|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 1:45 pm
 Ghost sniffed around the barn, the scent of mouse still fresh and lingering among the haystacks. Pale blue eyes were narrowed into an almost permanent scowl as the rogue she cat stalked for an early morning meal. Her paw steps light, soundless, tail tip still as stone as her ears perked to the sound of scurrying paws.
The silver she cat waited, watching downwind until the mouse dared to exit the haystack, back turned towards her. Big mistake. Muscles tensed and suddenly sprang loose as the lean smooth body propelled through the air, paws clamping down tight upon the prey, fangs sinking in for the killing blow.
The tasted of the warm blood washing over her tongue satisfied the rogue she cat... for now at least. Life around this two leg place was incredibly dull most all of the time. Especially since her sister had run off somewhere and she had yet to find neither hair nor scent of the frail pale she cat. Just the thought of Spirit out there alone pissed Ghost off more than any cat could imagine....
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 2:09 pm
 Shadow was quite pleased with herself. She'd found a home. A place to call all her own. The twolegs had an extra barn - run down and unused for years by the looks of it - on the far outter rim of their land. The stench of Horses flooded the place, but the over abundance in mice and other such fresh kills made up for it. Plus it was all hers. A perfect place to begin her plan, even if it was a plan still in the making. It would take time. It would take careful planning and-
She froze. Another feline's scent wafted into her nares. Yet... someone familiar?
Perplexed, she tilted her head and stepped silently towards the edge of the loft. The grey figure far below seemed... familiar... somehow... Her ears rolled back and her head turned, peering out towards the Twoleg dwelling off in the distance - a few pastures lay between the barn and the twoleg nest. Ren was there somewhere. He'd been keeping to himself as of late and she worried for him, but he came around from time to time... and he never left without her knowing.... never... so she knew he was still around and out of the way for this chance meeting. Good. He's where he needs to be.
Her green eyes narrowed as she stealthily slunk her way down to the beams above the hay bales. With skilled hunting paws, she made her way to a favored perch. A few hay bales above the 'intruder'... It was there she sat and coiled her tail around her paws. She looked the she-cat over again and recognition began to dawn on her.
Ghost. The clever she-cat that helped her out of the city. Away from the evil twolegs that once held Shadow captive. It wasn't a long acquaintance. Just long enough to point Shadow in the direction of endless trees. Away from buildings, streets, and tin cans filled with Twoleg scraps...
"Well, if it isn't my old friend!" she only half purred, but kept her perch. "Ghost, was it?" she asked, her tail tip twitching faintly above her paws. "You're pretty far from the city. What brings you into my neck of the woods?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 2:55 pm
Ghost had taken several bites of her mouse by now, leaving a pathetic scrap of fur at her paws when a familiar voice sounded from above. Fur raised slightly, she craned her head up to see a familiar figure of a black she cat, strikingly green eyes trained on her. "Ah yes... Shadow was it? See you've made it out of the city..." she smirked in amusement, tail flicking. "Glad to see you remember my name at least." she meowed, taking a moment to swipe a tongue across a bloody paw.
"Oh your neck of the woods? Pardon me, I didn't realize you still preferred to hang around two leg kind." she teased darkly, her pale blue eyes looking over the other she cat's figure. She had been so desperate to leave her previous twoleg, and now she was back in the vicinity of others? At least she looked well fed enough. Though if she was going to take issue with her hunting mice in 'her woods', then Shadow had another thing coming.
Spirit's scent trailed off here, where it went next, the pale cat had no clue. What she did know was there was shelter and prey, for the most part undisturbed around here. "I gave up city life. Wasn't for me." she half lied. It was true but that wasn't the ultimate reason why she left. She wasn't sure she trusted this black she cat quite enough with the knowledge that her younger sister, frail by all means and utterly defenseless, was out there roaming around by herself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 23, 2014 3:55 pm
Shadow mrowled a soft chuckle and licked her lips. "The twolegs don't ever come in here. It's been abandoned for some time now."
She lifted a paw to her lips, cleaning it momentarily before she shifted the weight upon her forepaws. "I've taken claim to it. There are many other cats who have taken claim to larger pieces of land in the surrounding areas." she nearly scoffed as she continued. "They call themselves Clans and live and sleep in the weathers of nature. At least here, there's a roof over my head and plenty of mice to fill me until I burst!"
She purred. Green eyes fell back towards Ghost's figure. "Odd. You were such a Pro at navigating those thunderpaths and alleyways. I had assumed the city life suited you nicely. Still, you managed to get this far. You'd make a fine Deputy for my own little plan..." Her sentences trailed off a bit as if the last two sentences were meant mainly to herself.
She stretched herself into a stand and flexed her claws.
"Stay here as long as you like. Eat your fill and all that. I assume your sister is somewhere close by...?" she mused to herself, not knowing that Ghost was in fact searching for Spirit. "I don't mind sharing. However, the top loft is all mine. So I would humbly ask that you don't go up there without my permission."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 6:19 pm
Ghost eyed the other she cat, listening to her go on and on. First about this horse place being hers then about crazy forest clan cats or some such nonsense. It all made her tired to be honest, there was only one goal set in the pale she cat's mind right now.
Still, the invitation to stay was appreciated, she had been on her paws for a while with no real rest. "I'll stay down here then, you have my word." she mused, cleaning off the last bit of mouse before flicking the remains away with a paw. Her blue eyes narrowed in thought as Shadow mentioned about.. deputy? "I don't know your... clan cat terms... if that even is one. But I assume a Deputy is a good thing?" she mused and tilted her head.
It was true, she had learned to expertly navigate the black tops and those roaring monsters. Not to mention the dark alleys where she was left to die with the rest of her family. And speaking of family..... "Yes... she's off on one of her....moods." Ghost said, not all lies. But the fact that the white frail she cat had dared to even leave her sisters side for a blink of an eye still clung to Ghost like a tick.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 7:08 pm
Her ears perked slightly. She didn't realize that her musings could be overheard. Still, the confirmation of staying where she was requested in such a manner intrigued her. It sounded as if Shadow herself had some sort of power already. The feel of that small bit of control sent a lovely sort of shiver down her spine.
With a pleasant little murr, she turned and smiled. "It is indeed a good thing. In fact, one of the best, in my opinion." She sat back down and tilted her head a smidge, looking over Ghost as she dove deep into her memory. Ghost had a thing against males as well. This could play well in her favor!
"I have a plan in the works and you might just be the she-cat that can help me achieve such goals." Her tail tip flicked softly as if she had found something mildly amusing. "If memory serves me well, you don't much care for Toms. Recently, I've come to much the same feeling for their gender. They're weak. Pampered by their masters or their own libido. They're cruel to us and have no care or understanding to our wants and needs and in most cases - specifically, ours - we she-cats can easily live strong and healthy lives without their presence entirely. Well, unless we plan to have kits, of course..."
She shook her head of continuing on that topic. There was a process here. "You and your sister are further monuments to my belief. A belief that us she-cats can survive without their influence. This is in part an aid to my plan." She purred and spun on her paws, pouncing up a few blocks of hay bales before digging her claws into the straw playfully. "I have heard many stories of these clans that reside nearby. From those stories, I have devised a plan. To make my own clan. A family. Filled with many like minded she-cats. To grow and thrive and prove that us Queens can be far better than any Tom can even imagine to be."
She sat again, her chest already swelling with pride at the idea. "A Deputy is what the clans call their second in command. Deputy seems a far more fitting title, honestly, as I have yet to think up something different to replace it." Her green eyes half blinked down upon Ghost. "What say you, Ghost... Would you be interested in such a thing? I can understand if you'd need time to think and discuss it with your sister."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 7:35 pm
The entire time Shadow went on during her monologue about these clan cats and some grand plan of some sort of... She clan. And honestly.... it sounded intriguing.
Any time the mention of a tom cat was made, her mind thought back to her foxdung piece of father, who had hit up a frail she cat just for the fun of things. "If I were to agree to be your... deputy. What kind of power do I get?" her tail tip twitched, a grin spreading across her face, claws digging into the ground. "I'm sure you can imagine.... I have ... frustrations...with tom cats, much like yourself, and simply sitting around, being idle.... does nothing to sooth that hunger." she mused.
First thing, she'd have to find her sister. "You can count me into it. For now anyways. We may be friends but I don't think you've quite shown to me you can be a leader I'd follow into battle. And besides.... I'll need to speak to my sister." she mrrowed, pausing to swipe a tongue across her paw.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 8:13 pm
"I fully understand, Ghost. I would be wary too. I was a frightened little kitten when you saw me last, barely able to catch her own meal and yet you showed me to my salvation from the wretched two-legs that dared to claim me. There will be plenty of times for me to prove to you that I'm capable of the title. Until then, you're free to roam this abandoned place as I've stated before."
She then grinned almost deviously. Yes. Her plan was slowly starting to fall into place now. She had spent many nights before now wondering just how she'd manage to even begin her own "Shadow"Clan... The pickings for other like minded females was - for the most part - slim...
"Oh, you won't be bored. I can assure you that much. You will be in charge of most things. Creating Hunting Parties to feed the family, training the younger she-cats on how to hunt and fight. I'm sure the other clans around us won't be too pleased with us. Their views on life is vastly different and they might not like the way we do things. I imagine they'd even want to rid us from our new home once they discover where we live, so knowing how to fight will be a priority. The clan cats are savages and attack anyone who trespasses on their territories, so there's another reason to know battle maneuvers as I'm sure there will be a kit or two still learning their place here who try to prove themselves too early. As for our own territory, we'll have to establish that as well. You and I will coordinate border patrols once one is established."
She purred softly and blinked slowly. "Other such tasks include raising kits. But that is still yet a task to be trifled with..." she added with a faint trill of a dark sounding purr and a flicker deep in her eyes.
"I have a task prepared for you today, if you're interested." she then started as if changing the subject. "I've been meaning to walk the thunderpath. Gather an idea on where the other clans are located. I only know of where two are at the moment, but I have reason to believe that there are at least two more... If you need a few hours to rest, I'll understand. The largest of two-leg nests is a fair bit of a journey from here. Not an easy feat. The task can wait until tomorrow if you feel it necessary."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 9:09 pm
Ghost listened intently. Ears flicking after each word, each task, each designated power. Training young cats to fight... hunting, fending off other clans... other possible.... toms. "Sounds pleasing. Training young she cats to tear the eyes out of a tom.... sounds more than pleasing." she mrred, her own dark purr rumbling in the pit of her throat.
Stretching out her front legs in a nonchalant fashion, tail tip reaching all the way up to touch her back, her eyes glimmered at the suggestion of raising kits. "I'm curious how you intend to raise kits... being she cats... we can't exactly birth them.... unless... we steal them." she meowed in amusement, flexing her claws and straightening herself back up, eyeing Shadow through half narrowed blue eyes.
"As for these other clans... show me the Thunderpath, I'll be your guide." she grinned, standing up on all fours. Spirit would have to wait a while, as much as that thought annoyed her, but she wasn't dead yet. Ghost could feel that connection spiritually inside her still. Perhaps if she got done doing all of Shadow's wishes, Ghost would have a well set up home for Spirit to return too.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 25, 2014 9:42 pm
A sparkle shined in her gaze at Ghost's enthusiasm and she chuckled darkly. "That is... part of the plan. Yes." she mrowled softly in delight. "Some of those clans idolize toms. Their females have great potential. I had an idle thought to... 'adopt' young she-kits into our clan. Teach them our ways and bring out their true potential."
She chuckled and bounded down the hay bales to ground level. She began walking towards the entrance to the forgotten barn, tail flicking to encourage Ghost to follow her.
"Of course, you and I both know that our heat is a terrible thing to endure. I'm sure there will be times when our heat will drive us to mate with an unfortunate soul." She sighed heavily. "Any males born from this method can be used to clean dirt, I suppose..." she added as if the thought was not necessarily one she much cared for. "Lest we leave them to the elements..." she then added darkly with a smidge of a smirk to her maw.
She led the way through one of the pastures and turned towards the small dirt road leading up to the two-leg's nest nearby. She paused here a moment to see if she could spot Ren from here. It was best if he stayed out of sight for now. She was internally glad he was no where to be seen. Or smelled for that matter. Even better.
She turned away from the two-leg nest and began trotting towards the main Thunderpath. She paused a moment to the left side of the road and found a scent marker. "And here is proof that the clans even exist." she scoffed, sneering at the Shadowclan scent a moment, then stepping to the side for Ghost to catch scent of it.
Once that was established, she sighed and began to trek further down the dirt thunderpath. "I've noticed a gathering place for the clans not too far from here. It seems to be the only place they come to meet and keep their claws to themselves. A sacred place, if you must think of it in such a way. Follow me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 12:52 pm
Ghost chuckled to think they were on the same page. Stealing kits, now that would be a real hoot. She couldn't imagine how that would pan out in the long run. Tom cats were better left for dead in her mind, but she knew they served one single sole purpose at least, to continue the species.
"Why not have a few tom slaves.... fill our desires... potential to make more she cats.... and then more slaves. We can always... cull their numbers." she purred in a sinister tone, following after Shadow. down the dirt road. Her ears flickered for the sound of anything two leg that might trot or motor down the dirt path. Her jaws parted, already catching the scent she had noticed lingering in the air before. "So this is that nasty tang I smelled earlier.... and this is just one of the clans, as I understand it?" she hissed, pausing to spray her own scent over their marker before moving on.
"A sacred place? Does it really have meaning or do they come to just play and mingle like star crossed kits?" she huffed, glancing around her tail tip twitching. She gazed off down the road, wondering how far away these thunderpaths were, how many they were and if many monsters roared down them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 1:23 pm
Shadow purred to the idea. "That sounds like a marvelous plan!" she mrowled with a lick of her lips. "The ones we keep will be those that set an example for any future slaves born into the clan." She chuckled a bit and flicked her tail with glee at the idea.
"It's good to finally have a like minded individual to brainstorm with. For a while I had assumed that the next cat that I'd have the opportunity to discuss such plans with would call me crazy and never speak to me again!" She mrowled further in what sounded like laughter then sighed.
"Yes. This is one of the neighboring Clans. The other neighboring clan lies on the other side of the black thunderpath just down the way here." She trotted further up the dirt path until it met with the black pavement of road at its end. Her green eyes flashed over the sea of black flat-rock for a moment. "Over there is the other one I know of. It's actually a bit surprising at how different their scents are. You can tell that there's a mixture of cats all mingled as one, but each Clan seems to have a distinct smell to them."
She sneered for a moment then nodded, not wanting to cross the Thunderpath for the moment. They'd have plenty of time to do just that later. "Come on. The meeting place is this way..."
She pranced ahead a few bounds, bringing her steps down into the ditches along the side of the road. "The Thunderpath Monsters are not as frequent here as they were where we came from." She added as they walked. "You can hear them coming and have plenty of time to move out of it's sight before they even come near."
"Whether the sacred place has meaning or not, I'm uncertain of for now. I kept my distance, but I've noticed that they meet when the moon is full. There were many shadows of cats that night. All different scents. The clans neighboring us had cats there as their scents were - for the most part - recognizable, but there were others. I was downwind, so I caught scent of at least two other distinct smells, but after a while it just got confusing."
"I wasn't, however, close enough to catch anything that they were mewing about... Ah!" she churred happily as the bridge came into sight. "There it is..." she purred softly and picked up the pace a bit. Once at the edge of the bridge, she scaled the rocks and things down the side and gazed into the large opening underneath. "Here is where they meet. Their scents still linger, but they're mingled..." she trailed, taking a moment to sit and lick a paw while allowing Ghost to investigate if she so wished it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 27, 2014 4:21 pm
Ghost smirked, keeping her thoughts to herself as they walked along. She'd call Shadow crazy too and she shared this twisted she-cat's vews. Or some of them anyways. Instead, a mrrr of agreement echoed in her throat as she nodded, taking in all Shadow had to say.
Once they made it to the Thunderpath, she peered down both sides, noting how relatively quite it was here, as compared to the city. "Less to worry about then, if it is as you say. Less monsters is less we have to worry about on our little.... exploration." she meowed, following after Shadow in the ditches.
Once they had gotten to the meeting place of these so called clan cats, her mouth opened, taking in the scents of cats once gathered here. She could pick out the familiar scent of the one around the barn, a sort of old fishy scent, and at least three others she couldn't quite determine. Her nose wrinkled in disgust as she rubbed her face with a paw. "I hope these scents are.... less irritating when separate. " she lashed her tail, padding forward to explore beneath the bridge."Curious what they talk about now. May have to take some time out of my daily routine next full moon and.... have a listen." she purred, glancing over at Shadow as she cleaned her paw.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 6:30 pm
Shadow licked at her paw and swept it across an ear before yawning and stretching. "Perhaps. I'll leave that to you, then. Just remember to stay downwind of them. With so many cats here to... well, I can only assume they'd want to protect such a sacred place, I'd rather not go and lose my Deputy so soon after finding her." she winked, adding a soft mrowl of a purr to her statement as a means to portrait her words as a bit of a joke.
She rose to her paws again and began stepping up the slope back to the edge of the thunderpath on the opposite side of the bridge from where they came.
"I have reason to believe there are more clans this way. However, I have yet to explore this far. Would you like to continue? Or would you rather return home for now?" She knew that Ghost didn't like being away from Spirit for long.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
