[Jos]

A chill was bearing down on the clans.

Leafless branches stretched out into the sky like long, crooked talons. Gone was the soft canopy of rustling leaves and the warm sunshine which often spilled through into puddles on the soft forest floor. Now the skies were nearly always gray and when the sun was out its light was cold and harsh. The bare branches clacked in the leaf-fall wind.



Stoatclaw bushed out her pelt and squinted her eyes against the cold gust. Even though the leafy trees which spattered Nightclan territory were bare, the conifers which defined the territory stood tall and unaffected. They even seemed to thrive in leaf-bare and provided shelter for prey animals during leaf-bare storms.


The muscular she-cat stretched up to a tree along the Nightclan border with Starclan’s Claws and plucked at the bark with her own long claws, leaving her scent in the nooks and crannies. The tree gave off a sweet, sappy scent as she ripped at the trunk. When she was finished she took a roll in the pine needles that had accumulated below, making sure to cover herself in the comforting pine-scent.



Stoatclaw had needed to get out on her own for a little bit, to clear her head. Something inside her was restless and until she found out why she would have to sedate the feeling with hunting and border patrols. If she kept herself tired she found the odd feelings would leave her be.



It was difficult to put her paw on the issue but as she patrolled, she had let her mind wander. What she found was inadequacy. Or, rather, the fear of being inadequate. Nothing she did was good enough and she was always measuring herself up to other members of her clan. Everything was a competition, even if it was not. For a long while she thought that was what made her a good warrior but now, she realized, she was not satisfied with being just a warrior. She needed to be more. There had to be a next step.



Stoatclaw was so busy brooding and patrolling that, before she realized it, she had made her way well into Starclan’s Claws. In fact she could smell the reek of Lightningclan already. “Foxdung!” she snarled, “I need to get back to camp…” but another scent hit her and she froze on the spot, “Who is there?” she demanded, her shoulder fur rising, “I’ll rip your fur off!”

coded by benetnasch of THQ

    Stoatclaw




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410

[Aqua]

Lightningclan Warrior

Leaf-fall had come into full swing quicker than expected. The cold weather had crept across the land turning the trees into a mix of flaming colors as they slowly began to die in preparation for leaf-bare. Many leaves had already fallen from their branches making a crunchy blanket on the ground. An obstacle that made sneaking about very difficult. Which was a downfall for the black tom that made his way towards Starclan's Claws from Lightningclan territory. Due to his dark colored fur, the tom had to practice the art of sneaking about very often. The open moorlands of his clan's territory made it hard for him to hide so he had to sneak about the best he could to even catch any prey. And while this wasn't the case now, the tom still made a face at the leaves that crunched under paw.

He stopped along the crest of the hill, looking over Starclan's Claws. Normally the tom would never step foot here unless it was gathering time but this time around he was hoping for some guidance, for lack of a better term. He had been so conflicted on what to do with his life. He felt so lost among his fellow clanmates lately. It was like he just didn't belong there anymore and wasn't wanted. So he had been very confused on what he should do from here. He wanted to go somewhere else, somewhere he might actually be appreciated and wanted around. The tom didn't normally seek out the acceptance of others but right now he was feeling so alone. This loneliness was beginning to take its toll on the tom's already questionable mindset.

Slowly the tom made his way down into the valley, approaching the twisted rocks at its center. Green eyes peered up, traveling along the gnarly appearance of the rocks that extended up above where he stood. They were called Starclan's Claws for a very good reason, as he could see looking at their sharp points. At their center was a boulder the was commonly used by the leaders in a gathering. He didn't feel it appropriate for him to step foot up there so he merely stared at the pointy rocks, hoping for any signs. What should he do? Where does he truly belong?

After what seemed like hours the tom snorted and shook his head. Why did he think Starclan would even remotely speak to him? He probably wasn't even worth their time. He shook his head and continued on. But rather than return to Lightningclan territory he stepped up along the crest of the hill near Nightclan territory. He intended to make a circle around at the clan borders before returning to his own clan.

As soon as he crested the hill to begin his long walk back to his clan territory, a strange sound hit his ears. The fur on the tom's neck rose in alarm as his green eyes scanned the Nightclan border. Not far from where he stood, he could make out a ginger cat stratching at the bark on one of the trees. He blinked and watched curiously. Clearly the feline hadn't spotted him just yet, her focus on the tree. The cat then moved to roll around in the pine needles on the floor, sending the smell of the pine into the air like a musk. "I've got to say, that actually is a pleasant smell." He said aloud, making sure he didn't step over the border.

Made by Aqua || Tagged: Jos || Words: #582

[Jos]

"I've got to say, that actually is a pleasant smell."

Stoatclaw bushed out her tail and shoulder fur, more so out of embarrassment at being caught acting like a kit than trying to defend the border. This newcomer did not seem particularly intent on crossing, or getting in to a fight with Stoatclaw. Stoatclaw, in turn, was not keen on getting in to a fight with whoever this cat was. 

The stench of Lightningclan was strong on this new tom. She took a hesitant few steps forward to get a good look at him under the moonlight. "Panthercall." she said coolly, eyes narrowed, "What are you doing so close to the Nightclan border, huh?"

She had met him a few times at gatherings and, she had to admit, she quite enjoyed his company. After the initial feelings of hostility she felt towards any creature that threatened her clan's borders Stoatclaw caught herself feeling a little giddy. Had he come just to see her? She imagined that if they had been in the same clan they would have been good friends. He was charming, and handsome. But I don't know all that much about him. I shouldn't want to get to know more but... 

She let her fur flatten and began to groom the fur on her chest, "What're you, lost or something?"

coded by benetnasch of THQ

Stoatclaw

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Aqua

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222

[Aqua]

Lightningclan Warrior

The black furred tom chuckled as the she-cat suddenly fluffed up at the sound of his voice. She clearly didn't expect anyone to see her rolling about like this. And he highly doubted she would have expected a cat from another clan to catch this performance. It wasn't often the cats from his own clan even stepped foot near Nightclan territory being that they were on opposite sides of the valley. So her general shock at his appearance was more than understandable.

"Panthercall."

His ears perked atop his head at the sound of his name from the she-cat. This made him stop for a moment to look her over. She was a ginger colored tabby cat with white points across her slender bod. Her wide eyes a pale golden shade as she eyes him up. It took only a moment for Panthercall to recognize the Nightclan warrior as the she-cat Stoatclaw. She was among the few cats that the tom actually looked for when he was chosen to attend gatherings. He found talking to the she-cat to be very delightful and intriguing, her line of thinking similar to his in some aspects. It wasn't often that he took a liking to other cat's like that, let alone as quickly as he did to her. So a wave of relief washed over his features that it was her he happened upon and not one of her clanmates.

A deep rumble sounded from the tom's chest, reverberating like that of another form of chuckling. The she-cat had begun to question why he was so close to their border, suggesting he might be lost. And while he could attempt that sort of excuse, he thought it would make him appear incredibly stupid. So instead, he chose to be honest...to a certain extent.

"I suppose the word lost would definitely apply but not in the way you are thinking. My territory is only there on the opposite end of the clearing." He replied smoothly, sitting down to watch the she-cat. "I was hoping a nice, long walk would help me find the answers to some thoughts rolling around in my brain." Green eyes watched the she-cat intently, a sparkle of interest hidden in his look.

"I half hoped Starclan would answer me but I guess that was silly of me to think..." He glanced back at Starclan's Claws at this comment.

Made by Aqua || Tagged: Jos || Words: #397

[Jos]

Stoatclaw shook her pelt of stray needles and padded towards the Nightclan border to get a better look at the tom. The past couple of gatherings Stoatclaw had actively looked for the Lightningclan tom even though she knew she should not be so interested in another clan’s warrior. He was charming, and not at all bad to look at either. Not to mention their views on life matched up rather well, too. All in all she was glad it was him and not some other Lightningclan warrior she had found on the edge of her territory.



The tabby she-cat stopped at the scent marker and wrapped her tail neatly around her paws, soft yellow eyes peering at Panthercall as he offer his reasons. “So you came to Starclan’s claws hoping they might be able to fix your problem?” she snorted, “You know Starclan doesn’t fix anything. They just vaguely gesture at what is probably the right thing to do and then take all the credit when we do it. Not that I have anything against Starclan but,” She looked up at her ancestors, glittering in the sky above, “They could be a bit clearer with their instructions.”



Stoatclaw got up and crossed the border into Starclan’s claws, “C’mon, maybe you can talk it out with me and Starclan will overhear and give you an answer.” She took Panthercall to the gathering place where they would be under the naked gaze of the stars and their warrior ancestor’s, then settled in on some soft, dry moss, tucking her paws underneath her body as she did so.



“So what is it that you need Starclan’s help with? Having she-cat issues?” she prompted gently. Then she added, rather sympathetically, “Did you get dumped?”

coded by benetnasch of THQ

Stoatclaw

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Aqua


Words:

290

[Aqua]

Lightningclan Warrior

The black tom glanced back to the she-cat as she shook pine needles off of herself. "I wasn't expecting them to fix it. Just hoping for some guidance or something to help." He meowed, watching her intently as she approached. She stopped just on the edge of the border and sat before him, eyeing him up. "I'm not close enough to anyone in my own clan to turn to a "friend" for advice. So I thought maybe Starclan would be more friendly." He hated to admit that to someone outside of his clan but it wasn't any less true. After his scene at the death of his father, his clanmates were never too keen on him. They didn't see how much the tom made him suffer all those years so they didn't think his words were justified. They frowned on him before even knowing the whole story. It was like they cast him aside without kicking him out of the clan itself.

"Even if they didn't give me instructions, something. Anything to help ease my mind would have been nice." He said, getting to his paws as the she-cat passed him going towards Starclan's Claws. He followed closely behind the tabby she-cat, amazed at how willing she was to sit and talk with a cat not of her own clan. While the two would meet up at the gatherings to talk to one another often, he half expected her to usher him off out of fear at this particular moment. But no. Instead, she crossed her border and took the risk to come sit with him. He found a new feeling of admiration for the tabby she-cat. It wasn't often someone would do something like that for him. He made his way down into the clearing, sitting himself down beside her in the moss she laid in. He wrapped his tail across his paws as he watched her.

"Having she-cat issues? Did you get dumped?"

The tom snorted. "No. The she-cat's of my clan have never found me appealing. So I haven't had to worry about those sort of issues." He chuckled at this for a moment before he looked at the ground. "I don't feel like I belong there anymore. I don't feel like I'm wanted at all. Like I'd be better off alone." He glances at the she-cat out of the corner of his eye, sadness filling the tom's gaze. He wasn't sure if she would understand why he felt this way but he was still willing to try and talk about it with her. She was probably the only cat he'd willingly open up to at this point in his life. She showed an interest in speaking with him while his own clan just blew him off or ignored him. While he wasn't an attention hog in any way, he was soaking up what attention the she-cat was willing to give him. Maybe she could help fight off this awful sense of loneliness he was filled with.

Made by Aqua || Tagged: Jos || Words: #500

[Jos]

"I don't feel like I belong there anymore. I don't feel like I'm wanted at all. Like I'd be better off alone."



Stoatclaw stared up at the Lightningclan tom, her eyes filled with sympathy as he spoke. Panthercall was a handsome tom, he had a nice personality as far as she was concerned, and she was always under the impression that he was a good warrior. So why would he feel so alienated from his clan?



“That’s awful.” Stoatclaw mewed gently. Then she said, a bit more jovially, “I don’t think I could live the life of a loner or a rogue and I can’t imagine living life as a kittypet. Maybe there’s a clan that might be willing to take you in? I could put a good word in for you with Darkstar, I think you’d be a great Nightclan warrior. You’ve got the pelt for it.” She twitched her whiskers at him, purring in the hopes she could lift his spirits.



“Don’t you have any littermates or denmates you would miss if you left? There’s got to be something about Lightningclan that you like.”


(sorry it's so short and so overdue! <3 ) 

coded by benetnasch of THQ

Stoatclaw



Tags:

Aqua


Words:
189

[Aqua]

Lightningclan Warrior

Green eyes drifted to look up at the skies overhead. His ears twisted to listen as Stoatclaw spoke to him once more. She admitted that she would not be able to live the life of a loner or a rogue cat. Which made him sort of question how he would hold up himself. The life would be an even lonelier one, for sure. And he would need to provide for himself versus walking up to the prey pile to take what he needed to sustain himself. It would definitely be a test on his ability to hunt during all of the seasons as well as his ability to cope without social interaction. He would also have to find a place to hold up when he needed any sort of sleep or needed to escape the elements. That would be a little more difficult, he felt. Once he found a place, however, he would be set for a good while. Then and only then would he be ok in that life. There would be a lot of hardships to overcome in that sort of lifestyle and he knew this. But it was something he was willing to undertake, if only to escape the clan he no longer felt welcome in.

"I could put a good word in for you with Darkstar, I think you’d be a great Nightclan warrior. You’ve got the pelt for it."

Panthercall's gaze immediately dropped to gaze at the tabby cat. He had questioned moving to another clan before but he wasn't sure if any of the current leaders would be ok with the idea. However, the fact that she immediately said he'd make a great Nightclan warrior made the tom a little flustered. He was sure the skin beneath his dark fur was turning red at such a compliment. It wasn't often that anyone flattered him in such a way so he wasn't sure how else to take it. "Y-you think I'd make a good Nightclan cat?" He asked curiously. "I suppose I would blend in pretty well." He definitely agreed with that one. He always stuck out like a sore thumb on the hills and grasslands of Lightningclan. Even in the dark of night he was easy to make out without any cover to help camouflage him. So he would definitely have a great advantage on the lands of Nightclan.

"It would be a very nice change, I admit. If Darkstar would be ok with it, I would definitely consider it." He said thoughtfully. The clan in itself would probably be a much better fit for the dark colored tom both in appearances and opinions. He was one to gravitate towards being out hunting and patrolling at night, which was a common thing that Nightclan participated in. Moving clans would be a new experience but it was one he felt he could handle especially with Stoatclaw supporting him from the sidelines. Having a friendly face in the clan already would be a good perk.


“Don’t you have any littermates or denmates you would miss if you left? There’s got to be something about Lightningclan that you like.”

Panthercall considered the she-cats next words. What did he like about Lightningclan? Did he have littermates or denmates he liked? He shook his head. "I was an only kit so I do not have any siblings. Both of my parents have since passed to Starclan, as well. So I have no relations in the clan anymore. As for denmates, I found some of the cats intriguing but I didn't speak to most of them. That or they were the least bit interested in associating with me." He meowed with a slight shrug. "I suppose I would miss the tunnels. I could hide in those with no problem and it provided coolness when the sun was beating down on your fur. But aside from that, I'm always at a disadvantage. You could see me coming from far away no matter how I'd apprach. A black mass coming towards you? Yeah, there's no hiding there."

Made by Aqua || Tagged: Jos || Words: #675

[Jos]

"Y-you think I'd make a good Nightclan cat?"
"Sure I do! Besides, we need more capable warriors and I think you'd fit in just fine. I mean, some cats may be stuck on the fact that you left your clan to be in Nightclan but...they'll get over it. Plenty of cats have done it, I don't see why it matters so much." 

She really didn't. It made no sense to separate the clans so much. Wouldn't life be so much better if they all really, truly worked together? Stoatclaw wouldn't want to be in one mega clan but it would be nice to be able to visit other clans or maybe have mates outside of your own clan. To be honest she did not find anyone in her own clan to be very appealing, and the thought of having to choose a mate from that very small pool of selection was appalling. No offense to her clanmates, of course. 

As Panthercall explained the cons of being completely black on the moors, Stoatclaw nodded sympathetically. "Right. I get it. It's difficult enough to hunt for your clan even when you're not obvious. I suppose my pelt would be good on the moor but I'm not very fast, nor am I particularly fond of tunnels." she gave herself a shake. Even the thought of being trapped in a tunnel made her paws tingle, "So I would make a poor Lightningclan cat, I'm afraid." 

Stoatclaw pondered on it for a moment or two, "Why don't you think about it and we'll meet back here tomorrow evening, same time? That will give me time to plant the idea in Darkstar's head and feel out the situation." she flicked him with the tip of her tail, eyes sparkling with excitement, "I do hope you decide to join. I enjoy talking to you." she added fondly. "I would like to spend more time with you." 

coded by benetnasch of THQ

Stoatclaw

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Aqua

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319