inky
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Post by inky on Apr 1, 2020 8:20:03 GMT -8
AllegiancesLeader:houndstar | 69 m | male | xLives: ★★★★★★★★★ Deputy:curlewfang (in nursery) | 33 m | female | xMedicine Cat:mothbite | 33 m | nb (afab) | xMedicine Cat Apprentice:name | age | gender | x Warriors:hemlocksnarl | 45 m | male | xfiremouse | 73 m | male | xshrubwhistle | 49 m | male | xoysterclaw | 55 m | male | xvenusbite | 85 m | male | xduskwave | 50 m | male | xsquirrelblossom | 36 m | male | xdeathwing | 39 m | male | xroemuzzle | 44 m| female | xblackpatch | 30 m | female | xbearclaw | 43 m | male | xpuffinpad | 52 m | female | xaldershade | 24 m | female | xadmiralstep | 34 m | female | xvetchshadow | 23 m | female | xferretfoot | 23 m | male | xspleendust | 23 m | female | xgullfoot | 45 m | male | xhollyfoot | 55 m | female | xskuaflap | 18 m | female | xglowpool | 17 m | female | xmusselstretch | 19 m | male | xdawnsky | 16 m | male | xfernpelt | 71 m | female | xpineshade | 58 m | male | xarrowbite | 16 m | female | xdappleback | 16 m | female | xdockshine | 16 m | male | xdunnockberry | 16 m | male | xcodsplash | 16 m | male | xtonsilglare | 16 m | male | xfogsneeze | 36 m | demiboy (amab) | xheathcliff | 16 m | male | xharestone | 16 m | female | xriverbat | 17 m | male | xsnowbell | 18 m | female | xname | age | gender | x Apprentices:jackdawpaw | 18 m | male | xmosspaw | 9 m | gf (amab) | xasterpaw | 8 m | female | xploverpaw | 7 m | female | xmurrepaw | 7 m | male | xchaffinchpaw | 7 m | female | xpheasantpaw | 7 m | female | xthunderpaw | 7 m | male | xname | age | gender | x Queens:greycloud | 57 m | female | x - permaqueen mousetrap | 38 m | female | xheathernose | 69 m | female | xsealslide | 48 m | female | xladybug | 33 m | female | xdandelioncloud | 48 m | female | xstellarcurl | 27 m | female | xsakuragaze | 42 m | female | xcloudpuff | 24 m | female | xbeetlesnout | 36 m | male (afab) | xname | age | gender | x Kits:heronkit | 5 m | male | xthrushkit | 5 m | female | xbuzzardkit | 5 m | male | xclamkit | 5 m | gf (afab) | xhedgekit | 5 m | male | xeggarkit | 5 m | male | xgreykit | 4 m | male | xwhalekit | 4 m | nb (amab) | xtussockkit | 5 m | male | xfoxkit | 5 m | male | xslugkit | 1 m | male | xmushroomkit | 1 m | female | xgoshawkkit | 1 m | male | xlightningkit | 1 m | nb (afab) | xmudkit | 1 m | female | xspiderkit | 1 m | demiboy (amab) | xname | age | gender | x Elders:valerianwhisker | 80 m | male | x------------------------------------- Ally Clans:Golden Kingdom | ponz Clan Name | Username Enemy ClansClan Name | Username Clan Name | Username BordersNorth | ChessClan | sharpiesandhamilton (allies) Northeast | Clan Name | Username East | The Golden Kingdom | ponz Southeast | TempusClan | Mochi South | (the other) BreezeClan| dup Southwest | EclipseClan | StormT4lon (neutral allies) West | Clan Name | Username Northwest | Clan Name | Username Deceased Catsname | cause of death limpetpaw | pushed from the cliffs by dotterelspots | xcrowheart | heart disease | xchaffinchflower | poisoned by dotterelspots | x sorrelstone | murdered by dotterelspots | xflip flip | chased into sinkhole | xyewstar | killed by dotterelspots | xflymask | died during kitting | x
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inky
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Post by inky on Apr 1, 2020 8:21:29 GMT -8
001 the trip
Yew’s muscles screamed, but he didn’t care. The drumming of his paws blended with the loud thunder as he raced across the moor. Tears streaked his face, but the rain drenched his whole pelt. ‘She wanted you to leave’ he told himself ‘Breeze sacrificed herself for you.’ Guilt built up in his chest at the thought. He could’ve done something. All he could see when he closed his eyes was the saliva glistening on sharp fangs. Yew wanted to take a look behind him, but he knew he wasn’t being followed. He had heard the two-legs call the dogs back after discovering they had torn up Breeze. His Breeze. The love of his life that he would never see together. She was carrying their kits, and now he would never see his family again.
A sudden drop pulled Yew from his thoughts. He let out a yelp as he tumbled down into a hollow, splashing into a puddle. He lifted his head gently and mud dripped from his chin. He couldn’t see much through the wall of rain, but as the tom squinted, he could see a dark cavern gaping at him on the side of the hollow. He considered entering it, but second guessed himself. He wasn’t a big fan of going into spooky dark caves. A flash of lightning cracked above him, though, and he scurried into the tunnel.
It wasn’t as dark as he thought it would be. Yew could tell that it went back even further, but his courage and energy was starting to drain. He flopped down in a wet heap on the cold ground of the tunnel. Burying his nose in his paws, he watched the rain from his shelter. He closed his eyes and sadness soon replaced the exhaustion. Tears started to flow again as he was taken by his memories of Breeze. He pictured when they first met. She was so beautiful in that field. The flowers matched her yellow eyes, and the gentle breeze swayed her fur. A small smile crept to Yew’s lips. He recalled that night. The night where he confessed. He had planned on taking her to the river and telling her his feelings there, but another tom got in the way. A stranger tried to take her from him, but luckily, Yew was there to stop it. Breeze said the three words first. It was the best day of his life. And this was the worst. He could still see the look of fear and pain contorted on the beautiful she-cats fluffy face. He could see the teeth lodged into her stomach, attacking her unborn kits. Their unborn kits. A wave of grief shook the tom and he let out a small sob.
A gentle voice called him from his memories. “Yew.” It whispered “Yew.” The tom couldn’t see who it was, but anger bristled his fur. “Fuck off.” He growled. His eyes snapped up to see a floating wisp. The wisp grew until it encompassed the shape of a regal cat. Her fur contained the stars and her eyes were like the moon. “I don’t like your language.” She said with poise “Or your tone.” Yew flattened his ears. “I just watched the love of my life get torn to shreds!” He cried, voice choking “Forgive me if I’m a bit upset.” The she-cat sighed and floated to the ground, walking up to him. “You have gone through a terrible tragedy.” She acknowledged “But you can’t give up. You must use this chance to build something great. I have a role for you, Yew. You need to create a Clan. One that will protect and guard these moors.” Yew blinked up at her, confused. Somehow, though, he knew exactly what she was talking about and clarity settled in his mind. “Do it for Breeze.” She finished. Yew swallowed. “O-Okay.” He caved “What is it called?” The she-cat tilted her head. “Well, I was going to leave that up to you. It is your Clan afterall.” Yew looked to the stars and gave a weak smile. “Breeze.” He said softly “I want it to be named BreezeClan. After my dearest one.” The ghost she-cat nodded somberly. “Very well then.” She meowed, leaning down to rest her nose on Yew’s forehead. “Then I hereby proclaim you as Yewstar, leader of BreezeClan. May StarClan watch over you.” Then, she was gone, and Yewstar was left alone in the cave to listen to the pounding storm.
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inky
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Post by inky on Apr 11, 2020 14:06:11 GMT -8
002 teacher
“Houndtooth.” Yewstar greeted “Who have you brought today, eh?” Houndtooth, the new deputy, waved his tail to three cats. All were young, but one was significantly smaller than the rest. “I found them at our border, sir.” The tom explained “Said they were lookin’ for a home. Figured we could help.” Yewstar nodded. “Aye, well come in and we can get you settled.” The ginger leader turned and entered the tunnel, stopping in the underground clearing. The black and white stranger seemed to blink in surprise at the amount of light that was able to illuminate the cavern. Yewstar chuckled softly. He had thought the same thing. He wasn’t sure how, but the cats were still able to see clearly in the slight gloom. Yewstar sat near his den, Houndtooth perched proudly beside him. “Right, then, what’s yer name?” He asked the black and white tom. “My name is Hemlocksnarl.” He introduced “And this is my companion Crowheart.” He gestured to his solid black friend. Houndtooth tilted his head. “Clan names?” He pondered aloud. Crowheart nodded. “Yea, we were part of a clan. The Cove.” He elaborated, but his voice grew quieter “We disbanded, though.” Hemlocksnarl jumped in to add to his friend’s words. “We’re looking for a new place to call home.” He smiled “We’ve been trained as warriors, we could be useful! Obviously, we’d need to adapt to this terrain but we’re both fast learners.” Yewstar grinned at them. He turned his gaze to the small grey she-cat who was swaying nervously. “And what about you, darlin’?” The leader asked gently. The cat swallowed and cleared her throat. “O-Oh, uh my name is Curlew. But Crowheart and Hemlocksnarl told me that I would be an apprentice if we were allowed to join the Clan. I’m seven moons old, you see. I’m from the village, so I’ll need a bit of trainin’.” She chuckled self consciously. “No worries about that, dear.” Yewstar promised her. He took a deep breath and ran his gaze over each of the newcomers. “Very well!” He smiled “Houndleap’ll show you to the warrior’s den. Curlew, if you want to train with us, you’ll be named Curlewpaw until you pass your warrior assessment. Houndleap will be your mentor.” Curlewpaw beamed and gave a small laugh. “Thank you so much, Yewstar! I won’t let you down.” The leader nodded curtly. “I expect not!” He purred “Houndleap, you can take her out for her first lesson after all three of ‘em get their nests set up. I’ll go get the moss.” The deputy nodded dutifully and showed the three down the tunnel that led to the warrior and apprentice dens.
* * * * Houndtooth looked around at the sparse heather that encircled them. “Right. This should work as a place to practice your hunting.” He decided, smiling at Curlewpaw “We won’t be actually hunting today, we need to work on your form first.” The apprentice nodded. She was just excited to begin her journey to become a warrior. She nodded in determination and Houndtooth found a solid spot to begin his hunting crouch. “So you want to bend your legs, but keep 'em tense, so you can use ‘em to pounce.” He instructed, showering her how to do it. He got back to his feet and allowed his apprentice to give it a try. It wasn’t bad,considering she had never hunted a day in her life. It took a few stern words and reminders to keep her rear down and her paws apart, but Curlewpaw was soon dropping into a good crouch smoothly. “Great!” He purred “Now we can pounce.” He nipped a stalk of heather off a bush, and laid it a cat length away from Curlewpaw. “We’ll start short so you can work on buildin’ up your strength.” He gently nudged her away so he could take her position behind the bud. “Basically, you just jump, but you have to aim. You want to land squarely, and sink your teeth into the back as soon as you can. We’ll go over more specifics when we try it out on prey, but for now just focus on reaching the target, yea?” Curlewpaw nodded, taking in his every word attentively. Houndtooth narrowed his eyes and focused on his prey. He bunched his muscles, rocked back, and leaped forward. He landed perfectly on the purple stalk. “At this point, you’d bite it, but don’t eat the heather, please. We don’t exactly have a medic yet.” He ordered. She nodded. She got into her crouch and leaped at the stalk.
* * *
Both cats were tired. Curlewpaw had a bit more trouble pouncing than crouching, and Houndtooth’s temper had started to bear its teeth, and both of them got frustrated. Houndtooth had recommended going for a walk as a cooldown before returning to camp. “I promise, pouncing is the first thing we’ll work on tomorrow.” He murmured “Then maybe we could start tracking some animals.” Curlewpaw just hummed. She slunk in front of her mentor, walking in a trance. She heard him say something, but couldn’t make out the words. Her paw landed on a soft, squishy patch of dirt and suddenly, there were teeth in the scruff of her neck. She was pulled back and shaken from her chance. “Don’t touch the sinkhole! What are you, fucking crazy?!” Houndtooth shouted “Do you have a death wish? If you fall down there, there’s no coming back!” The tom was fluffed up and his eyes shone with anger. Curlewpaw turned to look at the path she was walking on. Surely enough, in front of here there was a gaping hole. Her pawprint rested a mouselength from the edge. Her eyes widened. “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t see it.” She meowed weakly. “Well if you were listening to me, you would’ve heard my warnin’!” Houndtooth hissed. Curlewpaw looked up at him with tears glittering in her green eyes. The deputy took a deep breath. “I’m sorry.” He sighed “I shouldn’t have shouted. I just don’t want you to get hurt, that’s all. You need to make sure you’re always aware out here, especially in areas you don’t know.” His lecture was gentler this time, since he could obviously see she was panicked. “Come on, let’s go home. I’m sure Yewstar’ll wanna know about this, even if it is a bit far from camp.” He softly jerked his head to the direction they came from and guided her along with his tail until he and Curlewpaw were walking side by side back to camp.
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inky
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Post by inky on Apr 27, 2020 13:50:14 GMT -8
003 the defense
“No, lean and then jab.” Houndtooth said irritably. Curlewpaw furrowed her brow and shifted her weight back. She threw herself forward and prodded the stick roughly. It snapped in two, and the top half thudded in the mud. Curlewpaw felt a burst of pride. Today they were working on building her strength before battle training, and she had been given the task of “killing” a stick. “I did it!” The apprentice squeaked. She wasn’t the best at picking up new skills, but she was very determined and resilient. Houndtooth didn’t share in her excitement. “Nice.” He mumbled “You could’ve applied pressure more evenly, so it didn’t splinter. You want to disable your opponent, not make them stumble.” He sighed and shook out his long fur. “Come on, we’ll start your actual battle training tomorrow.” Curlewpaw nodded and followed her mentor from the hollow. She walked happily, but inside she was hurting from his constant criticism.
****
Curlewpaw huffed as she flopped down next to the queen. She and Sorrelstone were the only two mollies in the Clan. When Yewstar returned with Firemouse and Shrubwhistle, both she-cats laughed about how Yewstar could only attract guys. Sorrelstone had taken an instant liking to Curlewpaw. Though she was expecting kits of her own, she would always act like a mother figure to the apprentice. “How’d it go today?” The older she-cat asked gently. She shifted in the underground clearing. The rest of the clan was outside, but it had gotten a bit too hot for her, especially with all the extra weight. The young she-cat shrugged. “He got impatient again. I broke the stick, and I did what he wanted, but he still criticized me.” She meowed, tears starting to prick at her eyes “I just want to make him proud. I try my best and all he does is yell.” Sorrelstone rose to her paws. “W-Wait where are you going?” Curlewpaw sniffled. “Just stay here.” The she-cat ordered, walking down the tunnel to where the deputy was sitting outside.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” The queen hissed, belly swaying as she angrily stomped up to Houndtooth “Why are you being such an ass to Curlewpaw?” Houndtooth flicked an ear. “You may want to work on your language before your kits arrive.” He stated plainly. “Oh shut up, you bastard.” She growled “Can’t you see she tries her hardest? How do you expect her to learn when you don’t give her positive reinforcement.” Houndtooth wrinkled his nose. “Well, when she does something noteworthy, I will.” He sneered. That was not the right answer. Sorrelstone raised a paw and cuffed him harshly over the muzzle. “What kind of mentor are you? You’re a heartless badger, and you have no sense of humility. If you don’t start treating Curlewpaw with the respect she deserves, I will personally claw your ears off shred by shred.” She spat at him, turning and trotting gracefully back to the tunnel, pride radiating off her.
Shrubwhistle chuckled as he sauntered up to the deputy. His round belly trembled with laughter. “She told you.” He snorted “I guess what they say about ‘moma bears’ is true.” Houndtooth glared at the new warrior. “Don’t you have a patrol to go on, Shrubwhistle?” He meowed. The grey cat blinked and furrowed his brow. “Nah, don’ think so.” The deputy narrowed his eyes. “Well, now you do.” He stated and rose to his paws, swishing his fluffy tail before disappearing into the tunnels.
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inky
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Post by inky on May 7, 2020 17:42:54 GMT -8
003 the new blood
“I just don’t think there’s a very high chance of cats ambushing us by climbing the cliffs.” Curlewpaw mewed quietly, peaking over the lip. The cliffs were slightly out of their borders, but Houndtooth was teaching her tracking, and he had taken her to the ledges, where the scents flowed off the rocks and hardly stuck. “There’s always a chance.” He said erilie “You never know when threatening enemies are just around the corner.” Curlewpaw shook her head. “But how do you know there are enemies? It’s been so quiet.” Houndtooth stiffened. “Oh, there are enemies.” He said with slitted eyes “There are always enemies. And it is your duty as a BreezeClan cat to defend your clan from them. Now, stop thinking and use yer nose. What was the last animal that passed through here?” Curlewpaw let out a small whimper. She didn’t hate Houndtooth, but sometimes she wished he’d be a bit more welcoming. She knew that she would be the best, kindest mentor to any of her future apprentices. Nevertheless, she closed her eyes, and opened her jaws to scent the area around them.
* * *
Sorrelstone and Curlewpaw were extremely excited when Chaffinchflower was found. Finally, they had another she-cat! Unfortunately for them, Chaffinchflower spent most of her day trying to seduce Crowheart. The new warrior fell in love with the tom the moment she laid eyes on him. Crowheart wasn’t rejecting her, but he was painfully oblivious and it was a struggle to watch Chaffinchflower make herself more and more obvious. So far, nothing was happening, but Sorrelstone figured with her persistence, she wouldn’t be alone in the nursery for long.
* * *
Dotterelspots tilted his head. The ginger and white tom had been sent to be BreezeClan’s medicine cat. But Yewstar was oddly quiet. Dotterelspots was the kind of cat that needed to know what was going on. He hated mystery, despised it. So naturally, he disliked Yewstar. His main goal now was to uncover the leader’s past. He needed to know if he was going to stay. He trotted amiably over to his leader and sat next to him. “G’mornin!” He purred “What’s up.” Yewstar flicked an ear. “What do you want?” He meowed gruffly. ‘Definitely not inviting.’ The medicine cat noted. “Look, I’m just going to cut to the chase, since that’s obviously what you want me to do. I can tell you’ve had a rocky past. I just want to let you know that if you ever need to talk to someone, I’m here for you.” The leader narrowed his eyes. “Uhuh. Thanks, shouldn’t you be lookin’ after yer herbs or some shit?” The tom bounced to his paws and walked away, leaving Dotterelspots even more frustrated.
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inky
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Post by inky on May 16, 2020 11:02:55 GMT -8
004 the transfer
Yewstar looked skeptically at the new warrior. The young tom had been found close to the town, and he was wide-eyed, and most likely scared. “The life of a warrior is a hard one.” The leader warned. The dark cat nodded and raised his head high. “I understand.” He said smoothly “I’m willing to give it a shot if you’ll have me.” The ginger tom gave a small smirk. “What did you say your name was?” The tom shuffled his paws in slight embarrassment. “I-It’s not a great one, but I’d like to keep it.” He murmured “I’m Flip Flip.” Yewstar raised an eyebrow. “Fuck Fuck?” The new warrior’s eyes widened in shock. “N-NO!” He spluttered “Flip Flip.” The leader craned his head, his hearing clearly failing him. “Frick Frick?” Flip Flip was about to protest again, but he guessed it wouldn’t get better. He let out a defeated sigh. “Sure, Frick Frick.” He grumbled. Yewstar smiled broadly. “Lovely, Frick Frick, let’s get you settled.” Shrubwhistle gave Flip Flip a sympathetic look as the pair walked into the tunnels.
* * *
“No!” Houndtooth hissed “You need to be strong. You’ve only got four fucking moons before you can become a warrior, and you’re still noodle-legged!” He marched over to where Curlewpaw was weakly scooping up dirt. Houndtooth nudged her aside and took her spot at the old rabbit warren. He roughly opened the hole, muscles taught and strong. Dirt quickly sprayed from beneath his paws, and he uncovered the stone without much effort. “If you’re going after rabbits, you need to be deliberate and fast.” He grumbled, standing up straight “If you’re not going to take your training seriously, we’re going to stop. I’m not going to waste my time on this. You’ve got one more chance, one more opportunity to get it right. Go.” However, Curlewpaw wasn’t able to retry her challenge, since a grey fluffy she-cat burst through the shrubs and into the clearing. Curlewpaw gasped and instantly hurried over to the stranger, much to Houndtooth’s dismay. “Are you okay? What’s your name?” The apprentice asked, supporting the tired molly. “My name is Greycloud.” She said hoarsely, throat dry “I-I don’t know….where am I?” Houndtooth butted himself into the conversation. “You’re trespassing on BreezeClan territory.” He said roughly. Curlewpaw flattened her ears. “Can you just show a tiny bit of compassion?” She turned to Greycloud and smiled at her gently “Don’t worry, we’ll bring you back to our camp so you can rest up.”
Dotterelspots nodded. “She’ll be fine.” He assured “She just hurt her leg, and will need to rest for a bit.” Yewstar grinned widely and let out a welcoming purr. “I’m sure that won’t be a problem!” He meowed “Sorrelstone needs some company!” Greycloud raised an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?” The leader tilted his head in confusion. “Well, you are expecting aren’t you?” He gestured to her plump belly with his tail. Greycloud hissed and slapped her paw across Yewstar’s face. “I’m fluffy, you bastard!” She spat, suddenly her eyes widened and she looked to Curlewpaw. “Oh, dear I’m sorry for my language.” She apologized. Houndtooth scoffed. “You can say whatever the hell you want here.” He grumbled, lashing his tail as he walked away. Greycloud narrowed her eyes at the deputy as he left, and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for hitting you, Yewstar.” She sighed “The truth is, though, I do like to consider myself a staple in the nursery. I’ve raised a few kits, and I’d really like to help first time queens, and help any stray kits we might come across. I have no problem going on patrols and such, I just would prefer to help out the little ones.” Yewstar nodded. “Of course, Greycloud. Curlewpaw will get you situated.” The leader left and the pair were left alone. “Why do you let him talk to you like that?” Greycloud asked her bluntly. Curlewpaw knew she was talking about Houndtooth’s mentoring style. She knew he wasn’t the nicest cat, but she knew deep down he cared about her. When she had gotten a scratch during sparring with him, he was furiously apologizing to her the whole way back to camp. He had several layers of defenses built up, most likely from a past trauma. Curlewpaw knew what it was like, she had seen it before. She didn’t blame him for being the way he was. Of course it wasn’t right, but she tried her best to remain understanding. Shrugging off Greycloud’s question, she helped her new friend to her paws. “I have a feeling you and Sorrelstone will get along just fine.” She giggled, and she led the new cat into the tunnels.
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inky
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Post by inky on May 20, 2020 14:39:05 GMT -8
004 the family
Venus slid down the hollow and shook out his ruffled pelt. “Who’re we gunna see here?” He asked Hemlocksnarl. “Yewstar.” The black and white warrior said plainly. Suddenly, a ginger top appeared from inside the tunnels. He took one look at Venus and gasped. “Castor?” He meowed in awe “Is that you?” Venus furrowed his brow. “Nay, but my father’as named Castor.” He chuckled. Yewstar’s ears fell. “He did tell me to find a cat named ‘Yew’, though. Said he was ‘is brother.” The leader’s eyes widened and his mouth twisted in a wide grin. “You’re his son? My nephew?” He meowed “B-But he left on the boat all those moons ago.” Venus shrugged. “I came back. My brother ‘n me were born in a different place. Drosera decided to join a Clan over there, but I always wanted to come back home. He told us all about this place. It’s just as beautiful as he described.” Yewstar huffed in amazement. “I can’t believe it. Castor actually made it. He had a family, good for him.” Venus nodded. “I’m Venus, by the way. I know yer Clan have special names and such, though, but I’d like to keep my prefix.” Yewstar nodded happily, overjoyed at finally meeting his nephew. “Very well.” He meowed with authority “Then I will name you Venusbite. Welcome to BreezeClan.” Venusbite puffed out his chest. He would have to tell his brother that he made it, using the strange dream walking powers he had been born with. The tom grinned, proud of his new rank.
* * *
Houndtooth looked down at Spleenkit, who was snuggling up against his curled paw. “She likes you.” Sorrelstone noted, smiling at her daughter. “Can’t imagine why.” The deputy huffed, causing the new mother to hum in agreement. The small she-kit opened her jaws in a wide yawn and rested her teeny chin on one of Houndtooth’s toes. The rest of her siblings were exploring the small hollow, trying their best not to tumble over. Vetchkit and Limpetkit were trying, and failing, to climb one of the walls, with supervision from Greycloud and Curlewpaw, and Ferretkit was currently being lectured by Shrubwhistle on how to properly chase a leaf. But Spleenkit had automatically wobbled up to Houndtooth and plopped down between his paws, using him as a pillow. Sorrelstone had been skeptical at first, but after determining that the hot-headed deputy wouldn’t do anything rash, she had settled down next to the tom and observed her kits. “So, have you ever thought of having kits of your own?” She asked calmly. Houndtooth shook his head. “Nah,” He sighed, shifting his hind paws to be more comfortable, but careful not to wake Spleenkit “I don’t think a molly would fancy me.” Sorrelstone nodded. “Probably for the best.” She sighed “Considering how little you care for Curlewpaw.” The deputy flicked an ear and looked away. “I do care about her.” He admitted hesitantly “It’s tough love. And where I’m from, any other type of affection is weakness.” Sorrelstone flattened her ears. “I don’t give a shit where you’re from.” She hissed gently “That doesn’t make it right. She deserves a kind and encouraging mentor, not whatever you are.” She rose to her paws and gently scooped Spleenkit into her jaws, carrying her back into the den after calling for the rest of her litter for a nap. Houndtooth watched as the three other kits tumbled into the tunnels. He blinked and heaved a deep sigh. Spotting Curlewpaw from the other side of the clearing, he looked away, dipping his head in shame, and leaped out of the hollow to go for a walk.
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inky
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Post by inky on May 25, 2020 10:52:34 GMT -8
005 arguing
Venusbite rolled his eyes. “Yea right.” He scoffed. He and Flymask were bringing up the rear of the patrol, and she had been spinning some tale about fighting off some crazed swarm of bats. “That’s a bunch of bullshit and you know it.” Flymask lashed her colored tail. “And how would you know? You weren’t there.” She rebuked “I bet you’ve never even seen a bat.” She raised her pointed nose to the air. Venusbite’s lips curled in a smirk. “Matter of fact, where I was born, there was a bat’s nest.” He meowed “Those little buggers aren’t big enough to cause any real damage.” Flymask stopped him with a paw. “You haven’t been here long.” She huffed. “Neither have you.” The she-cat pushed her face closer to his. “You like arguing don’t you.” Venusbite shrugged. “It’s something to do.” He stated “Cats’ true sides come out during an argument. It’s a skill, really, and I’m the best. Well, besides my brother of course.” Flymask had a grin on her face. She looked the handsome tom up and down. “Well then, you’ve obviously never met me. You’ve got some competition, honey.” Venusbite took a step forward, making their noses a meer whisker-width apart. “Is that so?” He purred “Prove it.” Flymask’s eyes widened and her heart beat faster. “Fucking hell.” She sighed “I think I’m in love with you.” Venusbite looked into her eyes. “The feeling is mutual.” He meowed, voice barely above a whisper. “You want to be my mate?” Flymask murmured, eyes filled with warmth. “Only if you promise not to beat me up.” he chuckled softly. Flymask smiled. “Deal.” She leaned in and nuzzled him, a purr rumbling in both their throats. “We should get back to the patrol.” Venusbite murmured, liking his mate’s ear “They’ll be wondering where we are.” Flymask nodded, and the pair walked further down the path, tails entwined.
* * *
Dotterelspots tilted his head. “So you really crossed the ocean?” He asked. Shrubwhistle nodded proudly. “Sure did! I was born en a place called Sweeden. Or at least, tha’s what my mother called it. I was a, uh, kittypet, as you say. My humans moved ‘ere, but I got lost one day, and ended up en the Clan.” The grey warrior gave a wide smile, green eyes bright with joy. “D’you like it here?” The medicine cat asked. “Oh very much so!” Shrubwhistle laughed “Everyone is so nice. I feel like I finally have a family again.” He looked around nervously, and leaned in. “I-I know it’s not really allowed, but I even met a nice she-cat on the border once. Her name was Stella, of...PheonixClan I think she said it was.” Dotterelspots hummed, but he wasn’t truly listening. He watched as Yewstar crossed his vision, heading up and over the lip of the hollow. “I still need to get to him.” The tom said airily. Shrubwhistle furrowed his brow. “Hey, Dotterelspots, can I ask ya a question?” He meowed “Why are you going around and asking everyone about their lives?” The medicine cat looked the warrior in the eyes. Something about his gaze was odd, but Shrubwhistle couldn’t tell what it was. “Knowledge is power.” The tom said, as if he couldn’t believe his companion would ask something like that. “What is the point of life if you don’t understand it. I enjoy knowing who I spend my time with.” He shifted his gaze to the empty space that once occupied his leader. “He’ll tell me one day.” He said confidently “In one way or another.”
* * *
Oysterclaw laughed and rolled onto his back. Blackpaw shifted and rested her head on his belly. “You know, my favorite trip was when we climbed that mountain.” She said wistfully “We’ve gone on so many journeys, but that was different. The way the sun set over that forest will forever be my dream place.” Oysterclaw smiled and purred. “Maybe we’ll go back one day. We could bring your family if you ever have one. Once you find a nice she-cat to settle with.” Blackpaw rolled her eyes and giggled. “You can’t preach to me about finding a she-cat when you don’t even have one yourself.” Oysterclaw tilted his head. “Actually…” he trailed off. Blackpaw rolled onto her elbows, a surprised look on her face. “No.” she gasped “Who?” Oysterclaw chuckled, still on his back. “Her name is Sakuragaze she’s from PheonixClan. She’s smart and beautiful, and I’on’ care what Yewstar says, I love her and she’s going to be my mate.” Blackpaw wiggled with joy. “Awww! That’s so sweet!” She squealed, eyes bright “I’m so happy for you, Oyster. You deserve it.” A certain grey she-cat suddenly caught the apprentice’s gaze. She swallowed roughly and tracked her as she crossed the clearing. Oysterclaw rolled over and followed his friend’s gaze. A cheesy smile curled around his muzzle as he connected the dots. “You know, if you were to choose a mate, Curlewpaw is rather nice.” Blackpaw hummed in acknowledgement, but she didn’t answer. Oysterclaw chuckled and got to his paws. “Alright, see you later Blackie. Remember, training session’s at sunhigh.” He gave her a farewell lick on the ear and padded inside the tunnels, leaving Blackpaw to stare longingly at the older apprentice.
Curlewpaw took a deep breath. Houndtooth gently rested his tail on her back. “Hey, look at me.” He murmured “I know I’ve been rough on you, a lot more than I should have been. I know it’s not an excuse, but I truly want you to succeed. I believe in you.” Curlewpaw smiled genuinely at him. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous for her final assessment, but the assurance from her mentor made her feel a bit at ease. “I’ll be following you, and I will intervene if necessary, but it’s all you, kiddo.” Curlewpaw nodded and hopped over the hollow onto the moor. Houndtooth paused for a moment, before following his apprentice on her assessment.
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inky
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Post by inky on Jun 1, 2020 9:44:21 GMT -8
006 the memories
Houndtooth beamed proudly. His apprentice was standing up there, his apprentice. The cat he had trained. Of course, Curlewpaw was nothing short of amazing. She had put up with all his bullshit, and still gave him a smile at the end of the day. The deputy would never admit it, but Curlewpaw was the cat he liked most in the Clan. Almost like a daughter of sorts, and he wanted nothing but the best for her, even if he didn’t act like it sometimes. And she knew this. Houndtooth couldn’t help but let a smirk form on his face as Curlewpaw passed him, going up to meet the leader. “Curlewpaw.” Yewstar greeted “You have proven yourself a valuable member of BreezeClan, and a worthy protector of the moor. May the ancestors look down on you as you walk through life as a strong warrior. You will now be known as Curlewfang, for your determination, boldness, and strength. Congratulations.” He dipped his head and the new warrior touched her nose to his. As she pulled back, she was beaming from ear to ear. She turned to face the gathered Clan, eyes shining brightly. “Curlewfang!” Sorrelstone cried happily, her kits soon joining in. Soon, the whole hollow was filled with congratulatory howls for Curlewfang.
Houndtooth frowned. “I’m going to miss her.” He mused, licking his paw pads. Greycloud raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?” She meowed “You’ll be even closer to her now. You’ll be sharing a den, you can organize patrols together, etcetera.” Houndtooth absentmindedly flicked a rock with his paw. “It’s not the same.” He sighed “I know I’m not emotionally attached to a lot of things, but to be honest, you and Curlewfang are my closest real friends.” Greycloud wrinkled her nose. “We argue all the time.” She laughed. Houndtooth smiled. “I know.” He meowed quietly “It’s how I show my affection. I’m glad you fell down that mountain.’ Greycloud rolled her eyes. “Easy for you to say. You didn’t have to deal with walking on a sore foot.” She scoffed “I do wonder if my kits are okay, though. They should be around warrior age by now.” Houndtooth furrowed his brow. “I thought you didn’t have any family.” Greycloud dipped her head and shrugged. “I’ve accepted that I’m probably never going to see them again. I do love my kits, but I think they’ll have a good life without me.” Houndtooth nodded, and gently rested his tail on hers. “Well, if you ever get lonely, I could always use some help watching Sorrelstone’s kits.” Greycloud giggled. “I’m in the nursery all day. If anything, it’s me that needs help.” She reminded “But if I am short-handed, I’ll give you a holler. We can make a kitten watching club.” Houndtooth nodded dutifully and smirked when a certain spotted apprentice crossed the camp to where Curlewfang was conversing with Sorrelstone. The queen excused herself, and left with a knowing wink to Houndtooth and Greycloud.
Blackpaw swallowed as she sat down beside Curlewfang. She glanced hopefully at Oysterclaw, who gave her a supportive but discreet nod. “Congratulations, Curlewfang!” Blackpaw said quietly. The warrior smiled. Blackpaw was always fun to talk to, but the younger she-cat rarely started a conversation, and Curlewfang got it in her mind that she was annoying the apprentice by starting their talks everyday. “Thank you!” She purred “It won’t be long until you join me, yea? I-In the warrior’s den, I mean. As a warrior. You know, taking your assessment.” The warrior blushed, but her companion just smiled widely. “Yea, I guess so!” She purred “Although, I’m not sure how well I’ll do. What was it like?” Blackpaw laid down next to the she-cat, ears intent and excited to hear the tales. Houndtooth smiled warmly as Curlewfang’s eyes brightened and she spilled her story.
* * *
It was dark. Very dark. Venusbite was asleep- no he was awake. But he was awake in the past, in his memories. He was reliving his childhood.
Venus bopped Drosera on the mouth. “Shut up, I’m trying to hear what they’re saying.” Drosera grumbled. “I yawned.” He muttered. “Well now you’re talking.” The kitten rolled his eyes and felt his brother crawl slightly forward. Venus was careful not to expose himself, but he couldn’t hear what their parents were arguing about from beneath the dumpster. It wasn’t unusual for the pair to share heated words and his father’s temper seemed to be hereditary, since the two brothers often got into scuffles of their own. But this time was different. This time, his mother’s claws were out. Using all his might, Venus was able to strain his ears and pick up their conversation. “You can’t just leave your kits!” His father hissed. “And why not?” His mother seethed “I never wanted them in the first place. If it was up to me, I would have left the moon they were born.” The tom puffed up. “You shut your mouth.” He spat, stalking closer and shoving his muzzle in her face “They do not deserve to hear you say that.” His mate growled and spun around, hitting him in the face before dashing off. The father sighed and took a step backward. He looked over his shoulder and caught sight of Venus’ strange yellow eyes. The young tom gasped and pushed himself further down into the den carved into the ground of the alleyway. Drosera protested, but his older brother shoved him back as well. Soon, their father’s tired face emerged into the den. He thumped on the ground and curled around his sons. “I told you not to listen, Venus.” He sighed. “I know.” The tom meowed glumly, flopping down between his father’s paws “It was very loud this time. Is mama okay?” Drosera saw his father’s jaw clench, but his voice remained steady. “She just needed to take a walk.” He explained “Just go to sleep. She’ll be back in the morning.” He gave each of his sons a lick on the forehead and let them cuddle into his chest. Drosera pushed Venus away as he tried to rest his chin on his back, but they were asleep fairly quickly. The father sighed and looked out to the alleyway, unsure what morning would bring.
Their mother never came back. When the boys were older, their father revealed that she had met another tom, and ran away with him. Drosera always felt bad. He thought their dad was stuck watching over them, no matter how many times the tom assured them that wasn't the case. One particular morning, after a rather strenuous session of hunting practice, their father allowed them to play in the winding river they based their camp near. Drosera bunched his muscles and unhooked his claws from the stretching tree branch. “Ready?” He called down to Venus. His brother laughed and nodded. Drosera swung back and hurled himself forward, tumbling through the air and splashing into the water. He surfaced and shook off his sharp face. Venus tilted his head. “Eh.” He murmured “You only did one spin.” Drosera pulled himself to shore and shook out his short pelt, showering his brother in droplets. “Yea, because it’s a short ass branch.” He scoffed “You think you can do better?” Venus tilted his head and looked to the tallest branch. “Nah.” He admitted, and shrugged. He took advantage of Drosera’s confusion and shot out a hind paw, sending his brother tumbling back into the river. Venus laughed, but his smile fell once he realized Drosera hadn’t resurfaced yet. Worry started to fill his chest as time passed. Venus craned his neck over the rippling water, but he could only see his reflection. Suddenly, a shadow formed beneath him. Drosera burst out of the water and wrapped his paws around his brother’s neck, pulling him into the water too. The two splashed about. “Drosera!” Venus cried “You know my fur takes forever to dry!” Drosera tossed his head back in a hearty laugh. Venus scowled good-naturedly and prodded his head under. The two brothers spent the whole day playing in that river, and they would always remember the feeling of the sun on their backs as they tried to dry off before bed.
Drosera pressed himself against the ground. He squeezed his eyes shut as a car hurtled past the trio. “Why do we have to cross again?” Venus asked hesitantly. His father worked his claws into the dirt. “You know I’m getting sick.” He coughed “I heard that there’s a town on the other side of the road. There will be a better chance of you surviving.” Venus and Drosera shared a glance. “I thought the herbs were working.” Drosera whispered “I spent all day finding them, I gave you the right dose, I-” The father lifted his tail, sadness in his eyes. “I know, son.” He murmured “I appreciate it. And it was working for a while, but I started coughing again.” He furrowed his brow and pulled his kist close to him. “Boys, you know I love you.” He meowed “And I’m so proud of the cats you’ve become. I know you’ll accomplish great things, but my part of the journey is up.” He braced himself as a car hurtled by. Poking his head out, he looked both ways. There were no more rumbling vehicles coming around the bend, and he gave a nod to his grown kits. Venus noted how skinny he looked. He and Drosera were full grown, now, and had twice the body mass of their deteriorating father. The father gave a determined nod, and the three toms sprinted over the hardened road. Suddenly, a roar ripped through the air. Venus froze as he saw a black mass flying around the turn of the road, going well over the speed of the other cars. Venus wanted to move, wanted to fling himself out of its path, but his paws were glued to the ground. “Venus!” His father cried. His eyes were wide, and he couldn’t move. Soon, he felt jaws closing around his scruff. Venus’ vision was a blur, but the next thing he knew he was skidding along a strip of grass. Drosera wailed as the car rumbled past. Venus weakly raised his head and saw his brother hurry to the roadside. Venus was instantly overcome with worry. Drosera never cried. Never. The curly-haired tom pulled himself to his paws and dragged his body over to where his brother was sitting, hunched over a heap of messy fur. It was their father, bloodied and distorted, his jaw hanging limply and his eyes rolled back. Raising his gaze, Venus noticed a dark streak that led from the dead tom to where Venus was standing in the road; where he had been frozen. His gut twisted, and he stumbled to the side. He felt bile rise in his throat and he heaved up his breakfast. Drosera noticed this, and rushed to his brother’s side. The oriental’s head swung around, and he picked a few leaves from beneath a nearby bush. “Here.” He murmured, gently pushing the leaves in front of him “Eat these. It’ll help the nausea.” Venus obeyed, and scarfed down the herbs. A few moments later, Venus returned to his father’s body. “We should bury him.” Drosera said hoarsely. Venus nodded, and the brothers carried their father further into the forest.
Venus jolted awake. Drosera shifted beside him. “Did you do it again?” He muttered in a sleep-heavy voice. Venus nodded. He had a gift. He would wake up in others’ dreams. He could talk to them, see what they saw, feel what they felt. “What was it this time?” The other cat yawned, rolling onto his back. Venus swallowed, looking into the night. “I was drowning.” He said simply “Well, the cat was. He was a kittypet, I think. But I was with him. It was terrible.” Drosera nodded and rested his paw on his brother’s shoulder. “You’re here now.” He meowed “I’m here. We’re okay.”
“You’re leaving?” Venus gasped “W-What? How could you?” Drosera dipped his head in shame. “I don’t have a choice!” He pressed “This...thing came into my dreams last night. He told me I was needed by a Clan!” Venus scoffed and lashed his tail. “You don’t even know where it is!” He argued “What if you get lost? Or hurt? Or killed?” Drosera rolled his eyes. “RavenClan is a safe place, and Aita promised me I would be safe.” Venus’ face fell. “So we’re really splitting up?” He mused, dispari lacing his voice “After everything.” Drosera looked to his paws. “Look, Venus.” He sighed “I love you. You’re my brother, but this is an amazing opportunity. You know how much I love herbs and healing illness, now I can actually put my skills to use!” Venus gave him a grin. “I’m excited for you.” He purred “I’ll visit you. I wish you the best.” Drosera leaned in and nuzzled his brother. “So what are you planning on doing?” Venus shrugged “I dunno.” He admitted “I might try and find my way back to dad’s homeland. ‘Scotland’, I think he called it.” Drosera nodded firmly. “Well, brother, may the sun always light your path.” The two gave each other a final smile, and they parted ways.
* * *
“Venusbite” A voice called out to him. The warrior swam through the darkness, trying to reach the soft, feminine voice that was leading him. He started to regain feeling in his limbs, his head, and eventually his whole body. “Venusbite!” The voice gasped. He stirred and his eyes slowly flickered open. Flymask’s face was close to his, eyes wide with worry. She let out a relieved sigh and hung her head, nuzzling her mate. “Thank StarClan you’re okay.” She whimpered, pressing her head to his shoulder. “What happened?” He groaned, furrowing his brow. “No, no don’t move.” Dotterelspots soothed “You hit your head near the cliff. You were knocked out for a while.” Venusbite swallowed, and whimpered at the wave of pain that coursed through him. “You’ll have to rest for a moon or so,” The medicine cat added “But other than that, you’ll be fine.” The warrior hummed. Flymask curled around him, though her growing belly made it somewhat difficult. “What did you dream about.” She asked, licking his ears. “My brother.” he rasped “I think I went on a memory trip.” His mate’s eyes widened. “Wow.” She gasped “I bet you miss him.” Venusbite swallowed. “Yea, I do.” He murmured, making a mental note that he would visit Droserathorn in his dreams.
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inky
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Post by inky on Jun 6, 2020 17:38:36 GMT -8
007 family ties
Houndtooth enjoyed the breeze as it swirled around him, bringing a nice floral scent into his nostrils. He didn’t know why exactly, but he had become more mellow these past few moons. Greycloud’s influence had probably helped. Whenever he got short with her, she gave him a little bap on the nose. It was demeaning, so he did his best to avoid earning one. He watched as the grey she-cat pranced around the flowers, a small dusting of snow poofing off the petals. Her face was beaming, and Houndtooth had never seen her so happy. “It’s just as amazing as I thought it would be!” She mused, rolling around the heather. Her pelt was flecked with purple, and she shook out her thick fur. Her eyes sparked with an idea, and she nipped off a few stalks. Skipping back to Houndtooth, she had a mischievous grin on her face. She gently set down the flowers and grabbed a single bunch of them, braiding them into the fur of her chest and neck. Soon, she had a ruffle of beautiful heather accenting her fur. Houndstooth raised an eye. “They look great.” He meowed “But won’t they fall out?” “If they do, I’ll come back and get more.” She decided “This morning was the last time you’ll see me without a lovely bunch of flowers.” Houndtooth laughed and pointed to a single remaining lock of heather. “You missed one.” “No I didn’t.” Greycloud smiled coyly “That one’s for you.” Houndtooth’s eyes widened. “Uh, no.” He scoffed “I’m not wearing that.” “Why not? You need something to make you look pretty.” “Hey-” “It’ll make you look like less of a grump.” She assured, and pressed the heather sprig into the fur behind his ear despite his protests. “I can’t even see it.” The deputy complained “What’s the point of it if I can’t see it.” “You can’t see your own frown,” Greycloud pointed out “but others are still affected by it.” Houndtooth narrowed his eyes, but rolled his eyes in reluctant acceptance. “Don’t worry,” She purred “it looks great.”
* * *
Crowheart shifted uncomfortably. “You should really see Dotterelspots.” Hemlocksnarl meowed “You couldn’t even sleep last night.” “It’s nothing,” Crowheart assured, stiffly moving his limbs “Just the cold getting to my joints.” Hemlocksnarl tilted his head. “Why are you acting so tough?” He scoffed. Then, he followed his friend’s gaze, and rested his eyes on a pretty she-cat. He smirked. “Chaffinchflower? Really?” He chuckled “I thought you said she was annoying.” “She’s growing on me.” Crowheart stated, grunting as he tried to get comfortable. “Why don’t you ask her to be your mate?” “What?” The black tom scoffed, stiffening “I-I can’t just-” “Oh, why not?” Hemlocksnarl groaned “She’s been looking at you with hope ever since she set foot in the clan. Go ask her.” Crowheart licked his lips nervously, but with a firm nudge from his friend, he stumbled towards the fluffy she-cat. “Hey.” the tom greeted, deepening his voice and puffing out his chest to seem more bulky. Chaffinchflower looked up at him and gave him a kind smile. “Hello,” She said softly “How can I help you?” “You’re going to be my mate?” He said “I-I mean, would you like to be my mate?” He clenched his jaw and sucked in a breath, embarrassment flooding him. “Sure.” Chaffinchflower giggled “That would be sweet.” She sat up and gave him a lick on the jaw. He leaned in to awkwardly nuzzle her, and gave a side eye to his friend. Hemlocksnarl smiled gently and gave him an encouraging smile. Crowheart blinked rapidly. He didn’t know it was that easily. He had heard Venusbite talking about the ease of choosing a mate, but he thought it would be more emotional. In all honesty, the tom always wanted a family, but never took into consideration that he would need a mate to do that. Maybe he had finally gotten his wish.
* * *
“N-No, please don’t make me.” Houndtooth whimpered, muscles twitching in his sleep. His nest was at the far end of the warrior’s tunnel, but Curlewfang was still able to hear his talking. She raised her head and narrowed her eyes to try and make out his ramblings. “I’m so sorry, Finny,” he cowered “Please forgive me!” Curlewfang couldn’t stand his cries, and gently reached out to him. He jolted awake at the feeling of her touch, eyes wild and fur tufted. He swallowed roughly and stared at Curlewfang. “Sorry.” He rasped “I didn’t mean to wake you.” Curlewfang shook her head and scooted closer to her friend. “No, don’t be. I’m glad I could get you out of it, it seemed like an awful dream.” She meowed, licking down some tufts of fur “What was it about.” “My cousin.” The deputy sighed “We...had it rough growing up, and I failed to protect him.” Curlewfang frowned. “Look, I won’t make you talk about your past, since it’s obviously a harsh subject.” She meowed “But I know you, and you always do your best. Whatever happened, it’s not your fault, and I’m sure Finny knows that.” She nuzzled his shoulder and curled up beside him. “Try and go back to sleep.” Houndtooth blinked at the she-cat. “Promise to wake me up if I go back.” he pleaded weakly. Curlewfang gave a reassuring nod and smiled at him. The deputy took a deep breath and rolled over, ready to plunge back into his dreams.
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