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Post by chaotic creativity on Jun 21, 2023 10:23:24 GMT -8
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jun 21, 2023 10:23:36 GMT -8
001. A metallic smell filled her nostrils as consciousness floated back within her reach. She let out a groan as she rolled to her other side, reaching up with a paw to rub at her eyes as she tried and failed to open them. The smell grew stronger as her paw came close to her nose, so she paused and inhaled deeply before pressing her nose lightly against her toes. Her face came away sticky and wet, and her eyes finally opened. Her usually mottled fur was now one color: crimson. The red liquid coated her paw so thickly that there was no sign of the orange, black, and white fur beneath it. Her mind was sluggish as she slowly rose and began to look around her. A rock settled in her stomach as realization crept over her slower than it ever had before. A shudder rippled through her pelt as she bit back the urge to retch on the ground, knowing that if her eyes fell to the ground they would never leave it. Blood painted the grass while bodies dotted it. Some pelts she recognized, others she didn't. Tears had already stained her face, and as she started to cry, she realized she had no more tears left. As she moved from motionless lump to motionless lump, the gravity of her reality began to settle into her bones so deeply that they felt as if they were made of lead. She was the only living creature anywhere near this battlefield, and all known members of the various Orders had been here when she'd lost consciousness. The Order of the Lion's reign was no more. The Order of the Elephant's terrific healing was now lost knowledge. The Order of the Rhino's strength was now soaking the ground beneath her paws. The Order of the Cheetah's speed had not saved them from this wave of death. She stood, the lone survivor, the only remaining member of the Order of the Hyena. The five Orders tasked with protecting the Savanna were no more. The Order of the Hyena had grown tired of the Lions' believed superiority. The Elephants had grown tired of the Rhinos' unwillingness to learn. The Cheetahs had grown tired of the Hyenas' complaining. The bickering had reached a boiling point, and war had decimated them. The mud caked beneath her claws in sickening clumps as she dug grave after grave, offering the proper burial rites to each and every lost soul. The sun had set and risen again by the time her duty was done. Her claws were broken beyond repair, dirt caked up to her belly. As she staggered in the direction she knew her camp to be, she felt her legs begin to buckle. A small pond she knew to nearby sounded like a good resting place, and her mind wandered until she was floating in clouds of dirt and blood as they washed off of her. She could see the camp from here, but she knew it would be run down and in need of repairs. Preparations for the battle had taken all of their efforts for a pawful of moons, and the upkeep of camp had fallen to the bottom of the priority list. She would have much to do, but she was now the only cat to do it. She would have to patrol the entire land now, not just the sector the Hyenas had been appointed to. As she made her way into camp, grief clogged her throat. She could see the remnants of her clanmates everywhere. Perhaps the first step would be taking everything out and starting the camp fresh. As she pondered, the silverly silhouette of a hyena slipped into the camp in front of her. "I hereby name you Hyena's Breath, Matriarch of the Order of the Hyena," the creature said softly, pressing her nose to the cat's forehead before stepping back and melting away into nothing. Hyena's Breath had never felt such agony before, the pain shooting through every inch of her being as her nine new lives flooded through her. At least, that was what she assumed had just occurred. What hyena would ever talk to a cat except Tumaini, the hyena goddess that every member of the Order of the Hyena worshipped. She shuddered as she turned to take in the camp once more. "I will rebuild the Order bigger and stronger than ever before. We will be the guardians of this land. There will be none but us," she vowed, lifting her eyes to the sky.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jun 21, 2023 10:23:47 GMT -8
002.
"I'd like to be called Civet's Scurry, if you don't mind," the tabby tortoiseshell decided, turning to look at her classic tabby friend. "How about Zebra's Gallop for you? Keeps our prior names while honoring the traditions of the Order of the Hyena," she suggested. Zebra's Gallop nodded in agreement, turning with shining eyes to seek out Hyena's Breath's approval. The Matriarch could almost laugh, seeing that hope and joy in her eyes that betrayed how little of the real world she had seen. Civet's Scurry was more subdued, as if she'd seen things but not allowed them to hold her back from finding happiness in life. Hyena's Breath could respect that in a cat, if she had to be honest with herself. "It's a pleasure to be your first scavengers, Hyena's Breath. So how should we get started? A tour of the borders perhaps?" Civet's Scurry murmured, breaking the silence that had stretched across the distance between them. "Before that, I think I have an offer for you, Civet's Scurry. I may not know you yet, but I can see promise in you. The Order does not have a deputy, but it does have an Aide. The Aide is not the heir to my throne, so to speak. The Aide is more of a trusted advisor and second-in-command with no hope of ever obtaining a higher rank because my firstborn daughter will take over as Matriarch one day. So, Civet's Scurry, will you be my Aide?" Hyena's Breath meowed calmly, peered deep into her fiery orange eyes while seeking any sign of weakness or hesitance. Civet's Scurry simply dipped her head in a bow, lifting her eyes with newfound determination nearly blinding in them. Hyena's Breath could feel a certainty in this molly, and she knew at once that she had not made a mistake in appointing her to this position. The three finally made their way to the border, and Hyena's Breath padded along while pointing out various landmarks they would soon come to know as well as the backs of their own paws. As they steadily made their way from north to south, a sick feeling was settling in Hyena's Breath's throat. She had not been to the southern border since she had crossed it to return to her camp after the war. She knew the graveyard was not visible from the border, but one did not have to travel far beyond it before it became apparent what had happened there. Her memories were so hazy that she didn't even know how many deaths had been at her paws, and she knew no cat would ever treat her the same if they discovered what had happened to the other Orders. She swallowed nervously and turned to chat while walking backwards toward the border. "Have I told you two much about our god?" she asked politely. Civet's Scurry and Zebra's Gallop shared a look before shaking their heads and looking at the Matriarch with curiosity and confusion. "Well, we worship the mother, known as Tumaini. She takes the appearance of a hyena, and sometimes she walks among us. Mostly commonly I speak with her in my dreams, but she visited to bestow my nine lives upon me. She is everything we should aspire to be: calculating, cunning, ruthless, and completely void of weakness. I do not truly know if she will reveal herself to you two, since you are not the Matriarch or the Herbalist, but I hope she does. She is inspiring," Hyena's Breath sighed, her eyes gaining a far-off look. She worshipped Tumaini as a devoted member of the Order of the Hyena should, but she was especially devoted having been chosen to survive and begin anew. They had finally reached the border, and it took all of her control to prevent her fur from standing on end. "This is the southern border. We do not cross this border no matter what is happening on the other side. Predators live very close beyond our scent-markers, but they do not cross. This is one rule that will warrant punishment without trial. Do you understand?" Hyena's Breath's voice dropped to a dangerous tone. Civet's Scurry took a step closer to Zebra's Gallop as the two mollies nodded, and Hyena's Breath let out a sigh of relief. She could barely think past the memories haunting her thoughts, so she began to walk quickly back to camp. "That's the territory. You, as members of our Order, are now tasked with protecting and serving this land. Trust me, you will grow to love it as dearly as I do," she promised.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 18, 2023 22:30:46 GMT -8
003.
The rabbit was hunched over, carelessly munching away at the grass while three predators circled. Hyena's Breath flexed her claws into the soft ground underpaw, relishing in the feeling of them sinking through the grass and into the soil in the way they would soon slice just as easily through the rabbit's flesh. There was always something so thrilling about a hunt, she knew, because it awakened a feral beast inside her that longed for the chase and the kill. She cast a quick glance to the right, where Civet's Scurry was fanning out, and signaled for the molly to slow with her tail. As her eyes shot to the right, where Zebra's Gallop was, she saw the other molly had seen her signal and paused. This would be her kill, her contributions to their meager fresh-kill pile. The others had already supplied prey today, so it was her turn. She lifted her ears, feeling the wind traveling from the rabbit to her and not the other way around. The smell was mouth-watering, and Hyena's Breath nearly closed her eyes to relish the scent. No, she told herself, she couldn't lose focus on the creature in front of her. She lowered her belly to the ground and drug herself slowly along, lifted just high enough so that her fur didn't ruffle the grass as she slid forward. Her paws landed ever so delicately, and she tensed her muscles as she prepared to leap. Within seconds, it was over. Her hind legs propelled her forward. Her paws slammed onto the rabbit's spine. Teeth gnashed through her throat. Her teeth sank into the rabbit's spine. A snap echoed in her ears. The rabbit was dead. She stepped back to survey her kill, but she felt a gurgle ripple from her lips instead of the prayer she typically offered. She looked down at the rabbit, realizing her crimson blood had coated it. She opened her mouth, but no breath went into her lungs. Instead, she gaped her mouth open and closed like a fish out of water. Her legs began to buckle, and her vision grew spotty. She could see Civet's Scurry peering down at her anxiously, but her eyes were now focused on the sky overhead. She tried to lift a paw to her throat, where she knew the rabbit had landed a bite just right, but her limbs were too weak. She was shivering and cold, so cold, and she could feel the blood bubbling and leaking from her lips. She choked out one final gasp before she felt nothing. She was floating, or at least she thought she was. She was no longer in pain nor was she cold. She could move freely, no weakness holding her back, except there was nowhere to move to. The world was black and endless, and she was but a single speck on the landscape. This shouldn't have been how she lost her first life. Those lives were hers to give in place of those who deserved to live. Those lives were to protect her in dangerous situations, not to be wasted on a simple hunting patrol where a rabbit got lucky. She should be ashamed, but her emotions were as dull as her senses. This place was strange to her. "I did not expect to see you here so soon," a familiar voice floated through the air. Hyena's Breath slowly turned and saw a spectral hyena peering at her. Tumaini's face was devoid of any expression, as was typical of a god. Lowly mortals were not important enough to waste emotions on, Hyena's Breath supposed. "This life was taken from you, so you must serve time with us while your body mends itself in preparation for your return," Tumaini explained before the Matriarch could ask where she was. As if she could read her thoughts, Tumaini let out a sigh as four other spectral creatures materialized. Subira, the lion god, stood to her right. Rehema, the elephant god, stood to her left. Uhuru, the cheetah god, was to the right of Subira, and Bahati, the rhino god was to the left of Rehema. All five gods stood before her, looking down on her soul with unreadable expressions. "You said she was the one, Tumaini. This does not bode well for her future," Subira remarked, looking down her nose as a small sneer crossed her face. Uhuru looked almost bored, as if she couldn't quite stand that she was forced to be here for a cat that didn't even worship her. "I am not wrong about her, Subira. She will prove herself in time. Every leader has a learning curve, and this is simply hers. You will not waste my time with your bickering over my choice of Matriarch. You four were given plenty of time to choose your survivors, and yet every single one of you failed to make a decision. I was the only one who chose, so I am the only one with an Order. You brought this upon yourselves," Tumaini snapped, her teeth bright against the black of the dreamscape. "I have put my faith in you, Hyena's Breath. Do not disappoint me," the god ordered. As if a signal, the world began to brighten. The five gods were nothing more than wisps, now, and soon Hyena's Breath was blinking away to the face of Civet's Scurry staring down her with grief, terror, confusion, and pain warring in her eyes. "You died," the Aide whispered, her voice nearly lost. "I spoke with Tumaini. I have plenty of remaining lives," Hyena's Breath grunted as she hauled herself to her paws. "Now help me back to my nest so I can rest while my body finishes healing itself," she commanded.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 19, 2023 8:28:29 GMT -8
004.
Hyena's Breath raised a tentative paw and gently touched her neck as she peered down at her reflection in the watering hole. She couldn't even tell that a rabbit had opened her throat and ended her life not even a moon ago. She looked over her shoulder where Zebra's Gallop and Civet's Scurry were not so subtly avoiding looking at har while mumbling something nonsensical about the weather. "Just lost in my thoughts," Hyena's Breath said after clearing her throat and turning around. Civet's Scurry offered a small smile, and Zebra's Gallop just shook her head. "I'll get over it eventually, you both know I will. Considering that I just died last moon, I think I deserve an adjustment period," Hyena's Breath grumbled, pushing past the two mollies and leading the way toward the border. "We understand you're in a strange place right now, but you sure do spend a lot of time looking at yourself in that pond," Zebra's Gallop commented. Civet's Scurry reached over and smacked the scavenger, claws sheathed, a look of incredulity in her eyes. "I'm just saying you've got to get over yourself. You were given nine lives for a reason, so losing one should be no big deal. Now get your tail in motion and lead the way, Matriarch," Zebra's Gallop offered a sarcastic bow before following. Civet's Scurry was still looking between the two mollies, as if in shock that neither had snapped and jumped at the other. "Tough love is how I show I care, and I'm pretty sure Hyena's Breath up there knows and respects that," she whispered in the Aide's ear. "I just can't believe you'd talk to her like that. She's the Matriarch, for Tumaini's sake!" Civet's Scurry exclaimed in a hiss. Hyena's Breath's ears swiveled as she listened to their not-so-subtle conversation. She could've laughed and admitted that Zebra's Gallop was on the right track with her thinking, but she was enjoying watching Civet's Scurry squirm at the thought of potentially offending her. As the molly turned to walk backwards, she spotted a flash of sandy gold dart in front of her. The jackal gripped Zebra's Gallop in its mouth as it slung its head back and forth. Fear sparked through Hyena's Breath's body as she rocketed forward, paws reaching forward to sink her claws into the thicker skin on the canine's shoulders. She hissed as she sank her teeth into its ear, tearing and ripping and spitting until a chunk of it lay in a wad of fur on the ground to the side. The jackal let out a growl and tried to twist, but Hyena's Breath sank her claws into the skin above its eye. Blood spurted from the wound, momentarily blinding it and encouraging it to drop Zebra's Gallop's skinny frame. The molly hopped to her paws turned to hiss, arching her back and making herself look larger, but Hyena's Breath knew she had this. She jumped to the ground and began to circle the canine, hissing and growling low in her throat as it spun with her to keep her in its line of sight. "Come at me," she snarled, leaping forward with her teeth bared to rip at its throat. It slung its muzzle to the side, slamming its head into hers and throwing her against the nearby tree. The air was forcefully knocked from her, and she let out a yelp as she felt the tenderness of a bruise forming against her ribs. "Get back!" she snapped when she spotted Zebra's Gallop recklessly darting in. The jackal's jaw was parted as it lunged downward, ready to take a bite out of her clanmate, so Hyena's Breath struggled to her paws. She rocketed forward, shoving Zebra's Gallop to the side as she felt teeth pierce her side and lift her from the ground. She was slung back and forth as the jackal shook its head, and the pain was nearly blinding as she screamed. As she flew threw the air for the second time in the past few minutes, she felt her head hit the tree with a crack before the world went black and she was thrown from her body.
"You need to stop getting yourself killed, Matriarch. Tumaini sent me to keep an eye on your accident-prone self," an unfamiliar voice floated through the void as Hyena's Breath slowly regained consciousness. She'd had a brief chat with the god, but the other four had failed to appear. Maybe it was a good thing, she thought as she raised a paw to rub at her eyes. As her vision came back, she spotted a mostly black molly standing over her and peering at her with intelligent eyes. "You seem to be alright, now, but I'm assuming this is your second life you've lost. You must know your way around recovery now," she commented. "Ostrich's Cry, herbalist at your service," the molly added, as if in afterthought. "It's a bit harder than you're making it out to be," Hyena's Breath groaned. Tumaini had mentioned something about sending her something, but she'd never expected this. "I'm fine," she grumbled, rising unsteadily to her paws and staggering out of the herbalist den and into the center of camp. She quickly spotted Civet's Scurry and Zebra's Gallop with their two heads close together while they muttered. As if they could feel her staring at them, they looked up together and quickly rushed across the clearing to inspect her healing body. "Give it a rest, you two. You saw how quickly I bounced back after last moon, so why are you acting like something's going to be different this time?" she groaned, sinking into a sitting position. "You save my life," Zebra's Gallop whispered. "Thank you." "It's what I was given these lives for. I've still got seven more, so why shouldn't I have wasted one on your sorry pelt?" she shook her head as Civet's Scurry hung back with a small smile. "I'm not going sappy on you, don't you ever think that, but you're my first two clanmates. All I did was prove my loyalty to you," she explained. As she said this, Ostrich's Run slipped out from behind her and Civet's Scurry stiffened. "Civet, so lovely to see you considering I barely escaped with my life that last time we crossed paths," the herbalist said coolly. Hyena's Breath slowly looked between the two, confused because that didn't sound like something Civet would do. She was determined and bold, but she was also kind and caring. "Oh, you haven't told your new nestmates, have you?" Ostrich's Run chuckled as she took in the confused looks on the others' faces. "Your little Aide here is known far and wide for her bloodthirsty streak. She would waltz across the Savanna, killing any and all who tried to claim the land she was currently standing on, regardless of if they lived there before her arrival. By my count, sixteen cats I knew to be peacefully living on a small plot of land have died at her paws, and I almost joined them," she spat, eyes narrowing. Civet's Scurry was shuffling her paws as she stared at the ground, apparently unwilling to look any cat in the eye. "Oh, don't play coy! You know what you did," Ostrich's Run laughed, turning around and stalking off with a snort. Hyena's Breath turned her attention to her Aide, seeing her in a new light now that she knew. "I've changed. I promise that isn't me anymore. I'll only hurt to protect the Order now, and not just because I want what some other cat has," Civet's Scurry whispered. "Quit your moping. You've seen me and how I want to rule, so you should know that I need cats like you. I need cats who are ruthless and willing to do whatever it takes to protect what we've got. I think I made the right choice in you," Hyena's Breath meowed, leaning down and putting herself in Civet's Scurry's line of sight. Zebra's Gallop had stepped back and was just processing the new knowledge, but Hyena's Breath could tell the Aide needed this right now. "You've proved yourself over these past few moons, so you don't have anything to worry about," she murmured.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 19, 2023 14:50:02 GMT -8
005.
The brown tabby tom, who had chosen the name 'Wildebeest's Stampede', had been found by Zebra's Gallop while she was out on a solo patrol. Zebra's Gallop had been tasked with showing the new, and now only other, scavenger the way of life in the Order. "You must always respect the Matriarch and her Aide. I am not sure how she feels about you just yet, but she and I have grown close during these limited moons I have been here. Don't cross her or she might silence you," Zebra's Gallop warned as she lifted her nose to sniff the air for any sign of friend or foe. "I don't think crossing her will ever be a problem. So long as I can remain in your company, she and I will likely not see much of each other," Wildebeest's Stampede chuckled, leaning his head to the side as he blatantly stared at her. She could feel her heart fluttering in her chest as her cheeks and ears burned. She'd never been at the heart of a tom's affections before, and she could now quite confidently say that she enjoyed it. "So I'm the first tomcat on these lands, I take it. Good to know I can have my choice of mollies," he whispered, leaning close enough for his whiskers to brush against her ear. Zebra's Gallop bit back a giggle, silently cursing herself as she tried to figure out where such a noise could have come from. She'd never been so willing to sit and moon over a cat, in fact she used to make fun of those who would do such a thing. Now, here she stood, no better than those moon-eyed mollies watching the toms train. "You don't get choice of anything, Wildebeest's Stampede. Just because you set your eyes on a molly doesn't mean she's yours, and it also doesn't mean she'll ever even reciprocate your feelings. You do realize cats don't always become mates in the traditional tom-molly fashion nowadays, right? I've got my suspicions on Civet's Scurry liking mollies," Zebra's Gallop chuckled, turning to face Wildebeest's Stampede while standing much closer than a cat typically should. She was almost positive Civet's Scurry liked mollies if the way she looked at Hyena's Breath when she wasn't looking was any indication, but she shouldn't be gossiping about her closest friend like this. "Why don't we head back to camp and share a mouse or two," he offered, turning and slowly walking back while looking over his shoulder. Zebra's Gallop nearly felt like she was floating as she followed him. As they neared the camp, Hyena's Breath stood outside with her eyes narrowed. "I've seen the way you two are acting, and I've decided to reinstate a rule from the original Order of the Hyena. All cats must ask me for permission to court another member of the Order, and right now I am not taking requests. We are too small to support pups, end of discussion," she snapped, turning and stalking back into camp. Zebra's Gallop turned to look at Wildebeest's Stampede with confusion, and she could see the hurt in his gaze. Without a word, he lowered his head and padded off after the Matriarch. Zebra's Gallop bit back a snarl, knowing she wanted to tear the fur off of Hyena's Breath's dumb face more than anything else right now. Why did that crabby molly get to decide if her clanmates are worthy of love? Just because she was so unlikeable that no cat would ever court her doesn't mean the rest of them should suffer as well. Zebra's Gallop just grumbled under her breath and padded away from camp to clear her head.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 20, 2023 11:40:10 GMT -8
006.
"This is Sam," Wildebeest's Stampede meowed, stepping to the side and letting the ginger ticked tabby tom step forward. Hyena's Breath had to pause and take a breath to prevent her ears from flattening to her head. It was as if the silhouette of Subira was standing over this tom, taunting her and daring her to make a mistake. She knew the gods were unhappy with Tumaini's choice in her, but could they be sending minions to torment her? As she drug herself from her thoughts, she could see the confusion and wariness in Sam's eyes. A name floated into her mind, and she knew it was what he was meant to be called almost as certainly as she knew she was meant to be in the Order of the Hyena. "Welcome to the Order of the Hyena, Lion's Shadow," she announced, stepping forward and pressing her nose to his bowed head. His name would mean nothing to him, but it would serve as a reminder to her to always perform her best and avoid the wrath of the gods. She could have sworn that the silhouette of the lion nodded at her before disappearing, Maybe this fear was what Subira wanted from her. Maybe the other three gods would place their own members into the Order to drive her mad. She was growing paranoid, always looking over her shoulder for some creature to come crashing at her with malice. "I'd like to be alone now," she murmured quietly. She didn't even pause as she walked out of the camp. This behavior continued for nearly the next half moon: Hyena's Breath refusing to patrol with any cat other than herself. Civet's Scurry voiced her worry, and so did Ostrich's Cry, but she ignored them and continued in her solitude. It was now up to Civet's Scurry to assign the daily patrols, and it was also up to her to keep an eye on the fresh-kill pile. Hyena's Breath could barely think most days, always watching Lion's Shadow from afar for any more signs from Subira. Did the tom know him? Was the tom simply an unwilling pawn in the gods' games? Maybe it was all in her head, but there was too much to be able to avoid these thoughts and feelings. And so the distance grew.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 20, 2023 12:45:44 GMT -8
007.
Lion's Shadow stood watching Wildebeest's Stampede and Zebra's Gallop circle the hare, both low to the ground as they waited to drive it into their clanmate's waiting paws. He could see them communicating with small flicks of their ears and tails, and jealousy prickled through his heart. He wanted to be as close to some cat as they were, the two maintaining a flirty relationship without outright courting due to Hyena's Breath's stance on any mateships at the moment. At the thought of his Matriarch, he felt his heart begin to fall. He wanted so desperately for her to like him, to be proud of him, but he knew she was avoiding him. He could also tell she was watching him relentlessly, but he had seen the wariness in her gaze in the few times he'd caught her. As his thoughts wandered, he barely realized his two clanmates had launched their chase after the hare. The prey zigged and zagged, and he barely kept his eye on it as he settled himself into a crouch, ready to pounce once it got near him. His claws were unsheathed, waiting, but the hare kept to the right and began a large circle. He could hear Zebra's Gallop's curse as she rocketed by, tail swinging to give her balance as she laid nearly on her side to keep up with the hare. Wildebeest's Stampede was heaving as he twisted to go the other way, ready to cut the hare off and drive it back to Lion's Shadow, but Zebra's Gallop slapped her claws against the creature's flank and urged it to race straight at him. As Lion's Shadow jumped forward, the hare twisted and screamed. He let out a cry as its long claws raked across his nose and spattered his blood. He lunged and bit the hare's neck, awarding him with a sloppy kill he wasn't all that proud of. As he stood, he shook his head and sent droplets of crimson flying everywhere. "Shit, that's gonna scar," he snarled, stepping back to rub at his wound with his paw. Zebra's Gallop padded up to him slowly, concern in her eyes as she cast a look past him and shared a short conversation with their other patrol partner. "I need to get back to camp for Ostrich's Run to close this up. It may scar, but I'd like it not to be too big," he chuckled half-heartedly. He was embarrassed to have gained a scar from a lowly hare. "Actually, I've got cobwebs and Wildebeest's Stampede is grabbing some marigold. Ostrich's Run is teaching us the basics of wound care so that she can have an extra few paws in case something big goes down. It also helps if one of us are on patrol and are able to get something on a scratch or a bite as soon as possible. Helps the healing process, she says," Zebra's Gallop explained, lifting up a paw that was swathed in the silvery webs of a spider. Wildebeest's Stampede stepped up and spat a chewed up wad of green leaves onto his paw. Lion's Shadow cringed as it was smeared across his face, but he knew it would help prevent any infection from taking hold. Zebra's Gallop firmly secured the cobwebs around his muzzle, and he nodded his head in thanks. "We're still going straight to Ostrich's Cry, but all she's like to do is tell you to take it easy for a few days to avoid reopening the wound," Wildebeest's Stampede explained as Zebra's Gallop lifted the hare and began to carry it back to camp. "Nice catch, by the way. He was one speedy little thing," the tom commented, bumping his shoulder against Lion Shadow's with a smile. As the ginger tom looked at the tabby tom, he felt hope in his chest. Maybe he could find some friends here after all.
Hyena's Breath stood watching the tree in awe as it looked like moonlight dripped through its leaves and down its trunk. The silvery bark shone brighter than the sun, and she could feel the chill in the air as she drew closer. This weeping tree, with branches and leaves reaching for the ground instead of the sky, looked as if it had been dipped in a pool of moonlight and stars. Its beauty stole her breath, and she blinked back a few tears. She never believed she would see it, but after her rise to Matriarch, this was now her physical tie to the gods. She took a step forward and slowly sunk to the ground, the cold soil nearly biting in its sharpness. She stretched her neck forward and pressed her nose fully against the tree's trunk, inhaling as it felt like ice. Between the time her eyes closed and opened again, she was transported to a starry landscape similar to the one she'd just left. Tumaini was standing to the side, watching her while occasionally looking back and forth to scan their surroundings. "Why did you reach out to me?" the god asked, blunt and straight to the point. "I can't tell the Order about the other gods. The Order of the Hyena is the only one that rightfully survived the war, and so we are the only ones who will protect the land," she said, hiding a shiver as she peered into Tumaini's eyes to see if the god was pleased. The hyena slowly turned, looking over her shoulder and beckoning the Matriarch to follow her. The two walked for a ways before settling at the edge of a cliff, a spot where they could see everything. "The other gods will only confuse my clanmates. They know you, and they worship you. We are the strongest, and now the only, Order. Not once in the previous Order of the Hyena did we ever pray to the other gods, so why should we start now?" Hyena's Breath explained after a moment of silence. "I had hoped you'd make this choice. You are not breaking from tradition, but you are also building the Order of the Hyena back in a new way. This is why I chose you, Hyena's Breath, to become my new Matriarch. Now you must listen to me carefully," Tumaini's voice lowered as she turned to fully face Hyena's Breath. "The other gods aren't happy. I do not know what they will do once they hear of your decision. You have to take care of the Order. They are your responsibility. Protect them for the coming storm," Tumaini whispered, as if afraid the other gods were nearby and would overhear. "Now return to your Clan and leave me be. I have eternity to watch your squabbles, so I'd like to go play puppetmaster for a while," the hyena announced. As if she were controlling it, which she very well might have been, the sky darkened and the landscape disappeared. Hyena's Breath was now laying back beneath the Moontree, but it had lost all of its brilliance. The moon was near setting, so she was simply laying beneath a gray tree that seemed almost dead. She rose to her paws and stretched out her stiff limbs, took a deep breath, and turned back to camp. She would need to begin battle training shortly if they were to be prepared for the inevitability of the gods.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 20, 2023 22:15:38 GMT -8
008.
The solid black tom was strikingly handsome according to Civet's Scurry, but Hyena's Breath had yet to lay eyes on him. The Aide had raced ahead of the patrol to warn the Matriarch of their incoming new face. "Is he to be trusted?" Hyena's Breath asked, busying herself with the tidying of her nest as she prepared for the ceremony to welcome the new cat. Civet's Scurry nodded, looking over her shoulder as if to ensure they had not yet arrived. "I did not spend long speaking with him, but he seemed genuine. I could not detect any signs of ill intentions or malice," Civet's Scurry commented, leaning forward and brushing down a tuft of unruly fur on Hyena's Breath's flank. "You really ought to spend more time grooming yourself as opposed to patrolling. You've got to keep up your appearance," she quickly added. Hyena's Breath turned to curl her lip, but she could see the worry in her Aide's eyes. She knew she'd been slacking on taking care of herself recently, but she'd been devoting her all into leading the Order. She had to prepare them for what was coming, even if it meant looking a little crazy. At that thought, the patrol entered camp surrounding a stunning black cat. "Cobra, to be called Cobra's Strike, at your service," he purred, dipping into a bow and peeking up at her through the tops of his eyes. Hyena's Breath could agree that he took her breath away, so she nodded quickly and pressed her nose to his lowered forehead. She murmured the customary welcome and stepped back, her fur brushing against Civet's Scurry's. "As a sign of trust, I wanted to tell you that there have been rumors of a herd of rhinos migrating closer to your territory. It's all the gossip I've heard from the rogues and loners of the surrounding land for the past moon," he meowed. At the mention of a rhino, Hyena's Breath felt her stomach drop. She leaned against her Aide as she caught her breath and turned to disappear into her den. As she settles onto her nest, she hears the rustling of some cat that had followed her. "Leave me alone," she muttered weakly. "It's my responsibility to keep all members of the Order healthy, physically and mentally, and that includes you," the meow was short and filled with temper. "Leave me alone, Ostrich's Cry. I'm fine," Hyena's Breath snapped. She heard a low growl get cut off abruptly, followed by a sigh, then the rustling sound that signaled the herbalist's leaving. She turned to peak over her shoulder, and she let out the breath she'd been holding when she knew for sure that she was alone. "I'm fine, I know I am," she whispered, head falling as she sank to her belly and breathed in the comforting scents of her nest.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 21, 2023 21:32:26 GMT -8
009.
Hyena's Breath stood watching as her clanmates padded up to her. Out of the five cats on the patrol, all they had to show was a meager mouse. In fact, the creature was almost too scrawny to even be considered prey. "What is this?" she asked, prodding the fresh-kill in front of her while looking on her clanmates with disgust. "You are scavengers of the Order of the Hyena. I expect perfection from you at all times, and all you have to show from a half day of hunting is this?" she shook her head and sighed. "Take it to the fresh-kill pile," she ordered. Cobra's Strike peeled off to do as she said, but the other four remained. "It's leaf-fall, Matriarch. Prey is starting to go underground for the colder moons. We'll only find less and less until the thaw comes," Civet's Scurry explained, but Hyena's Breath would hear none of it. "So you're telling me that the five strongest members of my Order, ignoring myself, can only find one piece of prey that isn't even fit to eat before leaf-bare has even settled? Pathetic," she spat. She could see the hurt in their eyes, but they needed to grow stronger and be better if they were to survive these colder moons. It would be even worse once they had cats who were dependent on them, such as mothers with pups. If they could barely keep themselves alive when every cat in the Order hunts, how would they survive when some are injured or unable to leave camp? Civet's Scurry opened her mouth to argue, but Hyena's Breath turned and stalked out of camp. She didn't know where her paws were taking her, but she knew she needed to blow off some steam. As she worked her way to the border, she muttered and grumbled to herself about the incompetence of her clanmates. They needed to be better and stronger if they were ever going to survive in this land. The Order of the Hyena used to be the bottom of the food chain after all, the scavengers that got the scraps left to them by the other Orders. She wasn't about to let her new Order experience the shame she used to deal with, but she knew the gods still sneered down on them. "Watch where you're going!" a stranger's voice snarled as Hyena's Breath ran nose-first into another cat. As she stepped back, she took in the sight of a spotted tabby molly with a smushed in muzzle glaring at her. A pile of fresh-kill sat at her paws, two fatter mice and a respectable bird, and the molly stood just across the border as if she knew what it was. "Are you from that group of cats living past these scent markers?" the stranger asked, stepping back from the food instead of hovering protectively over it like any sensible predator would. "I'm their Matriarch, Hyena's Breath," she announced. "My name is Aardwolf. I've been thinking about it, and I want to join your group. I brought a peace offering of prey since I know the cold season is on us and every cat could use extra," she meowed, leaning down and nudging the prey across the border. Hyena's Breath looked between the gift and the gift giver, almost in shock. "I've heard how you cats name yourselves, and I've settled on Aardwolf's Mane. I can patrol your borders, I can fight, and I can hunt. Use me as you will, so long as I am protected and welcomed by the group," the molly added. Hyena's Breath was impressed by her already, so she nodded and stepped to the side. "I'll tell you more about the Order of the Hyena while we walk to camp. Any cat that acts like you will always be welcome. Now, tell me, are you willing to be ruthless if the situation requires it? Will you do anything to protect your home and your clanmates?" Hyena's Breath meowed around the two mice swinging by their tails from her mouth. Aardwolf's Mane nodded furiously, the bird preventing her from speaking. As the Matriarch looked into her eyes, she could see the determination and truth shining through. Hyena's Breath knew at that moment that she felt better about welcoming this molly into her Clan than she had about any of her other clanmates.
"Hyena's Breath has been getting way too mean recently," Zebra's Gallop as she leaned forward and began to groom Civet's Scurry. The Aide nodded as she began to pick a knot forming close to her friend's leg. "Maybe you can talk some sense into her. Something's just been off since she lost that second life, y'know? Almost like she saw something that she doesn't want to tell anybody," Zebra's Gallop's voice trailed off as she turned to look at her friend with wide eyes. "Maybe that's it. Maybe she did see something, something she won't admit to anyone. You've got to get it out of her. She trusts you more than any other cat," Zebra's Gallop whispered, suddenly realizing what she was saying might be taken as treason. "I'm not doing that! It would break what little trust she has in me," Civet's Scurry gasped, abhorred with the thought of doing such a thing. "She might be going through a hard time, but that doesn't make it alright to manipulate her. She deserves better than that," her voice was barely a whisper as she spotted the Matriarch entering the camp with a stranger. She could see the way Hyena's Breath was looking at her, and something shot through her veins that she slowly recognized to be jealousy. Could it be that she wanted Hyena's Breath to look at her that way? Confused, she rose to her paws and joined the flow of cats heading in the direction of the Matriarch. "Everyone, meet Aardwolf's Mane!" she announced, gesturing to the newcomer who had dropped a bird in front of her. Civet's Scurry felt her heartbeat flutter when she made brief eye contact with the Matriarch as she swept her gaze across the crowd, and she dropped her eyes as she tried to fight her sudden reaction. She knew she'd been jumping at the chance to spend time with Hyena's Breath recently, but she'd discounted it as friendship. She liked toms, right? She'd never noticed any attraction to mollies whatsoever, so why did it feel like she was crushing on her Matriarch? Why was everything so suddenly confusing? "I hope everyone welcomes her as graciously as you have welcomed each other. The Order of the Hyena is growing, and I'm proud to announce that I will now be accepting requests for courting. I simply request you think everything through before deciding to start a family. We are still a small group," Hyena's Breath warned. Civet's Scurry nodded along, agreeing with everything out of the Matriarch's mouth. Not only were they small, but the cold moons were a looming threat. She was so wise to suggest holding off on any pups, in Civet's Scurry's opinion. As the crowd dispersed, she returned with Zebra's Gallop to where they had been grooming only moments prior. As Civet's Scurry settled onto her belly, certainty fell over her like a blanket. She looked up suddenly, casting quick glances around before leaning in. "I think I like Hyena's Breath," she whispered. Zebra's Gallop's jaw dropped, and she looked between her and the Matriarch. Civet's Scurry was breathing quickly, trying to stop herself from freaking out after finally admitting something she had been avoiding and ignoring for nearly a moon now.
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