|
|
Post by Justice on Oct 12, 2016 13:20:58 GMT -5
 Loner - Queen - 17 Moons She'd slowly started settling in to life within the Clan's territory. The kits were finally starting to put on a little bit of weight, and she no longer had to wonder if they'd make the cold season. She wanted them to catch up to other kits their age in size, but perhaps that was too much to ask for. They hadn't had all they needed from her in their early days, but she'd given them everything she had to give. But they were safe, buried under some soft moss she'd found for them and enjoying the warmth of TreeClan's nursery. With other queen's to mind them she'd taken the chance in giving someone else the chance to prove they could be given this amount of her trust and left them to others for care. It made the young queen anxious, but she had needed to get out.
Her kits were beginning to thrive, as much as they could having only been with the Clan a few days, it was their mother that was still uncertain. Her paws were starting to heal, and several consecutive days with enough food was helping to regain her lost strength. But she was still too dull in her coat and weak in strength. It would get better, she knew, she just had to be patient.
With the fact that queens didn't hunt in mind she'd asked if Lionstar wanted to see where she'd been staying before deciding to come to the safety of TreeClan's nursery. She knew he had to wonder, especially since her 'think on it a few days' had been one night and something happening to send her running back to the Clan cats for safety. Just in time too, she was sure, with cold creeping in and her kits so fragile.
But she'd brought him all the way out here in order to show him where she'd been. The fallen tree with its hollow was still where it had been before, and she knew her scent still permeated the area. It was outside TreeClan territory, if only just, with the border only a few minutes walk away. “When we first arrived I stashed them in that fallen tree and drug leaves and what moss I could find to them to form a nest.” And not much of a nest, she acknowledged. “The prey here is decent, and I'm almost certain there's a colony of rabbits nearby.”
Word Count: 404 Tags: Fawn |
|
|
|
Post by Fawn on Oct 12, 2016 21:24:50 GMT -5
LIONSTAR leader of treeclan Blinded by the light of a new sun It was at the edge of the hidden thicket, where the territory descended into a no-man's-land between TreeClan and StarClan's Claws. It had always been counted as TreeClan's, but the scentlines were weaker here, and this section of the hidden thicket was difficult to navigate, let alone scentmark. Lionstar looked over the hollow she had chosen critically—not to think ill of her choice, but out of a natural instinct to protect those in his care, he took an interest in anything that could be deemed 'unsafe'. "It's very well sheltered from the wind, but the snow collects on the boughs and falls in leafbare here, sometimes bringing the branches with it." It chilled him to think of Moonfeather and her family buried under so much snow.
The golden tom inspected the hollow, noticing the dry, stale moss and feathers and other soft ferns meant to provide some kind of comfort to her little kits. Ducking back out, Lionstar was impressed with her quick-thinking—though he'd never been one to underestimate the resourcefulness of a queen, particularly when her kits were involved. The strange pelt Moonfeather had used to bundle her kits in (and carry them all the way to the valley) had left scraps behind in the hollow; Lionstar sniffed it cautiously, frowning at all of the unusual and unpleasant scents trapped in the fabric.
"You've a rare kind of courage, Moonfeather," Lionstar straightened, watching her with an approving look. "Nursing kits and making a journey as long as the one you've made is admirable." Maybe StarClan helped guide your paws here? Our ancestors know we appreciate that kind of courage, selflessness and toughness. Moonfeather was Clan material, whether she thought so or not. But again, he would not press the issue; whatever her decision, he respected her and the trials she'd gone through to get Fawnkit and Amberkit here.
Lionstar tasted the wind, realizing that she was correct, there was most definitely a colony of rabbits nearby. The Clan leader had no intention of returning to camp empty-pawed; not during this season and not with an excellent hunting opportunity so close by. He hadn’t realized his warriors were overlooking the thicket so much. We need to work on our hunting techniques, for dense areas like this. They might need those skills when leafbare sinks it’s icy talons into the forest.
Take it to the world, gonna sing it like an anthem
|
|
|
|
Post by Justice on Oct 12, 2016 21:49:50 GMT -5
Loner - Queen - 17 Moons Her green eyes went wide and round and a squeak of alarm left the she-cat. “There weren't trees like this where I was born, I had no idea snow could do that.” She looked to the little nest with a new idea of what could have happened. “My poor kits. We really were unprepared for the great wilds.” Her ears laid back and her gaze turned thoughtful, mind miles away. “We came so far, I thought I was doing the best for them, but I could have gotten them killed just from lacking any sort of knowledge of these woods and their dangers.” Her head dropped. “I'm glad you found us.” Her smile was shy, showing just how young she really was.
She watched him quietly while he examined her less than stellar attempts at making a nest. “It was the first time I'd made my own nest.” Before her mate had done that, and before that her parents. She'd never really fended for herself except for that time between the death of her family and meeting her mate. And there she'd nearly died. A cat that didn't have enough training to function as an adult. “I just thought about what they would like, and what would be warmest for all of us.”
His next comment made her duck her head in embarrassment, heat creeping under her fur. “Ah well...thank you. I didn't do anything all that extraordinary. I'm a mother, and my kits are my everything. They needed to be safe, and I needed away from where so much bad had happened in my life. Thinking on it now, I could easily have died on the trip here. Or they could have. They were so small, only a week old, when I started my journey.” She looked at him, sidling up near him so she could look up at the large time. “Everything I do, I do for my kits.”
She stepped back and took a slow breath, making a decision. She had offered the smallest of trusts to Lionstar, and here was one more small offering. So long as he stayed on the path he was on, of doing as he said he would and staying to his word, she could see herself completely trusting this tom someday. Her green eyes went to the now abandoned den. “I miss my kits.” She told him, her tone choking. “I left their father to protect them, back in the two-leg place.” And she did not mean Amberkit and Fawnkit.
Moonfeather shook herself from her dark thoughts and looked around, spying the signs of recent rabbit activity. “There's several warrens under the raised roots of a tree just there. They've gotten fat, I guess getting ready for the cold.”
Word Count: 458 Tags: Fawn |
|
|
|
Post by Fawn on Oct 13, 2016 18:01:45 GMT -5
LIONSTAR leader of treeclan Blinded by the light of a new sun “I miss my kits.” She told him, her tone choking. “I left their father to protect them, back in the two-leg place.”
Lionstar had no words that could comfort such profound grief; he could only touch her shoulder with his tail, a silent gesture of support that he doubted would have any effect, though his own compassion demanded he do something.
When Moonfeather changed the subject, Lionstar understood and withdrew his tail, falling back into the role of leader, though his self-given role of friend was not fully gone ."They should keep the Clan well fed this leaf-fall if we can catch a few." It was important not to catch all the rabbits; if they decimated the rabbit population in TreeClan, then there wouldn't be much in the way of prey when it was time for newleaf, and for new rabbits to be born in their forest.
Part of being a warrior, part of respecting the life all around them, was taking only what they needed. Lionstar would have loved to hunt every mouselength of the forest, and collect as much prey for his Clan as any one hunter could -- but that would be a short term gain and a long term loss.
Voice softening so as not to be overheard by their prey, Lionstar spoke of his plan. "I'm going to chase rabbits toward you. Don't strain yourself trying to catch more than one, just pick a single rabbit for now." Moonfeather was recovering well, and her kits were now plump as voles, but he didn't want her endangering her health or damaging a muscle trying to catch their prey.
Noticing the rabbit droppings nearby, the golden tom took advantage of the golden bracken growing nearby, the darker ticking on his coat helping him blend in well. Lionstar maintained his hunter's crouch, muscles sleek and rippling in the cool sunshine as he approached the warrens. Trusting Moonfeather to have stayed where he'd left her, Lionstar sprang out from the bracken, two young rabbits dashing away from him after seeing he had blocked their way to the warrens.
Hot on their heels, Lionstar was able to catch and swiftly kill one, before he left the body of the rabbit to continue his pursuit--able to see Moonfeather and the rabbit coming right towards her. Catch it! Take it to the world, gonna sing it like an anthem
words 401 Words | tagged Justice | notes |
|
|
|
Post by Justice on Oct 13, 2016 20:40:34 GMT -5
Loner - Queen - 17 Moons She could only butt her head against his shoulder once he removed his tail, showing that she realized he was listening and that she appreciated it very much. He was trustworthy, at least so far. Perhaps, sometime soon, she would feel safe enough with him to confide her entire story to him. She thought that the older cat would understand her choices, and just how far she'd come. He thought she was admirable? His words still hadn't set in. How was she any different than any other she-cat with kits? Didn't everyone do everything in their power for their kits?
It startled her a little that he wanted to hunt with her. He was so big, couldn't he do better without her? She wasn't much of a hunter, or she didn't think she was. She'd managed the entire length of her journey, but that was only because desperation drove her on even if she failed multiple times. Still, she nodded her head to show she'd heard and immediately laid herself nearly flat to the ground. There was still enough grass, and the upturned roots of trees, that she was hidden despite her coloration. It worked out that she'd also hunted here before.
She stayed perfectly still, and when the rabbits were flushed out she waited to see what Lionstar had in mind. He'd gone for one of two rabbits that had darted out of their hiding place, so she waited and went for the other one. When it made to leap over her she shot up and caught it at the throat, killing it swiftly before it had the chance to bite or claw her. Prey could fight back, as well she knew. She picked up her kill and trotted over to the large tom proudly, laying the rabbit at his paws. “I got it, and it didn't bite me.” She hadn't strained herself over the creature, that was why she'd waited for it to come to her. Best reserve her strength rather than burn it unnecessarily in a chase. “Lucky the wind didn't shift on me.”
Word Count: 347 Tags: Fawn |
|
|
|
Post by Fawn on Oct 15, 2016 8:51:58 GMT -5
LIONSTAR leader of treeclan Blinded by the light of a new sun Lionstar purred, feeling the same rush of joy and pride he always felt whenever an apprentice of his succeeded in their first catch. Nodding in approval, his whiskers twitched a bit when she mentioned not getting bitten. "Well done, and I can show you how to avoid getting hurt, if you like." The golden tom glanced down at both rabbits, realizing he had yet to thank StarClan for the two decent catches. "It's custom for Clan cats to thank StarClan after they catch fresh kill, to show that we honor the life that was given up so we could feed our Clan." He followed up those words with a humble thank you directed at their ancestors, before launching into a lesson.
"If you can, always bite the back of the neck on anything—rabbits, squirrels, mice, birds—it's the swiftest way to kill them, and also the most peaceable. A fighting animal is a distressed animal, so the quicker it's over, the better. That doesn't mean you should rush, however. It might take a bit more skill to truly catch your prey unawares, but it's... better, in the long run."
Not wishing to bombard her with information, Lionstar held back the remainder of his words, planning to inform her about how the other four Clans catch their prey--so that her knowledge of Clan life wasn't so centered on TreeClan, for her own benefit. "We'll carry these back to the fresh kill pile, show the Clan what you've caught. The other queens and elders will be glad to see these." That was the surest way to win them over; not that Moonfeather had ever needed to prove her hunting prowess, that she could catch a rabbit and provide for the Clan would go a long way in helping them warm up to her.
It wasn't the begrudging assistance of an outsider, but the kindness of an ally.
Take it to the world, gonna sing it like an anthem
words 313 Words | tagged Justice | notes |
|
|
|
Post by Justice on Oct 15, 2016 14:06:18 GMT -5
Loner - Queen - 17 Moons “The first time I saw a rabbit, I thought it was a long eared cat.” She admitted. “Only after it ran from me instead of greeting me did I realize it was prey.” Her head ducked a little at his praise, reminded of how her mate had been so happy for her when he'd been teaching her to hunt too. Not that Lionstar reminded her of Bramblebrush. He reminded her more of her father, it was just that it had been more her mate that taught her to properly hunt. Her father had started the process, but she'd been so young when they died he hadn't had the chance to finish his training. “We didn't have prey this big where I was born.” She kept absently telling him things, like the words were pulled from her each time. But, it was never something really personal, just bits from where she'd come from.
He told her how to catch them to keep from getting hurt, and she realized he made sense. “I....I'm used to catching rats and mice, small prey. Nothing this big.” Which was why she'd always thought she was a bad huntress. It was a lot harder to catch smaller prey when one wasn't properly trained. “Might be why I was always told I was a terrible huntress.” Her siblings had meant it in the best way, teasingly poking her about it until she got better at fishing. “I'll do better next time, Lionstar.” Her body shifted side to side on her paws, excited by the prospect. She had never really thought she could get better, but if Lionstar said it was true, then she believed him.
His mention of StarClan earned the golden tom a snort. “I usually thank the prey for their sacrifice. At least I know they exist.” And no, she did not believe in StarClan. She shook that thought away and pranced around the larger cat, pleased with herself and her kill. “I got a head start on the rabbits, since I've hunted here before.” She winced at the thought of birds. “I'm not any good with birds or squirrels, they tend to climb or fly away.” And she was a lousy climber. But she gathered the rabbit to her and wondered if she would carry it back in her mouth or, since it was a bit bigger, string it over her back. Usually, she dragged things.
Word Count: 403 Tags: Fawn |
|
|
|
Post by Fawn on Oct 16, 2016 8:54:43 GMT -5
LIONSTAR leader of treeclan Blinded by the light of a new sun Her abrupt disbelief in StarClan almost made the Clan leader's pace falter slightly, but he recovered, remembering the incredulity in Zephyrfang's stare when they tried to explain it to him. I wouldn't be so quick to disregard StarClan, they gave me my nine lives. The tawny warrior had merely snorted, replying with a I'll take your word for it.
The only way to make him grasp the importance of StarClan had been mentioning Thornshadow, his mate's father who had died during a forest fire several seasons back. To know that it brought Silentsong peace to picture her father watching over them in StarClan had been enough to soften Zephyrfang's incredulity.
Lionstar let it go this time, however. If Moonfeather ever found comfort in StarClan, it wouldn't be because he told her to; she would just have to find her faith herself.
"Squirrels take a certain technique, and birds are completely different from most other prey." Lionstar informed, happy to teach her what he knew. "Some of my warriors are trained to hunt squirrels amongst the trees, though it can be dangerous. As for birds, it's all about timing; too soon, and you'll frighten the prey away. Too late, and you'll find yourself with nothing but empty claws."
While Moonfeather gathered her rabbit (he indicated that she was to take it by the scruff, though it was almost as big as she was), Lionstar gestured for them both to return to camp. "I'll show you some more hunting techniques tomorrow. And introduce you to Firepaw, my apprentice." You can both learn together, or she can teach you a little. It would be a good exercise for the fiery young she-cat; preparing her for warrior duties meant learning how to be patient with others, for when she had her own apprentice some day. Picking up his own rabbit, he led the way back to the enormous fallen tree that was TreeClan's home. Take it to the world, gonna sing it like an anthem
|
|
|
|
Post by Justice on Oct 16, 2016 15:08:28 GMT -5
Loner - Queen - 17 Moons She nodded to his words on the prey, then winced at the mention of hunting in the trees. "That might be why I can't catch a squirrel. Lionstar, I am not a very good climber. I can swim like a fish, but put me near a tree and it'll take me all day to climb it. Less if I've got a kit with me." Because the determination of a queen to protect her kits overcame even the extreme lack of skills. At least that is what she told herself it was. "If at all possible, I'd like to keep my paws on the ground."
He mentioned that the technique for birds came with time, and again she just had to believe him. "Empty claws, or a paw full of tail feathers for my kits to play with. The one time I managed to catch a bird I slid down a shallow hill and sat on it. I wasn't even hunting." She looked a little sheepish. "My father thought it was hilarious. Death by squashing."
That he still wanted to teach her gave her a sort of happiness. She'd always enjoyed being able to learn, to improve herself. And since she'd be here since newleaf at least it would be best to absorb as much from the older cat as she could. "Firepaw?" She wondered at how they named one another, though didn't ask since she'd already said she didn't think it was a big deal for someone to be names how they were. What did it matter? What made a name a Clan name? In the end, they were called whatever their parents chose to name them, and the origin of that name mattered very little.
She finally leaned over and picked up the rabbit by its scruff, leaning her head as far back as she could to keep the dead prey from dragging the ground. Its feet still touched, and she'd be slow, but she could carry it.
But their trip was done, and it was time to go back to the nursery. Back to her kits, and the warmth, and the knowledge that she'd help provide for them even when she was mostly supposed to stay in the nursery with them.
Word Count: 373 Tags: Fawn |
|
