[Abyss]

[googlefont=Amatic SC]

Flicker of Dying Flame

Leaffall Day 7: The morning sun can hardly be seen through the overcast sky that persists throughout the day, and although there is no chill, a slight drizzle falls in the northeastern side of the valley.

Rules were created in order to maintain peace and control those who fell under the influence of said rules. Whether this be the law to believe in a certain religion, or a limitation on who could and could not partake in certain activities, and marking invisible borders as a method of keeping those who belonged inside. So often are these limitations created, or made up, by one who felt they held power over all of those around them. Spew rubbish revelations about messages from invisible beings in the sky and your followers will think you a religious prophet, bowing down and listening to every word you spoke as though you were worthy of such praise. Those who were weak-minded took these things in stride, seeing opportunity to give away their ability to make decisions for themselves. Anything to put less pressure on their own shoulders. Followers, believers, minions they all were to their own lack of strength. Fools were more like it.

And she was no fool, nor was she a follower.

The secluded cave and the many stone paths that the Tribe called home were far behind her, large paws only taking her further away. A prickly tail, long and smooth in its movements, swirled to both sides behind her in a slow yet deliberate way, occasionally brushing against the ground. A thick and curvy body, ever elegant in the way the muscles beneath pushed outwards with each step, felt no effect from the temperature which slowly grew colder by the day. Thank goodness for the sake of being born with a dense coat of pure charcoal.

She had no true destination, nor did she have any true intentions behind what she found herself doing. Why had she wandered away from the confines of the Tribe’s territory? Because she could. Even though many other servants within the Tribe listened intently to Skyteller’s laws under the belief that he spoke for the stars, she did not. Whether he was her “Leader” or not, his word meant nothing in her ears. She was her own Leader.

A smirk graced the feminine features displayed on her face, mouth ever so slightly agape to take in a new scent.

Hmmm...interesting.

The sound of water echoed off the trees ahead, causing pointed triangle ears to twitch. As black paws took her forward, the constant movement of a waterfall came into view, one she had visited relatively often in the warmer seasons. But this visit was different, for she was not alone. The light mist that emanated from the falling water sent a breeze in her direction, carrying with it a scent that brought forth chills down her spine. But not the type of chills to represent fear. No, far from it. These chills were physical feelings of adrenaline beginning before anything had even begun.

With a gentle stride, the midnight black she-cat approached the waterfall, paws hitting stone as she began a steady ascension up a diagonally sloped boulder. As she reached the top, vibrant orange pools looked down to find that she had been correct. She was not alone. Even better than that, her company was that of a clan cat. Oh how luck took her side this day.

The cat she spotted before her on the other side of the river which flowed from the falls was, as far as she could tell from her distance, another she-cat. The pelt that stuck to the other feline was a rich brown in color, with swirling black markings dancing across the surface, as well as small patches of white. In comparison to her own curvaceous body, this other molly’s body was far more slender and lithe. Had the observer been anyone else, perhaps this femme before her would be considered quite beautiful, for she was. But, unfortunately for this stranger, she hadn’t been found by an adoring feline to compliment her physique. No, she had been found by another she-cat who, in the most blunt of ways, knew herself to be far more unique and stunning than just your common brown bengal. So typical were tabbies and bengals. And a she-cat who was slender with an air of grace about her? How boring, how predictable. If the idiodic pests within the clans, and even the Tribe, had any true understanding of beauty, the stranger who stood along the border of the river would be nothing more than average, passable at best. But herself? ….hehe, Flicker was far from average.

“My my, rather peculiar to find a clan cat so far from their darling territory, indeed.” With the spray of water from the falls hanging in the air behind her, orange pools flecked with black, like the swishing and dancing of a burning fire, narrowed at the Bengal she-cat, the smirk from before still clear on her face.

And when my fantasies become my legacy
Promise me a place in your house of memories.

Words: 791| Katara

[Katara]

[googlefont=Playfair Display] [googlefont=Roboto] [googlefont=Kumar One]

if i was born as a blackthorn tree
i'd wanna be held by you, felled by you
fuel the

PYRE OF YOUR
enemies

clover

clovermask.

NIGHTCLAN DEPUTY // 51 MOONS

C

lovermask had always been a restless thing, and even her role as Clan deputy couldn't keep her in camp when she itched to get away, to stretch her legs and go somewhere beyond her own territory. Boredom was what kept her up from dawn until late morning, and when sleep would not come she finally forced herself out of her nest and carefully picked her way between her warriors' sleeping shapes before emerging from the den. She gave a great yawn and ignored Shadowchaser's den this time, too restless to think about asking for a poppy seed to help her sleep right now. Instead, she made straight for the camp entrance, nodding at the warrior who stood guard there. Her insomniac ways were well-known to the Clan, so this was just like any other day she couldn't sleep. As long as she brought back prey by dusk, she went unquestioned.

Once the slender she-cat was far enough away from camp, she broke into a run, relishing the feeling of her stiff muscles getting to stretch, and the scents carried to her on the breeze. She ran harder, not yet breathless, enjoying the warm ache in her body as she pushed herself to her limits. She pelted through the Black Woods and skirted the edge of RainClan territory, heading up the valley toward the mountains above. She slowed at this point, breathing hard, and concentrated on not slipping and dying as she climbed upward. Plenty of rockfalls over the seasons provided many paw-holds for her to climb up, and while she climbed she began to think, a purpose for her run today forming in her mind.

She would find someone from the Tribe. It had been a long while ago that NightClan and the Tribe had agreed upon an alliance, and paying a visit to them might prove useful for her future. If she were to be Clan leader one day, she wanted the Tribe to have a favorable opinion of her. Wouldn't they like a leader who bothered to visit them in their mountain home instead of not caring one way or another what was going on with them? Clovermask thought it would be fair to treat the Tribe the same as her Clanmates - cats who needed to be checked in on every once in awhile, so she knew they'd like her as well as anyone else.

The path she was climbing was beside a stream that flowed down to join the river in the valley below, and it was this stream she intended to follow toward its source. She had no idea where it went and was curious at what she might find. A loud noise soon reached her ears, and within minutes it became clear she was hearing a waterfall pouring into a pool. It was just past sunhigh when she finally leaped the last length toward the waterfall, and looked around at her surroundings on level ground with it.

She was right - a pool was stretched out in front of her, though much wider than she'd imagined, and it was overflowing down the ridge to create the stream she'd been following that made its way to the valley. She began to pick her way along the bank, the ground becoming more silt-like as she padded along, her paw-prints leaving marks in the wet sand. She could just see now, from where she was standing, a way behind the waterfall that seemed to open into a cave. She was about to go investigate when an unfamiliar voice stopped her in her tracks.

My my, rather peculiar to find a Clan cat so far from their darling territory, indeed.

On the other side of the water, perched upon a large boulder, was a black she-cat with orange eyes. She might have been imagining it, but it sounded like the she-cat's tone was mocking, and the smirk on her face seemed to back that up.

"I don't find myself bound to the borders of my territory alone," she replied coolly. "I go where I choose, and today it's found me here. I've never seen this place before." Her gaze swept around the area again, briefly this time as she considered what she was going to do next. From the black cat's slight accent, she could tell she was from the Tribe - or at least a rogue or loner that may have once been part of the Tribe. "If I'm trespassing on your territory, I mean no disrespect. In fact, I was hoping to find a Tribe cat around here. It's been some time since any cat has had the chance to meet peacefully with any member of the Tribe outside of a Gathering." And often, the Tribe didn't even attend the Gatherings, which she understood. They were a Tribe, not a Clan, and it was difficult to form strong ties to any of the five Clans in the valley when they were so hostile about defending their territory. Tribe cats simply were not the same. "My name is Clovermask, and I am the deputy of NightClan."

[attr="class","cltag"]tagged Abyss

[attr="class","clnotes"]notes <3

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[newclass=".clnotes"]background-color:#16141a;font-family:Playfair Display;font-size:12px;color:#3e4436;letter-spacing:2px;border:1px solid #666;padding:10px;[/newclass]

[Abyss]

[googlefont=Amatic SC]

Flicker of Dying Flame

The other femme took a moment to meet Flicker’s gaze, perhaps due to her sights set on the waterfall. In the slightest of ways, she was surprised, and somewhat frustrated, that there had been far less of a reaction than she hoped for from this clan cat. She had desired to see those neutral eyes go wide in surprise, or maybe fear, or maybe even awe. But alas, she received none of these things. The reasoning for this could be that she merely was not close enough. She and this other cat were on opposite sides of the stream, so even she could not expect the other to react the way she wished. She could not see Flicker in her full glory as clearly, of course she wouldn’t react. No matter. She would just need to get closer.

The words spoken from the other feline’s jaws caused an ear to flick and a nearly invisible brow to arch slightly, mostly from suspicion, but also curiosity. Another like herself, it seemed, was what she had found. One who did not limit themselves to their own borders. Only their own will could stop them. This earned a few points in Flicker’s mind. The other molly had chosen a well-aimed introduction without knowing it, which earned a small fleck of a smile.

The Bengal she-cat stated that she had never been to the waterfall before, which wasn’t entirely unpredictable. She doubted any of those cultish clan-dwellers left their own boundaries often, so the likelihood of them knowing of this place was slim. Though, this brought on the thought. How had this Bengal found it, then? Had she been wandering about with no particular direction, just as Flicker had been? Perhaps.

“Yes, this place is quite ravishing. Many secrets hide within these waters.” Her flaming gaze shifted only for a moment, examining the falling water slowly from bottom to top. Her sights remained at the top of the falls for only a second. She had always wondered what it looked like from up there. This was no time for exploration, though. Her eyes returned to the clan she-cat, orbs narrowed still.

A honeyed chuckle fell from her jaws at the others’ mention of trespassing. Internally, she laughed hoarsely at the thought. Even if this she-cat had been trespassing, Flicker could have cared less to take care of the situation. It wasn’t as if the Tribe borders meant anything to her; she had already gone beyond them far more times than she could count without a care for any circumstances that came with such an action. But allowing this clan cat to assume her so disloyal to her own home’s ways simply would not do.

“No contempt is taken, for no harm has been done. As appealing as I find these falls, they fall not within my own boundaries. Quite the pity.” Though a small smile still graced her elegant features, suspicion grew far more prominent in her thoughts with the opposing femme’s following words. She had wished to encounter a cat of the tribe? For what purpose? From the tribe itself, the clans were like neighbors, from what she could tell. Neighbors they didn’t particularly want association with, though did not refuse the interaction or the proposal of alliance. They had attempted to attend some of the so-called “gatherings” that the clans held, though the purpose behind doing this had seemed to be only for introductions’ sake. She did not entirely know how her people felt about the cats of the valley, but that did not prevent her from having her own opinions.

Flicker could not deny that even she had looked forward to meeting a cat of the clans. Forming ties between herself and some particular members of these groups could prove rather beneficial on her part. Granted, her views on them as a whole were far from respectable or flattering. They were pathetic, prideful felines who believed themselves right in their ways, despite their ways being inferior. There were very few of them that came to recognize this fact, and a few of those that did, if she remembered correctly, had actually joined the tribe. A smart decision, on their part.

“An interesting desire you have. Though, for what purpose does a meeting with one of my own hold in your wishes?” Her body slowly began to turn on the boulder she stood upon, large paws beginning to ascend the side of the slope and reach the ground. The small pebbles and grains of sand beneath her poked and slid between her pawpads, though she paid no mind to them. Her gaze remained focused on the Bengal as she padded to the edge of the stream, sitting where she stood with smooth movements. Her long and prickly tail flicked and swirled in a fancy fashion behind her before settling gently at her side, ears flicking to hear what was now an introduction.

Those ears perked at the other, now Clovermask, speaking that she was the Deputy of Nightclan. Had it not been for her will, her tail may have flicked in a burst of excitement, or interest rather. It seemed both she and this clan cat were both being granted their wishes. She cared not to meet any of the regular remembers of the clans, for they had no purpose to her. But a Deputy? Her attention had been thoroughly hooked.

“A Deputy desiring to meet with a cat of the tribe? My curiosity is piqued, madame Deputy.” For only a moment she seemed to leave her words at this, though that vibrant orange gaze widened and her head lightly shook. “Oh, where are my manners? You may address me as Flicker.”

And when my fantasies become my legacy
Promise me a place in your house of memories.

Words: 952| Katara

[/quote]

[Katara]

[googlefont=Playfair Display] [googlefont=Roboto] [googlefont=Kumar One]

if i was born as a blackthorn tree
i'd wanna be held by you, felled by you
fuel the

PYRE OF YOUR
enemies

clover

clovermask.

NIGHTCLAN DEPUTY // 51 MOONS

C

lovermask normally prided herself on her observation skills; after all, it was because of them that she was padding the path of success today. For the most part, cats were somewhat predictable, especially once she'd had a chance to observe them for a long time. But she'd met a few cats she couldn't quite pin down. Shrikesong and Darkstone. Darkstar, on occasion. And Bluecloud and the depth of his kindness still managed to baffle her.

This black she-cat was unfamiliar, a new unknown for Clovermask to uncover. And she would uncover her.

"Secrets?" she echoed, not even trying to keep the interest out of her voice. She loved having secrets - she always had, ever since she was a kit. It thrilled her to know she knew something others did not, whether that was a thorn buried deep in a queen's nest or her formerly regular meetings with a cat from another Clan. She had even been the keeper of secrets for the benefit of others, though those cats weren't always aware of her knowledge. She didn't care. She loved the thrill of it - it was akin to a sense of power for her. "And are any of them yours?" She kept her tone light, conversational, but her underlying interest remained.

Who was this she-cat? She had assumed she was part of the Tribe because of her accent, but what kind of cat part of a group would wander beyond their borders? Well, I'm doing the same thing, aren't I? she reminded herself. She wasn't very familiar with the ways of the Tribe, so maybe it was normal for them to roam beyond their land. After all, they weren't territorial, and if the she-cat's reaction to her 'intrusion' (or lack thereof, as she was informed) was any proof of that, she didn't know what was. Clovermask tilted her head at the other feline, reacting to her words. She spoke with the kind of eloquence the NightClan warrior was unfamiliar with, as if she were from another time.

"I only wish to cultivate friendliness between my Clan and the Tribe," she said smoothly. She hesitated before going on, hoping she had correctly identified a trace of contempt in the she-cat's voice earlier when she'd said 'Clan cat'. "I wish the same for my Clan and the other Clans, but they are not known for their peaceful ways... though, I'm sure you're well-aware of that." Something she'd never dare to say around Clan cats but it was the honest truth. She wanted peace between the Clans, or at least between her Clan and the others - she didn't particularly care what the others did between each other. That was one thing she and Darkstar constantly disagreed on - what displays of strength really looked like, and what made a Clan strong.

The black feline began to descend from her perch, showing off her sleek form as she prowled toward Clovermask. There was a deliberate smoothness in her movements that she found somewhat familiar. Now that she was closer, she could see 'orange' had been a poor descriptor for the other she-cat's eyes. She felt like she was staring into the gaze of fire itself, if flames could be held in the shape of a cat's eyes. Seated now across the stream from her, the sun partially dappled her smooth black coat. "Flicker is a fitting name for you," she commented, her own eyes locking with the Tribe cat's. Curiosity surged through her, suddenly wanting to know her more than she wanted to speak formally with the Tribe, and she found herself somewhat pleased at the way Flicker addressed her, even if it was somewhat teasing. In fact, that was the reason she liked it. There weren't many cats that dared to tease her, and though she liked the respect, it did bore her. "So, now you know why I'm here... why are you here, if this isn't the Tribe's territory? Don't they keep you busy enough? Unless you're also here, coincidentally, to speak to a Clan cat." Her green eyes danced.

[attr="class","cltag"]tagged Abyss

[attr="class","clnotes"]notes <3

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[newclass=".clnotes"]background-color:#16141a;font-family:Playfair Display;font-size:12px;color:#3e4436;letter-spacing:2px;border:1px solid #666;padding:10px;[/newclass]

[Abyss]

[googlefont=Amatic SC]

Flicker of Dying Flame

The flash of interest that swirled through the opposing molly’s eyes at the mention of secrets, as well as her repetition of the word, were an undeniable, and unavoidable, peek into the other’s mind. Perhaps this Clovermask was much like herself: a connoisseur and a consumer of the unknown. Beings who craved to know what sort of things hid deep in the endless depths of the minds of others. What did those around them love? What did they enjoy? What did they fear? What had they done in their past that others may not know about? And what did they intend to do in the future? All questions that flared the intense yearning for knowledge that swept through her head like a tidal wave, all-knowing and all-consuming.

This was an assumption, of course. Had she the ability to read minds, though, she would have gladly taken advantage of the femme before her. From the short duration of time that this interaction had been taking place, Flicker truthfully didn’t care to learn of this Deputy’s personal life. What she sought was her knowledge of her own clan, who controlled it, what she knew of the other clans. And, most importantly, if this Clovermask had a notable influence over her dear Nightclan. What a treat it would be to learn of such things…..but she could not proceed at a fast pace. She must take the process slow, as excruciating as it was to do so.

“Indeed.” Her answer was brief, only a mere response to the other’s repeat of the word ‘secrets’. One could only presume that most areas such as these held secrets, though what kind was a mystery. To most. Though she allowed a small smile to flutter across her feminine jaw as the other asked if any of the location’s secrets were her own, she did not speak. Those ravishing flame-like orbs closed for a moment, allowing silence to pass between them. As strong of a desire she had to leave her reply at this, she did not wish for this encounter to grow stale so soon after it began. She had to speak, whether she wished too or not, to keep something going.

“Only time will tell, I’m afraid.” Her eyes opened once more, gaze locking on the other as she continued the conversation.

Friendliness, she said. And what, in the minds of clan cats, was the definition of friendliness? From what she had heard, and the few instances of sight, even those who claimed to be allied still could turn on one another at any moment. Every declaration of peace, every promise or remembrance of past events, every display of companionship, could be broken by one small occurrence. Sure, Flicker wasn’t exactly the most welcoming broad to the likes of kinship or connection, but even someone such as she could see how truly fragile the minds of clan cats were. It seemed the only ones they truly held connections with were themselves, and even then the notion was questionable.

“Acutely aware.” Her tail flicked behind her and her head tilted slightly. “Admittedly, I do not linger long on the details of clan affairs. But from the many instances of battle and conflict I have heard of, it seems you clan cats are rather...” She paused for a moment. Weak-minded, weak-willed, pathetic. All words she wished to say. But no, those would be rather inappropriate. “Particular, about your allowance of companionship.”

As the conversation continued, her ears twisted when the Bengal asked why she was in this location. Wishing to get as far away from her kin as possible was not an acceptable answer, regardless of the amount of truth behind it. She had said she wished to get on good terms with the tribe. Perhaps another way of saying she wished to make an impression. Which also meant that, in a way, Flicker was her returned first-impression of the tribe. If Flicker wished to fulfill her inner fantasies, through this charming Deputy or otherwise, she had to appear desirable. Not hard to do physically, but that was not the sort of desirable she had to achieve in this scenario.

“I am indeed weighed down by the responsibilities and requirements I hold for my people. But that is precisely why I come here, for this is far from my first visit.” She turned her head towards the waterfall, manipulating her own expression into one of calmness and longing as she gazed at the water. “This place soothes the mind, allows one time to unwind and reflect on one’s self. Relaxation, if you will. All of those who work as diligently as we must allow ourselves time to be alone.” Her head slightly tilted sideways and up, eyes glancing suggestively at Clovermask with a small smile. Perhaps this femme would catch the hint of inclusion she allowed to flow through her voice at the word ‘we’, for surely even this she-cat would be prideful enough to recognize her own work ethic. She was a clan cat. Pride was in her nature. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

And when my fantasies become my legacy
Promise me a place in your house of memories.

Words: 846| Katara