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Post by Fawn on Feb 9, 2015 21:07:24 GMT -5
[smear:663399]Hollykit[/smear:e61985] 3 Moons. She-Kit. NightClan. I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
It had rained on and off for three full days, sometimes a downpour, and sometimes a pathetic drizzle that left Hollykit fuming beside the nursery entrance, gazing into the center of camp and feeling as if she had some sort of infectious disease, to be restricted so severely. If boredom was an illness, then she was in critical conditions. At last Ghostlight saw fit to cure her daughter of her terrible ailment, and she was given permission to go into the rest of camp -- slender black limbs churning as she surged forward, splashing through a puddle, droplets clinging to the semi-long obsidian strands of fur covering the she-kitten's whole body. She barely acknowledged these, simply grateful to be rid of the boring, almost completely empty nursery; it was only herself, her two brothers and Stonekit these days, and that was hardly anything to brag about.
Now, at last, they could be out in the open, with plenty of space to play. Keeping one leaf-green eye on the ebb and flow of warriors going about their business (as well as to check for her father, who didn't seem to be back from his patrol yet), she rounded on her siblings, purring, body lowered into the battle stance Blackwolf had taught her a few days before. "Let's play NightClan versus TreeClan, I'll be Ravenstar -- Bonekit, you can be Lionstar and Coyotekit, you can be Bloodtalon." Not yet aware of their leader's rather diminutive size, there was nothing and no-cat that could lessen the awe in Hollykit's eyes whenever the proud black and white Clan leader jumped onto the boulder ledge to make announcements. Next to her parents, Ravenstar was idolized by the daughter of Blackwolf, and it was apparent in many aspects - particularly, how she always chose to be Ravenstar whenever they played NightClan versus TreeClan.
A breeze stirred as a mottled apprentice passed by right in front of them, and the scent from a mossball soaked in mouse bile that he was carrying drifted right into the she-kitten's scent glands. Ugh! Whatever that was, she wanted absolutely nothing to do with it; lip curling up, Hollykit shook her head as if she could physically get rid of the smell, and in doing so, caught sight of her reflection in the puddle she'd splashed through just heartbeats ago. Hollykit's eyes flashed, and she smirked in the direction of her two brothers, catcalling. "Hey guess who I look like?" She pulled her lip up again, this time just on one side, mimicking the unusual permanent sneer NightClan's deputy always wore; it had never occurred to Hollykit to ask anyone about it - it was just one of those permanent things, a fixture in what she knew of the world she lived in, like Blackwolf's mismatched eyes.
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar Word Count: 498 Words Tags: @lacihparg
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2015 23:07:11 GMT -5
do your duty in all things never wish to do less======== Slatenose trotted into camp with two mice in her jaws and two warriors behind her. She nodded her thanks as the trio dropped their prey off in the fresh-kill pile, having assigned herself to lead a hunting patrol. The ground was wet and mushy, mud finding its way between her claws easily, but the prey was running well and their patrol had been successful. Slatenose wanted nothing more than to get cleaned off and slink into her nest for some rest (and hoped that Nettlefur would be there to greet her), but the duties of a deputy called.
She stopped by the elders' den to make sure that the apprenticeshad kept them comfortable during the rain and tended to their needs, then poked a nose in Ravenstar's den to see if the leader was there. Not finding her, she stopped by Smokefur's den to check up on how the medicine cat was feeling. Worry still plagued her after Smokefur's return, and while she was grateful that NightClan leadership was whole once again, Slatenose couldn't shake the feeling that something wrong. Her last stop was the nursery, to check on Ghostlight and her kits (and make sure Stonekit was doing fine).
As she padded up, she noticed young Hollykit outside the nursery by a puddle for the first time in a few days. The wet that permeated the camp had finally lifted, so presumably Ghostlight had given the kits permission to escape the nursery for the day. Slatenose couldn't imagine what being cooped up inside the small den with the kits for company felt like. The scent of mouse bile drew her attention and the deputy nodded as an apprentice walked by with some moss. Hopefully that's going to the elders, she thought, making a note for a tick check later on in the day.
"Hey guess who I look like?"
Slatenose turned her attention towards the kits again, listening to their play. Hollykit drew one lip up in a bad imitation of her own snarl, and Slatenose narrowed her eyes in annoyance. She crept up behind the young she-kit, feeling the eyes of Bonekit and Coyotekit on her as she made her presence known.
"I think you look like a powerful deputy who has seen many fierce battles," she mewed gravely, voice loud and booming behind the smaller she-kit. Slatenose drew herself up to full size and gave the kit a stern expression. Her snarl was a sensitive topic, the battle that she earned it in being a close one, and the effect it had on her face one of even more controversy. Slatenose didn't pride herself in her appearance, necessarily, and while the snarl did help cats take her more seriously, it left her with her Clanmates assuming that she didn't understand the definition of humor. The grey and white she-cat did, however, understand humor, and she was employing that knowledge at the expense of Blackwolf's kits.
It was a small bit of revenge for that battle on the RainClan border, she supposed. Scar his kits a bit and leave him with the aftermath of a scared feline or three. It would well be worth it in the end. Perhaps they would understand that scars are something to be respected, not made fun of, and that every scar told a story of pain, suffering, and sacrifice for the betterment of one's Clan. ======== slatenose ║ warrior ║ nightclan fawn: hollykit ║ tagged 571 ║ words slatenose is a softy, i promise~ ║ notes robert e. lee ║ quote
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Post by Fawn on Feb 11, 2015 14:15:10 GMT -5
[smear:663399]Hollykit[/smear:e61985] 3 Moons. She-Kit. NightClan. I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
Hollykit spun around, tail and pelt resembling an aggressive, spiky bouquet of thistles, fur jutting outward in all directions - though it did a poor job of making her look bigger, it did an excellent job at conveying her surprise. "Slatenose!" It was perhaps a mark of her parentage that, when her conscience asked her why she felt remorseful, that her answer had everything to do with getting caught and only a tiny bit about the possibility of having actually offended Slatenose. It simply didn't cross her mind; they were warriors, what did they have to be upset over? Besides, it was only a game.
The sternness of the deputy's voice made the black she-kitten's ears flatten, partially in defense but mostly in submission; mouthing off to Slatenose wasn't like mouthing off to her parents, she knew her parents, and Blackwolf only ever yelled at them if they'd done something dangerous. Ghostlight sometimes scolded them if they wandered too far or started playing with the elders' tails, but Slatenose? For all Hollykit knew, maybe the frightening older warrior would prohibit her from eating anything? Of course, with the sort of intuition that comes from being a daddy's girl, Hollykit had a suspicion that Blackwolf would not let that go quietly. Unless he's on her side too.
It was better to just apologize, and check around for any warriors who might not like their games before she started them up again. "Sorry Slatenose," she mewed, finding it a little disconcerting to stare directly into the she-cat's eyes; she couldn't seem to look passed the old battle wound on her face, and it made the Clan deputy look all the fiercer because of it. What did the deputy look like when she smiled? That was a question for a different day, right now, the tiny feline was only concerned with getting out of this without reprimand - which didn't really seem likely. Slatenose had mentioned battles, though...
Expecting no backup from Bonekit or Coyotekit (who was probably hiding), Hollykit spoke up again, using her politest voice. "What sort of battles? Did you win?" Warriors loved talking about their accomplishments. Maybe Slatenose would get so caught up in retelling the story that she'd forget why she was upset? That was Hollykit's hope, at least.
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Word Count: 387 Words Tags: @lacihparg
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2015 22:48:58 GMT -5
do your duty in all things never wish to do less======== "What sort of battles? Did you win?"
Slatenose purred a rusty, unused purr in amusement. Maybe she needed to hang out around kits more often. "Stay right there," she ordered, before trotting away to the fresh-kill pile for a small mouse. Returning, she placed it in front of the kits and bit into it, chewing thoughtfully. Finally, she ripped some of the meat out to make it easier for Hollykit and her siblings to eat.
"A story is only good if it is shared with food," she mewed wisely, settling into a comfortable position and motioning for them to do the same. Not realizing how much she sounded like one of the elders, the deputy of NightClan began recounting the tale of the scar that became part of her identity.
"I was a young warrior once," she teased. "It was not more than four moons after my warrior ceremony. I was excited, eager to prove my mettle as a cat who would contribute to NightClan's glory. I would often volunteer myself for the dawn patrol because not many cats liked it, but I enjoy the cool air in the morning. That day, the dawn patrol set off towards TreeClan's border first." Slatenose hoped that the kits already had a basic understanding of just how bad the relationship between TreeClan and NightClan was. It just wouldn't do for these kits to feel anything less towards that Clan.
But then again, Blackwolf is their father, she mused. They'll be fine.
"I was on patrol with Boneshadow and Hawkscreech, just a young warrior with two of the greatest warriors NightClan has ever seen. I was determined to prove myself to them. When we reached TreeClan's border, I could find their nasty, woody scent on the breeze. It instantly sent me on alert, and I warned my patrol about it. However, it was too late. A TreeClan patrol came flying out of the border, invading our land and ambushing our patrol. Even though we were outmatched, Boneshadow, Hawkscreech, and myself fought with all of TigerClan behind us."
Engrossed in her own retelling, Slatenose felt the battle all over again. Her desperate desire to prove herself worthy as a warrior of NightClan. The blood welling up on her flank, the battle roaring in her ears. Her eyes flashed as she continued.
"I was pitted against Bloodtalon, a TreeClan warrior. We wrestled, locked in an even fight, until he was distracted by a cry from a fallen TreeClan warrior. I was able to gain the upper paw, knocking him onto the ground and tearing into his flank. He was able to get one last hit on me before he retreated, try as I might to stay away from the reach of his claws. That last attack left me with this scar--" she turned her snarling face to the audience in front of her "--but I wear it proudly as a reminder of the victory NightClan won that morning." She finished her tale plainly, the mouse in front of her now merely bones. ======== slatenose ║ warrior ║ nightclan fawn: hollykit ║ tagged 513 ║ words slate is a storyteller ║ notes robert e. lee ║ quote
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Post by Fawn on Feb 24, 2015 23:30:31 GMT -5
[smear:663399]Hollykit[/smear:e61985] 3 Moons. She-Kit. NightClan. I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancing through the fire
Bloodtalon! The name sent a shiver of fear through the black kitten's pelt; for a warrior to have that kind of name, and for Slatenose to have fought off such a fearsome opponent... Hollykit's eyes were as round as the moon on a gathering night, all thoughts of eating any more of the mouse the Clan deputy had brought them vanishing from her mind. Though Hollykit had initially been insincere when she'd first asked to hear the story behind the warrioress's sneer, that insincerity had been replaced by an authentic sort of awe, having only her imagination to paint a picture of what a real battle was like, even though Hollykit wasn't one to over-glorify something, even she could picture an accurate (albeit younger) representation of Slatenose fighting for her life against a nasty TreeClan warrior who had eyes and claws like a monster.
"Whoa," breathed the she-kitten, her undivided attention having been given the moment Slatenose had begun to name the important names - well, Boneshadow was a name every NightClan kit would someday learn, though she had never heard of a cat called Hawkscreech before, not that it mattered. This was about Slatenose, and it was Slatenose who had earned Hollykit's admiration. Feeling a sharp stab of guilt, the paw-worn ground beneath them was suddenly kneaded with a sharp stinging embarrassment for how she'd behaved earlier; already, it was difficult to say sorry to other cats when she had wronged them, but this was something that just didn't settle right in her heart.
Sheepish, Hollykit dipped her head in respect. "I'm sorry I made fun of you earlier, Slatenose. I didn't know you were such a fierce warrior." In the span of one anecdote, the kitten's world had changed ever so slightly, the shallow mockery she displayed towards the Clan deputy was now a thing of the past; when she looked at the gray and white she-cat's face, she didn't see a strange cat marred by some unknown event that had nothing to do with her. She saw a warrioress who had fought and been injured in the line of duty; her father placed great pride on fighting ability, and great importance on being proud of the Clan you were born in. Slatenose was a model example of both, a cat worthy of the respected position she held in NightClan.
What if I get scarred up like that some day? That was a terrifying thought for a she-kitten who took great pride in her appearance, in her similarities to her parents; the idea of being so heavily scarred in the line of duty made her want to crawl back into the nursery, suddenly grateful for her status as a kit. But Blackwolf had a scar too, an enormous scar that stretched diagonally across his chest, a trophy from his encounter with a badger when he'd been an apprentice. Scars were badges of honor, not something to be upset over. Even still... Because of her own reluctance to get hurt so badly, she admired Slatenose all the more. Playing around with Bonekit and Coyotekit was all fine, but Hollykit was in no hurry to rush into a real battle!
'Cause I am a champion and you’re gonna hear me roar
Word Count: 542 Words Tags: @lacihparg
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Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2015 15:38:14 GMT -5
do your duty in all things never wish to do less======== Slatenose mrowed, contradicting what Hollykit had just said.
"It's okay, Hollykit," she mewed. "Just remember that while scars hurt when you get them, over time they heal and leave you with a lesson learned." She licked her paw and drew it over one ear, banishing an itch that appeared during her story. "I have scratches all over my body where fur does not grow from battles. I couldn't tell you who gave them to me or if I gave them worse in return, but for me, each scar is a reminder to be faster and stronger than the last time."
Not only was it a lesson each scar taught her, but it was something Seedfang had instilled in her as well. The stoic old warrior had taught her to put Clan above herself. She did that so religiously that in leaf-bare she would hunt all day and barely eat, becoming more skin and bones than was healthy for a cat her size. She sighed, thinking back to those darker times of her life. But she shook them away. She was happy now. Content, even. Deputy of NightClan, helping Ravenstar lead their Clan to be the best in the forest. The kits in the nursery were playing, and if Hollykiy reflected most of them, interested in fighting for the Clan's survival.
"Y'know, if you wanted to hear more stories, I'm sure the elders have plenty of tales they'd love to share," Slatenose suggested. As a kit she had ignored the elders, and in the first few moons of her apprenticeship she kept up that facade of aloofness. But as she spent more time clearing their ticks or cleaning out their bedding, the she-cat had come to realize that she could learn from the elders just like she could learn from her mentor. It was a different kind of instruction; one of words and history rather than action and repetition. But they were still valuable lessons all the same.
"You should really poke your nose in their den sometime." ======== slatenose ║ warrior ║ nightclan fawn: hollykit║ tagged 341║ words finally posted ;-;║ notes robert e. lee ║ quote
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