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Post by Kaeldra on Sept 10, 2022 3:37:05 GMT
Cecil || he/him || 28 moons
“You’re sure about this? One hundred percent sure? If you want to stay home, I won’t blame you.”
Cecil had asked this at least twenty times already, as they were leaving their garden, as they were padding through Twolegplace, as they bid farewell to their friends in the neighbourhood. And now, as they padded into the cover of the forest, he felt the urge to ask again.
“For the hundredth time, yes! I swear, you’re just trying to get rid of me at this point. Well, it’s not happening,” Piper singsonged back at him as she pranced on ahead.
Cecil sighed. In a way, he was trying to get rid of her. Not because he didn’t want her company – he knew if he was alone he would miss her constantly – but because he wanted her to be safe. He had no idea what he was doing, setting off on a journey to some unknown place in search of a mystical stone he wasn’t entirely sure was real. Adding on top of all that the need to be sure Piper was safe? It was a tall order. But in the end, it seemed he didn’t have a choice.
“I just want to make sure,” he said, a bit redundantly. “It won’t be like living with our housefolk, you know. There’s dangerous cats in this forest, and even bigger creatures. We’ll have to be careful.”
Piper rolled her eyes.
“I know, you’ve already told me. That’s why it’s better that there’s two of us! We can watch each other’s backs, y’know? Then you’ll be able to come home in one piece after you find your special rock,” she teased. The way the starry cats had talked, this wasn’t something he would just return home after doing, but he didn’t tell Piper that.
“Now come on, you’re being slow! We gotta get cracking if we’re gonna search this whole forest,” she laughed, coming back to circle once around him before running off ahead again.
ulla
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Post by ryaptor on Sept 12, 2022 5:42:20 GMT
Shade - he/him - 14 moons
Shade had picked up a routine since he had found himself alone in the forest. He'd wake in the morning, groom himself, and then head out for a hunt. When he had caught something Shade walked the familiar paths he usually followed to his brother's resting spot, settling down with whatever he had caught to eat. Sometimes he would talk to Sparrow, tell him about his day. Other times he would just eat quietly and remember the days when his brother had been alive.
As the late morning rolled around, Shade got up and stretched out, saying goodbye to his brother for the day. He lifted his nose into the air, taking in the scents of the forest around him, comforted by the shadows cast by the canopy above. Light dappled through the leaves as they gently shifted in the breeze, adding to the sense of peace and rest of his brothers grave site. He began to head towards the two-leg place, another part of his routine, hoping that one day his mother may return.
Four moons had passed since she had been taken by two-legs but Shade would never give up hope of her return. He walked with the quiet confidence of a hunter, not trying to remain hidden since he had a full belly, but practised enough that he wouldn't be noticeable right away to the untrained eye, nose or ear.
His ears pricked up at the sound of voices ahead, two cats from what his nose told him. Shade considered his options for a moment before he began to follow their scent and voices, moving quietly. While he was friendly, he could never be sure if others were, and two cats against one was bad odds for him. Bits of their conversation came through as he got closer, interest piqued at the mention of a glowing rock. In the shadow of a bush Shade got a look at the pair, identifying them as kittypets, one older and one younger than him.
"I can safely tell you there is no glowing rock in the immediate forest." Shade spoke as he stood up and made his presence known, keeping his distance from the pair to not spook them too much. While he wasn't actually a big cat, his fluff made him appear a bit more imposing. "I would have seen it by now."
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Post by Kaeldra on Sept 13, 2022 2:01:23 GMT
Cecil || he/him || 28 moons
Piper had only run a couple of tail-lengths ahead before she skidded to an abrupt stop, fur bushing out in alarm. Her screech of surprise sent Cecil hurtling forward to catch up, pushing his way between her and the strange cat that had suddenly materialized from the undergrowth. Where had he come from?
Then Cecil realized that this cat was considerably smaller than him, his fluff making up most of the difference, and he was probably around the same age as Piper. His body language was relaxed, nothing to warrant Piper’s loud wail.
“It’s okay, he seems friendly,” he assured her, and she slowly let her fur settle flat, but kept her gaze wary.
Then the tom’s words caught up with Cecil and his eyes glimmered with interest.
“Oh, do you know where it might be? I figured it wouldn’t be so close, but if we can skip searching this area altogether that will save a lot of time,” he said. “How long have you been in the area?”
Their journey was off to a good start, he supposed, already running into a helpful cat on their first day away from their nest. Perhaps this quest wouldn’t be as tough as Cecil had feared.
ulla
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Post by ryaptor on Sept 13, 2022 3:30:36 GMT
shade - he/him - 14 moons
Shade remained calm as the two other cats reacted to his presence, sitting down, fur as flat as it could be considering his fluff. He knew there was no stopping such a reaction but was glad when the pair relaxed a little. "I am friendly," he spoke up, wanting to reassure the younger one. The last thing he wanted was to upset someone else after all.
"I've lived in this forest my whole life. About fourteen moons." Shade told them, long tail wrapping over his front paws. His head tilted to the side as he considered the other question. "Hm, this is the first I've heard anyone speak about a glowing rock. Do you know anything else? How'd you learn about it?"
Shade was a curious individual, and the idea of a glowing rock definitely piqued his interest. Even though such a notion could be easily written off as perhaps delusion or the silly games of kittypets, part of Shade felt that this rock did exist. That it was important.
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Post by ronfaure on Sept 13, 2022 15:10:21 GMT
The tom opened his better eye at the sound of other cats, setting him on high alert so early in the morning.
It had been a rough few day since he left the den of Juniper, the herbal scent finally beginning to loosen it's grip on his pelt. Despite nary leaving a mark beyond the three jagged claw marks across his face, Big Iron was weighted down with the addition of another commitment, forcing him to almost literally lumber out of the nest with a heavy sigh. "I ever find that rat," The mackerel tabby growled mentally. "maybe I'll just force the herbs down his throat than return the bloody mark."
Turning his attention back towards those too close to his nest, Big Iron investigated with a slow crouch and stalked towards the two in the thick undergrowth. Two, maybe three, sets of scents collided in the air. Copper eyes scanned the area intently, peeking out from the twisted shadows of the morning's rise. Glowing Rocks? Was that another cat, or were they actually looking for a sparkling rock? He'd never seen a rock that glowed. Yet.
Still. The tabby stayed to watch them, gathering for more information before approaching.
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Post by Kaeldra on Oct 2, 2022 22:38:10 GMT
Cecil || he/him || 28 moons
“Still, you didn’t have to pop up out of nowhere and scare me out of my fur like that,” Piper grumbled. “How was I to know you weren’t some scary forest cat here to rip my fur off?”
Cecil sent a stern look toward the young she-cat. There was no reason for her to be so rude, even if she had been startled. Determined to remedy things as well as he could, the flame point turned back to the tom.
“Well, to be honest, we don’t know much either. It might sound a bit silly,” he said, glancing at Piper again as she snorted, “but I actually had a dream from some starry cats, telling me to find it. I’ve been seeing them in my dreams for a while and now they’ve sent a prophecy.”
He sat down then, tail sweeping around and covering his paws. Might as well get comfy.
“Do you know much about the Clan stories in the area? I hadn’t heard of them until I started having these dreams a few moons ago, but the prophecy is about them.”
Cecil paused for a moment, making sure he remembered the words, then recited the prophecy.
“Find the stone that gleams and shines, the one that sits beneath the mines. Stars that die and stars that fall, they gather here and sing their call. Find the cats who number four and from the ashes Clans arise once more.”
Closing his eyes for a moment, Cecil mentally went through the dream where he had received the prophecy. It had felt so momentous. Then he looked up at the stranger.
“Does any of that ring a bell to you?”
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Post by ryaptor on Oct 15, 2022 10:23:15 GMT
 shade
15 moons | he/him | loner
Shade's eyes widened as Cecil spoke about the Clan cats and a prophecy, the feeling deep in his being all the more apparent. What the tom was saying felt right; true. He repeated the prophecy back to Cecil, committing it to memory, mind working hard.
"My mother told me stories about cats that used to work together, like a big family." Shade admitted. "She said we were from their line, a long time ago. It's why she stayed here, why I stay here."
He turned his head as the back of his neck prickled, keen eyes sweeping over the forest around them. Shade wasn't a fighter, but he was a hunter, and he could sense that someone or something was watching them. He kept his head on a swivel as he spoke more. Just in case.
"I like watching the stars a lot. I've seen a few of them fall in an area across the Thunderpath that way." Shade lifted a paw to point in the direction he was speaking of. "I haven't strayed too far out of the forest sorry. It feels like home."
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Post by Kaeldra on Nov 9, 2022 2:28:04 GMT
Cecil || he/him || 28 moons
Cecil’s ears perked up. Not only did this cat already know about the Clans and seem to believe in them, he even had a potential lead for them. The flame point turned, staring off in the direction the tom indicated, and let out a breath of acknowledgement.
“Oh! Maybe we should head that way, then?” He looked to Piper, questions in his eyes, and she just shrugged back at him.
“Sure. You’re the one who’s been getting the magic dreams, not me.”
Cecil rolled his eyes. So helpful as always. He gave the tom an apologetic smile.
“That’s good to know, thank you. We were planning on heading that way–” he gestured with his tail to the left, where the trees grew denser. “–but if you’ve seen stars falling over there that might just be the way to go! You probably just saved us a ton of time,” Cecil said gratefully.
While part of him itched to set out again, he was also curious about what knowledge this stranger might have.
“I’m Cecil, by the way,” he said, realizing he hadn’t introduced himself. “That’s amazing that you’re descended from such great cats! How lucky, to run into someone with such direct ties right away! Could you tell us more about the stories your mother knew? What happened to her, if you don’t mind my asking?”
Now it was Piper’s turn to roll her eyes.
“Just because his mom told him they’re related doesn’t mean they actually are,” she pointed out. “Cats lie all the time.”
”Piper!” Cecil hissed.
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Post by ryaptor on Nov 11, 2022 4:46:39 GMT
shade
15 moons | he/him | loner
Date | @name There was a shift in Shade's posture as Piper called his mother a liar. His ears flicked back for a moment, gaze dropped to his paws as a frown touched his features. Some may get angry about such insults, but it just made Shade sad, anger not an emotion he felt often; or liked honestly. His paws shuffled a little in the dirt and leaves beneath them. In the end he decided to ignore Piper's words. Everyone was entitled to their beliefs after all.
"My mother is um, gone. Not dead. Twolegs took her." Shade admitted, gaze lifted to look at Cecil. "She told my siblings and I many stories, some likely exaggerated, others pieced together from other cats and their stories. She always reminded us that a lot was likely lost, especially because of how the Clans... Ended..."
He looked uncomfortable again, not sure if this was the best story to share to new friends. "They um, killed one another in a big fight. Barely anyone survived. Mother said the ground was stained red with blood for moons. Sometimes when you go to the big trees you can still smell it."
There was something about the mention of dreams that stuck with Shade. Like there was a memory he couldn't quite remember. A dream so distant you can't remember it.
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Post by Kaeldra on Nov 13, 2022 23:07:21 GMT
Cecil || he/him || 28 moons
Cecil cursed his companion as he watched the tom’s face fall. He knew Piper likely didn’t mean any harm by her words, but he was sure they still stung nonetheless. Seeming to realize she’d misspoken, Piper fidgeted a little at Cecil’s side.
Then the stranger mentioned his mother had been taken by some twolegs, and Cecil’s eyes brightened. Maybe the two could be reunited someday. Maybe Cecil even knew this cat’s mother himself! He was about to say as much, to run through a list of she-cats he knew who might fit the bill, but the tom continued. Blood running cold at the mention of the fight that had ended the Clans, Cecil gasped. He hadn’t heard that before. There was so much he still didn’t know.
“That’s awful,” Cecil said, his voice somber. “The cats that visit my dreams never told me that part. They just said the Clans didn’t exist anymore.”
Doubts crept into Cecil’s mind, not for the first time. Was he really meant to help bring these Clans back into existence? What if the same thing happened and he just inadvertently caused more bloodshed? Still, he couldn’t help a note of curiosity from seeping into his voice.
“... The big trees? What are those?”
ulla
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