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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 21, 2023 23:05:56 GMT -8
010.
"The name's Baboon, and this here is Leopard," the torbie tom meowed in introduction. The ginger tom behind him was peeking out shyly, and he offered a small smile. Hyena's Breath looked down her nose at them as she tried to judge them. Baboon seemed to hold promise, but she wasn't sure about this Leopard. He seemed timid and wary, though maybe it would prove to only be a shell as he grew more comfortable in the Order. "Baboon's Shriek and Leopard's Leap, I am proud to welcome you as our newest scavengers in the Order of the Hyena," she announced, making her decision. "Should you prove to unworthy of this rank and role, you will be driven from our territory," she warned. "No cat has yet failed me, but don't make the mistake of thinking you won't be the first," she narrowed her eyes and bared her teeth. Leopard's Leap shrank back, eyes wide with fear, but Baboon's Shriek just rolled his eyes and nodded. Hyena's Breath dipped her head and let the two toms pass by to begin mingling with their new clanmates.
"Can I come in?" Civet's Scurry called, leaning her nose into the edge of the herbalist's den. It was dark inside, but not gloomy. It was a restful and peaceful dark, brought about by the den being inside the hollowed out trunk of a massive fallen tree. She heard a grunt as a reply, took it as a yes, and stepped in fully. Ostrich's Cry was against one of the walls, sorting through the layers of herbs she had in hollows that had been scraped out by the cats who had lived here once before. She was muttering under her breath as she counted, so Civet's Scurry took it upon herself to settle next to one of the nests and wait for the herbalist to acknowledge her. "What brings you to my den? Thorn in your paw? Scratched while hunting?" Ostrich's Cry chirped, leaning down to begin sniffing at Civet's Scurry's pelt to seek out whatever wound or illness she believed to be bringing her a patient. As she sniffed, confusion flickered in her face and she leaned back to look into Civet's Scurry's eyes. "You don't look sick. You don't smell sick. I don't even smell any blood or wounds? Why'd you disturb my store check?" Ostrich's Cry looked unimpressed with Civet's Scurry's intrusion. "It's Hyena's Breath," she started slowly. The herbalist furrowed her brow, but took a step back and sat down while motioning for the Aide to continue. "I'm worried about her. She's been distancing herself from the scavengers recently, and it doesn't look like she's sleeping well. I mean, just look at her face. She looks terrified all of the time, like she thinks something's hunting her but she can't see it," the words flooded from her mouth in a rush. Once the dam was cracked, everything raced out as fast as possible. Ostrich's Cry sat back and stewed on the words, nodding as she muttered under her breath again. "I have been thinking something was off, but I wasn't sure. She's not going to listen to us, so I think we just need to watch for signs that it's getting worse. If it reaches a point where we think we need to intervene, then we'll figure it out and do it together. I just don't think her anger is worth it right now," Ostrich's Cry explained, and Civet's Scurry nodded. She could see where the herbalist was coming from, even if she wanted to make sure the Matriarch was okay at this very second. "Come back to me if anything truly scares you. She's not telling us something, and it's slowly eating away at her. Still, she won't tell us until she's ready," Ostrich's Cry warned, slowly herding Civet's Scurry out of her den. The Aide was suddenly back in the camp, looking at where Ostrich's Cry had already disappeared back to her herbs. She looked over her shoulder and spotted Hyena's Breath sitting next to her own den. The molly looked scraggly and tired, and her heart gave a pathetic thump. She wanted her to get better, but she knew she couldn't do anything until Hyena's Breath came to her first. Wildebeest's Stampede stood shuffling his paws in the grass as he paced outside of Hyena's Breath's den. She'd asked him to wait until she called for him, so he went over what he wanted to say as he began to pace. Worry filled his mind as he looked up at the den, shocked as he heard her call for him. He took a deep breath and stepped into the den made from brambles and vines. Hyena's Breath was sitting against the far wall, and she dipped her head to him to allow him the floor to speak. "I may not have known her long, but I love Zebra's Gallop. I want the opportunity to get to know her in a romantic way, so I want to formally ask for the right to court her with the intention of asking her to be my mate. She knows I am here, but she didn't want to accompany me in the chance that you deny us this," he meowed quickly. Hyena's Breath looked him up and down and nodded. Wildebeest's Stampede was confused for a second before she gestured for him to leave. "That's it? No words of advice? Nothing?" he asked, unwilling to believe she would be so brief about something so important to him. "What's there for me to say? I'm not going to give you love advice when I've never loved a cat in my life. Go tell her that you have your permission. She's who you really want to be talking to right now," Hyena's Breath said before dismissing him. Wildebeest's Stampede could see where she was coming from, but he still wished she would say something more. Still, Hyena's Breath was cold, dismissive, and calculating. She was also wise and cunning. It made for a good Matriarch, but not a good friend, he supposed. The world was agony to Hyena's Breath as she writhed in her nest. Ostrich's Cry's most recent poultice had already dried and flaked off, her wound bright and angry. The rabbit's scratch had been nothing major, so she'd skipped getting it checked out. Two days later, she couldn't even leave her nest for the crippling fever and pain that wracked her body. Everything was so hot and so cold at the exact same time. She was seeing things as fever dreams became indistinguishable from reality. Ostrich's Cry's poultices to fight the infection were failing, she could feel it. With each passing moment, the pain grew more unbearable as the heat in her shoulder stretched further from its source. She tossed to the side, a whimper wrenching itself from her throat as she stretched the muscle where the infection was raging. Civet's Scurry leaned down to dab the cool, water-filled moss across her forehead, and Hyena's Breath could barely think to ask for a drink. Her throat was scratchy and raw, her vision blurry, her pain growing and fading, until it all stopped. She tried to breathe, but her chest wouldn't rise. Her limbs wouldn't move, and she could see Civet's Scurry yelling for help. Ostrich's Cry crashed into the den, but she took one look at Hyena's Breath and crossed to comfort the grieving Aide. She couldn't even hear them now, and the world was so bright. Why was everything so bright? The brightness faded to darkness, and suddenly she stood facing Subira, Rehema, Uhuru, and Bahati. "Where's Tumaini? She's usually the one to greet me when one of my lives is ripped from me," Hyena's Breath growled, the fur along her spine bristling as she tried to back away only to find that she still couldn't move her legs. "You have not taught your Order about us. This is wrong. We deserve to be worshipped just as much as Tumaini," Subira snarled, stalking forward. "The Order of the Hyena has never prayed to any god other than Tumaini, the hyena god. We will not be starting now just because your royal highnesses don't have your own Orders that fawn over you," Hyena's Breath laughed, trying to hide the fear that she was sure the others could smell. "You have no right to deny what is requested of you by the gods," Uhuru snapped, and Rehema and Bahati stood nodding. "You will teach your Clan to worship us, or we will destroy you. You will never see us coming because we are gods. We can do whatever we want to, however we want to, whenever we want to. Do not tempt us, kitty cat, or you and your band of misfits will perish," the cheetah sneered, circling her with hunger in her eyes. "We expect immediate changes," Rehema added, her voice low and slow. She was not known for speaking as much as her feline counterparts, but what she did say was known to be important. Bahati swung her head, her large horn menacing. Hyena's Breath had never felt so small as she did at that moment, surrounded by gods who wanted her dead, but she stood her ground. "You can demand this of me all you want, but you won't be getting what you want. The Order of the Hyena worships one god, and one god only," she snarled, closing her eyes and willing herself back into her mortal body where she knew Civet's Scurry and Ostrich's Cry would be waiting on her revival.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 22, 2023 21:39:13 GMT -8
011.
Zebra's Gallop could barely hold herself still, let alone keep her eyes closed, as Wildebeest's Stampede led her from the camp. This was going to be their first official outing after getting approval to consider a mateship, and he had vowed it would be special. He kept his tail across her haunches, guiding and steadying her. "We're almost there," he promised, his voice soft against the stillness of the night. Zebra's Gallop's heart was racing in her chest as she fought to avoid tripping. When Wildebeest's Stampede stopped, she was shocked as she felt water lapping at her paws. "Surprise," he whispered. Her eyes opened to see the watering hole in front of her, stars and a full moon reflecting in its still surface. This was the one safe pond in the territory, so no fear of being struck by a snake or crocodile traced through her excitement at being here after dark with the tom she'd been mooning after for forever. As she turned, she spotted him sitting a few steps away with a freshly caught bird surrounded by flower petals. They were a little dry, but that was to be expected at the end of leaf-fall. "It's not much, but I wanted it to be special," he explained, shuffling his paws and looking up at her with hope. She just smiled and stepped up to him, rubbing her cheek against his. She settled in and took a bite of the bird, slowly sliding it over to him to share. "I didn't think we'd get to do this so soon," she admitted, chewing thoughtfully. "I've wanted to tell you you're handsome for so long, but it felt a little weird to go that far without knowing if Hyena's Breath would be okay with where it might lead after," she murmured gently. She looked up at him and smiled softly. "There's no cat I'd rather patrol with," she whispered. Wildebeest's Stampede stared at her, and she shied away from him as if she could hear what he was thinking. She could see nothing but joy in his eyes, but she wondered if he was secretly regretting his decision. "I could say the same for you, Zebra's Gallop. There's been something special about you since the day I first laid eyes on you," he purred, leaning so that they sat close enough for their fur to brush. Her heart was hammering against her chest now, threatening to leap out and reveal just how strongly she felt. Yet, she pulled back and forced her breathing to slow. She didn't want to scare him off, so she would play the shy little molly accepting his compliments. "Nothing will ever come close to how I feel for you, Zebra's Gallop. I know we only just received permission for this, but I cannot wait until you are ready to become my mate," Wildebeest's Stampede murmured, resting his chin atop her head. She leaned into his touch and sighed, knowing that everything felt absolutely perfect at that moment.
Cobra's Strike was concerned as she smelled the disgusting stench of cheetahs lingering on the third border they had checked. After discovering the smell on the northernmost border, they had elected to check just how far it stretched. They were now following the southern border, the line of cheetah scent unbroken since they first found it this morning. "It's like they're circling our territory but not daring to cross into it," Cobra's Strike meowed, a slight tremor adding a layer of fear to his tone. Lion's Shadow looked over his shoulder at him, and Cobra's Strike could see his fear mirrored in his gaze. "Something's wrong outside the territory, but we all swore vows not to cross outside the scent markers. Why is Hyena's Breath so adamant that we can't leave?" he murmured, mostly to himself before he realized the entire patrol was listening. "You've seen the way she's been acting recently. She's paranoid and scared of something, but she sure as hell won't admit it to us. This is going to her last straw, I swear it," Baboon's Shriek meowed, ears flat against his head as they reached the junction between the southern and western borders. The cheetah scent had begun to fade, but it was now clear they had made nearly a complete circle around the territory. "I don't want to be the one to tell her," the tom grumbled before adding, "because I would like to see the sunrise at least one more time." Cobra's Strike knew Baboon's Shriek was right: Hyena's Breath was going to freak out when she heard what they'd discovered. Lion's Shadow and Leopard's Leap remained mostly quiet, probably hiding from responsibilities. "I'll tell her," Cobra's Strike begrudgingly offered. The rest of the patrol let out a sigh of relief and turned to start making their way back to camp. As they finally reached the land, which had recently had bramble and thorn walls built around it, the other three peeled off to avoid Hyena's Breath's reaction. He took a deep breath and approached her den, halting when she padded out into the camp and eyed him suspiciously. "Do you need to speak with me?" she asked curtly. "It sure looked like you were about to enter my den," she added, looking him up and down. Cobra's Strike gulped before he turned and looked pointedly at her den. The Matriarch sighed and led the way into her den, obviously picking up on his hint that they needed to speak in private. As they settled themselves around her nest, she began grooming her chest fur. "So, what have you got to say that's so important?" she asked between licks. "We've found evidence of cheetahs around all of the borders. North, south, east, and west. It's as if a whole pack of them circled our territory, scent marking and leaving obvious clues that they were there. It's so strange, so of course I didn't want the rest of the Order to hear," Cobra's Strike explained. He could see panic creep into her eyes and her whole body stiffened. Her eyes darted back and forth rapidly, thoughts so clearly racing through her head at a pace faster than any cat could keep up with. He slowly stood and backed away, hoping she wouldn't lash out at him for bringing the news. She rose suddenly, pushing past him and into the camp. "Let all cats gather before me to hear my news!" she yowled. As the Clan mumbled and muttered, gathering in an uneasy circle around their Matriarch. "It has been brought to my attention that cheetahs are circling our territory. They may be plotting, or they may just be moving from land to land. Regardless, it is too dangerous for our borders to go unwatched at any moment of the day. From this moment forward, two scavengers will be placed to patrol two borders each. The shifts will be sunrise to sunhigh, sunhigh to sunset, sunset to moonhigh, and moonhigh to sunrise. Cobra's Strike, take the northern and eastern borders. Zebra's Gallop, take the southern and western borders. Order dismissed." The Order stood in silence for a few moments before whispering and muttering rumbled through the group. Cobra's Strike watched as Hyena's Breath disappeared into her den again, not failing to notice the rapid rising and falling of her chest as the look of true terror in her face disappeared with her.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 26, 2023 16:06:58 GMT -8
012.
"Welcome to the Order of the Hyena!" Hyena's Breath yowled, Giraffe's Strut turning to watch the Order as they yowled her name in celebration. "While this is unusual, we are in dire times. I must request you go relieve Wildebeest's Stampede from his watch over the southern and western borders," the Matriarch declared. Giraffe's Strut was concerned, but she could easily tell which way was south by watching where the sun was setting. She dipped her head respectfully and struck off, following the scent of a cat once she picked up his trail. She finally found the scavenger she was to replace, said a quick hello and goodbye, and took up her post wandering along the scent-marked borders. The molly patrolled both borders while humming softly to herself, contemplating on if joining this group was truly the right step for her. She had lived alone for as long as she could remember, and loneliness had driven her to seek out the companionship of a group she'd heard rumblings about. The moon had finally risen, illuminating the land with its silvery light while the stars twinkled around it. She'd chosen to pause and sit for a while, watching the sky as clouds drifted lazily by. As she shifted her gaze, she could see a shaft of moonlight directing her attention beyond the southern border. It wouldn't hurt to follow it just a ways, would it? Deciding she had grown tired of staring at the sky, Giraffe's Strut rose and gingerly stepped over the border. A thrill raced through her body as she recalled Hyena's Breath's command that she not leave the territory now that she had sworn to protect it. As she walked, her pace quickened until she was running after the moonbeam that seemed to remain just out of her reach. Her breath rushed from her muzzle in clouds, the sharp leafbare air stinging her eyes as she ran. The moonbeam seemed to disappear, and so she skidded to a halt at the crest of a hill and took in the scene below her. The ground was unnaturally uneven, the grass patchy as if various areas had been dozed and forced to regrow from nothing. Flowers dotted the ground, but only on the areas where she could tell it to be undisturbed. As she wove between the mounds, she spotted one at the far side of the valley where no grass had regrown. As she reached and touched it, she could see an indent that signaled a cat had been visiting and resting atop the land. Her gut twisted as she began to realize what she was seeing, so she turned and fled for the camp as fast as she possibly could. Her paws ate away at the ground, her body stretching past its limits as she barely felt the grass beneath her. She flew until she burst into camp and locked eyes with the Matriarch. An unspoken conversation passed between the two mollies, and in no time they were racing back across the territory. Giraffe's Strut didn't even hesitate as she leaped across the border, but she slid to a halt when she lost the sound of Hyena's Breath's pawsteps. "What are you doing?" the Matriarch snarled, her voice deep and menacing. Giraffe's Strut pinned her ears to her head, shame at realizing she was about to admit she'd broken one of Hyena's Breath's greatest rules within just a few hours of joining the Order. "Lead the way," the Matriarch snapped, stepping outside the territory before Giraffe's Strut could explain. The two mollies crossed the last stretch of land at a trot, and Giraffe's Strut stopped at the top of the hill and stared down. As she turned to take in the Matriarch's reaction, she was surprised to see nothing but anger. "It's a graveyard, Hyena's Breath. Something terrible happened here," Giraffe's Strut whispered, voice trembling as she finally voiced what had chased her from this place and back to camp. Hyena's Breath's body trembled with rage as she turned and faced the scavenger fully. She stepped forward and shoved her face into Giraffe's Strut, snarling and peeling her lips back to bare her teeth. "You are going to return to camp without me. You are not going to tell anybody what you saw here. You are going to keep your mouth shut and pretend to be the perfect little scavenger. No member of the Order will ever learn that you left the territory," Hyena's Breath's voice was barely a whisper. "If I hear that you have disobeyed me on this, I will kill you. Your body will never be found. Your grave will never be found. As far as the Order will know, you chose to leave and return to life as a loner. Do you understand me?" Hyena's Breath narrowed her eyes as Giraffe's Strut stumbled back. The molly nodded furiously, chest heaving as she walked away in the direction of camp without a word. As she reached the top of the hill, she glanced over her shoulder and watched as Hyena's Breath crossed the graveyard and curled up on the farthest away grave. The Matriarch's voice floated across the still night, reaching Giraffe's Strut's ears right as she began to continue walking. "We were the rightful surviving Order, Hyena's Heart. The others chose their demise."
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 26, 2023 19:34:30 GMT -8
013.
Ostrich's Cry could hear the cat's cough as they crossed the camp headed in the direction of her den. "Come in," she called before they could even announce their presence. She was shocked as Giraffe's Strut, the newest member of the Order, padded in with a face twisted in pain. The molly's cough was dry and rattling, so Ostrich's Cry quickly gestured at a nest and hurried to her herb stores to gather her go-to cough remedies. It was much too early to warrant the use of catmint, that had to be saved throughout leafbare in case an outbreak of greencough occurred, so she gathered various leaves to offer. As she crossed the den with her chosen herbs, she saw that Giraffe's Strut was sitting up and no longer in pain. The calico looked pointedly at the herbs and shook her head, casting a wary glance towards the entrance. Ostrich's Cry hurried to put the herbs away and led the molly out of the camp so that they could speak in private. They were finally far enough from camp to speak freely, so Ostrich's Cry turned and looked Giraffe's Strut in the eye. The molly gulped and dropped her gaze. "I saw something last moon," she whispered, looking side to side to check that no cat was watching. Ostrich's Cry was still confused, but she remained in silence to encourage her clanmate to take the lead. "I got distracted and left the territory while on border watch. I found this land that was strangely disturbed, and I realized it was a massive graveyard. When I brought Hyena's Breath, she threatened to kill me if I told any cat. When I was leaving, I watched her lay down on one of the graves and talk about 'others'. I don't know if she means other cats or other Orders, but she's hiding something from us, something she is willing to kill over," the words fell from Giraffe's Strut's mouth faster and faster until she was heaving for air and unable to hold back the tears that were now streaming down her face. Ostrich's Cry was stunned, to say the least. It didn't sound like her Matriarch, but at the same time it made perfect sense. Hyena's Breath had been acting strange for moons now, and this was another piece in the puzzle that the herbalist was piecing together. She reached out and rested a gentle tail across the sobbing molly's shoulders. Giraffe's Strut trembled, her eyes wild as she fought to regain control of her body. Ostrich's Cry knew she was terrified that she'd say something to Hyena's Breath and sentence her to death. "I want you to remain out here and take care of yourself. I have some business to attend to," the herbalist decided, her voice cold and distant as she felt anger and disappointment flooding through her veins. "How dare you threaten to kill one of your own clanmates?" Ostrich's Cry snarled as she stalked into Hyena's Breath's den. Civet's Scurry was sitting to the side, the two having obviously been deep in conversation before the intrusion. Hyena's Breath flattened her ears and rose to her paws, towering over Ostrich's Cry as she stared down her nose and growled. "How dare you hide a giant graveyard just outside our territory and tell no cat? What else have you been hiding?" the herbalist was clearly exasperated, pacing around the small den shooting glares at Hyena's Breath every chance she got. Civet's Scurry was looking between the two mollies, confusion in her eyes that remained unfocused as she clearly raced through her thoughts to piece everything together. "We're not the only Order," Hyena's Breath whispered. Ostrich's Cry stopped and stared as Hyena's Breath looked up with teary eyes. "There used to be five Orders: The Order of the Lion, the Order of the Cheetah, the Order of the Elephant, the Order of the Rhinoceros, and the Order of the Hyena. The Orders never trusted each other, but we lived in an uneasy peace while taking on the various duties needed to maintain the territory. Relationships broke, and eventually we went to war. The gods knew we would not survive the war, so they were supposed to elect one cat from each Order to protect and task with rebuilding. Only Tumaini, the hyena god, chose, and she chose me. When the war happened, every cat died except me. I buried them in that graveyard, and I visit to pay my respects. The other gods are angry that I have chosen to omit the history of the other Orders, and they have threatened to kill us all if I do not teach about them and make the Order respect them," Hyena's Breath was oddly still as the story was told. Ostrich's Cry was disgusted, disappointed, and terrified as she listened to Hyena's Breath tell about her interactions with the gods during her deaths, the evidence of the animals the other Orders were named after on the borders, and the silhouette of Subira arriving with Lion's Shadow. "Why wouldn't you tell us this? We are your advisors, your trusted deputies. We can't help you if you don't tell us what is threatening our home! You are not the only cat in danger, Hyena's Breath, and you have condemned us all," Ostrich's Cry cried out, shaking her head as she turned to leave. "You are the worst choice Tumaini could have made," she spat, pushing her way out of the den.
"I will not take orders from that self-centered bitch. I am the Matriarch of the Order of the Hyena, and I will make my own decisions!" Hyena's Breath screeched, ripping her claws into her nest and shredding it as she slung it against the wall. "I am doing my best to protect this Order because the god put her faith in me! Not Ostrich's Cry, not you, me!" she seethed, panting as she dug her claws into the soft dirt underpaw. Civet's Scurry flinched, curling into herself as Hyena's Breath raged. "I understand why you hid it from us, and I respect your ability to make your own decisions. But you can obviously barely control your emotions when someone catches you in a lie. I don't like this side of you," the Aide murmured, rising to her paws and crossing to the entrance. Hyena's Breath was watching her with wild eyes, her fur now ruffled and unkempt as she hunched and trembled. "You need some time to yourself," Civet's Scurry whispered before she left. "Wait!" Hyena's Breath cried, but it was too late. She sank to her belly and stared at the entrance, begging and willing Civet's Scurry to return, but time passed and nothing happened. The sky outside grew dark, and Hyena's Breath felt her heart begin to crack. It felt as if someone were crushing her chest, and all she wanted was Civet's Scurry to return and help her through this. She was protecting everyone by keeping this to herself. She could prepare them better without them knowing, without provoking a panic, couldn't she? The longer she lay there, hoping and praying to see Civet's Scurry walk in, the more she realized she wanted her Aide by her side at all times. And as more than a friend. Was this what Zebra's Gallop and Wildebeest's Stampede felt for each other? Was this a crush? Hyena's Breath began to silently cry as she realized she may have ruined her only chance at love. She had never felt this way before, and she wasn't sure she would ever feel this way again. Why wouldn't she come back? Why wasn't she coming back? Hyena's Breath fought the urge to stand up and go after her, instead curling up and crying herself to sleep as she began to wonder where she might have gone wrong.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 26, 2023 20:44:16 GMT -8
014.
The colorpoint molly slid over the border silently, her paws stepping over the remaining mounds of snow that had not yet been melted by newleaf thaws. She knew the snow would crunch if she touched it, and stealth was her mission. She'd heard of this 'Order' from other rogues and loners, and she wanted to check them out before she presented herself before them as a candidate for joining them. Her ears swiveled as she heard a patrol approaching, so she dug her claws into the trunk of the tree she stood under and scampered up into its branches. She passed the lowest hanging branches, choosing to stop on the smallest limbs that could safely hold her weight. She lowered herself against the bark, cursing the lack of leaves. The cats passed by underneath, pausing to sniff but seemingly unaware that she had crossed into their land. She didn't dare breathe, holding herself as still as possible until she was trembling from a lack of air. Finally, the patrol was far enough away that she gasped and began gulping air in greedily. Once she felt steady again, she leaped to the branches below her and then the ground below that. She slunk through the territory, darting from tree to tree and bush to bush. Finally, she spotted a valley ringed with bramble and thorn walls. Cats came and went through a tunnel she could just barely see, so she slid around to a tree just outside the camp and raced through its branches until she was well hidden. She crawled forward until she peered down into the camp, watching as cats came and went from dens. The fresh-kill pile was in a corner, and it seemed well stocked to her. She could see a fallen log that a cat carrying leaves disappeared into, and she made an assumption that the group had a healer. She could see no old cats, nor any young ones either, so she assumed the group was still in its younger days and had yet to recruit any dependent members. The cats she could see seemed strong and prideful, but she could tell there was an unshakeable sense of loyalty surrounding the camp. Yes, this seemed like just the place for her. As she crept backward, a crack broke through the sky and she felt nothing but air beneath her. She plummeted until she slammed into the ground, air knocked from her and stars dancing behind her eyelids. Her mouth opened and closed, like a fish out of water, until her lungs finally expanded and air rushed in. She finally opened her eyes, and several cats stood around her and peered down at her. "Who are you, and why are you spying on my camp?" a mottled tortoiseshell snapped, narrowing her eyes as she inspected the colorpoint molly. "My name is Prance, and I wanted to know if this was a group I wanted to join. So, I snuck into the tree and watched for a while. I'd decided I was going to present myself to you in the proper way as a candidate to join, but the branch broke beneath me and here we are," Prance explained after she was certain her voice had returned. The tortoiseshell molly narrowed her eyes, but she nodded and stepped back to allow Prance to rise. "My name is Hyena's Breath. Welcome to the Order of the Hyena, Reedbuck's Prance," she announced, pressing her nose to Reedbuck's Prance's forehead. The colorpoint molly beamed as she turned to look at her new clanmates, but she could see distrust in their eyes. Her entrance had been less than ideal, so she made a silent vow that she would prove herself to them every day until she knew they trusted and appreciated her addition to the Order.
Hyena's Breath watched as Aardwolf's Mane strutted into the camp and dumped a hare and a shrew onto the fresh-kill pile. The molly seemed to patrol all day, every day. She was hard-working, dedicated, and put her all into everything she did. She may not talk much, and she may prefer to spend most of her time alone, but Hyena's Breath knew she was one of the most loyal members of the Order. That thought made up her mind, so the Matriarch padded across the camp and smiled hesitantly at the scavenger. "Come for a walk with me," she meowed, turning to look at the camp entrance. Aardwolf's Mane ducked her head, and the Matriarch took the lead. "You're just about the best scavenger in the Order, Aardwolf's Mane. You barely take time for yourself, but you seem to know when you need to. You jump at the chance for any patrol, and you always come back with the most prey. Now, answer me this. Will you do anything I ask of you?" Hyena's Breath paused, and Aardwolf's Mane offered a curt nod. The praise was getting to her, and she could see happiness shining in her eyes as the words sank into her. "There is a role that I have yet to bring up to the others because I had not found the proper cat to fulfill it. I believe you are the cat I've been looking for," Hyena's Breath announced. Aardwolf's Mane cocked her head before motioning for Hyena's Breath to continue. "The Shadow is my right hand. While the Aide helps handle the day to day life, the Shadow works behind the scenes. The Shadow keeps an eye and an ear out for anything that should be of interest to me. The Shadow can go on missions for me, in and outside the territory, and they will be my liaison with any Clans that we may learn of. The Order is not the only group of cats in the world, you know, we're just the only one out here. Very far away live groups both alike and different from us. I want you to attempt to become my Shadow," Hyena's Breath proclaimed. Aardwolf's Mane narrowed her eyes and motioned for Hyena's Breath to continue, obviously having picked up on the Matriarch's choice of 'attempt'. "Well, the Shadow rank does not come for free. There are three trials you must complete. For your first trial, you must enter a herd of elephants and return with a hair from the tail of one that you plucked, not one that fell. For your second trial, you must cross the river without dying at the jaws of the crocodiles. For the final trial, you must sneak into the heart of a herd of lions and steal one of their cubs. You will present the cub to me before returning it, therefore completing your third trial. It's not meant to be easy, so if it sounds hard, that's because it is. I think you have what it takes," she finished. Aardwolf's Mane took several moments to think before sighing. "I need time to think. If I'm going to risk my life without taking the proper amount of time to weigh the pros and cons," she said before turning to head back to camp. "I expected nothing less from you, Aardwolf's Mane. You will make an excellent Shadow," Hyena's Breath announced as she stepped up to lead the way.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 27, 2023 12:50:42 GMT -8
015.
Aardwolf's Mane stood at the edge of the territory, counting her breaths as the entire Order stood in a semicircle behind her. Hyena's Breath broke from the group and strode forward, tapping Aardwolf's Mane on the flank as a signal for her to turn and face them. "Today is the day that determines the future of our Order. Aardwolf's Mane has chosen to attempt the Trials of the Shadow!" Hyena's Breath broke off to allow her Clan to cheer and encourage their clanmate. Hyena's Breath raised her tail, and silence fell. "For her first trial, she will return to us with the hair from an elephant's tail. May Tumaini guide your way, and may your courage remain true," she announced, and Aardwolf's Mane took one deep breath and crossed the border. She looked over her shoulder, only briefly, to see Hyena's Breath staring not at her but at the Aide who stood as far from her as possible. Refusing to let her clanmates' dramas get to her, she forced her gaze back to in front of her where the scent trail of an elephant herd led the way. As she traveled, her paws and joints began to ache. She had been walking for what felt like forever when she finally herd the trumpet of an elephant. She dropped to her belly, creeping forward until she finally spotted the herd of massive beasts. The older creatures stood in a loose circle around several smaller members, like parents protecting their young. Aardwolf's Mane drew in slow, steady breaths as she slid closer to an elephant that was standing further from the herd. It was the biggest of them, and she believed it to be the leader who stood apart to keep watch while the others paid attention to the grass they were eating. Its tail swung back and forth high above, high enough that she would need to leap. She stiffened, preparing for the jump that would decide her future, holding so still that she was able to stop a tremor before it could travel along her spine. She was afraid, as any cat in their right mind would be, but she was keeping her heartbeat and breathing in check. This was it, her moment to shine, her moment to prove she deserved this more than any other. She took one final glance, then pushed herself into the air. Her paws stretched above her, snagging in the knot of hairs at the end of the elephant's tail, and she began to plummet back to the ground. Her claws stuck in the knot, and she dangled until she felt one give and fall with her. As soon as her paws hit the ground, she grabbed the hair with her teeth and began to run. She didn't look back as she flew, but she heard the angry trumpets of the elephants trying to figure out what had happened. Luckily, she didn't hear any thundering footsteps that would mean they were chasing her. As soon as she crossed the border, she slowed to a trot and began the trek back to camp. She would take her time from here. There would be no celebrations because no cat deserved to be congratulated until they completed all three trials. This was only the first step for her, and all she would receive would be a 'Well done' from Hyena's Breath when presented with the hair. And yet, that was okay because Aardwolf's Mane knew, in her heart, that she would complete all three trials one day.
Civet's Scurry was wary as she pushed into Hyena's Breath's den. The molly had been doing better with her interactions with the Order, but she still spent a majority of her time holed up in here. When her eyes had adjusted to the decreased light, she spotted an unkempt nest and evidence of obsessive pacing along one side of the den. Hyena's Breath was sitting against the other wall, scratching something into the dirt as she muttered to herself. It hurt Civet's Scurry to see the molly she cared so deeply about like this, so she swallowed her reservations and crossed to speak with her. "You've got to tell the Order," she started with, grabbing the Matriarch's attention. Hyena's Breath stiffened before narrowing her eyes, and Civet's Scurry just sighed. "Listen, you're going insane sitting in here talking to yourself. You need their advice. Some cat may be able to think of something we haven't," Civet's Scurry tried, but Hyena's Breath just shook her head. "You, me, and Ostrich's Cry are the only cats who know about this. Don't you think your Order, who follows you and trusts you, deserves to know about a threat to their home? They feel just as strongly about the Order as you do," she added. "I will not take advice from any cat other than my high-ranked peers. You and Ostrich's Cry are alone in that category until Aardwolf's Mane completes her remaining trials. I don't need input from any of those scavengers out there," she spat, using the name of their rank as an insult. Civet's Scurry flinched, feeling her heart begin to long for the days before any of this had come to light. "I just think it would be good for you to not feel so alone in carrying this burden. Please, at least some of the older members can be brought in," she pleaded. Hyena's Breath let out a snarl that made Civet's Scurry shy away even more, but she could see the slightest bit of remorse in her eyes. "If you ever think to tell me what I should do after I've made my opinions clear again, I'll have you stripped of your title and demoted all the way to trainee. Now get out of my den," Hyena's Breath threatened, her voice barely a whisper. Civet's Scurry's heart dropped as she slowly backed out of then den. Something inside her chest felt as if it was breaking as she watched Hyena's Breath pull farther and farther away, and she worried she would never be able to repair it.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 28, 2023 19:19:25 GMT -8
016.
Aardwolf's Mane didn't have a crowd to cheer her on as she left the territory for the second time in two moons. This time, only Ostrich's Cry accompanied her. "This is a trial that I must be nearby. If you are to be injured, there is a chance of survival. Had you been trampled by an elephant, you would've died instantly," the herbalist had explained when she'd appeared to follow Aardwolf's Mane to the river. The chosen river was just outside of the territory, as it ought to be to prevent any curious cats from drawing too close to the home of countless crocodiles. The two mollies drew to the top of a rise and looked down where the brackish water was nearly invisible in the sea of reptilian flesh. A shudder made its way through Aardwolf's Mane's pelt, but she quickly regained her posture. "Wait here. I don't want you any closer to this than you have to be," she decided, and she could see gratitude in Ostrich's Cry's gaze. "Good luck," the herbalist murmured, reaching forward and pressing her nose to Aardwolf's Mane's ear. The molly felt something she'd never felt before stirring within her. Was this what a friendship felt like? She'd remained distant from her clanmates, choosing to keep them on a surface level, but it was hard to keep the herbalist out. She noticed everything, after all. Aardwolf's Mane's thoughts scattered as she turned back to the river, and her eyes narrowed on the path she would take. If all went according to plan, her paws would never touch the water. She slid down the hill and kept her momentum up, deciding it was better to run as fast as possible than to take her time and hope they were sleeping. The crocodiles' skin was strangely soft, and it shocked her as she landed on the back of the first beast. As she leaped to the second, she could feel the first begin to move as if to snap at her. So she continued, leaping from crocodile to crocodile before the beast was able to shift and catch her in its jaws. She was almost halfway there when she stumbled, one paw sliding in the water. She felt teeth tear into her tail, and she plummeted fast. The pain was blinding as she was drug underneath, and water filled her lungs before she could realize what was happening. She screamed, bubbles racing from her maw as she thrashed against teeth that were now in her leg. The mass of reptiles was so dense that they were snapping at each other more than they were at her, and she felt her chance when the pressure in her leg eased. Her paws fought against the current as she began to drag herself to the bank, but then she felt another clamp down across the base of her spine. She was lifted from the water and tossed, sobs of agony wrenching themselves from her throat as she scrabbled against the back of the crocodile she landed on. Unable to think, she faced the closest bank and began to run. Each step felt like immersing herself in fire, as if lightning struck every nerve in her hind end each time she moved, but soon she was on the muddy bank and gentler teeth were latched into her scruff and dragging her. She could barely see now. Everything was so blurry and stars floated along her vision, but a forceful pounding on her chest made her roll to the side and retch up the water she had inhaled. It burned as she coughed and sputtered, but she was finally able to draw in a shuddering breath before her head collapsed to the ground. Ostrich's Cry was staring in horror at the bloody, mangled mess the crocodiles had made of her, but Aardwolf's Mane knew better than to give up. She struggled to her paws, leaning heavily on the herbalist, and took step after agonizing step until they reached the camp. Ostrich's Cry had packed and repacked her wounds with cobwebs along the way, but she'd still lost enough blood that, once the adrenaline was gone after realizing she was finally safe, she collapsed and consciousness escaped her.
Jackal's Bite and Buffalo's Charge, the two newest members of the Order of the Hyena, gaped at the mangled molly who had just collapsed in the center of camp. They'd only been given their names moments prior, and the thought of that happening to them while living here had nearly stopped their hearts. "That's Aardwolf's Mane. She was out attempting her second trial to become Hyena's Breath's Shadow when you two arrived. It's a wonder she's alive," a cat that Jackal's Bite recognized as Zebra's Gallop meowed. The toms shared a look before turning, noticing that nearly every scavenger was staring at the molly with looks of terror, grief, and shock. "Don't just stand there! Get her to my den!" Ostrich's Cry snarled, already struggling to drag the unconscious molly. Jackal's Bite jumped into action, pushing his nose beneath Aardwolf's Mane's middle and lifting her to his shoulders. Buffalo's Charge was at his side, taking some of her weight, and the two staggered across the camp after Ostrich's Cry. As they dropped the molly gently into a nest, the herbalist was already chewing and spitting out various wads of leaves. "Remove the cobwebs and pack that into every wound you can see," she commanded. Jackal's Bite stepped up and began gently pulling the cobwebs off of the molly's blood-soaked fur, Buffalo's Charge right behind him with the goop smeared on his paws. The three worked in near silence, only broken by the herbalist's occasional demands, until Aardwolf's Mane's countless wounds were covered in green goop and thick layers of cobweb. "There's nothing else we can do except wait. I'm sorry, but I don't think I know your names. I'm Ostrich's Cry, herbalist of the Order," the molly sighed, sitting down heavily and not removing her eyes from her patient. "That's quite alright, you've had a bit of a stressful morning. I'm Jackal's Bite, and that's Buffalo's Charge. We found the territory while you two were at the trial, I think is what Zebra's Charge called it," he explained. Ostrich's Cry nodded in understanding, and she flicked her tail in dismissal. "She's been through a lot, let's go," he murmured to his friend as they left. "Well, that was quite an introduction," Buffalo's Charge sighed, looking up at the now dark sky. Stars shined so brightly here, so far from twolegs, that Jackal's Bite was able to see them reflected in his eyes. "I didn't think we'd ever make it out here after we left our twoleg, you know? I also wasn't sure we'd even find a group to join out here," he admitted. Jackal's Bite slowly sat and turned to face his oldest friend. "Sometimes you just have to have a little faith that someone up there is watching out for you. If these cats have it right, we've got every cat who has ever called the Order of the Hyena and a god watching over us now. I think this is where we're meant to be," he sighed, leaning against Buffalo's Charge's side and taking comfort in the familiarity of his touch. While he didn't quite believe what he'd said, he hoped he would be able to one day. Maybe one day he'd be able to confidently say leaving the life of a kittypet behind had all been worth it.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 28, 2023 20:46:44 GMT -8
017.
Dugong had always considered herself to be beautiful. Cats and twolegs alike often stared at her shimmery white pelt and her heart-like black spot on her nose, so she had grown to stare at herself too. She was often found staring at reflective surfaces, such as a body of water, which is where the patrol found her when she wandered into a group's territory while searching for food. Greenleaf brought plentiful amounts of food, but she had grown tired of the prey she was used to and was in search of something new. "Who goes there?" The voice startled her from her thoughts, and she leapt straight in the air as she spun to face the strangers. It was a group of six cats, fanned out in a defensive semi-circle as the centermost cat confronted her. "My n-name's Dugong," she sputtered, fighting against her racing heartbeat that felt as if it were in her throat. The cat who had spoken, a colorpoint molly, narrowed her eyes and sniffed at her suspiciously. "I promise I wasn't going to take any of your prey without asking. At least, I think that's the rule for you groups. I've never known cats who lived together like I've heard you do," she admitted, shuffling her paws around as she avoided making eye contact with any of the patrol. The colorpoint molly huffed out a laugh, turning to her patrolmates who were also stifling giggles of their own. She turned back to Dugong and stalked forward, thrusting her muzzle into the molly's face. "You're not going to take any of our prey, period. What exists within these borders is ours, and it is not going to a cat who is not one of us. So, Dugong, you have two options. You can either be forcefully escorted off of our land, or you can accompany us to our camp and see if the Matriarch is willing to allow you to join us," the molly growled. There was something forced about her tone, Dugong mused, as if she knew she was supposed to act tough and mean but it wasn't her nature. "What'll it be?" she prompted after several seconds of uncomfortable silence. Dugong stood and swept her tail around, raking her gaze across the semi-circle one last time as she contemplated her choice. "Three," the molly began, her tone faltering. "Let's go see this Matriarch of yours. I think I'll like living with other cats," Dugong sighed, stepping forward and staring expectantly at the colorpoint molly as she waited for her to lead the way. "It's a little rude of you not to offer your name, you know," Dugong chatted as the group began the journey across the territory. When no cat offered a response, Dugong began humming. "Let's see if I can guess, then. Sand? How about Antelope? Am I close?" she began to ramble. "It's Reedbuck's Prance," the molly snapped half-heartedly. Dugong smiled in victory, and her eyes widened as they approached what she assumed to be their camp. As soon as they were inside, Reedbuck's Prance commanded that she wait in the center of the open space while the rest of the patrol peeled off to do whatever it is these cats who live together do. After a few moments, Reedbuck's Prance returned with a mottled tortoiseshell who looked, quite frankly, as if she hadn't slept in moons. "Do you swear to protect the Order of the Hyena, no matter the cost?" the molly meowed, the words seemingly ritualistic yet there was no heart behind them. After Dugong swore she would, the Matriarch stepped forward and pressed her nose roughly against hers. "Then, as Matriarch Hyena's Breath, I welcome you, Dugong's Spin, to the Order of the Hyena," she announced, and the few cats who had stopped to watch cheered politely. The ceremony of it was subdued and anticlimactic, in Dugong's Spin's opinion, but there was a weariness about the camp, as if they were being haunted by something they would rather run from. As if on cue, a molly staggered stiffly into the camp from one of the dens. She was being chased by a black and white molly, and Dugong's Spin couldn't help but wince as she spotted the gruesome wounds that scarred her flanks, rear legs, and tail. The molly's gait was stiff, and she stumbled a lot as if she wasn't quite ready to fully bend her legs, and Dugong's Spin observed every cat averting their gaze and throwing themselves fully into whatever menial task they were on. It was sad, the newcomer decided, but she could understand how every cat was trying to avoid a clearly angry and distraught molly who would not accept that she needed to give up on her duties to allow herself to heal properly. If every cat was as determined as this molly, then maybe deciding to join them wasn't a bad choice after all.
Wildebeest's Charge paced along the edge of the pond, muttering to himself as he stared at the edge of the water lapping hungrily at his paws. The breeze had ruffled the usually still water into ripples, and he kept arcing out to avoid it splashing onto his paws. This was where he wanted to do this, and he'd told Zebra's Gallop that, so why wasn't she here yet? He kept looking at the sky, watching as the sunset appeared in all its brilliance. She would miss the spectacle if she was any later, so Wildebeest's Stampede had taken to pacing to force his stress and anxiety out. "It's going to be okay. You know she wants this," he whispered to himself, over and over again as the sunset leeched from the sky until the dark blue of twilight took over. His heart began to sink as he realized they'd missed the moment until he heard paws crashing across the grass toward him. He spun to see Zebra's Gallop racing toward him with shame plastered over every inch of her face. "I'm so sorry I missed the sunset. I got caught up with Civet's Scurry, and then Ostrich's Cry needed a helping paw, and then—" she broke off as tears welled up. "I ruined the moment," she admitted softly, hanging her head as she fought back the urge to cry. Wildebeest's Stampede didn't know what to do, so he reached forward and lifted her chin with his paw and leaned closer. "While the moment might have been perfect, you didn't ruin it. We can do this at any time, on any day. So long as you are there, that's all that matters," he murmured gently. A single tear slipped from her eye, and his heart broke at the sight. "Don't cry, Zebra, this isn't worth wasting your tears over. Now that you're here, everything will be alright," he promised, leaning in to press his nose to her ear affectionately. Taking a deep breath, he stepped back and looked at the pond. "This is where we had our first date, you know. Even before then, I knew you were the molly I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I've never clicked with someone as quickly as I clicked with you. It was as if my soul suddenly realized it was missing half of itself and found it all at the same time. You are the most important thing in my life, and I don't want to spend another second without asking you. So, will you be my mate?" his voice fell to a whisper as he reached the end of his speech. The tears had remained in Zebra's Gallops eyes, but now he hoped they were tears of joy. She nodded, slowly at first until she was just nodding as fast as she could while pressing her forehead against his. "This is everything I've ever dreamed of," she whispered, her voice strained with unshed tears. Wildebeest's Stampede had never been happier.
Everything still hurt. Aardwolf's Mane could feel everything, which Ostrich's Cry kept promising her was a good thing, but all it meant was unending pain even when she was as still as stone. She finally felt as if she'd clean every drop of blood from her fur, but her skin was still marred by bald patches where her wounds remained half-healed. She had been told to remain in her nest except when stretching to maintain mobility, but she had grown restless enough to venture out of the den and into camp. Each time she'd barely managed a few steps before needing help back to her nest. "When can I do the trial again?" she asked daily, and each day she was answered with a promise that she would be able to eventually. Ostrich's Cry claimed she wasn't sure when she would be healed enough to do the dangerous task, so she didn't want to make any promises. Eventually, she stopped asking and began to spend most of her time staring off into space. At this point, it was clear that she needed company, so a new cat came in to spend time with her every single day. Today's unlucky cat was Civet's Scurry, but she was more bearable than many of the others. "You made it a few more steps this morning," Civet's Scurry chirped as she padded in. Aardwolf's Mane grunted in reply. "In another moon you'll be walking around camp and maybe even patrolling. At least, that's my bet based on your prior recovery time," she continued with her optimism. "Sometimes it feels like I'll never get better. I swear I've been in here for a hundred moons and I'm not even halfway to leaving," Aardwolf's Mane complained. "Oh, don't be like that. It's only been a little over a moon, you know," Civet's Scurry stretched out and began to groom herself. Aardwolf's Mane twisted her head, knowing it would result in minimal pain, and glared at the Aide. "Oh, you're so grumpy," she teased, sticking her tongue out in a teasing manner. "How goes it between you and Hyena's Breath? Am I to expect a little Matriarch heir running around here soon?" Aardwolf's Mane decided it was her turn to tease. Civet's Scurry blushed and ducked her head, shaking her head violently. "Trust me, we're not even courting yet. Maybe one day, but not until something important happens," she sighed sadly, rising to her paws and stepping to the den entrance. "Just be tough a little while longer," she meowed, leaving Aardwolf's Mane to her thoughts once more.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 29, 2023 14:35:19 GMT -8
018.
Jackal's Bite growled as green juice was dribbled across his eye. Blood had quit streaming down his face, and Ostrich's Cry had finished cleaning it from his fur with wet moss. Now, she was chewing up various poultices to pack into the wound before wrapping it with cobwebs. He was sitting as still as he could, but he still flinched every time something new touched his face. He'd kept his eye closed since he'd been struck, except for the mandatory vision check once he was in the medicine den, so he spooked when something he hadn't seen coming touched him. "I know it stings, but you've got to be still," the herbalist grumbled as she shuffled back across the den to dig something new out. Jackal's Bite rolled his eyes before flinching again, the movement stretching his damaged eyelid. "I'd be still if it didn't hurt so much," he sniped, groaning when she crossed again with a paw wrapped in cobwebs held out. As she settled in and began placing the sticky strands, he turned slightly so that he could properly see her. Ever since he'd helped with Aardwolf's Mane's emergency, he'd been known to hang around Ostrich's Cry's den. In all honesty, he found her rather pretty and fun to be with. "I'll be brave if it'll impress you," he offered, a smirk lifting the side of his mouth that wouldn't move his face's injured side. He could see her roll her eyes, but she didn't tell him to quit. "Maybe this will give me a reason to stay in here for a few days and keep you company," he prodded, chuckling softly. "I can barely get you out of here to go on your patrols already. You're staying in your den," she purred, warmth filling her voice as she pulled away to inspect her work. Her gaze darted to his good eye, and he watched as she offered a small smile before turning around and putting the unused herbs and cobwebs back. "Is there anything else I can do for you? I'd offer to fetch you some fresh-kill when I go get mine, but I want you to avoid moving that side of your face for a bit until the poultices and cobwebs settle," she called. He opened his mouth to ask her to wait to eat until he did, but he knew it'd be too much too fast. "Just take care of yourself until I'm back," he called, casting one last glance at her before he ducked out of the den. He wanted to turn around and keep talking to her, but she'd given him some poppy seeds for his pain. He could barely fight back his yawns as he padded across the camp, but the back of his head felt funny so he looked over his shoulder to see her peeking out of her den and watching him. Maybe there was something there after all, he thought as he ducked into the den and collapsed into the nearest nest for a much-needed nap.
Aardwolf's Mane was still stiff, but she'd been cleared that morning to return to all duties. She'd been advised to wait just a little longer before re-attempting the second trial, but she'd also been told that she was healed enough that she could if she wanted to. The risk was higher, attempting it this early after healing, but she needed to prove that she deserved the rank after embarrassing herself. She could see the river, in all of its crocodile-infested glory, and her heart was racing at the thought of putting herself at risk of experiencing that moment again. A twinge of pain shot through one of her hind legs, and she winced as the phantom pain of their teeth rocketed through her. "I can do this," she whispered to herself. "What was that?" Ostrich's Cry asked, turning to stare at her. "Nothing," she mumbled, ducking her head out of embarrassment at being caught talking to herself. "Let's do this," she growled, taking a deep breath and plunging down the side of the hill. This time, she would be more careful, but she would not sacrifice the speed. She was already at a run, crossing the land faster with each step, until she felt their scaly, soft skin underneath her paws. She leaped from creature the creature, feeling them move beneath her as they lunged and flinching when she heard their jaws snapping around empty air. Each time the snap echoed in her ears, she could feel the pain of their teeth tearing through her flesh as easily as her claws through leaves. Her paws kept moving, though, and soon she'd reached the far bank and was running up the hill until she was far enough away that the beasts gave up on following her. Chest heaving, she slowly turned to see the river now writhing with angry reptiles, snapping and lunging at each other while rolling and hissing. Her heart felt as if it would beat right out of her chest, and soon she rose to shaky paws and waved her tail at Ostrich's Cry on the far bank. The two mollies walked at the same pace until they reached a fallen tree that could be used as a bridge. They met in the middle, holding each other while trembling. "You did it," Ostrich's Cry whispered over and over again, as if she couldn't quite believe it. "I did it," Aardwolf's Mane echoed, as if she couldn't quite believe it either. She leaned into the embrace of her dearest friend, grateful for her comfort as they began to walk back to camp. They leaned against each other for no reason other than wanting to, celebrating Aardwolf's Mane's success. "I worried you wouldn't make it, but I should've known better. You're the strongest cat in the Order," Ostrich's Cry commented as they reached the camp. Aardwolf's Mane blushed, but the compliment made her feel warm as she realized it felt so special to have such a close friendship.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 29, 2023 16:08:17 GMT -8
019.
The early morning was suffocatingly silent as Aardwolf's Mane slipped across the border. This would hopefully be the last time she would have to leave the Order's territory if all went according to plan, but she knew better than to feel certain about anything after what had happened three moons ago. She was still stiff in the mornings, and she still went to bed with soreness that bordered on pain, but she was healed and confident enough after last moon's success. She knew she would have to travel quite a distance for today's trial, mostly because no lions ever settled anywhere near their territory, so she'd taken some traveling herbs before she'd set out. She would likely be gone for nearly a full day, so Ostrich's Cry had promised to only come looking for her after two. As she walked, she kept her nose in the air while constantly monitoring the scents she came across. A hippo had been through this stretch at some point, as well as a herd of antelope. Neither were what she was looking for, but that was alright since she knew where one pride had chosen to remain. The sun had barely risen, so she was making good time. She wanted to reach their den by sunhigh, that way she had enough time to retrieve the cub, present it to Hyena's Breath, and return it all before they woke. Hyena's Breath was not traveling with her, but she had sworn to always be just out of sight. By the time she reached the tree that marked the edge of the pride's resting area, she was tired and ready to take a break. However, if she lingered too long, one might wake and smell her. So, she dropped to the ground and began to slide forward until the sleeping pride was in sight. A large male was snoozing on top of a rock while several females were curled up or sprawled out on the ground around him. Three or four had cubs, one of which's litter was young enough to not even have their eyes open yet. That was the litter she was going to steal from, she decided. She would have to be quick and quiet, so she made care to watch every space she placed her paw to ensure not even the slightest sound would disturb the sleeping predators. By the time she was within grabbing distance of the cubs, one opened its tiny mouth and let out a plaintive wail. The molly froze, watching as the mother lifted her head and yawned before nuzzling her cub then falling back asleep. Fully aware of how close to death she had just been, she reached forward and grabbed the cub's scruff. It was nearly the size of a trainee, so she struggled while half-dragging the cub from its mother. As soon as she reached the tree, she set the cub down and stood tall. Hyena's Breath appeared from the horizon and nodded, her approval clear. A shiver ran through Aardwolf's Mane as she grabbed the cub and took it back to its mother, dropping it and immediately taking off at a run. By the time she reached Hyena's Breath, she was far enough away to slow down and look her Matriarch in the eye. "Aardwolf's Mane, you have completed all three trials. Due to there not currently being a Shadow, you are not required to participate in the final battle. Therefore, I name you my Shadow. May you serve me well until you are unseated or retired," Hyena's Breath announced. Her voice boomed with authority across the land, and she touched her nose to Aardwolf's Mane's in a sign of respect. Aardwolf's Mane's heart swelled with pride, and she stood a little taller as the Matriarch stepped back and looked her up and down. "You didn't disappoint me," she meowed before turning around to lead the way home.
Civet's Scurry watched as Hyena's Breath and Aardwolf's Mane walked back into the camp. It was obvious that the trial had been passed, and cats began to congregate and cheer for their new Shadow. Still, she watched as Hyena's Breath hung back and ducked into her den to avoid the crowd. Fed up with the way she was acting, Civet's Scurry stormed across the camp and into Hyena's Breath's den and shoved her nose into the Matriarch's face. "Quit feeling so sorry for yourself when you were the one who chose to shoulder this burden alone. You put on a brave face for our clanmates, but then you hide away in your den more often than not. I'm sick of seeing you like this," she snapped, hurt filling her voice as she bit back some of the words she longed to say. "You don't have to tear into me that harshly," Hyena's Breath sighed. She seemed tired, exhausted even. "Yes I do. I've tried being nice and saying things softly, but you won't listen. Someone needs to smack some sense into you before you do something you'll regret forever," Civet's Scurry growled. She was fed up to the point that she was crying from frustration. "I care about you, you stupid feather-brain! I hate seeing you like this!" she cried, stepping back to fully take in Hyena's Breath's appearance. "You look terrible, you act terrible, and I know you feel terrible, so stop acting like this and use your brain," she added. "I know you care about me, Civet's Scurry, and I care about you too, but I still don't think I can tell the rest of the Order. Don't shut me out," she pleaded, reaching out as Civet's Scurry leaned away. "Oh, you don't want me to shut you out? That's hilarious," Civet's Scurry snarled as she turned around to stare at the wall. "What do you think you've been doing to me these past few moons? I say something you don't like and you shut down. It hurts to see you push me so far away that I can't even see you anymore. It physically hurts me, and yet I still keep coming back because I love you," her voice cracked as she pulled away. It was as if she was ashamed of admitting her feelings, ashamed of saying the words she'd been suppressing out loud. Hyena's Breath froze as she processed what had just been said, slowly walking until she could see Civet's Scurry's face again. "Say it again," Hyena's Breath whispered, barely able to speak, "Please, say it again so I know it wasn't a mistake." "I love you, feather-brain," Civet's Scurry looked up, and Hyena's Breath was able to see the tracks her tears had made down her cheeks. "I love you too. I'm sorry that I've been acting this way, I just don't know what to do. I feel so lost," she admitted, stepping closer. "I'm not sure the rest of the Order should know about us just yet. I need to come clean to them about the gods first, whenever I'm strong enough to do that," Hyena's Breath tried. Civet's Scurry just leaned away again. "It can't be for long. I'm tired of you hiding things from the Order, but I guess some moons of just us can help," she admitted slowly. Hyena's Breath let out the breath she was holding. Civet's Scurry finally felt her heart slow as she realized what had just happened, even though she knew there were still things to be figured out.
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