an eye on him. On all of them.
There was that saying that came to mind, the Clan leader realized with a slight jolt. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. And keep them away from the kits.
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Post by Insidious on Feb 22, 2013 16:41:47 GMT -5
C R I M S O N K I T & G R A Y O W L For a fleeting moment, dark gold eyes fixated into the similar, though brighter amber shade of Onyxkit's – the she-kit seemingly engrossed by the circling motions of the illusive, gray feline. Satisfaction rippled within the tom's chest, an amused purr locked between the deathly grip of firm jaws. He wouldn't mindlessly give the two impressionable, youthful TreeClan kits any reason to find themselves below interested, no. In fact, it was becoming a major abundance within his unlawful trail of thought to ensue growing interest from the two until it was no longer simply interest; bordering eternal fascination – Crimsonkit seemed to already have arrived at Grayowl's desired station.
“May I come too?” It was Crimsonkit first to reply to Onyxkit's question, replacing words with a snort of pure annoyance. Say no, Grayowl! She doesn't have to come! He would have voiced aloud his complaints, hadn't the very source of his distaste been directly at his flank. Instead, pale green eyes glimpsed up at Grayowl – expectant that the warrior would take recognition of his plead for Onyxkit not to be involved, and would therefore, send his sister back to the nursery in favoritism of Crimsonkit. That was certainly far from what occurred.
Grayowl, for the briefest of moments, found his paralytic stare befalling the emotion in Crimsonkit's big, pleading eyes. Although the warrior enjoyed the gleaming awe that could easily be seen emitting from the tom-kit's stare; he wasn't about to allow two potential evolutions of sadism become merely one for the sake of a kit's happiness. Not a flicker of emotion danced across Grayowl's facial features as amber eyes flickered from Crimsonkit, to Onyxkit, to the approaching golden frame of TreeClan's leader that couldn't of chosen a worse time to finally get a move on. He sported a smirk across his charcoal features, simply for the sake of Lionstar lurking nearby – assuring that he not have any reason to believe Grayowl's few, precious minutes alone with the two kits had been favoring a darker light. With the way that Lionstar's distrustful gaze lingered upon him, however, it wasn't difficult to recognize that it was, perhaps, too late for him to earn any of the golden tom's trust. A pity, certainly. Although, he couldn't necessarily claim himself to be affected by the leader's firm conviction.
He signaled with his tail for both kits to rise and follow, elegant frame twisting in Lionstar and Wormkit's direction to follow the duo toward the Sparkling Brook. Grayowl didn't spare a curious glance toward Crimsonkit, already certain that he knew which emotion the red, black spotted feline would sport. He was correct, even with his lack of open observation. For, Crimsonkit's pale green eyes were momentarily hollowed out by an emotion that bordered disappointment. Was he wrong to believe that Grayowl even possessed the ability to favourite one over another? Was he wrong to believe that Grayowl genuinely cared for him and valued his opinions? Upon realizing that Onyxkit was still near, the tom-kit shook away his dissatisfaction and, instead, wore a grin that forced out the words he'd never hoped he would have to say upon this visit to the Sparkling Brook: “Well, are you coming or not?” Of course, Crimsonkit didn't dislike his sister. He simply wanted Grayowl all to himself – this not likely to occur while a fellow kit was equally as fascinated. Still, he was going to try. Crimsonkit bolted ahead of Onyxkit, planting his tiny feet directly at Grayowl's side. He titled his chin upward to glance toward the charcoal warrior, though was unable to meet the dark gold eyes he craved to behold with Grayowl's lack of recognition toward Crimsonkit arriving at his side. He wouldn't have been able to notice – being far too small to reach Grayowl's level and follow his sharp gaze – but the warrior was mildly distracted by the needle-like stab his stare was performing in the direction of the noble Lionstar himself.
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We are born with a DNA blueprint into a world of scenario and circumstance we don't control |
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Co-Captain
INVENTORY
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Post by Phoenix on Feb 22, 2013 17:47:57 GMT -5
Wormkit
| Much to his relief, Lionstar did not probe further, simultaneously dropping the subject and saving the kit a considerable amount of consternation. Only when he released it in the form of a soft, barely audible sigh did he become aware of the breath that he had been holding in anticipation of the older tom's response. Regardless of the smallest kit's hesitation, Lionstar seemed willing to continue on with the trip, eager to do so, even. His lips curled upward in a small smile, a genuine smile. In a single sentence, the TreeClan leader had managed to rid the tabby kit of a biting guilt that would have continued to plague him the rest of the day. Guilt that he was never supposed to feel, because Lionstar was never supposed to know that Wormkit had any qualms about breaking the rules and leaving camp.
In fact, it was because of the diminishing guilt that that had easily become the best sentence that he had heard all day. Yellow-green eyes, which had not strayed from their focus on the TreeClan leader since their owner's not-so-subtle suggestion, now glanced off to the side, unkowingly following a larger pare of yellow ones to focus on a senior warrior and two excited kits. The instant that Lionstar's knowing, assessing gaze left him and the spotlight was lifted from his features, a surprising amount of tension fled his soulders as well, leaving the kit to relax in its wake. That was the way it was supposed to be; quiet and unassuming as he was, he was never supposed to be the sole focus of any cat's attention, and any time he ended up in that undesirable position, he tried to - he chuckled at the play on words - worm his way out of it. Sometimes it worked, and other times it did not. Luckily, this seemed to be an occurance that belonged in the former category.
Green-eyed gaze angled to the ground, he bounded across the distance separating them from the other half of the patrol, hoping he looked more like an excited kit than one attempting to escape an unfortunate situation. Even though the leader now had three other cats to distract him, the small, tabby kit did not want to accidentally instigate a repeat of this conversation with an action that was not up to par with his words. He was supposed to be an excited kit, and if Onyxkit and Crimsonkit were anything to go by, excited kits were loud, energetic and far too willing to leave camp when the chance arose.
And as that thought struck him and he was reminded once more that they were, in fact, still leaving camp, the pleasant relief that had taken up residence in his consciousness soon gave way to the underlying sense of anxiety. But even as he began to mentally voice his reluctance, the tom once again reminded himself that his own comfort was irrelevant to the matter. They were leaving, and he was supposed to be happy and excited for his two den mates, who obviously could not wait to step out of camp. His bounds seemed to have succeeded in carrying him away from the leader, whom he hoped would take up conversation with the creepy gray tom, thus resulting in the two managing to distract each other. That would make it easier for him to relax and pretend that he was enjoying the outing; Crimsonkit and Onyxkit would probably ignore him anyway, as most of the ktis did, so Lionstar and Grayowl were the two who were the mostlikely to see through his plan. If the feeling of disinterest in him was true, compared to Crimsonkit, at least, then chances were that he would not have to worry about the senior warrior. Which left just Lionstar. Of course.
Moving to walk alongside Onyxkit, he watched as Crimsonkit bolted forward and knew that he would not be surprised if the she-cat joined her brother beside the gray feline. With two kits like Crimsonkit and Onyxkit, who had earned every word of their reputation, surely he would be overlooked in favor of keeping them in line. In any case, they always seemed to forget about him, and he could only hope that this observation would continue to hold true throughout the course of this trip.
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Post by Fawn on Mar 8, 2013 12:59:32 GMT -5
LIONSTAR & ONYXKIT The complicated emotional dance he had just been forced to take part of with little Wormkit had it's lasting effects; grimly, Lionstar watched Wormkit fall into the act of excitement and even go as far as to bounding after the rest of their escort party - as though fueled by genuine anticipation and not the desire to perhaps get away from him. Oops. Lionstar flicked his tail with a deep feeling of regret settling over his heart. After 9 full moons at this rank, Lionstar had yet to perfect his socialization skills while on the job. Or perhaps he had fallen out of touch with his comrades?
With this possibility looming overhead, Lionstar gave a light toss of his pelt, stepping over a wet branch as a slightly broody look crossed over otherwise handsome golden features. If I paid more attention to my own Clanmates, I would have been able to connect with Wormkit better, and not to mention Grayowl wouldn't be so...surprisingly creepy, as if I've just met him at a gathering or something. And those two... Eyes locking onto the brother and sister kittens in their completely opposite shades, Onyxkit's shadow markings just barely visible when she passed through a warm sunbeam, Lionstar knew not what to make of them quite yet.
Outpacing the kits and careful not to trod on Crimsonkit who was bouncing closely behind Grayowl, he started 'reconnecting' with his Clanmates by initiating a conversation with Grayowl, of all cats. "What do you think of the other four besides these three?" he mewed quietly, curious as to Grayowl's assessment of TreeClan's youngest members.
He seemed to take such an interest in them, that Lionstar was generally curious and a bit suspicious as to what Grayowl actually had discovered about the other kittens. A glimmer of doubt flitted across the forefront of Lionstar's mind, as though he might have been wrong about Grayowl's initial behavior and intentions. He's Willowfur's brother, Lionstar almost tried to justify that because those two had been siblings, they surely must be cut from the same cloth - but there was very little guarantee of that. The same litter that could produce a sinner could also produce a saint.
So which was Grayowl? A sinner cloaked in saintly vestments or a saint mistaken for a creature of sin? | //
About to dart after her brother like a black-scaled serpent in pursuit of a grounded cardinal, it was the presence of Wormkit nearby that evened out her stalking form into a much more leisurely walk, matching the tom-kit step-for-step. Studying the slightly runt-like tabby kitten with the kind of analytical eye of a cat used to sizing up her opponents, Onyxkit let out a soft chuff of amusement. What are YOU doing out here, fraidybones? You would never break the rules, even if the leader told you to!
Her correct assessment of Wormkit's character was by no means an otherworldly gift of deduction - she had simply been studying all of her nurserymates with the same unyielding, probing inspection of a zoologist attempting to learn as much about her 'subjects' as possible. It wasn't that Onyxkit regarded herself as separate by comparison with the other six, she didn't so much single herself out as mentally catalog the behaviors and thresholds and weaknesses and quirks of her Clanmates for use later. Her skill set was, in direct opposite to Wormkit's, small acts of discord rather than kindness. She had caught him once, doing something nice for some other cat who didn't even notice Wormkit as the cause, and while she had considered stopping him or ruining his efforts, the actual process itself was so fascinating she momentarily let it go.
It had never once crossed her mind to use her stealth for benevolent means, as it very nearly went against her nature.
Wanting to pick the brain of a cat who was a foil of herself, Onyxkit let a few heartbeats of silence pass between them before she spoke up; "What do you think about him?" she flicked her short black tail in Grayowl's direction. "Grayowl, I mean. You've been hanging around him longer than I have." She kept her voice low so the adults wouldn't overhear, the hushed, controlled tone so easy to slip into when she'd had so much practice, conniving and conspiring in the dark like she so often found herself doing.
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Post by Insidious on Mar 9, 2013 16:40:33 GMT -5
C R I M S O N K I T & G R A Y O W L A lighter shade of golden pigmentation meeting that of Grayowl's darker amber indicated that Lionstar's mind was contemplating an approach. With flawless ease, the charcoal warrior swished his thinly furred tail, eyes averting to the left, perked ears following the notion a moment afterward. He inwardly hoped that Lionstar would consider otherwise; the lack of extended eye contact on Grayowl's part perhaps voicing aloud his desire for solitude from TreeClan's leader. That assumption, however, was quick to be shattered. A sideway glance gifted him with the information of a golden furred feline at his flank, no emotions crossing the glassy expression upon his features, though more or less, masking the distaste at a satisfactory level.
What he did not expect was for Lionstar's choice in conversation to be revolving around clan youth. Dark gold eyes sharply matched Lionstar's own, a brief vibe of interest detectable with the twitching of his thin whiskers. It was interesting that Lionstar sought to speak of the three currently not alongside them. To be entirely honest, the charcoal warrior was only able to focus on so many dark evolutions at a time. Crimsonkit: he had an intriguing temper on his shoulders. It briefly reminded him of the kit version of himself that had such hatred for his sister; hatred that Windwhisper had found useful. Onyxkit: perhaps, a tad more independent when it came to what she did and didn't do. There was potential, though nothing that would be easily cracked. Wormkit: Grayowl's mind hardly lingered upon him. He was far too... considerate for Grayowl to even partially find himself dedicated toward attempting to change Wormkit's outlook.
Departing with the thoughts upon processing a slow, insightful blink, Grayowl at last contemplated the source of Lionstar's question. If Grayowl had any reason to be suspicious of Lionstar's reasoning for asking him of all cats, surely, he would have been. Perhaps, he simply didn't hold the leader to a standard of similar intellect. Lionstar was intelligent, but his deprived from a less sadistic knowledge. He wasn't capable of understanding the realm of death: how it worked, how it altered the lives of many. Therefore, Grayowl wasn't bothered with conversing with the TreeClan leader more than absolutely necessary. He wasn't able to lead the clan how Grayowl saw fit. “Each of them has a unique personality; sharp in mind, but for separate reasons.” Grayowl's gaze slipped downward, landing within the awe-struck pools of pale green that remained glancing up toward him. “It will be interesting to see how each develops upon their path to warrior-hood. Shall they serve the clan well.”
All thoughts of Onyxkit and whatever business she had with Wormkit was no longer of Crimsonkit's interest. A pair of narrowed, suspicious eyes evolved into a wide portrayal of deep warmth when, at last, they locked with the familiar dark gold. Briefly, he wondered if Grayowl's words had any direct link to him. After all, he had spoke of how interesting it would be to watch them develop when he had been looking directly at him. A prideful swish of his red, black spotted tail indicated the tom-kit's rising ego, somehow honoured to be praised indirectly, if at all, by the charcoal warrior that had left him mesmerized.
Crimsonkit's gaze, with proper effort, traveled passed Grayowl to lock upon Lionstar. “Us three should be considered too,” The slight tilt of his head portrayed a normal amount of kit-like curiousity, keeping the words that would have normally been offered with a more hostile tongue under wraps in hopes of impressing TreeClan's leader and the ominous, charcoal shadow. “I mean, the other three aren't even here. Since we're leaving camp early, we're ahead of them, in a way.” He didn't necessarily know how to properly explain his point, but his opinion was, hopefully, being expressed clearly. “Don't you agree, Lionstar, Grayowl?”
A smirk laced Grayowl's charcoal jaw, though deprived more from comical amusement than a shared viewpoint, as Crimsonkit was suggesting. “The less you consider it a race, the more likely you are to nourish from your surroundings. You have potential, Crimsonkit. You all do. However, it is yours especially that I do anticipate to witness excel.” Because you'll make for a prized, sadistic carnivore when the path of goodness fails you. The words that were left unsaid brought a gleam to Grayowl's dark amber eyes, one that matched the jovial emotion of Crimsonkit's own upon absorbing Grayowl's praise – regardless of the few words he couldn't quite put a meaning to.
He would impress Grayowl. He would do – little to his knowledge, become – whatever was required of him to impress.
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