|
Post by ♫ admin on Nov 13, 2007 17:25:08 GMT 9
Fish scowled at the cat. Who did she think she was, ordering them around? They weren't "TalonClan" they were Ocean Sea and they only took orders from their own kind! He was about to hiss in protest, but before he could, Lightning turned around and repeated Swallow's orders. Now he was taking orders from this land cat? Throwing the eerie tuxedo cat a scathing look, he padded away grudgingly, tail dragging in the sand. Catching up to Bubble, Fish's foul mood dissapeared when she caught his eye. Face brightening, he twitched his ears, understanding her silent message. Where could they go to spy on the cats? He glanced around wildly, looking for a spot close enough to hear them but hidden enough to remain unnoticed. He then noticed a large boulder a few bass-lengths away. It seemed a good size for them to hide behind, and he indicated it with his tail, gazing at her questioningly to see if she thought it the right place to go.
|
|
|
Post by .}{EXXI. on Nov 14, 2007 1:52:08 GMT 9
Twitching one tabby ear in silent approval, Bubble quietly slid forward toward the rock. She stumbled once in the sand, lettign out a muffled squeak of surprise but the cats did not turn around so she carried on and had soon safely reached the rock. Now they would evesdrop.
"There. We are alone, although I must warn you that my Tribe is never to far away to chase away a bothersome land-cat." Lightning grolwed, wondering what the she-cat could want. He thought he had head a scuffling behind him but was intterupted in finding the cause by Swallow's next words.
"I wish to propose and allegiance between our Clans - Clan and Tribe." She meowed easily, long black tail flickering back and forth behind her.
"Why?" Came the suspicious question from Lightning before he could stifle it. It was blunt adn to the point but truly spoke of his feelings. Why in the name of the Tribe of Endless Swimming, would this Clan want to ally with Ocean Sea? "You Clan cats were fighting us today and now you want to fight beside us? I am no kit, land-cat, and there is nothing you can offer my Tribe."
For a moment Swallow seemed to swell with anger at his brashness but she simply shook her head to disguise the notion and took the few paces that brought her in a circle around Lightning who, to his credit, do not flinch as she had hoped. "Tell me, sea-cat, how long have you spent on the boat, hm?" His green-eyed glare was answer enough so she continued, "Do you and your cats know how to survive on land? Do you know how to catch the prey that runs here, or find the shelter that is vital to living through the cold ice-freeze of this place?" Before he could answer she cut in once more in a low hiss, "I think not. You may think it is cold now but this is nothing! There is no fresh-kill scent on you, save the reek of fish, and you are currently sheltered in the sacred place that is home to the ancient spirits of the Clans! If that does not show your ignorance, nothing does!"
Lightning had been listening to her words with a mixture of anger and reluctant acceptance for they were the harsh truth. could his Tribe survive on land or was this a further clue that they should simply run back to the boat with their tails between their legs? At her last accusation, however he too rose, whirling around to face the she-cat who now appeared cooly aloof. "You darea accuse my Tribe, and me, of ignorance?!? Do you think, as Healer of Ocean Sea, that I did not sense the presence of other ancestors? Or that I cannot sense that you are not some simple-minded land-cat who is offering to help my Tribe for the sake of a good heart?" Here he stopped, his glare boring right into her, and asked boldly, "What do you want from us, Swallow? For a cat such as you cannot pretend to wish nothing in return for such services."
|
|
|
Post by ♫ admin on Nov 14, 2007 19:24:55 GMT 9
Fish padded quickly and quietly after Bubble. Suddenly, she stumbled, sounding a squeak of surprise. Freezing where he stood, his blue eyes flicked instantly to where the two cats were sitting, and after nothing but a brief twitch from Lightning, Fish proceeded then in an unusually cautious fashion, belly brushing the ground. Once he was finally safe behind the rock, he let out a sigh of relief. Glancing at Bubble, he pushed himself against the boulder. It was large, and cool. A perfect hiding spot. Ears pricked, he listened attentively to the conversation between the two cats. An alliance?! Why would Ocean Sea want to ally with some dirty land cats? Grimacing, he glanced at Bubble to see what she thought of it, and his eyes lit up in enthusiastic approval at Lightning's defiant response. This reaction passed though, when he heard the next thing that his healer said. "What do you want from us Swallow? For a cat such as you, you cannot pretend to wish nothing in return for such services." Eyes wide, Fish glanced wildly at Bubble. The two cats...they were plotting something.
|
|
|
Post by .}{EXXI. on Nov 15, 2007 2:04:08 GMT 9
Bubble would have liked to yowl her support to their leader as he spat back at Swallow but the notion died at his next words. He was actually going to form an allegiance with a Clan?!? It couldn't be! A glance at Fish showed her own anger reflected in his blue eyes. What did Lightning think he was doing? They had a battle to fight tomorow!
Swallow blinked slowly to hide her anticipation but she could not hold back her wolfish smile. The 'healer' as he called himself, had seen sense. He knew she knew that this 'ocean sea' would not survive the harsh winter without inside help. Help that she was more than willing to give. "Nothing you can't give. I simply require your Tribe's strength. You have a population that rivals the Clans and together, our Clans could ru- could be great."
Still wary, Lightning did not nod or decline straight away. What she said was true, they could not survive if it got much colder. Already he was shivering, his thin pelt more used to the odd chilly sea breeze atop the warm still ocean air. This constant freezing temperature was begining to take it's toll on him, and the Clan. Especially the to-bes and Light's kits, once they were born. However, he had not missed her stumble, or the greed that was evident in her voice. she wanted power, that much was clear, but how could this allegiance grant her that? "How big is this...this TalonClan?" He inquired evenly.
Swallow threw him a narrow-eyed look, wondering what was going through his head. Should she tell him? She supposed so, after all, he would be seeing her Clan once he agreed anyway. "Not many. We have a medicine cat, leader and deputy, although she is often busy, but we also have a few warriors."
So they couldn't swarm his cats at Swallow's order. Ocean Sea was obviously in the majority. He supposed there was always the chance that she was lying but that brought him back to his original question. Why? Whatever the answer to that, his choices were clear. Take this cat's help or go back to the boat. He only had to think for a moment longer. "Very well. I accept your offer to aid Ocean Sea through the winter. I shall go tell my cats and we will head over to your territory in the morning."
Although her expresson did not change, Swallow felt the familiar surge of triumph at another piece of her plan coming together. At his next statement, which seemed more of a order than a question, she felt her fur bristle. She had been going to visit Dusk to make sur her unofficial deputy was okay. At her hesitation she saw him blink and meow, "Well, if you don't want to then -" "No." She snapped back irritatedly, "Go tell your cats the news."
"This is an allegiance, not a cictatorship, and I will not take orders from you." He meowed back angrily, tail lashing from side to side.
She paused a moment to collect herself before dipping her head, "Of course." She purred silkily, "Forgive me. I only wish to speed your arrival to the saftey of TalonClan camp." She would have to watch this one, and find out who his deputy was. Lightning might prove tricky to manipulate.
Lightning noded back shortly, swirling around to pad back towards the cave, hishead full of doubts. What had he done?
|
|
|
Post by .}{EXXI. on Nov 16, 2007 2:23:39 GMT 9
Bubble's eyes widened to the size of moons as she whipped around to hiss to Fish, "They're joining us up! Why?!? Ocean Sea can look after themselves without some mangy land-cat's help!" She was so agitated that she could not sit still and lashed her tail a few times until she realised the two older cats were passing by and she might be spotted. Their hiding place hadn't been so great after all, as it provided no cover on the other side - the side that Lightning was now rapidly approaching.
Upon reaching the cave, Lightning flicked his ear to Swallow. "Wait here...please, while I tell my cats." He was about to step in, onto the moss, when a movement to his right caught his eye. His whiskers twitched in first annoyance and then amusement as he realised what - or rather, who - it was. "Oh, and Bubble, Fish, you can come out now."
Seeing the tabby she-cat to-be flash her ginger friend an apologetic glance before skittering out towards the cave (glaring at Swallow as she passed her), Lightning stood in the mouth of the cave and waved his tail, signalling for all the cats to pay attention. "All cats who are old enough to swim alone please come to the boa-- please come here for a Tribe meeting."
Swallow waited outside, glowering at Lightning's back and the little tabby and white she-cat who gave her a filthy look. If Lightning thought he could order her around like this all the time, he had another thing coming!
|
|
|
Post by ♫ admin on Nov 16, 2007 17:58:43 GMT 9
At the conversation that followed, Fish's mouth hung open in shock. His jaws did not close the whole time the two older cats were speaking, and he had to resist the urge to leap about and yowl in shock and anger. Body frozen to the side of the rock, Fish's eyes were wide as moons, darting about, and glancing at Bubble every now and then. After repressing hiss after hiss after snide remark, Fish realized that the cats were finally leaving, Lightning to go tell the tribe about the new allegiance, Swallow, apparently following to observe. Bubble stood up then, tail lashing, and began to rant in a hushed voice. Stiffening at her sudden movement, Fish was oddly scared for his life. Nevertheless, he could not help nodding vigorously at her outraged response. She was right! This was insane! Ocean Sea could make it on their own! Fish’s gaping expression had turned to one of bitter resentment for the tuxedo she-cat. All she wanted was to use the tribe for her own selfish reasons! She didn’t' actually want to help them, nor, he suspected, did she intend to. He had just begun to relax a bit, mind whirring from Bubble's frenzied rant when he heard an amused mew from Lightning. "Oh, and Bubble, Fish, you can come out now." Had the healer known of their presence the whole time? Wincing, Fish threw Bubble a panicked look before standing up, striding quickly to the cave after his friend. Tail lashing, he stared scathingly at Swallow for a moment before ducking into the temporary shelter, allowing the warmth and humidity of the area to soak into his pelt. It relaxed him a bit, but not much. "Can you believe that?!" He hissed to Bubble once they were out of earshot of the rest of the tribe, "Why would Lightning do this?! We don't need their help!" here Fish scowled, claws unsheathing at the thought of the scheming black she-cat.
|
|
|
Post by .}{EXXI. on Nov 17, 2007 6:10:47 GMT 9
Bubble shot him a glance filled with agreement as she plonked herself down in front of Lightning, barely able to keep the anger out of her eyes when they swivelled towards Lightning. She decided she liked the old Healer better. Sure she hadn't actually known him, as he'd died a little while before she was born but he wouldn't have made the allegiance. Unfortunately, Bubble was to yougn to understand that Lightning hadn't had much choice in the matter, in her mind, the Tribe could deal with anything.
Lightning's tail flicked uneasily as he raced through the decision in his mind. How would it be accepted? Would it be accepted? He didn't need to have the wisdom of a Healer to realise that Bubble and Fish didn't approve but what if they weren't the only ones to take that view? What if no-one else could understand the difficulty that he had faced, and how he had chosen the only way his Tribe would survive. Surely survival was the most important thing for his Tribe? It came first, even before pride.
|
|
|
Post by ♫ admin on Nov 18, 2007 15:30:07 GMT 9
Glancing around, and trying to catch the gaze of another cat, Fish hesitated before sitting down. He desperately wanted to see if any of his tribemates thought Swallow suspicious on sight alone, but no unusual reactions occurred, and he sat down reluctantly, face darkened as he stared scathingly at Swallow, whose form could be seen close by, just outside the cave entrance.
Wood looked up suddenly at Lightning's announcement, and knew at once that it must have something to do with the unusual, horrible cat that had appeared earlier. Since returning in the cave, Wood had re-gained his nerves almost completely, as was quite calm, cleaning his dark fur slowly, but his previous fear returned as fast as a swift blow to the gut with unsheathed claws at the sight of the dark she-cat, twisting his belly in a way he had never felt before. Slinking foreword slowly, and trying to hide his irrational fear, Wood sat down, embarrassed by his ridiculous paranoia, and gained sudden fascination in cleaning his fur as thoroughly as he possibly could. Trying to calm himself, and push the dark she-cat out of his head, Wood rasped his tongue over his whole body before moving on to his forepaw, bringing it up to his ear and back down to his tongue in a repeated pattern.
Salt glanced up from where she was sleeping. Lightning's yowls had woken her. She'd only slept for a short while, but she felt relaxed and more reasonable now. Why had she been so afraid of the dark she-cat earlier? It was just a regular land-cat after all, dirty and ruthless like the others, and Salt padded confidently to the front of the cave, meeting Lightning's unusual gaze. He seemed worried, and Salt wondered what this meeting could be about. The coming battle, perhaps? She didn't know, but whatever it was, she decided, she could--and would--deal with it. Smoothing her dappled chest fur with a few casual licks, she glanced up at her healer, eager for the latest news.
|
|
|
Post by .}{EXXI. on Nov 18, 2007 19:16:43 GMT 9
Lightning looked down at his cats and saw them all looking up at him, some with expectation, some with worry, some with grim determination. He wondered again if this was the right course of action or if he had any right in making them fight for land. Either way, the decision had been made, all he had to do was tell them about it. "Cats of Ocean Sea, I have managed to aquire the help of a cat from this land. She knows where we can shelter and train. We will follow her to her own Clan where we will...we will ally ourselves with TalonClan and train to become powerful enough to fight the land-cats and claim territory for ourselves."
|
|
|
Post by Incognito on Nov 18, 2007 20:08:23 GMT 9
Dark, though he snarled at the idea of joining a group of those inferior land cats, revelled in the possibility of digging his claws into the sand cats, along with the other clans. He shrugged, skulking slightly towards Lightning, still disgruntled in the fact that Ocean Sea needed help. He shook her black, blue tinged coat, and began to groom it, without taking his eyes off Lightning. The tom's eyes were slightly bitter, but, as he looked around him, he still did not let the fact that Ocean Sea needed guidance around land touch his mind.
|
|
|
Post by ♫ admin on Nov 20, 2007 22:54:00 GMT 9
Salt gave a sharp intake of breath, her confidence gone. Lightning...allies with the eerie black she-cat?! It was as if Salt suddenly remembered everything that had scared her about the cat. The sharp jaws, glinting visibly between the lips of the she-cat when she spoke. That dark, glossy fur, with an alarming tuxedo highlight of pure white; those intense yellow eyes. And it wasn't just the build of this cat that sent fear shooting through Salt's tortoiseshell body, oh no. It was also the air around the cat, as if she was plotting, planning. She had a cunning look to her, and seemed to weigh down the very air around here with doom and hatred. Then again, Salt realized, maybe she was just being a bass-brain.
Fish scowled, glancing around wildly, trying to catch outrage in any other cat's face. He saw some annoyance in the faces of some, anxiety and fear in others, and Fish decided to be that one cat who started the yowl of protestst. It was a great yowl, he thought. Loud, protesting, screeching. His jaws were wide as he made it, hoping for the support of his tribemates.
Wood's claws hooked into the moss below him in agony at Lightning's announcement, and he was filled with relief as his brother gave a yowl of protest. Obviously, Wood wasn't the only one opposed to this idea, though, with a slight flick of the tail, he realized that his brother may dislike the idea for different reasons. Still, a yowl of protest was a yowl of protest, and after working up the nerve, Wood decided to join in. He opened his mouth, only to realize that his throat was so dry he couldn't make a sound, and this decided his original unscertainty. Snapping his jaws shut, he hunched over, eyes examining the mossy ground at his paws closeley. If he concentrated, he could see each individual bead of moss--the texture was astounding, really.
|
|
|
Post by .}{EXXI. on Nov 21, 2007 1:03:04 GMT 9
{Whoops, I completely forgot about Moon...x.x -is scratched by Moon-}
At her brother's announcement, Moon's permenantly huge lime-green eyes widened ever so slightly. That had been...unexpected. Not unwelcomly so, though. Her brother was perfectly right to decide that they needed the help of a native cat. Otherwise the Tribe would probably be dead within moons. They did not know how to hunt on land, or how to find shelter and they certainly knew nothing of those 'Clans'. She white and grey she-cat caught Lightning's eye and nodded silently, showing she not only understood but approved.
Bubble, on the other hand, neither understood or approved. She added her own indignatn yowl to Fish's, ahowing her agreement to his side, rather than that of her Healer's. She did not take time to consider his reasons, prefering to assume that he had acted stupidly without consulting the rest of them who, in her new opinion, were much smarter than Lightning anyway.
As the yowls of protest broke out, Lightning closed his eyes for a second, abandoning the hope that any of his cats would have understood him. When he opened them again, their mint green depths were alight with a furious fire and and drew himself up to full height. "Silence!" He hissed through bared teeth, watching Bubble's yowl die in her throat, "Has Ocean Sea become so arrogant as to believe that we can survive in a completely unfamiliar territory with none of the skills required by it and with no help?!? If we could, do you think I would be telling you this? Do you think I pleaded for the land-cat's help? Of course not! How many of you can hunt on land? How many of you can find the right shelter? As far as I see, we will die without a native's help but please, speak now if you think there is an option I have not seen." The tom's low, angry voice carried to all the corners of the mossy cave, not not outside it where Swallow's hopeful ears were pricked. His voice became more rational, and less frenzied toward the end though, and he truly hoped that some cat would come up with the ideal solution, but it did not seem likely.
|
|
|
Post by ♫ admin on Nov 21, 2007 21:08:50 GMT 9
Bubble's yowl made Fish glow with confidence and defiance, He was in the middle of giving his second yowl when Lightning's eyes glowed with more rage than Fish had ever seen of the wise healer, and Fish's protest died in his throat within a heartbeat. The neck on his fur prickled in embarrassment of what he had caused as his healer ranted, and Fish examined the fur on his paws. "Has Ocean Sea become so arrogant as to believe that we can survive in a completely unfamiliar territory with none of the skills required by it and with no help?!? If we could, do you think I would be telling you this? Do you think I pleaded for the land-cat's help? Of course not! How many of you can hunt on land? How many of you can find the right shelter? As far as I see, we will die without a native's help but please, speak now if you think there is an option I have not seen." was Lightning's angry response. In a way, Fish understood what his leader was getting at. Then again, the training session had been going fine before that horrible land cat butted in. If she had left them alone, Fish was sure of it, every single Ocean Sea cat would be fighting like land warriors, but better! Eyes blazing with sudden anger, Fish stared at his paws so intently that it felt like he was burning holes into them. How could his wise healer trust such an obviously scheming cat? Especially one of land! At that moment, Fish felt something he rarely experienced; the urge to wail in pain and anguish. To be upset. To let out his antagonized emotions. But he kept his jaws clamped shut, allowing only his eyes to water, and hoping that no cat would the tiny splats of his salty tears against the green moss at his paws. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Salt, though not comforted by her leader's words, understood his reasoning. He was right. If Ocean Sea wanted to win this battle, they'd need the help of a land cat. There was no denying it. Sighing, she gave her fur a swift lick, trying to comfort herself. It would be alright. Who cared about Swallow's plans? She was helping the tribe, and that was all that mattered at the moment. What happened would happen, Ocean Sea would find a way to cope. Standing up, Salt's voice quavered a bit as she mewed, "Lightning, I agree with your decision. Thank you for-for leading Ocean Sea the right way." She sat down quickly then, giving her chest fur another quick, self-conscious lick.
|
|
|
Post by .}{EXXI. on Nov 22, 2007 2:15:02 GMT 9
Lightning's eyes flew over to Salt as the boat-guard began to speak, his mind already grappling for another explanation of his desicion but, to his surprise, she did not contradict him. Instead, she offered the agreement that he sorely needed. He nodded to her, "I am glad you understand Salt." Then he ran his eyes over the rest of the cats, silently daring them to agrue but also willing them to agree. Although he had no suspicions of a mutiny, he would much rather have their support than their anger. No cats spoke so he lept over to the mouth of the cave. "Let us leave this place and journey to our new territory. Come Ocean Sea, we go now!" Lightning ordered strongly, nodding to Swallow as he exited the cavern.
Bubble sulked a little as Lightning spoke and still felt misgivings for the plan, particularly disliking the fact that no-one else was protesting. However, they had to do what Lightning said. With a glance Fish's way, she took his expression to be of anger and embaressment without much thought but padded after Lightning anyway. This new place might be kind of cool too. It was another stage of the adventure, and Bubble found comfort in thinking of it that way.
|
|
|
Post by ♫ admin on Nov 22, 2007 12:10:32 GMT 9
Fish wanted to wail in protest again, but he knew that if he did, the consequences would be dire. Instead, he stood up, and sulked after his leader. Ocean Sea was putting all their trust in her paws! Their lives, their survival, now it all depended on this sneaky 'Swallow' character. What if she was bringing them to her clan so that they could be de-furred and eaten alive? What if she was planning to kill them, or force them to become one of her Clan? Ocean Sea was a tribe! They had ancient ways! What about the conch shell? Had lightning even remembered to take it? Scowling darkly, Fish dragged his feet through the moss as he left the cave, sighing. There was no choice now. Follow the healer, or leave the tribe. Fish decided to follow the healer.
Wood stood on trembling legs at his leader's announcement, trying to reassure himself that it would be alright. It's okay, he told himself firmly, grim determination settling into his clear blue eyes, If Lightning says it's alright, It's alright. He's the healer, and I trust him. Though, he knew one thing: He still mistrusted Swallow. Gulping, Wood forced his dark legs to move out of the cave. The realm of safety left him. He no longer felt protected. The warmth of the moss was no longer with him, and he shuddered at the feeling.
Salt stood, disbelieving of herself. What had she done? One agreement was all it had taken for her healer to make up his mind! Sighing, she reminded herself that it was her intention to agree, so it must have been her intention to go along with this cat. Tribe of Endless Swimming, keep watch over us! she begged in silent prayer. If she strained her eyes, she could just see the shore on the horizon, where water met land, and the waves crashed at the sandy shores of the so-called SandClan. Padding after her healer, Salt told herself to be strong. Shaking out her tortoiseshell pelt, she followed slowly, straining to hear the crash of the waves and cry of the gulls in the distance.
|
|