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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 11, 2024 12:53:17 GMT -8
030.
"Hippopotamus's Bellow! Hippopotamus's Bellow!" the Order cheered as the grey cat slowly took in the sight of at least a dozen cats congratulating them on joining the Order. It felt good to feel so welcome, and they couldn't stop a tear from slipping from their eye. They had spent their life alone, and this was the first group they had attempted to join that truly felt like they wanted them there. As they stepped back, a cat she recognized as Giraffe's Strut stepped forward. "I'll show you around camp," she offered, smiling kindly as Hippopotamus's Bellow looked at her in shock. "It's customary that one of us explain a bit about the ways of life here," Giraffe's Strut explained. Hippopotamus's Bellow nodded, smiling as they stepped up. Giraffe's Strut led the way around, pointing out dens and popular sitting and sunning spaces, even the fresh-kill pile and the dirtplace. "You're a scavenger now, so you'll hunt and patrol the borders with the rest of us. We pray to a god names Tumaini, who takes the form of a hyena. She is who we thank before we eat in the way that other Clans thank this group called StarClan," she explained, rummaging through the fresh-kill pile and pulling out a large fish for the two to share. They made their way to a sunny corner of camp and settled in. "So, you have any questions?" the molly asked as she took her first bite. Hippopotamus's Bellow swallowed their bite and looked around for a second, taking it all in. "I don't think so. As long as I'm not left alone until I get the hang of things I should be fine," they murmured, leaning down and taking another small bite. They wanted the fish to be split evenly because it would be the only thing they ate today. It would be rude to take more from the one they shared with since they hadn't caught the prey themself. Giraffe's Strut looked at them, clearly confused, before pushing the fish toward them rather aggressively. "Eat your fill! You're much too scrawny to be of any use, and there's plenty of prey around. We don't let cats go hungry here," she murmured. Hippopotamus's Bellow looked between her and the fish in shock before taking a large mouthful, which seemed to please the molly. They weren't used to being allowed to eat until they weren't hungry anymore, so they stopped before they felt truly full. They didn't want to push things, but Giraffe's Strut seemed happier as she polished off the rest of the fish. "If you don't eat enough, you won't have enough strength to hunt for extended periods of time or fight off any invaders or predators, not that that happens often at all. We take care of each other, so even those who aren't able to hunt can eat," she explained. "Are all Clans like this?" they asked shakily. "Of course! Those who are old enough are allowed to retire and be taken care of. Our leader doesn't always hunt because she's busy taking care of us. Our mothers and pups don't hunt because why should they? Even our trainees don't hunt! They learn how to, but they aren't required to patrol until they pass the final assessment. Even our healer doesn't hunt. We scavengers hunt enough for all of us, but every cat plays their part in keeping us going. It's a wonderful way to live, not always being afraid of not finding enough prey to fill your belly," she sighed, leaning back and lifting her muzzle to the sun. She was an older molly, but still far from retirement, so Hippopotamus's Bellow supposed she had learned to appreciate such small things. "I think I made a good choice in coming here," they murmured, turning to survey the camp once more. The gods stood in a solid line before her, all towering above and staring down. Hyena's Breath puffed out her chest and bared her teeth at them. "It seems you didn't listen to me the last time we spoke," she snapped, turning to look each one in the eye. They all looked murderous except for Tumaini, but that was to be expected. "I will not be bringing back your Orders. You were the ones who failed to choose when Tumaini was able to. It is not my fault nor my responsibility! So stop haunting me every second of the day in an attempt to intimidate me to your will!" she snarled, pacing back and forth until she was finished. Subira scoffed, but Uhuru stepped forward menacingly. Hyena's Breath wasn't willing to step down, so she stood her ground. "You have displeased us, kitty. You will pay for what you have decided to do," the cheetah hissed, her lips peeling back as she narrowed her eyes and flexed her claws. Hyena's Breath just rolled her eyes, turning when Bahati stomped and snorted. "You know what we promised should you not follow our command, little one. Your Order will die from our vengeance," she growled. "Then there's absolutely no way your Orders will ever be rebuilt. If it's that big of a deal, go communicate with other cats in their dreams and convince them to rebuild. Tumaini has sent several scavengers my way, so it clearly isn't that difficult," Hyena's Breath snorted. Bahati seemed as if she was about to explode with rage, but the ever patient Rehema stepped forward and pushed her back. She knew she wasn't wrong in what she was doing because she could see Tumaini hanging back, and was that pride in her eyes. Before she could be certain, she was slammed to the ground and Subira was pinning her down. The lion god's muzzle was in her face, dripping drool as she snarled and peeled her lips back to threaten her with massive fangs. "You have doomed your Order, Hyena's Breath. You will not know when we are coming, only that we are. We will kill every cat in that camp and raze the ground until there is no evidence that you ever lived there. We will build our own Orders, and the Order of the Hyena will never be brought up. It will never exist again," Subira growled, gnashing her teeth as Hyena's Breath refused to flinch. This was just a dream, she could not die here. As Subira stepped back, Hyena's Breath rolled and pushed to her feet. The world was growing fuzzy, so she knew she was waking up. She couldn't help but feel as if she had doomed herself, but she was able to cast one last glance at Tumaini. And yes, that was pride she could see in her god's eyes.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 11, 2024 19:22:39 GMT -8
031.
Hyena's Breath's world stopped as the hawk lashed out, talons catching Civet's Scurry's throat and tearing through the flesh all too easily. It was as if it was happening in slow motion, the wings spreading wide as the talons glided through fur and muscle as if it were made of paper. A scream ripped itself from Hyena's Breath's throat as she threw herself forward, paws outstretched as she sank her claws deep into the hawk's chest. She tore through its feathers and felt bone, slamming her jaw closed on its throat until it quit thrashing and lay still. Panting, she stared down at the prey with a manic look in her eye, not quite convinced it was dead. After she waited for several moments, sure it wouldn't move again, she spun to where Civet's Scurry was writhing on the ground in pain. The wound was bleeding quickly, the molly reaching up with her paws to try and stop it in vain. "Fetch Ostrich's Cry!" Hyena's Breath snarled at Jackal's Bite, who quickly turned and fled in the direction of camp. Looking left and right, she spotted cobwebs bunched on the branches of a bush. Quickly gathering as many as she could, she pressed down firmly on Civet's Scurry's throat. The wound didn't seem to have punctured her windpipe or that river of blood that would be unstoppable if nicked, but it was still bleeding fiercely and she would not survive without help. "Shh, I'm here. I'm here," Hyena's Breath murmured soothingly, over and over again, until a shoulder pushed her away and more experienced paws took over. She stood to the side, trembling, as Ostrich's Cry packed more cobwebs onto the wound while chewing up various leaves into a poultice. She spat the leaves onto the wound, lifting the cobweb only long enough to do so before squishing it back down and grabbing more to add. After several tense moments of silence, the healer lifted her head and stared Hyena's Breath in the eye. "She'll live, but she'll need a long time to recover. Can you carry her?" she asked, slowly gathering the supplies she hadn't used. Hyena's Breath swallowed as she nodded, crouching down as Civet's Scurry was lifted onto her shoulders. The walk back was slow, the Matriarch too worried to cause any more damage to go any faster than a trudging walk. After finally getting back to camp, she deposited her into one of Ostrich's Cry's nests and settled in beside her to take up a watch. "Go to your own nest, Hyena's Breath. You're no help here," Ostrich's Cry meowed gruffly, leaning down and slipping a poppy seed into Civet's Scurry's mouth. The Matriarch felt pain at the idea of leaving her here, alone, so she shook her head and did not move. Ostrich's Cry looked up from her work and looked between Hyena's Breath and the exit. She shook her head once more, pushing her paws firmly against the ground while keeping her eyes on Civet's Scurry's resting form. "What's going on here? Why won't you leave?" Ostrich's Cry demanded, looking between the two mollies as she slowly pieced together the story. "You're mates," she said, the words crashing on Hyena's Breath's ears as she hung her head in shame. "You're mates, and you haven't told any of the Order," Ostrich's Cry repeated, elaborating on the situation. Hyena's Breath offered a soft shake of her head as she continued to watch the Aide. "I don't know when it happened. It just did. We didn't want to tell the Order because we wanted time to just be us. We'd already just broken the news about the gods, so the time just didn't feel right. I don't know when we were going to tell them, but we knew we would. One day. I guess that's today, now," she whispered, the story coming quickly once it started. She didn't realize how good it felt for someone else to finally know until Ostrich's Cry rested a tail on her shoulder in a comforting gesture. She looked up at the healer, tears running down her face as the thought of having to live life without Civet's Scurry flashed through her mind. She couldn't do it. She couldn't bear the responsibility and the burdens without her beside her. Civet's Scurry was her rock to cling to in a storm, her solid wall to lean against when she was exhausted. Civet's Scurry was her everything, and she'd never told her. "Well, that changes things. I'm sure the rest of your patrol is gossiping about the same thing, so I'd suggest you tell them the truth. Now. Then you can come back here and not leave her side until she wakes," Ostrich's Cry murmured gently, her voice soothing as it wove through the air and into Hyena's Breath's ears. The healer had a point: it was better to face this head on than to avoid it like she had in the past. Gathering herself and her thoughts, she rose and padded to the entrance. She cast one last look back at Civet's Scurry before pushing out into the camp. Several cats scurried back, trying not to look embarrassed as Hyena's Breath realized they were all waiting on news about Civet's Scurry. She cleared her throat and looked at all the concerned gazes, all the cats who cared about her mate. "Civet's Scurry is going to live," she began with. Several cats let out sighs of relief before she continued. "As some of you may know, I reacted very strongly to her injury. As I'm sure many of you have now figured out, she is my mate. She has been several moons, but we wanted to keep our relationship to ourselves during these early moons. There was already so much going on with the gods that we didn't want to take away from the seriousness with our joy. I understand now that that was a mistake. We can always use joy, even in the darkest of times. I will remain with her overnight, and even into tomorrow if she does not wake in the morning. All I know is that I see your concern and your worry, and I appreciate it. Civet's Scurry appreciates it," she dipped her head as she finished her speech. Several cats called out condolences and well-wishes as the Matriarch stepped back into the healer's den to sit vigil over Civet's Scurry. "What are you looking at?" Aardwolf's Mane snapped as she spotted Waterbuck's Snort staring at her not for the first time. The silver tabby tom looked away, clearly flustered, before looking up and offering a sheepish smile. Why was he looking at her that way? Like Aardvark's Dig and Mongoose's Chatter looked at each other? That was something reserved for cats who had feelings for each other. The realization settled into her mind, and she turned around to really look at him. This time he really smiled, big and bright, as she finally granted him her attention. "Get on with it," she meowed, the statement almost sounding like a question in her confusion. "You're so pretty and so strong, Aardwolf's Mane. I've not known for long, but I think I have feelings for you. I haven't gone to Hyena's Breath because I wanted to talk to you first," he slowly admitted, looking rapidly between her and the ground as if he couldn't stand to see her reaction. Aardwolf's Mane was confused, but she knew she didn't feel the same way. She didn't want to hurt his feelings, but she'd really never felt that way ever. As she mulled over what to say, she saw his ears and shoulders begin to droop. "Look, you're great, and you'll make some cat very happy one day, but not me. I don't think I've ever felt the way you do about any cat, to be honest. I've never seen the appeal in it. It's something other cats experience, but not me. And that's okay, I think. I'm not going to have a mate, and I'm not going to have crushes. It's just the way I am, something I've only recently come to understand about myself. I haven't even come to terms with, really, I only know it's the truth. Do I regret that I'll never have that familial bond with a cat and kittens of my own? Kind of. But I also know I would never truly reciprocate the feelings, and it wouldn't be fair to enter a relationship like that allowing the other party to think I love them. It's just the way I am," she finished, and he looked at her. She could swear she saw respect in his eyes. He simply dipped his head and walked away. She couldn't blame him for his departure. It must be hard to learn the cat you fell for will never feel the same way about you. It stung, really, to know she might have unknowingly hurt him. She didn't want any cat to ever get hurt because of the way she was, but she'd never really expected any cat to fall for her. It just seemed like something that wouldn't happen because it shouldn't. He would be okay, though. She knew he'd move on and eventually find the right mate for him. It was bound to happen eventually, she supposed. Pushing the event out of her mind, she turned back to her walk along the border, ready to look for any sign of lions, cheetahs, elephants, or rhinoceroses like she'd been instructed to.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 11, 2024 20:05:05 GMT -8
032.
Baboon's Shriek and Giraffe's Strut were on patrol together, tasked with going along the northern border and remarking the scent markers while keeping an eye out for trouble. The two chatted about everything and nothing, the caliby tom and calico molly completely comfortable with each other. They'd been fast friends since meeting, and it was normal to see them sharing prey or sunning together or grooming each other. They were just friends, after all, best friends. As they neared the end of the border, Baboon's Shriek paused and swiveled his ears in the direction of a mouse rustling in the early Leaf-fall leaves. Giraffe's Strut dropped to her belly, ready to sneak up and catch the small rodent and take it back to camp as an addition to their border patrol. Instinctively, Baboon's Shriek lowered himself to the ground and began to make a path toward it too. Eventually, the two leaped at the same moment, both slamming their paws on top of each other's and letting the mouse slip away. As they froze, Giraffe's Strut slowly lifted her eyes until she was staring into Baboon's Shriek's, their noses pressed together. She felt her stomach begin to flip and twist, and her breathing became shallow as a blush crept along her face, her ears burning as she realized just how close they were. Baboon's Shriek seemed equally effected, barely breathing as he chose to remain still instead of moving. After a few more seconds of shared closeness, Giraffe's Strut cleared her throat and unsteadily stood up. "Well, we missed that one," she commented, voice hoarse as she came back from her emotions. Baboon's Shriek just looked between her and the tree a few times. He shook his head and turned back toward camp. "Yeah, we'd better get back. Aardwolf's Mane would like to know we found nothing," Giraffe's Strut whispered, realizing Baboon's Shriek may not have felt what she just did. As they began the trek back, she kept glancing at him, growing more disappointed the more times she didn't find him looking back at her. What she didn't know was that he was fighting down butterflies of his own, fighting the urge to look at her because he could see her looking at him out of the corner of his eye. Ostrich's Cry left Civet's Scurry and Hyena's Breath to their breakfast as she set across the camp, finally ready to break the news to the parents in the nursery. Civet's Scurry was healing nicely, though eating still seemed a little uncomfortable as the wound on her neck healed. The better Civet's Scurry got, the happier Hyena's Breath seemed. She'd even told Civet's Scurry that the Order knew about them, and Ostrich's Cry had had to hide her smile as the two mollies celebrated not having to hide their relationship anymore. Pulling herself from her thoughts, she heard the screams from the nursery before she entered. The four moon old pups were chasing each other in circles as Aardvark's Dig scolded them, Mongoose's Chatter stomping around in an imitation of a badger. Ostrich's Cry couldn't help but laugh at the silly father, rambunctious pups, and exasperated mother. It was a picture perfect moment, one that all families experienced in some shape or form. Aardvark's Dig jumped at her laugh, and Ostrich's Cry chuckled out an apology. "Sorry for the intrusion, but could I speak with you two outside? Bring little Pangolin along. The other three should stay behind, but I bet they'll be right at the entrance trying to snoop," the healer leveled the other three with a gaze of knowledge, and they all shrank away from her. Shaking her head, she led the way into the middle of camp and sat down, finally getting a good look at Pangolin. The little molly was quieter than her littermates, less interested in pretending to hunt or fight. That was a good sign in Ostrich's Cry's opinion. "Let's just get to it. I've had a dream, a vision really, that informed that Pangolin should train with me and become the Order's next healer," Ostrich's Cry meowed, choosing not to go into the specifics. She would if it was requested, but it was better to get it all out in the open first. Aardvark's Dig and Mongoose's Chatter shared a look before they both lowered their eyes to their daughter who was suddenly staring at Ostrich's Cry with open interest and excitement. "I wanted your permission, but I also wanted little Pangolin's opinion. I would never force a pup to train in something they didn't want to," she meowed. "These visions are more like suggestions, leading me in the direction of those who would be great as my trainee but aren't required to," she added, hoping it didn't feel like there was only one choice. "We've noticed that Pangolin doesn't like to chase our tails or pretend to battle with her littermates, but we thought she'd grow into it. What do you think, honey?" Aardvark's Dig commented, looking down. Pangolin looked up at her mom, suddenly full of energy and bursting with excitement. "I could learn to heal like Ostrich's Cry? Really? You mean it?" she asked, her body beginning to vibrate as if the energy needed some outlet and she wouldn't allow it free reign. "I guess that settles that," Ostrich's Cry chuckled as the pup suddenly started bouncing up and down while saying 'Thank you' over and over again. The healer bid the two farewell as she left to head back to her den. It was decided, then. Pangolin would be the Order's next healer and eventually take over as the head once the day came for Ostrich's Cry to retire. The pregnant molly was breathing heavily by the time she reached the scent markers. The two kits on either side of her looked at her with worry, but she knew this was where they were supposed to be. After their Clan started falling apart, and she'd decided to leave, she'd been visited in her dreams by a hyena that claimed to be called Tumaini. She'd been told there was a group living here that would provide her with a good home to raise her unborn litter and her adopted kits. They'd chosen the names Meerkat's Burrow, Bonobo, and Sitatunga on their journey after learning about the unique naming system in their new home. "Are you okay?" Sitatunga asked, glancing between Meerkat's Burrow and the empty territory ahead of them. "We'll just rest here for a moment, little ones. We'll wait for a patrol to come along and escort us to our new camp," she sighed, sinking to her haunches and relishing the feeling of taking her weight off of her paws. They'd been walking for what felt like forever, especially to an expecting molly, so she could only imagine how the kits were feeling. Bonobo flopped onto his side, Sitatunga curling up against him. They were asleep in seconds. Meerkat's Burrow blew out a long breath as she peered at the horizon, taking in the territory they would be calling home. She slowly lowered herself down to curl around the two, all three snoring as the sun traveled overhead. Eventually, voices roused the little family. Meerkat's Burrow looked up, blinking sleep from her eyes as she tried to bring the world into focus. A caliby and a calico looked down at her, introduced themselves as Baboon's Shriek and Giraffe's Strut, and asked if they were Meerkat's Burrow, Bonobo, and Sitatunga. "You're expecting us?" she asked, shocked as she shook her kits awake. Baboon's Shriek chuckled, casting a quick glance at Giraffe's Strut as he took over the explanation. "Tumaini informed our Matriarch to keep an eye out for a molly with two pups who went by those names. The god seems to have a soft spot for those in need," he meowed as he stepped aside and motioned for them to cross the border. "We'll lead you back to camp. We've already got a nest set up for you in the nursery. Aardvark's Dig is so excited to have a denmate who isn't a pup, and her four are excited to finally have some more pups in the Order," Baboon's Shriek prattled on as they started the journey toward camp. Meerkat's Burrow was taken aback as she realized she was really being taken care of. Tumaini had warned that these cats were cold and ruthless, but she guessed that they were only that way to outsiders. As they reached the camp, four pups came barreling toward them and she urged Bonobo and Sitatunga to go play and get to know them. A haggard looking molly stepped up and introduced herself as Aardvark's Dig, and Meerkat's Burrow chuckled at her appearance. She knew all too well how ragged pups could make someone seem, considering she was having to raise a litter of two while expecting. The two mollies settled down and talked while their pups played, eventually heading into the nursery to get settled. It was cozy and warm, Meerkat's Burrow thought. It was going to be a good place to raise her unborn pups, she knew, and she couldn't help but start to daydream about their future here. It really seemed bright for the first time in as long as she could remember.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 13, 2024 19:35:23 GMT -8
033.
Meerkat's Burrow screamed as the night wore on, belly rippling with spasms as her kitting drew on. Ostrich's Cry mumbled something about it taking too long as Aardvark's Dig stepped up to the molly's head. "Everything will be alright. Just keep pushing, and your new little ones will be here before you know it," she murmured soothingly, reaching up to stroke her paw across Meerkat's Burrow's ears. The brown molly let out a low wail that rose to a shriek as another spasm rippled across her belly, and Aardvark's Dig turned to where Ostrich's Cry was inspecting something. The pups had been removed from the den as soon as they knew what was happening, and Meerkat's Burrow had no mate to be with her, so Aardvark's Dig had stayed behind as an experienced paw and a form of support. "I can see the first one, it's almost here!" Ostrich's Cry called as Meerkat's Burrow pushed again, and Aardvark's Dig rushed toward her tail to take over the second the little one was out. It tumbled out, sac breaking, so she immediately carried it away and began to lick it. She was not gentle, scraping the fur the wrong way as she essentially forced its lungs to take their first breath. Within seconds, the pup was crying out. After a few more moments of grooming, Aardvark's Dig looked it over then carried it to its mother's belly. "You have a son!" Ostrich's Cry called as she looked the pup over for anything wrong that Aardvark's Dig hadn't spotted. Meerkat's Burrow lifted her head weakly, smiling as she looked at him for the first time. "Mosquito," she croaked, and Aardvark's Dig smiled as she recognized a name they'd discussed just a few sunrises prior. The tom was small, so the name was fitting. As the kitting continued, a little molly was born. She took longer to wail, but she was soon suckling at her mother's belly while Meerkat's Burrow took what probably felt like her first full breaths ever. "Eagle," she decided, and Aardvark's Dig was pleased to hear the choice. A strong name for a pup who fought so hard to survive, she thought as she watched the little family. Ostrich's Cry had already left, deciding her time was done. "I'll leave you to it, then," Aardvark's Dig sighed as she started to walk away. A paw shot out and grabbed her leg, and she looked down to see Meerkat's Burrow looking up at her. "Please stay," she whispered. Aardvark's Dig smiled down at her friend and nodded, curling up in the nest next to her. Knowing the molly just needed her there, she shimmied closer until the very ends of their fur were brushing together when they breathed. It was a comfortable silence, broken only by the occasional squeak from a pup, until both fell deep into sleep, exhausted from the long, hard night. Mongoose's Chatter stood at the camp entrance, four tiny bundles of fur at his paws. Joan B'Ark, the strange cat that told him about the pups needing adopting, had somehow found a human contraption to carry them in. It was like a miniature empty pond, curved up on both sides to keep them inside, with a branch across the top to carry it by. As they reached the camp, he'd left the human thing behind and carried them in one by one. Aardvark's Dig was slowly crossing the camp, and he grinned as she finally reached him. "I've even thought of names for them," he started with, eager to introduce them. They were his new pups after all, and hers too. The first was a little sepia point molly with a little bit of white with colorful flecks in it. "This is Honey Badger," he declared. Aardvark's Dig nodded, seemingly happy with the name. The second was a little silver colorpoint molly with a moderate amount of white. Her tail was obnoxiously long, but it was cute the way she wrapped it around herself. "This is Lemur," he purred, seeming content with his decision to name her after the strange monkey things with long tails he'd only heard about in stories. The third was a strange pale brown ticked colorpoint tom, also sporting a terribly long tail. "Gazelle," he purred. Finally, there was a ticked tabby tom with flecks of white all across his body. "And Hoopoe!" he declared, the name from this very strange half-striped bird he'd once seen. "Sounds like you had fun naming them. Let's get them into the nursery so they can eat," Aardvark's Dig chuckled, leaning down to pick two up. Mongoose's Chatter bounced with glee, leading the way across the camp with a great smile on his face. The newest additions to his family were perfect, and they would grow up right alongside Meerkat's Burrow's newest litter. It was almost too good to be true, he thought as he placed the two toms in the nest they would be sleeping in. Everything seemed to be going their way since they'd found each other, as if fate knew they deserved peace after their early lives. "Let all cats gather to hear my words!" Hyena's Breath yowled. Most of the Order was hanging around camp, so they quickly began to gather in a loose semi-circle before her. Anxiety pulsed beneath Meerkat's Burrow's pelt as she smoothed down the fur between Bonobo's ears. He squirmed to get away from her, but she wrapped a paw around him and held him close. He was still so small, even if he was about to begin his training, and everything inside her screamed to stop this. He needed to return to the nursery with her, him and his sister, and grow a little more before they could learn to hunt and fight and everything else a scavenger needed to know. As she let him go with a quick demand that he remain seated, she turned to Sitatunga. The little molly was staring at the crowd with wide eyes, excitement and fear filling her gaze as Hyena's Breath stepped forward. "We are gathered today to celebrate a first for our Order. Meerkat's Burrow brought two young pups with her, and those young pups have finally outgrown the nursery. It is time that we embrace their growth and welcome them to the Order. It is time they begin their training!" she called, and several cats let out yowls of joy. "Bonobo, please step forward," the Matriarch beckoned. Bonobo stood, straightening his legs and puffing out his chest to appear bigger than he was, and Meerkat's Burrow had to stifle a chuckle. She watched as he paraded forward, stopping before the Matriarch before dipping his head with the respect owed her. "We have not known you long, but you have shown to be eager and willing to learn. May Cobra's Strike pass on all his knowledge to you, and may Tumaini provide you both with the strength you need to learn and grow," Hyena's Breath announced, leaning forward to press her nose to Bonobo's forehead. Cobra's Strike pushed his way out of the crowd, and Meerkat's Burrow felt her heart swell as Bonobo bounced up on his toes to sloppily press his nose to his mentor's. Hyena's Breath smiled gently as the two padded away, slowly turning back to face the rest of the Order. "Sitatunga, please step forward," she called. Sitatunga was more contained and graceful as she strode toward the Matriarch, the dip of her head dainty. "You are calm and observant, the makings of a wonderful scavenger. May Dugong's Spin bring you out of your shell, and may Tumaini provide you both with the strength you need to learn and grow," Hyena's Breath leaned down and pressed her nose to Sitatunga's forehead. The trainee turned to where her mentor had stepped out and stretched to touch noses with him. Meerkat's Burrow was turning, expecting the meeting to be over, when Hyena's Breath's voice rang across the camp. "Meerkat's Burrow," her name echoed in her ears. "You have not been a member for long, but the Order thanks you for bringing Bonobo and Sitatunga to us. They will prove to be excellent young cats, and we look forward to Eagle and Mosquito doing the same," she announced, dropping her tail to signal the meeting was at an end. Meerkat's Burrow's heart was in her throat as she padded back to the nursery, and it nearly fell out when she felt two small bodies press against her before she could get back to her newborns. Bonobo and Sitatunga were leaned against her while smiling. "Thank you," they whispered before peeling away. Meerkat's Burrow smiled as she pushed into the nursery, knowing she made the right choice adopting those two all those moons ago. Minnowmumble looked left and right as they reached the edge of NyxClan's territory. Lucian stood a few steps away, looking over his shoulder in the direction of the Clan they had fallen in love in. Minnowmumble could tell he didn't want to leave, but he was pulled forward as if by an invisible force until he stood outside the land he had never left before. The second the border was behind him, it was as if a great weight was lifted off his chest. He took what felt like the deepest breath he had ever taken, slowly turning to watch as Lucian warily stepped over. He watched as Lucian lifted his eyes, a sudden determination in them. The two set off on their journey together, finally agreeing that leaving NyxClan behind was the best choice for them. Moons passed as they traveled, crossing deserts and tundras and beaches alike. Nowhere felt like home, so their paws kept moving forward. Eventually, they reached the edge of a sprawling grassland, and Lucian turned to look at his mate. "Once we cross this, we're going to start seriously looking for a home. I want a family with you, Minnowmumble, and that's not possible before we settle," he admitted, and Minnowmumble grinned as he leaned forward to rub his cheek against his mate's. The two set off once more, padding into the grassland as they began to realize they had found a land of giants. Terrifyingly tall creatures grazed on the tops of trees while beasts that were larger than twoleg monsters grazed on the ground. Predators large enough to take down these beasts prowled, and Minnowmumble began to fear they had made a mistake by crossing this land. Stumbling across a border without realizing what they had done, the two spotted a patrol of cats on the horizon. Before they could think, the six cats were streaming toward them while yowling about attacking. Minnowmumble froze from fear, quickly bowled off his paws and onto the ground as he cowered. Lucian began to react, but two cats crashed into him and pinned him down, one with their teeth locked loosely around his neck and the other with claws pricking his belly. Lucian began to babble incoherently, begging for his life as he tried not to move lest he cause them to commit to the threat. "You two are pathetic, honestly," the leader of the patrol grumbled as he licked the top of his paw and swept it across his ears. "Join us, and we'll teach you how to actually defend yourselves. Otherwise you can get out of our territory with a few reminders not to enter it again," he snarled, looking at the cats holding them down. As if speaking telepathically, they stepped back and Minnowmumble and Lucian were allowed to rise to their paws. These cats didn't even hesitate to ask questions. Had they had any time to prepare, Minnowmumble was sure they wouldn't have seemed so helpless. He was worried, but he nodded as he accepted the offer. Lucian slowly nodded too. As they made their way back to the Order's camp, they adopted the names Minnow's Mumble and Gerenuk's Muse, ready to embrace their new life. Kudu and Dog stood at the edge of the territory, shaking as they watched for the patrol. The hyena in their dreams had said a patrol would come looking for them, but they'd been waiting since the sun rose. It was now on a path back toward the horizon, over half a day having passed. "They'll be along soon, right?" Kudu asked quietly, turning to look at Dog. She guessed she should call her Painted Dog's Howl, now, after the hyena had given them names to make them fit in with the Order. Kudu's Gaze was the name she had been given, which wasn't terrible. She turned to watch the horizon, sighing with relief when a patrol finally appeared. "Who goes there?" the leader called. "Kudu's Gaze and Painted Dog's Howl!" Kudu's gaze responded, remembering that the hyena had instructed them to introduce themselves by their new names. "Thank the gods, we thought we'd never find you! We weren't exactly told what border you'd be on," the leader grumbled, motioning for them to cross and enter the territory. The two shared a look as they crossed, accepting that they were entering a new era of their lives. They took deep breaths as they entered, grinning as they accompanied the patrol back to their new camp. Their hardships were over, they believed, and they truly felt as if they were entering the best times of their lives.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 18, 2024 11:23:12 GMT -8
034.
Hyena's Breath limped into the camp, collapsing the second she crossed the threshold. Blood seeped from her side, the long gash weeping as a moan crawled from her throat. The world was spinning, slowly growing darker as flecks dotted her vision, and she flexed her claws as she tried to hold onto the ground they no longer touched. "Help," she croaked as Cobra's Strike staggered into the camp with blood coating the left side of his face. His ear and forehead had been clawed during the fight, and blood poured from the minor wounds heavily enough to block his sight. Ostrich's Cry was already racing across the camp, herbs and moss and cobwebs clutched in her jaw. As she asked what happened, Cobra's Strike launched into the story of the cheetah trying to steal their prey. The fight had not been long, the predator easily overpowering them and racing away with the few meager pieces of fresh-kill they'd managed to catch. Ostrich's Cry listened as she mopped up the blood with moss, tossing the used pieces aside as she wrapped the side of Cobra's Strike's face with cobwebs. Hyena's Breath's breathing was beginning to shallow as her grip on consciousness loosened. She had lost more blood when the wound was first made, but now it was barely trickling. As Ostrich's Cry finished her work on Cobra's Strike, she turned and Hyena's Breath could see the worry enter her face instantly. The healer was cursing herself for choosing the other wound first, and Hyena's Breath tried to assure her it was okay, but her voice was out of reach. All that could be heard was a grunt. Ostrich's Cry began cleaning, chewing, and applying herbs as Hyena's Breath tried to watch her. She was too weak to lift her head, but she heard murmurings around and realized much of the Order had formed a protective circle around her. "They have their backs to you to preserve your privacy," Ostrich's Cry assured her, and Hyena's Breath let out a sigh of relief. Her Order did not need to see her like this, and she was glad to know they agreed. She heard a commotion, and suddenly a nose was against her ear. "Civet's Scurry, I told you to wait until I was done," Ostrich's Cry snapped, still working on cleaning the wound. "I will not leave my mate alone when she's barely clinging to life!" the Aide snarled. "She's not dead, and she will not die. She's just weak, in a lot of pain, and missing quite a bit of her blood," Ostrich's Cry said, and Hyena's Breath could practically hear her roll her eyes. Something was pushed into her mouth, and she was relieved to taste poppy seeds on her tongue. She swallowed them greedily, and they were quickly followed by water-soaked moss that was dribbled past her lips. She drank quickly, but Civet's Scurry pulled away, scolding her for not taking her time. Finally, Ostrich's Cry quit prodding around the painful wound, and Hyena's Breath was able to lift her head just enough to look at her. "Next time, take more cats on patrol with you," the healer growled. She was right, of course. More cats could have driven off the cheetah with minimal wounds, and they might have kept their prey too, but it was as if the predator had known where they would be and that there would only be two of them. Before she could begin to ruminate on the thought, her eyes were falling closed as sleep finally overtook her. Sitatunga launched herself at Dugong's Spin, yowling as she tried to hook her paws under his like he had taught her. He stepped out of the way of her attack, sweeping a paw under her and tripping her up. She went rolling forward, crashing into a tree and yelping as a sharp stab of pain rocketed through her front leg. Her mentor spun quickly, concern in his gaze as she slowly rose and held one paw off the ground. As she tested it, she hissed and pulled it back up to her chest. "I should've just let you stop on your own," Dugong's Spin growled, stepping forward so she could lean on him. They weren't far from camp, so the trip was short. "Don't yowl when you go to attack, and keep yourself low to the ground. Extending your legs makes a larger target and exposes your belly," he instructed as they made their way to Ostrich's Cry's den. Cobra's Strike was getting his cobwebs replaced, but he stood and left as they entered. Ostrich's Cry inspected them quickly, and she reached forward to press her paws against Sitatunga's tender leg. "It's not broken. Take these and go rest," the healer announced curtly, pushing two poppy seeds forward. Sitatunga ate them quickly, and she turned back to Dugong's Spin. "Would you like to go see your mother?" he offered as they exited the healer's den. Sitatunga nodded, surprised to feel tears gathering in her eyes. Dugong's Spin smiled down at her and led her to the nursery. As they entered, he blocked Eagle and Mosquito from jumping on her as he led her to lay against Meerkat's Burrow. "We had a small accident while training today. She's sprained her paw, but she'll be fine by next moon," he explained, backing away in case the mother lashed at him. Instantly, she was sniffing all over Sitatunga. She seemed satisfied after a few moments, and she waved her tail to tell Dugong's Spin to leave. "I didn't mean to, but I'll be fine," Sitatunga said as she stifled a yawn. She leaned into Meerkat's Burrow's touch, happy to be back here with her. It'd been over a moon since she left for the trainees' den, but she still missed the quiet and warmth and safety of the nursery. She was falling asleep, head drooping before jerking back up several times before she settled down and gave in to the urge to nap. As she left the waking world, she felt her mother rest her chin on her back and hold her close. "Let all cats gather to hear my words!" Pangolin looked up at Aardvark's Dig anxiously, gaze darting between Hyena's Breath and her mother. Her littermates were all bouncing excitedly, trying to guess who their mentors would be. Pangolin already knew hers because it had been decided a few moons before. None of her littermates knew yet, so she was worried what their reactions would be. Caracal was called up first, given to Giraffe's Strut. Pangolin began to shuffle her paws in the dust, barely able to lift her eyes as Otter's mentor was revealed to be Baboon's Shriek. Aardvark's Dig nuzzled her after Hyrax bumped noses with Minnow's Mumble. That meant it was her turn now, and she was barely able to think as Hyena's Breath finally called her forward. As she stood, Aardvark's Dig leaned down to where her breath tickled her ear. "Be brave, my little one. You will do amazing things, even if you are scared. We're so proud of the path you have chosen," she whispered. As she leaned back up, she nudged Pangolin's back and the soon-to-be trainee stumbled forward. She righted herself and walked up slowly, and she swore she felt every cat's eyes on her. It would make sense, considering they were there to celebrate her new position. As she reached Hyena's Breath, she lowered her head. The Matriarch leaned down and pressed her nose to the top of Pangolin's head, and she was convinced the Matriarch lingered there longer than she had for her littermates. "Today is an exciting day, and not just because our first litter of pups born in our Order are becoming trainees. Today is special because Tumaini has provided Ostrich's Cry with a vision of the future, and that future begins today," she started, and several cats began to murmur to each other. "Ostrich's Cry has seen that Pangolin will be the future herbalist of the Order of the Hyena!" Hyena's Breath raised her voice in a shout, and several cats took up a chant of Pangolin's name. As the crowd quieted, Pangolin watched as Ostrich's Cry stepped forward. "May you learn swiftly and well," Hyena's Breath announced as mentor and trainee touched noses. The Order finally took up a chant of all four names, celebrating this moment in their history. Pangolin looked over her shoulder as Ostrich's Cry motioned for her to follow. They would explored the territory now. Her littermates would learn the borders, the training lands, and where to best find prey. Pangolin would also see the borders, but she would learn about the best places to gather herbs instead. As she took a deep breath, readying herself to start the rest of her life, she locked eyes with her mother. Aardvark's Dig was tearing up and leaning against Mongoose's Chatter, but she was smiling. Pangolin made to take a step toward her, but she shook her head and gestured toward Ostrich's Cry. There would be time to speak later, she knew, so now was the time to fully embrace that she had left the nursery behind.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 18, 2024 17:09:29 GMT -8
035.
Sam looked down at the younger cat with concern, noting how she hopped from paw to paw while blowing clouds of steam into the air from her nose. Sam and Happy had lived in the same twoleg nest for a few moons before they agreed that they needed to escape. Shortly after Happy entered Sam's life, a baby twoleg had also entered the nest. At that point, the cats were forgotten. They were shut away in small rooms for most of the day, and sometimes the twolegs would forget to feed them until very late. They always seemed tired from doting on the baby, so Sam had decided it would be better for everyone if they were to leave. The twolegs could focus entirely on their baby, and the cats could hunt for themselves and not be confined. So they'd left, and now they were surrounded by a group of growling cats. Happy had pushed against her, so Sam stood taller and looked down her nose at the patrol. "I've heard of your type. Clans, I think you're called. If you wouldn't be opposed, we'd like to speak with your leader," she meowed clearly. If these cats truly were a Clan, and Clans were as amazing as the stories said, then they would be a good place to settle for two former kittypets. Happy looked up at her then, and Sam had to fight back the urge to tell her to trust her. One cat stepped forward from the circle, nodding slowly and introducing themselves as Wolf's Howl. After a few moments of hushed conversation, they decided to bring Sam and Happy back to their camp. A large molly with a mottled pelt was waiting on them when they entered the camp, and the patrol peeled away as if dismissed. "I'm Sam, and this is Happy," she started, but the molly held her tail up in a signal for silence. Sam closed her mouth and nodded, looking down and shaking her head when Happy started to say something. The molly circled them, looking them up and down while clearly judging them. She made a few sounds, both of approval and disappointment. After a few moments, she sat down and sighed, chewing on her words before speaking. "Welcome to the Order of the Hyena. We are a strong group that does not tolerate weakness. I've been informed that you used to live with twolegs, so you might need training to overcome this setback. Happy, I believe that's your name, is the perfect age to be a trainee, so that will be no problem. You, Sam, however, are much too old to be a trainee. You will have to be a scavenger and learn as you provide for the Order. Is that a problem?" she asked, and Sam quickly shook her head. "Now, on the matter of names. Obviously, your names are no good here. We have a very strict tradition, and I already have some in mind for you. You are leaving your soft life behind, and from this moment on, you have one loyalty: the Order. Oribi's Horn and Python, I welcome you," she announced, naming them in her speech. Oribi's Horn was a strange name, but she quite liked the name Python for her friend. "To show that you are learning, and as a way to encourage your learning, I am assigning you as Python's mentor. You will teach her all that you learn from the other scavengers. My Aide, Civet's Scurry, and my Shadow, Aardwolf's Mane, will oversee your training in the beginning, but I have full faith that you shouldn't have any problems with this task," Hyena's Breath, the name clicking from Wolf's Howl's earlier explanation about the Order and how it differed from other Clans, said. Oribi's Horn nodded, turning to smile at Python. They had left together, and now they were entering a new one together. She was almost like her little sister, so it felt good to know she'd get to watch her grow up in a safe environment. Pangolin said a quick goodbye to her mentor as she left the herbalist's den, raising her eyes to note that the sun was nearly back at the horizon. She spent sunup to sundown in Ostrich's Cry's den or around the territory where herbs were known to grow. With it being Leafbare, they spent more time in the herbalist's den because not too many herbs would grow until the territory thawed and the warmth of Newleaf arrived. She was weary, barely able to think coherently enough to grab a mouse from the fresh-kill pile while turning toward the nursery. As she pushed into the dark, warm den, the scent of milk and pups overwhelmed her. She drug herself across the den and collapsed into her mother's nest, snuggling against her while holding her mouse close. Aardvark's Dig chuckled as she curled herself around the exhausted trainee, gently grooming the fur between her ears in a soothing, rhythmic motion. "There's just so much to learn," Pangolin groaned as she started to tear into her prey. She felt something jump on her tail, but she didn't care enough to figure out which pup in the den had decided to involve her in their game. "I swear a new herb is discovered every single day! I finally think I have it all down, and then Ostrich's Cry shows me something new. Not to mention there's several herbs to treat the same thing, and then there's several things a singular herb can treat!" she complained, clearly frustrated with her training. "Otter's always telling me about how many breaks she gets when learning how to hunt and how to spar," she grumbled around a mouthful. "I know you're tired, dear, but do you at least enjoy it?" Aardvark's Dig murmured. "You know I love it. I just wish it wasn't so hard," Pangolin pouted. "If the things we loved weren't hard, would we really love them as much? Putting in the time and work makes you appreciate it all the more. Besides, if it was easy then anybody could be Ostrich's Cry's trainee and not you," Aardvark's Dig ruffled Pangolin's ears as the young molly looked up at her. "I guess you make some sense, but I still don't like it," she sighed. "Once I've got my full name, I won't have to do all this studying. I'll just work with Ostrich's Cry to make sure everyone's happy," she purred, clearly thinking about the future. She settled in against her mother happily, deciding she'd rather sleep here than her own nest tonight. Her littermates were all so excited about having their own nests, but Pangolin felt at home here. She didn't think she'd ever grow out of wanting to be close to her mother, even if she did spent most of her time training. Baboon's Shriek paced back and forth inside Hyena's Breath's den. He'd been instructed to wait inside until the Matriarch was ready to meet with him, so he stared at the wall while running over the words he wanted to say. The script had been written days ago, and now all that was left was to rehearse. Hyena's Breath called out a short hello before entering her den, but he still jumped when she appeared. He swallowed nervously, and she paused as she tried to read him. He knew she was trying to figure out what he wanted, so he launched into his speech before she could come to any conclusions. "Giraffe's Strut and I have become great friends, and now it's turning into something more. I know she feels the way that I do, so I wanted to receive your permission to officially court her. I have broached the topic with her, and she feels the same, so all we need now is your blessing," he let out a huge breath after the words tumbled out in a blur. Hyena's Breath seemed to be holding back a smile, which made him feel relieved. She was nodding slowly, looking between him and the entrance. She'd most likely seen Giraffe's Strut wandering around camp, likely drawing attention to herself while trying to avoid doing so. "I've been wondering when this would happen," she chuckled. Baboon's Shriek ducked his head in embarrassment. He thought they'd been good at hiding how close they'd become, but he guessed Hyena's Breath noticed a lot more than he gave her credit for. She was the Matriarch, after all, and she seemed to know everything that went on. "You know what I'm going to say now, right?" she paused, and he nodded. "You will treat Giraffe's Strut right, or you'll have all of the Order on you demanding you be better," she instructed, slowly herding him out of her den. Baboon's Shriek thanked her as he turned, trying to catch Giraffe's Strut eye from across the camp. As soon as she spotted him, he nodded, and the two rushed across the camp to collide with each other in joy and excitement. The patrol sniffed along the border, pausing to remark the scent at certain landmarks all while Hyena's Breath trained her gaze on the horizon. While her clanmates went about making sure nothing had crossed into their territory, she was watching to see if anything was lingering near their territory. She clung to the hope that nothing would be out of the ordinary, but she wasn't hopeful enough to ever take her eyes away. She padded along, guiding herself with her peripherals, until she slammed to a halt, causing Jackal's Bite to collide with her. As he started to grumble, she raised her tail for silence. Jackal's Bite lifted his head as he noticed that Hyena's Breath wasn't even breathing from trying so hard to stay so still. He followed her gaze until he spotted a line of rhinoceroses on the horizon. They were facing them, not moving, standing shoulder-to-shoulder in a straight line. A chill raced down Hyena's Breath's spine, and she watched as the creatures acknowledged her before turning and marching away. That was a threat, clear as day, and she knew the gods were finally thinking about their plan to destroy her. As she slowly turned back to her patrol, she saw five sets of eyes staring at her with determination. "They won't take this away from us," Jackal's Bite snarled, and several cats made noises of agreement. Hyena's Breath took an unsteady breath before nodded, looking back out at the now-empty horizon. It was coming, she knew it was, she just didn't know when.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 21, 2024 10:41:48 GMT -8
036.
The crowd watched as the not-quite-red tom padded warily through the camp. The ring of cats around him made him seem like a prisoner, being unwillingly led to the molly he knew would be the one they called Hyena's Breath. He hadn't meant to cross the border, really. The mouse was the plumpest he'd seen since Leafbare started, and his hunger had overwritten his brain. By the time he had killed his prey and begun feasting, the cats had completely surrounded him and threatened to kill him if he did not speak with their Matriarch. She stared down her nose at him, and he could feel her counting his visible ribs. Leafbare, despite only being half-over, had been hard on the already-scrawny tom. He swallowed anxiously before shakily dipping his head in what he hoped was a respectful maneuver. "Why were you eating prey you caught on our lands?" the molly asked, even though he knew she already knew his answer. "I started chasing it well outside your borders, but I was so caught up in the chase that I did not realize when I had crossed. I was desperate," he explained slowly, and she narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you think you will get away with no consequences?" she asked simply, cocking her head as if seriously curious about his answer. "I will accept whatever punishment you deem fitting," he hung his head in shame. He lifted his eyes to watch as she stared at him a few moments longer, mulling over his words and her own thoughts. "You will join our Order as a scavenger, and you will be tasked with cleaning out the nursery for the next three moons," she announced as she turned to watch the rest of the Order. He was sure she was gauging their reactions, for which he could not blame her. He heard murmurings amongst them, and she turned back to him with a satisfied smile that resembled a snarl. "We welcome you to the Order, Ant's March," she announced, naming him before she even knew what he was called. He assumed it was a tradition, completely forgetting one's prior life and adopting the naming scheme of the Order to embrace the change. The cats around him began to chant his new name, but he could still see distrust in their eyes. He was a newcomer, after all, so he would do everything he could to earn their trust.
"Do you smell that?" Jackal's Bite's words were cut off as something heavy landed on his back, knocking him to the ground. Sharp claws pierced the skin at his throat, and hot blood poured down his chest. A gurgle escaped past his lips as he grew limp, the life bleeding from him as the cat atop him stepped to the side and licked his blood off their claws. Baboon's Shriek stared in wide-eyed horror, tail bushed up as he watched Jackal's Bite twitch once, then twice, before growing still. The rogue looked up from where they were taking joy in cleaning their paw, a grin lifting the side of their mouth as they suddenly dropped to a crouch. More rogues fell from the sky, dropping from the branches of the trees onto cats and ground alike. Baboon's Shriek's patrol-mates were shrieking as they fought, and he could hear the sickening sound of claws and teeth tearing through fur and flesh. He launched himself at the one who had taken Jackal's Bite's life, shrieking as he slammed into their side. The two cats rolled, spitting and clawing wildly as the day shattered with screams and howls. Baboon's Shriek finally gained the upper paw, pinning the rogue beneath him as he sank his teeth into their throat. Their blood stung as it washed through his mouth, but he refused to let go before the rogue finally grew still. As he leaned back, he spat to clear his mouth as he took in their unseeing eyes. They were frozen, claws still extended and face twisted with rage. As Baboon's Shriek turned to rejoin the battle, he noticed that all cats were staring at him and the body behind him. He dug his claws in the ground, snarling as he looked at the rogues. "You're next," he snarled, knowing how he must look. He could feel his entire muzzle and chest were coated in the rogue's blood, giving him a crazed look as he threatened the trespassers. The rogues slowly began to back away in the direction of the border, so he decided to give them one last thing to remember. He lunged forward, sinking his claws into the haunches of the closest rogue. They ripped gashes in his side, and he watched as he jerked away and began to run while gasping in pain. Now, his paws matched his face. As he turned, slowly catching his breath as the adrenaline subsided, he saw that none of his patrol-mates had been injured in the fight. He knew he must look a mess, several scratches on his side and belly, so he slowly sank to his haunches before he could collapse. He only counted three other cats, so he knew Oribi's Horn had raced off to fetch Ostrich's Cry at the first opportunity. He was licking his wounds when the herbalist arrived, Pangolin rushing behind her while carrying the other half of the herb stores. She picked through each cat, assuring the blood was not theirs, before settling on Baboon's Shriek. She grunted as she began to doctor his wounds, and he could see her purposefully turning away from Jackal's Bite's body. Her eyes shone with unshed tears, and he began to remember how the two had grown closer in the past moons. Jackal's Bite, ever the flirt, had likely broken through to her. They hadn't been anywhere near courting, but Baboon's Shriek had assumed it would happen one day. Now that would never happen. He watched as she finished up with him and turned to clean up Jackal's Bite before taking him back to camp. She was barely holding back the sobs now, letting the tears fall as she dabbed at his throat and chest with water-soaked moss. Pangolin was shivering beside her, Baboon's Shriek was reminded that this was her first border skirmish she'd witnessed as an herbalist trainee, so he took a step toward her. She looked over at him and shook her head, understanding her role was to learn how to react in this situation as well as to support a clearly rattled Ostrich's Cry. Baboon's Shriek was growing numb as Ostrich's Cry finished, and he watched as she wove lavender into his pelt. She was gentle with him, and he could tell she was barely holding it together as she stepped back. The vigil would last all night, and he knew she would not leave his side. Pangolin would be unwilling to leave hers, but such a young cat would surely fall asleep. At that time, her mother would take her to her nest. Baboon's Shriek didn't want the herbalist to remain alone all night, so he vowed to be there as well, silently supporting her. The night would be long, but it was the least Jackal's Bite deserved. He had never wavered from the Order, and he would have willingly given his life in the fight had it not been taken from him in the cowardly attack the rogues had chosen. It never was going to be a fair fight, he knew, but he wished there had been some warning so that Jackal's Bite might have lived.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 21, 2024 13:42:48 GMT -8
037.
The four cats edged over the border slowly, wary even as the patrol seemed friendly. "Be slow. Don't give them any reason to think you're attacking," Rumble had whispered. As soon as they were fully across, the four let out sighs of relief after finally accepting it wasn't a trap. "My name's Rumble. That's Bushbuck, Bounce, and Twig," he decided, gesturing at each of his groupmates as they started walking in the direction they assumed was camp. The leader of the patrol, Buffalo's Charge, looked at them before shaking his head with a chuckle. "You'll have to change those names. You've heard how we name ourselves," he said, and Rumble looked at his friends. "Maybe Gemsbok's Rumble for you? Keeps a bit of your old name," the tom offered, obviously hoping to speed the process along. Rumble thought the name over before nodding. Something about it just felt right. "How about Bushbuck's Yawn for you," Buffalo's Charge added, and Gemsbok's Rumble couldn't help but chuckle. This cat seemed to enjoy coming up with names. Bushbuck very quickly agreed, and soon the others were named Cheetah's Snarl and Eland. "Hyena's Breath will like it if you come in with names already picked out. We'll all vouch for you, so there shouldn't be any reason to deny your joining," the cat rambled on. The patrol slowly learned about the Order, from their ranking structure to the rules they lived by. The Order seemed cold and distant, but these cats seemed friendly enough. "If you value ruthlessness so much, why did you offer to let us join when we asked? Why not chase us away?" Gemsbok's Rumble asked. Buffalo's Charge studied him for a second before laughing. "You four aren't a threat. Now, those rogues from last moon that killed Jackal's Bite? They're a threat," the tom meowed, and Gemsbok's Rumble's eyes darted to Bushbuck's Yawn. That attack had led the both of them to leave the group of rogues and join the Order, but maybe it was better if the rest didn't know that. They were finally at camp, and Buffalo's Charge smiled as he led them in. "Welcome to your new life, you four. I'll go fetch Hyena's Breath," the tom announced, and Gemsbok's Rumble was left to take it all in. Hyena's Breath froze as Mongoose's Chatter and Python limped into camp, scratches littering their bodies as they drug themselves to Ostrich's Cry's den. The smell of cheetah was unmistakeable, and the fur along her spine stood on end. "What happened?" she asked, rushing across camp before they could disappear into Ostrich's Cry's clutches. Mongoose's Chatter, looking exhausted, looked up at her and sighed. "The cheetahs were waiting for us at the border. The rest of the patrol stayed behind to watch for a while, sending us back since we obviously got the short end of the stick," he said, grimacing as he tried to gingerly place a paw on the ground. She narrowed her eyes and took in a slow breath, bidding them farewell before crossing camp and tapping Civet's Scurry on the shoulder. One look between the two and they were in Hyena's Breath's den, the Matriarch passing on Mongoose's Chatter's story. As the words settled on the Aide, Hyena's Breath could see the worry in her gaze. "The gods are sending a message that they remember their threat. Maybe this is the start of it," Hyena's Breath fretted, starting to pace. "We knew this was going to happen," Civet's Scurry sighed, reaching out and resting a paw on Hyena's Breath before she could work herself into a frenzy. "All we can do is put more cats on patrols and make them aware of what to expect," she meowed. Hyena's Breath nodded, still clearly not calmed. The Matriarch began to dig her claws into the ground, and Civet's Scurry leaned forward to nuzzle her. Hyena's Breath leaned into her touch, sighing happily as she began to lose her worry. It would never fully leave, but she could at least ignore it for a while. Civet's Scurry laughed as Zebra's Gallop made a face, obviously disgusted by something she smelled. She bumped shoulders with her closest friend, happy to finally have some sense of normalcy again. With all the stress of losing Wildebeest's Stampede and the gods' threats, they hadn't had time to just go for a walk around the territory. "I've missed this," Civet's Scurry sighed, looking up at the sky while she debated on how long it really had been since anything had felt normal. She really had missed this, spending time outside the camp with the molly she'd joined the Order with all those moons ago. "Anything interesting happen to you in the past quarter moon? Feels like it's been longer since we last really got to chat," she meowed, padding along. As Zebra's Gallop opened her mouth to reply, she slowed to a stop and slowly swiveled her head as she took in their surroundings. Before Civet's Scurry could ask what was wrong, a tail was shoved in her mouth as Zebra's Gallop turned and narrowed her eyes on a bush. Its leaves began to rattle, and a scrawny coyote staggered out. Its mouth was covered in white, foamy slobber, and it had a look of pure rage in its eyes. "Run!" Zebra's Gallop called, launching herself at the rabid beast. Civet's Scurry was frozen to the spot as she bowled the coyote over, sinking her teeth into its shoulder. She twisted and pulled to remain out of the grasp of its teeth, but Civet's Scurry knew the second blood was drawn. Zebra's Gallop let out a scream as the coyote sank its teeth into her leg, dragging her around and snarling. "You leave her alone!" Civet's Scurry screamed, darting forward and raking her claws across the coyote's flank. It lunged at her, but Zebra's Gallop surged up and gripped its neck in her jaws. As the coyote thrashed, it slammed her against a tree trunk. She dropped, the coyote running off, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. Civet's Scurry scrambled to Zebra's Gallop's side, stomach sinking as she saw the large bite on her rear leg. If the coyote had rabies, that bite was all that was needed for Zebra's Gallop to be infected. Maybe Ostrich's Cry would know what to do, she thought, raising her eyes to Zebra's Gallop's face. It was twisted in pain, and her breath caught in her throat as she realized her friend's back was bent at an angle it should not be. Zebra's Gallop's breathing was growing shallower as she lifted her gaze to the sky. This was a blessing in disguise, Civet's Scurry knew, letting her friend pass before the infection could settle into her. "I'll see you soon, Wildebeest's Stampede," Zebra's Gallop sighed, the breath leaving her lungs and not being drawn back in. Tears slid down Civet's Scurry's muzzle, the knowledge that her friend was dead settling over her. She would take her across the border and bury her herself to prevent any other cat from coming in contact with anything the coyote had touched. It was what Zebra's Gallop would have wanted, a quiet burial that wasn't attended by every cat in the Order. Civet's Scurry was barely able to breathe as the gravity of what had happened finally settled, and she slowly slid to the ground as she allowed herself to grieve. She would have time to take care of things soon, after she had cried hard enough to leave her throat raw and her eyes dry.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 21, 2024 14:12:20 GMT -8
038.
"Welcome, Duiker's Trot!" Hyena's Breath called. Sitatunga chanted the newcomers name, taking a look around and noticing just how much the Order had grown in the past several moons. Despite not having been there very long, she knew that the Order was much bigger than when she had arrived. As she watched the newcomer enter the crowd and sit down, she felt Bonobo shifting impatiently beside her. He had passed his final assessment earlier that day, so now all he was waiting for was Hyena's Breath's official announcement of the end of his training. He had rambled on and on about what he thought his new name would be, but Sitatunga could honestly care less. She'd struggled on some of the earlier tasks, so her training was taking longer than his. Bonobo was the golden son, able to do anything with no practice perfectly on the first try. She wanted to be happy for him, she really did, but it was hard when she was supposed to be there right beside him, graduating at the same time. Jealousy reared its ugly head as she watched him step forward alongside his mentor. Cobra's Strike seemed smug to have trained the first trainee to graduate to the scavenger rank. Sitatunga wanted to smack the smug look right off her face, but she was reminded that it was her littermate's special day. He deserved this! Soon, she was shouting 'Bonobo's Swing' at the top of her lungs, hoping he could hear her amongst the crowd. She could feel the tears in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. She would finish her training soon. She knew she would. She had to. She took a deep breath and put on a large smile, stepping forward to nuzzle her littermate as he rushed to her. He was excited, so she would be excited as well. Even if she was upset, he didn't deserve her moping to interrupt one of the biggest days of her life. It would be her turn soon even if she would always be a step behind, hidden by his shadow. Meerkat's Burrow looked up at Aardvark's Dig out of the tops of her eyes. The words had just escaped before she could stop them, and now the molly was looking at her. She couldn't quite tell what expression was on her face, and she sure couldn't tell what expression was on Mongoose's Chatter's face. He was off to the side, out of her line of sight. She wanted to look at him, but she couldn't even bring herself to lift her muzzle to really look at Aardvark's Dig. She shouldn't have said it, she decided. She would remain in the nursery once Aardvark's Dig moved back to the scavengers' den, and she would avoid them on patrols and in camp. "Really?" She barely caught the words, and the hope in them, amongst all her jumbled thoughts. She felt a paw beneath her chin, and she slowly lifted her head until she made eye contact with Aardvark's Dig. "Really?" the molly asked again, and Meerkat's Burrow finally registered the shock in her eyes. She slowly nodded, and the shock dissolved into something that resembled what she thought was joy. It was hard to tell since she had started shaking so hard that the world was blurry. "Can you say it again?" she asked, and Mongoose's Chatter stepped into her line of sight. He nodded at that point, encouraging her to do it. "I think I'm in love with you two," Meerkat's Burrow whispered. Aardvark's Dig began to smile then, as did Mongoose's Chatter, and she leaned forward to press her nose to Meerkat's Burrow's. "Do you want to be our mate?" Mongoose's Chatter asked, and Meerkat's Burrow whipped her head in his direction. "We've already discussed it since we both have been having some feelings about you. We just weren't sure yet, but this kind of confirms it. We don't want to tell the pups, yet. We kind of want to treat it as a kind of a trial run, you know?" he meowed, voice taking on a bit of a rambling tone. Meerkat's Burrow was nodding before she knew she was, obviously overcome with emotion. It was so exciting, and she finally took a breath. It was happening, what she had dreamed about since she first felt those butterflies in her stomach. Everything would be okay, she thought, now that she had found a family.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 21, 2024 16:19:31 GMT -8
039.
Mongoose's Chatter watched with barely contained excitement as nine new cats were welcomed to the Order. Nyala's Whisper, Bat's Squeak, Bongo's Horn, Mamba's Hiss, Klipspringer's Dance, Warthog's Hoof, and Ratel's Stomp were the newest scavengers, having previously been a rogue group that decided they wanted to live in a Clan. Antelope had been found on the border when Gemsbok's Rumble returned with his newborn daughter, Gelada. Meerkat's Burrow had elected to stay in the nursery with them since Gelada was little enough to still need milk. Mongoose's Chatter was proud of her choice, even if she would not play a primary paw in raising them. The new cats joined the group of gathered cats except for the pups, who were herded or carried to the nursery. Hyena's Breath continued the ceremony, and Mongoose's Chatter cheered as loud as he could as his six younger pups were named trainees. Honey Badger was to be trained by Nyala's Whisper, Lemur by Gemsbok's Rumble, Gazelle by Bongo's Horn, Hoopoe by Duiker's Trot, Mosquito by Elephant's Trumpet, and Eagle by Painted Dog's Howl. Even if they hadn't revealed their decision to be in a relationship yet, Mongoose's Chatter already viewed Meerkat's Burrow's pups as his own. He'd already been a major part in their upbringing since he and Aardvark's Dig had been such close friends with their mother, so it really wasn't that far of a stretch. He turned to his older pups now, grinning as Otter and Hyrax padded up to the front. Otter was named Otter's Twirl and Hyrax was Hyrax's Bounce. There really wasn't much bouncing in his son right now, considering he'd been injured in the final assessment. He'd crashed into Eland and Python, who were practicing their stalking. Despite recovering and passing the assessment, he still favored his front left paw as he limped to join the scavengers. "Congratulations!" Mongoose's Chatter purred, rushing forward to press his nose to his pups'. "I'm so proud of you two! I still remember when you were too little to stand," he blubbered, smothering them. Otter's Twirl twisted out his grasp, but Hyrax's Bounce was too afraid of hurting his already hurt paw to back away. "Dad," he complained, and Mongoose's Chatter stepped back to smile down at him. "Your littermates will join you soon, but I'm so proud of everything all of you have done. You're just the best," he continued until he was startled by Aardvark's Dig appearing beside him. She chuckled and pushed him away, bidding a quick congratulations to their pups. "Let them celebrate with their friends, dear. They'll come to us once all the excitement calms down," she purred, and he leaned against her gratefully. "I know you get all emotional, but you've really got to keep yourself together!" she chuckled happily. She was right, he knew, but days like today deserved all the emotion and excitement. Gemsbok's Rumble carried Gelada to the nursery after she had been presented to the Order and named. Meerkat's Burrow was herding Antelope in front of him, but he only had eyes for his daughter. It had been a chance meeting with her mother, nothing more than a fling, and he had been terrified when news arrived that she was expecting. The fear had quickly been replaced by excitement, though, and now they were here. He was a father. A father! As he nestled Gelada into their nest — he would be staying in the nursery when not occupied by scavenger duties — he looked down and realized just how tiny she was. She nearly disappeared into his belly fur, and he realized she wasn't going to move much since her eyes and ears weren't open yet. All he wanted to do was stare at her, really, but his thoughts were interrupted when Meerkat's Burrow cleared her throat. "She'll probably want to eat before you settle down for a nap," she reminded him gently, and he stood up abruptly. He carried her over and set her at Meerkat's Burrow's belly, stepping back to watch. "You're going to be a great father, you know. You don't have to be so worried about it," she murmured after the two pups were settled and suckling. "I'm not that nervous," he meowed, stumbling over his words awkwardly. Meerkat's Burrow just shook her head. "Trust me, I was terrified when I adopted Bonobo and Sitatunga. I found out I was pregnant just after that, and it seemed like it was too much. Even though I knew the older ones would be training by the time the younger ones were born, I felt like I could never be enough. I felt like I didn't know anything, like everything would be a mistake. I spent so long scared that I nearly missed it all. You've got to get past that fear so that you can truly enjoy this time because they don't stay little for long. She'll be in the trainees' den in the blink of an eye," she meowed, and Gemsbok's Rumble looked at her with freshly opened eyes. She'd always seemed so knowledgable about raising the pups. She really was just like him, though, not quite sure of her place while everything was still so fresh and new. "It'll get better," she promised him, looking down at Gelada to signal that the pup had finished and fallen asleep. Gemsbok's Rumble thanked her after carrying Gelada back to their nest before curling around her nuzzling her gently as he made sure she was plenty warm in the early Newleaf chill. She was his perfect little daughter, and everything was going to be okay now that they were together.
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