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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 29, 2023 17:39:06 GMT -8
020.
Aardvark's Dig couldn't help but feel like she was always being watched. She'd joined the Order just that morning, and everywhere she went she was under scrutiny. When she'd sworn to do anything to protect the Order, she had seen a determination in Hyena's Breath's eyes that chilled her to her bones. She knew she had sworn to murder and lie should it be asked of her, even without ever explicitly agreeing to such a thing. The other scavengers seemed kind enough, but she saw the way they patrolled the borders as if they were itching for a fight. She saw the way they stalked prey, a thirst for blood in their eyes. She even saw the way they brawled with each other, flexing their claws between swipes as if they wished they could inflict damage upon their opponent. These cats had darkness in their hearts, she knew, even if their interactions were nothing but pleasant. She felt so alone, surrounded by such cats. All she had wanted was a group where she might one day raise a family without fearing for their survival, but instead she had stumbled into a Clan that longed for battle as much as she longed for love. As she traveled along the border, having been assigned to watch the northern and eastern borders for any signs of animals moving onto their land, she stared wistfully into the distance as she imagined a dashing tomcat whisking her off her paws and into a whirlwind romance straight out of one of her mother's stories. He would appear on the horizon, effortlessly handsome and brave, telling her he had dreamt of her and traveled for moons and moons to find her. He would ask her to be his mate then and there, and soon they would have a happy family where he taught their kits how to be just as perfect as he was. The daydream shattered as she heard a yowl, and she turned to see Zebra's Gallop calling her for a meeting. It must've been important, she decided, for Hyena's Breath to even call in the border guards. She gathered herself and began walking to the molly who yowled for her. Zebra's Gallop was kind, starting up a conversation immediately, but Aardvark's Dig could sense a restless excitement floating around her in a cloud. Zebra's Gallop was usually not separated from Wildebeest's Stampede for long, so she wasn't surprised when they met him and Buffalo's Charge, the other border guard on duty, at the camp entrance. The four cats ducked in together, joining the crowd of cats who had all been called out for Hyena's Breath's announcement. "Tell them." The voices haunted Hyena's Breath as she stood on the stump looking down at her Order. The gods had visited her dreams, threatening her Order's life once more if they did not start acknowledging them and rebuilding the other Orders. She took a deep breath and sought Civet's Scurry in the crowd, and she locked eyes with the molly she now considered to be the love of her life. Civet's Scurry mimed taking a long breath and nodded as Hyena's Breath copied her. Hyena's Breath finally broke their eye contact and swept her gaze across her Order while preparing how to say what needed to be said. "I have been lying to you," she began, and a hushed silence fell across the group. "The Order of the Hyena used to be one of five Orders tasked by the gods with protecting the land. The gods each had one Order devoted to them entirely. We were the chosen followers of Tumaini. Subira had the Order of the Lion, Rehema had the Order of the Elephant, Uhuru had the Order of the Cheetah, and Bahati had the Order of the Rhinoceros. Lions were leaders, Elephants healers, Cheetahs hunters, and Rhinoceroses fighters. We Hyenas were the lowest of the low, the scavengers who took the tasks the other Orders did not want. The five Orders lived in an uneasy sort of peace until our relationships degraded to the point of war. "The gods knew what the outcome of the war would be, so they came to the conclusion that each must choose one cat to protect and survive and command them to rebuild the Orders from scratch. Tumaini chose me, but the other gods did not make their choices in time. Every cat except me perished the war. There is a large graveyard just beyond the southern border where I buried them all when I woke after losing consciousness during the fighting. The other Orders do not exist because the gods failed to do what they agreed on. By my own decision, I chose to remove the other Orders from our history and omit the other gods. Never in history have the Orders ever worshipped the god of another Order, and I believed I was right in choosing to continue that legacy of only praying to Tumaini. "These past few seasons, the other gods have been haunting me. They have sworn to destroy our Order if we do not either start worshipping them or rebuild the other Orders. I have been hiding this from you because I believed I would be able to fix it on my own, but now I know I was wrong. At the urging of Civet's Scurry and Ostrich's Cry, I have finally decided to tell you the truth. I apologize for hiding things from you that you deserved to know, and I hope that you will one day forgive me," as she finished, she hung her head in shame. Not once did her voice waver or tremble, and she lifted her head to present a strong face for her Order to look at. As they murmured amongst themselves, Zebra's Gallop finally stepped forward. "As I have been in the Order longer than any other scavenger, I will speak on our behalf to avoid confusion," she explained before stepping back to listen to what the other scavengers had to say. Finally, she stepped forward again and cleared her throat. "We are upset that you lied to us, as any cat in our position deserves to be. However, we understand your decisions and do not resent you. Many of us would have done the same thing had we been in your position. We also agree that we will not accept these gods' terms and will fight to protect what we have earned. We are the Order of the Hyena, and we will not be bullied by these gods," she announced, lifting her chin. The cats behind her began to cheer loudly, and pride filled Hyena's Breath's chest. "Thank you for your decision. I will never hide something so important from you again, I swear," Hyena's Breath sighed as she leaped down from the stump. Several cats clambered for her ear, so she decided to remain and hear their words and suggestions for a while before retiring to recover from barely breathing for the last several minutes. Everything would work out, she knew it would. Someday this would all be a story to tell pups in the nursery.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 29, 2023 23:09:30 GMT -8
021.
The two mollies had decided to take a walk together, just a little stroll between friends to check out the northern border now that the constant border guarding had been stopped. The Order had unanimously decided that it was a position only because of Hyena's Breath's paranoia and not necessity, so borders were now only checked by patrols twice per day. Hyena's Breath bumped her shoulder against Civet's Scurry's looked pointedly at the border ahead. An unspoken agreement passed between them, and then they were off. Faster than light, they rocketed across the ground until Hyena's Breath slammed to a halt on the border a split second after Civet's Scurry. "I beat you," the latter teased, dancing in a circle with her tongue stuck out. "There's no way, I was here ages before you!" Hyena's Breath protested, unwilling to give up that easily. She swatted at her mate lazily, tapping her on the tongue and wrinkling her nose in a joke. Civet's Scurry rolled her eyes and slumped to the ground, most of her weight balanced against Hyena's Breath's side. "Get off, you weigh as much as an elephant," she exaggerated, staggering forward and falling to the ground after watching Civet's Scurry's head hit the grass after she failed to regain her balance. The Aide rolled onto her back with all four paws straight in the air, her tongue flopped out of her mouth and her eyes screwed closed as she feigned death. As Hyena's Breath watched her, she opened one eye slightly to peek and froze when she realized she was caught. "You know I won, fair and square. Now let's check out the rest of this border and get back to camp. I'm starving," Civet's Scurry complained, her belly echoing with a timely growl. Hyena's Breath chuckled as the two resumed their stroll, occasionally pausing to re-scent the border markers. As they were nearing the end of the border, Hyena's Breath froze as a familiar scent wafted across her nose. The chill that went through her body resulted in a violent shiver as she slowly turned with wide eyes to stare out across the unclaimed land. Against the horizon, silhouettes of large cats paced, their tails flicking while the one with a mane turned to look at her. Even at this distance, she knew he was staring into her eyes, and she was too afraid to move. "Let's get back to camp and tell the others," Civet's Scurry whispered, using her cheek to force Hyena's Breath's gaze away. As if a spell had broken, she returned to her body and faced away from the source of her fear. She took staggering steps away, willing her muscles to work bit by bit. Once they were far enough away to know they couldn't be seen, Civet's Scurry rubbed her head against Hyena's Breath's jaw. "Are you sure we made the right decision in disobeying the other gods? I don't like seeing you like this," she whispered. Hyena's Breath just shook her head and gazed straight ahead. "The rest of the Order agrees with me. We'll find some way to survive whatever they decide to do. They will not destroy us," she murmured, almost as if she was trying to convince herself of it. The uncertainty scared her as much as constantly being on guard. The uncertainty of not knowing when it's coming, what it's going to be, and whether or not they'll survive it was growing to be too much. As her legs began to shake, she paused and leaned on Civet's Scurry and closed her eyes. "I'm glad you'll be there with me," she whispered softly. "I'm glad too," Civet's Scurry replied.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 29, 2023 23:28:53 GMT -8
022.
The grey tom stood at the edge of the camp, violently shivering as if he couldn't control his body with the chill in the air. They were nearing the end of leaf-fall, so the temperature had a bite to it, but Hyena's Breath still found it quite pleasant. "What's your name?" she asked, narrowing his eyes as trembled so hard he could barely open his mouth to reply. "H-H-Howl," he stammered, tears creeping into his eyes. Pathetic, she thought, fighting back a sneer. "How did you hear about the Order?" she questioned. "A-All the r-r-rouges talk about it," he bit, the words having to be forced from his mouth. He isn't worth my time, she sighed. "Why do you want to join my Order?" she demanded. "Cats d-do better in g-groups," the words felt almost practiced as he forced them out. It was as if he knew what she was going to ask, and what he needed to say to stay on her good side. Hyena's Breath felt unease when she looked at him, and a feeling of distrust settled across her shoulders. She had no reason to deny this cat entry into the Order, but that didn't mean she wouldn't keep an eye on him. "Welcome to the Order of the Hyena, Wolf's Howl," she declared, pressing her nose to his forehead and stepping back. The shaking seemed to subside as soon as his new name left her lips, and her eyes narrowed as he held himself taller while looking around for something to do. She couldn't be bothered to tell him anything, so Hyena's Breath turned and padded back to her den where she knew Civet's Scurry would be waiting. The two mollies did not share a den because they still had not revealed their relationship to the Order. They still spent the majority of their time together, as they had before the change in their relationship, so no cat seemed suspicious. As her eyes adjusted to the dimmer light, Civet's Scurry pushed off the wall and rubbed her cheek against Hyena's Breath's. "You didn't have to be so mean to him," she chirped softly. Hyena's Breath rolled her eyes and sat down in her nest, leaning down to groom a ruffled patch of fur on her chest. "I can't explain it, but there's something about him that just doesn't sit quite right. I don't trust him," she tried to explain, obviously growing frustrated when she couldn't convey the wordlessness about her feelings. It was something she felt in her gut, something that every cat knew about but could never explain to each other. She could only hope Civet's Scurry understood. The Aide just sighed and nodded, accepting her mate's stance willingly. "Y'know, have you ever thought about having pups one day?" Civet's Scurry chatted as she settled in to groom some of the hard to reach places along Hyena's Breath's spine. The Matriarch stiffened and turned to look her in the eye. "What? It's an innocent enough question. We're mates, so we should know how each other feels about a family. I want them, but I'm just not sure when the right time will be," she explained, not even looking up from where she was working at a knot of fur. "Well, of course now isn't the right time. The way succession works in the Order of the Hyena is that I must step aside as leader the moment my firstborn daughter reaches twenty-one moons of age. Typically, this means I leave the Order entirely and spend the rest of my days as a loner, but I can also challenge my daughter in a one-on-one combat if I feel she is unworthy. If I were able to beat her, she would be exiled and the honor of heir would pass to my secondborn daughter. And so the cycle continues until a worthy daughter of mine replaces me," Hyena's Breath explained, realizing she would have to deal with this when she had grown up believing she would grow old enough to see her grandkits. That would never happen now. "What about me?" Civet's Scurry whispered. "Well, you won't be required to leave. While there are chances of me dying in these duels, I'm most likely going to relinquish my position when the time comes. I would hope you would join me, but you don't have to. You will be demoted to scavenger or retired depending on your preference, though, because the new Matriarch will choose her own Aide," Hyena's Breath let her thoughts wander to when she could consider raising a kit. "I don't want to be too old when I have pups, but I also don't want to be too young because having them starts the countdown to my retirement," she sighed. "I promise I'll go with you," Civet's Scurry murmured. "And don't think about saying I don't have to. I want to," she sighed, stepping around and pressing her forehead against Hyena's Breath's. "But you're right, it's nowhere near time to think about a family. We should probably tell the rest of the Order before we even think about revisiting this conversation," she chuckled.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Dec 29, 2023 23:55:54 GMT -8
023.
"On your right!" Wildebeest's Stampede called as the hare zigged toward Hyena's Breath. Zebra's Gallop was chasing it straight into her paws, so he had lagged behind to let them savor the kill. The Matriarch spun and slammed her claws into the prey, quickly ducking her head and delivering a killing bite. He watched as she lifted her head and licked her lips, eyes shining with the thrill of the hunt. Zebra's Gallop slowed to a stop and gulped air down greedily, eyeing the fresh-kill appreciatively. It was a large piece for early leaf-bare, he knew, so the Order would be grateful to have it. "Nice catch!" he called, trotting to reach them as they'd moved further from him than he realized. He greeted Zebra's Gallop with a nuzzle, purring as he relished the small moment with her. "That's two pieces, and it's already sunhigh. I say we make our way back to camp and drop it off so we can rest," Hyena's Breath offered, and Zebra's Gallop nodded enthusiastically. Wildebeest's Stampede could tell she was daydreaming about sunbathing in the middle of camp, mostly because it was the best way to get warm on these windless leaf-bare days. As Hyena's Breath grabbed the hare, Zebra's Gallop picked up the smaller fish they'd also caught. They began the trek to camp, occasionally swapping who was carrying what so that they didn't grow too weary. As they reached nearly halfway back, a rumbling shook the ground and made them pause in confusion. "What—?" Hyena's Breath's voice trailed off as her eyes narrowed in on something in the distance. As the rumbled grew louder, Wildebeest's Stampede finally made out the shapes of zebras stampeding toward them at blinding speed. Their hooves could crush a cat in one step even when they were walking, so a stampede was a death sentence for any stuck in it. "Move!" he shrieked shoving Zebra's Gallop to the side as fast as he could. The trio began to run, but as they did, the herd widened and grew ever closer. With them nearly on top of them, Zebra's Gallop shoved forward with a new burst of adrenaline- and panic-fueled energy. Hyena's Breath was beginning to lag, and Wildebeest's Stampede looked over his shoulder. The Matriarch may have multiple lives, but being caught by the herd would rip all of them from her in seconds. Without even pausing, he turned and raced at her, bracing his shoulder as he slammed into her. Hyena's Breath went flying, slamming into the ground and skidding to a halt by the tree Zebra's Gallop had climbed. His paws moved with a mind of their own, turning him and carrying him toward the trunk that signaled safety. It grew closer and closer, and the rumbling crescendoed until it was all he could hear or feel. The first hoof collided with his side, knocking him over and into the tree. Pain shot through his ribs as he twisted and sank his claws into the bark, trying to haul himself up. "Come on! You're almost there!" Zebra's Gallop screamed, dangling from the lowest branch and reaching down to grab him. As he reached for her, it became clear he would have to climb on his own because she was just too far away. Another hoof struck him as he clung to the trunk, this one knocking him away and into the heart of the stampede. Pain was all he knew now, and he quickly shut his eyes and willed himself far away. It was over within seconds. He stood to the side and watched as his body appeared through the dust. Zebra's Gallop flung herself from the tree with a scream, landing awkwardly and injuring at least one paw. She half-limped, half-dragged herself to him, and he watched as she buried her face in his pelt. She shook him and screamed, cursing him and shoving him as she demanded he wake up. He couldn't move as she began to sob, turning around and snarling as Hyena's Breath approached. He could hear her blaming her, saying he would still be alive if she had just been faster. He could see the hurt in the Matriarch's eyes, but he saw wisdom in her stepping back and allowing Zebra's Gallop her grief. He could barely tell what was going on as his mate wailed over his body, dissolving into soft begging for him to come back. As if he suddenly realized he could walk, he took a staggering step forward, then another. He took one last step to where he was standing over her and himself, and he watched as her tears fell and pooled in his fur. Knowing it would be his last chance, he leaned down and pressed his nose to her ear. Zebra's Gallop jolted and looked around wildly, and he just drew in a shuddering breath as he took a step back. "I'll be waiting," he whispered as the world disappeared.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 8, 2024 13:49:02 GMT -8
024.
Aardvark's Dig stood at the edge of camp, peeling moss apart into more manageable clumps, when a scuffle at the entrance caught her attention. "I can show myself the way in!" a short-statured tom barked as he strode into the camp, head held high. Cobra's Strike crawled in after him, rolling his eyes as he quickly crossed to Hyena's Breath. The entire exchange between the three was over in a few short moments before the cats around them were chanting 'Mongoose's Chatter' while the tom beamed with pride. As he finally took in the rest of camp, his eyes lingered on her and she felt her heart flutter in response. She would know those eyes anywhere, anytime, and before she knew it, she was walking briskly across camp while clearly trying not to run. "Mongoose!" she cried, finally rushing forward to rub her cheek against his. "It's been so long! Why are you here? I thought you joined that rogue group that passed through," she stammered, her voice going faster until she bit down on her tongue to allow herself a moment to breathe. Mongoose's Chatter's eyes were wide with shock, and she could see the thoughts racing behind his eyes as he pieced together what to say. Aardvark's Dig was caught up in a whirl of memories, transported back in time to the last time she had seen him. They'd been younger, both loners that had crossed paths and decided to stick together just because they were both heading in the same direction. They'd spent nearly two moons together before they'd come upon a group of rogues. They were similar to the Clans, but their loyalties were weaker and they often fought each other. Mongoose, or Mongoose's Chatter, had decided to stay with them. Aardvark's Dig, however, had decided they were a bad group and wanted nothing to do with them. A short romance had quickly ended as they parted, and moons had passed until they now stood before each other. "They never stopped bickering or fighting, and the cats changed often enough that it was evident no cat really liked each other or cared. I decided I'd had enough and took off after the place you described because it actually sounded like a home," Mongoose's Chatter admitted, and Aardvark's Dig could feel her heart and stomach doing somersaults at the thought that he had come here because of her. Was this really happening to her? Had it really been him all these seasons, the one she was waiting for? Worry began to rise, and she took a small step back while trying to hide her emotions. "I haven't been here very long, but I think you'll enjoy it. Maybe I could show you around?" she offered. Mongoose's Chatter ducked his head and grinned up at her, nodding slowly as he accepted. Barely able to contain her relief, she slipped into a comfortable pace beside him and left the camp. Zebra's Gallop lay in her nest, eyes open and glazed with grief as she counted the thorns on the far wall of the den. Her number remained the same as she finished, so her eyes traveled to the base of the wall to start again. The monotony was soothing, easing her to the numbness she preferred over the pain. The world grew fuzzy as her eyes unfocused, and she strained to bring the thorns on the wall back. As the world became clear again, a dark paw stepped in front of her. Her eyes lifted to see Civet's Scurry standing over her and looking at her with concern. Grunting, she rolled over to count another wall's thorns. She didn't want her pity, so she would just ignore her until she left. Civet's Scurry cleared her throat until Zebra's Gallop's head snapped in her direction with a withering glare. "You've got to stop this. Wildebeest's Stampede is gone, Zebra's Gallop. He is gone because he willingly gave his life to save Hyena's Breath's. It's not her fault," Civet's Scurry snapped, and Zebra's Gallop flinched as she curled into herself again. The sound of his name brought tears to her eyes, and her heart felt as if it was going to burst from her chest and leave her with just a gaping hole. "She has lives to spare, so why should he have sacrificed his?" she snarled, voice bitter and broken as she fought to keep the tears from falling. She wouldn't give her to satisfaction of seeing her cry, not this time. Civet's Scurry just huffed and dug her claws into the ground, clearly fighting the urge to smack Zebra's Gallop. "Just do it. I won't forgive her," Zebra's Gallop croaked, the tears clogging her throat and making hard to speak. She could see the pity flashing in Civet's Scurry's eyes, but the Aide's face quickly became stone as she scoffed. "You're pathetic. You have a right to grieve, but you have no right to blame Hyena's Breath for his death. Stop attacking her every time she speaks to the Order, and that's a command from your Aide," Civet's Scurry growled as she stalked out of the den. Zebra's Gallop flinched once she was gone, knowing she'd thrown herself at the Matriarch while screaming and trying to kill her too many times to count throughout the past moon. That cat did not deserve to live while the love of her life was dead, and she would not rest until she avenged him. Mongoose's Chatter padded into Hyena's Breath's den slowly, pausing to allow his eyes to adjust to the darkness. She was sitting in a dusty area, which he assumed was where she took all her meetings with cats so that her nest on the other side would not be disturbed. "What can I do for you?" she asked, clearly scanning him and judging him while he crossed and sat. She was very vocal in her stance that only the best can live in the Order, so he knew she would be watching him until he proved himself. He sat a little straighter, held his tail neater, and looked her in the eye as he took a breath. "I know I'm new, but I've never been more sure of anything. I would like to formally request your permission to court Aardvark's Dig. We share a history outside of the Order, and I let her slip away without telling her the truth once. I'm not going to let that happen again," he meowed, his voice strong and sure. This was the one thing he could feel confident in, and he swallowed as the Matriarch narrowed her eyes and peered at him. She leaned in a little closer, truly looking deep into his eyes as if she could assess his character from that alone. After a few moments, she sat back and offered one curt nod of her head. Mongoose's Chatter let out a long breath and his shoulders drooped as relief washed over him. He thanked her quickly before exiting. He scanned the camp even though he knew she was on a patrol at the edge of the territory. Excited energy buzzed in his body, and he let out a shaky breath as he tried to contain himself. The rest of his life started today. He knew she had feelings for him, had always known, and he was finally going to tell her that he had loved her from the moment he first set eyes on her. They would court for an appropriate amount of time before declaring their mateship, and eventually they would start a family of their own. He was finally here, with her, and he knew it was the best thing he had ever done.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 8, 2024 14:36:12 GMT -8
025.
Baboon's Shriek zigged while Leopard's Leap zagged, the two herding the hare into the outstretched paws of Cobra's Strike. The tom delivered a swift killing blow, and the other two toms skidded to a halt as they heaved for breath. The three shared a smile as Cobra's Strike sloppily buried their prey before heading out to find more. "First catch of the day, and it's a pretty nice size for leafbare. Newleaf's gonna be soon, I can smell it," Baboon's Shriek sighed, lifting his nose to the sky and inhaling deeply. The soft smell of rain and incoming warmth danced across his tongue, the promise of the warmer moons soothing his aching belly. Prey had been scarce this leafbare, but soon they would rise from their dens and begin scavenging in the open again and they wouldn't have to flush them from their burrows. Leopard's Leap bumped his shoulder against his patrol-mate's, chuckling when Baboon's Shriek stumbled and regained his footing. He stuck his tongue out at him, but he froze as he spotted a hawk sitting on the ground. It was eating something, and it had plenty of meat on its bones. "That would be a feast," he breathed, too wary of scaring it off to even whisper. He dropped to his belly, as did the other two, and they slowly fanned out until they circled the bird. Baboon's Shriek knew its talons would be fierce, as would its beak, but the reward was sweeter than the risk. As soon as they were close enough to pounce, he yowled and pushed himself into the air. The hawk gave a mighty flap of its wings, rising from the ground and lashing out, but Baboon's Shriek's claws were deep in its wing. He clung on as pain rocketed through his leg, a gash opening under the hawk's talon as it scored him. It was no matter because Leopard's Leap clung to the hawk's chest and sank his teeth into the bird's neck. As they hit the ground, Baboon's Shriek rolled to the side and groaned as he tried to inspect his leg. Blood ran from the wound and pooled in the grass, so he rose to his paws and held it in the air. Leopard's Leap was on the ground, heaving for breath as he held his head with his paws. The hawk's other wing had hit him around the ears several times, and it seemed he had landed on his head when they fell. The two injured toms slowly turned to look at Cobra's Strike while nursing their wounds, and the third just looked at them like they were stupid. "Hey, we got the hawk. The Order will be happy tonight," Baboon's Shriek offered before hissing as his paw touched the ground and stretched his wound. "Let's get back to camp and get checked out. I think Leopard's Leap may have a concussion," he meowed, turning to grab one wing of the hawk to drag it back. Aardvark's Dig sat arranging the flower petals, the few leafbare blooms pale and silvery in their color. They made a circle on the large rock the Order sunned themselves on, and they were scattered loosely around them on the ground. Mongoose's Chatter had promised to meet her here at moonhigh, and it was nearly then. Aardvark's Dig cast a worried glance at the sky to check on the position of the moon before dropping her gaze and spotting a silhouette approaching from the distance. Once he got closer, she recognized Mongoose's Chatter and her heart began to race. She could do this, she thought to herself as she stood up and motioned for him to join her. He took care stepping over the flower petals, and he offered a curious glance once they were sitting together. "What's all this about?" he asked, looking around. "We met at moonhigh, you know. I don't know why either of us were up this late on that day, so I like to think it was fate," she started, going through the words she had recited over and over again throughout the day. She wouldn't mess this up. "I let you go once, Mongoose's Chatter, and I'm not going to do that again. I've been in love with you since the day you offered to share your prey with me, even though I was a stranger. I don't want to waste another minute, so will you be my mate?" her voice trailed off to a whisper as she dropped her gaze to avoid any negative reactions on his face. She felt something under her chin, and she lifted her head as he guided her with his tail. "I was going to ask you the same question tomorrow," he whispered, leaning in to press their noses together. Aardvark's Dig began to purr, her entire body leaning into him as they twined their tails together and shared a moment of closeness as they came to terms with what had just occurred. He was now hers, and she his, and neither were letting go any time soon. "Let all cats gather before me to hear my words!" Hyena's Breath called, looking around as cats began to gather. Several were nursing wounds, varying from small scrapes to bandaged gashes. Disgust settled in her at their carelessness, but it seemed that all cats were finally together and she had their attention. "It's no secret that there's been an increase in incidents while on patrol. Too many of you have been getting hurt, and we lost an excellent scavenger only two moons ago. It's unacceptable," she meowed, and she could see several of the more reckless cats hanging their heads in shame. "If the gods are truly hellbent on our destruction, they'll just wait for us to finish ourselves off with our own stupidity if we continue the way we have been," Hyena's Breath paused to let the words settle. Several cats looked up at her with sad eyes, clearly remembering the loss of Wildebeest's Stampede. "I do not want any unnecessary injuries or deaths. No more running after predators just because you think they'll be a feast," she narrowed her eyes and glared at Baboon's Shriek and Leopard's Leap. "No more sparring when you should be patrolling the borders," this time she moved her gaze to Jackal's Bite and Buffalo's Charge. "No more just being plain feather-brained," she finished by glaring at Lion's Shadow and Rhinoceros's Run. She took a deep breath to calm herself and shook her head. "Take better care of yourselves or you might find your clanmates going hungry or fighting for their lives while you're stuck in Ostrich's Cry's care," she snapped before stepping away.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 10, 2024 8:20:01 GMT -8
026.
Aardvark's Dig looked down at her belly in disbelief, occasionally glancing up at the quiet healer while the news settled over her. It wasn't that she wasn't excited, she just hadn't expected it to happen so soon. Mongoose's Chatter had accepted her proposal barely a moon prior, and they'd agreed they wanted a family, but was it too soon? "I know it's a shock," Ostrich's Cry started, but her voice trailed off as Aardvark's Dig looked up with tear-filled eyes and a small smile finally shining through. It was all she had ever wanted, and it was finally hers. "Thank you," the molly whispered, slowly leaving the healer's den to find her mate. The news was too big to keep secret for any period of time, so her paws picked up speed until she was running across the rolling hills toward where she knew his patrol was assigned to for the morning. She was panting by the time she reached him, but all it took was one look before he padded away from his patrol to share a private word. Concern filled his face, and she could tell he was about to ask what was wrong. "I'm expected!" she blurted, unable to keep the words in for any longer. The words floated through the air, wrapping the two in a bubble of silence as they settled deep into their hearts. Their world was changing, and they simply stood staring at each other while they came to terms with what was happened. "Are you serious?" Mongoose's Chatter whispered, as if he couldn't speak any louder. Aardvark's Dig swore she could hear his heartbeat running faster than a cheetah, her own mirroring the frantic pace with excitement and exhaustion after sprinting across the entire territory. When she started nodding, she couldn't stop as the tears fell and hit the ground in a steady drip. Mongoose's Chatter pushed forward and rubbed his cheek against hers, muttering quiet reassurances. "You're going to be an amazing mother, I know it. I know how much you wanted this," he murmured gently, trying to stop his mate from crying. Aardvark's Dig sniffled and pulled back, grinning. "I'm just so happy," she whispered, the tears so thick in her throat that she couldn't manage more. Mongoose's Chatter leaned his forehead against hers and breathed deeply, motioning for her to copy him. After a few moments, Aardvark's Dig was able to stand straighter and look at her belly. "I'd better get back to camp and speak with Hyena's Breath. I'm not sure how she wants to handle this, even though I'm pretty sure I can handle patrols for the first half," she explained, stepping back as she noticed the rest of the patrol looking at them while trying to pretend they weren't. After one last press of their noses, the two split ways and continued on with their day, now with an excited thrill racing through them. Snort was quiet as the patrol led him across the territory in a single-file march. He'd only crossed the line while chasing a bird, but soon he'd been on his back, pinned down by a grey tom with beautiful chocolate-colored eyes. Snort had been smitten from that moment, turned into a babbling fool that had completely forgotten about his prey. Wolf's Howl had helped him to his paws, and now Snort could swear he was occasionally looking at him in a way that suggested he might be feeling the same kind of instant attraction. Snort could barely think straight, so much so that he stumbled over his own paws multiple times before they reached the camp. Hyena's Breath, the Matriarch, was waiting on them, likely due to Baboon's Shriek racing ahead to warn her. As soon as Snort was completely inside the camp, the Matriarch stepped forward and shoved her face into his. "What right do you think you have to steal prey from the Order of the Hyena?" she snapped, narrowing her eyes as she pinned him in place with her gaze. Terror flashed through Snort as he realized this molly would not hesitate to kill him if he upset her. He could see the same fear, except coupled with respect, in the cats around him. "Well, what have you got to say for yourself?" she prompted as he realized he'd just been sitting there, silent, for the last several moments. "I-It was a m-mistake," he stuttered, a shiver running through his body. "I was chasing a bird and didn't realize I'd crossed your border until someone attacked me," his voice grew stronger with each word. He cast a quick glance at Wolf's Howl as he talked about the attack, and he hoped the blush he felt creeping up wasn't visible to the Matriarch. As he turned his attention back to her, he saw she had followed his gaze. With a smirk, she turned to face Wolf's Howl and dipped her head respectfully toward him. He seemed taken aback, as if this was completely unexpected and out of character. "I am proud of you for willingly protecting our borders," Hyena's Breath announced, her voice carrying across the camp so that all cats around could hear her praise that was directed at Wolf's Howl. The tom ducked his head in embarrassment, shuffling his paws as he tried to fight a grin. Snort couldn't help but think he looked adorable at that moment, all flustered from a little bit of praise. He was snapped back to reality when Hyena's Breath turned back to him and looked him up and down. "You look strong, and you've gotten braver the longer you stand in front of me, so I'll make you an offer. You can join the Order as a Scavenger, and live, or you'll be removed from our territory with no care of the state you are in once you cross our border," she droned, seemingly bored as if she made the offer often. "I'll join!" he blurted out, realizing that joining would mean he could stay near Wolf's Howl and maybe even befriend him. Hyena's Breath nodded like she knew that was the answer he would give. "Then I welcome you to the Order, Waterbuck's Snort!" she yowled, and the cats around them took up the cheer. Was that Wolf's Howl's voice he could hear, he wondered. He cast one last look out of the corner of his eye and was pleased to see him staring openly at him. "Are those what I think?" Civet's Scurry called as they reached the top of a hill. The two had taken a stroll, planning to visit one of the watering holes and spend some time alone together. Hyena's Breath reached where she stood and took a step back as cold terror filled every inch of her being. A herd of elephants were lazing around the watering hole, the young ones crashing around and blowing streams of water into the sky with their trunks. "It's not Rehema," Civet's Scurry tried, but Hyena's Breath began to back away while shaking her head furiously. "We've got our first ever litter of pups on the way! The gods wouldn't be cruel enough to destroy us with little ones around," she murmured, sounding uncertain. Maybe the gods were waiting for such a thing so that they could hurt them even worse. "No, no, no," she whispered over and over again as she shook her head and turned back to camp. They weren't ready, they needed to train harder. "Every cat must practice their sparring once per quarter moon. Their skills cannot get rusty," she announced, knowing Civet's Scurry would handle telling the Order. She was in no condition to be speaking to the entire group right now, that much was for sure. "Increase the border patrols and tell them to watch specifically for lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, and cheetahs," she added. There was no such thing as too much preparation for the inevitable storm coming their way. It was the same as if a hurricane was coming and they all moved to higher ground while taking everything they could with them, right? They were just making sure they were as prepared as possible, right? This wasn't a paranoid attempt at preventing something that could not be stopped, right? She was doing the right thing, wasn't she? The questions raced through her head that she didn't even register when she walked into camp, robotically marching straight to her den without noticing anything around her. Civet's Scurry scampered in behind her, but she had already curled into her nest and wrapped her tail over her nose and eyes. Hyena's Breath felt her mate press her nose against her forehead, and she leaned slightly into the touch before it disappeared. It was too risky be affectionate and share a nest because the Order might find out, and they still wanted to keep their relationship to themselves. At least the Clan knew about the gods so that only one secret weighed on her, and that secret only affected her and her mate.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 10, 2024 9:37:54 GMT -8
027.
Nearly halfway through her pregnancy, Aardvark's Dig had finally relinquished her ability to leave the camp. Ostrich's Run had decided she was carrying at least three pups, likely four, so she needed to begin resting because of just how many lives her body was currently providing for. She wasn't happy about not being able to patrol or hunt anymore, but she knew this would likely be her last moon of peace before her family began. As she lay in her nest, watching her rounded belly with an expression of pure motherly joy, Mongoose's Chatter pushed his way into the den and pressed his nose against her ear. "Good morning," he chirped, dropping a mouse in front of her. She ravenously devoured the prey before looking up at her mate sweetly. "How are you doing?" he asked, pausing his grooming. "Tired, but that's nothing new. Seems like our little ones are rather energetic today," she commented, feeling one kick hard enough to make her wince. Mongoose's Chatter watched her with concern before settling down, remembering their previous conversation that such instances were normal. "I want to stretch my legs. Make a lap around camp with me?" she offered, struggling to her paws. Mongoose's Chatter rushed to her side to allow her to lean on him until she had her balance. She could feel him inspecting her, looking over her as she padded out of the nursery and into camp. The sun was warmer now that they'd reached the middle of Newleaf, but the warmest days had yet to come. There will still a gentle chill in the early morning air, but it felt amazing as Aardvark's Dig slowly stretched each of her legs. "Are you sure this is good for you? You know Ostrich's Cry doesn't want you exhausting yourself," Mongoose's Chatter fretted. Aardvark's Dig just rolled her eyes and took a step forward. The longer the pregnancy lasted, the more anxious he seemed to get. She knew it came from a good place, a loving place, but it irritated her when he questioned every single thing she did. She began her lap, knowing she'd only get one or two in before she needed to sit down and have a break. She doubted she'd even get to do two before Mongoose's Chatter said something about wondering if it was a good idea or not. "You know that I can tell what I do and do not need or need to do, right? I'm the pregnant one here," she said as he caught up to her. "I know you mean well, dear, but you've got to stop worrying. If you keep this up once our pups are here, they'll never grow up independent and able to thrive on their own. They need a father that encourages them to do what they want and need to, not one that prevents them from growing up with his worrying," she explained slowly, the words that had been rattling in her mind for the past moon finally coming out. Mongoose's Chatter paused, and it took several steps before she realized he wasn't with her any more. She turned around to look at him, and he was looking at her with understanding and apology. "I'm sorry. I get what you're saying. It's just hard to hold it back because I know about all these things that can go wrong, and I don't want them to happen," he meowed gently. Aardvark's Dig nodded and then motioned toward the nursery. The two found themselves back inside, and Aardvark's Dig settled back in her nest before motioning for him to join her. The two curled together, just enjoying the silence as the day passed until Mongoose's Chatter was forced to leave to go on a hunting patrol at dusk. She loved him, and she couldn't wait to raise their litter together, even if he got on her nerves. "Wake up!" Civet's Scurry called as she entered the Matriarch's den. It was nearly midday and she hadn't gotten out of her nest yet, so it was time she was forced up and out. Hyena's Breath grumbled as Civet's Scurry poked and prodded her, eventually lunging up and snapping at her like some kind of dog. "What's wrong with you?" Civet's Scurry asked, settling down as she realized Hyena's Breath was trying to hide from her in her nest. Hyena's Breath grumbled some more, and Civet's Scurry realized she was finally waking up. "Get out of my den," she snapped, finally rising to her paws. Civet's Scurry bristled, stepping back as she could see malice in her eyes. "I want to be left alone. You have your duties, so go do them, feather-brain," the Matriarch snarled, lashing out with her claws. Civet's Scurry stumbled back, confused as to why it seemed Hyena's Breath was trying to hurt her. "I'm just tired. Leave me alone," she mumbled, sinking back into her nest as Civet's Scurry left the den. What had gotten in to her, she wondered. It was as if she'd cracked, all of her internal fear and paranoia about the gods' threat pouring into the world unrestrained. Maybe that was exactly what had happened, she realized. She would keep the rest of the Order away from the Matriarch for now, just until she got better. Should she get Ostrich's Cry? No, the less cats that knew, the better. She would get better with some solitude and lack of responsibility, Civet's Scurry was sure. She'd take over the Order for now and keep everything running smoothly until Hyena's Breath was back to herself.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 10, 2024 14:19:45 GMT -8
028.
Aardvark's Dig let out one final shriek as she pushed the fourth pup into the world. Exhausted, her head slumped to the ground as Ostrich's Cry bustled about the nursery until the cry of a pup taking its first breath filled the den. Mongoose's Chatter was pacing anxiously outside, Ostrich's Cry having thrown him out for getting in the way. "One tom and three little mollies," Ostrich's Cry purred as she placed the last pup at the mother's belly. She quit squealing and began to suckle, which made Ostrich's Cry nod happily and back away. "I'll let him in now. My work is done," she murmured, stepping out of the nursery as Aardvark's Dig weakly thanked her. Mongoose's Cry pushed his way in a few seconds later, pausing as he teared up at the sight of his pups. "You did so good," he purred, laying down to wrap himself around his mate. Aardvark's Dig blinked at him gratefully, leaning her head back as he groomed between her ears. "Have you thought about any names?" he asked after several moments of silence. She twisted her neck to look at him, wrinkling her forehead as if to tell him that she'd spent all her time kitting and not thinking about stupid names. He chuckled and looked over her belly at the four tiny pups. "She looks like a Pangolin," he commented, gesturing at a little colorpoint that had his characteristically short legs. Aardvark's Dig nodded, actually really liking the name. "I knew I wanted one to be called Otter, and I think that's going to be her name," she gestured at one of the two nearly-identical mollies, particularly the one with white on all four paws. "How about Caracal for the other?" she quickly added, this time for the one with white only on her front two paws. Both were colorpoints with folded ears, and it would be hard to tell them apart as they grew. Mongoose's Chatter made a noise of agreement, and that was settled. All that remained was the little tom, but neither parent could think of a name. They'd been told by Hyena's Breath that they should simply name them after an animal and that they would receive the rest of their name once they passed their final assessment. There hadn't been any pups or trainees in the Order since Hyena's Breath's rule began, so she'd had to explain the naming traditions to them once they'd announced their pregnancy. "Hyrax!" Mongoose's Chatter blurted out, the name coming to him in a flash. Aardvark's Dig began to smile as she knew the name was perfect for the little colorpoint tom. "Pangolin, Otter, Caracal, and Hyrax," he purred, resting his eyes on each pup as he said their name. Aardvark's Dig did the same, unable to help herself from staring. Peace settled over the little family, wrapping it up in a cocoon of safety and love as they started this new adventure together. The silvery shorthair rolled his eyes as he strutted into the camp. These cats were morons if they were ignorant enough to let a stranger walk across the entire territory and into camp unchallenged. Finally, he was met with some resistance as three cats approached and circled him. "Looks like someone finally noticed me," he meowed flippantly, cocking his head to the side as a molly pushed through to confront him. "Looks like I've found your leader," he chuckled, looking her up and down. "Why are you in our camp? And for your information, I am not the Matriarch. I am her Aide, Civet's Scurry," the molly stared down her nose at him. She was terrifyingly tall, but he looked up and held her eye. "I was visit by a hyena called Tumaini and was told I could find a group to join here, but that I must prove myself. I decided that if I could make it across your entire territory and into your camp without being spotted, it would be enough. I didn't realize just how easy it would be," he sighed, bored with the entire conversation. "I'll be called Elephant's Trumpet, a scavenger of the Order of the Hyena," he decided. Civet's Scurry seemed upset, but she just sighed. "I'm too tired to care, honestly. There's a lot going on. Since you actually knew the name of our god, then I believe you. Welcome to the Order, Elephant's Trumpet. Jackal's Bite will show you around," the molly stepped back. Some cat stepped up to take her place, but Elephant's Trumpet wasn't paying much attention. Did he really even want be here? He wasn't sure, so he might as well give it a try. "Get up," Civet's Scurry growled as she entered Hyena's Breath's den. She'd just allowed some cat to join, and she was at her wit's end. "I know you've gotten paranoid about the gods again, but they're just mindlessly threatening you until you give in. You have to make them understand that the other Orders aren't coming back. It may make them snap, but they may back down once they know they can't intimidate you into doing what they want. Why else did Tumaini pick you?" Civet's Scurry wrapped her paws around Hyena's Breath's side and hauled her out of her nest. The Matriarch thrashed and snarled, trying to roll back into her nest, but the Aide was done. "Your Order won't survive without you. So either get out there and take care of them, or I will," she snapped. Hyena's Breath looked up at her in confusion, but she pushed herself to her paws. "No matter what I do, we're doomed. I see them everywhere. On the borders, in my dreams, even across camp. I can't go a day without thinking that it's time. I'm in no condition to lead the Order," she explained slowly, the words croaky and gravelly. She hadn't spoken in nearly a moon, and Civet's Scurry could hardly restrain her pity. "You're a Matriarch. You have to lead your Order because they'll fall apart without you. We have been preparing for war for moons, and we will continue to do so for the moons to come. The gods will strike when they want to, and there's nothing we can do. You need to stand up to them, show them we are stronger than ever. Show them that we are not afraid, and they may just decide we're too much effort. Show them that we are ready for them, and they may just give up on their need for revenge. Show them, Hyena's Breath" Civet's Scurry was breathing hard by the time she finished her speech. She loved the Matriarch so much that it hurt to see her like this. She missed the molly she had fallen in love with, but she wasn't about to tell her that. This decision needed to be made on behalf of the Order, not because of their relationship. Hyena's Breath chewed on the inside of her cheek, so Civet's Scurry dipped her head. "I'll leave you to think," she murmured, backing out of the den and hanging her head. She wasn't sure if she'd gotten through to her, but she hoped something would change soon.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 11, 2024 12:10:19 GMT -8
029.
The world was silvery, as if had only ever been bathed in the light of the stars and moon rather than that of the sun. The plants seemed to shimmer as they swayed gently in a non-existent breeze. Ostrich's Cry's pelt remained still, but she could see waves being stirred on the surface of the watering hole she had woken by. She looked around in confusion, slowly registering that she was in the plane of their ancestors. Starry cats milled about, none seeing her. It was strange not to be greeted by Tumaini or some dead cat, so she slowly took in her surroundings as she tried to figure out what her purpose in being here was. It was unusual for her to be here at all. In many Clans, the healers served as a spiritual leader, but in the Order the Matriarch was both the leader and the spiritual leader. Very rarely had she walked among the dead, which left her feeling uneasy as she stepped away from the pond. As she began to walk through the territory, which was identical to the territory in the realm of the living, she spotted a few familiar faces. She knew it was futile to call out to Wildebeest's Stampede because she'd walked through the spirits of several inhabitants by accident. Only the cat that had called her here would be able to see and speak to her, if she could ever find them. She searched high and low, checking the camp and the borders as time seemed to stand still. She knew time was different here, and it could feel like days when only one night had passed. As she reached the crest of a small hill, she realized there was one place she hadn't checked: her herb garden. Ostrich's Cry had taken the sprouts of several sparse herbs and planted them in a small area ringed by stones she had made the scavengers move. It was where she went to gather herbs that did not grow in many places in the territory, and it was also where she went to be alone. The scavengers knew not to mess with her herb garden, so they usually gave the area a large berth. They didn't want to risk her wrath by accidentally trampling sprouts in newleaf or perfectly good herbs she had yet to harvest. Something in her tugged her that way once she set her mind on the destination, so she knew it was the place she was meant to be. She reached her garden and saw a small armored creature snuffling among her herbs. Indignation at the sight rose within her before the creature lifted its head. It delicately plucked a juniper berry from a bush and placed it on the ground where Ostrich's Cry spotted a pile of perfectly harvested and cared for herbs. The creature slowly turned and made eye contact, pausing as it peered at her. The name of the creature floated to the front of the healer's mind: pangolin. As she watched the creature go back to work, the world began to fade and become blurry. As she watched the world disappear, she remembered the newborn pup who had been named Pangolin. The knowledge settled in her heart as she woke back in her own nest, and she knew she had a long conversation waiting for her when she chose to approach the family. All she knew was that Pangolin was destined to be her trainee and learn to heal.
The four pups were waddling around the nursery, their tiny legs not quite accustomed to walking. Their eyes and ears were open, and they were babbling incoherently with a few recognizable words coming through every now and then. Aardvark's Dig kept an eye on the little ones, knowing they were nearly a moon old now. They were much more steady on their legs than they had been, but she could see they took time on each step to prevent too much wobbling. It wouldn't be long before they were running around camp causing trouble, so she would relish this last bit of peace. "How's my favorite little pups?" Mongoose's Chatter called as he pushed his way into the nursery. He was holding two mice, which he dropped next to Aardvark's Dig before flopping onto his side and batting playfully at Hyrax. The little tom let out a squeak before throwing himself at his father, rolling over because he wasn't quite ready for such movements. As he struggled back to his paws, Mongoose's Chatter ruffled his ears and turned back to his mate. She'd already devoured one of the mice, but she was pushing one for Caracal and Otter to sniff at. It wouldn't be long before they started sampling prey, so she'd already been making an effort to let them sniff and poke at the prey she was eating. Otter curled her nose up and stuck her tongue out, turning around to jump awkwardly at Pangolin. Caracal seemed a little more interested, but she was quickly distracted when Hyrax tried to eat her tail. Once all four were playing again, Mongoose's Chatter dipped his head, took a bite of the mouse, and pushed it back to his mate. She blinked at him gratefully before eating her fill, leaving him the last mouthful. As he chewed and swallowed, he looked up and saw her watching him as if she suspected something. "What brought this on? You're usually on patrol this time of day," she commented, looking between him and the leftovers. He grinned at her sheepishly as he sat and took a breath. "Well, you know how I went to that Gathering? While I was there, I found someone who was asking around for a family that already had young kittens because they want someone to adopt a litter once they're born," he started, and he could see the words settling into her. She knew what he was asking her, and she made up her mind before he continued. "They don't know how many kittens there will be, but they can tell it'll be at most four. They'll be just a few moons younger than ours. They need us," he murmured, looking up at her with pleading eyes. "Of course we'll adopt them. I'm not going to turn away pups in need, especially ones that will be companions for our own since they're the only little ones around," she chuckled, leaning forward and pressing her nose to his forehead. He let out a sigh of relief, leaning into her touch. They enjoyed a moment together before Pangolin crashed into them, wailing as Caracal chased after her. Mongoose's Chatter stuck out a paw and scolded his daughter, telling her to be nice to her sisters. Pangolin leaned against Aardvark's Dig, trying to hide in her fur. After a few moments, Caracal garbled out an apology, and the two were back to playing. Aardvark's Dig could only imagine what it would be like once she had more to care for, but she knew it was the right thing to do. "Hello?" The voice shocked Hyena's Breath to her core as she turned and watched Zebra's Gallop step warily into her den. She'd been discussing matters of how to best prepare the Order with Civet's Scurry, finally leaving her moping behind and stepping up once more. The molly who had been viciously angry at her since Wildebeest's Stampede's death seemed anxious and avoidant, so she settled down and turned to face her fully. After a few moments, Zebra's Gallop lifted her eyes and took a long, slow breath. "I'm sorry for the way I've been lashing out at you. I know that Wildebeest's Stampede did what he did of his own free will," she admitted, the words seemingly painful as they left her mouth. Hyena's Breath had not once been mad at the way she reacted. "Grief's a funny thing. We all handle it differently, and you found someone to put the blame on. I know Civet's Scurry was mad at you for being angry with me, and she should never have approached you in the way she did. Grief has its own timeframe, and it's not something you can manipulate," Hyena's Breath said, offering a small smile at Zebra's Gallop. Civet's Scurry hung her head in shame, so the scavenger turned to focus her attention on her. "You're my best friend, Civet's Scurry, and I'm sorry you felt the need to break me out of that grief. I'm sorry I was so terrible to you," she whispered, her voice choking up with tears. "I'm sorry I tried to force you to come to terms with your mate's death on my timeline. I just wanted Hyena's Breath to not have to worry about being attacked by you while she's spending all her time trying to find out how to help our Order survive when the gods attack," Civet's Scurry explained, and Zebra's Gallop leaned forward to touch her nose to her ear. "I understand why you did it," she replied, stepping back and looking at the entrance. "I'm going to go join a patrol. I need to get out of camp for the first time since the incident," she explained, stepping back until she was out. Hyena's Breath let out the breath she was holding and looked at her mate in shock. She couldn't quite believe Zebra's Gallop had come back around so soon; she'd expected a few more months at least. She was proud of her, regardless of what had happened, and she knew she'd go back to being one of the best scavengers in the Order in no time.
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