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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 22, 2024 8:51:49 GMT -8
040.
Cobra's Strike grinned as he spun through the tall grass, darting left and right before popping his head back up to see where Kudu's Gaze was. The molly, with her multi-colored pelt and shortened legs, was exceptionally good at hiding in the tall grass, so it took him several moments before he spotted her. She was crouched, but her tail stuck straight up and gave away her position. Dropping to his belly, he crawled forward for several lengths before he pounced. His paws wrapped around her, and soon they were rolling until they were both on their backs laughing. "We really should get back to hunting," Cobra's Strike sighed after the silence settled, but Kudu's Gaze pouted. "Do we really have to? It always takes so long!" she groaned, reaching her paws up into the air. She had a point, Cobra's Strike knew, but he also knew Civet's Scurry would skin them alive if they returned without so much as a mouse between them. With a grunt, he rolled over and stood up. As his head popped out of the grass, he ducked and let out a quiet curse. "What?" Kudu's Gaze asked, suddenly rolling over and keeping close to the ground. Without saying a word, he looked up right as the hawk dove again, talons outstretched. He let out a hiss of pain as they dug into his shoulders, but he threw himself to the side and rolled before the hawk could think about attacking again. He felt the bird beneath him, and he watched as Kudu's Gaze launched herself at the hawk and buried her claws in its neck. The bird twitched, and Cobra's Strike rolled away from the two. He grunted as he reached a paw up to try and check his wound, and Kudu's Gaze hopped up and inspected his shoulders. "It's not deep, but it's bleeding pretty badly. Ostrich's Cry will bandage you right up just as soon as we get this hawk to the fresh-kill pile," she chirped, turning back to their kill with a look of pride. It wasn't the best way to catch something, but it would do, he guessed. Caracal and Sitatunga looked at each other as Hyena's Breath called the Order together. They were both graduating after their littermates, and a sense of friendship had blossomed between them in the recent moons. "It's finally our turn," Caracal grinned, and Sitatunga couldn't help but let her own smile shine through. The two bumped shoulders as Hyena's Breath called them both forward then strutted to present themselves in front of the Order. "We are here to celebrate a momentous day. Sitatunga and Caracal have passed their final assessments, so they are now ready to become scavengers! Caracal, for your excellence in hunting I name you Caracal's Jump. May you serve the Order well," Hyena's Breath announced as she touched her nose to Caracal's Jump's forehead. "Sitatunga, for your ability to best any cat in a fight I name you Sitatunga's Spar. May you serve the Order well," the Matriarch meowed. Sitatunga leaned forward, bumping her forehead into Hyena's Breath's nose before pulling away with an anxious laugh. The two cats turned to watch the group of cats, pride swelling in their chest as a chant of their new names rose. Sitatunga's Spar grinned as she met her brother's eyes in the crowd, then she slowly spotted her mother cheering the loudest from the edge of the nursery. This was all she had wanted, even if it had taken her a little longer than others. Buffalo's Charge was panting by the time the patrol was half-over, heaving and struggling to draw breath into his lungs as if they were resisting it. It may only have been Newleaf, but a heat wave was rolling over the land and smothering everything. His patrolmates turned to check on him, but he waved them off. He was fine, it was just a little overheating. "I'm going to go find a stream," he meowed, his voice scratchy from the effort breathing was taking. Before Dugong's Spin could offer to go with him, he turned and started trying to figure out where he was. He finally pinpointed the direction he needed and staggered that way, unable to stop his mouth from gaping open as he trudged along. He was starting to drool as the stream came into view, but it felt even more like he couldn't get enough air into his lungs to satiate the hunger for it. He was growing desperate, and he slid to the ground as he drug himself into the stream. The water washed over his pelt, somehow shockingly warm. Everything was too warm, and he knew there had to be a way to cool himself off. He began gulping the water down, and it soothed him even if it was warm. He pulled herself onto the bank and flopped onto his side, panting as the sun beat down on him. It was getting to be too much. He needed shade. He crawled to the trunk of a nearby tree, settling into the shade and trying to press himself as tightly against the trunk as possible. The world was starting to shimmer, black dots floating and dancing about as he tried to squeeze his eyes shut. He was growing nauseous, as if he had been spinning and spinning and suddenly stopped. As he opened his eyes again, he realized the world was growing brighter. It became too much to bear, so he curled into himself and tried to cover his eyes. It was just too hot, there wasn't enough shade in the world to protect him. As he tried to hide from the brightness, he felt a paw tap his flank gently. "Buffalo's Charge?" The voice startled him, and he unfurled himself while looking up in surprise. Zebra's Charge and Wildebeest's Stampede looked down at him, stars shimmering in their pelts. The world was no longer bright, instead darkened as if it were always night with a sky filled with stars and a full moon. "Where am I?" he croaked, and Zebra's Gallop looked down at him in what he thought was pity. If he was seeing these two cats, who had already died, did that mean he was dead too? Was this the afterlife? "I'm so sorry, Buffalo's Charge, but you've died. You can still watch after the Order and walk in their dreams, but you will never walk amongst them again," Zebra's Gallop explained slowly. Questions whirled in his mind, and he looked around as he tried to gather his thoughts. What about his body? Would the Order find it? "Your patrolmates have already found you, and Ostrich's Cry is preparing you for your vigil. You can stay here and watch, if you would like," she explained, motioning toward a small pond. As he stepped over to look at it, he realized he could look through the pond and see the living realm. He really was dead. He sank to his haunches and watched as Ostrich's Cry and Pangolin wove lavender and mint through his pelt, preparing him for the proper rites he would receive that night. He took a deep breath and hung his head. "I think I'd like to watch alone," he murmured. Zebra's Gallop and Wildebeest's Stampede both nodded as they stepped away. There weren't going to be many cats living here, so he knew there would be plenty of space for them to disappear to. It was strange, watching your body from an outsider perspective, but something about it was soothing to Buffalo's Charge. It was a sort of closure, seeing his friends grieve for him and accept what he had just barely accepted himself. "Ostrich's Cry," Hyena's Breath murmured, tapping the herbalist on the shoulder. The sun had risen, and it was time for Buffalo's Charge to be carried off and buried. The herbalist had made the decision to always attend the vigils for dead clanmates after Jackal's Bite's passing, feeling it showed respect since she knew all of her clanmates so personally. She turned to look at the Matriarch and was not surprised to see Civet's Scurry lingering behind her. The two were never far from each other, and they had been that way even before they had become mates. She lifted her head and motioned to the party of cats who would bury the body, stepping back to follow the two mollies to their den. They clearly had something they wanted to discuss. "We don't think the Order can survive the gods' wrath," Hyena's Breath sighed as she sank into her nest. This was not news to Ostrich's Cry. When four all-powerful beings decided they wanted revenge on the living, there had never been a chance of survival in her mind. She had accepted the fact a long time ago, and it seemed the other two mollies were only just now approaching the same conclusion. "We don't know when they will attack, but we have to make a plan. I don't know how else our Order will have any hope of surviving. We might even discuss removing some cats from our camp permanently, allowing them to survive outside the territory until the deed is done," Hyena's Breath went on, but Ostrich's Cry shook her head. "They'll know everything you try. They're all-knowing and all-powerful. There is no outrunning them," Ostrich's Cry sighed, sounding weary and desperate for a nap. "There's nothing you can do, and the sooner you can accept that, the better," the herbalist rose and shook her head. Their Order was so young and yet had suffered so much. There had been too many deaths in recent moons, and all she wanted was to rest. But she couldn't rest until tonight. She had to teach Pangolin about poisons. If she did not know about them, she would not be able to avoid them and she might even actually give a cat one. Outside of that, poisons were one of the bests ways the herbalists had for defending themselves. It was an important topic, and it had been put off long enough. "If you have any real ideas, tell me. Until then, I would like to be left alone," she whispered, slipping out of the den.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 24, 2024 9:58:05 GMT -8
041.
Dip and Slip looked at each other with a gentle smile before both looking across the border at the cat who stared at them with wide eyes. "What do you think, Dip?" Slip asked, grinning as he lowered himself to the ground so that he was at eye level with the young cat. The molly was trembling, and Slip cocked his head. "I don't think this little one is supposed to be all the way out here all by herself. How about we escort her back to her camp and introduce ourselves to her leader? Maybe life will get easier for us," Slip meowed slowly so that both his friend and the terrified little molly could understand. Dip nodded along. Slip was always the brains of their duo, and Dip was quite prone to following whatever Slip decided. They'd been traveling together since Slip was no bigger than the molly in front of them, and it had been clear who the leader was from very early on. "What's your name, little one?" Dip asked, stepping forward and joining Slip in a crouch. "Honey Badger," she stammered out, and Dip smiled. "That's a wonderful name, Honey Badger. Would you be opposed to escorting me and my friend here back to your camp? We'll make sure you're safe, and then we'll see if she would be okay with us joining your Clan," Slip explained, and Honey Badger nodded as he watched the fear slowly begin to melt off of her. The newly formed trio set off, and soon Honey Badger was telling them all about life in the Order. Slip was confused at first until he realized that this Clan called themselves an Order. Strange, but their naming traditions also varied from the Clan names he had originally learned about. When Honey Badger explained that they'd both need to change their names, Dip and Slip looked at each other before shrugging. "If that's what it takes to join the Order, then so be it. We've lived a hard life, traveling around just us two, so we're ready to settle down and live a more peaceful life for a while. Dip over there is starting to get old, you see, so soon he'll be complaining about stiff joints, and I'd rather there be other cats to take care of that instead of me," Slip chuckled, saying the last part in a half-whisper to make it seem like he was sharing a secret with Honey Badger. The little molly grinned, and Slip leaned back up to wink at Dip. As they reached the camp, several cats burst from the entrance and herded Honey Badger away while throwing suspicious glances at the two toms. Two cats circled them and forced them into the camp, clearly fighting back the urge to growl at them. "Such a warm welcome to the cats who bring back one of your own safe and unharmed," Slip sighed, smiling across the camp at Honey Badger. She beamed back at him, and he watched as a duo of colorpoint cats quickly pushed her behind them. "A thank you would be appreciated, you know. We never would've hurt a kit," Slip groaned, finally getting tired of being treated this way. They finally stopped before a yellow and dark brown molly who stared down her nose at them with a sneer curling her lip. "Your Majesty," Slip meowed, bowing and looking up at her out of the tops of his eyes. She swatted at him with sheathed claws and snarled. "You will not mock me!" she snapped, stepping back as she took them in. "What brings you to our land, and what gives you the right to kidnap one of our trainees and use them as a hostage?" the molly, who Slip assumed was Hyena's Breath, growled. She was working her claws in the dirt, and he knew he did not want to feel those claws tear through his pelt. "We were on your border waiting for a patrol when little Honey Badger over there appeared. We instantly knew that a cat so small should not be allowed so far from your camp without a chaperone, so we offered to escort her back so long as she showed us the way and let us speak with you. We would like to join your Order, you see," Slip explained. Hyena's Breath did not look convinced, but Honey Badger jumped in and nodded while looking between them. She was pushed to the side, and the Matriarch growled. "Slip and Dip, if you want to join our Order, you will have to prove yourselves. You will be watched every second of every day until you do so. Welcome, Genet's Dip and Hog's Slip," she meowed, officially giving them their names as she turned around and stalked off. As Hog's Slip turned to look at Genet's Dip, a cat came between them and demanded they go on a hunting patrol to show if they knew how to catch prey or not. Maybe this new life wouldn't be so easy after all, Hog's Slip thought as he was rushed from the camp. Aardwolf's Mane looked over the camp as she chewed on the traveling herbs. Baboon's Shriek and Giraffe's Strut were grooming each other, likely celebrating their recent status of being mates. Aardvark's Dig, Mongoose's Chatter, and Meerkat's Burrow were all sharing prey and laughing about something. Those three had become extremely close in the recent moons, and Aardwolf's Mane had her suspicions on their romantic involvements with each other. As she swallowed the bitter herbs, she chased the gossip out of her mind and turned toward the camp entrance. She'd been tasked with scouting the graveyard, something she was used to doing every few moons at minimum. It was a normal event, but Hyena's Breath was making her go much earlier than she was used to. Before she knew it, she was crossing the border and the graveyard was on the horizon. As she crested the hill, she could see that most of the graves were now covered with flowers. The one on the far side, though, was still topped with disturbed dirt. Hyena's Breath had not visited in many moons, but it seemed that that specific spot was frozen in time. No matter how many seasons passed, the dirt never settled and the plants never grew. As she crossed the graveyard, she blinked and realized the scents of four animals were covering the land. Lions, cheetahs, elephants, and rhinoceroses had all been here recently, too recently for Aardwolf's Mane's tastes. A chill raced down her spine as she noted paw prints and spots that clearly showed they'd slept there. However, the graves were undisturbed. They were gathering, she knew. It would not be much longer before they begin attacking them in the night, picking them off one by one. If she wanted to destroy a land, that was what she would do. Whittle their numbers down slowly, terrifying them and breaking their spirits until they were weak enough to launch a full-scale attack on. As she turned and readied herself for the journey home, she cast one long look over her shoulder at the frozen grave. She did not know why it did not age, but something tickled in the back of her brain as she looked away and headed back to camp.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Jan 25, 2024 13:31:33 GMT -8
042.
"Belly closer to the ground," Bongo's Horn instructed, reaching forward and pushing down on Gazelle's rear. His tail was straight in the air, and he quickly laid it flat behind him before tucking it tightly around his side. By keeping it close, there was no way it could alert anything to his position. He had to learn how to stalk so that he would be better at ambush hunting and ambush fighting. The element of surprise was one thing the Order loved, and all trainees spent at least a moon perfecting their stalking techniques once they had mastered the basic elements of hunting and fighting. He heard Bongo's Horn grunt in approval, so he slid a paw forward and made sure to set it on the ground lightly. It was Greenleaf, so there were no fallen leaves to impede his path, but Gazelle knew he had to act as if the entire ground was one giant dead leaf to avoid making accidental and careless noises. "I think your form is coming along nicely, Gazelle," Bongo's Horn announced, and the trainee bounced up from the ground to listen to his mentor's new instructions. After a few moments contemplating, the scavenger turned and looked down at him. Bongo's Horn hadn't been in the Order for very long, but Gazelle knew he was absolutely the best mentor in the entire world. He was so knowledgeable, and he was also very good at explaining what he wanted in a way that was easy to understand. "I want you to stalk a rabbit for a minimum of ten fox-lengths before pouncing," he decided, and Gazelle nodded. The duo set off, sniffing low and high until Gazelle froze and drug his gaze across the ground. Finally, he spotted the rabbit about halfway up a hill munching on some grasses. Instantly, Gazelle was flat against the ground while Bongo's Horn slunk back into the trees they had just left. He would watch while Gazelle demonstrated his new skills, so Gazelle slowly slid forward. His paws rested so softly on the ground that it was as if the the grass wasn't even disturbed. The rabbit hopped along unknowingly, and Gazelle followed it up and over the hill. He knew it had been much longer than ten fox-lengths, but he was being careful enough that he hadn't yet gotten close enough to pounce. Finally, the chance presented itself as the rabbit remained still after finding a lovely patch of clovers. Gazelle bunched his muscles and drew his body in together as opposed to the spread out, flat form he had previously been in, and he took a deep breath in as he stilled his fast-beating heart. He shoved off as he breathed out, flying through the air and slamming his paws onto the rabbit's spine. The creature shrieked and twisted, rearing up with terrifyingly long claws for an herbivore. Before Gazelle could deliver a killing bite, he felt its claws tear into his shoulder. He could feel blood trekking its way through his fur and down his leg, but he quickly killed the rabbit and stepped back to assess the damage. Bongo's Horn was loping up the hill with a concerned look, but he seemed relieved as he reached the top. "Nice job. You're not used to your prey fighting back, are you?" the tom chuckled, leaning down to get a closer look at Gazelle's injured shoulder. "You obviously know your stalking, but I'll have to teach you how to react when this happens. Let's get you back to Ostrich's Cry, but it shouldn't be too bad. Something to prevent infection and some cobwebs and you'll be good as new. It's really not that deep. You can lean on me, though, because I know that has to sting," he meowed. Gazelle was thankful for the help, his shoulder really did hurt, but he was quite happy that he'd proven his skills to his mentor. "These past few moons have been just the best," Aardvark's Dig murmured as she groomed along Meerkat's Burrow's spine. She knew it was one of the hardest spots to reach, so having another cat do it was just about the best feeling in the world. The other molly was purring, and she twisted her neck to look at her. "It never really felt like anything was missing from our relationship," she paused to look over at Mongoose's Chatter, "but now I can't imagine it without you. It's like you were a puzzle piece we never even knew we needed." She sighed, dropping her head to rest her chin on Meerkat's Burrow's back. Mongoose's Chatter was nodded, and she was surprised when she saw a moment of clarity flash through his eyes. "I think it's time we tell the Order," he meowed suddenly, and she felt Meerkat's Burrow stiffen under her. "Are you sure? Are the pups ready? How do you think they'll react?" she began to fret, so Aardvark's Dig crawled forward and rubbed her cheek against hers. As Meerkat's Burrow calmed, Aardvark's Dig was reminded of one of the many reasons of why she loved her. She was so caring and always thinking about others, even if it sometimes devolved into putting too little thought on herself. That's why she was here, Aardvark's Dig knew, to be a balancing act to keep Meerkat's Burrow from crossing that line. She was also worried about their pups' reactions, but she knew they could not control the outcome. They only had a paw in the decisions and actions, not the reactions of others. "Why don't we start with the grown ones first? They're more likely to understand," Mongoose's Chatter meowed, and Aardvark's Dig nodded in agreement. She spotted a few of them now, namely Pangolin trotting along after Sitatunga's Spar, probably asking her about the sprain the latter had suffered recently. As the two mollies noticed them, Aardvark's Dig waved them over with a smile. As they approached, she could see them taking in the scene. It was no secret the three spent most of their time together, but rarely did they exist in such a comfortable manner that could give away what they really meant to each other. "I think it's time we tell you two something," Mongoose's Chatter started, "but I don't want you to go running off to tell your siblings. We want to tell them all ourselves." Pangolin and Sitatunga's Spar looked between them before recognition flared in their eyes. "We've asked Meerkat's Burrow to be our mate, and she's accepted. This won't change very much since she was already like another mother to you," the last part was directed at Pangolin. "We also know this may be confusing, so you don't have to treat her any differently than you already do," Aardvark's Dig finished. Pangolin was grinning, and so was Sitatunga's Spar even if it wasn't as pronounced as the herbalist trainee's. "Are you upset?" Meerkat's Burrow asked quietly as Sitatunga's Spar leaned down to nuzzle her. "Why would we be upset, mom? As long as you're happy, that's all that matters. We'll all feel that way. It also helps that you ended up happy with cats that are already important in our lives," the molly chuckled. Aardvark's Dig blinked back the tightness in her throat, happiness nearly overwhelming as she watched the two sides of their new family slowly knitting itself together. It wouldn't all be perfect, but she could tell it would all work out in the end.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Feb 3, 2024 10:04:47 GMT -8
043.
Cheetah's Snarl stood on the border and watched as the rest of her patrol circled around the loner, their darker points and paler belly reminding her of a longer furred Aardvark's Dig. As the circle herded them into the territory, she raked her eyes up and down their body as she inspected them for any sign of being a danger to her home. She was the patrol leader, so it was her duty to determine if this cat was safe to bring back to camp and present to Hyena's Breath as a new scavenger. "Name?" she barked, unwilling be even slightly friendly until she knew more about this cat. "Flinch," they murmured, and Cheetah's Snarl had to stifle a giggle. She could tell right away, from the sound of their voice, that Flinch was a very fitting name. As the moments ticked by, she watched as they pulled into themself and hid away from the reality staring them down. It was too hidden to be a ruse, but she knew even the most shy of cats could prove to be formidable allies. As the cats crossed the territory, Cheetah's Snarl was kind enough to allow them to pause and get a drink from the stream they had to cross. They were in the height of Greenleaf, and the temperature was like a physical weight pushing them down. "The Order of the Hyena isn't like those other Clans you've heard of," Cheetah's Snarl began, looking over her shoulder at Flinch. "We value strength and loyalty above all else. Weakness isn't permitted there," she purred, and several of her patrolmates snickered as she smirked. "Hyena's Breath may not like the looks of you, and then we'll be free to tear you to shreds until you leave our land. I'd work on that shy act of yours, if I were you," she chuckled, pricking her ears as she finally heard the distant sounds of camp. As they pushed into the clearing, several cats turned to inspect the newcomer. Flinch pulled away from them, but she could see them trying to stand straighter. Maybe they'd prove to be a good clanmate in time, she thought. "Hyena's Breath, this is Flinch. We found them on the border," she meowed, dipping her head respectfully toward the Matriarch as she presented the loner. The molly stepped forward and sniffed Flinch, circling them and poking them while grunting quietly to herself. "Welcome to the Order, Lechwe's Flinch," she meowed, stepping back and allowing her voice to ring across the camp. Several nearby cats quietly cheered, stepping forward to welcome their new clanmate. Pride shone in Cheetah's Flinch's chest as she realized Hyena's Breath was accepting the cat she had found. The cat she had thought would be a good addition to the Order. Finally, she was proving herself to be the best scavenger in the Order. Maybe it was time someone took Aardwolf's Mane's position from her, she thought while walking away. Wolf's Howl sank into a crouch as he pulled himself forward, the tall grass barely swaying as it moved out of his way. The bird was pecking at the roots of a tree, digging through the fallen fruit for the seeds. His lip curled upward as he realized his plan had worked. He'd climbed the tree, forced some of the lowest-hanging fruit to fall, and disappeared into the grass to wait. The bird was plump, it would feed several of his clanmates, so he took care to remain as low to the ground and silent as possible. As he reached the edge of the tall grass, he took stock of the single fox-length separating him from his prey. He gathered his limbs under himself, tensing his muscles and refusing to breathe as he prepared himself. Suddenly, he was flying through the air, paws extended, ready to grab the bird from the air once it realized it was in danger. As it let out several shrieks, flapping into the sky, his claws sank into its wings and drug it down. As he hit the ground, teeth delivering a killing bite, his hind leg gave out and he rolled to the side. "Fox-dung!" he cursed, lifting up to look at his rear paw. As he tried to stand on it, it buckled and sent pain singing through his body. As he pushed his prey to the side, he tested it until he knew he couldn't put any weight on it. He gathered the bird and began limping back to camp, embarrassment and anger burning his face. Hyena's Breath would take this as another excuse to belittle him. Ever since he had joined all those moons ago, she had never trusted him. He had never done anything, but she refused to believe him a capable scavenger. This would just add fuel to her fire, proving he was incapable of catching prey without injuring himself despite seasons of successful catches. It was as if nothing he did was enough, but every little mistake was a catastrophic failure. He knew she was under unbelievable amounts of stress as the Matriarch having to prepare her Order for the wrath of the gods, but he had grown to resent her. He tried so hard, gave his everything to all he did, but she continued to mistrust him and keep him effectively as the lowest respected scavenger. Even the newcomers were respected more than he. He dropped his bird on the fresh-kill pile and limped to Ostrich's Cry's den, ignoring the few concerned mews that mixed with the numerous whispers as cats talked about his failure. He sank into a fresh nest, not even registering Ostrich's Cry's words as Pangolin stepped up and began to prod along his paw. He hissed suddenly, jerking away from the trainee as pain shot through him. "Sorry!" she yelped, but she turned to Ostrich's Cry with a small smile. "It's just a heavy sprain, no broken bones," she reported. He was relieved to hear that at least, but it meant there wasn't too much the herbalists could do. He gulped down their offered poppy seeds and agreed to not go on patrol for the next moon. He drug himself across camp and collapsed into his nest, wrapping his tail over his nose as he tried to ignore the new whispers coming from the few scavengers who were lounging in the den. Gazelle's claws sank into the bark of the tree, and he felt Bongo's Horn's comforting weight disappear from beneath him. His mentor had stepped away to see if he was strong enough to cling to the side of the tree on his own, and Gazelle felt his muscles screaming in protest as he slowly removed one paw and raised it higher. Soon he was dragging himself slowly upward, gritting his teeth against the strain until he was laying across the lowest branch he had just barely managed to reach. His chest was heaving with the effort, and his shoulder was burning. As he turned to look, he groaned and shook his head. Blood dripped down his shoulder, his nearly-healed wound having been torn open during the climb. Climbing was hard to him, but Bongo's Horn had encouraged him to give it a go. He knew his mentor would blame himself, so he clenched his jaw and leaped down to the ground. As he landed, his leg buckled and his chin hit the ground. He heard Bongo's Horn hurrying forward, so he shuffled to his paws and stepped back. "I'm fine! I promise I'm fine," he spat, hoping his mentor wouldn't see the blood that was now leaking down his leg. Ostrich's Cry would delay his training even more, and he would be the last of his siblings in the trainee den. "You need to see the herbalists," Bongo's Horn meowed, stepping up and offering Gazelle a shoulder to lean on. Grateful, he let some of his weight be held up by his mentor as they made the slow walk back to camp. As he made it inside, he locked eyes with Mongoose's Chatter. His father hurried across the camp, worry flashing in his eyes, but Bongo's Horn blocked him. "He tore open his scratch while training. We're going to see Ostrich's Cry and Pangolin," he grunted, and Mongoose's Chatter stepped back. As Gazelle settled into the nest, he heard Ostrich's Cry begin sniffing and prodding at his wound. "Your wound is the least of your problems, Gazelle. By trying so hard not to land on that leg, you've broken it," she meowed gently. Broken? He hadn't even noticed the pain. Yet he could feel his heart hammering in his chest, something he'd attributed to anxiety and worry. As he choked down a poppy seed, he felt the beginnings of pain start tingling up his leg. He must've been in shock, so overwhelmed with adrenaline that he hadn't felt his own bones snapping. "You're going to need to stay in my den for a while. No training for at least two moons," Ostrich's Cry grunted as she stretched his leg out and placed a stick along it. He felt her begin wrapping it with cobwebs and bindweed, securing the stick in place that would hold his bones steady while they knit themselves back together. Now he would never get his full name. Even the pups in the nursery might finish their training before him. As bitterness swept over him, he buried his nose under his paw and tried to close his eyes. As sleep slowly began to wash over him, he felt a cat roughly his size settle into his nest and begin grooming his ears. He knew it was Pangolin, his sister, comforting him. She knew what it was like, not graduating at the same time as your littermates, but she had an excuse. Herbalist training took much longer than scavenger training. Regardless, he leaned into her touch and let himself slip away. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather to hear my words!" Hyena's Breath's words echoed across the camp, and she watched as two trainees and a pup gathered at the back of the camp. They were the reason they were gathering today, and she smiled as she watched their mentors join them as well as Meerkat's Burrow, the pup's foster mother. "Today is a special day for we have three cats to recognize for their growth. Python, come forward," she called. The tortoiseshell colorpoint stepped forward slowly, her body stiff and chin high as she held her composure. Oribi's Horn was grinning from the back of the crowd, their sister-like bond having only grown stronger in the past moons. "Python, you have proven yourself to be an excellent hunter and a strong opponent. As you have successfully completed your final assessment, I name you Python's Slither. May your speed and stealth aide you in becoming the best scavenger you can be," Hyena's Breath leaned down and pressed her nose to Python's Slither's forehead. The new name went up as a cheer amongst the gathered cats, and she smiled as Python's Slither barely contained her excitement as she hurried back to Oribi's Horn to celebrate. "Eland, come forward," she announced. The tom, a gray colorpoint, strode forward while looking around himself. Ant's March was at the front of the crowd, chest puffed out in pride as he watched his trainee. Hyena's Breath suppressed a smile as mentor and mentee shared a look before Eland presented himself before her. "Eland, your training has shown you to be a terrific climber and one of the best trackers we have seen. As you have successfully completed your final assessment, I name you Eland's Bray. May your strength and nose aide you in becoming the best scavenger you can be," the words echoed as she pressed her nose to Eland's Bray's forehead. She watched as his name went up in a cheer, and he stepped back to join Ant's March in the crowd. Finally, there was one last cat to celebrate. "Antelope, come forward," she announced. The pup ran the first few steps before a hiss from his foster mother made his steps falter and slow. By the time he reached her, she could see he was practically vibrating with excitement. "Antelope, you have reached six moons of age. As custom calls for, you are now a trainee of the Order of the Hyena. Your mentor will be Warthog's Hoof. May she teach you all she knows," she called. The hairless molly took a shocked step forward before finally joining them and smiling down at her new trainee. Hyena's Breath watched as mentor and mentee bumped noses, stepping back to join the crowd. Hyena's Breath signaled the meeting was over by raising her tail, and several cats took up a chant. "Python's Slither! Eland's Bray! Antelope!" The names shouted through the camp as cats slowly broke away to congratulate them in a more private fashion. Hyena's Breath took a deep breath as she watched her Order celebrate with unwavering joy and excitement. This truly was a moment to celebrate for, so she would make sure they would feast tonight. It had been way too long since such a day had occurred, after all.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Feb 5, 2024 12:54:46 GMT -8
044.
Hyena's Breath looked down her nose at the ginger striped tabby before her. They'd been found chasing rabbits inside the borders and promptly escorted to camp to be punished. The cat seemed as if they couldn't be bothered by the fact they'd attempted to steal prey, sitting there and licking their claws without a care in the world. Hyena's Breath dug her own claws into the soft ground beneath her and snarled, leaning forward and shoving her face into theirs. "What right do you think you have to steal prey from my Order?" she snarled, lips peeling back to reveal threateningly sharp teeth. The cat looked up at her and cocked their head, a look of blatant curiosity plastered on their face. "Just because you mark a border doesn't mean I can't hunt here. There was no physical barrier stopping me from crossing, so I did. Why shouldn't I join your Order just like all the pathetic cats you've let take sanctuary in your lands?" they meowed matter-of-factly. Hyena's Breath growled and raised her paw, striking the cat's face with sheathed claws. They were knocked back a step, and they looked at her with a sudden rage blistering in their gaze. "You should not have done that," they growled, suddenly springing forward and wrapping their paws around Hyena's Breath's neck. The much larger molly simply shook, sending the stranger skidding across the ground. She bounded toward them and held them down, her paw digging into their throat and claws extended so that only the tiniest of beads of blood bubbled up around them. "No cat has the right to attack the god-chosen Matriarch of the Order," she snarled, grinning as the cat began scrabbling at the ground in an attempt to get free from her hold. As their movements began to slow, she leaned off and allowed them to breathe again. "You have a spine, and I like that. But, you've proven you have no loyalties other than your own. You will be assigned a scavenger to remain at your side every morning until you learn our way of life. You will gather herbs with Ostrich's Cry and Pangolin whenever they need. You will clean out the nursery so that the trainees have more time for their training. You'll even clean out our dirtplace if you ever make me unhappy again," Hyena's Breath snapped. As she stepped back and allowed the cat to rise, she watched their chest rise and fall with barely-contained rage. She smirked and looked over her shoulder at Civet's Scurry. "Welcome Hare's Spring, the newest Scavenger of the Order," she announced. The cats around her looked at her in confusion, but she knew she was doing what needed to be done. Even if this cat had a lot to learn, they had courage that would be immensely useful when the day came that the gods would attack. It was growing ever closer, she knew, but she still couldn't quite tell exactly when. The circle of trainees took turns lunging at each other, each grinning before they darted in to swipe a paw of sheathed claws at their chosen opponent. Lemur slapped her paw across Hoopoe's face. Hoopoe swept Mosquito's legs out from under him. Mosquito pinned Eagle to the ground. Eagle slid between Lemur's legs and bucked the molly into the sky. And so the circle went, around and around as the four mentors cheered. The four trainees had begun their training all at the same time, and they were all on the same page except for Eagle. Eagle had managed to successfully earn a completion for her excellence in climbing while her denmates all struggled. They'd come out for sparring practice before the four others were to continue their attempts to learn how to climb trees. Eagle was to continue practicing for her final assessment that was set to occur the second she felt confident enough, but she'd wanted a few extra days of practice before committing. "Go for the belly!" Gemsbok's Rumble called, grinning as Lemur darted in and knocked Eagle onto her side and raked a pawful of sheathed claws across her soft belly fur. Eagle quickly righted herself and noted the direction of the circle had changed, so she quickly spun and charged directly at Mosquito. Her littermate balked, and she took the opportunity to grip one of his hind legs in her teeth and forcefully pull it out from under him. She slammed her paws down on his side, and he looked up at her in defeat. "That's enough," Painted Dog's Howl called before the two littermates could start fighting in the way that they always did. Eagle backed away, grinning as Mosquito scrambled to his paws and stuck his tongue out at her. She stuck her tongue out in retaliation before she felt a paw cuff her ears. "Trainees ready for their final assessment don't participate in petty squabbles," Painted Dog's Howl warned, and Eagle dropped her head in embarrassment. She could see amusement flickering in Mosquito's eyes, but she fought down the urge to smack the smirk off his face. "We're going to take off and do some hunting practice. I think that's just about the only thing we haven't practiced, yet," Painted Dog's Howl chuckled. Eagle's ears burned, but she fought it down. She wanted to pass her assessment, so she was fine to spend a few extra days preparing if it meant her chances were better. As they started to turn, the ground began to rumble. Painted Dog's Howl paused, turning around to look in the direction a distant roar was coming from. Before Eagle could realize what was happening, cats were scattering to climb trees. Her ears flattened as she took off, digging her claws into the bark of the nearest trunk to haul herself upwards. Mentors were hauling their trainees up, helping them when their muscles failed to carry them the entire way up. "Flash flood!" Painted Dog's Howl shrieked from the high branch she'd already settled herself on. Eagle barely had a second to look up before a wall of water slammed into her, knocking her loose into a spin through what felt like endless water. Her muzzle broke the surface and she gulped down air, all of it having been knocked from her lungs when she'd been swept up. She began to paddle, swinging her head left and right as she tried to find dry land or a tree or anything. She could see two other shapes struggling against the sudden current, and she recognized them as Gemsbok's Rumble and Hoopoe. Gemsbok's Rumble had to make it back to camp. Eagle knew he had a daughter in the care of Meerkat's Burrow who he'd promised to play with once he was done with today's training. Her legs cried out from exhaustion as she propelled herself forward, darting through the waves in the direction of her sibling and the scavenger. She would help them. She knew she was one of the strongest swimmers in the Order, mostly because they never needed to swim. Very rarely did flash floods occur, but they had chosen to practice too close to the river that lied on their border. As she bobbed along, she knew they were being pulled into the river's banks. That was the home of the crocodiles. If they didn't get out soon, they'd be prey for the terrifying reptiles. "Eagle!" Her name rang in her ears, and she looked up to see Painted Dog's Howl dangling from a low branch with her forepaws extended. Duiker's Trot was helping hold her in the tree. "Hoopoe! Gemsbok's Rumble!" she cried out, but her mentor shook her head fiercely. "Others will help them. You get out of there!" she snapped, the order reverberating around her. Eagle surged upward, clinging desperately to Painted Dog's Howl's paws with her claws as Duiker's Trot hauled them both backwards. Eagle collapsed onto the branch, coughing and vomiting up the water she'd swallowed. She realized the two cats had raced along the tree branches until they'd gotten into a position to catch her, so she stood up and shook some of the water from her pelt. Her legs were trembling, but there were others to save. She led the charge, jumping branch to branch, until Painted Dog's Howl slid in front of her. "No further. You're bleeding, and you're exhausted. Let us and Elephant's Trumpet help them," she demanded. Eagle opened her mouth to protest, but one look from her mentor silenced her. She watched as they shot through the trees, thankful they'd chosen to practice in one of the very few tree-heavy areas in the territory. Suddenly Painted Dog's Howl was dangling from her hind paws again, gripping Hoopoe and hauling him into the tree. Within seconds, both Duiker's Trot and Elephant's Trumpet were leaning down to take a paw each of Gemsbok's Rumble. The second Eagle could see both safely clinging to a tree branch while they spit up water, she felt her legs begin to give out. Darkness was rushing at her, and she felt pain from the countless stinging scrapes across her body. Her muscles were begging for her to collapse, so she shoved herself against the trunk and settled down to allow the blissfulness of sleep to overtake her. Hyena's Breath stood at the front of the camp, concern holding her back as she watched Ostrich's Cry and Pangolin running around in a panic. The barely conscious forms of Gemsbok's Rumble and Hoopoe, along with the completely unconscious Eagle, had been dragged back into camp moments before with word of a flash flood explaining their dripping wet pelts. She'd been planning to give Honey Badger her full name the second her littermates had returned from training, but now she didn't know if she should delay it. Lemur and Mosquito were huddled against Meerkat's Burrow, Aardvark's Dig, and Mongoose's Chatter, Honey Badger jumping around them as she listened to their story. As she watched, she was shocked when Aardvark's Dig lifted her head and caught her eye. A single nod was all it took before Hyena's Breath stood straighter and called out a greeting to her Order. "Tragedy has struck, but that is no reason to prevent the joyous celebration of a trainee completing their final assessment," she started. She spotted Honey Badger's shock, and she offered a comforting smile before turning back to her Order. "Honey Badger has proven her worth over again throughout her training, so I am pleased to name her Honey Badger's Snap. May she prove to be the excellent scavenger I expect she will be," Hyena's Breath announced, grinning as the new scavenger stepped forward. She pressed her nose to the younger cat's ear, whispering a quick congratulations before leaning away. The new name took up as a cheer in the cats around them, and Hyena's Breath smirked as the molly brightened at the sound of cats yowling her name. As the Order dispersed, she cast one last glance at the nursery. All three patients were now conscious, having been kept outside Ostrich's Cry's den so that she could move about them more freely. She'd also forced several cats to lick their fur the wrong way to accelerate their drying, which would've taken up too much space inside her den. Eagle was looking around wildly, and Hyena's Breath suppressed a chuckle as she watched relief wash over the molly once her eyes landed on an awake Gemsbok's Rumble and Hoopoe. Gelada was barely being held back, but she was in a rather loud conversation with her father from afar. They'd recover, even if it took a while for the fear to go away. Maybe she should force cats to become exceptionally proficient in swimming during their training, she mused as she turned back to her den. Ostrich's Cry stood standing over the small grave, eyes flickering with hatred, disgust, pride, and joy. Only recently had they discovered that the unchanging grave just outside of the territory had links to the realm of the gods. It was a direct line to Tumaini, but they were told to only use it during ceremonial times and emergencies. Pangolin didn't even know how Ostrich's Cry had figured it out, or why she'd left the territory to explore the graveyard anyway, but she wasn't about to ask. She knew her mentor hated this place, hated what had happened here, hated what had come out of it, but she also knew her mentor was proud of her for completing her training. That was why they were here tonight, for Pangolin to receive her full name and to commune with Tumaini for the first time. Ostrich's Cry would watch over her while she slept, keeping a vigil to mark the end of her time as an official mentor. "Pangolin, do you swear to always put your clanmates above yourself?" Ostrich's Cry began. "I do," she meowed in response. She would never take a mate. She would never have pups of her own. She would dedicate her life to healing her clanmates, protecting them in the way she knew best. "Do you swear to always provide faithful council to your clanmates?" Ostrich's Cry prompted. "I do," she replied. The role of herbalist was more of a healer role than a spiritual role. That was fulfilled by Hyena's Breath, which was why she was the primary cat that Tumaini spoke with. However, the herbalist was a high-ranking role. The herbalist would be looked to as a leader of the Order. She would be expected to provide emotional support for anxious clanmates. "Do you swear to continue learning so that you might one day discover a newer, better way to heal your clanmates?" Ostrich's Cry asked. "I do," Pangolin whispered, her voice stolen as she thought about her future. She would spend her days collecting and sorting herbs, maintaining the small garden to grow the herbs that were less naturally plentiful. She would heal and protect, and she would see her clanmates during the darkest days of their lives. She would be there for them in the way very few ever could. "Do you swear to remain loyal to the art of healing even if it means defying your Matriarch?" Ostrich's Cry's voice dropped to a whisper. "I do," Pangolin announced, the final swear settling over her as if it were a physical weight. This was a duty that only the herbalists knew about. They knew about the risk of corruption, and they knew that the need for healing exceeded any other order that might be given should a Matriarch make a poor decision. "Then I proclaim you Pangolin's Armor, newest herbalist of the Order of the Hyena, protector of the weak and healer of the broken," Ostrich's Cry's voice raised to a yowl, echoing through the silent landscape. The private ceremony sent chills down Pangolin's Armor's spine as she stepped forward, pressed her nose against her now former mentor's, then pressed her forepaws into the disturbed earth of the unchanging grave. The flowers sprouting around it turned their petals toward her, as if they were living creatures that encouraged her to bury her nose in the dirt and commune with the god. She followed their encouragement, sinking to her belly and shoving her nose into the cold dirt. Within seconds, the world was whirling away and being replaced by a starry replica. A hyena stood before her, looking down at her with thinly veiled boredom. "Tumaini," she breathed, reverence edging her mew as she sank into a deep bow. She felt a paw beneath her chin, and she lifted along with its urging until she looked the god in the eye. "Pangolin's Armor, I have waited for this day for many moons. I saw your path when you were born. You will face many trials, but you will be one of the greatest herbalists of all time. Do not let your faith waver, little one. Trust yourself, even when it seems impossible. You will always know in your heart what is right," the god murmured gently. Pangolin's Armor could see a fierce motherly love in her gaze, as if the god viewed the Order as her pups that should be protected at all costs. "You will do amazing things, little one. You will one day know why I whispered your name in Ostrich's Cry's ear all those moons ago, and by that time you will have accepted your destiny. Now go, Pangolin's Armor, and celebrate with your family while you still have time left," the god's voice turned ominous at the last second. "What do you mean by my destiny? What do you mean by time left? Wait!" Pangolin's Armor called as the world began to disappear. Suddenly, she was jerking up and scattering dirt from the unchanging grave. Ostrich's Cry looked down at her, and the molly lifted her eyes to realize the sun was rising. Had it really been an entire night? She rose to unsteady paws and looked back in the direction of camp. "Let's go. I want to tell my family about my new name," she meowed, forcing cheer into her voice even as she tried to figure out why Tumaini had grown strange during their last moments together.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Feb 5, 2024 14:36:53 GMT -8
045.
The group of four cats stood to Civet's Scurry's right, and the molly kept a wary eye on them as Hyena's Breath paced back and forth. They'd been found on the border, begging for sanctuary after their last group had been forced to disband when a pride of lions had taken their land. During their travels, they claimed to have spotted more cheetahs and lions than had ever been seen before. Civet's Scurry could see the worry in her mate's eyes, and she knew the exact thoughts racing through her mind. She knew the images of the gods along with their threats were swimming in front of Hyena's Breath's eyes, coming in and out of focus before her eyes suddenly sharpened. The Order was gathered before them, waiting to see whether their Matriarch would allow these four cats to join them. "My Order, I have decided that these cats will be allowed to join us. They have lived in a group before, so they will learn quickly to adapt to our ways of life here. Cowrie's Creep," she meowed, turning to a grey mink point molly, "I welcome you as a scavenger in the Order of the Hyena." The molly dipped her head respectfully and moved to join the group of cats, several of the friendlier faces moving toward her to introduce themselves and congratulate her. "Dragonfly's Shadow," this was directed at a cat so black that it was like looking into a void, "I welcome you as a scavenger in the Order of the Hyena." The cat stepped forward and bowed before following in Cowrie's Creep's pawsteps. Hyena's Breath turned to watch her Order. Civet's Scurry knew these cats would fit in. None of them seemed untrustworthy, even if it would take a while before they truly were trusted among the other scavengers. "Harrier's Feather," this was aimed at the white molly with both blue and yellow in her eyes, "I welcome you as a scavenger in the Order of the Hyena." Civet's Scurry smiled as the molly padded forward, bowed, then followed in her friends' path. She had seemed the wisest of the group, so Civet's Scurry had no doubt that she would prove to be an excellent addition to the Order. "Finally, Porcupine's Quill," the last remaining cat was a grey classic tabby tom with folded ears, "I welcome you as a scavenger in the Order of the Hyena." The Order erupted into cheers, welcoming their newest clanmates in the way they knew best. As Civet's Scurry turned away from the celebration, she could see the worry creeping back into Hyena's Breath's eyes. Making up her mind, she stepped forward and rubbed her cheek against her mate's. "Let's go get a bird and split it. I'm famished," Civet's Scurry purred, twining her tail with Hyena's Breath's. It would help to distract her so that she didn't go mad with worry, she hoped. "Quicker!" Leopard's Leap snapped, watching as Lemur scurried up the tree. Her limbs were trembling, and he barely bit back his concern for her well-being. She had to learn, and quickly, if she ever hoped to survive life as a scavenger in the Order. He narrowed his eyes as she barely clung to the trunk during the final moments before hauling herself onto the lowest branch. "You need to strengthen your muscles, like I've been telling your for the past moon," he grumbled. He'd taken over her training during the time Gemsbok's Rumble was stuck in Ostrich's Cry's den, recovering from his swim in a flash flood the previous moon. Leopard's Leap couldn't stand the way the tom coddled Lemur, allowing her to remain weak enough to barely make it to the lowest branch in a tree. She hopped to the ground and winced, her muscles obviously sore after climbing the thirteenth tree Leopard's Leap had directed her to today. His goal was fifteen before allowing her to return to camp and rest, pushing her to her very limit. He would make her climb as many daily until she was able to quickly scale a tree. She'd barely made it out of the flash flood last time, and only because Duiker's Trot had grabbed her by the scruff and dragged her to the upper branches. "Why do you hate me?" she snapped after he pointed at the fourteenth tree of the day. Leopard's Leap flinched, but he shook his head to make sure he didn't let her see how much the words made her sting. "I don't hate you, Lemur. I want you to be strong enough that you can survive everything that will be coming toward the Order in the future. We've made no attempt to hide the situation from you little ones, you know. The gods want us all to die," he meowed gruffly as he watched her slowly climb the trunk of the tree. She looked over her shoulder at him, and he could see shame in her eyes. She was obviously regretting snapping at him, but he wasn't done. "If I don't prepare you enough during the time I have and you die, then your blood is on my paws," he murmured. He didn't want any of his clanmates' blood on his paws, but he felt responsible for more than he should. As Lemur panted for breath on a branch, she looked down at him. "It won't be your fault if I die, you know. It'll be my own for not putting enough effort into my training," she sighed. As she looked down at him, he watched her legs tremble before suddenly giving out. She plummeted, and he could see where she would hit. Before she could hit the ground, he slid under her and broke her fall. He heard the snap of bone, and his chest ached with what he expected were numerous new bruises. He slid from beneath Lemur and looked at her with concern, and he could see her paw hanging at an odd angle. "I'm so sorry!" she was wailing, and he backed away. He would need to go fetch Ostrich's Cry or Pangolin's Armor to take care of her here. He didn't want to hurt her more than he already had. Minnow's Mumble's ears flattened against his head as he snarled, raking his claws down the nose of the hyena. It hurt to attack the creature they so loved, but it had attacked them first. If he didn't protect himself, he would die. He arched his back and hissed, spitting as he tried to threaten the creature into leaving them alone. Its attention shifted suddenly, and he followed its gaze to where Hippopotamus's Bellow was backing away. She had been here so long that he didn't think she had it in her to hurt the creature that their god resembled. "Fight back!" he yowled, leaping forward and clinging to the hyena's shoulders. Hippopotamus's Bellow shook her head violently, stepping back until she backed into a tree. Horror curdled in Minnow's Mumble's belly as the hyena lunged forward and snapped its jaws around her middle. It thrashed its head back and forth violently, and Minnow's Mumble fell back and watched in horror as the hyena began to run away, Hippopotamus's Bellow still clutched in its jaws. His stomach heaved as he watched it disappear over the horizon. There was no way this wasn't a bad omen, for a clanmate to be killed by a hyena. He did not want to see Hyena's Breath's face when she heard the news. Gerenuk's Muse and Minnow's Mumble carried two kits each. Lovebird swung by his scruff while Topi was nestled on Gerenuk's Muse's shoulders. Minnow's Mumble carried Chameleon while Agama rested on his shoulders. The two toms had met Cinta on the border, the molly passing over the pups from their surrogacy. Ratel's Stomp had met Silvija at the same time, and he was returning with his own pups: Skink and Tortoise. Six new pups to fill the nursery that had been so recently left empty by Gelada's rise to trainee. Meerkat's Burrow had agreed to remain in the nursery, a place she hadn't left since joining the Order all those moons ago. "We're fathers," Minnow's Mumble murmured around Chameleon's scruff. Gerenuk's Muse turned and leaned his head against his mate's smiling as he appreciated the moment. They were truly living their life, moving forward after having to leave everything they'd ever known behind. They had found a new Clan, and now they were truly making it a home. It felt amazing to the tom, knowing he now had four little lives to raise. He was so unbelievably happy, in a way he had never once believed to be possible. Civet's Scurry shuffled her paws as she looked up at Hyena's Breath out of the tops of her eyes. She'd asked to speak with her privately, but now that they were nestled in their den, it felt as if the words couldn't come out. Her mate looked down at her in concern, and she dropped her eyes before taking a deep breath. "I want to start a family with you," she burst out, quickly training her eyes on the ground to avoid Hyena's Breath's reaction. As she slowly lifted her gaze, she could see a smile filling Hyena's Breath's entire face. "Say it again," she prompted. "I want to start a family with you. I want our own litter of pups," Civet's Scurry repeated. Hyena's Breath surged forward, nuzzling her mate affectionately as she sighed. "I never thought you'd ask. I wanted you to make the choice," Hyena's Breath purred. Civet's Scurry let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding before a purr erupted out of her chest. It filled the nest and echoed in her ears as she butted her head against Hyena's Breath's shoulder. There was so much joy in her that she wanted to jump and shout with joy. It was just too much. She was finally getting what she'd always wanted, even if it meant Hyena's Breath's days as Matriarch were now numbered.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Feb 5, 2024 20:17:56 GMT -8
046.
Leopard's Leap scowled from the edge of Ostrich's Cry's den. He'd pulled a muscle and been told he needed to rest, but Ostrich's Cry had asked him to stay in her den for a few days. He could hear her nagging voice now, reminding him that he was getting older. She'd lined his nest with some herbs that made it so his joints didn't ache in the morning, though, so he couldn't remain too angry with her. Antelope was wandering around, leg completely wrapped in poultices and cobwebs after getting mangled by a bramble bush. His attention was dragged away from his musings as Hyena's Breath called out for the Order to gather. He would just watch from here, he decided. Antelope had laid down against him, and he didn't want to bother the pup by getting up to move closer. "I'd first like to welcome our newest mother, Perentie's Claw!" Hyena's Breath announced first. Leopard's Leap took in a beautiful tortoiseshell molly, her sides only slightly rounded by pups. He'd heard something about one begging for a safe place to raise her litter, and he knew there were too many cats in this Order with a soft spot for pups. She didn't seem too bad. She had kind eyes, so he hoped she'd prove to be a good addition once she could prove herself on patrols. "Now, for the main reason we're all here today. These two young trainees have proved themselves time and again. It is high time we honor them with their full names!" Hyena's Breath announced. Leopard's Leap's attention was drawn to the two chocolate pups who were barely containing themselves as their mother aggressively groomed their unruly fur. Meerkat's Burrow's eyes were focused solely on her pups, and Leopard's Leap felt a twinge in his heart. He'd never gotten to feel such a thing, such a familial bond, but his time was past. He was much too old for pups now, even if a sliver of regret stabbed his heart every time he saw a tom playing with their pups and grandpups. "Mosquito, come forward," Hyena's Breath called. Leopard's Leap chuckled as the young tom peeled himself away from his mother and strode forward, suddenly seeming so much older with his head held high and his chest puffed out. Leopard's Leap could remember when he'd been a mewling pup who was unable to even open his eyes. He could remember Eagle the same way. "Mosquito, I am proud to see the young tom you've become. I commend your strength and wisdom, and I name you Mosquito's Buzz," her words washed over the group as the tom reached up to allow her nose to touch his ear. "Eagle, come forward," she continued. Leopard's Leap watched the young molly strut forward, but he could still see the shadows in her eyes. It would take time before she moved past the trauma of nearly dying in the flash flood. As she reached Hyena's Breath, he could see pride in her eyes. "Eagle, you have overcome so much. You have truly proven yourself as a member of this Order. I commend your bravery, quick-thinking, and loyalty, and I name you Eagle's Caw!" The entire Order took up the cheer immediately. The little molly deserved it, Leopard's Leap knew. She'd led the charge to save her clanmates before being ordered to stand down by her mentor. Such bravery led purely by adrenaline and instinct was deserving of recognition. Leopard's Leap lifted his voice alongside his clanmates in the chant, grinning as several cats looked his way in surprise. He'd keep them on their toes, never letting them settle.
Ostrich's Cry smiled as she watched Nyala's Whisper padded into her den. She'd noticed the molly's change in demeanor several sunrises past, so she'd simply been waiting for the inevitable. "I just don't feel quite like myself," Nyala's Whisper complained as Ostrich's Cry quickly placed her paws on the molly's belly. Her suspicions were confirmed almost instantly, and she couldn't help but grin at her clanmate. "Congratulations, Nyala's Whisper. You're expected!" she purred. The molly looked up at her in shock, ears pinned back for several seconds before her body relaxed and an enormous purr ripped out of her throat. She bounced to her paws and rushed forward, rubbing her cheek against the herbalist. She wished the molly would stay behind and allow Pangolin's Armor to feel her belly, but the excitement was simply too much to contain. "You're due in probably around two moons, so you've got plenty of time to remain on scavenger duties. Just make sure to take breaks the second you feel tired, drink plenty of water, and make sure you're willing to move in to the nursery when I say it's time," she called as Nyala's Whisper rushed out to tell her friends. "You're going to take Hyena's Breath when she comes in," Ostrich's Cry whispered conspiratorially. Pangolin's Armor grinned. She'd been the one to spot and point out Hyena's Breath's change in personality about two sunrises prior, and Ostrich's Cry was well aware that the Matriarch had decided it was time to start a family. "You know she'll be ecstatic that it happened so soon, but you know this means her days as Matriarch and as a member of this Order are now numbered. The moment her pup is old enough to take over her role, she'll have to abdicate and leave the Order. And that pup will have to make the decision on if she'll allow any littermates to remain as well," Ostrich's Cry sighed as she stuck a paw into a dip filled with herbs. "It's hard to imagine an Order without her in charge. She's the one who resurrected the Order when it was destroyed," Pangolin's Armor murmured quietly. "Besides, what if the gods hold off on their attack until the new Matriarch takes over and strikes while they're still young and unexperienced? Are we sure it's a good idea?" she fretted. Ostrich's Cry sighed and crossed the den, wrapping her tail around her former trainee. "Hyena's Breath isn't getting any younger. If we're to follow the traditions of our Order, she has to have pups soon. Otherwise she'll be too old to have them, or she'll risk becoming too old to lead us before the heir is ready. It's the perfect time, Pangolin's Armor, and I know she'll keep our Order prepared for the worst scenario," Ostrich's Cry murmured gently, resting her chin atop the shorter cat's head. Pangolin's Armor just let out a deep breath and turned away, stiffening as the vines at the entrance trembled. Suddenly her entire face broke out into a grin as Hyena's Breath padded in, loudly griping about feeling sick to her stomach all the time. Mongoose's Chatter, Aardvark's Dig, and Meerkat's Burrow all lay outside the scavengers' den, stretched out to allow maximum sunning. "I miss having pups running around. All of ours are pretty much grown," Mongoose's Chatter sighed, looking across to where Lemur, Gazelle, and Hoopoe were practicing for their final assessment. They were the last trainees in their family, and it was simply a matter of days before they earned their full names and moved to the scavengers' den with their siblings. Meerkat's Burrow lifted up and looked at the tom, chuckling as she settled back down. "I only just got out of the nursery. No, they weren't my own pups, but I'd like to be able to go on patrols or go hunting without having to find a pup-sitter for a few moons," the molly meowed, lifting her muzzle into the sun while closing her eyes. Mongoose's Chatter knew she was right. Meerkat's Burrow had elected to stay in the nursery with an orphan and Gemsbok's Rumble's pup, and they were now trainees. He felt Aardvark's Dig's tail sweep around and rest against his flank, but he felt terrible for the idea forming in his head. "You know how we adopted that litter from the strange cat? What if we do something similar. I'll move into the nursery with them, one of the other mollies can nurse them, and I'll be the one giving up patrols and hunting. I want another litter of pups before I'm too old to give them honey badger rides and play moss-ball with them. Maybe I'm just cranky and sentimental, but I think it's what I really want," he murmured. He felt Aardvark's Dig stiffen beside him, but she quickly relaxed. "I think that's a wonderful idea, Mongoose's Chatter. Both of us have raised litters in the nursery, so who are we to say you shouldn't? If you can find a willing surrogate or someone with knowledge of an orphaned litter, I'll have no issues with your plan," she meowed gently. He felt her shift closer to him, pressing their sides together as Meerkat's Burrow shimmied in the same way on his other side. The latter rested her head against his shoulder, and he felt an intense feeling of love settle over him. Meerkat's Burrow was nodding her agreement with Aardvark's Dig's words, and he felt a weight lift off of his shoulders. This very well could be their last litter, or another may arrive in the future, but he felt a strong sense of purpose filling him as he decided he would attend the very next Gathering to begin seeking out a surrogate or finder of orphaned pups.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Feb 16, 2024 8:43:02 GMT -8
047.
Gelada bid a quick good-bye to her mentor, Porcupine's Quill, and dashed across the camp. Her father was standing over the fresh-kill pile, muttering to himself as he tried to decide what he wanted to eat. She knew he'd pick a fish because it was his favorite, but she also knew he liked to spend several minutes deciding every single time. As she reached a fox-length behind him, she launched into the air and slapped her paws across his flank. She leaped to the side, skidding to a halt and pinning her ears back as she put on her best snarl. Gemsbok's Rumble slowly turned to her, and she couldn't help but lose the snarl and laugh as he dropped into a crouch. "Porcupine's Quill taught me that our best ally is surprise, and he also told me that I have to look fierce!" she giggled. "Porcupine's Quill knows what he's talking about. If we can sneak up on an enemy and surprise them, they won't be able to immediately fight back. Those few seconds can mean the difference between life and death," Gemsbok's Rumble meowed, still crouched as he slowly crept around his daughter in a circle. Gelada turned with him, never taking her eyes from his face. "And you should never let your enemy see fear, otherwise they'll know that you're just as scared as they are!" his voice rose as he suddenly lunged forward, swiping a paw through the air that only lightly skimmed Gelada's ear as she jumped back. Her belly was pressed to the ground, her paws tucked in close, her tail lashing angrily behind her as she watched Gemsbok's Rumble pull back into a crouch. "You won't get me that easily!" she taunted, now circling him. Gemsbok's Rumble stuck his tongue out before darting forward, slipping beside her and ramming his shoulder against hers. The move was gentle, only unbalancing Gelada to the point that she toppled over. However, his momentum carried him forward until his paw raked through the fresh-kill and dragged a fish out. Gelada, getting back to her paws, noticed the fish was much larger than he could eat on his own and trotted over with a grin. "Going to share?" she prompted as he leaned down and took the first bite. The tom seemed to think for a second before wrapping his paws around the prey, shaking his head and sticking his tongue out playfully. "Please?" Gelada asked, looking up at him out of the tops of her eyes. Gemsbok's Rumble groaned and shoved the fish toward her, eventually smiling gently and ruffling her ears with his paw. "I really like being a trainee, but I miss you coming to sleep with me in the nursery when I had a nightmare," she murmured gently. "I can't do that now, and you know it. I'm never far away, though, dear. I'm always close," he murmured gently, leaning forward and resting his chin atop her head. Gelada leaned into his touch before stepping away, having reached the age where publicly displaying affection toward her dad was something to be embarrassed about. Gemsbok's Rumble looked hurt for a second, but she knew that he knew it was a normal part about growing up. "I have to go check the nursery for any soiled nests, so I think I'd better do that before the pups tire out from playing," she sighed as they finished their meal. She stood up and padded away, casting a quick glance over her shoulder to see Gemsbok's Rumble still watching her, a soft and sad smile on his face.
Hyena's Breath was nearly halfway through her pregnancy, but her belly really wasn't that big. Ostrich's Cry couldn't be sure, but she was pretty convinced the Matriarch would be having a small litter. Hyena's Breath sighed as she settled into her nest, lifting up to blink as Civet's Scurry pushed her way into the den. "Just because Ostrich's Cry told you not to leave camp anymore doesn't mean you can't leave our den," the molly murmured, settling into the nest beside her. "I don't want to risk anything. I'm currently carrying the next Matriarch of the Order, so I can't mess anything up," Hyena's Breath meowed gently. Her gaze traveled down to her belly, the gentle curve of it the only sign of her pregnancy. She was the classic overly-nervous, overly-protective new mother, refusing to take even the tiniest of risks. "I'm only going to leave to speak with my Order, fetch prey, and visit Ostrich's Cry. It's the best way I can make sure I keep my little ones safe," she meowed, leaning into Civet's Scurry's touch. She would die fighting for these pups. She would murder every single threat to them that existed if she could. She would let the savanna run red with blood if it meant she could ensure they would always be safe. Aardwolf's Mane was already expected to be on high alert, and she'd given the Shadow leave to do anything she deemed necessary to prevent danger from entering the Order. Nothing would ever touch these pups so long as Hyena's Breath was around to protect them. She let out a sigh as she returned from her thoughts, resting her head over on Civet's Scurry's shoulder. The other molly's heartbeat filled her ears, and the soothing repetitiveness of it lulled her into a sleep filled with dreams of a danger-less world in which her pups thrived. Hog's Slip, Giraffe's Strut, Duiker's Trot, Meerkat's Burrow, Ant's March, and Lion's Shadow looked at each other as they spotted the raging river that was known to be filled to the brim with crocodiles. They'd been sent to hunt near the border, but they knew it was a dangerous place that should be mostly avoided. They would hunt in the surrounding Savanna, but they would give the river a wide berth. "Do not go within many many fox-lengths of the river. The crocodiles are fast, even on land. Make sure to always be entirely aware of your surroundings," Ant's March lectured, stepping forward to survey the patrol. "I think we should stay a minimum of this far away from the river at all times, but you are obviously free to make your own judgements. I just don't want to carry the dead body of a clanmate back to camp today," he meowed, turning to look one more time over his shoulder before signaling for the patrol to split up. "Want to go check that stand of trees?" Hog's Slip asked as he slid up beside Giraffe's Strut. The molly looked over at him and smiled. He was much younger than she was, so he knew she'd know the best places to check for prey. She'd been in the Order for much longer than him as well, so it was a perfect pairing for the task at paw. The two began to pad that way, slowly so as not to disturb anything while they scented the air. Hog's Slip suddenly froze as he spotted a hare hopping among the trunks of the trees, and he reached out to tap Giraffe's Strut's shoulder and guide her gaze to their target. The two split, arcing wide to encircle the hare. Hog's Slip was upwind, in the direction of the river, and Giraffe's Strut slid directly into position behind the unsuspecting hare. It suddenly stiffened and lifted up, sniffing aggressively at the air while its ears swiveled. Suddenly, Giraffe's Strut exploded from behind it with a yowl. The creature darted away, shrieking, directly at Hog's Slip's waiting paws. Once it was too late, the hare realized its mistake and tried to turn, but Hog's Slip launched himself on top of it and swiftly ended its life. Offering up a quick thanks to Tumaini, he grinned as Giraffe's Strut walked up. "Well done," she purred, leaning down to sniff the creature. Blood leaked from the wound on its neck, but it wasn't too terrible. Hog's Slip grinned as he watched Giraffe's Strut slowly start to bury the creature, but his ears slowly flattened to his head as he watched a greenish log move behind her. It rose higher and higher, elongated and overlapping teeth visible all along its muzzle. A shiver raced through his body as he tried to say something, but fear held him in place. Giraffe's Strut looked up at him in confusion before she slowly turned and realized she was nose-to-nose with a crocodile. Before he could think, Hog's Slip rocketed forward and slammed Giraffe's Strut to the side. They'd forgotten about the small pond in this stand of trees that usually had one or two beasts near it. The molly skidded away on her side, and blinding pain shot through Hog's Slip. He felt his flesh tearing, and he turned to see the crocodile latched onto his leg. He screamed in agony as it began to drag him backwards, his claws scrabbling uselessly at the grass. Giraffe's Strut had already made it into a tree, and he could see the horror in her eyes as the unstoppable crocodile's tail reached the pond. Hog's Slip had left churned dirt and shredded grass in a line directly leading to the pond, and he let out another howl of pain as the crocodile readjusted its grip. "Please! Help me!" he screamed. He knew it was futile. Giraffe's Strut could do nothing. No cat could do anything now that he felt the water lapping at his tail. His voice was hoarse from howling and yelling, and he could see the tears in Giraffe's Strut's eyes even from here. "Help me," he whimpered as the crocodile suddenly began to thrash. His entire world was pain for a split second before the surface of the water closed over his head forever.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Feb 16, 2024 9:35:51 GMT -8
048.
Gelada stood at the edge of camp, peering out into the distance as she spotted the silhouette of a cat racing for the camp at top speed. "Something's wrong!" she cried, turning to face the group of cats behind her. A patrol of cats had been sent to chase off a pair of honey badgers that had set up their dens on the border, so they were all clustered together and waiting for news. The previously agreed upon patrol stepped forward, fur bristling as they waited for the cat to reach them. It was no surprise to see Dragonfly's Shadow sliding to a stop and pausing to gulp greedy breaths of air into their lungs. "Badgers... Gone... Klipspringer's Dance... Dead... Gemsbok's Rumble," the words came out between breaths, but Gelada didn't hear any that came after her father's name. Her paws were flying over the territory, following the line of scent that betrayed the path Dragonfly's Shadow's path from the battle. Her heart was in her throat as she ran as fast as she could, not even feeling her paws slamming into the earth as they propelled her forward. She had never run so fast before in her life, and her eyes blurred with tears as emotions choked her and threatened to make her collapse in place and sob. She could smell the honey badgers now, their rank scent carrying further from their den on the wind than it should. She knew they were stinky creatures, but she'd never expected the smell to be this suffocating, this thick in the air when she couldn't even see their den. She pushed on, muscles screaming for relief as her lungs fought to expand and deflate when everything in her begged to give up. Her heart begged her to stop, slamming against her chest and yelling the words she refused to hear. She fought down the thoughts, refusing to acknowledge their presence or anything that might lead her to them. Gemsbok's Rumble was okay. He had to be okay. She crested a hill and spotted a small, bloody battlefield at the base. Four cats were standing around two crumbled bodies, one mutilated nearly beyond recognition. Gelada's legs began to buckle as she slid down the hill, eventually causing her to slam into the ground several fox-lengths from her father's still form. She struggled back to her paws and staggered forward, dropping to her belly again as a low moan worked its way out of her chest. Before the sound could break free in full force, Gemsbok's Rumble's eyes fluttered open. They were glassy with pain, unfocused but focusing as he realized who was in front of him. Blood poured from countless wounds across his body, and more than one of his legs laid at odd angles. His ears were shredded to pieces, and claw marks marred his once pristine face. His fur was no longer grey with small splotches of white; it was only grey smothered in the deep red of shed blood. Gelada's entire body trembled as she drug herself forward, gently pressing her nose against her father's. "Gelada," he whispered, his voice breaking around her name as tears returned with a new force in her eyes. She could tell just by looking at him that he didn't have long, and she also knew that it was a miracle from Tumaini herself that he was still here for her to say goodbye to. "I'll always... be near," he forced out, his body heaving with the effort. Gelada shushed him, begging him to conserve what little strength he had left. Some part of her held on to the tiniest thought that he might survive this horror, but she could see him getting weaker by the second. "I'll always... watch over you," he continued, and Gelada held back a sob until her entire throat burned with the effort. Gemsbok's Rumble shook violently as he stretched his neck forward, and she rubbed her cheek against his and leaned against him until she felt him relax. As Gelada leaned back, she could see his eyes were now open and un-seeing. She reached forward with gentle paws and closed his eyes, but nothing could make him seem like he was sleeping when his body was so broken. She finally let the sobs break free, her chest shaking as she curled up against him. She didn't realize she was wailing until she felt someone settle next to her and lay their tail across her. As she peered through her tears, she recognized Porcupine's Quill quietly crying over her. She could hear the other members of the patrol grieving, but she knew they were holding back as they watched her world crumble and shatter. She knew they were grieving for both the tom they had lost and the pup he had left behind. She knew her reaction was spurring theirs on, but she didn't care. Gemsbok's Rumble was her father, the cat she loved most in this world. Her mother and littermate were nothing to her, and Gemsbok's Rumble was everything. He had raised her, albeit with help from other members of the Order, but he had always taken time from his day to visit her and play with her. He had come running the second he heard her wailing from a nightmare in the nursery. He had given her her first bite of prey, and he had introduced her to his favorite fish. He had shown her his favorite places to hunt and his favorite places to sunbathe. He still had so much left to show her, but now he never would. Gelada's renewed sobs filled the air with her grief, and she shoved herself further into her father's blood-matted fur. She didn't care about how she was now covered in his blood. She only cared about remaining as close to him as she could before he was forever ripped away from her, never to be seen again. She knew he would be in the afterlife, but that wasn't the same. It would never be the same. The thought only made it feel worse until it felt like her chest was crushed by being stepped on by an elephant. All it did was cause so much pain that she coughed and spluttered through her sobs until the cold relief of unconsciousness swept her away from reality. "Are we sure we made the right choice?" Hyena's Breath murmured as Aardwolf's Mane and Civet's Scurry looked at her. The vigil for Klipspringer's Dance and Gemsbok's Rumble had concluded, and two patrols had been tasked with burying them in their final resting places. The shock of losing two clanmates so suddenly had taken its toll on the Order, including on the leadership, so Hyena's Breath now fought the urge to pace. Her belly was so big that she could barely stand to walk to Ostrich's Cry's den now, so she spent most of her time sitting or laying down. The thought of her own pups going through Gelada's grief made her sick, and she looked between her two most trusted advisors. "What if the gods choose to strike down my pups and ruin our chances of ever having another Matriarch? What if the Order ends with me?" Civet's Scurry looked at her with worry, and Hyena's Breath quickly looked away. She couldn't stand to see worry or pity in her mate's eyes. "What if we hide them away when they're born? Have them raised outside the territory where the gods can't reach them?" Aardwolf's Mane meowed gruffly. The thought nearly broke Hyena's Breath's heart, but she could see the wisdom in it. It was a great idea that could be the answer to all their problems. "You can go with them until they're weaned, saying it's a tradition for them to be raised only with the reigning Matriarch for the first few moons, then Civet's Scurry and I can take over. We'll swap out, and you can visit occasionally. No cat has to know it's for the protection of the future," the Shadow continued. Hyena's Breath wanted to say no so badly that it hurt, but she knew it was their best shot. It was the best chance they had to protect the future of the Order. Eventually, she dipped her head in agreement. She could see the shock in Civet's Scurry's eyes, but she knew the Aide would eventually understand. Their pups' lives and safety were more important than anything else, and Hyena's Breath would do anything to protect them.
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Post by chaotic creativity on Feb 16, 2024 12:41:05 GMT -8
049.
Kudu's Gaze grunted as she rubbed against the tree, nearly sighing with relief as she scratched at that pesky, persistent itch. Her patrolmates cast her a confused look, so she quickly ducked her head and scurried on into camp. As she spotted Ostrich's Cry heading into her den, she bit back a groan and made her way across. Her belly swung beneath her, but she ignored the constant reminder of her pregnancy. She wasn't due any time soon, but she swore she was bigger than any molly had any right to be. As her eyes adjusted to the dimness of the herbalist's den, she could see Ostrich's Cry looking at her with a strange expression. "What are you doing still patrolling? You're nearly bursting! It's not good for your pups," the herbalist scolded, scurrying forward and pausing when Kudu's Gaze couldn't resist any more and scratched at her side. Ostrich's Cry looked her up and down before reaching out reluctantly, parting her fur and snorting as if she wasn't surprised. "Ticks. Of course. Take some moss and mouse bile and get one of the trainees to get them off of you. They're well-trained in it," the herbalist growled, almost shoving the pregnant molly out of her den. "And move to the nursery! You need rest!" she called as Kudu's Gaze stumbled back out into the brightness.
Gelada refused to stop, dropping into a crouch as she paused to catch her breath. She had been practicing her stalking since sunrise, and it was well past sunhigh now. "We really ought to take a break," Porcupine's Quill prompted, but she ignored him. She didn't need a break. She needed to practice until she was perfect. There wasn't much time until her assessment, after all. As she slowly began to draw forward, she felt a paw on her spine push her down. "Get up, we're going to the nearest watering hole," her mentor declared. She rose to her paws and glared at him. There was no time for breaks! As they reached the watering hole, she realized how dry her mouth felt. As she drank from it, slowly as Porcupine's Quill repeatedly reminded her, she gave in to the urge and slipped in until she was floating. Her paws dangled beneath her, weightless, as she slowly spun in a circle to face her mentor. He was watching her with concern, and it made her want to shred his ears. She didn't need his concern or his pity. She needed his ability as a teacher to prepare her for her final assessment. That was all that mattered now. "I'm giving you the next moon off of training. You need time to rest your mind before you're ready to continue," he meowed gruffly. Gelada opened her mouth to argue, but he lifted his tail. "You've pushed yourself past the point of exhaustion every single day since Gemsbok's Rumble's vigil. I thought it was how you were choosing to cope, but it isn't healthy. I don't want to hear any complaints from you, and I don't want to catch you sneaking off to practice. You will spend the next moon in camp helping Ostrich's Cry and in the nursery. I'll have no arguments from you," he explained as she watched him with narrowed eyes. Who was he to say what was healthy and what wasn't? He was just a scavenger, not a trained herbalist. As she drug herself out of the watering hole, shaking the excess water from her fur, she pushed past him in the direction of camp. "I'll see you in a moon," she snapped, striding off before he could stop her. As she began to pad away, she felt the tears burning in her eyes. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear them away, but they were stubborn and fell down her cheeks. She wanted to stay busy so she didn't have to think. She wanted to prove she could still be a scavenger even after her entire world had fallen apart. She was doing what she wanted to do, but that wasn't apparently good enough for Porcupine's Quill. She padded into camp and headed straight for her nest, bypassing the fresh-kill pile entirely. She hadn't had an appetite since the vigil, so she'd be fine to wait to eat until right before bed. She was fine, she swore it. She wasn't as broken as every cat expected her to be. She was strong, and she was okay. She had to be okay. There was no other option other than being okay.
The camp was silent, the thick night air only broken by the occasional wail originating from within the Matriarch's den. Ostrich's Cry hurried across the camp, a new bundle of herbs clasped within her jaws. Pangolin's Armor stood at the entrance to the den alongside Aardwolf's Mane, and she quickly turned and followed her former mentor inside. Hyena's Breath was on her side, panting with a stick loosely dangling from her mouth. It was there for her to bite down on when the time came, and several back-ups were placed behind her. Civet's Scurry was pacing, anxiously looking between her mate and Ostrich's Cry. "She's early. You told me we still had a quarter-moon, so we didn't move to her birthing nest. We'll have to sneak the pups out of camp before any scavengers see them," the Aide fretted. They'd let the herbalists in on their plan to protect the heir, but their plans were crumbling as another contraction rippled down Hyena's Breath's belly. "It's not too soon. These pups will be fine. They just decided they were done a little earlier than we expected, that's all," Ostrich's Cry soothed, knowing the panicked mother was just concerned for the well-being of her mate and soon-to-be-born pups. A scream interrupted the herbalist's thoughts, and she turned to see Hyena's Breath bearing down on her stick as she pushed. Pangolin's Armor was already there, licking the pale cream molly clean. As Pangolin's Armor placed the newborn at her mother's belly, Hyena's Breath lifted up long enough to gaze down at her. "Hyena, heir to the Matriarchy of the Order of the Hyena," she announced, her voice drained from the effort of giving birth. Within moments, she was screaming and pushing again, stick splintering in her jaws as the second and final pup was delivered. This time Ostrich's Cry was there, catching the pale brown molly and cleaning her up before placing her next to her littermate. "Pratincole," Hyena's Breath offered, breathing deeply as the worst of the night passed. Ostrich's Cry looked at Pangolin's Armor, Civet's Scurry, and Aardwolf's Mane, who had just entered the den. "The plan will still happen. Come morning, when Hyena's Breath is strong enough to walk, we will escort her to her birthing den outside the territory. Hyena and Pratincole will remain with her alongside Civet's Scurry. Once the pups are weaned, Hyena's Breath and Civet's Scurry will return to their duties and a rotation of one of us five will be with the pups at all times. This will be until we deem it safe for them to return. Only we are allowed to know the true reason behind their hiddenness. All have sworn an oath to maintain this role and charade," Ostrich's Cry meowed, turning to look each cat in the eye as she spoke. "Our future will be secured and safe. No gods will strike them down," Aardwolf's Mane vowed, turning to look down at the newest little cats under her specific protection. They were already suckling, a good sign of their strength, so Ostrich's Cry looked over her shoulder. It was time for them to disperse because the time of their departure was now only a few short hours away.
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