Rendezvous
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SS's lovely little prince.
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Post by Rendezvous on Mar 10, 2013 14:41:19 GMT -5
PINESTEP
Pinestep had took out a group of cats on the early dawn patrol. Prey was running a bit low today, but the broad shouldered tom wasn't surprised that most of the woodland creatures had remained in their burrows. Fortunately, the patrol had returned with a couple of mice and squirrel, which was better than nothing. Despite his ambitious plans, Pinestep was going to try to act normal for a few moons, to allow the clan to appreciate him and not raise any suspicions about what was really going on inside his head.
Flicking his tail, he led the patrol back to camp where he dropped his catch onto the prey pile. Licking his muzzle he decided to do the right thing and feed the nursing queens first, and of course the whiny, annoying elders. No matter how much he hated the job, he would have to fake enjoying his..kindness. Grabbing a plump vole and a couple of mice by their tails and padded towards the nursery.
The tom hated the smell of kits and milk, it just made him want to cough up his last meal. As he poked his head into the nursery, it reminded him of his time spent as a kit with his sister Pebblekit, and his identical brother, Cedarkit. His eyes closed briefly as he remembered how he had dubbed his small sister as weak, and had put her out of her misery without alerting any other cat. But his brother knew, he had simply averted his gaze and pretended that he didn't know anything as their mother rushed in to try and wake up her only daughter but to no avail. Their mother was never the same again. Now that the tom, now a deputy, thought back on it, he felt slightly guilty for what he had done, but that was all over and done with and no one needed to know what had happened because it was a buried secret now.
Bring himself back to reality, he stepped into the nursery and was slapped in the face with the smell of kits. Ugh. He thought as he dropped the vole and mice near a grey queen, Ashcloud. "I thought I'd bring prey to the nursey." He spoke quietly as he observed the queen briefly before taking a pawstep back.
He hated nurseries.
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flyaway
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Post by flyaway on Mar 10, 2013 22:03:40 GMT -5
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Ashcloud, for one, did not smell like milk. And there was a very simple reason for this. She didn’t produce any, not that season, nor any other. She’d never been pregnant, never given birth. In her own opinion, it was likely she’d never have kittens that were biologically her own. She was mate to none, and not particularly in demand with her twisted foot. Yet she had long since come to terms with this future. She had narrowly escaped the elder’s den. If a barren womb was her only price, she would pay it happily. But that didn’t stop her from acting mother to the other kittens – particularly to Ternkit and Lightkit. After all, Froststar couldn’t truly be expected to be able to given them the mothering they needed. But Ashcloud, well it was the least she could do. In fact, in that very moment, Ternkit was wriggling in her paws. She sat, her tail around her paws. Yet massive Ternkit, larger than any kitten his age or older, was determined to pounce her poor tail to shreds. He giggled childishly, his eyes bright as he chased her tail back and forth. Many of the other kittens had long since grown out of these games but Ternkit, well he was just different that way.
“I thought I’d bring prey to the Nursery.”
Ashcloud’s gaze snapped from Ternkit to the broad-shouldered cedar tabby standing before her. He had placed a vole and mice carefully at her paws. Her stomach clenched, churning uncomfortably. Of course she recognized Pinestep, deputy of her clan. And dutifully, respectfully, she dipped her head to him. In her long hours, watching the clan’s social interactions from her place in the Nursery, she had watched each member of her clan. In her own way, she knew them each intimately. And there was something about Pinestep, something that made her insides churn. She flicked her tail around Ternkit suddenly, drawing him close to her. He squeaked and let out a giggle, thinking it another game. Yet Ashcloud, for indescribable reasons, felt the need to protect him. Pinestep took a step back, but he hadn’t departed. She cleared her throat. “Thank you, Pinestep. Your kindness is appreciated.” Just at that moment, Ternkit caught site of the prey. He squealed excitedly, wriggling from Ashcloud’s grip. He pounced, pulling a mouse towards himself. He buried his face in the mouse’s fur, immediately collapsing into purrs. He rolled around, clutching the mouse, purring to himself – “Mouse friend, I’ve got a mouse friend. Fuzzy fuzzy mouse friend.” Ashcloud froze, a sudden fear of Pinestep’s anger at Ternkit’s treatment of valulable prey. She hurried, finding her words. “Forgive me, Pinestep. I shall ensure your hard earned prey is not wasted.” Her words were hurried, her concerned gaze flicking between Ternkit and his new fuzzy friend, and Pinestep’s massive figure.
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Rendezvous
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[M:355]
SS's lovely little prince.
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Post by Rendezvous on Mar 10, 2013 22:25:15 GMT -5
PINESTEP
The tabby tom appreciated that the she-cat showed respect to a cat with authority. If Ashcloud had happened to be one of those sharp-tongued felines, he would have snapped right then and there. Flicking an ear, "No need to thank me, Ashcloud." He stated simply, his voice was almost emotionless, as if deep down he really didn't care if the cat ate the prey or not, which of course, he didn't. As he studied the she-cat for a few moments, he remembered her twisted paw. Having such a disability, it wasn't a surprise that the grey she-cat was not able to fully participate in normal warrior duties. Alas, he had never seen the female with a mate, perhaps she had been involved in some sort of fling. Why do I care? The tom thought, shifting his gaze to the ball of fur that was at the she-cat's side.
Immediately Pinestep thought of the kit as different, mostly from the way he considered the lifeless rodent a 'friend'. He shook his head slightly as Ashcloud offered an apology for Ternkit. "Don't worry about it, as long as it's eaten in the end." He replied as he continued to observe Ternkit, as if the little kit was a lone mouse in the forest. The kit was strange, but Pinestep would just leave it be..for now. Flicking his tail he looked to Ashcloud again, forcing himself to look friendly, even though it made him want to hurl up a hairball. "With that aside, how are you Ashcloud?" The deputy asked, his green eyes settling on the she-cat.
It was still nerve-wrecking for the grey tom to be standing amongst the nursery. He wasn't a father, nor did he care for queens and their kits. Yet here he was trying to pose as a good, loyal deputy. It made him sick to his belly, but he was just going to have to suck it up and deal with it. "Who's the father of this little one? I'm just curious." He stated plainly, as he used a paw to push the vole towards Ternkit, inviting the kit to play with the prey. "Ah, kits have always fascinated me." The lie rolled off of his tongue as if he had been doing it all of his life, the tom even sat down on his haunches and tried to look a little jolly, but he still and always will be a wolf in sheep's clothing.
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flyaway
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Post by flyaway on Mar 11, 2013 10:27:14 GMT -5
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A real physical discomfort had begun to settle over Ashcloud. She wanted nothing more than to slink away, out of reach of his eyes and prying questions. She found herself swallowing uncomfortably, though kept her dignity. Her head remained high, her eyes calm. After all, with her twisted mangled paw, there was truly no hope of an escape. She assumed, their pleasantries ended, that he would leave. He would dip his head, back out, and she could breathe a sigh of relief. From her observations, Pinestep had never been given to idle conversation, at least not with queens. So when he inquired after her, surprise flickered across her gaze. She took a moment, gathering herself. “I am well, Pinestep, thank you.” She paused, “And yourself?” She glanced to Ternkit. The massive kitten was purring uncontrollably, squeaking and rolling about with his dead mouse. He was oblivious to the lack of light in the creature’s eyes, or the puncture wounds that had ended its life. All Ternkit saw was something he could hold and play with – a new friend. She would eat the mouse herself, out of Ternkit’s watchful eye of course. She knew by the time the kit was finished playing with it, it would all but be beaten to shreds. But she didn’t care. He needed these moments, these little things.
She looked back to Pinestep at his question, hesitating slightly. Froststar had made no secret of the parentage of her kittens. While it had been slightly surprising – as no one had suspected any intimacy between Froststar and Ospreyfoot – Froststar had been almost eager to proclaim the parentage. Ashcloud shifted slightly. “Ospreyfoot, he comes often to visit.” The moment Pinestep moved, pushing the vole towards Ternkit, the little kitten was alert. His head jerked up, his eyes widening with pure joy. He leapt up, squeaking excitedly – “Friend!” He raced over, eager to claim his new vole friend, but something stopped him as he reached it. He looked between the vole and Pinestep. And without a trace of trepidation, the kitten leapt over the vole and tottered over to Pinestep. He wound himself around the deputy’s legs, purring contentedly. He tilted his head almost entirely back to be able to smile up at Pinestep. An idea seemed to strike him and he wriggled away. He raced to the mouse, grabbing it gently by the tail. He dragged both mice, then the vole, to Pinestep’s feet. When that was accomplished, he settled down, curling up in his fuzzy nest of friends, his head on one of Pinestep’s massive paws.
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Rendezvous
Administrator
[M:355]
SS's lovely little prince.
Posts: 263
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Post by Rendezvous on Mar 12, 2013 21:32:04 GMT -5
PINESTEP
The tabby tom was just about ready to walk of the nursery, he didn't like making small talk, especially not with the disabled. Pinestep had always hated cats that appeared to be weak, and this grey queen was no exception. With her mangled paw, she couldn't even run from a forest fire to save her own tail. Alas, Pinestep had to deal with it. He was the deputy now, and if he wanted to rise in power, he had to make the clan think that he was a likable tom. Loyal, caring, fatherly, cunning...ugh the tom was still considering coughing up a hairball. Blinking his green eyes, he looked to Ashcloud. "I am as good as I'll ever be." He meowed, with a flicker of false humor in his eyes.
Ospreyfoot, hmm? The tom thought to himself, picturing the Shadowclan tom. A good warrior, but not someone he would have chosen to be mates with if he had been a pitiful she-cat. He didn't know who was worse, the disabled she-cat, or the pathetic tom who had ended up mates with her in the first place. Pinestep opened his mouth to speak, but before he could get a word out, he was surprised by the kit's certain burst of..affection. The grey tom's frame tensed as Ternkit rubbed against his legs. "Friendly little guy..isn't he.." He spoke, trying to control his urge to either claw the young cat, or leave the nursery all together. Ternkit soon returned with his little assortment of friends, and settled on top of them, with his head resting on the deputy's paws.
Pinestep was still in awe of the moment, but he forced himself to relax his body as to not rise any suspicions that he wasn't a kit-loving cat like he had said he was. "Spunky little kit, isn't he?" He meowed, resting his gaze on the Shadowclan queen, wishing he had never bothered to deliver food to the she-cat in the first place. Soon enough, his emerald gaze shifted to her mangled paw. "Does that paw still bother you?" Pinestep knew all about the she-cat's paw, and how she couldn't really fit in with the warriors with a disability like that. Nonetheless, the tom believed that Ashcloud could have at least tried to get over her disability and let it help her instead of hindering her. Unfortunately, here she was in the nursery, forever a weak, and useless Shadowclan queen.
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flyaway
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Post by flyaway on Mar 13, 2013 21:33:04 GMT -5
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Her first instinct was to snatch Ternkit away. She would herd him towards her nest, anything to make him safe. Of course, no where should have been safer than Pinestep’s paws. But something about the Shadowclan deputy put her ill at ease. She shifted her paws uncomfortably. She managed a slight dip of her head, a polite smile. She wanted him gone, his stench out from under her nose. Yet he seemed to be making no move to go. And she couldn’t exactly stand and walk away. What pretense did she have? The Nursery was her only home, her only place. It was he who held the power, the decision to end and start whatever he wished. The knowledge left a bitter taste on her tongue. Instead, Ashcloud managed to clear her throat awkwardly. She nodded again in reply to his comment, her eyes trained on Ternkit. “He’s quite affectionate. Froststar was kind to allow me the honor of mothering her kittens.” She spoke the words in an almost offhand way. Ternkit and Lightkit’s parentage was common knowledge – as was the knowledge that Ashcloud herself would likely never claim a mate. Her paws itched to move forward, to snatch Ternkit from Pinestep’s unwilling grasp.
She forced herself to move slowly. She fastened her teeth lightly around Ternkit’s scruff, lifting him from his pile of prey and paws. He settled the kitten in her own nest gently, hushing his protests. “If you’re going to take a nap, it cannot be on dear Pinestep’s paws.” He looked as if he might wail, but Ashcloud swiftly plunked a mouse at his side. He was instantly appeased. He snuggled back down with the mice, purring and batting his eyes. A moment later he had fallen asleep once more. But such was the way with youth. She turned back just in time to hear Pinestep’s inquiry about her paw. She froze, the mangled paw in question half-raised. She preferred to keep it tucked away, out of sight. But here it was, on display. She had a sudden burst of pride, some misplaced honor. She stood, cradling her twisted paw off the ground. It clearly could not hold weight. Not only was it broken beyond repair, but it had been twisted so that it could not rest flat on the ground. Her ears flicked as she met Pinestep’s gaze with her own even eyes. “It does not trouble me much. I have begun spending much of my time gathering supplies near the camp.” She took a small pride in this accomplishment. She couldn’t hunt. She couldn’t fight. But she would be of use.
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Rendezvous
Administrator
[M:355]
SS's lovely little prince.
Posts: 263
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Post by Rendezvous on Mar 15, 2013 20:47:23 GMT -5
PINESTEP
The tom acknowledged the fact that the kits were Froststar's with a simple flick of his ear. He had forgotten that their dear leader had been a mother, let alone allowing Ashcloud to foster them. The deputy had thrown it out of his mind, that is until today. Now, that was something. For the leader to give up her own flesh and blood, in order to keep her title as Shadowclan leader. Quite the ambition, I must say." He thought to himself as he got to his paws and looked around the nursey.
"Well, at least you try to make yourself useful, despite having a disablity." He meowed quietly. Pinestep hated weak cats, but perhaps his perspective would change if a cat actually tried to become strong and overcome that weakness. "You never know, you may be able to put that disadvantage to an advantage one day." He encouraged, something that was rare for the deputy. Pinestep was usually spitting out strict words to just about every cat, mainly because that was how he was. Maybe he just felt sorry for the queen, feeling that it was a waste of a good cat, or space.
Flicking his tail, he looked back to the she-cat. "Who knows, maybe I could help you use it to your advantage, Ashcloud." He meowed before backing up towards the nursery entrance. "I have work to do, I don't have all day to spend chit-chatting with the queens." His tone was indifferent, as if he had regretted showing a bit of kindness for a mangled queen. Without another word, he turned and headed out of the nursery back into the Shadowclan clearing.
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